Colonel Telford wants command of Destiny
Producer John G. Lenic warns that tonight’s episode of Stargate Universe “might cause some (more) controversy online…” And creative consultant Joe Mallozzi seems to agree: “Friday night’s installment of Stargate: Universe has yet to air, but already the boards are abuzz.” Returning guest star Lou Diamond Phillips also said something in a recent interview (spoilers!) that makes one wonder what all this buzz is about: “I think people will be surprised at how far the creators are willing to go in this series.”
What could they possibly be talking about? Certainly the return of Richard Dean Anderson as Lt. Gen. Jack O’Neill, who wants Col. Everett Young to consider risking everyone’s lives for a chance at getting the intended team aboard the Destiny, wouldn’t create a controversy at the magnitude that they seem to be implying. And the first appearance of Carlo Rota as IOA supervisor Dale Strom, who wants Camile Wray to take command of the Destiny so that the international group can have control and an eye on what’s happening with their incredible discovery, couldn’t possibly make people turn to their keyboards in such a fashion. Neither could the mini-concert provided by the talented Janelle Monáe at the club that Eli and Chloe go to in other people’s bodies be all that bad to warrant such reactions.
Maybe it’s the way Colonel Telford finally gets the chance to make his move to take over the Destiny while he’s in the body of the man he’s trying to replace, Colonel Young. And what is Young doing while Telford’s making his move? Why, he’s making moves of his own.
You’ll have to watch the episode to find out how far the creators are indeed willing to go and which of these storylines could just very well be the one that Lenic, Mallozzi, and even Phillips believe will set the Internet on fire and shake the show’s already slightly unstable foundation.
“Earth” will be shown tonight, November 6, on the Syfy Channel (US) and Space (Canada) at 9 PM ET and 10 PM ET, respectively. The episode will be broadcast by Sky One (UK) on Tuesday, November 10, at 8 PM, and finally, on Friday, November 13, on the Sci Fi Channel (Australia) at 8:30 PM.
After viewing, you’re invited to return to the site to vote in the episode poll on the main page and discuss the episode here (in the comments), in our on-site forum, or at our LiveJournal Companion.
Guides to the Season One episodes can be found in our Stargate Wiki. And don’t forget the episode chatter that’s bound to take place from the actors, writers, producers, and the press that you can read from our Stargate Twitter Superfeed.
Last Week’s “Water” Ratings
The ratings for Stargate Universe seem to be settling down some after the first five weeks on the air. “Water”, last week’s episode, “took 544k (2.3%) for Sky1,” according to Digital Spy. This is down from 677k (3%) for “Light” from the week before.
Instead of reporting weekly ratings, SCI FI WIRE chose to publish “TV ratings: Every fall sci-fi show compared by number of viewers” that includes network and cable sci-fi shows. Stargate Universe was 10th in the list of 12 shows, based on its second week’s ratings (its highest). “Stargate Universe has been beating Fox’s Dollhouse in the ratings some weeks, and they’re not shy about saying so. The time-shift numbers are excellent, too, and Syfy considers this new Stargate one of its hits. However, the series is headed toward a big hiatus after episode 10, and it won’t return until spring.”
Four more episodes, including tonight’s “Earth”, will be aired this year and then the show will return during Syfy’s second quarter in 2010. We should hear whether or not the show gets a second season before 2009 comes to an end.
[Images from MGM.]