Trial And Error Review [SGU - 206]
By xxxevilgrinxxx | Published: November 7, 2010 | (crossposted at my personal blog)
Look Deeper.
Like all of the episodes before it, “Trial and Error†is multi-layered in its meaning. There is the forefront scenario with Col. Young and the scenes where he is run through the battle simulations by the program running on Destiny but there are others as well. There is the echo of trials and errors gone past, specifically the events of “Dividedâ€, where we had the scenario of Wray and Rush and their failed attempt to gain control of Destiny. There is the relationship between Young, TJ and Emily Young, all of whom have definitely gone through a trial and many errors, the most recent on TJ’s part as she continues to try to impart her impressions about what has happened to their child, one of the many burdens on Young. Last but not least there is the trial, and error, that Rush continues to undergo at the hands of the Destiny’s manifestations.
First off, I have to say that I find it interesting that this trial is presaged by Young’s use of the stones. In “Sabotageâ€, stone use is also implicated in the sabotage of the ship that enabled the seemingly easy return of three lost characters – Eli, Chloe and Scott. In essence I believe that through the stones, the Destiny herself gained access to Young and was enable to perform this trial and that the same sort of thing happened in “Sabotage†and possibly even in “Spaceâ€.
The message that I came away with from Young’s experience is that, aside from the surface issue of testing his leadership in a mode that would speak to him – a battle scenario – the ship was teaching him something else: It’s not your fault. That failures happen and there’s only so much we can do about them. It was a “Kobayashi Maru†– an experience where failure is the lesson. Failure and the acceptance that comes along with knowing that it can’t be helped, that often times there is nothing that can be done but endure it, get up and move on, preferably without losing what you are in the process. In stopping the simulation short, the Destiny, through Franklin, may believe that Young is not truly ready, that he has never really faced the unwinnable scenario and may be unprepared for what is surely to come.
The battle scenario did highlight Young’s strengths and the reason why he makes a great commander. Very quickly into the sequence of events, Young appears to catch on to what is happening in regard to the scenario repeating and tackles the issue from several sides. Even when he believes that he might be insane for thinking it, he continues to adapt his strategy, even doing the thing he knows will hurt him the most – handing over Chloe – while he watches as events unfold. This highlights one of the character’s strengths – his ability to fly by the seat of his pants, to change as facts on the ground change, to adapt. That change often results in failure does not make it a bad thing. It also highlighted his ability to delegate and listen to those around him.
In Scott, an officer the Col. has taken under his wing, we see this training come out in one of the last battle scenarios as Scott counters with a combination of Col. Young’s previous attempts, save the handover of Chloe. An idealist, Scott is facing a “Kobayashi Maru†of his own, one that he admits he isn’t ready for, in that he couldn’t hand over Chloe if it came to that. This builds on the events of “Cloverdale†and the fight between the two has been something that has needed to happen for some time. Expected perfection is too much for anyone and the lesson for them both is acceptance.
As Young clears his head at the end and re-assumes command, there is hope that he has learned this and, in the fight between Young and Scott, there is hope that Scott has outgrown the need to put Young on a pedestal. If his acceptance of Young becomes more realistic, then perhaps Scott will outgrow his over-idealistic tendencies as well. In any case, in airing this grievance, an important point has been made: That Young is needed precisely because while he is able to make the choices that he makes, he cares deeply about the people involved and that he neither gives up nor loses that part of himself that makes him a good commander – that self same hurt. Scott, Wray, TJ and lastly Rush have in one way or another ruled themselves out, and they need Young.
Another character that impressed me greatly in this episode is Wray, who continues to grow in her own leadership potential as this story winds on. It would have been easy for her to, once Young had come to her with his fear that he was going insane, to present this to the rest of the crew as a way to take power. That she doesn’t do this but chooses to support and try to help Young through a difficult situation is to her credit. It’s also the first time that I have ever heard her refer to Young by his first name and I hope that this is a sign of growing friendship and trust. In this, that Young is willing to share with others, is a key to his leadership skills and with people like Wray beside him, I have great hope that the dissolution the character has been displaying can be turned around.
Lastly, there is another trial taking place, on the bridge of the ship. Rush has access and he may believe that he has full control of the Destiny but the Destiny has other ideas. The manifestation of Gloria is gone, leaving Franklin as the voice of the ship and with every word to Rush, the Destiny appears to have nothing but contempt for the person currently manning her bridge. Rush may well have managed to cut short the simulation but, as with many of my notions regarding the mercurial scientist, I wonder at his true motives. Did he simply fear that Scott, or Young for that matter, wouldn’t step up and that somehow the ship would be in danger or at the very least stuck? Or did he fear that continued simulations would solidify the leadership choice that appeared to be at hand? Did he fear that the Destiny may have supplanted him, if this choice was made?
In any case, in the eyes of the crew, the Destiny has chosen, and it has chosen Young. If nothing else, this should ease some of the weight that has been crushing Young and enable him to pull himself together and deal with the considerable issues that he has on his plate, including a much-needed talk to TJ, about what has happened to her, and their daughter, as well as the unresolved feelings there.
Any talk of this episode would be remiss if it didn’t mention Eli, Ginn and Greer. Eli and Ginn’s first kiss was simply sweet and, while I’m not entirely sure that Ginn’s motives are pure, it’s good to see Eli interacting with other people, especially women. Greer is as solid as ever and it furthers his role as the touchstone of the crew – the man who sees a lot more than he’s given credit for. As weighted as Young is by the past, as ever-hopeful about the future Scott appears to be, Greer is solidly in the present, existing in the moment, no matter what that moment may bring.
As for what that moment may bring, only the threat has been dropped, in the form of the Destiny’s warning, issued through Franklin. If this were standard episodic fare, it would be easy to be disappointed with a cliffhanger like that but threads dropped in one entry will carry on in another and I know that this is not done.
Rating: 9/10
By xxxevilgrinxxx | Published: November 7, 2010 | (crossposted at my personal blog)
Look Deeper.
SCOTT: Look, you’re right. I couldn’t do it; live with the burden every day. That is not me, or T.J., or Camille….For Rush, it wouldn’t be a burden. And that is why we need you - because you feel it; and not so much you can’t get up and do it all over again the next day….You know, a real leader, a good commander is not so callous that he stops caring; just enough that he can keep on going. We both know you are a good commander. It is never gonna stop hurtin’. That’s the whole point.
Almost every science fiction show worth its salt will eventually produce an episode using the “groundhog day†scenario and Stargate Universe in no different in that regard. But just like the time loops and dream sequence episodes, SGU tackles this one beautifully.Like all of the episodes before it, “Trial and Error†is multi-layered in its meaning. There is the forefront scenario with Col. Young and the scenes where he is run through the battle simulations by the program running on Destiny but there are others as well. There is the echo of trials and errors gone past, specifically the events of “Dividedâ€, where we had the scenario of Wray and Rush and their failed attempt to gain control of Destiny. There is the relationship between Young, TJ and Emily Young, all of whom have definitely gone through a trial and many errors, the most recent on TJ’s part as she continues to try to impart her impressions about what has happened to their child, one of the many burdens on Young. Last but not least there is the trial, and error, that Rush continues to undergo at the hands of the Destiny’s manifestations.
First off, I have to say that I find it interesting that this trial is presaged by Young’s use of the stones. In “Sabotageâ€, stone use is also implicated in the sabotage of the ship that enabled the seemingly easy return of three lost characters – Eli, Chloe and Scott. In essence I believe that through the stones, the Destiny herself gained access to Young and was enable to perform this trial and that the same sort of thing happened in “Sabotage†and possibly even in “Spaceâ€.
The message that I came away with from Young’s experience is that, aside from the surface issue of testing his leadership in a mode that would speak to him – a battle scenario – the ship was teaching him something else: It’s not your fault. That failures happen and there’s only so much we can do about them. It was a “Kobayashi Maru†– an experience where failure is the lesson. Failure and the acceptance that comes along with knowing that it can’t be helped, that often times there is nothing that can be done but endure it, get up and move on, preferably without losing what you are in the process. In stopping the simulation short, the Destiny, through Franklin, may believe that Young is not truly ready, that he has never really faced the unwinnable scenario and may be unprepared for what is surely to come.
The battle scenario did highlight Young’s strengths and the reason why he makes a great commander. Very quickly into the sequence of events, Young appears to catch on to what is happening in regard to the scenario repeating and tackles the issue from several sides. Even when he believes that he might be insane for thinking it, he continues to adapt his strategy, even doing the thing he knows will hurt him the most – handing over Chloe – while he watches as events unfold. This highlights one of the character’s strengths – his ability to fly by the seat of his pants, to change as facts on the ground change, to adapt. That change often results in failure does not make it a bad thing. It also highlighted his ability to delegate and listen to those around him.
In Scott, an officer the Col. has taken under his wing, we see this training come out in one of the last battle scenarios as Scott counters with a combination of Col. Young’s previous attempts, save the handover of Chloe. An idealist, Scott is facing a “Kobayashi Maru†of his own, one that he admits he isn’t ready for, in that he couldn’t hand over Chloe if it came to that. This builds on the events of “Cloverdale†and the fight between the two has been something that has needed to happen for some time. Expected perfection is too much for anyone and the lesson for them both is acceptance.
As Young clears his head at the end and re-assumes command, there is hope that he has learned this and, in the fight between Young and Scott, there is hope that Scott has outgrown the need to put Young on a pedestal. If his acceptance of Young becomes more realistic, then perhaps Scott will outgrow his over-idealistic tendencies as well. In any case, in airing this grievance, an important point has been made: That Young is needed precisely because while he is able to make the choices that he makes, he cares deeply about the people involved and that he neither gives up nor loses that part of himself that makes him a good commander – that self same hurt. Scott, Wray, TJ and lastly Rush have in one way or another ruled themselves out, and they need Young.
Another character that impressed me greatly in this episode is Wray, who continues to grow in her own leadership potential as this story winds on. It would have been easy for her to, once Young had come to her with his fear that he was going insane, to present this to the rest of the crew as a way to take power. That she doesn’t do this but chooses to support and try to help Young through a difficult situation is to her credit. It’s also the first time that I have ever heard her refer to Young by his first name and I hope that this is a sign of growing friendship and trust. In this, that Young is willing to share with others, is a key to his leadership skills and with people like Wray beside him, I have great hope that the dissolution the character has been displaying can be turned around.
Lastly, there is another trial taking place, on the bridge of the ship. Rush has access and he may believe that he has full control of the Destiny but the Destiny has other ideas. The manifestation of Gloria is gone, leaving Franklin as the voice of the ship and with every word to Rush, the Destiny appears to have nothing but contempt for the person currently manning her bridge. Rush may well have managed to cut short the simulation but, as with many of my notions regarding the mercurial scientist, I wonder at his true motives. Did he simply fear that Scott, or Young for that matter, wouldn’t step up and that somehow the ship would be in danger or at the very least stuck? Or did he fear that continued simulations would solidify the leadership choice that appeared to be at hand? Did he fear that the Destiny may have supplanted him, if this choice was made?
In any case, in the eyes of the crew, the Destiny has chosen, and it has chosen Young. If nothing else, this should ease some of the weight that has been crushing Young and enable him to pull himself together and deal with the considerable issues that he has on his plate, including a much-needed talk to TJ, about what has happened to her, and their daughter, as well as the unresolved feelings there.
Any talk of this episode would be remiss if it didn’t mention Eli, Ginn and Greer. Eli and Ginn’s first kiss was simply sweet and, while I’m not entirely sure that Ginn’s motives are pure, it’s good to see Eli interacting with other people, especially women. Greer is as solid as ever and it furthers his role as the touchstone of the crew – the man who sees a lot more than he’s given credit for. As weighted as Young is by the past, as ever-hopeful about the future Scott appears to be, Greer is solidly in the present, existing in the moment, no matter what that moment may bring.
As for what that moment may bring, only the threat has been dropped, in the form of the Destiny’s warning, issued through Franklin. If this were standard episodic fare, it would be easy to be disappointed with a cliffhanger like that but threads dropped in one entry will carry on in another and I know that this is not done.
Rating: 9/10
*
...... Now Stay on Track!!
They do look sweet together. I just hope she's not using him. But from what I've seen of Ginn I get the impression that she's not a bad person at heart. Maybe we'll finally get a good ship in Stargate after all the years of them trying 
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