I'm really starting to think the studio's left hand doesn't know what the right is doing, even if this episode was entertaining. We got solid, relevant exposition in this episode, plus the returns of two dead guys via flashback. So nice to see our old friend Peter Wingfield back, otherwise known as Watson (and Tanith on Stargate, if you'll remember that far back).

Ian Tracey still can't emote very well, though. Part of it in this episode could be chalked up to direction/writing, but he only seems to be able to properly convey emotions when they're over the top and not in any of his actual lines. Yes, we get it. You can scream. Now how about you actually sound sad when talking about your dying daughter?

Also, what in the name of goodness was going on with Helen and John Druitt? It veered into cheese-fest territory. "I loved you, but you killed all those people. Now I have feelings for you again!" Granted, John only went nuts when his head was infected with that murderous EM creature and he does want it out, but the yo-yo Helen thing is getting ridiculous. Are there any women on this writing staff?

And now something else that puzzled me. Apparently, thinking with portals has side effects even if you take precautions. Why they threw this one in has me stumped. Wasn't there already motivation enough to get to the underground steampunk city if Helen's father Gregory is down there? Why add this new element? It's getting to the point of being cheap by now. Please, something a little more uplifting in my entertainment. Even dramatic stories have their moments of smiling. Let's hope they realize this in time for the rest of the season.