Stargate Atlantis – Inquisition

Sci Fi

(Season 5, Episode 13)

How does the old saying go? You can put lipstick on a pig… but it’s still a clip show. Really, that’s what we had here. No matter how you look at it, ultimately a clip show is just not going to be as good as a full scale episode where fans of the show are concerned. Trips down memory lane are nice, but we’ve all seen it before, and something we haven’t seen will always be better.

That being said, as far as clip shows go, this was one of the better ones. The all too brief story serving as the framework for the clips brought up some interesting questions, and gave Woolsey a moment to shine.

The impetus for the trial, the effect of the Atlantis expedition on the galaxy, is something that has been the elephant in the room for a long time. While the ending left a little to be desired, it did do a good job of presenting the arguments for and against their involvement. They certainly have indirectly caused some trouble, but has the good they’ve done outweighed those mistakes? It’s a question without an easy answer. And that’s where they lost me a bit at the end. It all wrapped up rather neatly for the Atlantis team, and I would have liked to see a little more recognition of their role in the bigger picture, as opposed to what felt like a celebration of the victory.

Sci Fi

Sci Fi

Sci Fi

During the trial, two things stood out to me. First, it was a great showcase for Woolsey. The decision to put him in charge of Atlantis is paying off. I was on board when he told the guards to put Myrus in a cell, and ready to cheer for him when he told the team, “Now that I know what the game is, I can play it.” He really is a leader. And a leader that has gone through some pretty significant changes. Or possibly, given his recitation of his resume, reverted back to what he once was. I loved how completely unimpressed Ronon was with the Harvard Law Review.

Second, I’m left awfully curious about the Genii involvement in the trial. After learning that, I found myself thinking during the various clips that I would really like to see more on the Genii conspiracy. The makings for a full blown episode were right there. Removal of the clips also would have afforded time for the rest of the team to get on the stand. It would have been great to see McKay squirm through some questioning. More importantly, it would seem that the most intriguing testimony would have come from Teyla.

At the end of the day, it was alright. I’m glad that they acknowledged the question of the expedition’s role in the galaxy, and it was fun to see all of the old clips, but it was still a clip show. Things should pick up next week. He’s baaaack.

Clacked by Brett Love
on Oct 25, 2008 @ 15:00 EST5EDT