This is one of the most intriguing episodes of the season. It is a far darker theme than the usually optimistic fare seaQuest provides us with. But at the same time, you need the darkness to balance out that idealism. Far too often on this show, things work out perfectly and the bad guy is caught or sees the error of his ways. We don’t like to think that there is a human out there capable of such atrocities, and yet it’s not beyond the realm of possibilities. As far as the plot goes, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that ‘Warden Griggs’ is actually Zellar. Even the first time through I guessed that. But if you can ignore that, the mounting tension in this episode is actually well done. They set things up well, and the follow through is just as good. Slowly, step-by-step, things seem to spiral toward the final showdown in the missile room. And the more I watch this episode, the more I’m impressed by the number of references to the title that they fit in there. There are the obvious poker and chess references, Lucas using the ship’s computer for games, Westphalen warns Bridger not to play Zellar’s game, and my favorite, when Zellar (while playing chess) tells Westphalen that “mass genocide [is]…the ultimate game.” The only real flaw is the B-plot, Krieg’s little underwear scheme. That’s just dumb and pointless and adds nothing to the story.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
The cryochamber -- There has been a lot made of this topic the past year or so with the death of Ted Williams. For me, it just reinforces the idea that cryogenically freezing someone is true fiction - at least at the current level of technology. I’d be amazed in fact, if it’s even perfected by 2018 in time to freeze Zellar. As neat as the concept is, it just isn’t feasible yet, and won’t be for a number of years.
“I’m a scientist, my work is fueled by curiosity.” I just love the way this show routinely takes such a wonderful view of science. This is the first of at least two or three great quotes about science throughout the season. A lot of people never liked science class because they thought it too hard; but for those of us who thrived in science class, a big part of the reason is because we are so curious.
CHARACTERS:
The Krieg/Lucas dynamic is a nice relationship. On an emotional level, they’re about equals.
The hug between Bridger and Westphalen is the catalyst for my whole obsession with this show. I saw that scene and couldn’t get the idea of the two of them out of my head the rest of the week. Yes, I’m a hopeless romantic at heart.
Ooh, some juicy character moments in Ford’s interrogations of Zellar. It kind of foreshadows “Hide and Seek” and his strong opinions of genocide there. He just rips into Zellar a couple times, and Zellar doesn’t even blink.
Dr. Rubin Zellar:
There are some actors who, when you first see them, you take for granted how good they are. I did that with Gene Hackman, who for a long time I saw only as Lex Luthor. I did the same thing with Alan Scarfe, who plays Zellar. Since this episode originally aired, I’ve caught Scarfe in a number of other things, including several incarnations of Star Trek, and a series called Seven Days (which also starred Don Franklin). The more I see of him, the more I appreciate how good he is as Zellar. The way the episode is written, the show doesn’t fly without him; the character is pivotal to the plot and everything that happens. You have to believe that he’s as evil and deranged as a typical bad guy. Yet he also comes across as an urbane gentleman who will serve you tea before slitting your throat. It’s that quality that sets Zellar apart from all the other bad guys we encounter on the show, and makes him one of my favorites. He’s a little like Hannibal Lector in that respect. But what is even more chilling than the fact that someone like Zellar could exist, is that there are governments - and I’m not talking about Bush’s ‘Axis of Evil’ here - who would fund someone like him. I do not doubt that there are legitimate, ‘friendly’ governments and leaders who feel it necessary to keep a weapon like Zellar alive and even use him. I think that point gets glossed over a little here, and buried in the threat to the ship - not that that’s a bad thing, just that it happens.
QUICK QUESTIONS, QUERIES, QUANDRIES AND COMMENTS:
An old recruiting slogan for the Navy used to be ‘Join the Navy, see the world.’ I’m glad to see the ship jumping all over the globe. The Pacific, the mid-Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Arctic…and all by the fourth episode.
We get our first appearance of Dr. Joshua Levin today. He reappears as a back-up for Kristin for the next few weeks, then disappears again.
I don’t think most civilians get tours of Navy ships. And even if they do, they certainly don’t get to go anywhere within spitting distance of a) functional parts of the ship like the engine room, or b) highly classified, secure parts of the ship like missile rooms. On seaQuest, I would assume the typical tour covers things like the science areas, berthing areas and the mess. (And just after writing this, I discover that the ND football team got a tour of the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier while in Florida for a bowl game. Oh well, I’m sure they still didn’t see the missile rooms.)
Another blooper reel candidate here, but you have to pay really close attention to catch it. In the missile room, when Zellar asks for the keys, pay attention to which direction Ford is standing. First he’s turned toward Bridger, then he’s looking away, and then back towards Bridger. Guess he forgot his mark that day.
We learn Kristin’s brother was part of the A247 research team. A247 is a road in southern England running between Guildford, Woking and Merrow and connects two other roads. I didn’t believe this when I first heard it, but I actually found it on a map.
ALERTS FOR THE FUTURE:
Notice how it is Kristin's brother, James Westphalen, who was killed by Zellar. This means Westphalen is her maiden name. Remember this when we meet her daughter later on.
BOB BALLARD MOMENT:
Believe it or not, but seaQuest is the deepest diving sub in existence. The outer compartments flood to protect the crew at those depths. And according to Bob, it’s also a look into the future, which is supposed to challenge the next generation. I don’t know about challenging me scientifically, but I will say that my writing has improved due to the fanfic I’ve written about the show.
