04.28.07
Posted in Reviews at 11:34 pm by Administrator
Written by Alan McCullough
Directed by Andy Mikita
When it comes to the “Stargate” franchise (and much of televised science fiction, for that matter), stories involved alternate realities have become a massive cliché. Many times, they tend to be self-contained attempts to shake things up when the usual storytelling grind gets stale. Many fans still enjoy them for the chance to see old friends, but when overused, the plot device can be incredibly annoying. For seasoned veterans of the genre, it usually only works when the trip through the looking glass reveals something hidden in the “real world”, such as character motivation or impending threats. In other words, when the story manages to fit into an existing story arc.
There’s a nice attempt to toss out some actual theoretical basis for the existence of alternate realities (those theories are actually real areas of research), and it makes sense that experimentation with Merlin’s device from the previous episode might have the effect seen in this installment. That connection between episodes is an important step towards making this episode contextually satisfying.
There are some nice differences in this alternate reality, and it’s great to see Hammond back in the saddle. Landry as President is a bit harder to swallow, but when it comes to alternate realities, just about anything is considered possible. The response to the revelation of the Stargate program sounds a lot more realistic in this universe.
Carter’s plan to hide Earth behind an Ori-proof forcefield is certainly impressive. Having the ability to tell the American public about the needs of the SGC for the defense of the planet is certainly better than playing political games. On the other hand, the public relations fallout from Carter’s success is completely new to her (and us, for that matter). Have we ever seen Carter in such a revealing dress?
In an unexpected twist, the writers shift focus from the Ori threat to the world that Carter has managed to save. And that world has some interesting ideas about resolving the international issues that arose from the public unveiling of the Stargate program. It’s not a pretty sight. Dissention is put down brutally, and SGC resources are used against “terrorists” rather than the enemies off-world. Resources, like Carter herself, are forced into service.
Considering that Carter is the character at the center of this particular storm, it’s a given that the writers would bring McKay into the picture. As one would expect, McKay is pretty much the same in every reality, and when a theoretical challenge (and a little ego-stroking) is dangled in his face, he can’t resist. That’s not nearly as distressing as Mitchell’s fate in this reality; Ben Browder sells the role incredibly well.
Carter decides to speak out against the suppression of civil liberties, and in no time at all, she’s persona non grata. Considering what we’re told about the alternate reality, the decision to let Carter go is a bit convenient (and not at all surprising). However, the upshot is that Carter has something to think about when it comes to using Merlin’s device on a large scale. There’s no certainty that this “lesson” will stick, but in the end, this iteration of the time-worn plot device avoids the usual pitfalls and tells a solid story.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4
Final Rating: 7/10
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04.22.07
Posted in Reviews at 2:03 am by Administrator
Written by Alan McCullough
Directed by Peter DeLuise
The episode starts with the SGC making strides in hiding troops and materiel from the advancing Ori forces using a device from Merlin, setting the stage for a confrontation. An entire village is under the gun, and a device that can make things disappear into a different dimension sounds like a great idea. It’s a bit annoying for Daniel’s situation to be completely ignored, but with the conflict against the Ori taking center stage, at least it’s relevant to the season arc.
Of course, it doesn’t take long for things to go wrong, and SG-1 is forced into a defensive position when the village chooses to stand their ground. The actual battle begins very quickly, which is a nice touch, and the village falls remarkably fast. It’s a nice touch for Tobin to be the commander of the Ori force, especially once he orders the execution of the village’s defenders.
It’s unusual for one of the team to be injured badly, so Carter’s wound is a nice touch. It gives Mitchell another chance to display his field experience. It’s a bit odd that Carter would give up so easily, but they have dealt with the Ori enough to know how overwhelming their forces can be. Mitchell’s campaign to keep Carter’s faith going is a nice bit of characterization.
Considering Vala’s initial characterization, it’s always great to see her interact with Tobin and struggle with her role as the mother of the Orisi. Vala’s argument with Tobin is a strong depiction of resistance to religion gone horribly wrong. Tobin’s reaction does much to prove Vala’s point. Tobin’s subsequent argument with the Prior is also reflective of those who preach violence through perversion of traditional interpretation of religious parable. Holy words become a pretext for abomination. As always, the nature of Origin has interesting analogues to fundamentalist movements in the real world.
The villagers are left to choose submission to another set of false gods or perish by the sword (or really odd-looking spear), and that speaks well to T’ealc’s character. It’s not surprising that some of the villagers would come to the conclusion that giving up is the only means of survival. But that begs the question: is survival enough, if it means giving up everything that makes survival meaningful?
The ending is somewhat predictable, right down to Tobin’s sacrifice for Vala’s survival and the last-minute deliverance of the village. Even so, as with many of the episodes that deal with the allegorical aspects of the Ori crusade, this delves into the kind of material that helps the episode rise above the simplicity of the typical stand-alone episode.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
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04.16.07
Posted in Reviews at 1:17 am by Administrator
Written by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie
Directed by Andy Mikita
It’s been several months since the last time a new episode of “SG-1” was on the air (at least in the United States), and it did not end the first half of the season on a high note. Despite a great deal of promise coming out the ninth season, the highlight of the tenth and final season has thus far been a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the past decade. The first part of “The Quest” felt less like a banner episode of “SG-1” and more like an odd retread of an old-style “Dungeons and Dragons” campaign.
The conclusion of the story starts in largely the same thematic ground, with the SG-1 team and Ba’al fighting what appears to be a wyvern (like a dragon, but not). Once this relatively cute moment is over, the episode takes a turn into more familiar territory. The team is whisked to a new location off the beaten wormhole path where they encounter Merlin. He has a device that can help recreate the Sangraal, the weapon that can be used against the Ori. Only he is unable to use the device; Daniel volunteers, putting his life at great risk as a result.
This entire plot thread includes a number of continuity references that help connect the Ori plot elements to the Ancient technology encountered during the Goa’uld days. Such an effort is quite appreciated, even if it won’t be enough to overcome the resistance of fans unwilling to give the new order a chance. Whatever the case, it’s nice to see the pieces fitting together, even if it’s still clear that there’s a lot left to do before the end of the series.
While Daniel slowly falls apart at the seams, Adria pulls together her resources from around the galaxy to hunt SG-1 down. This aspect of the plot adds to the long list of Adria’s powers, and they are quite impressive. Unfortunately, this also exposes the weaknesses in Morena Baccarin’s performance. Some scenes are completely ruined by line delivery that undermines the intent of the scene. I loved Morena as Inara on “Firefly”, so it’s disappointing to see her falter. (Especially since the lack in acting makes it look like she was hired solely for her looks.)
By the end of the episode, Daniel is weakened and in Adria’s hands. Despite his claims that the Ancient knowledge is gone, Adria’s powers are vast and it’s possible that she could find a way to extract the memories. SG-1 has part of the Sangraal in hand, but no means of returning to the planet with Merlin’s device. This is an interesting and unexpected complication for the season arc, and the writers have certainly given themselves a good starting point for the remainder of the season and series.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 1/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 7/10
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