Shows like this have to walk a line between stand-alone episodes and overall plot episodes. This, obviously, was an overall plot episode. I’d be very surprised if next week isn’t a stand-alone. Series which integrate both types will always have fans of the overall plot complaining of the lack of forward movement in stand-alones, and fans of the stand-alones glazing over in the plot episodes.
They could have really kick-started the innkeeper’s conspiracy plot; I think they missed an opportunity. Had she been discovered in the future, then Carter would have known in the past and could have confronted her, only to have his mind wiped and knowledge of the plot erased. Yet innkeeper would still think that Carter knew, and it would have introduced some nice tension.
I, too, don’t like the kid. But Allison is definitely a MILF.