Trial and Error

 DVD, Stargate Universe S2 (Trial and Error)

Initially I was comparing this to the classic 'TNG' time loop episode, 'Cause and Effect.' When stacked up against that it doesn't fare too well. But as it progressed it became a much more personal story that wasn't about different decisions being made, but the fitness of Colonel Young to command - it's literal mind games from the ship itself as if it could sense his mood and the weight on him, both the burden of command, but also the immoral deeds he's done that he's not happy about, like euthanising Riley earlier in the season. It seems that particular action is most heavy on his mind and now he's had news that his wife back on Earth has filed for divorce, it's all overcome his sense of perspective, preventing him from being the decisive leader the ship needs. Whether it was Destiny actually evaluating him or a necessary jab to get him to wake up and stop feeling sorry for himself it adds so much to the lore of the series because it makes you wonder what is this thing they travel in capable of? If it can get in one man's dreams to influence him, what else can it do? More and more it makes me sad that the series didn't get the necessary seasons to explore its situation thoroughly because although it's not the greatest sci-fi series out there, not even the greatest 'Stargate,' it had so much potential.

The scenes of the ship being accosted by the aliens from the previous galaxy, which should have been a marker for this being unreal on its own since how could they travel the vast distances between galaxies, were interesting, especially as they culminate in the spectacular destruction of the ship (another similarity with 'Cause and Effect'), and seeing how Young responds differently on the three occasions we witness made for a reasonably entertaining story, but those things were fairly basic and it wasn't until we discover what's going on that it takes a much more dramatic turn. I'm glad it wasn't the 'real' Scott who attacked Young (even if the real one went as far as laying hands on him to push him away when the Colonel goads him at the point he comes to encourage him to get back on the horse), as that was a sour moment, though I was impressed by Chloe's bravery, going along as a sacrifice to the aliens who have come to collect their prize, as if it was the only thing to be done. I know it wasn't the real Chloe, but it seems like something she'd do if she felt it necessary, she's not the selfish, vacuous type we saw her friends were back on Earth.

There are other little things going on, such as Eli and Gin working together and finding common ground, Greer pushing him into being more receptive to her feminine charms, but it's the main story that holds the draw as it becomes a situation where the others are questioning whether Young is being signalled out as a poor leader. Brody, who seems like the classic superstitious sailor of old Earth, believes the ship has chosen him when he returns to take control and that would have been a great, inspirational ending. Sadly, it undoes that as is the series' wont on too many occasions - it prefers to end portentously and on a downbeat note, and this one isn't an exception: it was actually Rush that found a way to bypass the test and get them back on the road, but he's so intent on maintaining his secret he'll let Young and the others think all is well. Meanwhile, the ship (we assume), in the form of Dr. Franklin, once again appears to talk things over with Rush on the Bridge, warning that danger may lie ahead even if this was only a test. I'm not quite sure why, but I liked this a lot more than when I saw it originally, and weirdly I watched it almost exactly the same time of year. I liked the strong visual contrast and there was some really strange, but appealing music at times, such as the scene where Rush visits Chloe to selfishly try and get her to look at more equations. The CGI looks great, the destruction of the ship on both occasions really... explosive, and again it just makes me wish things could have worked out better for the series and it had lasted for many more years.

I did feel that the jeopardy could be solved at any time by Rush announcing he's 'just' discovered the Bridge and can get them out of this confrontation, but for one thing it wasn't the real Rush, and for another, even if it had been, he was late on the scene so may not even have had time to go to FTL before the engines shut down, so I felt they handled the nitpicky problems well. At least Young's experiences reliving the same events over and over should make him more able to accept TJ's 'vision' of her dead baby being looked after safe and well on the planet some of their crew remained on, though I don't remember if that does happen, or not. There are plenty of strange things that have happened anyway, so at least it could give him some grounds for an open mind, at least. I suppose I should also have guessed at something being wrong when it was so relatively easy for the aliens to destroy Destiny, but then the fact it was destroyed at all, and not just overpowered, shows that this can't be reality unless it's the last episode... [checks]... nope, there's still more to come. What we need is more of this inspirational pulling themselves together and beating the odds and so on, rather than the distrust and moroseness that can infest the series sometimes.

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