The CW’s Naomi begins with Naomi (Kaci Walfall) regaining consciousness. She sees Zumbado (Cranston Johnson) fighting off guards at S.T.A.R. Labs. Zumbado helps her up, and she tries to use her abilities to no avail. Her powers aren’t working because of dampening technology in the building. Zumbado explains that Dr. Bell (Jennifer Christa Palmer) is trying to repurpose Naomi’s energy.
Zumbado finally answers Naomi, even admitting he doesn’t hate her. He wants to protect her. He shows her a memory of his past using mental teleportation. She notes he looks different, not donning the suits he usually wears. Via mental teleportation, Naomi could experience the memory with him, and she gets a glimpse of Earth-29.
Naomi mentions she encountered Akira (Stephanie March). She tells Zumbado about the woman’s warning about him. He cautions Naomi against believing everything she thinks.
The two of them escape through a plasma ventilation duct. Zumbado comforts Naomi when she admits she’s scared. He shares a memory of his past featuring when he got his abilities, confessing he was afraid then.
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In the memory, Zumbado free falls, thinking he will die until his abilities stop him. His powers came from an environmental disaster but says Naomi’s are different. His flashback tells of his first meeting with Akira. He explains to Naomi the 29 (including him and Akira) on Earth-29 had abilities.
They used their powers for good, becoming a symbol of hope together. This partnership ended when Akira believed Zumbado betrayed the 29 by sending Brutus to hunt the group.
Zumbado and Naomi continue to flee. Naomi absorbs his memories, showing Zumbado she has immense power. Dr. Bell, over a loudspeaker, reveals she only needs one of them as the guards surround them from the outside. They narrowly escape the guards, running down the stairs. Zumbado allows Naomi to rest, and she realizes he knew the dangers of rescuing her and came anyway. All this time, he has been trying to protect her.
Annabelle (Mary-Charles Jones) visits the McDuffie residence looking for Naomi. When she’s told Naomi isn’t there, she worries. Annabelle searches for her at Dee’s (Alexander Wraith) tattoo shop. She tells Dee Naomi is missing and asks him to find her. The two share a moment when he realizes Naomi told her about his wings. They search Zumbado’s lab. Dee finds the floor plans for S.T.A.R. Labs. When Annabelle admits Naomi visited Dr. Bell, he confesses he’s been monitoring the doctor.
Zumbado sacrifices himself so that Naomi can escape. She’s almost out the door but goes back for him. Dr. Bell straps Zumbado to a chair, and she plans to send him through a portal to a different world. Naomi shows up, demanding the doctor release Zumbado. She uses her abilities to stop the device from being used on him.
The two make a break for it as Dee arrives to help them. Dee drives Naomi and Annabelle home while Zumbado opts not to ride back with them, and an unlikely friendship forms between Annabelle and Dee — according to Annabelle.
The McDuffies (Mouzam Makkar and Barry Watson) have pizza when Naomi walks through the door. She decides not to tell her parents about what happened to her. The following day, she visits Zumbado at the dealership. He tells Naomi that two members of the 29 had a child, and Brutus thought her power would mean the end for him. Zumbado admits to knowing her parents.
Zumbado promised Naomi’s parents he would find her if something happened to them. He tells Naomi he constantly checked on her throughout the years, no matter where she was. While Naomi admits she thought he was a used car salesman, Zumbado tells her he is there for one reason: so that she wouldn’t be alone. They agree to get her ready for all Brutus sends her way because her powers act as a magnet.
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Zumbado gets the last word in this episode, telling Naomi she will save their world.
Getting to know Zumbado in this episode truly stole the show for me. We viewed him from Naomi’s point of view in previous episodes. We finally get to see his true motivations, much less the low-key “villain vibes” he had previously. Naomi apologizes for how she’d perceived him before.
We get to see Zumbado in a different light. In his flashbacks, there were hints of love, friendship and happiness. We even observe him in a heroic light, saving people, along with Akira and the 29.
Zumbado earns a place in my heart and joins the list of the “Naomi Protection Squad.”
Naomi airs Tuesdays at 9 pm on The CW. You can stream it the next day on The CW app.
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