Divided

 DVD, Stargate Universe S1 (Divided)

At last we get an episode worthy of the 'Stargate' name. Not that there haven't been oodles of mediocre or less than satisfying examples of that name, and not that this is remotely related to the general type of stories they used to do in its heyday - but it was undeniably tension filled, works well and the 'good' guys win out. If you can go about calling Young good when he did leave Dr. Rush on that planet to die that one time... Won't happen again, no sir... It isn't exactly mitigated by his own guilt and remorse at those actions and relief that Rush survived, even not forgetting he did save the guy's life on that alien ship. And not that that makes up for the earlier action, but there is some mitigation. And he admits to Camille that he knows it was wrong. Not that that's mitigation... I'm going in circles, but what I'm trying to say is that Colonel Young is at heart a good guy. He doesn't always do what's right, he's not flawless, and he can give in to temptation, but on balance, very much so, he sways towards doing what's right, and as TJ said, they need a leader. That was one of the fascinating little side thoughts the episode throws out: democracy versus military rule. Camille is trying to make out that their situation is that of a small country, when in reality it's nothing like that. Yes, they are self-sufficient and living under military-backed rule. But Young was in charge of the mission, a military mission, the civilians were part of it, but they weren't in the hierarchy. Most importantly, Camille compares herself to the government, but she wasn't elected to that role, she's taken it, so she's no better than Young, and worse really since he is the recognised authority.

Despicably, human nature rears its ugly head. This is certainly no aspirational series showing what could be, this is a down in the trenches view of what people are like under pressure. And it isn't pretty. Agendas, division, summary action, mutiny, dissent, an actual coup. You have to give it to Rush and the others, they certainly made a good effort to take the ship, but as TJ pointed out, they turned the situation into war, and against experienced military officers they were never going to win, no matter how clever Rush thought he was being. In his defence he could have solved the problem by openly letting Young (and Scott), die, refusing to abandon the transfer of control so the shuttle would have been blasted when Destiny went into faster-than-light. But whatever his reasoning, and perhaps he isn't a coldblooded killer or likes to keep his options open, that sways the balance in his favour somewhat that he didn't murder when he had the chance. Again, he helps to cause great upset by jointly effecting a coup with Camille, but like Young's regret and actions to reverse his earlier mistake, this can be said to be his.

It really did succeed in the tension levels, and Young becomes some kind of hero, appearing out of the shadows like Batman to defeat The Joker, if we can stretch the analogy for Rush. That whole sequence was great as we see the soldiers circumvent the best laid plans of these scientists and civilian workers who seemed to think they were doing right, but in reality were merely rebelling against the hard treatment they'd had to endure. But there was always going to be hardship, they aren't on a pleasure trip, and they presumably signed up to the Stargate programme knowing the dangers and possibilities of the job. I don't recall how much is public about the SGC, whether it was all revealed in 'SG-1,' or it had remained a state secret, but either way they're part of the privileged few to be where they are and they need the support and guidance, not to mention protection and strong leadership the military has given them. Not to suggest Young has always done right, or that things couldn't be a little more generous sometimes, taking into consideration these people aren't military and shouldn't be treated as if they are, but that's why Camille is essential, she's there as a check and balance, but hasn't performed as well as she could.

The standout character for me, however, was Johansen. Rather than encourage the one airman who had a gun to take a hostage or start rebelling against the rebellion, she quietly and sensibly advises him to put it down, submitting herself and him to the control of these rebels. But she's confident Young will find a way, and her trust is not misplaced. She's definitely military, but as a medical person she also cares about the lives of everyone on that ship, so she's in a special position, one that she, of all people, can't abuse. She's actually pushed further than she should go since during the operation she becomes surgeon (it goes from takeover in civilian uprising, to attack by more of those aliens, to a major operation for Rush who has a homing device surgically implanted next to his heart - talk about escalation in tension!). As I've previously suggested, they get in a genuine surgeon using Chloe's body to perform the operation, but as always has to happen, there are complications when the attack on the shields affects the communication stones and suddenly it's Chloe, not the doc, and TJ is the closest thing to backup! Terrific. Again, Rush could easily have been allowed to die if Young was really a bad sort, and he certainly thought he might be got rid of, not knowing the inner damage Young did to himself by leaving him on the planet. Knowledge is the real issue, everyone's keeping secrets. Even Chloe acts rather dastardly by being Rush's eyes and ears before the coup, though of course she wasn't going to accept her boyfriend being allowed to die, and didn't mean to act as a distraction to Eli, either.

We get to know more of these characters, we see the actions and reactions that make them interesting people. Greer, for example, is only too pleased to be in the position to make these pipsqueak civilians pay. Okay, so he knocks out a couple and he never fires at anyone, but he's the rabid attack dog that Young can let loose if he'll only give the word. I can certainly imagine him killing Rush if he was told to. It would be a pleasure. But even he isn't without heart. Scott is the one to remind his people that force may be necessary, but remember we have to live with these people tomorrow. Eli is in the most difficult position as a Young ally that also works closely with Rush, and it's only by his delaying Rush from turning the shield to full that allows Young and Greer to get in through the aliens' hole, but only just! So the coup is thwarted, partly because of a larger external enemy, though it's not the banding together that really solves things, it's Young taking back control himself. It's not just drama, we also learn more important details: for example, the reason why Young ended up on the alien ship, he guesses, is because Rush took one of the stones and hid it on his person, leading to them having it on their ship. And then the pulling back of the curtain of a part of Destiny's existence: these aliens have been following and attacking for a long time, and I don't just mean since our people came aboard, but it's been an obsession for them. That makes it so much grander in scale that this ship of the Ancients has withstood attack after attack and they keep coming back.

All adding up to one of the best episodes of the series so far, not a difficult bar to traverse, it must be said, but despite all those negative attitudes and impressions between characters, despite the use of contemporary music for Chloe's slightly irritating nightmare at the beginning (which did at least serve to show the bond between her and Rush, who'd been through similar experiences), there was a flushing out of all the things that had brought the situation to a head. No longer simmering, despite Greer and Young believing it's not over, there was a relieving release that was very satisfying to witness, especially in the way it's effected. They built to this and it paid off. Where they go from here to make it work as an ongoing series I don't remember, but hopefully we can start to see more friendship and cooperation, more positivity and a sense of progression, things that hark back to old 'Stargate,' and less moody troubles and issues.

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