Sci-Fi Showdown - January 6th

Welcome back to Khyron's Sci-Fi Showdown. A staple feature here at Khyron.Net, the purpose of this 'showdown' is to rank the Sci-fi Channel's Sci-Fi Friday lineup. It is my opinion that this collection of shows--Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica--comprise the 3 greatest, consecutive hours on television.

On Friday, January 6th, the Winter season of Sci-Fi Friday kicked off. Each week, starting with this very issue, I will give a brief summary (mostly spoiler free) of each show, with a bit of personal commentary thrown in for good measure. Then, as a conclusion, I will choose which of the three shows had what I feel to be the most dramatic, comical, action-packed, or otherwise best episode of the lineup.

So, without further adieu, Khyron's Sci-Fi Showdown...Winter Edition!

Stargate SG-1 - Ep: The Fourth Horseman pt. 2

The venerable SG-1 returns for the second half of its 9th season. In its long run (the longest of any sci-fi show), we've seen the SG-1 team headed by the irreplaceable Richard Dean Anderson take on plenty of alien races in the defense of the Earth. The Goa'uld, Replicators, Goa'uld 'super' soldiers--they all made for an exciting and interesting plot that allowed SG-1 to remain successful over all these years. Now, with season 9, the show's creators have had to make a new antagonist.

Their solution? Religious extremist aliens. Known as the Ori, this race of demi-gods uses messengers called Priors to do their bidding. Despite the unoriginality of this new enemy, it has proven to be at least acceptable in terms of plot development.

The other big change to SG-1 is in the cast. MacGuyver is gone, replaced in a bold move by Farscape's Ben Browder. I mentioned above that Richard Dean was irreplaceable on the show, and that comment stands. Browder, although taking Anderson's 'place' in the show, has created a similar character, but is sufficiently different--not intended to be a replacement. Nor should he be.

Alright, so down to business. In episode 9.11, the Earth is on the verge of a full-blown pandemic at the hands of an Ori plague. Meanwhile, Teal'c (Christopher Judge) faces off against Gerak (Louis Gossett Jr.) in a power struggle over the newly formed Jaffa High Council. In an attempt the stop the plague, Cameron Mitchell (Browder) and crew go off-world to capture an Ori Prior and synthesize some kind of antidote from him. But will they be able to find a cure in time? And what of Garek's loyalties between his Jaffa brothers and the seemingly unstoppable force of the Ori?

As a part 2 conclusion and season introduction, Fourth Horseman worked well in that it was explosive enough to get viewers sufficiently interested in the story again. It was frenzied (though that's not uncommon for SG-1), moving between several sub-plots and locations. But as a fan of the show, this new conflict is really starting to click with me. Perhaps its the loss of Claudia Black (also of Farscape fame) and here crazy shenanigans, or maybe just Browder becoming more confident in his leading role, but I can definitely see an improvement in what I felt was shaping up to be a low-point for the series.

I can tell that with the show nearing its 10th season, the writers are being a bit more daring in their plots. Part of SG-1 over the years has been the characters keeping the Stargate's existence secret from the general public. Now, however, things are starting to slip and full disclosure is being talked of more and more in the show. Hopefully this boils down to a world-shattering conclusion to the series that if done right would be the perfect way to close the show.

Stargate Atlantis - Ep: The Hive

Like all long-running shows, a spin-off is almost inevitable. However, airing the spin-off back-to-back with its founder while it's still going strong is a bit more rare.

As with its SG-1 brother, Atlantis too has been under a new season audible. Original cast member Rainbow Sun Francks is gone, now taking a guest role as an antagonist. In his stead is the strong and silent Ronon, played by Jason Momoa. Though such changes are common (nigh expected) for a start-up series.

In episode 2.11, Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and team are being held captive with the now semi-bad guy Ford (Rainbow Sun) in a Wraith Hive Ship. Meanwhile, Rodney (David Hewlitt) injects himself with a dangerously high amount of Wraith enzyme to escape his captors. Can the Atlantis team find a way off the ship before their turned into food? At what of these humans seemingly in cohorts with the Wraith?

The Hive was strange in that for nearly the last 20 or so minutes, nearly every scene focused on characters overcoming a cold-turkey detoxification process. It was kind of painful to watch for a while, as nearly every character was writhing in pain with little else being shown.

I'm definitely starting to grow more attached to this show, as the characters are starting to find their place. Joe Flanigan and David Hewlitt stand out as my favorites of the cast, but I'm having some problems with the warrior woman Teyla played by Rachel Luttrell. Her character just doesn't feel right to me, especially when coupled with the warrior man, Ronon. Unfortunately, unlike Rainbow Sun's character, Teyla has been written into a pivotal enough position to not be easily 'removed' from the show.

Part of the problem with Atlantis is that so far, its been pretty much 'borrowing' show ideas from SG-1. Not that that's necessarily a terrible thing (early to mid SG-1 was damn good), I just think that if Atlantis is to succeed, it will need to find a niche that remains true to its Stargate roots, but also gives us something new to the aging franchise.

Hopefully starting with the next episode, written by star Joe Flanigan, Atlantis will begin to change pace.

Battlestar Galactica - Ep: Resurrection Ship

The winner by far in last season's Sci-Fi Showdown, Battlestar Galactica returns with what appears to be a continuation to its monstrously entertaining 2nd season. Its definitely the favorite going into this season, so its BSG's showdown to lose.

After seeing the season 2.5 premier, such an outcome already seems unlikely.

In episode 2.11, Ressurection Ship, we're thrown straight back into the nail-biting cliffhanger of the Summer. The Battlestar Galactica and new-arrival the Battlestar Pegasus are up in arms against each other, bringing the surviving human race to the brink of civil war. Only Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) and her sudden reappearance in the stealth Viper averts the conflict. In the tense peace following the incident, Captain Adama (Edward James Olmos) and Admiral Cain (Michelle Forbes of Star Trek TNG fame) conspire to take the other out of power. But after Dr. Baltar (my show favorite, James Callis) relays intelligence regarding a Cylon 'Ressurection ship,' assassination will have to wait until a joint operation can be completed.

I was kind of surprised at the course this season is beginning to take. With so many months between this and the Summer finale, I've had more than enough time to contemplate the various outcomes available to the cliffhanger. I thought I had it all figured it, but then the writers went and made this whole assassination plot whammy.

In the plot between the Galactica and the Pegasus, Adama (Olmos) had thus far had the advantage of the moral high-ground. Now, turning Starbuck into a would-be assassin, the Galactica is really no better than the strictly military and uncompromising Pegasus. Though it is making for a more dramatic (if not more depressing, if that's even possible for this new Battlestar series) experience.

Of its highly talented cast, Callis and Olmos continue to shine. As does Mary McDonnell in the role of the fatally ill president. I also have to give props to Tricia Helfer, who's now playing double duty as both the sexy, manipulative Six and the tortured soul Gina. Likewise, Grace Park is continuing to be exemplary in her tortured performance as the now pregnant Cylon agent.

Results-

Winner: Stargate SG-1 (The Fourth Horseman pt. 2)

This was a tough choice (as many of these tend to be), as Battlestar Galactica truly did have a great episode. However, the level of improvement shown in SG-1 is deserving of attention.

Despite having a child actor that clearly didn't fit, The Fourth Horseman pt. 2 was a fine piece of Stargate goodness. The mixture of comedy and action was dead-on, and it was good to see Browder find his place beside Michael Shanks and action hero/funny man.

Memorable Scene: In what was surely a nod to Battlestar Galactica and its success, Browder and Shanks make a tongue in cheek reference to the BSG opening lines, "And they have a plan." It was an easy thing to overlook, but such hidden sci-fi comedy is really what helped make SG-1 the great show that it is.

Standings:

Stargate SG-1: 1
Stargate Atlantis: 0
Battlestar Galactica: 0

Next week: As is always the case, all three previews look enticing. SG-1 seems to be taking a break form the Ori plotline and doing more of a one-off thing. So I'm interested to see how that goes. Plus, as I said above, the next Atlantis was written by star Joe Flanigan. And, as always, Battlestar Galactica looks geared up to blow my socks off.

Stay Tuned.

~Khyron, 2006