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.
“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.
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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 the storyline, and it created a trippy double-alternate-timeline situation that has not been seen in Stargate yet.
The show was well acted, and the directing was superb. Those kino shots were really cool.
This isn't a flaw in this specific episode, but I do hope that we run into some sentient alien creatures at some point in Universe. Those have always been one of Stargate's strengths.
Ultimately, very good episode. I think the best yet.
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. Some slow build up of character development with a mix of action and adventure, something fans had been asking for years for the previous cast. Why the extreme approach of SGU. 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, but if thats what they are doing why did they cancel the previous "classic" Stargate in the first place, if that's what fans wanted all along. What prevented them from making changes to the characters we knew and loved, though I'm sure SGU will end up being exactly like the "old" stargate in the end.
It will have as many rehashed stories and guest appearances from SG1 and just as many quick fixes as the previous shows. All the ptb have suceeded in doing is substituting one fanbase for another. Creating forced drama each week doesn't constitute character development and you have to connect and like the characters before you care enough to tune in and see what happens to them. So far I care about none of them. The emotion is just forced and flat and now the reset button gets magically used to nulify everything that happened. With a title like "Time", did anyone really think that anyone would die and stay dead. The convenient body swapping takes away any sense of real isolation and abandonment when they can just pop back home to visit loved ones and party. So there is no more realism in this show than any previous one and just as many quick fixes, and we are only a hanful of episodes into the series.
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 away from my enjoyment of the show.
One of my friends who has watched SGU with me since it started told me after that episode he was done and wouldn't watch any more of them because he almost fell asleep during the episode he was so bored with the pace.
I will give SGU this season to wow me and make me want to come back. I owe that to the Stargate franchise and my hopes are this show will correct its course and become something I am interested in. However, after seeing next week's premise of more body swapping and angst and turmoil and Telford my hopes are not high.
"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 people out there who slam a show for being more than big explosions and 2-bit dialog
@AscendedTauri: Agreed!