Earth: Final Conflict - 1st time watch thread

[The Habs Fan]

The Cloister

After Da'an and Zo'or participate in an energy sharing as part of a religion known as the Cloister, members of the group are found dead, with the only clue as to who is doing it being a Taelon energy signature. But as Liam suspects the one doing the killings is not a Taelon, he discovers that Da'an has been tampering with the evidence.

This is an average episode that is made better by the ending.

Marina Sirtis guest stars in this episode as the head of a religious group known as The Cloister. They bond with the Taelons by matching their bodies' energy to match the Taleons energy (or something like that). I'm not too clear on the science behind it. Anyway, one of the Cloister sisters dies which sets up a murder mystery.

I understand what the writers were trying to do by making the first murdered sister an ex-Resistance member. This gave a motive to both Renee and Liam to kill her before she shared any secrets. However, considering both Renee and Liam are main characters and nothing big is likely to happen to them until the season finale, or between seasons, I never once suspected they were behind the murder. Zo'or is another possible suspect, since he is going through a Taelon mating cycle thingamajigee, but that seemed too obvious. That leaves Marina Sirtis, the big name guest star, as the only suspect. Ok, I did think that it could have been that black Cloister sister (I can't remember her name), but again that felt too obvious.

So yes, Marina Sirtis (Sister Margaret) turns out to be the murderer. Why did she do it? She's barren and she's jealous of all the other sisters who are pregnant. I guess this kind of makes sense if the energy transfer made her go crazy, but it seems like a pretty flimsy excuse. Actually, now that I think back to it, her energy transfer with Zo'or was different than the others (and Zo'or was going through a mating cycle) and Zo'or is unable to mate since the Taelons are sterile, so maybe it does make sense.

Anyway, the ending of this episode redeems it. I can see some people saying that E:FC jumped the shark with this moment, but I think it makes sense. For those of you who don't remember, Da'an reveals to Zo'or why he protected him in the investigation when Zo'or wouldn't do the same for Da'an: Zo'or is Da'an's child. It's something that could turn out to be stupid, but for now I like the revelation.

RATING: 3/5

 

[The Wormhole]

Zo'or being Da'an's child is by no means a shark-jumping moment. That comes...later on.

 

[The Habs Fan]

Sorry that it's been so long between episodes, I've been very busy at work.


Interview

During a live television interview with Zo'or, a dying Resistance fan takes everyone in the studio hostage, exposing secret Taelon footage of experiments and Volunteer missions. As Liam and Sandoval try to stop her from killing anyone, the Taelons deepest and darkest secrets are revealed.

If you just read the blurb above, you might think that this is going to be a very good episode with some Taelon mysteries solved. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a clip show.

Yes, the deepest and darkest secrets of the Taelons are revealed but only to the fictional world of the show. I the viewer already has seen these mysteries revealed in previous episodes. Episodes that appear to be filmed very similarly to the video in the Taelon archives...

But I digress. Now the public has seen what evil the Taelons are: blackmailing politicians with neme, implanting fake memories into 70 year olds in 20 year old bodies... (I can't remember anything else).

The "best" part of this episode is the quasi reset button at the end with the "5 billion viewers" becoming more enamored with the Taelons than against them. It wouldn't be a classic clip show without a reset button.

RATING: 1/5

 

[Broccoli]

Anyway, the ending of this episode redeems it. I can see some people saying that E:FC jumped the shark with this moment, but I think it makes sense. For those of you who don't remember, Da'an reveals to Zo'or why he protected him in the investigation when Zo'or wouldn't do the same for Da'an: Zo'or is Da'an's child. It's something that could turn out to be stupid, but for now I like the revelation.

Didn't the episode kinda blows that twist early on? If I remember correctly, earlier in the episode, Da'an mentions that he was the last Taelon to give birth. Then a little later on, Zo'or mentions how he was the last Taelon born. Maybe one of these reveals was in an earlier episode. Anyway, simple deduction = Zo'or is Da'an's child. I remember watching this episode for the first time and thinking mid-way through "Wait...did I hear that right?"

 

[The Habs Fan]

Didn't the episode kinda blows that twist early on? If I remember correctly, earlier in the episode, Da'an mentions that he was the last Taelon to give birth. Then a little later on, Zo'or mentions how he was the last Taelon born. Maybe one of these reveals was in an earlier episode. Anyway, simple deduction = Zo'or is Da'an's child. I remember watching this episode for the first time and thinking mid-way through "Wait...did I hear that right?"

I think you're right but I didn't put two and two together.


Keep Your Enemies Closer

When Zo'or's shuttle, piloted by Liam crashes in the wilderness, Zo'or is mortally wounded by a piece of Taelon technology. As Liam considers whether or not to help the Taelon, T'than, the Taelon Minister of War arrives on the Mothership with a plan to have Zo'or removed as Synod Leader and to have Da'an take control.

Every once in a while a show does an episode with the main hero and the main villain having to help each other to survive and come to a mutual understanding. This is the latest example of E:FC pulling the trick. I say latest because I seem to remember an episode in season 1 with Lili and Da'an in a similar situation (am I remembering correctly?)

In any case, this time it's Liam and Zo'or who through the magic of storytelling are thrown together in a shuttle that crashes because it collides with falling space junk. Yes, that's a bit contrived. Also not terribly convenient is the fact that they crash right in the middle of a kind of survivalist cult who live off the Earth and shun any kind of technology.

I do have to point out that Zo'or was unconscious for most of this episode, so him and Liam didn't have much time to bond. So I guess that's a bit different than the normal hero/villain working together storyline. However, this episode was very by-the-book and predictable.

The whole cult subplot I could have done without. I've seen that done a million times and done a lot better. The one plot I actually was interested in was the T'Than subplot. He's the Taelon Minister of War who arrives to depose Zo'or of the Synod leadership. I do find it kind of strange that the war hungry Zo'or would be enemies with the Minister of War T'Than but I'll go with it for now. This subplot wasn't resolved at all at the end of the episode so I expect it'll pop up again sooner rather than later.

RATING: 2/5

 

[The Wormhole]

Indeed, T'Than is a recurring character for the rest of the season.

 

[GalaxyX]

Season 1 was spectacular!!!

When (see spoiler at the bottom) I lost utter complete interest in the series.

I think I've seen 2 episodes from Season 2, maybe 5 episodes from Season 4 (Only because the two actresses were VERY easy on the eyes. I had a mild crush on Street ) and 2 episodes of Season 5, which includes the series finale, which I didn't understand at all.

IMHO: Season 1, extremely excellent writing. S2-S5, utter, utter trash















Spoiler: When Boone was killed off permanently

 

[Lindley]

Season 1 was spectacular!!!

When (see spoiler at the bottom) I lost utter complete interest in the series.

I think I've seen 2 episodes from Season 2, maybe 5 episodes from Season 4 (Only because the two actresses were VERY easy on the eyes. I had a mild crush on Street ) and 2 episodes of Season 5, which includes the series finale, which I didn't understand at all.

IMHO: Season 1, extremely excellent writing. S2-S5, utter, utter trash

There was a major change in tone after season 1. "Trash" is far too strong a word for the rest though (except for season 5).

Season 2 started off campy but recovered nicely in the second half. Not as good as season 1, but passable.

Season 3 was okay but unmemorable.

Season 4 was actually pretty good, although by that point it was a completely different show from season 1.

 

[MacLeod]

Season 1 was spectacular!!!

When (see spoiler at the bottom) I lost utter complete interest in the series.


IMHO: Season 1, extremely excellent writing. S2-S5, utter, utter trash












Spoiler: When Boone was killed off permanently

Agreed, S1 was far better written than the following seasons. And it was more interesting with Boone around.

 

[The Habs Fan]

Season 1 was spectacular!!!

When (see spoiler at the bottom) I lost utter complete interest in the series.

I think I've seen 2 episodes from Season 2, maybe 5 episodes from Season 4 (Only because the two actresses were VERY easy on the eyes. I had a mild crush on Street ) and 2 episodes of Season 5, which includes the series finale, which I didn't understand at all.

IMHO: Season 1, extremely excellent writing. S2-S5, utter, utter trash















Spoiler: When Boone was killed off permanently

No need to spoiler tag early season developments as I'm halfway through Season 3.

Yeah, I also prefer Boone to Liam so far. I also liked the tone of season 1 overall more than the rest of the series up to the point where I'm at. However, in terms of quality episodes, I felt season 2 and season 1 were pretty even, especially the last two-thirds of season 2.

 

[GalaxyX]

Season 1 was spectacular!!!

When (see spoiler at the bottom) I lost utter complete interest in the series.

I think I've seen 2 episodes from Season 2, maybe 5 episodes from Season 4 (Only because the two actresses were VERY easy on the eyes. I had a mild crush on Street ) and 2 episodes of Season 5, which includes the series finale, which I didn't understand at all.

IMHO: Season 1, extremely excellent writing. S2-S5, utter, utter trash


Spoiler: When Boone was killed off permanently

No need to spoiler tag early season developments as I'm halfway through Season 3.

Yeah, I also prefer Boone to Liam so far. I also liked the tone of season 1 overall more than the rest of the series up to the point where I'm at. However, in terms of quality episodes, I felt season 2 and season 1 were pretty even, especially the last two-thirds of season 2.

Boone was a very impacting character, and the entire Season 1 arc was based around him. Then suddenly killing off the character (and in such a stupid moronic way to boot) for me, killed any interest I could have possibly had in watching the rest of it.

the very few episodes of other seasons I did watch I don't remember at all. I turned my mind off and saw it for the eye candy (those 2 beauties in the show )

 

[The Habs Fan]

Subterfuge

Zo'or and Sandoval begin implementing a plan to have T'than killed via a portal accident. Meanwhile, Liam grows closer to a promising young artist, who also happens to be working for Sandoval to prove Liam is working with the Resistance.

What is Sandoval's plan? Some episodes he seems to be doing his own plan against the Taelons then other episodes like this one he is trying to out Liam as a Resistance member. What purpose does that serve? Does Sandoval want to join the Resistance? That's the only thing that I could think of that'd make sense. However, I don't get that feeling by how Von Flores is playing him.

Anyway, the plot to assassinate T'Than was more in character with Sandoval since even though he is working with Zo'or to do this, I get the impression that T'Than would be a worse leader of the Synod than Zo'or. So why Liam saved both T'Than and Hannah was strange other than the fact that Liam just can't kill anyone. Yeah it was probably because he liked Hannah even though she was a spy for Sandoval.

Back to T'Than, his plan to re-engineer Earth to become more like the Taelon homeworld was interesting (did I mention that this would kill all the humans in the process). I really hope that Da'an isn't gullible enough to believe T'Than's change of heart at the end of the episode, he obviously just wanted Da'an's vote.

RATING: 3/5

 

[The Wormhole]

I don't think Sandoval's agenda ever really was thought through beyond "be shady and mysterious. And totally mean to other people."

That being said, he's easily the most compelling character on the show.

 

[Morpheus 02]

I don't think Sandoval's agenda ever really was thought through beyond "be shady and mysterious. And totally mean to other people."

That being said, he's easily the most compelling character on the show.

i don't know --it seemed like they were actually going somewhere in season 4.

Definite a great actor/character. It's a shame about season 5...

 

[GalaxyX]

I don't think Sandoval's agenda ever really was thought through beyond "be shady and mysterious. And totally mean to other people."

That being said, he's easily the most compelling character on the show.

"Sandoval's Run" Was EASILY the best episode in the entire series!! It was probably the most emotional episode of S1 (which had lots of gems in it).

Whoever's idea was to destroy this show and replace it with the utter shit that came afterward should be taken outside and beaten severely with a crowbar.

 

[Peacemaker]

I don't think Sandoval's agenda ever really was thought through beyond "be shady and mysterious. And totally mean to other people."

That being said, he's easily the most compelling character on the show.

"Sandoval's Run" Was EASILY the best episode in the entire series!! It was probably the most emotional episode of S1 (which had lots of gems in it).

Whoever's idea was to destroy this show and replace it with the utter shit that came afterward should be taken outside and beaten severely with a crowbar.

QFT...There are still times I have to look shit up online to make sense of what went on in Season 5.

 

[The Habs Fan]

Scorched Earth

Liam and Renee learn that the Taelons not only inhabited Earth during the S.I War, but they also deployed a devastating weapon to prepare humanity for their arrival by shattering the trust between nations, and forcing them to disarm. Meanwhile, a soldier left mutilated by the blast has rebuilt the weapon they used and has plans to destroy the Taelon Mothership.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this the first time where we find out what the S.I. War stands for (Sino-Indian)? This is the first time I remember hearing it but I could be mistaken.

I liked this episode and I liked learning more about the S.I. War. It's been mentioned in passing since I think the very first episode so it was nice to learn more details about what the war entailed.

Also interesting is the Taelons' involvement in the war by using a devastating weapon to keep humanity in a state of war so that the Taelons could appear as saviors. This development adds further shades of gray to the Taelons. Obviously there are negative ethical implications as to the Taelons' plan in this instance, but it does make a lot of sense from an outside point of view.

I should also mention that Doors appears in this episode. He didn't really do too much but it bears mention anyway since he's been in hardly any episodes this season despite being in the main credits.

RATING: 4/5

 

[DeepSpaceWine]

Season 5 isn't utter garbage. Horrible yes, among the worst seasons in sci-fi yes, but it has some B-movie/so bad its good qualities to it. Problem is too many of them are all put together in a row. TNG had breather eps between "Genesis", "Force of Nature", et al, as did Voyager between "Threshold", "Darkling" & "The Fight" (yet these same critics don't find "Virtuoso", "Life Line", "Body and Soul", "Q2" cringeworthy. I'll never understand 'em). (SPOILERS?) Also it was a huge letdown going from the wonderful actresses behind Da'an & Zo'or to a grown man acting like a turmultuous teenage vampire and a female vampire who's more not-there than there. And as mediocre as Leeshock was as lead, he at least had some carrying power. Heitmeyer was much more lackluster. On that, a side note...

Broadly, it's somewhat interesting who can/can't carry a series when they're unknown or virtual unknowns. The lead actors & actresses for Hercules, Xena, Highlander, Poltergeist: The Legacy (why did they never pair up Sydney of Pretender & Derek of The Legacy is beyond me. They seemed like they could play brothers quite well given their looks & personality, same with Helen Hunt & Lee Sobieski as mother/daughter), The X-Files, Adventures of Sinbad could. Of course, the Buffy actress is kind of flat in terms of her range too, yet that series ran 7 seasons and was a big hit among a younger demo for a few seasons. Heitmeyer couldn't really. She can sort of hold onto it for a time, but seems like she never has a grip on it, often fumbles it. Highlander: Raven's lead couldn't hold it, nice on the eyes Jennifer Skye (Cleopatra 2525) couldn't, and strangely, Bruce Campbell couldn't in the long run either (shines as guest star, substitute lead though).

Whoever's idea was to destroy this show and replace it with the utter shit that came afterward should be taken outside and beaten severely with a crowbar.

You mean like this?

Blame someone at Tribune. They like to run series into the ground... and the Chicago Cubs too as their illustrious reign as owners have shown, not to mention many of the issues the Cubs have today are a legacy of trying to run up the team's selling price for a quick buck (large bloated ill-advised contracts). Of course Tribune wasn't nearly as bad as Loria (destroyer of the Montreal Expos, perhaps the Marlins depending on the fallout from the results of the federal investigation) or McCourt (sucking the life out of the Dodgers for his lifestyle as a glitzy parasite). And they didn't handle the newspaper business too well either.


And I think a season one episode explained S-I= Sino-Indian. I remember wondering what it stood for waaaay back in Season 1 when it first aired.

Reading your reviews made me remember some of the episodes I'd forgotten (I usually remember at least a little something about most episodes of shows I've seen, though something about EFC made it forgettable). It makes me remember some of the intrigue and schemes that made the series appealing.

 

[The Wormhole]

^^Dude, spoilers.

I don't remember exactly when they established what SI meant. It could very well have been this episode, since it is the only one to go into any detail about the SI War in any way.

I should also mention that Doors appears in this episode. He didn't really do too much but it bears mention anyway since he's been in hardly any episodes this season despite being in the main credits.

He is very absent this season despite his spot in the main credits. Without giving too much away I'll say that I think in the 8 remaining episodes you have of the season he has at least 2 more appearances. Don't hold me to anything, I could be wrong, but I think those are the only 2 he has left for the season.

 

[GalaxyX]

Blame someone at Tribune. They like to run series into the ground... and the Chicago Cubs too as their illustrious reign as owners have shown, not to mention many of the issues the Cubs have today are a legacy of trying to run up the team's selling price for a quick buck (large bloated ill-advised contracts). Of course Tribune wasn't nearly as bad as Loria (destroyer of the Montreal Expos, perhaps the Marlins depending on the fallout from the results of the federal investigation) or McCourt (sucking the life out of the Dodgers for his lifestyle as a glitzy parasite). And they didn't handle the newspaper business too well either.

Man they must have complete retards working there. The death of Boone was a huge blow to the series, particularly because Season 1 was the story of the Taelons as seen thru his eyes. We saw everything that was happening almost from his point of view. Episodes like Sandoval's Run while having great writing for the other characters, in the end were about him as well, because Sandoval's pain matched Boone's pain, a pain he had to hide.

Then you add to that, the fact that the Taelons were ambiguous. You just didn't know what the heck they wanted, or who the heck were the good guys and bad guys. As a whole, what did they want with humanity? Did they just want to help us? Or themselves?.

They threw all this away at the beginning of Season 2. Boone was killed off the stupidest way possible. It was practically an offscreen death. Sandoval lost all that emotion that we knew he had inside, and became Zo'or's croney. Speaking of which, the ambiguousness was lost, now Da'an was the good guy and Zo'or was the bad guy. Yuck, it sickens me to remember such an awesome show have such a horrible humiliating death at the peak of it's perfection.