Week 6 - August 19
Winner: Stargate Sg-1 ("Beachhead")

At long last! A turn-around has come, signaling the return of a quality "Stargate Sg-1" episode.

In episode 9.6, "Beachhead," Cameron Mitchell (Ben Browder) leads Sg-1 in a show of force against the shows new enemy, the Ori. After a surprise appearance by a low-level Goa'ould, the presence of an Ori beachhead is made known. By creating a powerful energy shield, an Ori Prior attempts to make a suitable spot through which an invasion force can gain a foothold in our galaxy. But will the return of Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and the use of a multi-gigaton nuclear device be enough to halt the Ori invasion?

Just when I thought the veteran "Sg-1" was going to be swept by heavy-weight "Battlestar," "Beachhead" comes out, firing on all cylinders. It had a mix of action, humor, drama, and a twist ending that reminded me of the classic "Sg-1" episodes that made this show so great.

Last week, I alluded to the return of original cast member, Amanda Tapping. I was hoping that with her return, the show would pick up from its slump of mediocrity. And pick up, it did.

In the first 5 episodes of this season, the main female lead has been filled by Claudia Black ("Farscape"). Her character, Vala Mal Duran, is brash, manipulative, and a compulsive liar. Thus far, she has been the comic relief--being funny at times, but annoyingly frustrating at others. In "Beachhead," her role was toned-down--taking a backseat to Tapping. I was pleased at this, not being a huge fan of Black's performance. Her attempt to bring some spice into the tried and true formula of "Sg-1" was successful on a whole, but I never felt the show required such a shake-up.

As you may have noticed, the Showdown leader, "Battlestar Galactica," has gone two weeks without a win. Does this mean the second season of this highly praised show is dropping in appeal? Far from it. In fact, the past two weeks have been as entertaining as ever. The reason I have chosen "Sg-1" the victor is because of a combination of originality and lasting appeal. "Battlestar" has been very consistent, but this week's "Sg-1" was more memorable.

Memorable Scene: When delivering an ultimatum for withdrawal, Cameron Mitchell (Browder) explains that the Ori have 30 "Earth minutes." A rather hilarious comment, it takes a shot at the common sci-fi plot hole of differing time standards on other planets.

Next Week: The Showdown is still anyone's game. "Atlantis" only trails "Battlestar" by one point, and with Amanda Tapping's return, "Sg-1" will be coming back strong. All three previews look equally interesting, and only time shall reveal the winner.

Standings:

Stargate Sg-1: 1
Stargate Atlantis: 2
Battlestar Galactica: 3