Stargate Universe, Darkness and Light

At the start of any new TV show, the chances that most of the characters are going to die off is a cataclysmic event are pretty slim.

But, having just watched the Stargate Universe episodes 4 and 5 (Episodes 'darkness' and 'light') I was actually thinking for a moment here and there 'will they? won't they!'

Often in sci fi you can see the solution to a crisis coming a mile away and that's OK, because it is scifi and we love it.
There is usually a somewhat predicable technological solution to almost every crisis.

Stargate Universe (so far) is different, they almost convince you that there is absolutely no hope for our characters this time.

The good ship 'Destiny' is still on its pre-programmed mission of...well...we don't know. But one thing is for sure, the 'Destiny' has an appetite for survival.

We spend most of episode 'Darkness' watching as our characters as the ship runs out of power and the ship slingshots itself around a planet to enter an area ripe with supplies, unfortunately Destiny has changed course after the slingshot and it is not heading toward any planet. It is heading toward the sun.

As the ship approaches the star, the only working shuttle is made ready to fly to the nearest habitable planet for only 17 people, 15 of which are drawn by lottery. The rest must remain aboard Destiny, where they will soon be killed as the ship enters the sun.

Plenty of time is taken for the characters to accept the inevitable and I kept waiting for Dr Rush to come running with a magical technical solution to the problem. But he never does, thereby holding the suspense for much longer.

Of course, a solution ultimately arrives, but not before they must retrieve the shuttle in a nice reversal of last minute danger before Destiny jumps back into FTL, leaving them stranded.

It usually takes me a few episodes to convince me of a shows worth. This one has had me hooked from the start.

I cannot wait for the next one!

ScienceFictionStuff.com