TV episode review
US airdate 14 November 2008 (Sci Fi Channel)

A very old alien device is found on the sea bed near Atlantis, and, after it is retrieved, McKay determines that it is giving off some kind of electromagnetic signal. Meanwhile, the Chinese delegate from the IOC turns up to relieve Woolsey of command and send him back to Earth to head up a committee. But Woolsey is distracted by the attentions of a new – and attractive – member of staff. In other strange turns of event, an out-of-character Zelenka flatters McKay and Sheppard is tortured by an old, long dead, enemy. Could any of these events be connected?

The second recurring villain in two weeks gets to reprise their role before the programme comes to an end. This time it is the turn of Robert Davi as the Genii commander Kolya.

This is a much more interesting reprise than Michael’s in the previous episode, and although he is still an over-the-top gloating villain, Davi obviously has much more fun with the role. The episode is once again let down by a slow opening and somewhat stilted teaser – and it almost seems that the writers (Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie) are aware of the clichés being turned out with irony-tinged lines such as “it’s crap”, “it’s pointless”, and “it should have ended six minutes ago”. Whether this is deliberate or not, it does add some (possibly unintended) amusement to the episode before the plot heats up.

It turns out, in fact, to be a neat and intriguing, if predictable, little story – a great idea, but let down by weak set-up and somewhat lame execution. An effective engagement with big ethical questions all the same. Brigid Cherry

VERDICT: 5/10

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