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Sunday, September 7th, 2008

Y2kk Update:           - Stargate Atlantis: Whispers Review (Spoilers...) -

It's no damn secret. No need to whisper.

This episode goddam sucked...

I hate it whenever Stargate tries to do a horror episode. What on earth possesses them to create zombie types of scenarios anyways? The Wraith themselves, in the first season at least, were creepy enough as space vampires at times. Why not build on that, instead of giving us Vengeance Part Deux here, without even the sole benefit of Connor Trinneer that that old episode had long ago? WTF?...

Okay, first of all, Whispers just didn't feel like a proper Atlantis episode, simply because most of the Atlantis team wasn't there. Rodney McKay only got a bit part at the start and finish. In fact, I sadly had even forgotten that he existed at all by the time he returned for the final minute or so. That's how much Whispers numbed my brain and put me to sleep. Was that one of the zombie hybrid's powers, to hypnotize me and hate the goddam show? WTF?...

It didn't help that we got four nobodies on the all-Amazon, all-female team that apparently John Sheppard as military leader of Atlantis had never heard about. Why were the writers hyping up Captain Vega played by whats-her-name, when after shooting down a Wraith Dart in the season premiere, was killed off in pure horror-hottie cliche fashion here in Whispers? Did the producers find out that she was a complete bitch to work with after she was given a secure role? Maybe it would've been safer to keep her as Dr. Esposito from Tao of Rodney, when she was cute as absolute fuck and didn't seem like a pretty girl playing soldier. And really, was I supposed to care about the other two soldiers of the team? I can't even remember their names. I just recall being annoyed as hell at the bubble gum chewing one, and wondering to myself how that Teldy leader didn't die (considering the actress has already been offed as many times as Daniel Jackson back on SG-1)...

At least we got the return of Nicole deBoer to Sci-Fi, because you two readers out there might remember how deep of a connection she and I used to have (...). She had quickly won over all our hearts with just one season of Star Trek: Deep Space 9, and I've always wondered what it would be like if she returned to the space genre. She did an alright job for the most part here, except she suffered from a lot of bad horror movie cliches, like running out into The Fog and getting lost for no apparent reason whatsoever. It's just that, while the actress herself was still adorable and lovable as ever, the lines and role she was given were not. I'm sorry, but as much as I hated that soldier gal playing babysitter, I've got to agree with her that everything happening between Dr. Allison Porter and Dr. Carson Beckett was "so obvious", but definitely not funny or entertaining at all. I wish I could've left the shack myself. It was like this show was written by the guys behind some high school musical, maybe even Hamlet 2. I mean, if SGA wanted to invoke the feeling of goddam Smallville with a character named "Allison", why not just get goddam Chloe Sullivan to mack on the clone doctor? I would've preferred that, no offence to Nicole deBoer of course...

Carson Beckett has, what, only five episodes in the season to work with, and this was his second? Was it really worth it to waste his appearance then in Whispers? If there is any saving grace to this episode, it was that the ol' Scotsman was still his old self whenever he was with Rodney or by himself. But I'm sorry, I seem to have developed a migraine this morning, probably from listening to the god-awful dialogue he was given with Dr. Porter just a few days ago. The actor did a decent job of keeping the mood and atmosphere of the episode, as the scene where he's getting stalked like prey in The Fog was probably the only memorable moment that I think I can conjure up. However, the writers and producers even managed to fuck that up, by deciding to make The Mist a byproduct of the hybrid zombie gills. How the fuck they can exhume enough exhaust to fill a whole goddam village and forest up, I have no fucking clue. How the fuck can their second hand smoke shit screw around with flashlight batteries but not laptop equipment, who the fuck knows? Not only that, but worst of all, it looked absolutely ridiculous seeing some Spiderman 3 copy next to the Carson clone, messing up the whole mood of the scene. WTF were they thinking?...

Even John Sheppard didn't feel like himself in Whispers, and that deserves a WTF of its own. He's always had an open mind, except to perhaps Rodney for obvious reasons, yet here he simply shuts down the concerns of the female SGA team without even listening to them at all. He was an absolute idiot when it came to the big plan at the end as well, not knowing where he would go or what to do, until the last moments when Carson had to arrive out of the blue to rescue him. The only parts of the episode I did appreciate were when it was just them two alone in the scene, away from all the fake and forced comments of the female team they were trying to work with and save. Unfortunately, those moments did not come nearly often enough, leaving me with a goddam headache from that bitch of a soldier who claims to have come to the Pegasus Galaxy since she didn't have enough Ori to kill back home anymore, only to be dumb enough to blow bubble gum blasts at zombie predators that hunt through goddam sound. Again, I ask, WTF?...

I know the writers were trying to go for as many horror movie cliches as possible for fun, but really, I ask of them, WHY? If I wanted to have my brains eaten out by the dumbest entertainment I could find on television, I would've rented See No Evil or House of Wax or rewatched Smallville or some shit like that. Hell, I even preferred the launch of 9021-fucking-0 this week over this SGA shit. WTF?...

Well, maybe it's just me though. Maybe because I just lost my grandfather, I wasn't in the mood for an episode where the atmosphere is pervaded by suspense, suffering and death. Maybe, most likely, that's the reason I didn't give Whispers a true fighting chance...

No, wait. I've got a better reason, and I might as well yell it for all to hear...

This episode sucked.

Sunday, August 31st, 2008

Y2kk Update:           - Stargate Atlantis: The Shrine Review (Spoilers...) -

The Shrine was a very good episode. It was perhaps just a bit too difficult for me to watch, that's all...

My grandfather, he passed away the day before The Shrine. I've already written about it all on my download site, about how much I loved my grandpa and how hard it was to watch him suffer for three days straight until he was gone. I never cried though, I was never able to shed a tear for my grandpa, although there were definitely times when I swore I felt a feeling tug away at the corner of my eye. I guess it's a testament to The Shrine, that watching it was one of those few times that I did almost burst into tears...

By far, the strongest scene was when Jeannie went into the room to talk to her brother. Rodney could barely recognize her anymore, although naturally he could still understand the femininity of his first name. The scene was just so emotional for me, with the way Jeannie tried her hardest to be there for her brother but simply could not take seeing him the way he was. And Rodney, despite his condition, cared more for the feelings of his sister than he did for his own illness. That moment nearly brought me to tears after everything that I had been through those past few days. Being by my grandfather's side for three days straight until he passed away, I knew exactly how Jeannie felt at that point in time. I felt so horrible, the moment between her and her brother brought up so many bad and recent memories, that I almost shut off the episode then and there myself. I guess though, that's when Ronon Dex stepped in for the both of us. Well, you two readers know what I mean...

With the recent cancellation of Stargate Atlantis, David Hewlett has said on record that he will miss the character of Dr. Rodney McKay (or 'Mr. Rodney McKay', for this particular episode at least). I don't blame him at all, considering it's been Meredith that has by far stolen the show for the entire series. Mr. and Mrs. Miller, the Tao of Rodney and now The Shrine are all some of the most well acted and enjoyable hours of Sci-Fi that I ever witnessed in my life. I don't know how either David Hewlett or his sister will ever be able to get roles again as meaningful and memorable as the McKay siblings were in Atlantis. From the very moment he first appeared on screen in The Shrine, Rodney McKay brought to life a script that had so much feeling and honesty put into it. Every single recording he did before the camera was unforgettable, to say the least. Even the little things, like shaking his head in embarrassment and fear when he couldn't even remember the name of the Pegasus Galaxy, has personally made The Shrine into one of the best episodes of Stargate Atlantis I have ever watched in my life...

Every cast member was important, whether it was Ronon insisting that memories of his final day with his grandfather were real, or whether it was Teyla helping McKay past the waterfall when he was too tired to move on. To be honest, after everything with my grandfather, I couldn't help but empathize with Robert Picardo as well. He's been an amazing addition to the cast this year, and it's such a shame that he will only get one season to shine. When he told his story, of how his own father with Alzheimer's had one moment of clarity before he was gone for good, it reminded me so much of my own grandfather's final moments on his deathbed, putting all his strength into saying goodbye one last time. It was a moment I will never forget in my own life, and the way Robert Picardo brought to reality that very similar moment of his, I could swear to God the actor has experienced it too. Every little touch in this episode, like Woolsey asking Sheppard to say goodbye for him, all worked so flawlessly together as a whole. The episode, simply put, had heart. It felt real...

The Shrine was a Jennifer Keller episode as much as it was for Rodney and Jeannie McKay, and considering how cute as a button Jewel Staite always is, I guess I personally can't complain. There have been a lot of complaints about her character though in this episode, how she was too selfish in not allowing Rodney McKay to go to the Shrine of Talos that Ronon was mentioning. Especially after all she had been through in the Pegasus Galaxy, surely she would believe that some 'magical' Ancient artifact out there could cure Rodney of his sickness. Instead of insisting that Ronon's memories were flawed and false, it would've made more sense if the writers had made her concentrate on the "one day" aspect of it all, how sending him to the shrine would have meant giving up on a cure, giving everything up except for his last day. She felt stubborn and naive as a result, emotionally driven and lost from her feelings for Meredith McKay that had been surfacing over the past few weeks...

Still, aside from her overall stupidity, I do admire how the actress handled herself well throughout the episode. Some have argued that McKay admitting his 'love' for Keller was unnecessary, but I thought it brought good closure to the episode. Jennifer loved him back in some sense, and you could see those feelings in the actress' eyes every moment that the two were together. I loved the scene where they shared the fruit cup, personally. I sure as hell wish I could share in Keller's cups as well. And Jewel Staite did an amazing job in showing the pressures of surgery without the equipment she wants or needs, yet demonstrating enough poise to save the life of the man who loves her yet may not even remember the fact...

Of course, 'shippers are quick to point out that it wasn't Keller's name that Rodney was screaming for in the middle of the night. While we all may question John Sheppard after witnessing him in that panda shirt, I've got to admit that seeing him and Rodney together out on the pier was probably the strongest and most poignant brotherly scene in all of Stargate Atlantis. It's just like Sheppard to refuse to give in, to refuse to say his goodbyes, and he made sure of the fact by stubbornly telling McKay that he was stuck with him even still. Maybe I was just overly vulnerable at the time, but I too cracked up when McKay made his joke and called him "Arthur" at the end. It's the little touches in episodes that I remember best, and I can't help but remember the two of them sipping beers out on the pier. It was a beautiful scene on a beautiful night out in Atlantis. It's just unfortunate that the 'slashers now have even more material to work with in their fan-fiction, that's all...

If there was one flaw in this episode, it was with how predictable the ending was. Jennifer Keller may not have believed in magical shrines, but most certainly every single viewer out there does after so many years of Ancient devices on Stargate. The episode dragged at parts simply because we knew the heroes would find a cure miraculously at the last second, and it almost felt too easy that the parasite actually crawled out of McKay's brain instead of putting up a fight...

Still, that doesn't change the fact that I nearly cried when Jeannie was being held in Ronon's arms. It doesn't change the fact that I actually felt something real when McKay was so flustered and frustrated with his memory loss on Day 6, that he even admitted his love for Keller on tape for everyone to hear. It doesn't change the fact that I actually felt horrible for Rodney when he suddenly reverted back to his old self in the shrine, only to realize that he wasn't cured, and that living out his final day would be torture for him. There were just so many special moments in The Shrine that I cannot even begin to mention them all. It was arguably David Hewlett's best performance on the series so far, and that's saying so much, considering he and Sheppard have both been the heart and soul of the expedition for the past five years now...

The Shrine, it was a very good and powerful episode. Too powerful perhaps, considering how difficult it was for me to watch. My friend said it best, that perhaps The Shrine followed too closely to the events of my real life to be just a coincidence. It hit far too close to home for comfort, though I guess I do have to thank the writers, for providing me with some sense of closure...

Watching it a second time, it was a beautiful episode with wonderful acting. When McKay was saying his goodbyes to everyone for the final time, I almost broke down in tears...

Maybe I was just vulnerable, maybe I just wanted a shoulder to cry on...

... but The Shrine, it felt real...

... for me, it had meaning...

Sunday, August 17th, 2008

Y2kk Update:           - Stargate Atlantis: Ghost in the Machine Review (Spoilers...) -

There has been a big controversy over this episode, specifically with the return of Dr. Weir without Torri Higginson...

I've been on record for quite some time now, claiming that Atlantis has just not been the same without the spirit of Elizabeth Weir in charge. I have no doubt that the actor and the character were underutilized and mismanaged during the first three seasons, much like Daniel Jackson was back in SG-1 for seasons 4 and 5. However, Michael Shanks was able to bring new life to his role when his character was given a second (or twelfth?) life, providing some of his most memorable moments throughout the seventh through tenth seasons of the show. Why couldn't the writers have done the same for Torri Higginson instead of writing her off like they did? Instead, they opted to kill Dr. Carson Beckett in favour of a cute, female face and replaced Weir with everyone's favourite Samantha Carter in the end. Unfortunately, both moves did not pan out for the better, in my honest opinion at least, and I think the writers have realized that for at least the former...

Ghost in the Machine would have been a decent episode to send Dr. Elizabeth Weir on her way, since her last cliffhanger moment in Be All My Sins Remember'd was about as meaningful as Lt. Ford's final five second stint on the show. I've got to say though, that perhaps I would've liked Ghost in the Machine a lot better if a) it hadn't been named after a shitty anime, and b) if Torri Higginson had indeed returned to reprise her role. It was more than just disappointing that she chose not to before the season had even started, although I do understand her decision...

Instead, we got the returning Michelle Morgan in her place, who I must admit did an astounding job at a) mimicking and emoting the same ways as Torri Higginson used to act on the show, and b) looking so fucking hot as hell with those voluptuous lips of hers. While I'm sure John Sheppard had his initial troubles and questions at first with Weir's new body, if I were him, I'd get over them real quick and enjoy the new fruits of nanite labour.  Still, even so, no matter how good of a job Michelle Morgan did, it just wasn't the same as having Torri Higginson back on the show. There were some wistful looks between her and John, but the spark and chemistry that was once there simply was not meant to be. Here, we had a good copy of Elizabeth Weir, but in the words of Sheppard? She may think she's Dr. Weir, but she's not...

... doesn't mean I wouldn't prefer Michelle Morgan when all said and done, hot damn, but still...

It was a bottle of a filler episode, but nothing more than decent. None of the characters really had any special moments that I can recall. Teyla was just her usual self, Ronon got his ass kicked by a neutered-down Replicator, and McKay fell asleep at the wheel. It was nice plot-wise that at least Atlantis got the specs to Wraith technology and the location of other technologically advanced races in the Pegasus Galaxy (aka new enemies, if the show is renewed that is), but wouldn't it have been much nicer for earth if Dr. Weir had also downloaded the specs to making new ZPMs or any other Asuran technology? At least Robert Picardo got to prove his mettle and poise by not backing down to the Replicators' terrorist threats. That was probably the most memorable scene of the entire episode, and really showed that like McKay, pretty much any guest starring SG-1 character brought onto Atlantis always seems to do wonders for the show (Major Lorne too, if he counts)...

I was not a fan of the end of the episode though. Who's bright idea was it to send Replicators into space, where they simply get frozen and can unthaw themselves as soon as some curious space race brings them onboard somewhere warm? I know the writers were thinking of future possibilities for Weir to return, and I know they were trying to make a meaningful scene where it shows Elizabeth making some grand sacrifice in slow motion or some crap like that. It just didn't make logical sense though, to simply put the Replicators in stasis if the goal was to annihilate the threat to Atlantis once and for all. It didn't make sense either how the SGA team wouldn't let the Replicators live on as allies. They were willing to bring Niam to the city before, and now there was no threat from Oberoth or any other Asurans bent on galactic domination any longer. Why couldn't they keep these Replicators as allies offworld then, especially considering they had been neutered down to prevent shape-shifting and couldn't even heal better than the earth-made Replicators back in Outcast? They were goddam vulnerable to conventional weapons fire and I assume ARGs as well, so what was the big deal? I really don't get the logic of the Atlantis group sometimes...

The were a few stand-out moments and performances, namely Robert Picardo's strength in charge, and the look in John Sheppard's eyes when he solemnly told Weir that she was not who she thought she was anymore. I was just hoping for more, you know? I guess it was a decent story, and it was nice to get some closure to the Elizabeth dangling thread. The series is just not the same without Torri Higginson however, no matter how close of a performance Michelle Morgan put in. If the series does not get renewed, I really do hope that the true Dr. Elizabeth Weir makes one final appearance. The actress deserves to be recognized for adding a spark and soul to Atlantis that simply cannot reproduced by any mere ghost in the machine...

Of course, that doesn't mean I wouldn't mind Michelle Morgan returning again in a different role. Because hey, if I was Sheppard and I couldn't have the real Weir, then I might as well have a cute as hell copy as close as possible and improved in other ways...

Hell, I'd be her ghost in her machine...

Saturday, August 9th, 2008

Y2kk Update: Wow, do I ever feel lost and bored in the goddam summer...

At least back while I was at school, I would take the summer months to relax and unwind with traveling and driving and video games. But now that I'm actually working through June and July and August, I'm just too tired to do anything but sit by a computer desk and browse the fucking net. Now don't get me wrong, it's always nice to make money, and thankfully my company is still shelling out the decent dollars. But really, I only actually enjoy my fucking life when the paycheque combines with a) hope (false or not) of unrequited romance and b) goddam new television episodes to goddam watch...

Stargate Atlantis airs once a week, but it just isn't enough for me. When Fall returns, I'll have Chuck, Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, How I Met Your Mother, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Supernatural, and hell, even Smallville to look forward to. And if all those shitty ass television series are not enough, I'll at least have my CBC Hockey Night in Canada and all those Toronto Raptors games back that I've been craving for the past few months. I know I sound pathetic at times, being 26 years old yet bringing to life to the old single adage of "cats, chocolate and cathode ray tubes", but I really do miss my TV shows night after night right about now. I mean seriously, since I'm too damn tired in the summer to even go golfing except on the weekends, what the fuck do I do every single weeknight?...

Last year, I started watching anime out of sheer goddam curiousity and boredom. I certainly didn't like most of it I watched, but there were a few notable exceptions. Cowboy Bebop had some horrible episodic plotlines but great music and animation, same can be said for half of Samurai Champloo I suppose, Fullmetal Alchemist had some really strong episodes near the start when it came to family and the bonds of blood, Hellsing (both the series and the OVA) definitely caught my affection with badass Alucard fucking up wannabe vampires all over the place, and even Trigun somehow managed to keep my attention with its clever mix of comedy and banter. Sure, there were a ton of shitty ass anime shows that I watched in-between those few gems (Escaflowne, Noir, Gunbuster and Neon Genesis Evangelion, I'm looking at you...), but at least even those series gave me something to do when tired as fuck after a long day of work in the office...

So I decided to continue the tradition this year, so far with five different animes. The first I tried to watch was The Record of the Lodoss War, the 1997 version or some shit like that, with Parn and company going out on some adventure to slay some dragons. The series had its moments, but it was just so fucking slow and boring that I sadly gave up by the tenth episode or some shit like that. I could always try to pick it up again, I did enjoy a few of the animations dealing with magic and wizardry, but it was mostly an entirely formulaic and generic show that has nothing noteworthy to mention of ever again. Not a very good first start amongst choices for me in 2008, I'm afraid...

That's when I took up a lot of my friends' recommendations to try on Gurren Lagann, a relatively new anime that aired this past year in Japan. And I must say, while the last third of the series was much weaker than I had hoped, the first two thirds were some of the dumbest yet most riveting moments of anime I've watched so far. Sure, you had the emo kid ripped straight from Evangelion, but the writers more than made up for it with Kamino, one of the most badass and likable characters that I've seen animated to date. It's no wonder then that the Gurren Lagann AMV featuring "Be A Man" from Mulan has garnered such high praise, considering that Disney song fit in so perfectly with everything that the start of Gurren Lagann was all about. Like I said, the last third of the season definitely slowed down and dragged with some completely emo or ridiculous moments, but the first third of the series was some of the best anime I had ever watched. Overall, if you can manage stop yourself halfway through the season, I can't help but recommend Gurren Lagann enough. The last half just leaves a bit too much of a bitter taste in the mouth, that's all...

The next anime on my wish list was Witchblade, which I had picked up simply because I had heard it was actually based on the US comic book turned television series. I also decided to watch the show because I had heard it was the closest you could get to Hentai, and Witchblade definitely did deliver in that regard, considering the first half of the season consisted of the lead female character acting like a cat in heat as she licked off white bodily fluids from her legs after battle. At first, I couldn't help but be engrossed, but the cock-teasing act got old real fast. Surprisingly though, the series got stronger and much more mature as it wore on, with the final third actually having strong family values in terms of what a mother would do to protect her child. Witchblade wasn't a great anime by any stretch of the animation, even if her hair could elongate and grow harder to the point of feeling like a goddam Hentai. However, I enjoyed the action for what it was worth, and the finale of the series left a much better taste in my mouth (ha?) then the end of Gurren Lagann managed to provide...

Continuing on with the "hot bitches fight and get horny" routine, I next opted to check out Claymore, which I had heard was a popular manga turned into a relatively faithful anime series. Apparently, it was faithful all the way until the Northern Campaign, where apparently the show butchered whatever the comic book was meant to achieve at that point in time. Didn't matter to me, considering both the start of the series (which was true to the manga) and the end were all boring to me, consisting of nothing but blonde women with huge busts getting their mack on with giant, phallic swords. It all felt like generic drivel, much like a more fantasy-oriented version of Witchblade would turn out to be, except for one small section of the anime. I really did enjoy the parts of Claymore dealing with Clare's past, of her origins when it came to her time spent with Teresa. Because just like Witchblade, I guess it takes a good twist on Hentai to bring out true family values, as once again we had six or so episodes of a strong maternal bond between mother and adopted child. Of course, it also helps a bit when the blond women all elate in ectasy, "... it feels so good...", when they turn out so bad. It's really the little things in life you treasure, afterall...

The last anime that I watched in July couldn't match the high that Gurren Lagann reached in its eighth or so episode, or the climax (... ahem...) that Witchblade or Claymore had from time to time. Trinity Blood though was a very good anime overall, and unlike all the other Japanese cartoons that I had watched this year so far, never really had more than a single bad episode in a streak. I've always been a sucker for vampire stories, pun intended, although this one had a twist by having a creature who actually feeds on vampires instead. The grander story and vision though, dealt with concepts of world peace and coexistence with your mortal enemies, almost as if this story had been written about Japan and US relations after the nuclear bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What can I say, I'm also a sucker for post-apocalyptic tales from the hood, and I really felt that aside from a few minor pointless characters, Trinity Blood had a really strong cast and plotline. It had its slow and emo moments, specifically those belonging to either the Pope or Ion Fortuna, but more than made up for it by Abel and Seth providing sweet bits of comedy mixed and matched in with unbridled massacres of death and decay. I didn't dive right into Trinity Blood nearly as fiercely or ferociously as I had lapped up Gurren Lagann, but unlike the latter, I never left with a feeling of bitter disappointment in the end...

Those are the animes that I watched in July. And if I had to put an order of preference or recommendation to them, I'd argue Trinity Blood was the best overall, followed by Gurren Lagann (which was flawed only by a ridiculous second half), Witchblade third thanks to some nice animation and some pleasurable (... ahem...) moments, Claymore fourth simply because it was Witchblade without most of the pleasure, and the bits and pieces I saw of The Record of the Lodoss War come in as a distant last. I still have a few other animes at my disposable to watch in August, with the big headliners being Baccano, Death Note, FLCL and Samurai X, but none of those have a plot synopsis appealing enough to actually get me off my seat and back onto it to watch. I'll see if I have another anime update at the end of August, but right now, I'm too lazy to even watch television on my goddam computer anymore. Who would've thunk?...

In the meantime, I'll be keeping an eye on the Olympics and whatever random reality shows find their way to TV. Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed the So You Can Think You Can Dance season finale. I actually found Katee to be cute as fuck at the beginning of the year, and her contemporary routines (especially the one with the door) to be goddam hypnotizing at times, so sue me...

Guess I have a bit of a soft spot for Oriental hotties, flexible enough for those twists in the Pas de Deux. Then again, who wouldn't?...

But until the series comes back to primetime? Guess I'll have to get my Katee fix from the anime equivalent instead, ahem...

... well, you know what I mean...

Sunday, August 3rd, 2008

Y2kk Update:           - Stargate Atlantis: The Daedalus Variations Review (Spoilers...) -

I normally hate the idea of parallel universes. But I guess, if there really are infinite possibilities, then there's always a chance I'd like an episode dealing with them...

The Daedalus Variations was a bottle episode, but probably the most expensive one that the Stargate producers have ever done. The sheer, raw amount of CG work that was planned and put into this hour of entertainment was rather mind-boggling, and almost none of it felt out of place. Whether we are talking about giant Red Suns that could scorch the hell out of Superman, or huge planetary asteroids of debris dancing like Wall-E in space, almost everything in The Daedalus Variations clicked and worked wonders together as a whole. I won't claim that this was the best episode of Stargate Atlantis ever done, far from it really. But it's right up there with one of the most fun, team-based showings that I think we've seen since the first season of the series...

Without a doubt, The Daedalus Variations was a filler episode, as I doubt we'll ever see that incarnation of the Daedalus jumping ship between parallel universes ever again. I doubt we'll care or even think of that dead, alternate SGA team ever again, although the sights and sounds of their bodies simply lying there was excellent work by the director and writers once again. However, all I do want from my weekly dose of Stargate Atlantis is a fun romp of an adventure where the core team of Sheppard, McKay, Teyla and I guess even Ronon, all work together to provide the same kind of wacky shit that SG-1 used to provide for me in spades. That's exactly what this episode was all about, the four of them finding a solution as a team, with hilarity and random explosions happening in between as a result. That's what made the first season of Atlantis so damn successful in my eyes, and while I doubt The Daedalus Variations will go down as one my favourite episodes of all time, you never really know in a multi-verse so full of infinite possibilities...

First of all, I must say that Dr. McKay is a brilliant scientist, no matter what universe he comes from. I love the fact that he actually invented a drive to travel between parallel dimensions, and I even more enjoyed his self-praise for his brilliance from another realm. There were a lot of little touches and McKay'isms that helped The Daedalus Variations feel like a truly old skool episode, whether it was the good doctor losing confidence in himself (after realizing that his alternate self failed at his current goal), or electrifying himself when sparks start showering from up above. McKay was prone to fear and failure, but always managed to pull through in the end, just like he always has...

It was also an interesting dynamic for him to be working with Teyla for once, who I must admit, still grates me as the new Jonas-uber-quick study of a science student on the team. I know the writers threw in an off-remark that Major Marks had taught her Tau'ri systems 101, but I seriously doubt she would've been able to help McKay considering the kind of "classical" education that she had as an Athosian. And McKay certainly doubted it too, but when he finally woke up and realized that she's a pretty helpful lab assistant (with 'pretty' being the key word here), he did his usual McKay thing of sucking in his own pride and working with her together as team. It was a simple scene, of just her and him trying to save the ship from the Red Giant using power from the shields, but all of McKay's very Shia-like "no, no, no, no"'s combined with Teyla looking all hot and bothered there, ready for some P90 action, definitely got me on the edge of my seat. Like I said, it was a simple scene, but it just somehow worked with the setting and the atmosphere and the sights of Ronon getting his ass handed to him by who knows what...

Ronon himself had several memorable moments all to himself, whether he was getting choked to death by the Wraith-Borg or whatever the hell that was, or pulling a Chewie against the Tie Fighter roaming about. Hell, he even tried to be a science whiz, lecturing Teyla about multi-universe theory, although what came out of his mouth certainly didn't sound very right in the end. Most of his interactions were with Sheppard, and that's where the actor's talents always seem to come out the best. I know he only basically got to play with big ass red button as he let the CG rail gun and sound effects fly, but Ronon's frustration and fear of failure was so apparent and clear in those scenes that I couldn't help but laugh at the Star Wars references and everything. I doubt Sheppard would've kept his giggles in too, if only he wasn't confronted by imminent death every single universal slide they made through...

How can I possibly hate on an episode that had cocky-ass, pilot Sheppard at his very best? And how can I possibly criticize an episode that had TWO cocky-ass, pilot Sheppard's being arrogant with blatant self-appraisal to boot? Even after multiple watchings, I still laugh every time I hear the Colonel complementing his alternate self on being a man of honour and undeniable skill. I loved the reactions on everyone's faces around him, and that's truly what defines a Stargate-based team episode, when the entire group at the end can simply roll their eyes in unison at Sheppard essentially Kirking with himself. Whether the man was playing around with green alien gunfire, toying with a white DS Lite, or chastising Major Lorne for the lack of taxi's in the general spatial area, Joe Flanigan was just his usual fun self that I have missed from the early days of season one of the series. Hell, I bet he would've even hit on the alternate Teyla if she wasn't already dead and cold in her heels...

And like I said earlier, The Daedalus Variations must've been the most expensive bottle episode ever, considering everything was filmed on the Daedalus sets (with not even a single sight of an actual Stargate) yet the writers went so far as to introduce a completely new enemy just for shits and giggles. I think it's a good chance we'll see them again, considering their CG effects and their actual logo were far too fleshed out to simply be a one-episode wonder of a hit, and I wouldn't mind the SGA team confronting them in our own universe, provided they don't start falling over from nail-clippers like every other enemy that the writers have come up with in the past. They're just too expensive and rowdy badass not to bring back now and again...

I absolutely loved the dog-fight at the end of the episode, as it was the best that any Stargate episode has provided since probably The Lost City back on SG-1. Now, why the hell no other race in the universe has ever used missiles against us when it's obvious our F-302's mop up every other fighter thanks to a few guided shots, I don't know. All I do know, is that if the CG battle and the sight of Ronon banging away at the console like it was a set of drums is any indication for the rest of the season? Then sign me up for the rest of the ride...

Really, have I stepped into an alternate dimension here? The first three or so episodes of Stargate Atlantis this season have been alright, but mostly boring and forgettable. And yet finally here, it's like the old SGA team from season one (minus Lt. Ford, of course) just slid back into our own universe out of nowhere (minus Arturo and Wade from the Sliders series, alas)?...

I never thought from the previews that Daedalus Variations would turn out to be so fun and enjoyable. I normally never enjoy episodes based on parallel universes, except if McKay goes golfing that is. But then again, I guess in a series full of infinite possibilities?...

... well then, I guess there just might be hope for this season of Stargate Atlantis yet...

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Y2kk Update:           - Stargate Atlantis: Broken Ties Review (Spoilers...) -

Every single year, there's a Ronon-centric episode that actually turns out better than I thought it would be...

Turns out, Broken Ties was not that episode, not for this season at least. It was a decent hour of entertainment, but it can't compare to Runner or Sateda or even last year's showing when Tyre (or however you spell his name) first appeared...

Ronon himself almost did nothing in Broken Ties, except prove just how much of a pansy, weak-minded brute he really was. On first viewing, I thought he had actually been strong enough to resist the Wraith enzymes in his body, and was simply pretending to follow the Wraith who had repeatedly given him the gift of life. Hell, I even thought it was Ronon who had cut off that Wraith's hand before he could feed on Sheppard, when on second viewing it turned out to be all the work of Tyre instead. What were we supposed to find out about Ronon here in this episode then? That he grunts a lot, talks a big talk, but then completely succumbs to the same Wraith bullshit that got Lt. Ford a five second cameo earlier on in the season? Well, at least we got a decent sword-fight here, that alone was worth the price of admission to Broken Ties alone...

This episode was more about Tyre and his finale from the series more than anything else. I love his character's martial arts style on the show, even if he eventually always gets his ass kicked by Ronon in the end. Broken Ties was far more about Tyre's redemption and his friendship with Ronon more than anything else, and from that point of view, I enjoyed this hour on Sci-Fi television for what it was worth. We got a lot of pointless scenes of Tyre and Ronon writhing in agony, screaming like little girls, but I suppose it was all worth it to see a big ass sword fight in the end, a giant C4 explosion in the Wraith labs, and Dr. Keller bending over backwards to put a smile back on their faces and our own. There wasn't much substance to talk about in Broken Ties, but how can I really complain when the choreography for their final fight scene turned out to be just as good as it was last season?...

As for all the other main characters, Sheppard and McKay were there but really didn't have much to do. I completely forget their roles and comments at this point in time, so obviously neither really were memorable in their own rights. I guess that's alright, considering it was time for Teyla to get some limelight again. I've got to say, Rachel Luttrell looks amazing still, considering she just had a baby of her own. And she also displayed a very realistic and passionate, conflicted point of view over continuing her work at Atlantis or simply becoming a stay-at-home mother, almost as if the actress herself had considered the same sort of decision herself. There was no doubt in the end that Teyla would return to Sheppard's team, but I did enjoy the thought process that you could truly see in her eyes as she was deciding between her loyalties. Now granted, indecisiveness is not a character trait of hers that I really want to see continued on from week to week, but it definitely needed to be addressed early on here in the season at least, and I personally thought Rachel Luttrell and the writers did a pretty decent job...

It's disappointing that I couldn't remember any jokes or quips that Dr. McKay had in this episode, but it was more than made up for by Robert Picardo's Richard Woolsey already having more character development than I think Samantha Carter had all last year. Little moments, like the Atlantis doors not recognizing the Voyager holographic doctor to actually open up for, kind of makes me chuckle in remembrance of all the times the local Best Buy didn't recognize me as human either. And really, how the hell can I hate on a character who claims to be changing into something "more comfortable", and ends up sporting a full suit jacket and strung up tie to boot? That alone made Broken Ties memorable in my eyes as a decent standalone episode, and already Richard Woolsey is gaining my favour as Elizabeth Weir's true successor on the show...

Overall, there's nothing really great to mention about Broken Ties, but there's nothing to truly complain about either. It was a decent send-off for Tyre and I did appreciate how the show actually concentrated on a lengthy and meaningful ending, almost as if Broken Ties was the true finish to this season's premiere. There were a few jokes here and there, namely from Robert Picardo and probably from Ronon inadvertently with his screams and cries of joy. It was an entertaining package that I probably won't bother to watch again, but definitely wasn't a waste of time like so many Atlantis episodes from the past season felt the very day after being watched...

I'm still waiting for that one great Ronon episode that truly defines the season though...

... hopefully Teal'c will be back too to kick some Wraith ass, to boot...

[c. visitors too bored to return...]
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