Dark Horizons

Earth Final Conflict Episode Review

In which Sandoval loses his marbles and everyone goes on a field trip.

What Happened

A Jaridian weapon turns the Taelon Protectors against their Companions, including Sandoval, who takes over the ship and points it towards Jaridia.

What Did I Think?

It's your basic "Sidekick Goes Evil" plot, except that Sandoval isn't exactly a sidekick, unless you want to say he's Zo'or's sidekick. Which means he's pretty much always been "evil." Series-wise, this show confirms his connection to the Jaridians. Unfortunately, the audience has known about that ever since he sent Lili away at the start of season three. Seeing something new, like, say, his reasons for turning one way or another, would have made the story much stronger.

On top of everything else, this episode again misses the boat with Liam and Sandoval. If their connection is what is going to turn the tide at the end, then rather than wasting the first half of the show on the search for the Protectors, that time would have been better spent on building up to this conversation.

Instead, out of nowhere, Liam starts talking about Sandoval's "children," about how Sandoval has been spreading his genetic material around. Where did this come from and why did they bring it up now? Is one going to show up? Now, if they'd done some kind of reveal about Liam's connection to him (or even to Beckett), this might have been the perfect time for shift in relationship between the two. It might have actually meant something to the characters, giving weight to nice scene at the end where Sandoval once again reaffirms his loyalties or lack thereof.