Stargate SG-1, Season 6, Episode 2

"Redemption, Part 2"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Good

Commentary by:
Martin Wood -- Director
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
Continuing the events from “Redemption, Part 1,” with the failure of the X-302 as a means to contact the Asgard, the clock is ticking for Earth.  The energy build-up in the stargate continues.  Dr. Rodney McKay (“48 Hours”) is at SGC, working with (and against) Carter, and other scientists, to find a way to stop the impending explosion of the stargate.  Anubis revealed himself as the perpetrator of the latest attempt to destroy Earth.

Unknown to SGC, Teal’c and Bra’tac learn about Anubis’ attack on Earth, and they attempt to find, and stop, that Goa’uld.  Just two Free Jaffa against the might of Anubis’ Jaffa forces?  Of course not.  That would be silly.  Rya’c is going with them, so it is three Free Jaffa against the might of Anubis’ Jaffa forces.

Continuing the theme of redemption, Rya’c wants to prove himself a warrior to his father by accompanying him to stop Anubis.  Back at SGC, Jonas Quinn wants to redeem himself in O’Neill’s eyes, and work on his survivor’s guilt about Daniel.  After pushing a plan into action to stop the energy build-up in the stargate that fails, and leads to Carter being injured, Rodney McKay wants to redeem himself to Carter, sort of.  O’Neill does not have jack to redeem himself for, and is taking heroic measures to help save Earth.

While “Redemption, Part 2” is rife with adventure and suspense, it fails to maintain the quality level of the characters interactions and motivations in part one.  This episode lacks smooth transitions as individuals strive to redeem themselves for their real, or perceived, failings.  Instead, their redemptions take the form of grand acts whose successful completion is sketchy, or by pointing out the obvious to those folks around them.

All of the actors’ performances are fine.

Failures:
“Redemption Part 1” mixed character development with exciting action, and suspense.  In this episode, the character development is a distant second to the action.  I enjoy the action, and the special effects are phenomenal.  I think the handling of the characters seeking redemption in this episode is too glib, especially when compared to part one.

Stargate SG-1, Season 6, Episode 1

"Redemption, Part 1"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Commentary by:
Martin Wood -- Director
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
Three months after the events in "Meridian," SG-1 is off-world, running for the stargate, chased by a large number of the planet’s very angry inhabitants.  The team makes it back to SGC.  O’Neill’s knee is injured, and the ninth replacement for Daniel Jackson’s position in SG-1 is off the team.

Jonas Quinn lives on base at SGC, as Kelowna considers him a traitor.  He still blames himself for Daniel's injuries caused by the naquadria-bomb accident.  Teal’c is stoic about Daniel’s ascension, as ascension is the ultimate goal of many Jaffa who are at the end of their days.  Carter is cool towards Jonas, showing a disjointed mix of behavior towards him that wavers between acceptance and resentment.  O’Neill distances himself from Jonas, still angry that initially Jonas was willing to allow Daniel to be blamed for the naquadria-bomb accident.

Speaking of naquadria, a new flying craft is developed at Area 51 -- the X-302.  It is based on Goa’uld death gliders, but engineered from the ground up on Earth.  The X-302 flies in an atmosphere, or in space.  Additionally, the craft can also generate a hyperspace window, thanks to the naquadria pilfered from Kelowna by Jonas.

Colonel Chekov (“48 Hours”), the Russian envoy to SGC, wants a Russian to become the fourth member of SG-1.  Jonas Quinn also wants to become a member of SG-1.  O’Neill does not want either a Russian, or Jonas, on his SG team.  Jack is still hating on all things Russian.  Jonas’ initial unwillingness to come forth with the truth about what happened to Daniel left O’Neill not believing that Jonas Quinn is trustworthy.

Bra’tac gates to SGC with news for Teal’c.  Drey’auc is gravely ill.  Teal’c goes to Drey’auc, currently on the planet where the Free Jaffa movement is encamped.  There, he reunites with his son, Rya'c (“Family”), and checks on Drey’auc.

Later, SGC’s stargate activates.  No IDC is received, and no energy is detected coming through the wormhole.  Yet, the wormhole remains active, not shutting down even after the 38 minute window passes, the maximum time that a wormhole can continue (“There But For the Grace of God”).  Eventually, a build-up of energy is detected in the SGC stargate, a build-up that will lead to the destruction of the gate in a few days.  If the gate explodes, it will mean the end of life on Earth.  Unable to stop the energy feeding into their stargate, the decision is made to use the X-302 to contact an off-world ally for help.

“Redemption, Part 1” sets up a series of unrelated events that gradually begin to entwine.  Individual characters face the ramifications of their past actions, and wonder if there is any chance of redemption.  This is a very well written story, tying character driven plots with adventure.  All of the actors provide strong performances.  Chris Judge is outstanding in a brief scene between Teal’c and Rya'c.  Garry Chalk returns as Colonel Chekov, Tony Amendola is Bra'tac, and Neil Denis returns as Rya'c.

Failures:
None.

SG-1 Season Six DVD Set -- Content

I will rate each season’s DVD set before reviewing the season’s individual episodes.  My rating in this post solely reflects the DVD content, options, & extras (or lack thereof), not episodes.

Overall Rating for the Set:  Good

Audio commentary on each episode.

No "play all" option.
The only audio language is English.

Subtitles: None

This is a five-disc set, with 22 episodes.
Each episode is approximately 44 minutes long.

All episodes are anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1.

Sound: 5.1 (Dolby Digital)

The special features are not rated.

Although there are no subtitles, the episodes are close captioned. You can use the close caption option on your television to view the dialog in English.

The special features are not closed-captioned.

There is not a “play all” option.  Episodes have to be accessed for viewing one at a time.

Special Features -- A “SG-1 Directors Series” Featurette for:

Episodes 1 through 11
Episode 16
Episode 22

I rate this set Good because it has all of the season’s episodes in their entirety, and in broadcast order, and there is audio commentary for each episode.  Slim cases, and nice artwork.

SG-1 Season 5 At a Glance

My rating for each episode in season five.

Episode 1: Enemies -- Excellent
Episode 2: Threshold -- Excellent
Episode 3: Ascension -- Fair
Episode 4: The Fifth Man -- Excellent
Episode 5: Red Sky -- Fair
Episode 6: Rite of Passage -- Good
Episode 7: Beast of Burden -- Fair
Episode 8: The Tomb -- Excellent
Episode 9: Between Two Fires -- Excellent
Episode 10: 2001 -- Excellent
Episode 11: Desperate Measures -- Good
Episode 12: Wormhole X-treme! -- Excellent
Episode 13: Proving Ground -- Good
Episode 14: 48 Hours -- Excellent
Episode 15: Summit -- Excellent
Episode 16: Last Stand -- Excellent
Episode 17: Fail Safe -- Very Good
Episode 18: The Warrior -- Very Good
Episode 19: Menace -- Excellent
Episode 20: The Sentinel -- Very Good
Episode 21: Meridian -- Good
Episode 22: Revelations -- Very Good

I think this is one of the best seasons of Stargate SG-1. The storyline of the Goa’uld continues, and expands in scope, as new aspects of the Goa’uld System Lords are uncovered, and the depredations of the Goa’uld are demonstrated in new ways. This season also brought Anubis to the forefront, a powerful Goa’uld with plans that, if successful, will result in his being the one ruler of this galaxy, and his being a threat to the Asgard empire almost as great as the Replicators.

The Free Jaffa rebellion is covered to a greater extent during season 5. Up until this season, Teal’c and Bra’tac have been the faces of the budding Jaffa rebellion against the Goa’uld. Season 5 shows that the rebellion has been growing, and other Jaffa leaders are rising up in the fight.

Even most of the episodes that do not directly involve the Goa’uld storyline demonstrate improvements over previous seasons. Rather than such episodes being asides at best, filler at worst, they tend towards building on the Stargate SG-1 foundation, giving more depth to series, and the characters.

Season 5 ended without a cliffhanger, as Showtime had decided to stop producing the series, and a cliffhanger would be unfair to viewers. SciFi Channel took over producing Stargate SG-1 from Showtime beginning with season 6. SciFi Channel initially intended season 6 to be the series finale, however, the series was renewed at the last minute.

Why did Michael Shanks leave Stargate SG-1? Theories, and rumors, abounded on the Internet, with some finger pointing at Michael Shanks, and some at the controlling team of Stargate SG-1. My thoughts about the situation? I do not know Michael Shanks, nor was I involved in any part of the decision making process for Stargate SG-1. So, I don’t know what happened.  For me, the rationale behind Shanks’ departure is moot.

For season 6, I missed Daniel Jackson being on the show all the time. However, upcoming episodes do a nice job of moving on by continuing to nurture, and expand, the realm of Stargate SG-1. Season 6 is another example of how oftentimes, when a television show has a strong ensemble cast, a character can leave without crippling the series.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 22

"Revelations"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Very Good

Commentary by:
Martin Wood -- Director
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer
Joseph Mallozzi -- co-Writer
Paul Mullie -- co-Writer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
Daniel ascended in "Meridian," with the help of Oma Desala, leaving SG-1 to deal with the grief of losing their teammate, and friend.  Since Daniel ascended, rather than dying a true death, no one knows if they will ever have contact with him again.  Everyone is stoic, dealing with their feelings privately.  Except Carter, who is grief-stricken, and having a difficult time working through the conflict of hope because Daniel is not actually dead, and mourning Daniel's absence.

Freyr, an Asgard (“Red Sky”), arrives at SGC via the stargate with news.  Thor (“Small Victories”) is dead, his ship destroyed in a one-on-one confrontation with a Goa’uld mothership.  That Goa’uld (Osiris, although only the viewing audience knows this) used technology that rivals the Asgards’, and far exceeds the level of sophistication previously known to be in the possession of the Goa’uld.  The threat of facing the Asgards’ superior weaponry kept the Goa’uld in check, and made the Protected Planets treaty viable.  One Asgard space ship could take out numerous Goa’uld vessels.  Now, the Goa’uld have little reason to fear the Asgard, leaving all of the planets under the protection of the Asgard vulnerable to Goa’uld attack, including Earth.

The destruction of Thor’s ship occurred above a planet where the Asgard built a secret laboratory.  An Asgard scientist named Heimdall is still on the planet, and the Goa’uld vessel is in orbit above, searching for the lab.  The Asgard fleet is tied up in battles with the Replicators.  So, Freyr asks SGC to use the Goa’uld shuttle they have (“Fail Safe”) to go and rescue Heimdall.  Carter is still in grief mode, and does not consider SG-1 ready to take on new assignments.  O’Neill thinks the sooner the team goes out on missions, the better.  The now three-member team of SG-1 will try to rescue Heimdall.

Arriving at the planet where Heimdall, and the lab, are secreted, SG-1 learns the mission is more than a simple in-and-out rescue.  The team finds out why the Asgard kept a research facility in such an isolated location.  They also learn that a friend who is believed gone, is not, and attempt to help them return.  The simple retrieval of a stranded Asgard transforms into a mission pitting SG-1 against an overwhelming Jaffa force, and an insidious, very dangerous Goa’uld.

A well-written story that acknowledges the grief felt by SG-1 at the loss of Daniel, without getting mired in the team’s emotions.  I like that O’Neill, Teal’c, and Carter have very different ways of dealing with their feelings about Daniel, rather than everyone evincing the same behavior.  There is not one standout performance, however the separate portrayals mesh, demonstrating how the team members differences work together to make them stronger as a unit.  The effects are very well done.

Failures:
None.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 21

"Meridian"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Good

Commentary by:
William Waring -- Director
Jim Menard -- Director of Photography

The commentary is informative, and interesting.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
SG-1 gates back to SGC.  Daniel rushes to the infirmary.  While off world, he was exposed to a lethal dose of radiation.  How Daniel came to be exposed to radiation is covered in flashbacks, as he receives medical treatment in the SGC infirmary.

Flashback:  SG-1 gates to a planet with three major countries, arriving in the country of Kelowna.  The Kelownan society is technologically comparable to the United States in the 1940s.  The Kelownans discovered the stargate only 15 years ago.  In the spirit of forming an alliance, SGC offers information about the stargate system; Kelowna offers information about naquadria -- a more powerful, but less stable, version of naquadah.

A Kelownan named Jonas Quinn takes SG-1 on a tour of Kelownan research facilities.  One of the projects is a naquadria-fueled bomb, something potentially more powerful than the bomb used on the asteroid in “Fail Safe.”  Daniel is very vocal in expressing his disapproval of the naquadria bomb.  Something happened to the bomb, causing the release of radiation.  Daniel, and Jonas Quinn, are two of the people present when the bomb experiment fails.  The Kelownan leaders blame the accident on Daniel, accusing him of sabotage.  SGC, and SG-1, do not believe that, however Daniel will not talk about the accident.

Present Day: The truth about the accident on Kelowna is revealed.  Daniel is rapidly succumbing to the effects of the radiation.  SGC tries to contact some of their off world allies, hoping to gain access to more advanced treatment options, while Dr. Frasier and her medical staff work to save Daniel’s life.

The Pentagon really wants some naquadria, and does not have a problem throwing the dying Daniel under the bus for the sake of diplomacy.  Even though Daniel’s death is eminent, O’Neill refuses to accept the sacrifice of Daniel as a way to placate the Kelownans.  Jack strives to uncover the truth about the incident.

Corin Nemec is Jonas Quinn.  Everyone performs well.  The end of the episode is very touching.

Failures:
This episode contains a lot of exposition, and retrospection.  It is a turning point for the Stargate SG-1 saga.  Take away that one aspect, and what's left is an okay story.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 20

"The Sentinel"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Very Good

Commentary by:
Peter DeLuise -- Director
Gary Jones -- “SGC Tech”

This commentary is best suited for fans of Mr. DeLuise, and Mr. Jones, who primarily want to hear the two of them talking, although not always talking about this episode of Stargate SG-1.  This is not a good commentary for someone looking for the usual amount of behind the scene, or technical, information.  The commentary often ignores what is on screen, as the two gentlemen chat, and joke, with each other.  Mr. DeLuise frequently tries to pull the conversation back to what is happening on screen, with varying degrees of success.

Review:
SG-9 is off world, on the planet Latona.  The Latonans are human, with a peaceful civilization.  They have some advanced technology, however, the knowledge of how most of its functions is lost.  The Latonans have little to no understanding of how their technology works, or how to fix it if it stops working.  The usage of their sophisticated machinery has devolved into a code of behavior, with no understanding of the mechanics.

Before being shutdown by the government, rogue N.I.D. teams posing as part of SGC (“Shades of Gray”) visited Latona.  They wanted access to the Sentinel, an advanced machine that provides planet-wide protection from Goa’uld invasion for the Latonans.  Marul, the Latonans leader, refused to grant the rogue N.I.D. teams access to the Sentinel.

SG-9 went to Latona to try to create an alliance with Earth, and the SG team is long overdue for their check-in with SGC.  General Hammond dials Latona, and learns that Jaffa forces of a Goa’uld named Svarog are invading the planet.  Apparently, the Sentinel is no longer protecting Latona.

Suspecting the rogue N.I.D. team’s activities are the reason for the Sentinel not functioning, O’Neill speaks with the captured rogue team member, Colonel Grieves.  In prison, convicted of treason, Grieves, and another rogue named Kershaw, agree to help, if they get an improvement in their prison sentences.  Both admit to examining the Sentinel, but deny doing anything that would stop the mechanism from working.  Arguing that they are the best choices to fix the problem, Grieves and Kershaw want to go back to Latona.  O’Neill agrees, and takes the two traitors, along with SG-3 and the rest of SG-1, through the stargate.

Shortly after arriving on Latona, they find a member of SG-9, Lt. Grogan ("Proving Ground”).  O’Neill and Grogan head to the city to speak with Marul.  SG-3 goes after some Jaffa, intending to stop them before they can alert other Jaffa.  The rest go to the location of the Sentinel, hoping to fix whatever is wrong.

Arriving at the location of the Sentinel, Grieves and Kershaw, with Daniel’s aid, work to discover how their examination of the machine could have stopped it from functioning.  They are hunted by Jaffa, and the Latonans are under threat of being subjugated, or destroyed, by the Goa’uld named Svarog.

Frank Cassini is excellent as Colonel Grieves.  His portrayal paints Grieves as being guilty of the charge of treason, but unrepentant due to his belief that he was doing the right thing in order to ensure Earth’s safety from alien incursion.  Bravo, Mr. Cassini.  Henry Gibson is Marul.  Mr. Gibson is charming, and provides a perspective of the Latonan viewpoints and beliefs.  The regular cast members provide solid performances.  Christina Cox is Kershaw.  Ms. Cox was T'akaya in "Spirits."

A well conceived story, blending characters with action.  The ramifications of the rogue N.I.D. agents activity is once again addressed, and done so more fully than it was in “Touchstone.”

Failures:
None.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 19

"Menace"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Commentary by:
Martin Wood -- Director
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Supervisor

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
SG-1 explores the ruins of a seemingly advanced civilization on another planet.  Plants overrun the metal bones of decimated structures.  Searching for the source of faint energy readings, the team enters one of the ruins.  Inside, they discover the source of the energy readings -- the perfectly preserved body of a young woman.  She is an artificial life form.

After continuing the incredibly bad practice of bringing unknown alien technology back to Earth, Carter examines the robot at SGC.  She determines the android’s power supply is drained, and that is why the machine is motionless.  Continuing the incredibly bad practice of activating unknown alien technology, Carter replaces the robot’s expired energy source, with General Hammond’s blessing.  The android awakens.

Her name is Reese.  Rather than a cold, analytical machine, Reese behaves like a living human being, albeit an emotionally immature, occasionally cranky, one.  Reese’s almost childlike qualities can be charming, and she wants to explore the wonders of Earth.  However, Stargate Command gives in to the good sense side of the Force, and keeps her in lockdown at SGC.  Reese denies knowing what happened to her planet.  Also, she seems unaware that she is a robot.

Further exploration of Reese’s home world by SG teams uncovers the probable cause of its destruction.  SGC, and SG-1, investigate how Reese survived what overcame her civilization.  They discover how Reese survived, only to face the appearance of a threat to the existence of Earth’s civilizations.

Danielle Nicolet is wonderful as Reese.  Reese and Daniel form a child/guardian bond over the course of the episode.  Their relationship is touching, and believable.  Kudos to Ms. Nicolet, and Michael Shanks.  All of the regular cast members provide excellent performances.  This story is a perfect blend of character driven drama, and exciting action sequences.  Bravo to everyone involved in this episode.

Failures:
Carter’s communication to O’Neill about an event occurring near the end of the episode precipitates the story's violent conclusion.  However, her interpretation of the event does not make sense based on the information available to her.

SG teams continually bringing alien technology back to Earth, and then activating it without having much of a clue about the consequences, perpetually bugs me.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 18

"The Warrior"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Very Good

Commentary by:
Peter DeLuise -- Director
Dan Shea -- Stunt Coordinator, “Siler”

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
Inspired by Teal’c and Bra’tac’s call for Jaffa freedom, Kytano, First Prime of the minor Goa’uld Imhotep, killed his Goa’uld master.  Now the leader of a group of Free Jaffa, Kytano wants to form an allegiance with SGC.  Teal’c and Bra’tac support the idea.  General Hammond, O’Neill, and Carter, are not immediately enthusiastic about the idea.  They agree with providing humanitarian aid to the camp of free Jaffa, however arming the Jaffa followers of the unfamiliar Kytano is not something lightly undertaken by SGC.

SG-1 gates to the Jaffa rebels' planet to investigate.  Differences between Jaffa and Taur’i cultures, and personality conflicts between O’Neill and Kytano, threaten the possible alliance.  Teal’c feels pulled towards the free Jaffa, which may lead to his leaving SG-1.  Kytano is charismatic, and knows how to work a crowd.  O’Neill is skeptical about Kytano's true motive.

Based on Earth's human history, O'Neill is familiar with the the cult of personality engendered by people who have swayed the masses, and risen to power.  Having been oppressed for thousands of years by the Goa'uld, the Jaffa do not have a lot of experience in dealing with such types.  O’Neill thinks Kytano is a megalomaniac.  Is Kytano truly freeing the Jaffa, or is he merely setting himself up to replace the Goa’uld as an oppressor of the Jaffa?  Regardless of whether O’Neill’s perception of Kytano is a fact, or a misinterpretation of Jaffa behavior by an Earth human, a Taur'i and Free Jaffa alliance is threatened.

Rick Worthy is Kytano, and is excellent in the part, displaying charm, and a strong personality that could make Kytano the savior, or the new doom, of the free Jaffa movement.  Kudos to Mr. Worthy.  The regular cast members provide very strong, and believable, performances.  "The Warrior" delves a little further into Jaffa culture, and spotlights some of the differences between Jaffa, and SGC viewpoints, something rarely addressed in the series to this point.

Failures:
There is a big flaw in the story, and that flaw is a spoiler, so I won’t write about the specifics.  The flaw is uncovered near the end of the episode, and makes the previous story line seem sketchy.  However, the overall story is strong enough to still have an enjoyable viewing experience.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 17

"Fail Safe"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Very Good

Commentary by:
Andy Mikita -- Director
Paul Mullie -- co-Writer
Jim Menard -- Director of Photography
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
On Earth, an amateur astronomer spots a giant asteroid.  Its trajectory means it will crash into the Earth.  If it hits the planet, all life on Earth will be wiped out.  SGC, and SG-1, think one of their alien allies with advanced technology will help.  Well …

• The Nox: No way to contact them.  (“The Nox”)
• The Tollans: Wiped out.  (“Between Two Fires”)
• The Tok’ra: Still scattered, and on the run.  (“Last Stand”)

There is always the Asgard.  The Asgard will save Earth!  Oh, wait, no they won’t.  The Protected Planets treaty (“Fair Game”) prevents the Asgard from interfering with natural disasters.

SGC is on their own.  The decision is made to blow up the asteroid using a naquadah enhanced mega-bomb.  The bomb will be delivered using the Goa’uld shuttle Jacob/Selmak crashed on Revanna in “Last Stand.”  Thing is, the shuttle needs repairs, and the asteroid will hit the Earth in approximately 11 days.  There is a lot that can, and does, go wrong with the plan.  However, failure means the end of life on Earth.

The grim plot is nicely offset with moments of light, charming humor.  The necessary chain of events often falters, however the story’s solutions mostly fall within the realm of the believable.  The regular cast performs very well.  An entertaining story, with a very surprising connection to another episode.

Failures:
None.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 16

"Last Stand"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Commentary by:
Martin Wood -- Director
Robert Cooper -- Writer & Executive Producer
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
“Summit” ends with Osiris presenting herself to the System Lords.  She recognizes Daniel, who is posing as Yu's servant.  Zipacna’s fleet is attacking Revanna, the Tok’ra home base.  Many of the Tok’ra are dead.  SG-1, minus Daniel, is trapped in the Tok’ra underground tunnels, along with a severely injured Lieutenant Elliot, the only survivor of SG-17.  Lantesh, a Tok’ra symbiote, managed to survive Martouf’s death in “Divide and Conquer” although Lantesh is still very weak.  The container that Lantesh was recuperating in is destroyed during the Jaffa bombing of Ravanna.  Lantesh blends with the injured Lt. Elliot, which is the only chance they both have of surviving.

Now, Osiris confronts Daniel when they are alone.  She did not out Daniel to the System Lords because Goa’uld do love intrigue.  Daniel uses the Reole chemical on Osiris, and continues as Yu’s personal servant.  As Daniel prepares to release the symbiote poison amongst the System Lords, Osiris reveals to the gathering that Anubis is the Goa’uld who has been harrying the System Lords' forces.  Anubis wants to be a System Lord again.  Again?  It turns out that Anubis was a System Lord in the past, and was banished from the Goa'uld coalition because he was so deviant, and evil, he creeped out the other Goa’uld.  That is pretty bad.  Believed to have died about a thousand years ago, his resurfacing means that the Tok’ra plan cannot be implemented.  Doing so would leave one all-powerful Goa’uld -- Anubis -- controlling their entire empire, a nightmare scenario for the Tok’ra, and the rest of the galaxy.

Back on Revanna, O’Neill, Carter, Teal’c and Lt. Elliot hide from Zipacna’s Jaffa forces.  Trapped, with no opportunity to get to the stargate, the team continues the deadly hide and seek, trying to keep themselves -- and the formula for the symbiote poison -- from being captured by Zipacna’s Jaffa.

Continuing to pose as Yu’s personal servant, Daniel remains at the summit, attempting to gather information about Anubis’ plans.  Yu is the only current System Lord who held that position a thousand years ago.  He knows just how bad Anubis is.  Daniel overhears Osiris tell Yu that Anubis offers the destruction of Earth in trade for Yu’s vote accepting Anubis back as a System Lord.  Daniel does not learn the details of Anubis’ plan, and risks death as he continues in the part of Yu’s human servant.

The rest of SG-1, and Lt. Elliot, are stranded on Revanna, hunted by a large Jaffa contingent.  Earth is under threat from Anubis.  Daniel is in the lion’s den, his cover wearing thin.

“Last Stand” continues the high quality level of action, and intrigue, began in “Summit.”  The regular, and guest, cast maintain their strong performances.  Kudos to everyone involved in all aspects of this episode.

Failures:
In “Summit,” Jacob/Selmak mentions that the Goa’uld population has recently had zero growth for the first time in thousands of years.  The reason is given in this episode.  However, that reason doesn’t jibe with the established canon regarding the vast numbers of infant Goa’uld born in a single spawning, and the numerous spawnings across the galaxy.  There must be a lot of squirmy baby Goa'ulds around, because every adult Jaffa is toting one around in his, or her, belly pouch.

Perhaps, once the Goa'uld larva matures in a Jaffa's belly pouch, it is destroyed, rather than being allowed to infest some body.  That would be a believable rationale for the Goa'uld's zero population growth, something the reason given in this episode is not.  Why would adult Goa'ulds kill their offspring?  They're Goa'ulds.  They do bad things all the time.  Doing something like that is completely in line with their established behavior.

Ultimately, mentioning that the number of Goa'ulds stopped increasing is irrelevant.  It just provides a chance for some nicely done special effects.  I'm all for special effects.  However I do not appreciate when a plot point is presented as being vitally important, but then turns out to be of no consequence.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 15

"Summit"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Commentary by:
Martin Wood -- Director
Joseph Mallozzi -- co-Writer
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
“Summit” is the first of two parts.  The story concludes in the next episode, “Last Stand.”

Somewhere in space: Tanith’s unnamed boss, mentioned in “Between Two Fires,” has Zipacna (“Pretense”) recruit Osiris (“The Curse”).  The plan is to form a new alliance of powerful Goa’ulds to take over the System Lords.  The Goa’uld in charge of the new alliance is named Anubis.

Back on Earth: the Tok'ra Ren'al (“Enemies”) arrives at SGC with news about the System Lords.  The deaths of Cronus (“Double Jeopardy”) and Apophis (“Threshold”) resulted in battles between the remaining System Lords for the two dead Goa’ulds’ territories and armies.  The dissension between the System Lords kept their focus on each other, the Goa’uld power base in chaos.  Ren'al tells General Hammond, and SG-1, that the System Lords are declaring a truce amongst themselves, and meeting to discuss their future plans.  The Tok’ra plan to wipe out all of the System Lords at that summit.

The summit’s location is a space station, which is impossible to breach due to heavy security.  The Tok’ra want to send an agent to the meeting, one who can pass as a System Lord’s human slave.  Daniel’s fluency with the Goa’uld language makes him the perfect candidate.  He agrees to help the Tok’ra.  SG-1, and SG-17, gate to Revanna, the planet where the Tok’ra have their home base.  Jacob/Selmak (“Enemies”) will go with Daniel on the mission, although he cannot enter the Goa’uld space station.  With a modification of the chemical the Reole (“The Fifth Man”) used on SG-1, Daniel will convince the System Lord Yu (“Fair Game”) that he is the Goa’uld’s most trusted human servant.  SG-17, and the rest of SG-1, will remain on Revanna.

Once Daniel, Yu, and all the other System Lords arrive on the space station Daniel will release a poison gas.  The poison only kills Goa’uld symbiotes.  The Tok’ra have worked on developing the poison for some time.  The summit is a perfect opportunity to kill all of the System Lords at one time, thereby leaving the Goa’uld presence in the galaxy leaderless, and in chaos.

While the Tok’ra plot against the System Lords, Anubis plots against the Tok’ra.  Zipacna captured a Tok’ra spy, and extracted the location of Revanna from the Tok’ra, as well as information about the symbiote poison.  The Tok’ra plan to destroy the System Lords.  The System Lords plan to consolidate their power base, and become a greater threat to free beings in the galaxy.  Anubis plans to destroy the Tok’ra, and take the System Lords’ power.  All three plans proceed, and all three parties are poised for success.  With mutually exclusive goals, someone will lose.

This is a very exciting episode, filled action and suspense.  The trio of disparate goals collide, and the resolution is not obvious.  This is not a story where the viewer knows who will win, and waits to see how victory is achieved.  There is no blatantly apparent winner in this episode, which helps to make it an excellent viewing experience.  The plot is powerful, and engrossing.  Kudos to the writers.

“Summit” has a large cast of guest stars, many of whom portray returning characters.  To the credit of every actor, no character’s arc is lost in the telling.  Excellent performances are given by all of the participants.  Costuming, sets, production, and effects are supreme.  Bravo to everyone involved in this episode.

Failures:
None.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 14

"48 Hours"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Commentary by:
Peter Woeste -- Director
Andy Wilson -- Director of Photography

James Tichenor is not on this commentary, and his presence is missed.  In addition to providing information about the effects on episodes, Mr. Tichenor is often a representative of the viewer, asking questions that fans of the show might ask.  When present, he keeps the flow of commentaries going, if needed.  This commentary has some stretches of silence, as the commentators seem to quietly watch the show.  I checked my DVD setting a few times during the silence, thinking I had accidentally turned off the commentary.  When the commentators are speaking, their remarks are very informative, and interesting.

Review:
SG-1 is in the midst of an off world battle against Goa’uld forces.  Death gliders pound the team’s position.  SG-1 fights their way to the stargate, and returns to SGC.  Teal’c is the last to leave the planet, firing on an Al'kesh, which is a large Goa’uld vessel capable of flying within a planet’s atmosphere.  The Al'kesh is damaged, and crashes into the stargate as Teal’c jumps through the wormhole.  The crash results in an energy surge that wreaks havoc on the stargate.  Teal’c does not come through the gate at SGC before the wormhole shuts down.  Diagnoses reveal that Teal’c is trapped in the stargate’s mechanism, his essence still within the gate instead of reintegrating at SGC.

Activation of SGC’s stargate before resolving the problem of Teal’c’s reintegration will erase Teal’c from the gate’s memory, essentially obliterating him.  SGC resets their iris, forcing incoming wormholes to exit at the Russian’s stargate, thereby buying time to solve the problem of getting Teal’c back.  Daniel is sent to Russia, along with Major Davis (“Absolute Power”), to negotiate the further use of the Russian stargate.  The Russians use the opportunity to air their grievances about the United States not upholding their end of an agreement to share alien technology with Russia.  The Russians use the United States' needs as a way to force compliance with the agreement.

Back at SGC, Dr. Rodney McKay is brought in from Area 51 by Colonel Simmons (“Desperate Measures”) to work with Carter on getting Teal’c back.  However, there is a forty-eight hour time limit to reintegrate Teal’c.  Colonel Simmons has scientific support that any longer than 48 hours will result in too much of Teal’c’s information being lost by the stargate mechanism to ever bring him back.  Carter disagrees with that assessment, however Simmons has enough political pull to force SGC’s stargate back into use at the end of the 48 hour window.

Out of the blue, Maybourne (“Desperate Measures”) contacts O’Neill, warning him not to trust Simmons.  Neither of them know that Simmons is the one who shot O'Neill in “Desperate Measures,” and made off with the Goa’uld infested Adrian Conrad.  O'Neill thinks Maybourne shot him.  O’Neill is not sure whether to trust the word of the proven traitor with occasional moments of honor, Maybourne, about the antagonistic representative of a sketchy government agency, Simmons.

The three plots converge, as the overt distrust between the Russian and United States stargate programs, and the covert dealings of the N.I.D.’s Simmons, threaten to end any chance of getting Teal’c back alive.

Tom McBeath returns as Harry Maybourne, and continues his excellent portrayal of the morally ambiguous traitor.  John de Lancie returns as Frank Simmons, who is still sketchy, making it difficult to determine whether or not he is part of the darker side of the N.I.D.  Garry Chalk returns as Colonel Chekov ("The Tomb").  This episode introduces the character of Rodney McKay, played by David Hewlett.  All of the regular cast members provide great performances.

This is a complex story, with three separate plots, which are expertly woven together.  Except for the opening scene, the story is based on Earth, something that has the potential to become dull.  However, in this instance, the excitement is not diminished by the lack of off world travel.

Failures:
None.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 13

"Proving Ground"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Good

Commentary by:
Andy Mikita -- Director
Jim Menard -- Director of Photography
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Supervisor/Producer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
SG-1 runs training exercises with four potential SG team recruits.  O’Neill rides the recruit team’s leader, Lieutenant Elliot, hard.  The recruits fail a training exercise, and the blame is placed on Elliot’s shoulders.  O’Neill is unimpressed with the trainees, especially as far as Lt. Elliot’s ability to lead a SG team.

The training continues.  During a practice, the scenario of Goa’uld infiltration of SGC turns real.  The recruits face down enemies on base, not knowing who to trust.  The fate of SGC depends upon the actions of Lt. Elliot, and his team.

Courtenay J. Stevens is very good as Lt. Elliot.  The character’s turmoil between doubting his qualifications as a SG team leader, and the impetus to do what is necessary, is vividly portrayed.  Kudos to Mr. Stevens.  Elisabeth Rosen returns as Hailey (“Prodigy”), and Hailey is still not particularly likable.  Granted, Hailey is less surly this time.  However, she shows a streak of passive-aggressiveness, and periodically throws her teammates under the bus.  The regular cast members provide strong, enjoyable performances, with Anderson as the standout.

Failures:
The plot is a peek at how potential SG team members are screened.  That is interesting, but not engrossing.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 12

"Wormhole X-treme!"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Commentary by:
Peter DeLuise -- Director
Joseph Mallozzi -- co-Writer
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer

More than just a commentary, this is an essential companion to the episode.  The three gentlemen point out various aspects of the story, and explain the inspiration for many of the events in the episode.  They are very informative, and interesting.  I highly recommend listening to this commentary after watching the episode.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
An alien spaceship is detected, currently located near Mars.  The ship’s course will bring it to Earth.  Energy readings from the spaceship are the same as those given off by the alien scout ship discovered on Earth in “Point of No Return.”  Martin Lloyd, the alien who involved SGC in the discovery of the scout ship remained on Earth after the events in that episode.  SGC sends O’Neill to talk to Martin, and see if he knows anything about the oncoming spaceship.  Martin is found, working on a television series called Wormhole X-treme!, which he created.  The show is about a team of four people who travel through space via a wormhole generated by alien technology.  The series’ team members bear a striking resemblance to the members of SG-1.  Martin apparently exploited his experience with the super secret SG team, revealing their existence to the world.  Or, has he?

O’Neill discovers that Martin is back on a cocktail of medications that suppress some of his memories.  Martin does not remember being an alien, and thinks that Wormhole X-treme! is pure fiction, not at all based on actual events.  Martin's amnesia, and the controlled chaos of the television show's production, interfere with O’Neill’s attempts to uncover information about the possible threat of the approaching spaceship.

With a wink, and a nod, to many aspects of actually producing a science fiction adventure television series, this episode takes the viewer on an incredibly entertaining journey.  The television series within a television series ploy is handled perfectly.  It is rife with laugh out loud humor, and many cameos by actual Stargate SG-1 behind the scenes staff.  All without losing sight of the need for a solid plot, and looming danger to the planet.  “Wormhole X-treme!” is a thoughtfully penned, expertly crafted, love letter to Stargate SG-1 fans.  This is a wonderful episode.

Willie Garson returns as Martin Lloyd, and is still charming as the nebbish who is trying to fit in, even while not remembering aspects about his life.  The cameos of the real people working behind the scenes on many Stargate SG-1 episodes are delightful.  All of the regular cast performs x-tremely well.

Failures:
None.

This episode is supremely entertaining.  Only one episode of Stargate SG-1 was released on disc as a stand-alone, director’s cut, edition -- “Children of the Gods.”  My understanding of the primary motivation for releasing a director’s cut edition of that episode -- removing the nude scene -- is not enough to get me to purchase it.

I would dearly love it if there were an extended director’s cut edition of “Wormhole X-treme!” complete with any deleted scenes, bloopers, and additional commentary.  That would be a single episode disc that I would definitely purchase, and cherish.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 11

"Desperate Measures"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Good

Commentary by:
Bill Gereghty -- Director
Jim Menard -- Director of Photography
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
In a country other than the United States, a Jaffa prisoner on Earth is taken by force from his escort of Russian soldiers.  No one at SGC is aware of the Jaffa's situation.  Carter is kidnapped near her home by a group of masked men.  Suspecting N.I.D. involvement with Carter’s abduction, O’Neill enlists the aid of the fugitive Harry Maybourne (“Chain Reaction”).  Maybourne suggests O’Neill start his investigation with Colonel Frank Simmons (“The Fifth Man”) of the N.I.D.  When confronted by O'Neill, Simmons points his finger back at Maybourne.

While others search for her, Carter is a prisoner at a secret location, undergoing mysterious medical testing.

Realizing there is a possible tie between his illegal activities, and Carter’s disappearance, Maybourne does some investigating of his own.  O’Neill contacts Harry again, and together they suss out the mystery.  They uncover ties between the people who took Carter, and the ones who took the Jaffa.  All paths lead to a reclusive multi-millionaire named Adrian Conrad.

O’Neill, Maybourne, and Simmons strive to find Carter, for different reasons -- rescue, redemption, and acquiring power, respectively.  Carter’s rescue is only a part of the mystery, which if left unsolved will result in her death, and a monster being unleashed on Earth.

Tom McBeath returns as Maybourne, and is still delightful as the morally ambiguous traitor.  Maybourne is not a static character.  Instead, he changes over the episodes, as each experience has an impact on his viewpoint.  Kudos to Mr. McBeath.  John de Lancie returns as Simmons, the N.I.D. agent with a disdain for SGC, and an enigmatic agenda.  Everyone performs very well.  The story is interesting, providing numerous touchstones for future Stargate SG-1 episodes.

Failures:
The plot is heavy with intrigue, and takes place solely on Earth.  This episode of Stargate SG-1 which lacks much adventure, and any off world travel, is okay, but not outstanding.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 10

"2001"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Commentary by:
Peter DeLuise -- Director
Joseph Mallozzi -- Producer
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
In the episode “2010,” the then former SG-1 team members uncover the evil doings of the seemingly benign Aschen.  The Aschen are a very advanced race, one whose activities embody the saying “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”  The future SG-1 team members send a message through the stargate to the past.  The message is brief, containing only a warning to stay away from P4C 970 (the Aschen’s home world), and some of future O’Neill’s blood.  There is no mention of the Aschen, or any detailed explanation.  Current day SGC receives the note, and wisely locks P4C 970 out of the stargate dialing program.

In the present, SG-1 encounters a new advanced race that seems benevolent, and willing to share their technology with Earth.  The new race is called … the Aschen.  Eek!  The world where SG-1 encounters the Aschen is not their home world.  It is the planet Volia, a techno-backward, lightly populated world that is essentially a planet-size farm.  The Aschen are pleased to meet SG-1, and Ambassador Faxon (who is not Earth’s ambassador, since most of the Earth’s population is unaware of the stargate program), however, they are reluctant to share the location of the their home world with Earth.  Just a bit wary.

Daniel and Teal’c discover a hidden past of the Volians, one that paints the Aschen in less than glowing terms.  Back at SGC, extrapolation of the few facts known about the Aschen narrows the number of planets that are their home world down to a few, including the locked out P4C 970.

SGC, and SG-1, want to investigate P4C 970.  If it is the Aschen home world, then it is time to run far, and fast, away from any dealings with them.  However, hubris rears its head in D. C., taking the form of Senator Kinsey (“Chain Reaction”).  Kinsey does not want anything interfering with the upcoming talks with the Aschen.  Also, Kinsey carries a deep grudge against SGC in general, and O’Neill in particular.  The senator places roadblocks before O’Neill and Hammond’s attempts to stall the talks until more is learned about the Aschen.  If successful, Senator Kinsey is sealing the doom of humans on Earth.

"2001" is not a true sequel.  The warning from the future to avoid P4C 970 changes the story enough to keep it from being a retread of previously mentioned events.  Bravo for a well-written story.  Everyone performs very well, and provide excellent portrayals of their characters.  Christopher Cousins is Faxon.

Failures:
The Aschen use the stargate on Volia to transport crops to the Aschen home world.  SG-1 knows this.  Why not watch the gate address used to access the Aschen home world in order to learn whether or not it is P4C 970?

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 9

"Between Two Fires"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Commentary by:
Bill Gereghty -- Director
Jim Menard -- Director of Photography
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
Omac, a Tollan leader from “Enigma,” died recently.  SG-1 attends Omac’s memorial service on the planet Tollana.  The solemn ceremony ends with two surprises for the team.  The Tollan High Chancellor, named Travell, insinuates that the Tollans have changed their minds about giving advanced technology to less advanced cultures.  Meaning, the Tollans are willing to trade a super-duper space gun (used in “Pretense”) with Earth.  Nice.  Shocking, but nice.  The second surprise is not nice.  Narim secretly gets a message to Carter: shortly before his death, Omac believed that the Earth is in grave danger.

The common factor in both situations is Omac.  During a return visit to Tollana, Travell tells SG-1 that with Omac’s death, the council's new majority supports sharing their technology with Earth.  Meanwhile, Narim ("Pretense") believes that Omac’s death is suspect, but that very idea goes counter to most tenets of Tollan societal norms.  SG-1 splits into two teams.  O’Neill and Daniel barter with Travell.  They believe that something is amiss during their interactions, however they cannot find absolute proof of any Tollan deception directed at Earth.  Meanwhile, Carter and Teal’c work with Narim to uncover more information about what Omac was doing before his death, in hopes of learning why he thought the Earth to be in danger.  The two story lines converge in an unexpected collision between the Tollans and SG-1, as well as old enemies, and a powerful new one.

There are other Stargate SG-1 episodes that rely heavily on suspense.  I think that many such episodes lose something in subsequent viewings, once the mystery is solved.  This is not one of those episodes.  If anything, the episode is more interesting in subsequent viewings, as the behavior, and words, of the characters take on a new perspective after the mystery is uncovered.  The action is light until near the end, and that fits well with the story.  The plot moves quickly, with the intrigue maintaining the story's high excitement level throughout.

Garwin Sanford returns as the Tollan, Narim.  Tollans lean towards the Vulcan side of the Force, meaning they are not big on overt displays of their emotions.  I think this makes it more interesting when a Tollan’s emotions pique so greatly that they forget about maintaining a cool facade.  Everyone performs very well in this episode.  A special nod to Marie Stillin as High Chancellor Travell.  I appreciate how well Ms. Stillin kept a lock on Travell’s emotional displays, allowing only brief glimpses at the character’s inner turmoil.  Kudos to Ms. Stillin.

Failures:
At one point, Narim stumbles into the location of some SG-1 team members.  Out of the entire Tollan city, these three people just happen to duck into the exact same area.  It’s possible that meeting at that spot was prearranged, although such an arrangement is not mentioned on screen.  Also, Narim seemed very surprised at seeing the SG-1 team members, not a reaction I’d think likely if he expected to see SG-1 folks there.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 8

"The Tomb"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Commentary by:
Peter DeLuise -- Director
Joseph Mallozzi -- Writer
Paul Mullie -- Writer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
On P2X 338, SG-1 wants to gain access to the inside of a ziggurat.  Daniel is having some difficulty finding, and opening, a door into the structure.  He thinks it has been 3,000 years since anyone was there prior to SG-1’s arrival.  Carter finds evidence to the contrary -- an empty pack of Russian cigarettes.  Wait just a minute, the Russians stopped using their stargate after what happened in “Watergate,” did they not?  Yes.  However, during the brief time their stargate program operated there were unauthorized off world trips, including one to P2X 338.  Three Russian commandos, and an archaeologist, went missing six days before the events in “Watergate.”  They are thought to be the ones who went to the planet with the ziggurat.

It is too hot during the day for the missing people to have survived on the planet this long, unless they found a way into the ziggurat.  On the chance that the missing Russian team is still alive, a mission to P2X 338 is authorized, with SG-1 being accompanied by another group of Russians.

O’Neill’s intense dislike, bordering on hatred, of Russians resurfaces.  There is still no explanation for Jack’s extreme antagonism towards Russians.  SG-1 meets the four member Russian team.  Each person is an almost exact reflection of an SG-1 team member.  The Russian team's leader, Colonel Zukhov,  and O'Neill loathe each other soon after first meeting.  The two teams leave SGC, and gate back to the ziggurat.

Daniel eventually solves the secret to opening the structure’s entrance.  Stones groan as the door’s mechanism grinds open, revealing a darkness so deep it seems solid.  The two teams head into the depths of the ziggurat.  Moving through corridors lit only by the glow of their gun-mounted flashlights; unsure of what may be around the corner, and how much to trust their companions, if at all.  I think this is the scariest Stargate SG-1 episode of the series.  The story does not take the easy route, using the old hat method of startling the viewer by having things suddenly jumping out on screen.  Instead, the episode is clever, creatively using intellectual surprises, pieces of a puzzle coming together in a dark, threatening, and creepy location.

A well written story.  The dialog is okay, however, the actors take occasionally bland words and bring them to life with wit, and nuance.  Everyone’s performance is well done in this episode.

Failures:
I can be told that a character doesn’t like a certain food, and I will accept it.  I can be told that a character favors a certain style of clothing, and I will accept.  I can be told that a character has a big hate on for an entire country, but I will not accept it.  I think O’Neill’s unexplained -- yet used as motivation for some of his behavior -- extreme intense dislike of all things Russian is tiresome.  Colonel Zukhov’s seeming distaste for all things American was more subdued.  He did not become overtly obnoxious until after O’Neill did.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 7

"Beast of Burden"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

Commentary by:
Martin Wood -- Director
Jim Menard -- Director of Photography
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
The Unas named Chaka (“The First Ones”) is captured on his home world by non-Earth humans.  Daniel later sees video of the capture, taken by one of the cameras he placed near the stargate on Chaka’s home world.  The gate address used by the humans is also on the video.

Daniel wants to find Chaka.  O’Neill is not enthusiastic about the idea.  However, the human abductors possessed Goa’uld weaponry, which does spark his interest.  SG-1 heads to the humans’ planet, intent on learning why they have Goa’uld weapons.  Daniel also wants to rescue Chaka.  Arriving on the humans’ planet, the team makes their way from the stargate.  O’Neill and Daniel head into a nearby village.  There, they encounter Unas being auctioned off by a man named Burrock.  Carter and Teal’c remain hidden in the surrounding woods.

Burrock relates how, in the past, the humans on the planet were ruled by a Goa’uld who used Unas as cronies.  The Goa’uld left the planet, and never returned.  The humans overthrew the Unas during a long ago war.  Since then, the humans use Unas as slaves.  Burrock wants to keep Chaka, in order to introduce new blood into the inbred Unas population on that world.

Daniel is willing to do almost anything to free Chaka.  O’Neill, eh, not so much.  A failed attempt to save Chaka leads to Burrock capturing Daniel and O’Neill.  Outnumbered, with half the team imprisoned, and the stargate under heavy guard, SG-1 must find a way to regain their freedom, and get back home.

Dion Johnstone (“The Fifth Man”) is Chaka, and does a masterful job conveying emotion through the Unas costume, and makeup.  The rest of the actors’ performances are fine.

Failures:
There are missed, and ignored, opportunities in this episode.

The story demonstrates an interesting question, but does little else.  The question is: how intelligent must a species be before domestication turns into enslavement?  Daniel perceives Chaka’s intelligence to be at a level where his captivity is enslavement.  Burrock does not hold the same view.  The specifics of why the two men hold their disparate views are not fully addressed.  They both believe what they believe because that is what they believe.  This adds nothing to the story.  O’Neill seems to be riding the fence on the question, unsure about whether or not the Unas are actually intelligent.  And, he's still holding a grudge about the SG team members' deaths caused by Chaka (and, possibly other Unas) in “The First Ones.”  “Beast of Burden” was a chance to explore the fuzzy line between domestication and enslavement of a different species.  Ultimately, the story restates existing questions, without providing anything fresh.

Burrock is a missed opportunity.  Rather than a three-dimensional, fully rounded character -- one having redeeming qualities, as well as tremendous faults -- Burrock is just sadistic, greedy, and psychotic.  An appropriate analogy for slavery, but not the way to present a believable character.

For someone who earns his keep breeding and selling Unas, Burrock literally kills a lot of his trade with actions based on whims, and rapid mood swings.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 6

"Rite of Passage"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Good

Commentary by:
Peter DeLuise -- Director
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
Cassandra, the charming child from “Singularity” is now a petulant teenager.  Dr. Frasier adopted her about four years ago.  At home, after giving Dr. Frasier some attitude, Cassandra heads to the front porch, and her awaiting honey-bunny.  She and her boyfriend smooch.  The porch light shatters and Cassandra falls unconscious.  Frasier takes her to the SGC infirmary.   Along with severe flu-like symptoms, Cassandra is also producing a fluctuating electro-magnetic field, which increases in strength over time.

The Goa’uld Nirrti (“Fair Game”) wiped out everyone in the girl’s village, and implanted a bomb inside Cassandra that would have destroyed Earth’s stargate, and much of the western United States.  Considering her past actions, Nirrti is considered a likely source of the retrovirus causing Cassandra’s current illness.  Without a cure, she will die.

Video of the girl’s people taken by SG folks documents other children exhibiting the same symptoms as Cassandra now experiences.  The children would go into a nearby forest while they were ill, and return to the village a few days later, suddenly healthy.  Cassandra wants to go to the forest, located on her home world.  Instead, SG-1 goes to the planet, and into the forest.  There, they discover a secret laboratory, apparently belonging to Nirrti.  Dr. Frasier and the team try to determine the cause of Cassandra’s illness before she dies.

Colleen Rennison portrays Cassandra.  Ms. Rennison portrayed the plucky ‘tween in “Bane.”  The part in this episode calls for a sullen teen, and Ms. Rennison delivers.  Another actor, Katie Stuart, was Cassandra in “Singularity.”  Everyone’s performances were nice.

Failures:
Years have passed since Cassandra’s last appearance on Stargate SG-1.  The character is different now, and rightly so.  However, not being a party to the changes in Cassandra as she grew up makes it difficult for me to embrace the new, snippy, antagonistic, cranky, smart-mouth version of her present in most of this episode.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 5

"Red Sky"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

Commentary by:
Martin Wood -- Director
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer
Amanda Tapping -- “Carter”

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
SG-1 arrives on a planet, forcibly tumbling out of the stargate.  That sort of exit from a wormhole ended in Stargate SG-1’s first season, explained away as computer corrections for the shift in planetary locations over the millennium.  DHDs automatically correct such things, however, SGC uses an elaborate computer program to dial gate addresses, as they do not have a DHD.  The Russians have a DHD (“Watergate”), however, they are not allowing SGC to use it.

On the planet, the team encounters a group of humans near the stargate.  The people call themselves the K’tau.  Or, maybe that is the planet’s name.  The people are not particularly interesting, so it does not matter.  Some Goa’uld snatched the K’tau from Earth a long time ago.  K’tau is part of the Protected Planets Treaty (“Fair Game”), and safeguarded from the Goa’uld by the Asgard.  Like the people of Cimmeria (“Thor's Chariot”), the K’tau believe in gods based on a Norse pantheon, although their civilization is more advanced than the Cimmerians.  Maybe analogous to a 17th century Europe level of development.

Shortly after SG-1’s arrival, K’tau’s sun turns red.  The change in the visible light spectrum means that plants will die out, and the population will starve.  Based on their experiences on Cimmeria, SG-1 contacts the Asgard for help.  Rather than Thor, they reach Freyr who, unlike Thor, is not charmed by O’Neill.  Due to the tenets of the Protected Planets Treaty, the Asgard cannot fix the problem with the sun.  Something about not giving blatant aid that is more technologically advanced than a planet’s civilization.  How fixing the sun would advance the K'tau's techno-knowledge is not explained.  Messing up the sun sure didn't advance the K'tau's knowledge.  Anyway, SG-1 must determine the cause of that sun’s shift to the infrared spectrum, and fix the problem.

The actors' performances are fine.

Failures:
Part of the story concerns a superstitious culture arguing about whether or not SG-1's appearance on their planet is a harbinger of doom.  Nothing new is brought into the discussion, which bounces between a couple of K’tau characters that are two-dimensional cliches.  Elrad, a calm, thoughtful, leader versus Malchus a hyper religious zealot.  Zen peace versus chaos.  Thought versus fear.  Decafe versus caffeinated.  The rest of the K’tau are not endearing either, not doing much other than often muttering amongst themselves.

O’Neill is willing to allow all of the K’tau to die because the unsanctioned activity of one of the K'tau results in the death of two SG team members.  Having O’Neill care about SG people is essential to his character, but taking it to the point where he is willing to allow the annihilation of an entire planet as retribution is way over the top as a reaction.

The Asgard are vast with unhelpfulness when asked to aid people they protect.  The K’tau think everything that happens to them, or their world, is their gods' whim.  There was no chance that the Asgard fixing the problem with the sun would have artificially advanced the K’tau’s technological knowledge.  Agreeing to a treaty that only allows the Asgard to protect a planet from a Goa’uld threat seems shortsighted, and irrational.

There are interesting aspects to this episode.  However, many of the major players almost qualify as mustache twirling villains, due to their poor behavior, and inane rationale.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 4

"The Fifth Man"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Commentary by:
Peter DeLuise -- Director
Joseph Mallozzi -- Writer
Paul Mullie -- Writer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
Off world, SG-1 battles a large contingent of Jaffa near a stargate.  Except for O’Neill and Tyler, who are pinned down by Jaffa weapons' fire some distance away.  O’Neill orders the rest of his team to return to SGC, and get reinforcements.  Carter, Daniel, and Teal'c return to SGC, and request help from General Hammond in order to rescue O’Neill and Tyler.  Rather than granting the request, General Hammond tells Carter to slow her roll.  He wants to know who the heck is Tyler.  Carter, Daniel, and Teal’c state that he is a member of SG-1, of course.  Hammond states that there is no such person as Tyler on SG-1.

Did SG-1 travel to an alternate universe SGC?  Or, is it all a dream, and the story ends with a scene of either O’Neill, Daniel, Teal’c, or Tyler in the shower?  No.  Although, it would have been nice to incorporate a scene of one of the guys taking a shower.  Hmmm … *cough* ahem, anyway, SG-1 and General Hammond are both right about Tyler.  Carter, Daniel, and Teal’c investigate why no one else at SGC remembers Tyler.  At the same time, Dr. Frasier and General Hammond investigate why SG-1 is convinced that the seemingly non-existent Tyler is a real person.

The viewpoints converge as a conspiracy is uncovered involving the covert accessing of SG-1 personnel files.  Simultaneously, Dr. Frasier uncovers something about Tyler.  Due to concerns about SG-1 perhaps being under alien influence, and an unknown party snooping on SG-1, O’Neill and Tyler remain stranded off world, struggling to survive a Jaffa onslaught.

Dion Johnstone is Tyler.  Mr. Johnstone’s portrayal is wonderful, absolutely convincing as the fifth SG-1 team member who is real, yet just a wee bit off.  He also portrayed Chaka in “The First Ones.”  John de Lance returns as Colonel Frank Simmons (“Ascension”), the N.I.D. representative with questionable goals.  Simmons is smug, and arrogant.  Mr. de Lancie’s Simmons is supreme when it comes to dropping thinly veiled threats.  Kudos to both guest stars.  The regular cast provides strong performances.  An exciting, very interesting episode.

Failures:
Jaffa are supposed to be fearsome warriors, with great fighting skills.  Sometimes, I think Teal’c and Bra’tac are the only good fighters amongst the Jaffa.  This is one of those times.  O’Neill almost single-handedly kills a lot of Jaffa, while holding off many more.  The Jaffa are numerous, each armed with a staff weapon.  Yet, O’Neill prevails through much of the fighting.