SGU 113, Faith (Spoilers)

[NecronLord]

Discussion thread for this week's episode of Stargate Universe.

I could have easily done a 1-10 scale just with jaffa rebel quotes this time, but I restrained myself...

[Temujin]

A bit of a slow, and albeit boring episode. Overall I rate it as a three; not bad, but nothing special.

Things of note:

• Thankfully Wray didn't turn out to be a bitch again like the previews showed she might. She actually got to be a bit more sympathetic and get some limited character building in again.
  
  I was at first surprised that T.J. took such a hard left turn, but with her maternal instincts kicking in it really is to be expected.
  
  Greer showed me why I love him. "You both dig the latrine. Spirit of cooperation!"
  
  I also liked the older scientist who shot the down the God angle.
  
  I'm curious if we will ever find out anything more about these aliens, maybe they're the ancients of this section of the universe.

[CaptJodan]

Thankfully Wray didn't turn out to be a bitch again like the previews showed she might. She actually got to be a bit more sympathetic and get some limited character building in again.

I was glad to see this as well. Though I'll admit that I would have preferred to see Wray make the first move toward someone like Eli, rather than having Eli do it. Upon hearing that Young was going to try and let up on the reins, neither Rush nor Wray made any effort to do reciprocate until the end. Even Eli, who is also a civilian (though was obviously on Young's side) had to make the first move to Wray. I think it would have meant more if Wray made the first move to Eli. Would have helped her character even more.

Greer showed me why I love him. "You both dig the latrine. Spirit of cooperation!"

I was pretty sure when this show started that I wasn't going to like Greer, but honestly I can't help but like him. He's predictable, yet not.

I also liked the older scientist who shot the down the God angle.

I both did, and didn't like this. On the one hand, you need that kind of person around. On the other, he was an asshole about it, and only reinforces the typical Hollywood stereotype that all atheists are assholes about it. By the end, the idiot sprouting off the god nonsense did deserve the kind of abrupt answer that the scientist originally gave, but I think SGU failed to deliver a sympathetic non-believer.

I'm curious if we will ever find out anything more about these aliens, maybe they're the ancients of this section of the universe.

Doubt it. It's titled "Faith". I know it seems trite, but I think it's pretty clear this was a one-off episode that is supposed to leave the audience wondering more about whether it was their one chance or not. Bringing these aliens back would spoil the whole point of this episode, so I doubt we'll ever see them.

Like you, I thought this episode was a solid 3. I wouldn't call it boring or slow, per say. On the contrary, I like the fact that SGU proceeds at a slower pace and allows for the simple exploration factor to be done, rather than simply running from one disaster to another. I consider that a strength of the show.

On the other hand, there was nothing that really propels this one beyond "it was nice to see, but I'm ready to move on" territory. Nothing really propelled it to four or five territory.

[Johonebesus]

Where have we seen an obelisk that narrows to a point just above the base? It looked awfully familiar, but it isn't Egyptian.

[Temujin]

Like you, I thought this episode was a solid 3. I wouldn't call it boring or slow, per say. On the contrary, I like the fact that SGU proceeds at a slower pace and allows for the simple exploration factor to be done, rather than simply running from one disaster to another. I consider that a strength of the show.

I agree, I usually don't mind the slow pace. It often accompanies a deeper and more intellectual story. However, there was just something about this episode that seemed to drag for me, at least just a little bit; not quite sure what it was.

[Xon]

Well it looks like they found combat drones of some type in the previously unexplored areas of Destiny. Stargate is normally good with introducing something in a 5 minute span which is then used a bunch of episodes later.

[JME2]

Not a bad episode, but not too memorable, save for development for TJ. Can't wait to see Michael Shanks back next week.

3/5

[adam_grif]

3/5 also.

Characters were solid, but nothing happened.

Doubt it. It's titled "Faith". I know it seems trite, but I think it's pretty clear this was a one-off episode that is supposed to leave the audience wondering more about whether it was their one chance or not. Bringing these aliens back would spoil the whole point of this episode, so I doubt we'll ever see them.

I'd be happy to have the point of this episode ruined if it meant that watching it wasn't a big fat waste of my time.

[JME2]

Funniest part of the episode was Eli's reference to TWOK.

[Themightytom]

Wow TJ was pushing buttons on Lt. Scott. he was probably seeing his own ex gf in TJ's fears about carrying her baby to term.

Chloe's a biiiiitch for just giving Eli a nod after a month away from him.

Colonel Young is trying a little TOO hard with Dr Rush, last time he did this he just set himself up for the big betrayal.

I Just Don't Care About Wray's problems.

And I was loving the whole "You do the best you can with whatever shit you happen to step in." Somehow a regular poster from this site seems to have snuck into the SG-verse.

[Themightytom]

Where have we seen an obelisk that narrows to a point just above the base? It looked awfully familiar, but it isn't Egyptian.

[[R_H]]

Greer showed me why I love him. "You both dig the latrine. Spirit of cooperation!"

Not to mention the "kiwi" bit. "Oh...that's delicious."

[NecronLord]

Where have we seen an obelisk that narrows to a point just above the base? It looked awfully familiar, but it isn't Egyptian.

Snip.

Above the base, not at the peak. The Washington monument follows Egyptian pattern.

Anyway, the answer may be warhammer fantasy.

[Alyeska]

So, who could have pulled this off? Creating the star and planet, that is. The Ancients haven't demonstrated this level of technology. But another race has.

The Asgard. They can modify stars. They turned a star into a blackhole. Bet you they have the pre-requisite technology to do what we saw in this episode.

[Zac Naloen]

I heard them mention how old the planet was but for some reason it hasn't registered in my memory banks. Can it give us an idea to the age of Destiny?

[NecronLord]

So, who could have pulled this off? Creating the star and planet, that is. The Ancients haven't demonstrated this level of technology. But another race has.

The Abydonians perhaps. We've actually seen them (re)create a planet that may have been devastated or destroyed, and its stargate at some point. Though I would expect Skaraa/Kasuf et al to do it right, and provide a stargate with enough power to get home on the planet.

The Asgard. They can modify stars. They turned a star into a blackhole. Bet you they have the pre-requisite technology to do what we saw in this episode.

We don't know how long they took to do it. Similarly, it could have been moved, rather than created. In theory, they might be able to move one by building something like a stargate and sucking matter from a star or nebula to a specific location, then Dakara'ing the planet they create - but that applies to both Ancients (pre-ascension) and potentially Asgard.

Mind you, as the tower had no identifiable markings, I'd say 'completely unknown aliens.'

[Gil Hamilton]

I think that these guys are going to show up again, but more as setting that people act against rather than an active faction. The only evidence that they are active is that it is pretty damn unlikely that the star would just happen to exactly be in Destiny's path and that the planet is seemingly tuned to human (or Ancient) needs. It's possible the builders saw a chain of Ancient starships and were powerful enough to build a planet with a star around it so the next one would stick around for a little bit. The obelisk is there to let those aliens know that the guests have arrived.

Who they are should be a big mystery for a while, but to be honest, nothing about that set up struck me as particularly malevolent.

[JME2]

Who they are should be a big mystery for a while, but to be honest, nothing about that set up struck me as particularly malevolent.

I guess it's our natural reaction after 12 years of encounters with snake heads, goth vampires, and the Legos from Hell -- not to mention the Blue Men Group.

[Gil Hamilton]

I guess it's our natural reaction after 12 years of encounters with snake heads, goth vampires, and the Legos from Hell -- not to mention the Blue Men Group.

It can go one of two ways, given how ridiculously advanced the Star Builders are. Either they aren't malevolent, in which case they need to be setting for the plot to happen against as to not go "Hey guys, you lost? Here, we'll send you home!" or they are malevolent, at which case, they are so ridiculously advanced that you can't base a plot around it. They go "Boom!" and Destiny does.

[Vympel]

Just watching now. Hi to deck chief Laird from Battlestar Pegasus!

[Covenant]

2/5 from me, but I consistently get upset and yell at the screen with this show, so that's not surprising. What I was suprised at was that most of the time when I yelled, Rush would chime in a second later. Below average, but not Voyager level like last week.

After last week's fiasco I've got nearly no characters I like, so from the start I'm just hoping they redeem themselves somehow, and for the most part Rush rebounded a bit and Young at least made a fumbling, Neanderthalic attempt to actually work with people, which I appreciate. Wray is whatever who cares and Eli didn't do as much infantile whining. All of those are plusses, even if there was no noticeable character development for me. I did like the "I enjoy chess" exchange and hope to see them work on a relationship, but the baby drama completely obliterated my hope for a less-stupid future plot arc.

Dr. Caine and his fellow morons wandering about in the land of Nod are fine by me, I'm beginning to treat this show like 24--I watch it only when other people do and I'm only happy when somebody dies. The whole faith and religion angle is usually a sore subject, which is not uncommon in a Sci-Fi show, but this has shown up multiple times and I dislike it each time it does. Someone's private admonitions of faith are one thing, but to make the episode centered on a What If? with regard to a new planetary genesis just to save these mouth-breathers... I don't know which I find more frustrating, the ignorance or the arrogance. I shouldn't have to grit my teeth when the characters talk.

The one person who honestly seemed to reject the What-If rather than just ignore it was Professor Strawman, whose angry and unlikeable response to Chloe just highlighted some of the reasons I feel this show is really quite hostile to the kind of viewer SG shows usually attracted. I am once again frustrated to the point of asking, "Why not just make a different show?" Why not just call it Destiny? Or is the SG-label on the front the only thing keeping this show from being seen as a direct copy of nBSG? At least Rush isn't seeing angels yet.

All in all, a pretty forgettable ep that dragged for me because it made several key characters look intensely selfish, started a Oh No Baby Drama plot arc, and seemed to set it all up for a "What if..?" moment that hinges on me believing the crew show be excused for being insane.

[Temjin]

So did any of the crew actually stay on the planet? Or did they all wimp out when they realised that TJ and the soldiers were leaving? You know, the sensible thing to do.

If any did stay behind, I can definately see the builders coming up again in another episode. Especially if Caine stayed behind, given his character development in the past couple of episodes.

[Johonebesus]

You know, I don't get all the hate for Eli. He was introduced as a slacker genius who was wasting his life, then he suddenly got kidnapped and eventually trapped on an alien ship facing life or death situations every other day. He shouldn't be all calm and cool and collected. He isn't a soldier who has been trained to keep cool under fire. He isn't even a scientist who was eased into the Stargate program. He may be in his twenties, but emotionally he's still just a kid. Honestly, how many people here would be able to stay calm and professional upon finding themselves playing a key role in a space fight with not only their own lives but many other lives hanging on them?

I don't love the character, but given his backstory, his behavior is perfectly believable. It would be more incredible to me if he easily acclimated and went from being a selfish, lazy, adolescent slacker to a consummate military technician/scientist in a couple of weeks.

[PREDATOR490]

3

Those aliens are coming back, I have little doubt. It has too much signs as being a foreshadow for future appearances.

Just like the Ancients where in SG-1. I suspect these aliens will appear, who knows its possible they are Ascended beings. Unless of course SG wants to continue the rather dubious idea that ONLY humans can ascend can ALL Ascended beings follow the same rule book as the Ancients.

I find the religious BS pointless though and ultimately stupid.

We were 'meant' to find this place because 'some power' made it 'specifically for us' so we could be 'happy' and die in 'paradise'.

Uhm... if this 'higher power' wants to help you, why not just make a planet with an awesome power source like the original planet that got you stuck on the ship. Hell, if they can make a star and planet so perfectly, juice up Destiny so the folks can dial Earth and go home ?

I would find it hilarious if this was actually a ploy by these aliens to try and get the Destiny crew to abandon ship so they can capture it. Alternatively, the planet IS like the genesis device and falls apart because its an experimental proto-type. I'm surprised Eli wouldnt bring that point up or SOMEONE conclude there could be a valid reason why its abandoned.

[Siege]

Another three for me. I enjoyed this episode: no easy explanations were provided about the Obelisk-builders, which allows the episode to explore the characters' reactions to that particular mystery, and leaving the answers up in the air makes both sides of the situation (those wanting to stay, and those thinking the crew should return to Destiny) appear understandable or at least not complete idiots. In this, Faith is very different from how an episode like it would have been handled in Star Trek, and that distinction is a breath of fresh air I appreciate very much.

Of course it's a character building episode and not much of consequence happens beyond finding additional food and a modicum of rapproachment between Rush, Young and the rest of the crew... But still. Oh, and I'm actually glad to see there's people aboard who think about a situation like the one presented in religious terms: even if I don't agree with them at all I at least feel it makes the crew far more believable. Not all SG personnel can be Daniel Jackson type 'surely there's a rational explanation for this' types.

I would find it hilarious if this was actually a ploy by these aliens to try and get the Destiny crew to abandon ship so they can capture it.

I'd hope folks who can build an entire star system from scratch wouldn't need to do so in order to capture a single starship. I mean, that'd be silly. Also, who says the planet was abandoned? For something to be abandoned it has to be inhabited first, and beyond the Obelisk there was nothing to indicate there were ever people there. Maybe they built a system there just to show they could, and the Obelisk carried their version of "look at my works ye mighty, and despair" in a ton of languages no-one on Destiny understands. Or maybe they just fancied... You know, having a star system there. Sort of like interior decorating at a ridiculous scale. I actually would prefer the motives of those responsible to be weird like that. That would fit a ludicrously advanced civilization better than a petty bout of capture-the-ship; we have the Blue Man Group (I like that nickname) for that (and the humans themselves for that matter), let's not drag everybody else down to that level.