Stargate: Atlantis 3.6: "The Real World"
Written by Carl Binder
Directed by Paul Ziller
Coming on the heels of an “SG-1” episode that was all about breaking and shattering format, it makes perfect sense that “SGA” would be grasping for recognition of a different kind. In this case, it wasn’t about reaching for laughs that would otherwise be unattainable; it was about proving the worth of the premise and the characters by exploring a different brand of storytelling. While the concept is hardly new (“Buffy” did it equally well in “Normal Again”, one of the best sixth season episodes), it does a lot to break the series out of its monotony.
I liked how the episode was mostly told from Weir’s point of view, so much so that it lost a certain punch once the first sign of manipulation come along. We all knew what to expect, so such hints were hardly necessary. Having Jack flip out was a lot less effective than the constant appearances of Sheppard’s shadow-form. Speaking of which, who else was able to figure out that it was him, long before they showed the connection?
Up to the point that Team Atlantis showed up, explaining what the situation was and racing towards a resolution, I loved the episode. This was a glimpse into character psychology, and it was great to see Torri in a situation that gave her room to breathe. Whenever she gets to break out of the command mode, she looks a lot more natural. It might have something to do with vulnerability; I liked seeing Weir go through the process of questioning herself and then regaining that sense of absolute certainty.
Even after Team Atlantis showed up (and I think the episode lost a bit of power when that happened), it was intriguing to see how Weir handled each challenge to her confidence in “the truth”. Weir came to the conclusion that her memories and experiences had been real, despite great evidence to the contrary, and she wasn’t willing to sugar-coat it. She truly expected Dr. Fletcher and O’Neill to understand that what she believed was absolutely real. And for me, that says a lot about the strength and weakness of the character.
Weir shows strength by sticking to her beliefs and following through on them. Once she comes to the conclusion that her memories must be real, she does everything possible to get back to where she belongs. She rejects the idea that she is, in fact, the victim of a mental break. At the same time, this is a positive take on a potential weakness, because that kind of certainty has also been reflected in her passionate defense of bad command choices. And I find that kind of complexity appealing, so long as the writers are willing to follow through on the potential for disaster.
I think the episode might have been better if seen, until perhaps the final act, entirely from Weir’s point of view. Seeing Team Atlantis was fun and revealing at certain points (especially for the Weir/Sheppard shippers), but I would have preferred to stay in Weir’s head for as long as possible. Niam could have revealed the truth about her condition once Weir got to a certain point in her resistance; the final scene in the gate room would have been the perfect time. Sure, it might have violated the “show don’t tell” principle, but in this case, it was a choice between brands of exposition, and I think staying in Weir’s head would have made the episode more consistent.
Even so, the break of format was a great move, because it sold the idea of the Asurans as a threat while focusing on the personal implications of such a conflict. More to the point, I really liked the exploration of Weir’s psychology, and it’s something that should be done more often for the rest of the characters. It wasn’t as deep as it could have been, but in “SGA” terms, it was a major step in the right direction.
(As a sidenote: I also have a podcast associated with my various reviews called “Dispatches from Tuzenor”. Recent episodes cover the “Stargate: Atlantis”, so it might be something of interest. Go to http://entil2001.libsyn.com if you want to listen!)
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
Directed by Paul Ziller
Coming on the heels of an “SG-1” episode that was all about breaking and shattering format, it makes perfect sense that “SGA” would be grasping for recognition of a different kind. In this case, it wasn’t about reaching for laughs that would otherwise be unattainable; it was about proving the worth of the premise and the characters by exploring a different brand of storytelling. While the concept is hardly new (“Buffy” did it equally well in “Normal Again”, one of the best sixth season episodes), it does a lot to break the series out of its monotony.
I liked how the episode was mostly told from Weir’s point of view, so much so that it lost a certain punch once the first sign of manipulation come along. We all knew what to expect, so such hints were hardly necessary. Having Jack flip out was a lot less effective than the constant appearances of Sheppard’s shadow-form. Speaking of which, who else was able to figure out that it was him, long before they showed the connection?
Up to the point that Team Atlantis showed up, explaining what the situation was and racing towards a resolution, I loved the episode. This was a glimpse into character psychology, and it was great to see Torri in a situation that gave her room to breathe. Whenever she gets to break out of the command mode, she looks a lot more natural. It might have something to do with vulnerability; I liked seeing Weir go through the process of questioning herself and then regaining that sense of absolute certainty.
Even after Team Atlantis showed up (and I think the episode lost a bit of power when that happened), it was intriguing to see how Weir handled each challenge to her confidence in “the truth”. Weir came to the conclusion that her memories and experiences had been real, despite great evidence to the contrary, and she wasn’t willing to sugar-coat it. She truly expected Dr. Fletcher and O’Neill to understand that what she believed was absolutely real. And for me, that says a lot about the strength and weakness of the character.
Weir shows strength by sticking to her beliefs and following through on them. Once she comes to the conclusion that her memories must be real, she does everything possible to get back to where she belongs. She rejects the idea that she is, in fact, the victim of a mental break. At the same time, this is a positive take on a potential weakness, because that kind of certainty has also been reflected in her passionate defense of bad command choices. And I find that kind of complexity appealing, so long as the writers are willing to follow through on the potential for disaster.
I think the episode might have been better if seen, until perhaps the final act, entirely from Weir’s point of view. Seeing Team Atlantis was fun and revealing at certain points (especially for the Weir/Sheppard shippers), but I would have preferred to stay in Weir’s head for as long as possible. Niam could have revealed the truth about her condition once Weir got to a certain point in her resistance; the final scene in the gate room would have been the perfect time. Sure, it might have violated the “show don’t tell” principle, but in this case, it was a choice between brands of exposition, and I think staying in Weir’s head would have made the episode more consistent.
Even so, the break of format was a great move, because it sold the idea of the Asurans as a threat while focusing on the personal implications of such a conflict. More to the point, I really liked the exploration of Weir’s psychology, and it’s something that should be done more often for the rest of the characters. It wasn’t as deep as it could have been, but in “SGA” terms, it was a major step in the right direction.
(As a sidenote: I also have a podcast associated with my various reviews called “Dispatches from Tuzenor”. Recent episodes cover the “Stargate: Atlantis”, so it might be something of interest. Go to http://entil2001.libsyn.com if you want to listen!)
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
posted by John Keegan | 17:29
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