Back to Basics

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania *** WARNING - MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS *** Eastern State Penitentiary was one of TAPS' most frightening investigations, and now the recruits are being brought to this historic prison for their latest test. As a special treat, they will be given access to Cell Block 14, a newly-opened part of Eastern State that was built and designed by inmates. But Steve and Tango aren't content to let the scope of the venue provide the entirety of the challenge; they've brought in new recruit Jane Riley, an experienced paranormal investigator from New Jersey. The established team is a little hesitant, and the tension builds as the team leaders confirm that someone will be going home at the end of this investigation. Perhaps the pressure gets to the recruits, as Ben's attempts to take charge of tech backfire, and the setup process again runs long, frustrating Steve. At 1:25 AM, he calls off the night, saying that things have gone too far off the rails. The team is devastated, and Chris comments that he could have made things run smoother if he'd been in charge. On night two, Steve and Tango once again take charge of setup, and the team is able to pull it off in 45 minutes. The lights go out, and the investigation begins. We first see Chris and Susan in the newly opened Cell Block 14. They hear a few sounds and then suddenly come upon a great deal of fog. Undaunted, they investigate...only to find Steve and Tango, who were testing them by creating an artificial apparition. Steve is pleased with the way Chris and Susan handled it, and high-fives are exchanged. Jane and Ben are investigating the guard tower, and as Steve and Tango observe, they see Ben basically mimicking everything Jane does. They call him on it and tell him to be more proactive. The official reprimands continue as Chris and Heathyr spend an inordinate amount of time on one tier of Cell Block 12 thanks to Heathyr's insistence on trusting her medium abilities. Eventually, Steve wraps the investigation and says the team really pulled it together on night two, but criticizes Jane for some of her poor tech work, which causes her to cry and leave the room. Steve is taken aback at how quickly she broke down, but impressed when she regroups and apologizes. The team moves on to the analysis phase, and everyone is nervous about the impending cut. Nothing is found on DVR, and while EVP turns up a couple of hits, Steve and Tango aren't convinced, and take the recruits back into the prison for a lesson on the way sound can travel and cause false positives on an EVP. At the end of the lesson, Steve dismisses everyone but Heathyr and Jane. One of these two will be going home. Steve says he and Tango questioned Jane's abilities and honesty, but admired her resilience. Meanwhile, he calls Heathyr one of the smartest people he's talked to, but questions her dependence on her mediumship. Ultimately, Heathyr is told it's time for her to go, as Tango explains that, while they attempted to open the door to a psychic, it wasn't helping them get the hard proof they needed. Everyone is dismayed to see Heathyr go, and tearful farewells are exchanged. More ominous, however, is the implication that none of the recruits are safe, and that, as they drive off to their next destination, they will have to step up their game if they want to stay on the team. Today's Lessons: - Watch out for pranks from the Team Leaders. - Be proactive. - Psychic abilities are no substitute for good science.