Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
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- Adrian McNair
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Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
So here it is, the fifth episode of Universe's second season. I've slightly revised the ratings system for this week's thread. Here are my thoughts:
- This episode was mostly forgettable. Aside from the offspring of the Triffids and Greer firing away with his improvised flamethrower it contained nothing particularly interesting or unique. The best description that I can come up for it was that it was an amalgamation of SG-1's Changeling (a team member has a hallucinatory experience) and Atlantis' 38 Minutes (a team member is affected by a hostile organism). It was nothing more than a regurgitation. Do they honestly think that this is what the viewers want to see? I want answers and plot progression, damn it!
- Naturally the SyFy Channel fodder playing in the theatre had the MGM stamp on it.
- Nicholas Rush, Justice of the Peace. How ironic. Telford was the Cloverdale Sherrif. Does this mean that Scott subconsciously feels that Telford was better suited to command than Young? In his subconscious Telford was in a position of authority while Young was his apparently retired father (who kept waving off his concerns and didn't have much advice on the day of the wedding aside from "Wake up"). It's definitely a valid sentiment to have.
- It's clear that even Scott knows deep down that his little tryst with Chloe is a flimsy one. Getting into a girl's pants right after her father has died is hardly conducive to a long-term relationship. I see a break-up in the not too distant future.
- Perhaps I'm mistaken but it seemed as though they were able to trigger the Gate's Kawoosh repeatedly even while there was already a stable wormhole in place. Have they ever done that on the other two Stargate series?
- Chloe did actually achieve something this week, shockingly enough (even if it was an infuriatingly stupid gamble on her part). Maybe it'll be the start of a new trend (I highly doubt it, though). Now she and her boyfriend are both under quarantine. I doubt either of them are complaining.
Overall I'd give this one out of five for the aforementioned reasons.
- This episode was mostly forgettable. Aside from the offspring of the Triffids and Greer firing away with his improvised flamethrower it contained nothing particularly interesting or unique. The best description that I can come up for it was that it was an amalgamation of SG-1's Changeling (a team member has a hallucinatory experience) and Atlantis' 38 Minutes (a team member is affected by a hostile organism). It was nothing more than a regurgitation. Do they honestly think that this is what the viewers want to see? I want answers and plot progression, damn it!
- Naturally the SyFy Channel fodder playing in the theatre had the MGM stamp on it.
- Nicholas Rush, Justice of the Peace. How ironic. Telford was the Cloverdale Sherrif. Does this mean that Scott subconsciously feels that Telford was better suited to command than Young? In his subconscious Telford was in a position of authority while Young was his apparently retired father (who kept waving off his concerns and didn't have much advice on the day of the wedding aside from "Wake up"). It's definitely a valid sentiment to have.
- It's clear that even Scott knows deep down that his little tryst with Chloe is a flimsy one. Getting into a girl's pants right after her father has died is hardly conducive to a long-term relationship. I see a break-up in the not too distant future.
- Perhaps I'm mistaken but it seemed as though they were able to trigger the Gate's Kawoosh repeatedly even while there was already a stable wormhole in place. Have they ever done that on the other two Stargate series?
- Chloe did actually achieve something this week, shockingly enough (even if it was an infuriatingly stupid gamble on her part). Maybe it'll be the start of a new trend (I highly doubt it, though). Now she and her boyfriend are both under quarantine. I doubt either of them are complaining.
Overall I'd give this one out of five for the aforementioned reasons.
- Zac Naloen
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Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
Again, character progression takes precedence over plot progression early on. I've always enjoyed the character stuff so naturally I thought this was a much better episode than you've rated it.- This episode was mostly forgettable. Aside from the offspring of the Triffids and Greer firing away with his improvised flamethrower it contained nothing particularly interesting or unique. The best description that I can come up for it was that it was an amalgamation of SG-1's Changeling (a team member has a hallucinatory experience) and Atlantis' 38 Minutes (a team member is affected by a hostile organism). It was nothing more than a regurgitation. Do they honestly think that this is what the viewers want to see? I want answers and plot progression, damn it!
He see's Young as a distant father figure, and Telford as the law and order type but also a confrontational man. I don't think it is supposed to comment on what scott feels about Telfords command ability.- Nicholas Rush, Justice of the Peace. How ironic. Telford was the Cloverdale Sherrif. Does this mean that Scott subconsciously feels that Telford was better suited to command than Young? In his subconscious Telford was in a position of authority while Young was his apparently retired father (who kept waving off his concerns and didn't have much advice on the day of the wedding aside from "Wake up"). It's definitely a valid sentiment to have.
It's back to Scott and his doing things because he thinks it's the right thing to do rather than the correct thing to do. This was a theme in Scotts episodes last year.- It's clear that even Scott knows deep down that his little tryst with Chloe is a flimsy one. Getting into a girl's pants right after her father has died is hardly conducive to a long-term relationship. I see a break-up in the not too distant future.
That's just the way it was edited, there were time jumps.- Perhaps I'm mistaken but it seemed as though they were able to trigger the Gate's Kawoosh repeatedly even while there was already a stable wormhole in place. Have they ever done that on the other two Stargate series?
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Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
Very Farscapish. I liked this episode.
I have to tell you something everything I wrote above is a lie.
Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
First episode I've seen live for a while, as I was in an area for 3 weeks without internet or cable TV. Too bad I had to come back for this one, the others I missed and saw later were far better.
Overall, I'm going with a 1 on this one, as the entire episode I was saying exactly what 1 says, that it's a waste of time. I don't mind having character development, but I didn't get the sense that this gave us anything we didn't already know about Scott. Last week we had some great character arcs for both Wray and Eli, but they were more effective and told us more about those characters. This really didn't tell me much of anything about Scott. In a way, I thought it was more a Chloe episode in that we learn how far she's wiling to go for Scott, but that isn't saying much.
Fake Eli's sentiments about Scott being not that deep are pretty spot on, which is why I thought this episode was unnecessary. The episode didn't really add to it. I kept looking for a B plot to help me stay interested, but alas there wasn't one.
Chloe becomes useful in this episode, but as most of us probably already figured out, only because someone else did something to her, not because she went out of her way to be useful. I'm glad she's got a purpose for the moment, but it's only because she has super healing powers, not because she wants to contribute something and goes out of her way to be helpful.
This was the weakest episode of the season so far, and I'm not sad to see it go. Next week looks much better, though.
Spoiler
Overall, I'm going with a 1 on this one, as the entire episode I was saying exactly what 1 says, that it's a waste of time. I don't mind having character development, but I didn't get the sense that this gave us anything we didn't already know about Scott. Last week we had some great character arcs for both Wray and Eli, but they were more effective and told us more about those characters. This really didn't tell me much of anything about Scott. In a way, I thought it was more a Chloe episode in that we learn how far she's wiling to go for Scott, but that isn't saying much.
Fake Eli's sentiments about Scott being not that deep are pretty spot on, which is why I thought this episode was unnecessary. The episode didn't really add to it. I kept looking for a B plot to help me stay interested, but alas there wasn't one.
Chloe becomes useful in this episode, but as most of us probably already figured out, only because someone else did something to her, not because she went out of her way to be useful. I'm glad she's got a purpose for the moment, but it's only because she has super healing powers, not because she wants to contribute something and goes out of her way to be helpful.
This was the weakest episode of the season so far, and I'm not sad to see it go. Next week looks much better, though.
Spoiler
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Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
Character development was fine, but like last week, the alien infection plot has been done to death within the SG mythology.
Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
Almost a total waste of my time. I say almost, because the 30 second preview clip of next week's episode at the end was far more entertaining and captivating than the entirety of this week's episode.
- Themightytom
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Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
Fantastic. Scott sees Chloe as a monster at the very last minute, while she is busy endangering her life and exposing her secret to save him. There's gonna be bullshit shipping drama everywhere next episode.
Fuck
You
Eli.
Just get over it already, you are That Guy. negative character growth.
The exchange with Vanessa James the night of Scott's wedding was interesting. Wow even in his own dreams he's an insensitive asshole, she seemed like she really wanted to run off with him (in dream form) that is probably true of life, which means he is aware of it on some level.
Fuck
You
Eli.
Just get over it already, you are That Guy. negative character growth.
The exchange with Vanessa James the night of Scott's wedding was interesting. Wow even in his own dreams he's an insensitive asshole, she seemed like she really wanted to run off with him (in dream form) that is probably true of life, which means he is aware of it on some level.
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Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
I can see how some of that was needed to advance various character arcs-and Greer with a flamethrower he bodged together out of ducttape and spare parts was pretty cool-but I wasn't exactly overwhelmed.
Every show has the occasional 'meh' episode sprinkled in, though, and the quality of the series so far this season's been pretty high.
Every show has the occasional 'meh' episode sprinkled in, though, and the quality of the series so far this season's been pretty high.
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Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
You're welcome to think that but I most certainly don't agree. Stargate Universe is currently circling the drain. The viewing figures for last week's episode were 974 000. That's rather anemic wouldn't you say? If it's renewed for a third season I'll seriously be impressed. I'll stick with it for the entire season but I just don't see it lasting at this rate. Make all of the excuses you want to but you can't change the cold-hard facts.Zac Naloen wrote: Again, character progression takes precedence over plot progression early on. I've always enjoyed the character stuff so naturally I thought this was a much better episode than you've rated it.
I said it last week and I'll say it again. Episodes like this don't help the precarious situation of the show in the slightest. Slow-paced boring episodes are part of what killed the Sarah Connor Chronicles. You might think that this was a decent episode where character development takes centre stage ("Character development" where Scott realises the obvious about his relationship with Chloe), but the other members of the Stargate fanbase elsewhere who felt that this is TeenBattlestarGate: Voyager certainly don't. Neither do the suits over at SyFy who tend to look at the bottom line.
Hell, I'll make the prediction. Stargate Universe is going to be cancelled this season and the rest of the franchise will die with it. There will be no follow-ups (just as those supposed DTV movies for SG-1 and Atlantis have never materialised).
Last edited by Adrian McNair on 2010-10-27 05:11pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
Well, James is far more attractive and interesting than Chloe could ever hope to be. I know who I'd choose if I were in Scott's situation. Of course he made the opposite decision but he never was the most rational of people to begin with (He is cloyingly religious after all. Thankfully that part of his character hasn't really cropped up that much this season).Themightytom wrote: The exchange with Vanessa James the night of Scott's wedding was interesting. Wow even in his own dreams he's an insensitive asshole, she seemed like she really wanted to run off with him (in dream form) that is probably true of life, which means he is aware of it on some level.
Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
MGM's current financial situation isn't helping matters either.Adrian McNair wrote:Hell, I'll make the prediction. Stargate Universe is going to be cancelled this season and the rest of the franchise will die with it. There will be no follow-ups (just as those supposed DTV movies for SG-1 and Atlantis have never materialised).
The second half of Season 2.0 better knock our socks off, because you're right; SGU's in trouble.
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Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
SGU can do character development well - just look at last weeks episode, despite being primarily a character development episode, it was actually pretty interesting and good. Eli and Wray were both good in it, and it developed them both without being totally boring.
This weeks episode? completely forgettable. Did it tell us ANYTHING at all that we didn't already know about Scott? it didn't tell us a goddamn new thing - Scott's an insensitive asshole, and his relationship with Chloe is stupid. The key word is development, and this had none of it - it was an entirely wasted episode, with the only halfway interesting parts coming at the end, with Eli realising how much of a moron Chloe is (you can practically hear the unspoken 'idiot' when he says goodbye) and Young quarantining them. So in a 40 minute episode, we get roughly 3 minutes of actual development.
I'll echo Adrian in saying that they're going the same route as TSCC and playing it too slow paced - it'll get them cancelled unless they have an absolutely fantastic second half of the season, otherwise they'll just end up shedding viewers each week.
This weeks episode? completely forgettable. Did it tell us ANYTHING at all that we didn't already know about Scott? it didn't tell us a goddamn new thing - Scott's an insensitive asshole, and his relationship with Chloe is stupid. The key word is development, and this had none of it - it was an entirely wasted episode, with the only halfway interesting parts coming at the end, with Eli realising how much of a moron Chloe is (you can practically hear the unspoken 'idiot' when he says goodbye) and Young quarantining them. So in a 40 minute episode, we get roughly 3 minutes of actual development.
I'll echo Adrian in saying that they're going the same route as TSCC and playing it too slow paced - it'll get them cancelled unless they have an absolutely fantastic second half of the season, otherwise they'll just end up shedding viewers each week.
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Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
Watched it and I can seem this one being mentally purged by next week due to the simple fact it established NOTHING.
At best we have further evidence something isnt right with Chloe - Thank god they had ANOTHER episode devoted to this. I totally missed the fact a bullet wound healed on its own or Chloe suddenly becoming RELEVANT was abnormal. Oh wait...
Unlike some I dont hate Chloe for being useless rather than despise the folks that keep making this so goddamn apparant. At best Chloe should be a B list character and yet she is getting the screen-time of an A list AND getting entire plots wrapped around her. It is so tedious to have Eli being reduced to an insufferable love-sick puppy around this girl and it seems they are intent to continue this theme with this episode's performance.
Mind-fuck episodes - Sorry, I really dont go for these kind of things. Even more so when they establish nothing except waste time.
I'm going to agree with the prediction this show is going to fail this season unless they crank up the quality. Slow paced character series might work for some but given how many series have tanked as of late I really dont think now is the best time for these series to be produced. Especially when your attempting to remake a franchise into a 'new' image that is massively different from the previous incarnations.
The concept of a bunch of non-elite average folks being stuck on ship in the SG universe might be cool but from a series standpoint it is monumentally boring and falls victim to the franchise shadow.
We have a massive Ancient ship created for: Fuck knows
We have Earth threatened by the Lucian Alliance who apparantly REPRESENT a threat now because: Fuck knows
Rush is so intent on staying aboard Destiny because: Fuck knows
I think it would have been much better if SGU had established the background of the entire universe then build upon it through the view-point of our unknowning cast. Instead they have played it where the audience has no clue what the fuck is going on and the cast equally seem to have no clue what to do. Thus there is no sense of direction beyond getting from one episode crisis to the next.
At best we have further evidence something isnt right with Chloe - Thank god they had ANOTHER episode devoted to this. I totally missed the fact a bullet wound healed on its own or Chloe suddenly becoming RELEVANT was abnormal. Oh wait...
Unlike some I dont hate Chloe for being useless rather than despise the folks that keep making this so goddamn apparant. At best Chloe should be a B list character and yet she is getting the screen-time of an A list AND getting entire plots wrapped around her. It is so tedious to have Eli being reduced to an insufferable love-sick puppy around this girl and it seems they are intent to continue this theme with this episode's performance.
Mind-fuck episodes - Sorry, I really dont go for these kind of things. Even more so when they establish nothing except waste time.
I'm going to agree with the prediction this show is going to fail this season unless they crank up the quality. Slow paced character series might work for some but given how many series have tanked as of late I really dont think now is the best time for these series to be produced. Especially when your attempting to remake a franchise into a 'new' image that is massively different from the previous incarnations.
The concept of a bunch of non-elite average folks being stuck on ship in the SG universe might be cool but from a series standpoint it is monumentally boring and falls victim to the franchise shadow.
We have a massive Ancient ship created for: Fuck knows
We have Earth threatened by the Lucian Alliance who apparantly REPRESENT a threat now because: Fuck knows
Rush is so intent on staying aboard Destiny because: Fuck knows
I think it would have been much better if SGU had established the background of the entire universe then build upon it through the view-point of our unknowning cast. Instead they have played it where the audience has no clue what the fuck is going on and the cast equally seem to have no clue what to do. Thus there is no sense of direction beyond getting from one episode crisis to the next.
- Themightytom
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Re: Stargate Universe S02E05 Cloverdale (SPOILERS)
They wanted to establish it with Stargate: Extinction. They also didn't want to give away plot points for the Atlantis movie they had planned, now its time to be realistic and stop holding out. We're watching SG:U now. maybe I would go for a SG:1 themed movie as long as it, for the love of GOD, wasn't recycled from episode plots, but I definitely do not give a shit about whatever the fuck happened to the people in the galaxy that Atlantis left three years ago, last year.
They could have been using those little tid bits to keep SG:U spicy. instead of "Imaginary alternate life" we could have had a Telford or young flashback episode about That Mission he Did To The Pegasus Galaxy, or That Time He Was Working For The Lucian Alliance. Sure recycle the cast, make it part of the disorienting experience just don't stick us with shameless attempts to merge pleasantville with cloverfield.
They could have been using those little tid bits to keep SG:U spicy. instead of "Imaginary alternate life" we could have had a Telford or young flashback episode about That Mission he Did To The Pegasus Galaxy, or That Time He Was Working For The Lucian Alliance. Sure recycle the cast, make it part of the disorienting experience just don't stick us with shameless attempts to merge pleasantville with cloverfield.
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This topic is... oh Village Idiot. Carry on then.--Havok