This episode wasn’t as intense as Air I/II, but I liked it, and I’m very much looking forward to next week’s episode.

Some more detailed thoughts behind the cut…

These things stood to me after watching the episode.

The desert part of the plot felt a lot like SG-1/SGA (sort of a disappoinment) – a team goes to a planet to find something, and more or less trouble/mystery ensues. But, what SG-1/SGA would never have done, is have half the team go AWOL and gate to another planet against orders when all the people are depending on them to find what they need to live, when there’s even less evidence that some other planet would be suitable. Also, surprised that the angry guy (Greer, I think he’s name is) actually shot one of their own – that’s also have never happened in SGA/SG-1 – sure, O’Neil/Sheppard would have threatened it until they’re blue in the face and if they’d had Zats or Wraith stun guns they’d have absolutely used those… but not with conventional weapons and bullets, not ever, no matter what had occurred and how stupid/unbelievable it were to let them get away (especially time after time, like with Ford). So that’s a definite plus for SGU.

I like Scott very much – after just 3 episodes, he feels the most normal, likable human being in the entire franchise, like somebody who could live next door to me. That’s a HUGE plus for SGU compared to SG-1/SGA.

Eli, on the other hand, I’m quickly coming to hate him as much as I hated McKay at the start of SGA (I went from active hate to dislike, when the character became a tiny bit less obnoxious during the run of the series). It still feels very much like he’s surplus and doesn’t have a real reason to be there with all the others, much less lead any part of any theme with his lack of experience with anything remotely relating to possibly hazarduous situation on an alien planet/starship – sure, he solved the 9th chevron puzzle but the whole premise of his character and how he became involved with Stargate Program feels forced to me. Plus his naivete is annoying and starting to get on my nerves. He should be under the supervision of someone with more off-world and/or military experience, not put to lead a team of his own :< I hope they put him in his place in future episodes (though I don’t think so, he seems to be the TPTB favorite so they treat him like they treated their other favorite McKay) and take a more sensible approach on how he should be getting attention & logically develop him according to his complete lack of experience. Currently, there are so many other people (as an example, anyone else in the away team) more qualified to do what’s was given for him to do in this episode.

Really liked the medic – she showed balls, she’s not afraid to do what it takes to get her job done

Not sure about the communication stones and plot relating to them – Young seemed to have very little to do Earth-side but it was good to see Lou Diamond Phillips Not sure it’s belieavable that the Senator’s wife knows about Stargate Program – also bothered me that I can’t remember her looking at her daughter, really looking at her, after she realized it was someone else’s body. When she broke down crying, I didn’t see her leaning in to her daughter even though she was right thre, holding her. Can’t help wondering if that had to do with her wearing somebody else, and if it wouldn’t have been better/kinder the SGC to arrange a video phonecall instead where she could’ve have seen and talked with her daughter and seen it was actually her. I don’t know, if I were in that situation and my daugher showed up wearing somebody else’s body; such things are more or less ordinary for SGC personnel, but it wouldn’t be for me so I don’t know…

SGU so far is more of a truly ensemble show and more like SG-1 in that regard than SGA ever was, because that one was practically a McKay & Sheppard show. I haven’t realized that I missed that aspect, but I did.

All in all, the only negative things are related to Eli and again the focus was evenly on several other things as well; the good out-weights the negative, as far as I’m concerned.