“Time” turned out to be a classic episode of Stargate. From killer aliens that burrow into your chest, to solar flares and time travel, how many times have we seen something like this an been thoroughly entertained by it? Maybe not the chest burrowing aliens, but solar flares in “1969,” ‘The Last Man” and in Stargate: Continuum have been really entertaining stories.
One could say that it’s been done before or that it’s not very original; but along with an epidemic that kills within twelve hours, “Time” offers a fresh take on a timeless (much pun intended) classic.
The epidemic that started killing off the Destiny‘s crew turned out to be a very unique way to incorporate the time travel/solar flare concept. It was also done in a way that took away any sense of predictability. The writers could have easily said near the beginning of the episode that the outbreak was coming from the water source and not from the planet but instead, writer/director Robert C. Cooper left it very much a mystery up until half-way through the episode.
Within the Stargate universe, epidemics have been dealt with more than a few times — but there always seemed to be a cure or an answer not to far away. For “Time,” everything depended on capturing one of these indigenous creatures that were a lot better at killing you than you trying to capture one alive.
This is how the solar flare concept was able to stay original. Again, much like the epidemic being a mystery, the flare remained one as well until Rush was able to figure out near the end of the episode that this is how a kino from the future had reached them. The team sent a kino back to themselves in the past.
What was most clever about this was that it didn’t work the first time. Usually by the end of the episode, SG-1 was trying to get back home or fix the timeline and usually got it done. At the end of “Time,” it was very much up in the air if the kino Scott sent back got the job done. For all we know, Rush and company might have had to try multiple times before the plan actually worked, sending kino after kino to the past. Endings that are left open like that are always fun because it leaves so much to think about, as there really could have been endless possibilities.
The backstory and emotional beats in “Time” were very deep and moving. Finding out that Eli’s mom got H.I.V. was a very hard scene to watch. People had to be wondering exactly what was wrong with her over the weeks, whether it was cancer or some other fatal disease. It’s no wonder that it was so hard for Eli to leave. The only issue I had with this scene was that it seemed out of place for Eli to be mentioning his mother’s illness while trying to keep T.J.’s hopes up; it just seemed a little out of place. Being such an important piece of Eli’s backstory though, I’m glad they revealed sooner rather than later.
“Time” is a really strong episode for both Eli and T.J. Up until last week, T.J. hadn’t been put in any real pressure situations, but you could very easily see the toll this epidemic was taking on her. Being a medic, she probably hasn’t been in many situations were she was losing patients left and right — hence her eventual breakdown. Losing patients is one of the hardest things a doctor or medic goes through, and this was well acted by Alaina Huffman.
Hopefully, “Time” will go down as one of SGU‘s classic episodes. From some of the reactions I heard throughout the weekend at the New England Fan Experience, there seemed to be a real positive response to the episode. SGU is finally hitting a good stride of episodes that cater to both old fans and newer fans alike. “Time” was the perfect episode for this as it had a great balance of sci-fi and drama.
Episode reviews represent the opinion of the author, and not that of GateWorld or its owner.
This was easily my favorite SGU episode so far, very well done. We need more episodes like this: classic stargate style story with good action and drama, no use of the body swapping, and no sex…
Well done with this one, guys. For a moment there, I thought we were in trouble with SGU. :)
I really liked this episode, but I have to disagree about the unpredictability of it. They mentioned the ice planet/Hoff in the opening sequence, so it was fairly obvious that that would be involved somehow, and whenever there is weird stuff happening with timelines in Stargate, it’s safe to assume that a solar flare will be involved. I still really enjoyed the episode, though. I was able to figure out what was happening before the characters did, but I couldn’t figure out how the conflict would resolve. I also thought the ending was fantastic. It was open-ended yet still resolved… Read more »
What was so great about this episode. Its been done before and the only differnce here was a new bunch of characters and more forced drama. I really don’t see what is so original or fresh about SGU. Its one melodrama after the other. Each week its either OMG we are going to die “again”, or who loves who. Why the need to replace one set of characters for a new bunch. The writers have gone to the extreme here. Seemingly “realistic” means shouting, bickering, back stabbing and lots of emotion. Why couldnt they have gone for a middle ground.… Read more »
When Chloe ‘died’ the only emotion I felt was a giddy thrill of yes! But it was only momentary, as it was clear she wouldn’t stay dead. Chloe has become the Keller of the group- no matter how whiny, she is adored by one and all and the normally smart guy gets taken in by her girlish simpering. Gah.
I agree this was a step closer to what the show should be, even if it further proves that the other two shows had it and this one still doesn’t. Are the movies being made yet? Anyone?
This episode was definitely a step in the right direction of what I have felt SGU has been missing all along. But I have to say I was still quite bored over all. While the episode had an interesting premise I felt the constant dialog took away from what could have been a cool episode. After the episode ended I felt a definite “eh” feeling. I didn’t hate the episode and I didn’t really find it interesting either. Like some have pointed out in previous posts, until I develop any interest in these characters the constant drama is actually taking… Read more »
“Time” was one of the greatest episodes in the history of Stargate. Enough said.
The first really good episode of the series for me, “Water” was quite good but this was the first time I really started enjoying an episode of SGU.
jjs said “While the episode had an interesting premise I felt the constant dialog took away from what could have been a cool episode” This is why science fiction gets no respect in the mainstream. People like you are only “wowed” by big explosions and get confused when the plot is moved by conversation and interaction rather than special effects and shooting. Some of the best episodes from the previous series were more dialog driven like “the shrine” from atlantis or “meridian” from sg-1. Sci-fi is so much more than shiny explosions and it is a shame that there are… Read more »
@AscendedTauri: Agreed!
“There has been an overwhelming negative response against all the forced drama and sex so now we hear the producers are getting back to classic stargate” Just wondering: People on here are smart enough to know that season 1 was more or less already written and recorded before the pilot was even aired right? I just get the impression that some people think that an episode is aired, the writers/producers look at the responses to the episode and then quickly write and shoot the next one. If they did take on-board criticism then change because of it wouldn’t be noticeable… Read more »
I thought this was the worst episode of the series and possibly the worst episode of all three, SG1, Atlantis and Universe. With the exception of Las Vegas and the 200th episode on SG1 which were the low points of those series.
Let me preface this by saying that for the most part, I really like this series. But having said that, this was a really bad episode. Don’t get me wrong, most of the sentiment on why people like it, I agree. It has very clear, nice character moments, etc. The problem is it NEVER HAPPENED. Quite literally, nothing about this episode is really Cannon. Rush & Young had a great moment where they found something in common, Eli had a couple of great moments, developing a heart wrenching connection with TJ. But at the end of this episode, every connection,… Read more »
I thought Time was another great episode. And, of course, what never happened had to happen or they would never have gotten the KINO. Well done throughout.
The Kinosode for this episode was quite good, hopefully some have or will watch it. I thought Time was really well done. It really did leave you with a WTF brain twist even knowing that they will make it. The heart wrenching for Scott when he wakes up to find everyone he cares about dead was hard to watch because of imagining the pain he must have felt. Eli talking to Chloe had some emotion, however TJ breaking down and Lisa trying to comfort her was the real tear jerker. Some have criticized Scott about not “helping” when they went… Read more »
@dmoas: Actually the first kino would still be there the second time around, with the second kino. So the characters will see all that we saw again. So the character development will happen in the show as well, not just in our minds ; )
I enjoy paradox and time hopping stories especially when they are done right. Incorporating the kino cam and its very chilling images was brilliant on the part of the writers. This was the first homerun episode of the season – right outta the park. In fact I think it was better than SG1 “Moebius” simply because of the open ending. I too found myself pondering how many times it took them to accomplish this. As to the kino disappearing after the timelines were being changed: Stargate has already come down on the side of time travel having permanent results. This… Read more »
@Brian you just quoted what many people believe to be the best episodes of those series.
The only thing that i didnt like about this episode is i thought they over used the keno vision a little much, and i believe they are use it a little to much for the entire series. I love the series but am at times annoyed with the keno vision
I liked the episode and it did feel a little more like the classic SG. And no sex. That makes 2 episodes I think so far. Previews of the next show seem to indicate we will be back to the sex again.
@Archaeo02 – wow, way to take someone’s opinion and turn it into a personal attack. Let me set you straight. I love episodes that build characters when I actually like the characters. Some of my favorite SG1 and Atlantis episodes were much more character driven and with no explosions. Episodes like The Fifth Race, Pretense, 2010, Before I Sleep, Grace Under Pressure, Michael and many others that were mostly character driven are among my favorites. I don’t need explosions, space ships or aliens to like a show. But I do need a good plot and good characters. I found this… Read more »
I disagree jjs and nobody is attacking you having an opinion, its just those of us who like this show are gradually growing sickened with the ever lasting downers that keep coming on here to compare this show with previous incarnations of SG. We get it, its not the same. Hey, I loved the first 2 series, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t but this is something new. I Personally, I think serialized TV is far better than week after week one-offs that don’t really require any true investment to know whats going on. It takes longer to get… Read more »
@Nikst Not quite. They’d only likely see only 2nd one. He sent it back right away which likely puts the 2nd one hours there first which would erase the history of the first (or else they would have seen the 2nd one the 2nd time around). But for the sake of argument, suppose they do get both, it wouldn’t be their memories or moments, they’d just be fictional ones (in relation to themselves). They wouldn’t have the experiences to go along with it nor would they quite of few them be seen since the Kino wasn’t around. I love time… Read more »
The character development in the first Kino’s timeline would still be there for future timelines to view, so that can be assumed as safe, but much of the interesting development happened in the second timeline, which has now been wiped clean. It was a good episode, though the plot of the initial expedition failing and their actions allowing the other timeline to succeed was nicked wholesale from a first season Atlantis episode (the one with the aged Weir stored in stasis). Sadly this was all ruined by the big fat reset button at the end. Had they let a few… Read more »
@dmoas: “They’d only likely see only 2nd one. He sent it back right away which likely puts the 2nd one hours there first which would erase the history of the first (or else they would have seen the 2nd one the 2nd time around).” Actually, no. Why would it ERASE the first one? They couldn’t have seen the second one the second time around because that wouldn’t have HAPPENED YET. Scott hadn’t sent it yet. So no, they couldn’t have seen it the second time around. Because the first kino was sent back in time and they picked it up… Read more »
I do have to admit that this franchise supporter has gone from always looking for something to like in the two previous series to now only seeing what I do not like. I was a videographer for 18 years ( may be longer than some of you are old) and getting the best video was always the first goal of any thing I shot. Now I read here that turning out the lights and trying to act mysterious is the new and improved way to produce video. All the darkness says tro me is LOW BUDGET, LOW QUALITY. BSG was… Read more »
Wow….reading through this there are lots negative reactions! Time certainly did bring back a bit of the Stargate ‘feel’, but unless I took it wrongly, I do believe that the producers made it clear that SGU was going to be quite different to SG1 and SGA…so I wasn’t expecting to see the same Stargate ‘feel’ as I have in SG1 and SGA in SGU. Its clear given the extremities, sex scenes, seriousness and lack of Stargate humour (like Teal’c and O’Niell’s conversation on black holes) that the producers have stuck to what they have said – something a bit different… Read more »
Am i they only who think they didnt rally end the episode? it just ended and it seems this weeks episode will be a new story :P
@Leonick read my comment on page 1 :)