TV Reviews: Stargate: Atlantis 5.7, Psych 3.7

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on September 7, 2008

Stargate: Atlantis, SciFi, Airs Friday 10/9c

This week is the first show aired after the announcement that “Stargate: Atlantis” will not be renewed for a sixth season (although the consolation prize is a DVD feature due out sometime next year). Season Five started earlier this summer and continues a darker trend than previous years and its sister show “Stargate: SG-1.” The first four seasons are available on DVD from MGM Home Entertainment, and shows from this season are available at the Rewind section of www.SciFi.com. Plus, the episode from the previous week is often broadcast in the 9/8c time slot before the new episodes on Friday nights.

Episode: “Whispers” (Season Five, Episode 7)

Synopsis: Colonel Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and the cloned Dr. Beckett (Paul McGillion) gate to a planet where an exploration team has discovered an abandoned laboratory of the genetically altered Wraith Michael (Connor Trinneer). Instead of making simple Wraith-human hybrids, Michael had added in characteristics of various predators, making uncontrollable monsters. When the hybrids escape, the team has to fight for their lives.

Review: The original Stargate film was all about science fiction, as was the spin-off show “Stargate: SG-1.” With major villains that resemble vampires, “Stargate: Atlantis” has always had some roots in the horror genre. The horror influences are brought to the front again with “Whispers.” What starts out as a simple away mission to another planet that looks suspiciously like British Columbia turns into a cat-and-mouse hunt. Sheppard tries to keep his team alive when the hybrids are let loose, and Beckett actually gets to use a gun to defend himself. Much of this episode features the characters being stalked by the predatory hybrids that hunt by sound and exude a curious mist from their gills. Taking on the feel of an intimate and alien version of Resident Evil, “Whispers” gives us a unique spin on the zombie flick in the Stargate universe. Without actually seeing Michael, we get a glimpse into his deranged mind by seeing the creatures he developed on his quest to make a perfect Wraith-human hybrid. He probably abandoned this facility only because the hybrids were uncontrollable and very dangerous… even for him. Colonel Shepperd gets another attractive military mind to butt heads with, but the real treat of this episode is the return of Carson Beckett. He may not be back for good, and he is just a clone, but the fans that built the site www.SaveCarsonBeckett.com when his character was killed off in Season Three will be giddy to see an episode devoted to him (and his potential romance with one of the other team’s scientists, giving him someone other than Lt. Camden from Season Two). – Kevin Carr

Psych, USA, Airs Friday 10/9c

“Psych” is several shows into the third season, but it’s worth looking at on a weekly basis. The first two seasons are available on DVD, and if you missed any of the season three episodes, you can watch them online via iTunes and Amazon Unbox. Fortunately, this show isn’t as much an ongoing series as one that features stand-alone episodes, so it’s entirely proper to watch them out of order.

Episode: “Talk Derby to Me” (Season Three, Episode 7)

Synopsis: Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dulé Hill) help the SBPD on a department store break-in that leads them to a local roller derby team. Jules (Maggie Lawson) is sent undercover as a new skater – the Maniac – on the roller derby team. Shawn tries to use his “powers” to help Jules out, uncovering a variety of crimes.

Review: This episode of “Psych” gives us a different angle in that Jules takes a front seat in this story. Shawn plays a somewhat secondary role, and with Gus studying for a pharmaceutical exam, he’s taking a back seat as well. Corbin Bernsen is barely in the episode, showing up only in the introductory flashback (with hair, of course) and as an expert in roller derby. Likewise, Lassie (Timothy Omundson) and the Chief (Kirsten Nelson) show up occasionally. This is definitely Jules’ story, and that’s a good thing since the show runners are looking to build up her potential relationship with Shawn. And the fact that she’s decked out in short shorts and whore make-up for her roller derby character is a nice wardrobe turn from her standard pantsuit and sensible shoes. We lose a bit of the Shawn and Gus banter, and the mystery to solve seems more of a sub-plot. All this is buffered with some nice roller derby moments and a somewhat clever climax of the duo cutting up the derby floor to save Jules. Fans of the show that enjoy the more soap operay moments will enjoy the epilogue, which hints at a potential connection between Jules and Shawn. Finally, check out “The Big Adventures of Lil’ Shawn & Gus” online at www.usanetworks.com, featuring the kids at a roller rink being chased by the Grim Reaper. – Kevin Carr

For more coverage of your favorite shows, check out the Control Freaks Archive.

Did you watch Stargate: Atlantis and/or Psych this week? If so, feel free to discuss below.

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