Human

 DVD, Stargate Universe S1 (Human)

I was quite undecided about this one, but I think the ending just pushed it over the edge for me. Too much of it was meandering and self-absorbed as Rush is reliving the memory of the period leading up to his wife Gloria's death, complete with the usual excessive camera jigging about, closeups of worried faces and a washed out colour palette. Why those things should irritate I don't know, but I found myself thinking this was almost a parody of the kind of sci-fi reality stories that 'SG-1' used to do. And who should be along for the ride, none other than someone who was well used to such experiences, Dr. Daniel Jackson! That helped bump the episode up towards the better examples from this series, even if it's not really him, just a memory of when Rush met him, but it's nice to confirm they did meet and see some of that, and he somehow helps in a small way, I suppose. What I really wanted was for it to be a kind of leftover remnant of the 'ascended' version of Jackson from when he did that and was out of the series for a season, a bit like Guinan or Kirk in the Nexus in 'Generations': an echo of his real self. It's only a technicality, we still know the two docs met, and what does it really matter either way? I suppose connecting to the original cast of characters matters because it helps to legitimise what is a series quite far away from the typical 'Stargate' mould of stories, a little too ethereal and flighty, conflicted and moody, but that's 'modern' TV for you I suppose - why have simplicity when you can have complication and dance around a theme or story stylistically...

I'm starting to sound critical, and it is easy. There was plenty to like, from the big black door Rush needs to walk through and which keeps showing up (even if it reminded of 'The Matrix,' right down to bleeding in the real world when being injured in the fantasy), and the whole opening when you're not sure if this is a flashback and if so why is Rush acting so callous and unresponsive to his environment, or was he always like that? But: it was pretty stupid how Scott, Greer, Eli and Chloe end up trapped as the Destiny goes into FTL, stranding them on a planet of alien ruins (one of the characters says they've never seen evidence of civilisation on any planet so far, but what about the alien craft on the planet where Rush left for dead, or the obelisk from the previous episode!). It was just such a silly way to get caught out, because there's a creature Greer has to shoot which brings the ceiling down trapping them in a labyrinth. And don't they have any technology for lifting? What about the shuttle, couldn't they piton cords from that to the rubble and pull chunks out? I didn't see any inventive problem-solving and it all came together to make them look foolish. Again, I'm sounding quite negative, but the outcome, ending on a kind of cliffhanger with them trapped and Rush having the potential to unlock how to control Destiny, the enormity of being left behind on a seemingly one-way trip, was impressive, as was Rush finally acknowledging how his wife's death has made him the way he is.

Also, the planet looked good and I enjoyed the various references to 'Stargate' lore, even if Chloe calls it geeky, or whatever she said, as if they're afraid to even take their own franchise's history seriously without alienating audiences! If there was a casual audience then it's far more likely they'd have been drawn in enough to care about what went before, and since it only lasted two years, the lack of seriously dealing with much lore probably was a factor in it failing. But anyway, we hear about how so many races had ancient architecture and ruins and yet also superior technology, which is a good point, and we're reminded of the Lucian Alliance (in preparation...), which is how they decided on Icarus Base. Then there's the Ancients using genes as a way to control their tech, though Destiny doesn't work in that way, and obviously Dr. Jackson being the biggest throwback. I have the feeling this was the last time he played the role on the series, which would make it his last appearance in total, or do we still have the training videos to see, I can't remember? Maybe it's not the last time, but either way it was great to have him. He worked with his equivalent on 'Atlantis' (Dr. McKay), and now he's done the same with his equivalent here, sort of.

They didn't explain how the other guy that had sat in the chair was doing, presumably still in a coma, and speaking of injuries, Riley's back in the picture, and I thought he'd had a bad injury previously. Too many characters and not enough certainty over what's going on in the serial. But in its defence it was much more 'Stargate' with its story of a man living in a memory, while in the B-story people are trapped on an alien world. It doesn't end, we have to wait to find out what happens next, but it worked quite well for all that, and despite the many flaws I saw. The CGI wasn't always up to scratch (see the flock of pigeons rising up as Rush and Gloria sit on a park bench, or the long shots of the ruins), but those sorts of things don't tend to bother me if the story works and this pretty much did. Will we see a new, improved Rush from now on? Will the ship be taken under control? Will Eli and the others be saved, or will they have to live out their days living on dried spider meat in the dark? All this and more, hopefully, next time!

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