Andromeda Episode 5: Double Helix

The crew of Andromeda find a Nietzschean asteroid colony. Tyr hangs out with its occupants, but are they to be trusted? Is he?

Episode Summary

The Andromeda interrupts a fight between Nietzschean and Than ships, drawing the attention of a nearby Nietzschean asteroid colony. Nietzschean society is divided into various groups, or prides, which are considered nation states. This particular colony is inhabited by the Orca Pride.

The Orca Pride

Captain Hunt hopes to negotiate peace between the Orca Pride and the Thans. The Orca Pride leader, or Alpha, Guderian invites Hunt to visit the asteroid.

Tyr is all “whoa, don’t trust these guys” because the Orca Pride betrayed his people (the Kodiak Pride), so he volunteers to go in Hunt’s place to scope them out and make sure they’re cool.

Tyr’s Bride

Tyr arrives on the asteroid and finds a bunch of Orca waiting with weapons drawn, but he demonstrates his superior combat skills by getting the drop on his opponents and taking one hostage. This earns Tyr the attention and affections of a female Nietzschean named Freya. She’s attracted to Tyr’s DNA he’s so strong and perfect, she thinks they’d make great babies; the matriarch of the pride approves of this coupling.

Tyr and Freya spend a couple scenes getting to know each other and talking about pride history and life goals, then they get married, exchanging double helix-shaped armbands like wedding rings. They immediately consummate afterwards.

Flashback

Meanwhile, Hunt remembers old days on Andromeda, back when he used to play 3d checkers with his Nietzschean first officer, Gaheris Rhade. Gaheris would always win because winning is such a big deal to Nietzscheans; losing would mean they were imperfect, and thus had imperfect DNA. Turns out he cheated at every game.

Loyalties

Back in the present, we appear to see some flip-flopping with Tyr as he passes on super secret information on the asteroid base to Captain Hunt, while also passing on super secret information on Andromeda to Guderian.

In the end, Tyr sides with the Andromeda crew and destroys the Orca asteroid base’s defenses. Hunt recognizes that Tyr didn’t side with the Andromeda crew out of loyalty but because they were his best means of survival.

Thoughts

Here we get a Tyr-focused episode. I liked getting to know him more and the insight into Nietzschean society and beliefs. Though, I wasn’t too fond of the ever-present question of whether or not Tyr will betray the crew because it’s obvious he won’t. Hopefully Andromeda won’t play that card often.

A couple scenes towards the end of the episode were really boring and full of technobabble in regards to destroying the asteroid’s defenses.

Poor Tyr had to leave his bride Freya behind. Will she keep his baby? I wouldn’t be surprised if we see her again.