Space: Above and Beyond Episode Guide

S09
Stay with the Dead

Plot
West is brought to the Saratoga as the apparent sole survivor of the 58th after a massacre during a retrieval operation. West appears unable to accept the loss of the others, and faces his own personal battle - is he deluded as the doctors believe, or does he really have the key to finding the 58th alive?

Personal Comments
Okay, so we know the 58th aren't really dead, it would've been a short series otherwise, but the tension comes from West's battle to piece together the battle before the doctors achieve their 'humane' solution to his possible delusions.
The episode explores the recurring Space: Above and Beyond themes of loyalty, honour, comradeship... and remembrance. Marines always go back for their dead. Curiously, that makes me wonder why the Marines didn't initially go back to retrieve the bodies of the 58th and 61st before declaring them dead?
One of the things which really got me is the part of remembering the people who have died - something very human, very important. The doctors are, naturally, worried more about West's state of health, than concern that his dead buddies would be forgotten: "I'm sure the 58th won't hold it against him at their tenth reunion", or something similar, was the doctor's comment. Is it really worth taking someone's mind, purely to save their body? I personally found the comparison with amputation a little dodgy... To me, losing a leg would be less serious than losing my mind (I've seen the effects of Alzheimers on someone close... that is a very, very scary situation to be in). I couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like to be in West's position, however, there really doesn't appear to be much of a right answer in the situation... something which the episode tackled pretty well.
The Chigs are once again hinted at being barbaric creatures, boody-trapping the dead and injured. They obviously understand humans pretty well, as suggested in other episodes, and know that humans will always attempt to retrieve fallen comrades - dead or alive. Hmmm, is there a slight mirroring of the body/memory issue here too? While humans value memories, the physical body seems to take priority - the Chigs seem to see the dead, and possibly the injured, as just an empty shell of little importance. It's all really a matter of culture, viewpoint, perspective - the Chigs may well see humans as being equally barbaric. ("They treat dead bodies like they're alive? Ewww!")

Production Goofs
Nope... none that I can see. Any ideas?

[metaljoe@oocities.com]

S09	Stay with the Dead

		Plot West is brought to the Saratoga as the apparent sole survivor of the 58th after a massacre during a retrieval operation. West appears unable to accept the loss of the others, and faces his own personal battle - is he deluded as the doctors believe, or does he really have the key to finding the 58th alive?

	Personal Comments Okay, so we know the 58th aren't really dead, it would've been a short series otherwise, but the tension comes from West's battle to piece together the battle before the doctors achieve their 'humane' solution to his possible delusions. The episode explores the recurring Space: Above and Beyond themes of loyalty, honour, comradeship... and remembrance. Marines always go back for their dead. Curiously, that makes me wonder why the Marines didn't initially go back to retrieve the bodies of the 58th and 61st before declaring them dead? One of the things which really got me is the part of remembering the people who have died - something very human, very important. The doctors are, naturally, worried more about West's state of health, than concern that his dead buddies would be forgotten: "I'm sure the 58th won't hold it against him at their tenth reunion", or something similar, was the doctor's comment. Is it really worth taking someone's mind, purely to save their body? I personally found the comparison with amputation a little dodgy... To me, losing a leg would be less serious than losing my mind (I've seen the effects of Alzheimers on someone close... that is a very, very scary situation to be in). I couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like to be in West's position, however, there really doesn't appear to be much of a right answer in the situation... something which the episode tackled pretty well. The Chigs are once again hinted at being barbaric creatures, boody-trapping the dead and injured. They obviously understand humans pretty well, as suggested in other episodes, and know that humans will always attempt to retrieve fallen comrades - dead or alive. Hmmm, is there a slight mirroring of the body/memory issue here too? While humans value memories, the physical body seems to take priority - the Chigs seem to see the dead, and possibly the injured, as just an empty shell of little importance. It's all really a matter of culture, viewpoint, perspective - the Chigs may well see humans as being equally barbaric. ("They treat dead bodies like they're alive? Ewww!") Production Goofs Nope... none that I can see. Any ideas?