"Forced Perspective" - Episode #115 (slight spoilers below) (Click here for synopsis)

This was one of those episodes that I enjoyed watching a lot. However, I had some problems with it as I stopped to think it through a bit which I will also deal with below.

The take off point for this episode, missing parts again, actually raised some questions for me. While not having an infinite supply of parts makes a lot of sense, I wondered why this missing ( more technobabble) valve caused so much manual effort. I also asked myself where Rommie was. While none of this is without possible answers, it did take away from the show just a bit for me.

However, the acting was generally great, with some really nicely back and forth between Dylan and Trance on Mobius, as well as between Tyr and Beka on the Andromeda. We continue to learn a bit more about each of these characters, with considerable new depth added especially to Dylan, who is very much "the soldier" , yet with a conscience. The mystery of Trance also begins to unravel slightly as we see more of her abilities and perspectives on "possibilities".

The nature of the Commonwealth itself is also revealed a bit, which is vital if we are to understand and buy in to the mission to restore it. We find that this government seems not unlike several of our day, with good intentions for peace and justice, but willing to use covert and at times questionable means to accomplish their ends. It was not perfect and obviously made for conflicts in patriots like Dylan who have a sensitive conscience.

I found the character of Venetri (MacKenzie Gray) generally well done in the flashback sequences. However, he was less believable in the 'present' as the "Great Compass". I especially found it impossible to believe that he would be willing and feasibly able to make the radical move he apparently did at the end of the episode. In general some of the second half of the episode did not move along as enjoyably or believably as the rest.

Speaking of the flashback sequences, while *very* interesting, they also were hard to believe at times. The fact that Dylan and Rhade could speak loudly of their mission in public, "stroll" in with little resistance and later escape with little harm really stretches artistic license a lot!

All in all, it was a good episode that was fairly fun to watch, developed several characters and added to the background for the series. The 'B' story of Tyr and Beka was brief, but well done also.

The ratings for the episode are given below. For information on how my rating system works, click on this link.

Review 03/01/01 by Larry Kramer

© 2001 Larry Kramer (See Copyright Disclaimer)