V, FlashForward, and Stargate Universe: John May, Let No Man Put Asunder, and Faith.
V (2009) (s1ep7): John May - **
This week on V, Erica, Ryan and Jack seek out the legendary John May (Michael Trucco) to rescue Georgie; Tyler probes his mysterious past during a confrontation with his mother; Chad visits the mother ship to report on Anna’s Live Aboard program.
Flash Forward (s1ep16): Let No Man Put Asunder - **
This week on FlashForward, Demetri decides to rush his wedding plans with Zoey after the captured FBI mole confirms his death date; Wedeck helps Aaron infiltrate Jericho in order to rescue Tracy; Olivia’s friendship with Lloyd grows stronger.
Stargate Universe (s1ep13): Faith - ***
This week on Stargate Universe, Destiny stops near an uncharted star orbited by one planet, this time without activating the countdown clock. Lt. Scott leads a small team to the planet’s surface, where the explorers are amazed to find an abundance of food, water and sunshine.
V (2009) (s1ep7): John May
After watching this week’s episode, I think I have a bit more perspective on the big problem with this show. Week after week we get the same formulaic storylines with bad writing and no edge. Nothing big ever really happens beyond the basic premise. We’re quickly told from the beginning that the Vs are evil, and have then spent the rest of the season going over it again and again.
This week is not really any different, but there seems to be a bit more edge and a bit more heart. I think the scene with Tyler confronting his dad about what Lisa overheard is one of the first real moments on the show. Thank goodness for Nicholas Lea. Same thing with Joshua having to kill Georgie before the Vs tortured him again. As for the rest of the episode, more of the same.
In this episode we learn John May is supposedly dead and killed by Ryan, but I’m not sure I believe that. The resistance visits his human son whose girlfriend it turns out is a V. They kill her off quickly. And the resistance learns Ryan became Fifth Column after hearing from John May emotions what it was like to love someone. We learn Tyler’s parents found out his father wasn’t his father after they did a blood test when Tyler was a boy. And Val has now discovered Ryan is not all he appears to be by getting into his safe. Oh, and Anna has laid a bajillion eggs.
And why am I still watching this show?
Flash Forward (s1ep16): Let No Man Put Asunder
Demetri: This week was all Demetri all the time, which makes sense seeing as how this episode airs on his death day. Instead of death though, we get a kidnapping. But I’m getting ahead of myself. So, Demetri decides that if he’s going to die, he might as well get married first. They plan the wedding and have a bachelor party at the bar.
Demetri: Do you think I’m chicken for running away?
Janis: Sometimes the best offense is a good defense.
Demetri: No, Janis, I’m just scared.
Janis: You played this out as best as you could. Everybody needs a successful exit strategy. This is yours.
Two-faced Janice makes an appearance and makes merry with all her coworkers. How can she look them in face knowing she’s the enemy? I guess that’s something you have to be able to do when you’re a double agent. (Also, turns out Janice is pregnant. Is it Demetri’s?) Anyway, unfortunately for Demetri he’s MIA from the wedding as he’s been knocked unconscious and kidnapped by Dyson Frost.
Mole: The mole, well the one they know about, says she was never asked what she saw in her flashforward, her sitting in jail. You’d think they’d look into these things for their own men. Kind of like a background check, yeah?
Olivia: Also happening, Olivia and Lloyd share their first kiss. Ick.
Lloyd: I’m not trying to argue against Mark. He’s a brave man doing something extraordinary.
Olivia: Yeah, he is.
Lloyd: This does kind of put me in the Lancelot-trying-to-persuade-Guinevere position.
Olivia: Oh, you did not just compare yourself to Lancelot.
Lloyd: Yeah, well, the only other metaphor I had involved protons and neutrons, and believe me, under the circumstances I went with the stronger choice.
Aaron: And Wedeck offers to help Aaron infiltrate Jericho to get Tracy back.
Did I miss anything?
Stargate Universe (s1ep13): Faith
Premise: Destiny comes out of FTL in what looks like the middle of nowhere. That is until they see a perfect little planet revolving around a sun. Fishy. The planet is a bit of a conundrum seeing as it’s dated as being young, but it’s also somehow old enough to be developed and with vegetation.
Eli: “OK, OK. Just to say this out loud. Assuming that this star and this planet were created by the most incredibly advanced aliens ever, maybe they don’t want anyone messing around with it.”
Young: “We need the food and medicine.”
Rush: “I agree. The gains outweigh the risks.”
Eli: “Do they? We’re 0 for 3 on close encounters of the third kind. What makes you think that these guys are gonna be any different?”
So, of course the rational thing to do is go down and take a look. A group of 12 including Tamara, Matt, and Chloe go down to the planet. They plan on taking back a bunch of goodies from the planet, including delicious fruit.
Johansen: It’s like a kiwi. I’ll take it back and do an analysis.
Greer: I’ll do one right now. (takes a bite)
Johansen: Greer!
Scott: What the hell are you doing?
Greer: Oh. That is nice.
Johansen: We don’t even know if that’s poisonous.
Greer: We will.
But the longer they stay on the planet, well, the more everyone wants to stay on the planet, permanently. Including one very annoying Dr. Kaine who has suddenly turned into a religious guy who thinks God brought them there for a reason. I’m all for freedom of religion, but his speeches verged on religious zealotry. Personally, I think I’m a bit more worried about aliens than God thanks to that huge looming obelisk on the planet that shoots a glowing beam out of it.
Tamara wants to stay because, as Matt and Chloe learn, she’s pregnant. She says she’s afraid of raising her baby on the ship, but I think she’s more concerned with Young finding out. Eventually Young has to go down there and force everyone who’s military to come back with him. Chloe comes back as well, and so none of our main characters are gone. But still, six members of the crew did stay behind. I’m sure we’ll come back this later, and I can’t wait. Oh, and we got another contemporary song of the week in our military vs. civilians play nice montage.