Cloverdale

 DVD, Stargate Universe S2 (Cloverdale)

Where did they get the flamethrowers from? Surely they couldn't have brought them along in the emergency evacuation from Icarus Base, they were in a big hurry and could only bring so much. Could they manufacture them, were there parts on Destiny? You know an episode isn't quite engaging enough when you fixate on the technical details, and I already remembered this one as being somewhat of a disappointment. Because in other respects it's classic 'Stargate': a character is infected by something, they lie dying, they live out an illusory or imaginary life featuring people they know in different roles... It's been done so many times on 'SG-1' and 'Atlantis' as to become a trope, but it's usually a good one, or at least I generally think of episodes like that as being so, even if they can sometimes end up a little inconsequential since, after all, it was 'all a dream.' It does go somewhere in the end with Chloe risking her life to get infected by the alien Triffids - did she really think she'd have immunity? I suppose she could have, but at the time she simply wanted to stay with Scott as he lay dying when all non-combatants were ordered to withdraw. So I wasn't entirely sure if it was a selfless or selfish action: save his life or die together. It was certainly a rash course to take, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, and that was the case here.

Where the episode falls down is in painting a fantasy land that isn't very meaningful, unless they're saying Scott doesn't want to commit to his girl in holy matrimony, just wants the fun, and maybe that will wear out its welcome in the end. It wasn't a very positive message, and although it would probably have been clear right away that this reality isn't real, I tend to prefer they keep it a mystery for the character to work out over time. When it began it could easily have been a flashback to a time when Scott and Greer returned from a tour of duty abroad, but then we're introduced to Young as his Dad and Eli as the brother of his intended, Chloe. It just comes across as very by-the-numbers storytelling, without surprise or a great deal of drama - it's not likely he'll die. He could have lost an arm, that might have made a new arc for the character, and I'm sure with alien tech they could eventually grow him a new one if required. As it is, it's clear what's happening, they don't even bother to try and keep up any mystery and there's no connection to his past or something he's got to overcome. It does tie into the ongoing concern over what might be happening to Chloe since she has alien DNA in her, and since the transfusion, he will too, but as a story on its own not a lot happens.

The effects were fine, Greer enjoyed himself blasting out fire and it showed the depth of his friendship and level of determination that he was intent on holding the 'gate area until the time was up, just in case a way could be found to revive his friend. And he's proved right to have that faith and attitude of not giving up while there's a chance. Of course Rush continues to be the bad guy since he could have made sure Destiny didn't leave, but they didn't even touch on that. I suppose it could get old if they have him on the Bridge every single episode being gently goaded by the image of his dead wife about how many lives have been lost because of the game he's playing. There were a couple of memorable points about the episode: seeing one of the creatures get vaporised by a Stargate was a good reminder of the deadly power that blast of transparent liquid holds. And it was good to see a version of Telford again, this time only in Scott's dream or imaginings as a local Sheriff that gives the drunken posse a lift home post-stag night. But in spite of being memorable in the sense that it's a unique episode in this particular series it's also rather bland and they could have done so much more with a fantasy environment. It didn't push the envelope or go a step further than the same stories done before in the rest of 'Stargate.' One question I had was whether the cinema they filmed at was the same building used in 'Smallville' as the Talon because it and the street looked very similar. Though I'm sure plenty of streets in America look like that - except they were both shot in Canada, so...

**