Oftentimes when you are trying to stress a haunting feeling on television it doesn't always pay off, and is a huge risk when that is what you are trying to extract from your audience. But, "Ghost in the Machine" pays it off with a frightening few scenes of the computer monitor spelling out "Help Me" multiple times. It's even more eerie when we find out it Dr. Weir trying to communicate with us. The emotions they were trying to get work in spades. Those scenes were shot beautifully, and left the proper amount of mystery and pause to really make you scared and anxious.
The only time I was disappointed while watching "Ghost in the Machine" was that the creepy tone set by the opening few scenes disappeared. It had the makings of a great thriller episode, but fell short of that. They had such a strong opener, but they had to make the reveal and move on. Which is a shame since it could have driven this episode to greatness.
However, the story kept me interested though out the whole episode, and even made me like Woolsey a little more. There is an obvious answer to the Replicators, don't let them do anything anytime, and as had of a decision that was to make, Woolsey made the right one, buy not letting them so anything. Of course he had to let them do some work otherwise this episode would have been a waste of time. It shows strong character development on his behalf, and makes him feel more organic to the team.
The new version of Weir actually looked like a cross between Sam Carter and Weir, it was strange and exciting all at the same time. A lovely casting choice bringing the likeable and lovable FRAN (Michelle Morgan) back onto the show. She was very believable as Elizabeth.
Knowing that there is a full-blown horror episode coming up this season, gives me hope after watching this episode that they know how to shoot it.
