The Pegasus Project - Review
23/10/2008 05:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rachel500The Pegasus Project is the 3rd episode in Season Ten of Stargate SG1.
Review
Review
The ABC of good Stargate SG1 storytelling is followed to optimum effect in The Pegasus Project. Ambition with the complex storyline; Balance with the characters; and importantly, the show’s Canon being used to great effect. All these aspects tie wonderfully together to create a highly enjoyable and quality episode where SG1 gets back to saving the galaxy.
The storyline is ambitious cramming in: a trip to Atlantis; the Supergate; a couple of victories; Merlin’s weapon, and seeding the beginning of a character arc for Daniel (or arguably continuing one that began in S5’s Meridian). Brad Wright does an excellent job of making it all look easy when there are so many ways this might have failed miserably in the hands of a lesser writer and Will Waring does a superb job with the direction. The story is broken down into two manageable chunks; the first dealing with the Supergate and the second dealing with Merlin’s weapon; both aspects critical to the overall Ori arc.
Having set up the indestructible nature of the Ori ships, the Supergate needed to be dealt with in order to keep the fight somewhere near winnable for our heroes. The plan to jump a wormhole powered by a black hole to block the Supergate indefinitely sounds credible with the effects of the black hole neatly incorporated. The twist of enemies approaching on both sides with the destruction of one leading to the destruction of the other in tremendous explosions is neatly executed. The special effects in the Pegasus galaxy are superb from the city of Atlantis itself to the black hole and the battle over it. Those in the Milky Way look static in comparison although the Ori ship breaking apart is good if a little short. Importantly, the ambitious plan gives the team a well earned victory.
The second chunk is also neatly executed as Daniel finds the two addresses of the two planets left in the search for the weapon and has an interesting encounter with Morgan Le Fey. It is the latter that prevents the search of a database from being a yawnfest. The discovery of Morgan, the impassioned plea from Daniel for the Ascended Ancients to help them, and the dramatic snatching of Morgan away just as she seems about to tell them something of importance creates its own drama and tension that is just as effective as the extravaganza of space battles if in a more quiet and subdued manner. Indeed the differences and contrast between the two chunks create a nice balance.
Balance between the characters is absolutely key to ensuring that the team-feel so well-established to date in S10 is not lost given that the breakdown of the story into manageable chunks forces the SG1 team to be split up and this is further complicated by adding the characters from Atlantis into the mix. All the characters are given identifiable roles that fit within the story and within their established characterisations and relationships.
Given the first chunk focuses on science and space battles, Sam is used as the main anchor partnered with Rodney and Mitchell. Her combined role as soldier/scientist is used to balance the extremes of Rodney the science geek and Mitchell the military pilot. The Sam/Rodney heated debating yet underlying respect for each other professionally is an established dynamic and both contribute to the ultimate success of the plan as does Mitchell whose own expertise as a pilot is highlighted when he suggests the slingshot. Mitchell adds a new dimension as he runs interference which fits with his established character trait of not tolerating inappropriate behaviour to female colleagues. Rodney irritating Mitchell is established early on and continues throughout culminating in the confrontational lemon scene. While the lemon is a little mean, it feels like Mitchell does use it as a last resort to get Rodney focused on a solution, and in doing so makes the alpha male bonding moment between Mitchell and Sheppard a valid part of the story.
Teal’c is also a part of the Supergate plan and it could be argued that he gets the worst deal except for two moments which completely counter-balance his isolation from the rest of the team; firstly, his comment of ‘I am hanging loose, Colonel Mitchell’; secondly, acting like the warrior he is as he single-handedly defeats an Ori ship.
With Sam anchoring the science chunk, Daniel anchors the mythology one, partnered in comparison with two women; Weir and Vala. Daniel’s past is touched on in his interaction with Morgan while the outcome perhaps provides the final disillusionment for Daniel with the Ascended philosophy that may play into events in the future. Vala’s past as a treasure hunter fits well with this chunk and her bickering with Daniel and contrasting approach to the rather dull search provide a lively dynamic. In contrast, Daniel’s relationship with Weir has always been built on the deepest respect. Yet it is Weir who questions Daniel’s belief he has seen an actual Ascended Being and Vala who supports him.
Weir/Daniel is a nice throw-back to The Lost City and New Order just as Sam/Rodney is a nice throw-back to 48 Hours and Redemption. Indeed, the show’s canon is used to great effect within the story; the wormhole jumping, the past character dynamics between the Atlantis regulars and the SG1 characters; Daniel’s ascension; Mckay’s hallucination of Sam, the recurring characters in both shows…all are neatly woven in.
Two minor quibbles: firstly, Landry was missing. They could have easily have had him take the call from the Pegasus galaxy. Secondly, having split SG1 apart for most of the story, it might have been nice to have lost the Daniel/Vala scene and had SG1 reunited at the end; maybe in a debriefing at the SGC. Still overall, these are very minor quibbles. Thanks to a wonderful sense of balance and judicious use of canon, The Pegasus Project successfully manages to achieve all it ambitiously sets out to do and that’s certainly no minor achievement.
The storyline is ambitious cramming in: a trip to Atlantis; the Supergate; a couple of victories; Merlin’s weapon, and seeding the beginning of a character arc for Daniel (or arguably continuing one that began in S5’s Meridian). Brad Wright does an excellent job of making it all look easy when there are so many ways this might have failed miserably in the hands of a lesser writer and Will Waring does a superb job with the direction. The story is broken down into two manageable chunks; the first dealing with the Supergate and the second dealing with Merlin’s weapon; both aspects critical to the overall Ori arc.
Having set up the indestructible nature of the Ori ships, the Supergate needed to be dealt with in order to keep the fight somewhere near winnable for our heroes. The plan to jump a wormhole powered by a black hole to block the Supergate indefinitely sounds credible with the effects of the black hole neatly incorporated. The twist of enemies approaching on both sides with the destruction of one leading to the destruction of the other in tremendous explosions is neatly executed. The special effects in the Pegasus galaxy are superb from the city of Atlantis itself to the black hole and the battle over it. Those in the Milky Way look static in comparison although the Ori ship breaking apart is good if a little short. Importantly, the ambitious plan gives the team a well earned victory.
The second chunk is also neatly executed as Daniel finds the two addresses of the two planets left in the search for the weapon and has an interesting encounter with Morgan Le Fey. It is the latter that prevents the search of a database from being a yawnfest. The discovery of Morgan, the impassioned plea from Daniel for the Ascended Ancients to help them, and the dramatic snatching of Morgan away just as she seems about to tell them something of importance creates its own drama and tension that is just as effective as the extravaganza of space battles if in a more quiet and subdued manner. Indeed the differences and contrast between the two chunks create a nice balance.
Balance between the characters is absolutely key to ensuring that the team-feel so well-established to date in S10 is not lost given that the breakdown of the story into manageable chunks forces the SG1 team to be split up and this is further complicated by adding the characters from Atlantis into the mix. All the characters are given identifiable roles that fit within the story and within their established characterisations and relationships.
Given the first chunk focuses on science and space battles, Sam is used as the main anchor partnered with Rodney and Mitchell. Her combined role as soldier/scientist is used to balance the extremes of Rodney the science geek and Mitchell the military pilot. The Sam/Rodney heated debating yet underlying respect for each other professionally is an established dynamic and both contribute to the ultimate success of the plan as does Mitchell whose own expertise as a pilot is highlighted when he suggests the slingshot. Mitchell adds a new dimension as he runs interference which fits with his established character trait of not tolerating inappropriate behaviour to female colleagues. Rodney irritating Mitchell is established early on and continues throughout culminating in the confrontational lemon scene. While the lemon is a little mean, it feels like Mitchell does use it as a last resort to get Rodney focused on a solution, and in doing so makes the alpha male bonding moment between Mitchell and Sheppard a valid part of the story.
Teal’c is also a part of the Supergate plan and it could be argued that he gets the worst deal except for two moments which completely counter-balance his isolation from the rest of the team; firstly, his comment of ‘I am hanging loose, Colonel Mitchell’; secondly, acting like the warrior he is as he single-handedly defeats an Ori ship.
With Sam anchoring the science chunk, Daniel anchors the mythology one, partnered in comparison with two women; Weir and Vala. Daniel’s past is touched on in his interaction with Morgan while the outcome perhaps provides the final disillusionment for Daniel with the Ascended philosophy that may play into events in the future. Vala’s past as a treasure hunter fits well with this chunk and her bickering with Daniel and contrasting approach to the rather dull search provide a lively dynamic. In contrast, Daniel’s relationship with Weir has always been built on the deepest respect. Yet it is Weir who questions Daniel’s belief he has seen an actual Ascended Being and Vala who supports him.
Weir/Daniel is a nice throw-back to The Lost City and New Order just as Sam/Rodney is a nice throw-back to 48 Hours and Redemption. Indeed, the show’s canon is used to great effect within the story; the wormhole jumping, the past character dynamics between the Atlantis regulars and the SG1 characters; Daniel’s ascension; Mckay’s hallucination of Sam, the recurring characters in both shows…all are neatly woven in.
Two minor quibbles: firstly, Landry was missing. They could have easily have had him take the call from the Pegasus galaxy. Secondly, having split SG1 apart for most of the story, it might have been nice to have lost the Daniel/Vala scene and had SG1 reunited at the end; maybe in a debriefing at the SGC. Still overall, these are very minor quibbles. Thanks to a wonderful sense of balance and judicious use of canon, The Pegasus Project successfully manages to achieve all it ambitiously sets out to do and that’s certainly no minor achievement.
