Anatsa Mufaro[1] is a character in The CW 2019 television series Roswell, New Mexico. She is a singer and she and Max Evans have a one-night-stand. Eventually, Isobel Evans becomes interested in her and they begin dating. Anatsa is portrayed by Sibongile Mlambo.
Appearance[]
Personality[]
History[]
According to the dialogue Anatsa is from Chicago (although her name and accent suggest that she spent at least some time in Zimbabwe). Her family encouraged her to follow her dreams, which included archery and journalism.
Plot[]
Anatsa is singing on stage at the Wild Pony one day while Max is out with Michael and Isobel. Max asks Michael if he thinks she'd be interested in a beer. Anatsa later approaches Max while he's reading by the fire. After a brief flirtation, they go back to Max's place. Max tells her that it will just be the one night, and she agrees. In the morning, Max finds her reading his novel. Although she had intended to make fun of his writing, she tells him that he is legitimately good.
Later, Max, in-uniform, runs into Anatsa writing at the Crashdown. He asks if she is writing poetry. She responds that she is a reporter, in town to cover the rise of the Roswell Regiment, a racist, right-wing group, as well as the Sheriff department's poor handling of the situation. She also calls attention to the fact that he's a police officer, in an uncomfortable exchange.
In the course of investigating the Roswell Regiment, Anatsa interviews Manny and Vinnie Lopez about their political activism. When Zeke Murphy's dead body shows up at the Lopez ranch, she observes their arrest for suspected murder. Max questions Anatsa about the interview and they have a discussion about systemic racism. During their exchange, Max notices evidence that indicates that Zeke's body had been moved to the farm to frame the Lopezs by Jordan Bernhardt.
In order to collect concrete evidence of Jordan's involvement, Anatsa and Vinnie Lopez work with Maria DeLuca and Rosa Ortecho to spy on Jordan and the rest of the Roswell Regiment. When Maria and Rosa are discovered, Anatsa and Vinnie follow them inside, wearing alien masks to disguise themselves. Jordan threatens to shoot Maria and burn down the barn in order to cover up his crimes. He realizes not all is as it seems when Anatsa hands him the gas can and he realizes she is Black. Upon that revelation, she and Vinnie take off their masks, declaring that everything has been livestreamed to the Times feeds.
Later, Anatsa and Isobel both sit at the bar in the Wild Pony, drinking to Jordan's arrest. They connect over making fun of Sheriff Taylor's attempts to dodge accountability for her own department and toast to Max and the 'smart women in his life.' They are seen having drinks at a table together later that night. When questioned about the evening by Maria, Isobel says that they had a few drinks and then Anatsa propositioned her. Isobel admits that she chickened out and mindscaped a naval officer to steal his Lyft, cutting the evening short.
Anatsa is next seen in the Wild Pony, looking for evidence that the attack that put Maria into a coma and the fire at the church were connected to the Roswell Regiment attacks. Maria playfully suggests that Isobel do an interview with Anatsa, which flusters Isobel, who is overwhelmed by the Jones situation and still figuring out her feelings. Anatsa seems surprised by Isobel's nerves, but gives her a business card, suggesting they get drinks together sometime.
In the course of investigating the church fire, Anatsa manages to get a piece of evidence from the Roswell Fire Department. It is a globe with wings, which she identifies as Unity Church's version of a crucifix. She goes to the Lincoln Neighborhood Church to probe further, running into Isobel who is hoping to find a clue as to the identity of Johnny Doe. Isobel is able to read the initials on the pendant as J.D., leading her to believe that whoever owns it is the person she is looking for. The two decide to snoop inside the church together.
They end up looking for an invoice in the office of the priest, Dallas Haines, hoping to discover his name. When they hear Dallas in the hallway, the two of them hurry to climb out the window. Isobel gathers her courage and asks Anatsa out for a drink before Anatsa leaves.
On another date, Anatsa teaches Isobel archery, calling it empowering. She reveals that she has an interview to work for the Dalien. They also have another date, shooting pool at the Wild Pony.
After Jones has been defeated, Isobel gives Maria a night off at the Pony. Anatsa seeks her out, interrupting a near-dance between Isobel and Kyle. She shares that she got an offer to write her own column at the Dalien, with reprints in the Albuquerque Journal. They celebrate together with some tequila that Kyle had brought.
Six months later, Anatsa and Isobel have become more serious, spending much of their time together, although Isobel has not yet told Anatsa about her alien origins. Anatsa confesses to Isobel that she is in love with her one day after a Woman as Warrior class. This overwhelms Isobel, who invites her to the pod squad's alien-themed 'Hatch Day' party. Anatsa decides to bring a potato salad. The party, however is quickly interrupted when Max is called away to investigate a bank robbery.
On their next date, at a festival being held at the Desert Flower Drive-In, Isobel is wrestling with telling Anatsa how she feels as well as revealing her secret. Anatsa can tell that Isobel is struggling and assumes it is because of her confession. She tells Isobel that she doesn't need to say it back unless she's ready, and that she just wanted to tell her how she felt. Isobel gathers her courage to tell Anatsa that she loves her, but before she can reveal the alien secret, the sky lights up in bright pink and purple alien light, which will later be identified by Liz as St. Elmo's fire. Anatsa grabs her camera to take pictures of the lights as well as crashing weather balloons, presumably for a column.
The next day, Anatsa meets Isobel at the Crashdown for breakfast. The restaurant is very busy, so Anatsa decides to leave without eating as she is late for Max's press conference about the St. Elmo's fire. Isobel, nervous that Anatsa is getting too close to aliens, jokes that breakfast together is better than hanging out with rednecks who believe in chemtrails. Anatsa jokes that the aliens are the ones controlling their minds, which makes Isobel even more anxious. She asks Anatsa if she believes in aliens. Anatsa responds that she believes in possibilities, and will pursue any possibilities to a story. She shares that she hopes to interview Max about the string of bank robberies. Isobel tries to steer her away by telling her that the FBI is handling the case.
Undeterred, Anatsa touches base with a contact in the FBI. On a tip, she goes to hospital. She runs into Kyle, who questions why she's there. She attempts to lie, saying that she was cut by one of the weather balloons. However, when pressed she admits that she was looking from one of the tellers from Las Cruces Bank & Trust who was admitted with memory loss and a mild concussion, even though she hadn't hit her head. She's found that five other tellers had similar symptoms, though one remembered seeing a long fringed jacket with turquoise embroidery.
Kyle becomes angry, telling Anatsa that he can't discuss patients due to HIPAA. Anatsa leaves without arguing. However Kyle feels that she is getting too close and texts Isobel that they have a problem. They meet up to discuss Anatsa -- Kyle tells Isobel she's going to keep digging for the story, and pushes her to decide how to proceed.
Meanwhile, Anatsa goes to Graham Green's Galactic Gulch, an event at the drive-in to continue to dig. She approaches Max to question him for her piece on bank heists. He denies being involved in the case and she presses him on this, noting that he is there with Jenna Cameron. She brings up details she has garnered -- from witnesses being mind-wiped to the woman in the fringed jacket. Max clearly is uncomfortable, and she can tell her research has been spot-on. She pushes to help Max, which makes him angry. He accuses her of lacking respect for his job and of being over-familiar on account of the relationship she has with Isobel. The conversation turns into a confrontation. Max reigns himself in and asks her to let the story go. She declares that if he won't give her the story, she'll get it on her own.
During the conversation, Anatsa spotted Bonnie and Clyde, recognizing Bonnie's fringed jacket. She decides to follow them on her own, tracking them to where they are meeting with Graham Green. She observes Graham writing something down and handing it off to Bonnie. Isobel then interrupts her and Bonnie and Clyde slip away when she's distracted.
Isobel and Anatsa leave and go to a location with an archery target, trees, and a pond. Anatsa is shooting but she is distracted and Isobel comments on her missing targets. Anatsa confesses that she feels like Max is trying to bury the story and Isobel is protecting him. She accuses Isobel of not being fazed by the strange things in town and of hiding a larger secret. Cornered and worried for Anatsa's safety, Isobel mindscapes her, asking her to drop the story. Under Isobel's influence, Anatsa decides to have some thai food and watch Great British Bake-off instead of continue to pursue the story that night. Stricken with guilt, Isobel leaves her alone.
However, Anatsa isn't deterred for long.
Powers and abilities[]
- Singing: Anatsa is shown to able to sing.
- Photography: Anatsa is shown to carry a DSLR camera both for work and personal use
- Writing: Anatsa is implied to be a gifted reporter and writer
- Archery: Anatsa is a gifted archer, who has won three state medals.
Quotes[]
Appearances[]
Anatsa appears in the following episodes:
| Roswell, New Mexico | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 episodes | |||||||||||||
| Season 2 episodes | |||||||||||||
| Season 3 episodes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Season 4 episodes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Trivia[]
- Anatsa's name is not given in the episode of her first appearance, but it is given in the episode's official closed captions.
- Her name is Zimbabwean. The actress, Sibongile Mlambo, is also from Zimbabwe.
- Anatsa was on a keto diet at some point.
Gallery[]
