Nineteen Down, Five to Go: Looking Back Before the End

Well, it's been a while since I updated this thing (almost two months, to be exact), and I think I'm long overdue for one. As the title says, we've only got five more episodes until the twenty-four episode second season of Horizon comes to an end. Looking back, I think it's shaped up to be a much better season than season one. We took out General Williams and Mediator Dureg; brought back Sivok, Beaumont, Sato, Sonak, Arina, and even saw a bit of the Sentinels after their demise; introduced a new series regular, who I'd like to think at this point fits right in; as well as the introduction of new recurring characters like Hiron Bay'lar, Council Vahret, Zach Hoffmann, and Ma'kin Callen (Ma'kin's only in one episode, you say? Perhaps you should check out "In Times of Despair"); and brought the Tok'ra aboard Horizon.

The season also brought great changes to several of the cast. Colonel Grant lost several men under his command and found himself stranded on a desert planet with only his knowledge to aid him in his survival. This season, he gained a superior aboard Horizon, got locked up in an Enoly camp, got brutally beaten by an Enoly Kah'Lohnah, nearly lost his close friend Christine (twice), dealt with the apprehension and death of General Williams, and fought off alien beasts on a desert planet.

Commander De'van Callen got promoted to commanding officer of Horizon, where he met the challenges of fitting in, bluffed his way out of an all out civil war, nearly had the entire station blow up after connecting to Earth, got kidnapped with a hijacked Valiant, got kidnapped by the Kih'Andari, nearly lost his son, actually did lose an old friend, was forced to cover up a secret about a Vorian double agent, and got penalized for making the right decision and sending an innocent Enoly off station before she could be used as a mass murderer.

Sivea Ve'nal, after undergoing much mental stress towards the end of season one, soon found herself in charge of the station after the Valiant was hijacked, led along and betrayed by her old friend Day'ek Sonak, kidnapped on Earth by Edmunds' gang, and had to stop an alien race from destroying everyone aboard the Horizon station.

Christine Summers nearly met her demise on two occaisions. First, she committed several actions that led to an uprising on a religious planet, nearly died at the hands of a rogue rebel Draque, watched her brother be accused of a crime he didn't commit, literally died at the hands of the Sentinels, was resurrected by the Nebulan weapon, and got locked in an ancient outpost with an envious Doctor Michael Sullivan.

Major Chase Reynolds got locked up in a mine, put up with the likes of Jay Felger, got kidnapped once again by the Ventorians, and once again by Edmunds' gang on Earth.

David Connor's inner strife regarding his family continued throughout the season. He found himself being held captive in an Enoly prison camp, was forced to help win back the Valiant from her hijackers, ended up in an underground chamber despite his fear of being underground, and found himself alone and abandoned within a city of the brink of destruction.

Tom Galloway was recovered from the depths of the Enoly prison camp after two years that permanently changed him. He finally escaped, slowly got back into the groove of things on Horizon, helped save Horizon-1 from a mining camp, found his way into a secret chamber deep under the Earth, was nearly killed by his own returning friend, and nearly went over the edge by almost killing an Enoly test subject.

Finally, Doctor Lenori, last seen leaving for Lindaray, returned when his race was threatened by the Enoly. He lost several of his people, was forced to work with his replacement Ro'nell, nearly failed to save Christine and the dying rebel Draque, failed to save Christine once again within the chamber, and ended up looking down the barrel of a gun held by Tom Galloway.

Of course, the season still has five episodes to go, and it is around this time that the biggest changes take place. The white drafts of "Uprising" and "In Times of Despair" are both complete. The former of the two is the third episode in the Aschen arc, an arc last visited in season one's thirteenth episode. I can guarentee that of the three: Elin, Seeta, Tellus, and Mollem, at least one will be returning for this episode. So far, I can say that this episode will be the last of the Aschen that we see for a while again. The trailer is done, and since Alex is off on Tuesdays it should be up by then.

I just went through "Catch 22" again today in attempts to make it as close to perfect as possible. This episode has been with us for a long time, and I don't think I could have expected any more from it. Loral is back and slimier than ever, and every regular character, as well as a few recurring characters, plays a large role in the story. Was this episode a pain in the ass to write? Yes, but I'm pleased with the result.

The white draft of "In Times of Despair" got delayed for a long time, but I'm pleased to say that it got put up this week. I don't think anyone else has gone through it yet, but I should be getting comments some time soon. Similar to "Secrets and Lies," 2.22 takes a step back from the action and focuses on several character relationships. Aside from the usual crowd, we'll see a few visitors come aboard Horizon to celebrate the Vorian Day of Renewal. You could call it a light hearted episode, but what comes out of it is not light-hearted at all.

As of now, "Preemptive Strike" and "Revolution" are in development and most of the details are being kept under wraps. They are the only two episodes without white drafts released, so we've done a pretty good job of staying on our no-hiatus second half schedule. Alex posted a few vague hints about these on the message board, and we're expecting the outline of PS any day now. By the end of the finale, all I can say is that things will have changed drastically aboard Horizon.

Already we've started throwing things around for season three, and there's even a very brief, general concept for what 3.01 might be about. Season Two may very well be over by the next time I post, so I'll just say that I hope you enjoy the rest of the season. Signing off...