By John Keegan
Visit Critical Myth for an archive of John's TV Review archives, with more than 1100 entries.
The third season Ronon-centric episode, “Sateda”, was an exercise in self-indulgence and posturing, and the story and character suffered tremendously as a result. So when I heard that this episode would focus on Ronon again, I was more than a little worried.
The opening teaser could have been stolen from the beginning of any fifth season “Andromeda” episode, which was not a good sign. Not even Teyla draped in gorgeous corseted leather could overcome that kind of start. Thankfully, as conventional and predictable as the story was, the episode worked as a solid transitional tale. This was all about dealing with change in the most positive and negative manner.
Ronon may have been designed to bring more action to the series, but his character is a testimony of survival and perseverance. His personal circumstances changed dramatically, and he had plenty of chances to give up and accept death. He chose to resist and live to fight his enemies another day.
That makes the Satedans of this episode look even worse in comparison. It may be possible to understand why they chose to work for the Wraith, but when compared against Ronon and his dedication to his people’s memory, they were absolute traitors. That makes the character dynamic far more interesting, and the inevitable betrayal for more satisfying. It may make it easier on Ronon, since his loyalties are clear by the end of the episode, but it serves its purpose.
Ronon’s crisis is nicely tied to Colonel Carter’s arrival on Atlantis as the new mission commander. While Sheppard and McKay have little choice but to adjust, and Teyla is unlikely to go anywhere else at this point, Ronon was in an alliance of mutual convenience. Of all the characters, he was the most likely to resist Carter’s authority. This episode may resolve that anticipated conflict a bit too cleanly for my tastes, but it highlights an issue that should dominate much of the early part of the season.
In fact, I’m glad to see that Carter’s reassignment was handled in more than a single scene. The cameo by Teal’c placed events in perspective in terms of the continuity, and it was good to see her misgivings. The stage was set for future cameos, of course, but I would like to see as little of that as possible, especially in the first half of the season. I think it would be far more interesting for the writers to make the transition hard for Carter, rather than just another situation where she has all the answers. Only time will tell, but this is a good start. |
