Alex Whitman’s semester-abroad adventure in Roswell (the WB sci-fi series from 1999-2002) was one of the show’s most shocking plot twists. Fans watched Alex proudly return from a supposed trip to Sweden 🇸🇪 — complete with a host family, tourist photos, and even a new girlfriend — only to later learn it was all a lie 🤯.
In this post, we’ll uncover:
✅ The storyline where Alex pretended to be in Sweden 🛩️
✅ The cities and sights he claimed to visit 🏙️
✅ The key episodes that unraveled the mystery 🕵️♀️
✅ Character reactions (especially Isabel’s heartbreak 💔 & Liz’s determination 🔥)
✅ How Alex’s fake trip ties into the larger Roswell mystery 👽
🌍 Alex’s “Trip to Sweden” – The Storyline
In Roswell Season 2, Alex Whitman disappears for six weeks, claiming to be part of a cultural exchange program in Sweden. When he returns, he’s glowing with excitement, sharing:
📸 A slideshow of his travels
“All these…all these possibilities. All these…new experiences. Life. It’s all just there…waiting for us. You really gotta travel, Liz. It’s the most amazing thing.”
🏂🏔️ How he tried snowboarding
“The new Alex Whitman snowboarded on that very mountain…almost broke his wrist”
🌌 How he witnessed the Northern Lights ✨
“Yeah, the northern lights. I can’t describe it. Basically what it is is you’re looking up there, and you’re actually seeing electrons from the sun colliding with our atmosphere in every color you could possibly imagine. Really makes you realize what a big world is out there.”
💑 His new Swedish girlfriend, “Leanna”
“That’s Leanna. Me and her have a long distance thing going.”
Alex claims to have stayed with the Olson family in Uppsala, Sweden. His new attitude and European experience leave his friends impressed, and even Isabel (his longtime crush) feels a twinge of jealousy 😔.
But things don’t add up… 😳
🔍 Red Flags Begin to Appear:
🚩 The Olsons don’t exist. Alex provides names like Johan, Gustav, and Rebecka, but the photo of the Olson family shows completely different people 🤨.
“Ok. this is my host family, the Olsons, and they live in Uppsala which is just north of Stockholm, and that is Johan, Gustav, Rebecka, Mattias, and little Kiki.”
🚩 A thank-you note arrives at the school, supposedly from the Olsons, but Alex’s parents never spoke to them 🧐.
🚩 His Swedish pictures include a modern building in the background… but Liz later discovers that building was demolished years ago 😨.
These oddities spark suspicion—and Liz Parker begins investigating.
🏔️ Cities & Sights Alex Claimed to Visit
Alex bragged about seeing:
📍 Uppsala – Where his supposed host family lived
📍 Stockholm – Sweden’s capital, filled with museums & culture
📍 Arctic Circle – Where he saw the Northern Lights 🌌
📍 Baltic Sea Islands – Where he & Leanna took a romantic getaway 💙
He described Swedish winter landscapes, skiing, and experiencing “true European culture.” The only problem? None of it happened.
📺 Key Episodes Unraveling the Mystery
❄️ “We Are Family” (S2, Ep12)
Alex returns from Sweden, glowing with excitement. He organizes a slideshow of his adventures, introducing his new Swedish girlfriend, Leanna ❤️.
🚗 “Cry Your Name” (S2, Ep17)
Tragedy strikes 😢. Alex is killed in a car crash. His death is ruled an accident, but Liz refuses to believe it. Her gut tells her something isn’t right…
🕵️♀️ “It’s Too Late and It’s Too Bad” (S2, Ep18)
Liz officially begins investigating Alex’s death.
🔎 She finds a hidden file on Alex’s computer repeating “Leanna is not Leanna” 👀.
🔎 She breaks into the school guidance office to check Alex’s exchange records 📂.
🔎 The Olson family’s phone number? Fake.
Liz confronts Maria, insisting Alex never went to Sweden. Maria lashes out, worried Liz is losing herself in grief.
📸 “Baby, It’s You” (S2, Ep19)
The truth starts unraveling…
📌 Liz, Maria, and Michael travel to Las Cruces, New Mexico 🏜️.
📌 They discover Alex was never in Sweden—he was actually at the University of New Mexico 🏫.
📌 “Leanna” wasn’t a Swedish girl—she was Jennifer Coleman, a random student in Las Cruces 😨.
All emails, photos, and the entire Sweden trip were fabricated.
🚀 “The Departure” (S2, Ep21)
🔥 The shocking truth is revealed: Tess Harding—the so-called friend—was behind it all.
😱 She mindwarped Alex to force him to decode alien symbols 🛸.
😰 When Alex started remembering the truth, she killed him to cover her tracks.
😡 Furious, the group turns on Tess. Max allows her to leave Earth, but vows revenge.
💔 Character Reactions & Fallout
🔴 Liz Parker:
Liz never gives up on Alex 💔. She fights to uncover the truth, putting herself at risk. The discovery devastates her, proving that aliens aren’t just otherworldly wonders—they’re dangerous.
🟡 Isabel Evans:
Alex’s death shatters Isabel. She finally admitted her feelings too late, and now she lives with the regret. She even dream-walks into Alex’s subconscious just to see him one last time 😢.
🟢 Maria DeLuca:
Maria struggles with Liz’s obsession over the case. But once the truth comes out, she is devastated, realizing Liz was right all along.
🔵 Max Evans:
Max feels guilt for trusting Tess. His leadership is questioned, and he begins to doubt himself. His failure to see Tess’s true nature almost cost them everything.
⚫ Kyle Valenti:
Kyle, unknowingly, helped move Alex’s body after Tess mindwarped him 😨. When he remembers, he is horrified and sickened.
🛸 Why This Plot Twist Mattered
Alex’s fake trip wasn’t just a side story—it was one of Roswell’s most powerful moments.
💔 A Beloved Character Dies:
Alex’s death shattered the group. He was their kind-hearted friend, taken from them too soon.
🔪 Betrayal From Within:
Tess’s deception was the ultimate betrayal. She wasn’t an ally—she was the real villain.
🛸 A Sci-Fi Mystery at Its Best:
The fake Sweden trip perfectly blended teen drama with sci-fi intrigue, making it one of the most memorable plot twists in WB history.
⭐ Final Thoughts
Alex Whitman’s “Swedish trip” started as a quirky subplot but became one of Roswell’s most tragic twists 🛸💔.
👽 It proved that the alien secret wasn’t just exciting—it was deadly.
😢 It broke the hearts of fans and characters alike.
🔥 And it cemented Alex’s legacy in the Roswell universe.
His friendship, loyalty, and tragic fate made him a beloved yet heartbreaking part of the show.
Here is a map that recreates Alex’s trip around Sweden.
