TV episode review
US airdate1 February 2008 (Sci Fi Channel)

The cantons unite as Ming's grasp starts to slip...

Another well-paced episode sets up the various parties for the showdown in the season finale, with Rankol's apparent treachery to Ming being discovered, Flash showing off the skills he's learned on Mongo, and Aura coming into her own.

Ming is assailed on all sides: he's no longer the Prophesied One, the one person he trusted has been working against him forever and his daughter has learned an unpalatable truth about him. To cap it all, his Patriots can't even win a simple battle. John Ralston gives his best performance as the Benevolent One to date, using a horribly twisted logic to justify his actions.

Stuck away from the main action, Dale finally tells Earth people about Mongo – although quite why she thinks a small newscast on a tiny non-network station is going to make that much of a difference isn't really discussed. She and Flash's mother come through a rift, bringing all the players together for the finale.

If only the focus that is evident in these final few episodes had been present earlier in the season, we'd be preparing for a second run of Flash Gordon now, rather than lamenting its early demise. Paul Simpson

VERDICT: 8/10