Stargate SG-1 Season 6, Episode 15

"Paradise Lost"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Good

Commentary by:

Robert C. Cooper – Executive Producer

Michael Greenburg – Executive 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: 

Harry Maybourne, (“48 Hours”) suddenly shows up in Jack O'Neill's backyard.  This is surprising on two counts.  One: Harry is still guilty of being a traitor and faces a return to prison.  Two: Jack has insinuated, and flat out stated, a number of times that he would be okay with shooting Harry.    Before any gunplay ensues, Maybourne tells Jack that he knows why Frank Simmons stole the X-303 (“Prometheus”) – to plunder a stockpile of advanced alien weaponry.  Harry knows the stargate address where the weapons are located, and will provide it if he is allowed to go offworld to the location with the team.  On one hand, what Harry's saying doesn't have more than a whiff of believability.  On the other hand, Harry Maybourne has come through for SG-1 in the past.  The mission is approved by SGC.

So, Harry Maybourne provides the gate address to the alien weapons stash.  He and SG-1 head offworld.  Will they find the treasure trove, and return to Earth with their loot?  Of course not.  Maybourne is involved and (unsurprisingly) perfidy is afoot.  Maybourne's treachery takes SG-1 and SGC by surprise.  However, his plan doesn't pan out the way he thought it would, and instead places himself and O'Neill in a deadly situation.

Tom McBeath again excels as Maybourne.  Richard Dean Anderson provides a strong performance as well.  The two actors mesh their characters together perfectly.

Failures:

Carter gets utterly, totally, and completely defied and shut down by Dr. Lee (“Prodigy”.)  Granted, the Dr. Lee character is not yet as meek as he will be in future episodes.  Still, their exchange made Carter seem like an ineffective leader.  I think it could have been handled better.  What Dr. Lee said to Carter should have been delivered to her by General Hammond.  Getting verbally owned by the mild-mannered Dr. Lee totally undercuts Carter as an authority figure.