Space

 DVD, Stargate Universe S1 (Space)

Better. Even though it does do a big reset, in the grand Trek tradition: we have aliens, we get Rush back, and an uneasy truce is declared between him and Young. That's really what it's all about, as a joint enemy that wants Destiny means all other cares must be put aside, especially when they kidnap Chloe. But there were a few questionable decisions in the episode, not least from Chloe herself, who rather than stay safe in her Quarters, decides to go and investigate the small craft that has attached itself to the hull, even to the extent that she goes and stands right under the hole they've just made! Not the brightest tool on the ship, is she? Then there was that whole business with Scott and Greer going out on a shuttle to attack the incoming craft - do they really know that ship well enough to be able to fly it around and take it into battle against a force they know nothing about? It did seem rather reckless. There was something else, maybe that Young did, too, but I can't remember. At least it didn't make us wait for the inevitable conversation between he and his nemesis, happening before the episode had concluded, neither really believing the other's agreement, I'm sure - and we're certainly shown what Rush really thinks when he confides in Camille, who's already got designs upon removing Young, but Eli had secretly captured an earlier conversation she was having with other civilians and showed it to the Colonel, so he knows about their dissent...

It's all still rather negative. Why can't we simply have aliens to deal with, that whole situation was good, they looked pretty good, these long-limbed, crystal-faced, fishlike creatures, as did the inside of their ship - I miss them creating alien cultures and settings other than ice-scapes or deserts. I especially enjoyed when the communication stones sent Young to their ship instead of all the way back to Earth - talk about convenient for the plot! Actually it could be very inconvenient because what if they can never contact Earth again and it always gets 'intercepted' to the aliens' ships? That would be rather awkward and dispiriting! Ah, I've remembered his questionable decision now: he should have had at least one other person go 'with' him through the stones so they could work together instead of going in alone. Still, it was great that he was the one to save Rush, that boosts his moral stock a little after dropping him off a cliff leaving the man to die (even if he was clearly regretting that decision, and admitted as much to Rush). Maybe they should have kept it running for an episode more before the Dr.'s back aboard as it does all seem rather, that word again, convenient. But we want Rush back, no matter his deviousness and deceitful designs, he's a fascinating character and he gets the plots moving because of his brain. Eli's all very well, and loyal to Young, but he can't do what Rush does, he doesn't have the experience.

Again, I don't really find all the factions and in-fighting to be that interesting. It drags out and in the end what good does it do? It's supposed to foster an atmosphere of distrust and uncertainty, especially in the general absence of outside threats (though that can change now), but I don't really like seeing that in 'Stargate.' It was the same in 'Battlestar Galactica,' a big reason why I never fully warmed to that series, either, for all its drama and hard choices. I prefer searching out strange new worlds and civilisations, learning about the Ancients and their technology, and finding something, some hook, to hang the ongoing adventures on. And that doesn't need to be people getting at each other, political machinations and all that. That isn't fun. Solving problems, not making them (credit to James for her brave effort to shut down the power in the corridor so they could rescue the people who'd been electrocuted - more of that kind of thing wouldn't go amiss!), that's what makes enjoyable programming for me. I want heroism, not misery, and although the montage at the end had some positivity, it was also clouded in depression and sadness. No wonder the series never made it past two seasons, it was just too negative!

**