Sci-Fi Showdown - Week 10

Alright, here we go, the final installment of Khyron's Sci-Fi Showdown for the Winter Season of Sci Fi Friday. Over the past 9 weeks, I've broken down the 3 Sci Fi Friday shows--Stargate Sg-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica--in an attempt to decided which I found the most entertaining.

Battlestar Galactica, the reigning champion from last season's Sci-Fi Showdown, found competition for its sophomore season in the venerable (and improving) Stargate Sg-1. For Atlantis, on the other hand, it was a difficult struggle to get noticed when nestled in the middle of two fine shows.

But, with all 3 season finales now aired, its time to award my last Showdown point in preparation for the Sci Fi Friday Winter Season Awards Spectacular! Set let's get on with it...

Stargate Sg-1 - Ep. Camelot

This 2nd half to Stargate Sg-1's 9th season has been one of great improvement. When a show goes that long, there's only so much new material that can be added. There was some hit-and-miss success with a season 8 roster change (Browder being the hit, Claudia Black the miss), but the new enemy, the Ori, have managed to breath some fresh air in the series.

In episode 9.20, Camelot, Mitchell (Ben Browder) and team travel to a planet believed to be home to Camelot and a powerful weapon that can be used to negate the Ori's god-like power. However, they are soon recalled and given word that a new 'super' gate--one that would allow an Ori crusade to invade our galaxy--has been constructed. Now Carter (Amanda Tapping) and Teal'c (Christopher Judge) join a joint defense force to destroy the gate, hopeful that Mitchell and Daniel (Michael Shanks) can find and unlock the secrets of Merlin's magic. But will a massive fleet of Earth, Jaffa, Lucian, and Asgard vessels be enough to stop the invasion?

This was kind of a dyslexic finale. It started off slow enough, and felt more like a mid-season show. As Sg-1 ventured into the Camelot village, I was reminded of early exploration episodes, in which Sg-1 would manage to find a new medieval town with a dark secret each week. Then, with about 20 minutes left, its like they put the show into overdrive, perhaps realizing, "Oh wait! We need to make a cliffhanger, stat!"

The action then shifts from the dank, muddy village of Camelot to a massive space battle. This was undoubtedly my favorite part of the episode. Not that the Merlin and Camelot stuff wasn't good (Browder's duel with the Black Night was cool enough), but there's nothing like a full-scale fleet engagement to signal the end of a season. I also found it interesting how the ships facing off against the Ori invasion were all pretty much enemies at one time, but now had to come together to face this new threat. Its not every day that you get to see an Asgard warship team up with a Goa'uld mothership, and the scene proved to be a high-point for Sg-1.

As far as the cliffhanger goes, they've certainly managed to write themselves into a corner. I'm sure we'll see some kind of Merlin time machine to make things right, but basically we got to see the Ori kill most of the main characters. Well, its not like we haven't seen that before on Sg-1, but this particular instance seems even more grim than usual. And the final shot of Claudia Black, caressing her pregnant stomach, watching as the Milky Way defenses burn in space was the perfect anti-climax to leave us with the sense of doom that the Ori have now officially invaded. July, here we come.

Stargate Atlantis - Ep. Allies part 1

In a surprise turn of events, I awarded last week's Showdown point to Stargate Atlantis. Although it may have been overshadowed over the last few weeks, I still felt it deserving that this solid show receive at least some credit. But can it keep the momentum up and manage to knock Battlestar Galactica (the so far king of epic finales) off its perch? Well, no, it can't. But it tried, and I will give credit where credit is due.

In episode 2.20, Allies part 1, Atlantis is visited by a lone Wraith cruiser with knowledge that the city still exists. It is being led by none other than Michael, the Wraith turned-human-turned Wraith from 2 episodes back. He brings Atlantis a request: help them utilize their Wraith-transforming drug into a chemical weapon and the humans will be granted the access code required to bypass Wraith shield technology. Can the Atlantis team trust these Wraith rebels? And more importantly, should they?

I thought I saw where this episode was going. I had pictured a Wraith-human alliance that would form the backbone of some huge story arc that would dominate the 3rd and successive seasons. Its not a new concept for an 'enemy of my enemy is my friend'-style alliance, but I feel that it would have ended up working out for Atlantis.

But then, that's not what they ended up doing...

The whole episode was dedicated to building up the relationships between the various cast members and a group a personality-gifted Wraith. There were multiple instances in which doubt was raised about the feasibility of the alliance, but each were negated due to several good-faith signs by the Wraith. But then, in the last moments of the episode, they just threw it all away.

It was like, "Hey, you know that Wraith alliance we've been working towards, well guess what? Oh snap! It was all a trick. Haha. Fooled you."

They took great strides towards making the main enemy in the show more than just this all-encompassing, pure evil force. Suddenly we were shown variety within their ranks, personality among their numbers, insight into their technology, and a new plot line of a Wraith civil war. And I was all starting to look forward to it, I honestly was. But then they managed to bring it all back to square 1, reverting the Wraith back to their hunger-induced quest to find Earth.

As far as a finale cliffhanger goes, it was adequate. I am quite anxious to see where this new direction in plot will go, and how they will deal with the large inconsistency of the Wraith not possessing the technology to make it to Earth without the Atlantis Stargate. But, when compared to the depressing Sg-1 finale and the soon to be mentioned Battlestar shocker, it was a highly forgettable end to Atlantis' 2nd season.

Battlestar Galactica - Ep. Lay Down Your Burdens part 2

There's not much else to say about the close to Battlstar's second season but, "No way!"

In episode 2.20, Lay Down Your Burdens part 2, the heated presidential election is now underway. With Gaius Baltar (James Callis) taking the lead in the polls, the future doesn't look bright for President Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and her chief supporter, Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos). But after a rigged vote, Roslin finds herself retaining the office. But when confronted by Adama, the 2 must make a choice: admit to the faulty election and give Baltar, a man they know in their hearts to be a bad choice, or stay quiet and live with the guilt of tricking the remnants of humanity out of a democratic election. She settles on the former, leading to the biggest shocker in Sci Fi Friday history...

...One year later.

Yep, that's right. The show we have all fallen in love with has now been drastically altered. Starbuck has her Anders back, there's no more nuke hiding in the fleet, and most importantly, the Cylon's chase of the rag-tag fleet is now over. Well, for a little while at least...

Battlestar Galactica has always managed to blow me away when it comes to finales. And I'm proud to say that the pure shock of the One Year Later Bombshell has managed to top the near fatal shooting of Adama in season 1. And I mean that in the truest, and most positive sense. There's a reason Battlestar Galactica is so rare and edgy, and Lay Down Your Burdens part 2 is the reason why.

Like Stargate Atlantis, that I mentioned above, I thought I knew where the plot was going. I was ready for a big human-cylon alliance, Baltar leaving the fleet to join the Cylons, and the possible destruction of the Pegasus by the rogue nuke. Well, all that was pretty much thrown out the window. But, unlike Atlantis where they brought the show back a year to a place I'm not quite sure was necessary, Battlestar Galactica has a way of doing something I had in no way expected, but I love it even better than would I anticipated.

I haven't but a great deal of emphasis on acting in this final Winter Showdown, but not mentioning James Callis' performance would be a crime against nature. I bow to James Callis, pure and simple. He not only made this episode with his deep, fascinating portrayal of Gaius Baltar, but he simply makes the show in my book. A Battlestar Galactica without James Callis just wouldn't be Battlestar Galactica.

I'd say the hardest thing now is the wait. I have no idea where the writers will take this show next season, but am so completely anxious for it that the next few months will be total hell. You took a risk, Mr. Moore--a big one. One that will be surely talked about a great deal in the near future. For that I say bravo, and I give you my full trust in taking Battlestar Galactica to a new level.

Kudos.

Winner: Battlestar Galactica (Lay Down Your Burdens part 2)

Memorable Scene: President Baltar (that will never get old) learning of the death of Gina and the last physical embodiment of his love, put his head down on his desk, only to awaken in a totally different world--a world one year since colonization of New Caprica. When those words appeared at the bottom of the screen, I was once again reminded why Battlestar Galactica is the best show on television.

Standings: (FINAL)

Stargate Sg-1: 3
Stargate Atlantis: 1
Battlestar Galactica: 6

Ok, thus concludes the showdown portion of Khyron's Sci-Fi Showdown. Stay tuned next week for the Awards Spectacular!