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.