Andromeda
"To Loose The Fateful Lightning"

Airdate: October 22, 2000

Captain Hunt or Dorothy? You decide.

The crew of the Andromeda risk contact with a nearby Magog-infested system to a supply station that is run by the descendants of the original human crew who have been able to hold back invaders for 300 years. Both the raids and a radiation leak on the base have created a youth-based society where the tenets of the Commonwealth have been subverted into Nazi-esque doctrine as they have been passed down, generation to generation until finally they believe that, as was prophesized many years ago, Hunt (Kevin Sorbo), a true officer of the High Guard, is the returned messiah that will bring them victory over their enemies.

In order to expedite their cooperation with re-supplying the Andromeda, Hunt, for a time, allows them to believe that he is their messiah. Eventually, however, their racist beliefs and tactics are too much to swallow and he confesses all to Nassan (Amber Rothwell), the dying young woman who leads them. He brings Rev Bem (Brent Stait) to speak to her of his Way-ian ways and although it takes her a while, she does see that the true way to peace is not through the total annihilation of your enemies. Only Hayek (Chris Lovick), her second in command, isn't so willing to change the belief system and tactics that have kept them alive for so long.

He seizes control and tries to force peace by destroying the stars of enemy systems with Nova bombs. The Andromeda crew is unwilling to sacrifice both the systems and the young warrior pilots who will die delivering the bombs and try to outwit Hayek. Except Hayek isn't as dumb as they thought and gains control of the Andromeda until... well, Andromeda (Lexia Doig) herself says otherwise and allows Hunt and company to save the day.

"To Loose The Fateful Lightning" has good intentions and a solid purpose, but it may have come too soon in the series to be successful. As it stands, Hunt and Rev Bem are truly the only ones affected by the children warriors' plight. The others just seem happy going about their normal business as long as nothing interferes with whatever they are doing at the moment. While it's true that Hunt, as an optimist and dreamer, and Rev Bem, as a seeker of redemption, are the only two crew members who seem to be looking for more than just what will make their own lives materially better, it would have been nice to see a little depth given to one of the others.

Once more with feeling: "Everybody in leather!"

On a side note: If I were Hunt, after that quick demonstration of mutiny by Tyre Anasazi (Keith Hamilton Cobb), I'd have his ass shoved out an airlock as soon as possible. If he can't count on the Nietzchean's loyalty for five minutes, what's the point in keeping his sorry behind around?

The ending is brought about by a real deus ex machina spin in that ship's engineer Harper, using information found on the Nazi Youth-run base, allows Andromeda's AI brain to assume corporeal form. Although there is a conversation that attempts to put a curb on any shiper tendencies that anyone might have in regards to Andromeda and Captain Hunt, it would really only be the next logical step. Consider Han Solo's strong feelings for the Millennium Falcon or Captain Kirk's inability to fully embrace bliss when forced to choose between and idyllic planet-bound life or the Enterprise ("This Side of Paradise"). Then again, just think about any guy and his first car. Dude, it was inevitable.

As for Trance Gemini (Laura Betram), the sucking hole of stupid chick, well, for about three minutes she didn't get on my nerves. And then it happened. Her lack of any sort of brain activity lead to the capture of the Andromeda crew. If it weren't for the only real ass-kicking chick of the group -- that would be Andromeda, herself -- the ship would be in that punk Hayek's hands now.

As things stand Harper can stay, but Anasazi and Gemini still need to be spaced. Like, right now.

-- Linda M. Najera

Andromeda is syndicated. Check your local listings for show times.

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