A good episode, whose major quality and major flaw both are that it completely rests upon Michael Shanks's shoulders. Don't get me wrong: he is absolutely amazing. Granted, we've already seen him play several characters at the same time (Ma'chello, for one) but the episode really ups the ante by having him play *half a dozen* characters, almost at the same time. However, the episode focuses on this feat so much that the rest of the team are left aside for most of it.
Still, the core idea is good, and puts a twist on a rather familiar sci-fi plot (the whole population of a dying world is put in stasis and evacuated aboard spaceships). I really appreciate how the "lifeboat" in the title can be interpreted several ways. (Fyi, the French title is "Phantom ship", which is quite good as well). Once again, the plot is not revealed in a straightforward manner, which leaves some opportunity for mystery and emotion.
In a way, this is too good a plot for a mere 40-minute episode, as the resolution occurs much too fat to my taste. I wish we could have spent more time with Pharrin, who turns out to be a real hero in his own way, and whose final fate remains very unclear.
Still, the core idea is good, and puts a twist on a rather familiar sci-fi plot (the whole population of a dying world is put in stasis and evacuated aboard spaceships). I really appreciate how the "lifeboat" in the title can be interpreted several ways. (Fyi, the French title is "Phantom ship", which is quite good as well). Once again, the plot is not revealed in a straightforward manner, which leaves some opportunity for mystery and emotion.
In a way, this is too good a plot for a mere 40-minute episode, as the resolution occurs much too fat to my taste. I wish we could have spent more time with Pharrin, who turns out to be a real hero in his own way, and whose final fate remains very unclear.
