Well, I got mixed feelings about this one. It's great to see McKay again, and Woolsey's good fun too. I enjoyed pretty much every scene those two were in. However, they really should address what the status of the SGC or Atlantis is. Oh yes, this is SGU, it's not this show's job to provide explanations for the other shows. However, when last we saw him Woolsey was commander of Atlantis, and now he has his own office in the Pentagon. Something like this should have some sort of an explanation provided. Likewise, I noticed that when dressed in field gear, Telford and McKay had the armpatch with Earth's point of origin symbol, but not the one identifying which SG team they belong to. The nameless grunts had their SG team's insignia. I know, Telford and McKay don't belong to an SG team, so in that case they should have had an SGC armpatch on instead.
And no, I'm not going to comment on "SG-1 teams 4 and 5." I'll only say what an embarassing mistake to make.
The raid on the Langaran Stargate facility gains points for creative use of the stones in a tactical situation, but loses points for the oh-so-predictable way it was dealt with by the Langarans. Seriously, who actually couldn't predict when we first saw that young Langaran security officer that he would be the one to piece things together and blow the whistle?
The final show down when the Langaran military storms to facility to retake it wasn't thought through too well. The soldiers were ordered to open fire when the gate dialed the eighth chevron? That's cutting it rather close. If they did, and assuming they were able to neutralize everyone from Earth, by the time they did so and made their way to the laptop, the ninth chevron would have been dialled, and the very outcome they were trying to avoind would happen anyway.
Despite keeping things at the appropriate level of technological development, they didn't really bother much with the backstory of Langara. We have no indication of which country this takes place in, or even what the political situation on Langara is. For that matter, why no mention of Jonas Quinn? Before you start with "SGU is its own show" keep in mind that Mallozzi promised there would be a referance to Jonas. Since there wasn't, we have a right to ask why.
I think Telford is starting to become my favourite SGU character, especially this week with his quote "it's better to beg forgiveness than ask permission." However, like with Rush, I would like it if they dropped the implication that Telford has some sort of shady agenda of his own, like they did this week when he said to McKay "I could use someone like you on Destiny" and McKay said "isn't Colonel Young in command?" causing Telford to quickly cover up by saying "we could use someone like you on Destiny." They can make the guy a by-the-book military officer who is a bit of a jerk and an asshole without the shady agenda angle.
I could have done without the Rush/Dr. Perry subplot. Seriously, that was awful, and I would rather not discuss it any further.
However, in regards to the rest of the Destiny-based stroyline this week, why did Young leave TJ in command while he was away? Even ignoring that as a medical officer, she shouldn't be in the chain of command, there was an ongoing medical situation (Rush and the chair) plus she had to continue to look after Volker and Greer. Needless to say, she had a full plate, so logically command should have fallen to someone else. Lt. James or Wray, perhaps?
And now Chloe's advanced intelligence means she can pitch in and help Eli and Brody solve Destiny's problems? Logical, I guess, but it still seems odd.
Overall, the Langaran storyline was good for SGU standards, but not as great as the other Stargates have been, and the Destiny storyline brought this episode down.
One final question, what exactly was Young referring to when he said "Sheppard's right"?
