Review: The God You Know

The past few episodes have been examples of the finest the series has to offer - from pulse-pounding action to light-hearted comedy to dark psychological drama. It seemed as though the series (which some believe veered far off course in the fifth season) had found its way again. As the saying goes, there was much rejoicing.

But even the smoothest road can have a few rough spots. This week's episode is an example of this phenomenon. While it isn't absolutely horrendous, it certainly doesn't live up to the standards set in other recent adventures.

The story is rather forced - clearly intended to set up and advance the season's overarching plotline. Skopov's script - while it contains good moments and a handful of memorable lines - seems to lack a thorough understanding of the characters (a flaw all too common in her scripts, as technically flawless as they may be). It sacrifices character for plot, and that more often than not leads to a flat, lifeless story.

The pre-credit teaser for this episode introduced far too many characters; the inclusion of Xena, Gabrielle, Eve, Caligula, Ares, Aphrodite, and Michael makes for a storyline where we must rely on the backstory of too many previous episodes to understand what's going on. While the hard-core fan possesses this knowledge, the more casual viewer is likely to be lost.

Many of the characters get short shrift - most notably Ares, whom I feel should have been given more of a chance to display aspects of his newfound humanity. Instead he languishes in a prison cell, only trotted out when a bit of beefcake is required.

Aphrodite is almost extraneous in this episode. She spends much of it in what appears to be a drug induced haze. In the past Aphrodite has brought delightful energy to the episodes she appears in. This time around, that energy isn't seen until far too late - after she has served her purpose as a plot device.

As much as I like Adrienne Wilkinson (she's a delightful young woman and a pleasure to talk to) Eve seems to have entered the realm of the cardboard cutout. She is basically a replacement for Eli - without the same degree of passion or fervor the avatar brought. I think a large part of this has to do with the lack of attention she has received this season. In Coming Home there was a nice bit of internal conflict because of Eve's role in the decline of the Amazons, but those moments of self-doubt have been few and far between. Her faith feels all too false.

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