Television

Stargate Universe – Light (2)

The crew realizes the Destiny is headed for a direct hit with a star. Colonel Young announces that seventeen people, fifteen of which will be picked in a lottery will take the shuttle to one of the planets in the system. He will pick the other two.

Very solid episode with some excellent special effects and two great story lines. We’re still throttled by the restrictions of the situation we have been thrust into with the main storyline and Rush still seems bound and determines to be sneaky and withholding, but things seem to be looking up.

***** Spoilers *****

The two stories are as different as light and dark. We have the standard lottery pick for the survivors situation. Of course there will always be those that want to fight for their spot and those disastrous results that follow. I call that the Towering Inferno effect. A few could make it, but the selfish kill them all in the end. There is enough military presence to stop this from happening here. Not that a short lived attempt wasn’t made by one person. One thing that I really got out of this was the fact that the people who were saved almost seemed to take it harder than the ones who weren’t going to be. I’m not sure if they were portraying fear of the unknown or just regret. In the case of the people on Destiny, they seemed calm and collected like they were accepting of their fate.

As I predicted in last weeks review, one had to figure if this ship had survived as long as it had there was no way it was flying into the star by accident. The special effects were great for a show of this kind. I commend the producers and the special effects people for the fine models and filming it took to pull this off.

So we have power, now we need food and other staples of life as this cast of misfits moves forward in their journey. Did Rush know the ship would survive? Is he that dangerous a man that he would sacrifice seventeen lives that easily? What’s your thought? Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

Stargate Universe – Darkness (1)

Rush is obsessed with the Destiny’s power systems and claims that almost all of the power has been depleted. Everyone is in some way coming to terms with life on the Destiny. Colonel Telford is convinced that Young is not fit to command the mission.

Looking at the first season of this show there are twenty episodes. Of the first season nine are part of multiple episode mini-movies. In other words stories that they can’t tell in about 42 minutes and need a full 84 to put them together. I’m just pointing this out as we have had two cliff hangers now and we are only four episodes into the first season. Plus this is a serialized show so they can tie story’s from one episode to another without these somewhat bogus cliff hangers.

I don’t want to conjecture and steal the shows thunder but I agree with those that feel this ship is so advanced that it would not make the mistake of sending itself directly into a star and I’ll leave it at that.

The only character I still don’t like is Rush. Other than him there are a number of characters to latch onto. Eli, Young, Lt. Scott, Chloe, even Greer. I don’t understand Telford’s rant as he is making snap judgments on situations he is billions of miles from really being able to effect or understand. Any reasonable commander would question someone like Rush’s motives and agenda. I’d be concerned that a man would just stand by and let someone obviously a little mentally unstable make the decisions all on his own without any input. So far Lou Diamond Phillips playing that part is sort of a waste. OK, as far as the show itself is concerned, I like it. Generally it is getting interesting, the characters are pretty well thought out, the production looks pretty polished, and the dialogue is not too bad as well. I look forward to a time when things get a little more put together and we understand the truth about how and why they are on the Destiny. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

Stargate Universe – Air (3)

Lt. Scott. Eli Wallace, M Sgt. Greer, Dr. Rush and another three members of the crew go through the Stargate to a planet covered in sand to look for a substance that should be present to filter the air system on Destiny. Young and Chloe report back to Earth.

Part three of the first three part episode of Stargate Universe. This was the slowest of the three 42 minute sequences. ***** Spoilers *****

The majority of the time is spent in futility walking on a desolate desert planet looking for something they may never find. In the end Lt. Scott’s heroism comes through for the Destiny crew as he manages to find something that will help them. We are left to wonder what it was that helped him find the materials on the planet as he was almost delirious by then and when he got back.

Rush is turning out to be the pompous problem we all thought he would be when he arranged all of this in the first place. His statement that the Destiny was their only hope of survival and getting home tells us something. How much did her know beforehand? It was pretty foolhardy of the two crew, the Botanist, and the other soldier to jump to the other planet. So we are losing personnel when we have precious few to lose in the first place. I guess less mouths to feed.

Eli did pretty well all and all in this first mission. Also it is good they have Greer there as well. It seems he and Scott are the only really competent military other than Young so far.

From reading some information about these episode I was under the impression something big was going to be revealed to us. Was that the craft taking off from the hull of the Destiny at the end while the credits rolled? That and most of the unknowns were not apparent. Matter of fact we now have more unanswered questions than we did before. At least they have breathable air. Somehow this looks more like a modern day Lost in Space without the Robinsons, but with Dr, Smith (Rush) than a version of Stargate.

Oh, I also found the scenes back on Earth annoying in general. Especially the wife of the Senator. She obviously does not deal with adversity well and has no concern for her daughters well being or feelings. I guess she never believed there was any risk in going on the adventures her husband took? Also what was with Telford trying to kill Young’s body?

Hopefully this will get better fast. The scenes with Scott, Greer, and Eli really carried this episode. Everything else was mediocre. I hope they improve it. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

Stargate Universe – Air (1) & (2)

When Icarus Base is attacked the people manning the underground base must stargate out. Dr. Rush programs the gate with a nine symbol address and the eighty or so survivors find themselves on a ship named Destiny billions of light years from home.

Another great example of the Stargate universe. This series has the promise to be a great new version of a long running science fiction saga.

Dr. Nicholas Rush played by Robert Carlyle seems to be a little single minded and maniacal at the same time. He programs a game with a solution to the ninth chevron for the Icarus Stargate. A young man and gamer named Eli Wallace played by David Blue solves the equation and finds an answer for the problem embedded in the game. So he is brought to Icarus along with a group of other people including Senator Alan Armstrong played by Christopher McDonald who funded the mission and his daughter Chloe played by Elyse Levesque.

When Icarus is suddenly and mysteriously attacked by several Ha’tak Mother ships everyone underground on the base is forced to flee through the stargate. They arrive on an Ancient ship called Destiny that is thousands of years old and starting to have system failures. Everyone seems distressed about this except Dr. Rush who seemed to know exactly where he was going.

The significant problems that the survivors are facing are failing systems, not enough supplies, the wrong personnel for a mission of this type, and injuries to some key people.

So far factions seem to be facing off as Colonel Everett Young played by Justin Louis was injured and put Lt. Matthew Scott played by Brian J. Smith in charge but Rush takes over when it becomes obvious that the science is what will keep them alive. Also Rush communicates with Earth and claims General O’Neill put him in charge.

A host of people refuse the supposed order lead by Camille Wray played by Ming-Na. There is some question raised back on Earth how the Ha’tak even knew the base existed without someone telling them. Scott defuses the situation when he backs Rush for the time being. Other important people on board seem to be M Sgt. Ronald Greer played by Jamil Walker Smith who was in the brig for some reason when the attack starter and 1st Lt. Tamara Johansen played by Alaina Kalanj who is a field medic thrust into Chief Medical Officer duties when the doctor is killed in the Icarus attack..

This premiere episode looks like a fine addition to the already proud Stargate series. I look forward to the crews weekly adventures trying to stay alive in another Galaxy. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

True Blood – Beyond Here Lies Nothin’

The hunter becomes the hunted and things are turned upside down at the end in a few ways. We really begin to at least understand that Sookie is more than human. Bon Temps attempts to return to normal whatever that may be.

So many things going on but joyfully the end of one storyline I am truly glad to see end. Unfortunately we were given some kind of foreshadowing of the fact that things were not completely done.

Sam and Bill work together to really save the town and the weird part is in the end only Sookie really understands the truth. Sam does the final deed that needed to be done with Bill’s help. For the most part the towns memory of what occurred is wiped clean.

We learn that Eric is involved with the Queen of the area in a venture that seems like it could be very dangerous on so many levels specially for Bill Compton.

Sam leaves for a few days to try to find out the truth about himself. We learn a little more about the disaster his life has been up to this point. Jessica truly feels alone as Bill is not paying attention to her and Hoyt acted like he abandoned her. It does seem that Hoyt did regret his actions but we don’t really know where that is going. We know its turning deadly for someone.

Jason and Andy believe they are heroes and in the end they saved the town. Of course that is based on what they knew their intentions were but in reality they are oblivious like the rest of the town. Andy does get his badge back though and we see a crazed tragedy at the end which will cause a tremendous amount of pain for Tara and possible Jason.

The cliffhanger for next year was excellent. We see Sookie calling out for Bill and not seeing anything but a fallen chair, a messed up table, and an open door. There are so many possible conclusions to come too and we will have a while to think about it.

Overall a good ending to the season. Pretty clear cut based on where things had been left the last few episodes. There are some huge problems we will have to see dealt with and then there is Sookie and Bill. It was nice to see in a moment of clarity Sookie say yes! Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

True Blood – Frenzy

Basically a real filler episode waiting for next weeks season finale. We see all of the pieces being put into place and putting Bill and Sam together at the end of the episode. We meet the Queen of the area Sophie-Anne played by Evan Rachel Wood.

I really spent most of this episode waiting for something to happen. The realization that what really was happening was a finale set-up to the this seasons storyline. Everything is pointing to the ceremony at Sookie’s house.

This would be all so much more interesting if it didn’t revolve around the Maryanne character and the rather weak storyline that has been built up through out the season.

So we have Lafayette under Maryanne’s control. Tara has returned to roost along with Eggs. Sookie is now trapped in her own house. The rest of the town except for some key personnel are useless.

We have Hoyt who is upset with Jessica, but quickly realizing all things are not what they seem. Did he not see what happened with Jessica would eventually occur. He’s not that smart a boy but really eventually something has to get through to him. I like the character so I hope he ends up doing well in the finale.

Sam and Andy are on their way up to try to do something. I am not sure what they can do considering anyone they would shoot at this point is one of their friends. I guess chaos is the name of the game. After the first season it is rather appropriate that Jason and Andy are two of the “sane” people left in town.

We get a true picture of the players in this episode. Eric will do nothing for anyone unless he sees an advantage to it or something to gain. The Queen Sophie-Anne is not dealing with reality any longer. Look at the room she has equipped for her to live in. It’s like a day sap for a vampire to make it seem like it is the middle of the day. You can trust her as far as you could throw her and I’m sure no one could based on her age and strength.

In the end I am betting on Sam and Bill with maybe Hoyt’s assistance coming through with some plan to end this madness. They will get Maryanne to believe Dionysus or Bacchus has come and then they will destroy her and set the town free. You have to wonder what the aftermath of all this will be though.

When the season started it seemed the Fellowship of the Sun was going to be the major storyline but in the end it was this “mysterious” (boring) god-like creature who’s story they choose to follow. Hopefully we get back to some semblance of true intrigue next season. I’s still looking forward to the finale. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

True Blood – New World In My View

Bill, Sookie, and Jason return to Bon Temp to find it in ruins. The sheriff seems to be missing and the people are running wild. Jason and Andy save Sam, and Bill and Sookie save Tara with Lafayette and Lettie Mae. Maryanne and Sookie have a showdown.

Basically four parts to this story and a very short episode. This episode ended at about forty five minutes into the telecast. About ten short of a usual episode. For once I was ready for a little more storyline.

Bill and Sookie return to find Hoyt’s Mom going crazy and Hoyt and Jessica holding her at bay. When Sookie and Bill go to Sookie’s house they find it ransacked and in a mess. Maryanne confronts them and forces Bill to attack her for going after Sookie making him sick. When she tries to attack Sookie a second time Sookie holds her off with a spiritual light of some kind and actual forces her away. Even Maryanne is stumped and has no idea what Sookie is. So we see there is more to Sookie then even the vampires seem to know.

Jason goes off to Merlotte’s to find Sam and finds a mob of his friends forcing Sam and Andy to hide in the cooler. Jason uses his new found skills to stop the crowd eventually and with Andy and Sam’s help gets the crowd to disperse. Best Jason storyline so far and a real improvement for his character.

After confronting Maryanne, Sookie and Bill race to Lafayette’s to see about Tara. In the end they are able to reach her with a combination of Bill’s glamor and Sookie’s mind reading. We learn some interesting things though. In the end everyone is suppose to die. No one who has been taken over seems upset by this, matter of fact they seem to welcome it. Sookie and Bill do realize that there is very little left of the actual person in there minds though.

In the end Bill leaves Sookie with her friends and goes and speaks to the one person who may be able to help them. We seem to see something ominous at the end but who knows. The guards didn’t seem alarmed and Bill really didn’t look that horrified.

Let’s face it. The Maryanne story is weak! They need to end this but obviously this is going to be the big finale piece for the season so expect the story to continue for at least another two episodes. I will be happy when this storyline ends though. I feel it has become a distraction more than a good story the last three weeks. Hopefully for season three we’ll see more vampire intrigue and more of those type of stories. Thanks for reading.

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman