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Reviews
Stargate SG-1: 2001 (2001)
Good Episode With One Exception
This was an entertaining episode with one exception and that is Ronny Cox appearing as Senator Kinsey. This series would have been more more entertaining if they had stuck to just exploring other planets and cultures. Of course, some government would have crept in as they are the Air Force, but it got to the point where SG-1 was fighting their own government more than they were the aliens. Another potential suitor/husband for Sam bites the dust in this episode as well.
Moral to this story: Saving the world from a future perspective might involve including a little bit more detail in a note. Writing something like, "Don't hook up with the Aschens," would probably have been more effective than just saying not to go to a specific planet, as the Aschens could have travelled anywhere. This episode also had a very out-of-character O'Neill at the beginning, as he does not trust anyone until they prove themselves and here he was all in, five minutes after meeting the Aschen.
If this series was still in production, my advice would be fewer characters like Kinsey and Woolsey and more interaction with other worlds and people. It's not a reality show, so lay off the government melodrama.
Stargate SG-1: Between Two Fires (2001)
Inexplicable Episode
I did not catch this show in its first run, but I am watching the entire series now. Most episodes are interesting or enjoyable to watch. This one is the exception.
The Tollans have appeared previously, and they have a beautiful, technically advanced world. They are allies of Earth, and where previously believed that Earth would misuse their tech, they now want to share it. Narim, who would like nothing more than to run off with Samantha and his cat, thinks that a leader has been murdered, and that Earth is in danger. Turns out, he is right.
Tanith, who SG-1 unwittingly enabled becoming a system lord a few eps back, has forced the Tollans to create a weapon that will destroy anything or anyone in its path. Their weapons that they refused to share before are now ineffective against the Goa'uld. Why didn't they just use the weapon that they built for Tanith against him? Why just give their allies (Earth) weapons that they knew would not work any longer?
At the end, Narim destroys the new weapons warehouse before Tanith can acquire them, and so Tanith destroys the Tallons. SG-1, who has pulled off some astounding acts of defense and offense against the Goa'uld, just saunters off towards the gate after wishing them good luck. Why weren't they taking as many civilians with them as possible? There was no way they could win. They asked Narim to come and he declined saying that he caused this war by destroying the weapons, so he would stay to fight, but what about all the panicked citizens running about the city? Back on Earth, SG-1 sits in the briefing room talking about the entire incident like it was nothing more than finding a new plant species on some remote planet. They later get a garbled goodbye message from Narim, basically confirming the worst.
We have seen SG-1 save and bring back people from various planets. They knew Narim as he was once one of those rescued people. Even the average Tollan on the street was more intellectually advanced than any prominent Earth scientist and would have much to contribute, in addition to Earth being a friend and saving them. In this episode though, it was like, "Thanks for saving Earth, but we're going to leave you to it," as SG-1 sauntered off into the sunset.
It is a confusing episode, even in the context of the series not being based in reality, and did nothing to advance the storyline. It presented no evidence of remorse for losing an entire planet of allies either, with the exception of Amanda trying to look sorrowful while listening to Narim's farewell. This episode is not one of their better efforts.
The Martian Chronicles (1980)
Ray Bradbury Was Right
At some point prior to the original broadcast of this mini-series, Ray Bradbury was interviewed and asked how it was. His reply was that it was boring. He was right. I read this book when I was in junior high school for the first time and reread it many times after that. The book is great. This mini-series is boring. I gave it a six out of 10 more for the source material than this actual mini-series. A couple of my favorites are in here, Rock Hudson, Chris Connolly, Roddy McDowell, and Darren McGavin. Several other actors who were staples of 1970s television are also included. The problem is the screenplay. The Martian Chronicles are a series of short stories about the colonization of Mars and all connected with the constant threads of Wilder and NASA running through them. If the screenwriter had simply taken the book and wrote the screenplay directly from it, the mini-series would have been great. Instead it is more like a documentary with a narrator explaining what everyone is thinking or feeling, and a lot of just driving around what is supposed to be the Martian landscape by Wilder.
I see a lot in the other reviews about the special effects. That's not really an issue for me as they are not a large part of the series. If you have no problems watching Star Trek TOS or Space 1999, the special effects here will not bother you. If you are expecting the latest from Disney, well you will be disappointed. The space craft in this series is reminiscent of what was available in the 90s and they were of course guessing what they would look like in the future. I think they did okay in that respect.
If you like the premise of the series, then by all means visit your local library and check out a copy of the book. The book is great. You will see a few differences. The Bernadette Peters character was nothing like was portrayed in the mini-series for one. I would love to see Hollywood redo this but stick to the book this time. For those younger viewers who watched it and were surprised that we were colonizing Mars at the start of the 21st century, when I was in elementary school in the '60s, we were told we would have George Jetson cars and robot maids by the year 2000. We haven't come as far as we thought we would.