Stargate SG-1 Season 6, Episode 14

 "Smoke & Mirrors"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Good

Commentary by:

Peter DeLuise – Director
James Tichenor – Visual Effect Producer
Gary Jones – “Walter”

The commentary drifts away from what is on screen at times, but it is interesting.

 

Review: 

Events start fast, with Senator Kinsey (“2001”) being assassinated before the opening credits role. Considering Senator Kinsey's behavior in past episodes, the list of potential suspects for the assassination should be very long.

 

Jack O'Neill rolls into SGC, freshly back from his vacation, unaware of Kinsey's demise. Minutes later, MPs arrive at SGC to arrest O'Neill for killing Kinsey. The evidence against Jack is damning, but he insists that he is innocent. Does the rest of SG-1 believe that Jack is guilty? No way! Does General Hammond believe that Jack is guilty? Highly unlikely! Then there is Major Davis who, after looking at the mountain of evidence against Jack, seems a bit inclined to scratch O'Neill off of his holiday card list.  Major Davis is just being pragmatic.

 

There is a mystery afoot, and SG-1 is on the case, working to prove that Jack did not kill Kinsey. They have knowledge that is not widely known outside of SGC, and pursue leads to determine the true culprit. Carter connects with an N.I.D. contact, while Teal'c and Jonas pursue another lead.

 

This is an aptly titled mystery-based episode, and most anything I write about it would be a spoiler. It is a straight line mystery, not one full of twists and turns. So, I think it's best on the first viewing. Still, a good episode for subsequent viewings. A couple of the more entertaining parts of this episode are watching Teal'c trying to absorb the concept of due process, and then Teal'c's spin on interrogating a prisoner without physically attacking said prisoner. Christopher Judge is amazing as Teal'c.

 

All of the actors provide very good performances.

Failures:

Nothing egregious.