Dr Belman's research into hyper-evolving the human race is put on the fast-track when her daughter decides to test an injection of Taelon and Jaridian DNA on herself.
Looks like I've got my wish for some more excitement. With this episode, Earth: Final Conflict finally gives its audience more to work with. Just as you think it's going to be another one of those 'chase and destroy' episodes, there's a lot more going on, and more depth of character. Belman's daughter is an interesting new character, and once she begins to evolve, her childlike way of looking at the universe around her is fascinating. It's also good to see Majel Barrett making a welcome return as the largely absent this season Dr Belman.
What helps the show greatly is the proper setting out of the Taelons' plans. Both Da'an and Zo'or are working towards improving the human race to combat the Jaridians. However, each has different approaches, Da'an favouring an eventual joining, and Zo'or preferring to genetically alter our race. There are many important facts flung in here too. Somehow Zo'or has a real Jaridian that he can use, and we don't know where it came from. Joyce Belman also says she knows what Zo'or's real plan for Earth is, which means we happily don't know the full story yet.
Each character here has a bit of the action too, which is a welcome change. Lili and Augur get to save the Earth, Belman gets the most scenes she ever has and some touching moments with her daughter, Sandoval gets a painful experience he's been needing for a while, the two main Taelons indulge in some power-play and the Doors's have a reunion.
There are some areas of criticism here: this episode was transmitted after Isabel, yet seems to kick off Jonathan Doors' campaign to be President. Also, Joshua Doors gets a tiny amount of screen time once again. When are the writers actually going to use this character? Finally, how come Max the monkey has unpleasant effects from the DNA injection, yet Joyce doesn't appear to?
Regardless of this, it's good to see all the main cast getting some action, and it'll be interesting to say how Sandoval and Zo'or react to Lili after her heroic actions in this story. Plenty of promise of more to come, and let's hope it's lived up to. One of the better episodes this season.
****
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