(S01E09) There was a lot going on in this episode, as the folks aboard Destiny started to adjust to their new lives away from Earth. The adjustment, of course, is easier for some than it is for others.
Chloe has made new friends like Eli and has found a partner in Scott, who comforts her and makes her feel less lonely. So she's content to pass the time doing yoga on the observation deck. People like Young, Rush and Eli are busy exploring the ship and trying to unlock its hidden wonders. That at least keeps them occupied and somewhat hopeful.
But things aren't nearly as happy-go-lucky for people like Spencer (aka "Baldy"). He's running out of his medication (my guess is that he's taking anti-psychotics, or is that too obvious?) and it seems like only a matter of time before he kills someone, or kills himself.
There was a lot of drama on the ship this week, but there was even more of it waiting for Wray, Scott and Young back on Earth. Actually, Wray experienced a tender reunion with her partner Sharon (Reiko Aylesworth), who is probably one of the most stable and supportive characters I've seen on TV in a long time.
It's worth noting that these two have been together for twelve years. It's gotta be tough for Wray to be away from Sharon and even tougher for her to realize that she's forgetting things about their life together (like the rowboat in the painting). She might not have the best relationship with her parents, but Wray definitely has a strong reason to want to get back home. I wonder if she'll take the IOA rep's advice and make a power play on Destiny.
You gotta feel for Scott. He's been suffering for years thinking that his teenage girlfriend had an abortion, and now he learns that he has a son. Brian J. Smith did a fine job portraying Scott's quiet shock and sadness in this ep. It looks like Scott now has a strong personal reason for wanting to 'gate back to Earth ASAP, since Annie (Sarah Smyth) refuses to accept his financial help and quit her job as a "dancer."
Thinking about his 8-year-old at home alone every night is going to make life even tougher for Scott. I wonder how all this will affect his relationship with Chloe. She didn't seem too comfortable with the idea of him having a family back home.
So we learned that Col. Telford was not impersonating Young in an effort to seduce Emily. But he's still a loathsome, spineless little weasel! I nearly screamed at my TV when Telford had Young's stone disconnected seconds before things came to blows. Luckily, Young got sneaky by impersonating another crewmember and finally gave Telford what's been coming to him since the beginning of the season. (I don't usually condone violence, but my grin grew larger as Telford's face got bloodier. That guy's a jerk.)
Still, I can't help but think that Telford will use the beatdown as leverage against Young. He might even make a play to permanently switch bodies with him and take command of Destiny. And the strangest thing about this whole subplot? Scott dreaming about Telford's memories. I wonder if something like that will happen again.
Back on the ship, Rush claimed to find a stable planet with a Stargate that could possibly get everyone back to Earth. There were two big problems with this discovery: First, the planet is a year away. Second, the planet doesn't frakkin' exist! Eli used his Mathboy skills to deduce that Rush made it all up, but Rush said he had noble intentions. He wanted to give the crew hope and to motivate them into working hard.
Only Eli, Young, Scott and Wray know that Rush's discovery is a lie. It'll be interesting to see if they can keep his secret from the crew. It'll be even more interesting to see what happens once the crew learns the truth.
And what about that chair Rush found? I was hoping to see someone take the bullet and try it out. Anyone care to guess what will happen once somebody takes a seat? And do you think Rush will eventually will risk it himself?
This was one of the most compelling episodes of the season. Finally, the show moved away from the "peril of the week" formula to give us something resembling real human drama. It was a little rambling, but that's forgivable.
Next week: Murder on the Destiny Express!
Other observations:
- The entire episode, especially the opening and closing sequences, was beautifully shot. Here's hoping the show keeps director Alex Chappel around for a while.
- The opening and closing song was an inspired pick.
- Loved watching Johansen do her psych evals. I hope to learn more about Greer's relationship with his father.
- So the ship has a slut?! Maybe Eli will get lucky!
- Speaking of Eli, watching him avoid the workouts was good for a laugh. So was watching him doing yoga with Chloe.
- It's good to see that Rush still needs Eli's help every now and then. I'd like to see these two work side by side on a big project again soon.
- I could've sworn I heard Rush say "Asgard!" halfway through this episode. No such luck I guess.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
11-21-2009 @ 12:27PM
A Gould said...
"And the strangest thing about this whole subplot? Scott dreaming about Telford's memories. I wonder if something like that will happen again."
Actually, SGU did a great job of showing, not telling, on this one. The reason is right there on screen.
At the beginning of the episode, Telfer gets relieved, and he removes the stone from the little box-widget. (This seems to be how you disconnect yourself from the system).
When Scott gets back, everyone's so distracted, he leaves the room, but his stone is still on the box. (The camera even focuses on this for a moment.) Apparently that leaves the connection somewhat open.
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11-21-2009 @ 1:26PM
The1337 said...
After a lack of sex and character development in Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, I think the writers are taking the quick route, throwing in as much sex and "character development" as they can. It's not terrible, but it makes you wonder exactly what the writers are thinking.
The one part of the show that I like is Rush. He has an agenda, and he's not afraid to lie, cheat, or steal to get what he wants. I don't know if it's me, but I want to like him, but I have to hate him. Review of the episode on my blog.
http://th3tvobsessed.blogspot.com/2009/11/review-stargate-universe-season-1_21.html
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11-21-2009 @ 1:26PM
Kevin said...
People watch Sci-Fi shows for Sci-Fi not to see drama about single mom strippers or middle age lesbians kissing. I already watched SVU this week and I don't care to watch anything on Bravo.
These things don't make the show better, they are a waste of time and noting more than plug-in cliche.
In Sci-Fi characters' motivations and personalities traits are revealed while the characters deal with extra ordinary circumstances not mundane ones.
People are only watching this show to this point in the hope that it will turn around, pick up the pace. If it doesn't start making the exploration of the ship and the stargate worlds 75% or more of an episodes content then the show will fail.
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11-21-2009 @ 10:19PM
Rose said...
Well put, Kevin. I agree with this completely. If I liked shows where the prime focus is who is sleeping with whom, then I'd watch Gossip Girl.
11-22-2009 @ 10:01AM
eugene said...
Good science fiction has always been grounded with real human relationships, good sci-fi has always explored the issues of the world but in allegorical format so that hot button topics can be explored without people getting all huffy and dogmatic.
Frankly, it's unreasonable that in a more "realistic" toned show that the sex lives of a bunch people stuck together and relying on each other wouldn't be explored.
And stargate has ALWAYS explored these themes. SG-1 was all about deconstructing religion and myth and how people cling to it dogmatically. Atlantis was all about the peace and reconciliation process on both a macro and micro scale.
11-22-2009 @ 10:01AM
eric f. said...
Stargate Universe is more in tune with the writing and tone of BSG than any of the SG franchise. That is 100% welcome by me. SG was always a bit too much light fantasy for my taste.
Another Scifi show written for adults was sorely needed!
Character development is good, as long as it does't get to sappy.
11-24-2009 @ 3:48PM
Dave said...
Because real people never have sex and drama right? And there was none of that crap on BSG right? Thought so.
11-26-2009 @ 6:00PM
SteveGinIL said...
I 110% (that is the same as an amp that goes to 11) agree. As much as I like to know their motivations, that is supposed to be filled in ALONG THE WAY, while the characters actually DO something. A sci-fi show that is 110% (there it is again) about motivations and character traits? That is why this show is hemorrhaging viewers. "Sci-fi is about "extraordinary circumstances," as you say, Kevin. That is an extraordinary observation, right on the money.
So, where are the extraordinary circumstances in this show? The premise, yes. Beyond that?
- They need water - wow, that is extraordinary.
- They need air. Holy shit!
- They get laid. Mein Gott!
- They can't steer the ship. Wow - that is dealing with something ordinary - sitting in the back of the bus going who knows where. My pulse is quickening already...
- They don't meet aliens. Now THAT is extraordinary in a sci-fi show on a starship.
- No one has blamed Eli for figuring out that 9th chevron and getting them into this mess, and than killed his Wesley Crusher wannabe ass. Pretty extraordinary!!
- They found a neural interface chair - and not tried it out. THAT IS THE STUPIDEST THING EVER, IN THE HISTORY OF THE STARGATE PROGRAM.
- They have lost me as a viewer, with one more lame episode. Now THAT is the most extraordinary situation of all!
.
11-22-2009 @ 9:28AM
zippy_zip74467 said...
I like Lou Diamond Phillips. I've liked him for 22 years.
I really enjoy him on "Numb3rs."
I don't like his character on "Stargate Universe.'
I'm not really liking the whole show.
Too much soapy nothing, and not enough action.
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11-21-2009 @ 2:32PM
Alicia R. said...
Glad to know I wasn't the only cheering when Talford finally got punched in the face. It was brilliant!
The show is getting better... but I want to see some more of the planets as well.
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11-21-2009 @ 3:57PM
Tim-1 said...
I loved that song in the opening moments.
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11-27-2009 @ 8:05AM
Richard said...
I agree, great song. Now can somebody tell me who sang it, the name, and where to find it. Its driving me nuts.
11-27-2009 @ 8:12AM
Richard said...
Found It - The Worst Day Since Yesterday by Flogging Molly
11-21-2009 @ 4:10PM
mike said...
To Kevin: science fiction is all about how it effects the human condition. There is no other way to show it, unless you want a video manual of some fictional starship. That might be fun, for five minutes. What makes any show interesting is how the science and the fiction effects the peoples lives, and the 'Life' episode has so far done the best, I think, in showing just how people are being effected. Anger, pain, hope, letdowns, and then again, hope, at the end as we see the small seedling.
It was a good episode, the show is evolving well and maturing. It is also interesting to see how the different episodes are directed differently. Going from character studies to action shows. It adds interest to the show, but I think a little more consistency might be in order. I'm not sure. Time will tell, I guess. Maybe both in each episode, and the shows get longer, to 90 minutes.
I too enjoyed seeing Col. Telford get a beat down, but yes, your right, he is going to have to pay a price for that. He would have been better off to talk to his wife and explain his actions, that he isn't willing to sacrifice his people one by one in an attempt to get home. Then he should have run over Telford with a bus.
It would be interesting to see if "Baldy (give me an Angry-Man-Dinner)" is going to volunteer to have his brain made mush by the chair of doom. Or chair of above average IQ. It could give him the technical ability to do major damage, rather than just go off on a few people at a time when he finally loses it completely.
This episode gets a 8.5 on a scale of 1 to 10, one of the better episodes.
I think this series has the capability and imagination to run for a long time, if it garners enough viewers.
And we don't have to see the Douglas fir rain forests around Vancouver, Canada every other episode. I always thought it was funny that on the other SG shows, almost every planet they went to had Douglas fir forests.
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11-21-2009 @ 10:07PM
KenMo said...
Slow down Turbo. Personally a comment of more than a few sentences is too much.
If you want to write your own blog, do so and advertise it here like The1337 did.
11-21-2009 @ 4:15PM
bsgfan2003 said...
What a let down after last week. I really don't know how much patience I have left. Stupid stones. This episode lacked energy. Snoooooze.
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11-21-2009 @ 4:46PM
dillweed said...
Why is this show not called Stargate Galactica and airing with Days of Our Lives or All My Children. This drama grivel blatant tasteless idiot biting from Battlestar Galactica is beyond pathetic. Like it is so o very difficult to come up with a NEW idea for a show other than Battlestar regurge and trying to make money/recognition off of Stargate shows. Hey, look at us, we are humans lost in space just like Battlestar Galactica. And, oh, the drama, again... Bummed cuz I loved all the Stargate shows and this is NOT Stargate in ANY regard. Especially not the Days Of Our Lives writing and beyond cheesey Scottish music in outer space.
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11-21-2009 @ 4:58PM
Man said...
The worst part about the whole thing is the ease people are using other bodies for sex.
So when the host body returns don't they wonder why they are all sticky in certain places?
Dollhouse in Space is boring.
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11-22-2009 @ 12:09PM
Kyddman said...
well SGU has lost me, going to get out my dvds of SGA and SG1 not going to wast my time with a drama, have too much in my life right now.
whats with all the sex? for me Rush and the kid I like the rest is just junk. its like they got all the whack jobs and rejects and put them all together not a sane one among the crew. none with any voice of reason. so for people who want drama good show for them for people who what to escape drama not so good for them
11-21-2009 @ 5:57PM
WF said...
Ah yeah, it's great to know there's a 'slut' on the Destiny... sigh...
For a soap, this episode was decent, for a Stargate, not so much. I don't see anybody having moral problems with bodyswapping, having sex in said bodies. What does this say for the people back on earth who say 'sure, borrow my body, have sex, I don't care...'
As someone said, the writers are making up for lack of sex in SG1 and SGA by overdoing it in SGU.
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