TV episode review
US airdate 21 November 2008 (Sci Fi Channel)

McKay asks Keller out on a date – to a physics lecture back on Earth. But old rivalries threaten to scupper romantic intent not to mention academic proceedings. When a planned spectacular experiment to accompany the lecture goes horribly wrong – as they do – it’s McKay who saves the day (in more ways than one)…

Well, I suppose they had to do it. They had to resolve the romantic tensions surrounding McKay and Keller – though there may well be members of the audience who will side with Ronon in his response of “Who cares?” (especially as, like other episodes recently, it is very slow to start).

But the episode does pan out to be a lot more than this, with some reasonably efficient effects sequences, and enough tension and dramatic moments to sustain it. After the last few episodes since the mid-season high – most of which have been disappointing – the series certainly needs a shot of excitement. This episode swings the balance back in the right direction but is still only fairly average, even if more than passable compared with its immediate predecessors.

For once, at least, the science fiction elements work. Revisiting the failed space-time matter bridge, they are pretty much in the Gregory Benford mould, which is good to see, though a little less of the whiney dialogue and a little more accuracy in the academic arguments would have made it even better. Brigid Cherry

VERDICT: 6/10

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