Is that first showing on August 13th only on the west coast? And no other East Coast, Central or Mountain NBC viewing?

Lastly, the easy reversal of the mind control felt a bit easy for me too. But I like harder roads and really clever science jargon... I think I'm the only one though.

Well, here is the right spot to let your geek out. Although we're pretty much resigned to the Bright World of Television Science, it doesn't stop us from nitpicking to our hearts' content. (hearts contents?)

I didn't have a problem with the technical reversal of the mind control rays from space--I'd assume that the research would have come with an off switch.

But wasn't it textually implied that it didn't come with an off switch? That they didn't know how to reverse it? And only worked it out (very promptly, mind you) for our heroes' benefit?

Some twisting of their paranoia so they had to follow him out would have worked for me

Yeah, this, though. But, okay, I'll take it as it comes.

Oh, and "freaking bugnuts" is an excellent and useful phrase, and a fine alternative to "bugfuck crazy."

Also - the Stargates are getting their lowest ratings ever.

Also - the Stargates are getting their lowest ratings ever.

Aw, poor gates. I'm guessing the 200th ep will bump those up a little.

Speaking of nitpicking...

I may well have missed this, but why exactly did they create a crop circle? And why did they need to use a satellite to beam mind-control rays from the lab to the lab?

but I honestly don't know how they'd do it.

well, they're welcome to my suggestion. Vortex "Boxed Set, Vol. III: "That Can't Be Good..."" Aug 9, 2006 8:14:24 am PDT

I would, however, demand a walkon as Henry's cousin for payment.

And why did they need to use a satellite to beam mind-control rays from the lab to the lab?

I can't explain the crop circle, but I think the idea of the weapon was to be able to shoot the mind-rays from anywhere, hence the satellite.

(My nitpick would be that the weapon as described was supposed to make the subjects turn on each other, and the actual effect on Jo & co was to make them work together to turn on everyone else. So not very useful, really.)

[eta: And on that note, the whole bit from last week's podcast about "Why would anyone want a forcefield that only stops bullets?" had me laughing so hard that I don't think I can listen to any more of these podcasts on the subway.]

And why did they need to use a satellite to beam mind-control rays from the lab to the lab?

Okay, clearly, I need to get around to watching this show.

But wasn't it textually implied that it didn't come with an off switch? That they didn't know how to reverse it? And only worked it out (very promptly, mind you) for our heroes' benefit?

I think that Jack asked "you can fix this, right" and what his name looked down sheepishly and then Jack said "oh, you don't know how, do you?"

But, we don't know if they ever even bothered to consider how to fix it. Typical government, go Eureka writers for reality!

(My nitpick would be that the weapon as described was supposed to make the subjects turn on each other, and the actual effect on Jo & co was to make them work together to turn on everyone else. So not very useful, really.)

perhaps it was the filtering of the paranoia through the movie that caused the change. I want to know why they all fixated on the same person as the alien? Why the senator as opposed to anyone else? and why did they all see the same thing?

Spencer created the crop circles by hand--or at least they said that was consistent with his physical condition.