Sunday

DVD, Stargate Atlantis S3 (Sunday)

Why? It's a natural question in real life; 'why did this person have to die?' But in fiction it takes on a whole new meaning because it's made up, it's for the writers to write what they want to write for a goal of advancing characters or creating drama. But that's not really enough of an explanation for killing off one of the best characters of a series as they did with Dr. Carson Beckett. It's like they have a vendetta against the medical staff because they did the same thing with Dr. Fraiser on 'SG-1,' and for no real good reason other than to inject more 'danger' into the series. With Beckett it was even more pronounced because the wider interpersonal dynamics of 'Atlantis,' due to its larger selection of characters, had only just found its footing this season to the extent that I was commenting on it in my reviews. How they'd come together so well, gelled and made a great team, a different type of a team to the 'SG-1' series, but still becoming as close and as much a delight to watch. And now they suddenly rip one of these characters out of that mix and I don't know what that will spell for the series as it goes on without him. It certainly achieved a shock and a dramatic episode, but at what cost to the series?

Beckett really was one of my favourites, not just because he had the same name as a much loved character on one of my favourite TV shows of all time ('BUGS'), but because he was such an empathetic character, a person who was dedicated to his profession in the same way the best doctors from Trek always were, and a credit to the series and those he served with. It was especially cruel to take him out in the way they did, so that you think it's going to be okay after all, and the impression of impending doom was only the usual dramatic tension, he'll be fine. I don't know at what point I actually considered he might not make it, but it must have been quite late, perhaps during that time he was putting the explosive tumour in the medical container, because prior to that I had no belief at all that he'd really die. There are two more seasons of this series yet to play out, why would they take what was a recurring character in the first season or so, who became a full regular, and then dispense with him? I still don't know - I can speculate whether Paul McGillion had a more lucrative job come up or some other reason for wanting to leave. I doubt very much that it was the same reason they got rid of main cast member Lieutenant Ford, who didn't really work very well, because Beckett definitely grew in prominence and in integration with the other characters.

That's the tragedy of this particular episode: it's set up as this apparently innocuous story, the kind of filler you sometimes get in the franchise where it's just about having fun with the characters or within the standing sets, getting to know them better away from any jeopardy. I'm sure there were plenty of 'SG-1' episodes like that over the years. Sure, you get that explosion which was a shocking way to open an episode that appeared to be about people and their interactions (it was weird, but Dr. Hewston, the woman Teyla is talking to in the teaser reminded me of someone I used to know), and then when the episode began properly and it's yet another one where we get the caption 'x hours earlier' and you think it's going to be some average filler with this mystery building up to the explosion. But even with that well-worn device they seemed to be having a bit of fun with it so after the first jump back to an earlier period it happens again, even earlier, and again, even earlier, so it seems even more like a frivolous, but fun story and you wonder how it will play out because the tone is so different to what we know is going to be a horrible end result. If anyone was to die it would be more likely Teyla as she's been the most underused and served characters of the series. But you have absolutely no idea that the true ending will be even more numbing, as beautifully as they dealt with it all, the memorial service and carrying the coffin through the 'gate as a bagpiper plays, reminiscent of Spock's memorial in 'Star Trek II' which must have occurred to them.

It certainly succeeded in being one of the best episodes of the season, in fact I'd say the best, and it's been a good season where things have clicked better than they had before so that's a compliment. But at the expense of a great character and an actor that really sold being a doctor. Of course they gave him a truly heroic way to go out, because if he'd waited for the bomb defuser guy to show up it would have gone off while still in the medical bay with Beckett, his brave nurse, and the patient taken out in the blast. Instead we just lose that anonymous bomb disposal man who always knew he was taking a huge risk in this job, and Beckett. That he would stand by a patient to the bitter end you never had any doubt, he was an honourable man, always fighting for the right to heal in whatever weird or alien circumstances he found himself in. You only have to look at all those scenes where he's going round trying to get someone to go fishing with him to see the chemistry he had with the other cast members and to appreciate a chance to see a different side to him and them as they relax on this newly implemented mandatory rest day (on Sunday, which I heartily approve of!). The downside is that this was very much the attitude and tone of writers of TV post-2000s, when it became part of the 'fun' to threaten the cast of a series, so none are safe, anyone can be taken out at any time. And that's supposed to make us more attached to them? No, it's the gradual getting to know these people that makes it worth watching, so although there are times when you need to write a character out, it should only be done as an absolute last resort, and if they have to, better to keep them alive with the chance of future appearances.

Mind you, this is sci-fi where no one ever truly dies. It's possible this was all part of a bigger plan and that Carson will return sometime, just as they took Ford out, but turned him into a semi-recurring villain. I wasn't entirely sold on the idea of Rodney having an imaginary conversation with Beckett on the edge of some outlying part of the city where he'd gone to be alone. Maybe it was too indulgent, although I love the same kind of indulgence they did with Tasha Yar on 'TNG.' Maybe it just seemed like it was better to see him last as the sombre coffin rather than a strange apparition appearance since this is sci-fi and you could confuse it for reality. It makes me want to get the companion book and read up all about their decision-making process. In a way I hope they don't later bring Beckett back somehow because it was such a final and moving way to remove a character, even if it wasn't justified to meddle with the balance of the series that had been so finely adjusted.

However I look at it, it was a fine slice of drama, with different takes on various characters such as Weir showing herself something of an isolated Captain Janeway character who can't fraternise because everyone is under her command (though she's not in quite the same boat because she can go back to Earth now and again, which the intrepid Janeway couldn't), or Sheppard and Ronon finding ways to enjoy time away from work, Rodney back with Katie from last season's 'Duet' (though I must admit I didn't remember her), Lorne painting, and even Zelenka with his chess club which he beats easily! It was a lovely episode from that perspective, and while the explosion angle added some true mystery I'd have found the story just as enjoyable, if not more, if they hadn't killed Beckett. At least they allowed plenty of time at the end for the drama to sink in. Here's to one of the best doctors in sci-fi: ye'll be missed, laddie!

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