TV meview 3/4.12.08

Another day another TV meview (do you see what I did there?).

I left you as I was about to watch the latest episode of Stargate Atlantis. Now I have to admit that I only tend to watch this out of habit these days. I still hang in there because of a few characters I like despite the tired stories and rehashed plots. One of them, Rodney Mackay, was the focus of this episode.

A romance has been blossoming between him and another character for a little while now. While it's been obvious to her and the viewers that Rodney likes her, she finally loses her patience as he tries to invent another reason as to why they should spend time together instead of just coming out and asking her on a date.

So, after a reassurance that she's not going to say no he asks her out. I can't criticise, its what I'd probably do. It must be a geek trait.

As it turns out their first date will be spent at a physicists convention. How exciting! Well at least we know that all isn't going to go according to plan and it doesn't disappoint. An old colleague has called the top brains in the world together to demonstrate a way to solve Global Warming, using some of Rodney's theories that he developed as part of the Stargate program.

Of course this leads to all sorts of shenanigans which aptly demonstrate the flaws of Rodney's character as well as his strengths and at the end of the day he saves the day and gets the girl, whilst proving himself to his peers who think he has dropped off the face of the planet in recent years (well I guess he has, really).

All in all it was a good romp. With the news that this will be Atlantis' last season I'll cherish every bit of Rodney I can get. Apparently there's a new series in development called Stargate Universe, but why it'll be worth the risk of dumping some well-established characters to re-invent a tired format I don't know. Maybe it needs a break like Star Trek, in order to gather itself and come back stronger.

After a rare, decent episode of Atlantis it was time to turn to some more dramatic stuff altogether.

Survivors has already, in my opinion, set its tone which, considering the last series Julie Graham was in (Bonekickers), is a great improvement. The acting, stories and production values are on a par with programmes like Spooks and Hustle though not as flashy in its presentation. It's a simple drama about people stripped down to their essences. Each cast member represents a stereotype, philosophy or ideology. In the great Science Fiction tradition this is standard fare, but to see it in primetime on the BBC is good stuff.

The post-apocalyptic setting allows them to explore human traits and responses to an uncivilised environment. That means that plot lines that make no sense on something like Eastenders actually have some weight in Survivors. This could also be down to better actors though.

The interesting thing about this series is that the guy who plays Greg (Paterson Joseph) is rumoured to be the next Doctor Who, so not only am I investing in his performance here, I find myself analysing everything about him as to whether he would make a good Doctor or not.

This time around it looked at the struggle between those who were trying to cling on to the last vestiges of civilisation and those who were trying to create a new one. It pulls no punches in showing what would need to be done in trying to keep law and order functioning in a lawless world. If this was produced in America by a network other than HBO I'm sure it would get all sentimental about democracy and the innate goodness of people. Thankfully, its not and we get a pretty accurate account of what happens in a power vacuum.

Balanced with this storyline the question is posed "How do those who've never done a real day's work in their life look after a bunch of chickens?" A bit of an obvious situation to confront if you find that farmers are no longer producing the food you picked up at the local shop, but it presents itself as an opportunity for some character growth and to foreshadow some future internal struggles within our band of survivors.

I have to say that the pacing of the story is great. It doesn't whiz by like Lost does, but it doesn't drag on like Atlantis can do either. You definitely feel like you've a meaty episode that satisfies.

Wednesday's programming solely consisted of Heroes. I got to watch it alone this week which is hard enough, but as it was a two-parter I decided I'd probably have better things to do next Wednesday (like putting my shoes in the shoe cupboard), so I figured I'd watch the 'first view' on BBC three as well.

I was prepared to give Heroes the benefit of the doubt for its third series after the abortive second season. Unfortunately, it has now, officially, wasted all of my goodwill.

This two-parter was supposed to change everything up, but all its done is once again had everyone acting against the characters they established in the excellent first season.

I'm probably not adding anything to the growing chorus of disapproval to this series, but it surely can't last another season like this. I guess it will ultimately be written off as a one season wonder as I can't see it getting itself out of this mess.

Just the way it picks up from the cliffhanger of part 1 (once you've seen both episodes and connected the dots as to what went on between you'll be sick a little, or not) is typical of the inconsistency prevalent in this series. Does anyone on this show know what they are doing or where they are going and how to make us care again for the characters they've messed up?

It looks like they were surprised by the success of the first season and didn't know what to do with it.

Saying that, I'm an optimistic person and I'll stick with it to the bitter end, if only because my wife loves the program. I've heard it said that its only comic fans that are disappointed by the show as they are used to better and non comic fans still enjoy the show as measured against other dramas out there.

I suppose it is better than Mutant X.
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Now playing: Laura Branigan - Self Control
via FoxyTunes