The Kindred Part II

DVD, Stargate Atlantis S4 (The Kindred Part II)

They could have made an end of Beckett, perhaps heroically saving Teyla, but she remains a captive of Michael, and Carson remains alive, though in stasis like Han Solo in Carbonite, giving our intrepid team two motivations to catch the twisted half-Wraith and prevent him from continuing his mad scientist routine. There was a hint of finality to Beckett's final resting place, despite the forced optimism of his friends, but surely if they were going to kill him they wouldn't have left him, and us, with hope. It was nice to see the guy again even if it doesn't look like he's going to be playing much of a part from now on, and they don't leave us hanging for answers as too many serialised shows do these days. For instance, while running through the possibilities, including that this could be the original Beckett, captured two years ago, they don't demean the real guy's death and are quick to reveal he's actually a clone. And of course things can't be rosy and bright: he's also dying since he's no longer receiving the necessary injections from Michael which kept his cells from degrading. Similarly, we learn that Kanaan, Teyla's zombified boyfriend, still retains some connection to her, and also Michael's plan to somehow use their offspring, a child with unique DNA considering the parents both have the Wraith telepathic gift.

It's not all revelations, though, there's also time for touching moments such as Rodney revealing the truth to Carson about what he is and what happened. Ordinarily you wouldn't think he was the best person to break life-defining news to someone, but perhaps because they were good friends before Beckett died, he does a good job and handles it as sensitively as you can imagine someone telling you you're a clone and the real you died months ago! Carson also had to learn the harsh reality of the loss of Elizabeth Weir, shock upon shock. Naturally there's some concern that he could be a plant of Michael's and not even know it, and we see a demonstration of him being unable to shoot his creator, so it's still a possibility, but it's heart-warming to see them quickly come to trust him and he doesn't prove that trust misplaced.  It's great to have him back, even if it does turn out to be only for one episode (though, as I say, you wouldn't think they'd keep him hanging like a wildcard if they didn't intend to bring him into the story again in some way), and there is a little bit of a sense of closure to his life after he was so shockingly and suddenly taken from them. But there's also the fact that the team has, as they should have, moved on - Dr. Keller is the doc now, Carter's in charge, Ronon finds it difficult to accept another Beckett. And yet it all comes good by the end and he's even able to soften the blow of the original Beckett's sudden demise by writing a letter to his Mother which they can now 'find' and pass on.

Beckett wasn't the only pleasant blast from the past: with all his appearances as 'Todd' the Wraith, we were fooled into assuming Christopher Heyerdahl would be back again in that guise, but no, it's his original character, the Athosian Halling whom I never expected to see again since he'd been out of it for so long. He's a bit battered and shorn of the long locks (perhaps to differentiate him from his Wraith character), but he's just as dedicated to his people and Teyla. So that was nice. Nagel the nasty spy, whom they encountered on New Athos, also returns to give them a clue where to start for Michael and there's plenty of gunplay, but it is, as usual, in the personal character scenes that the episode proves itself. Being the middle of what I assume will be a three-parter it doesn't really go anywhere much, but the important things are Beckett and Teyla and their respective situations which are quite well addressed.

***