Stargate SG-1 Season 6, Episode 21

"Prophecy"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Good

Commentary by:

William Waring – Director
Peter F. Woeste – Director of Photography
Rick Dean – Chief Lighting Technician

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

 

Review: 

SG-1 is off-world on P4S-237 sharing a meal with the folks living there.  Their leader, named Ellori, states that they live a hardscrabble life, working in mines for Ba'al (“Abyss”).  Carter says that they thought Ba'al abandoned P4S-237 about 100 years ago because there wasn't any more naquadah.  There isn't much, but Ellori's people scratch out what they can and give it to Ba'al's emissary, a Goa'uld named Mot.  Ellori seems to doubt that Mot is a god, but Chazen, another resident of the planet, pipes up that of course Mot is a god.  He says that at the very least, Mot has god-like destructive powers.  Very po-tay-toe, pa-tah-toe is Chazen.

During this chat, Jonas Quinn is looking a bit ill and wobbly.  Then, Jonas has a prophetic vision, which is proven true a few moments later.  Unaware of Jonas' vision, Ellari mentions that his people have an ancient prophecy that one day someone will travel to their world via the stargate and save the people of P4S-237 from their lot.  Roll credits on the episode title.  Things are getting a bit tense between pro-Mot Chazen and pro-not being enslaved Ellari when Jonas keels over and passes out.

Back at the SGC, Dr. Frasier cannot find anything conclusive that might be the source of Jonas' ailment.  There's mention of the possibility of it being related to naquadria, as in the past being around improperly shielded naquadria is shown to cause brain damage (“Shadow Play”).  More medical testing is needed, but for now Jonas seems to have recovered.

At a briefing, Carter shares the Tok'ra confirming Ba'al's abandonment of P4S-237 about 100 years ago, and he is not receiving naquadah shipments from there.  The general thought is Ba'al defeated Mot at some point in the past, and demoted Mot to lackey.  Mot is likely keeping P4S-237's naquadah for himself in hopes of overthrowing Ba'al one day.  SG-1 sees the situation as a chance to take down Mot, and free the people of P4S-237.  Since Ba'al and the other System Lords have the planet on their “not worth my time” list, there shouldn't be a problem with more Goa'ulds moving in after deposing Mot.  During the briefing, Jonas has another vision that later comes true.

This all happens before the opening credits finish rolling.

Dr. Frasier and other medical staff try to learn what is physiologically happening to Jonas, as his physical condition deteriorates with each vision.  Jonas thinks that whatever Nirrti did to him in “Metamorphosis” is the cause.  Considering that this episode's “previously on” is all about “Metamorphosis,” that seems likely.  Dr. Frasier discovers some sort of non-cancerous growth in Jonas' brain, and wants to operate.  Jonas wants to wait and see what his prophecies provide.  General Hammond agrees to let Jonas wait 24 hours before having the surgery, but does not clear Jonas for going off-world.

So, ¾ of SG-1 head to the gateroom, ready to go back to P4S-237 and see about taking down Mot. But, Jonas has another vision just before they gate out.  This time of a severely injured Carter.  General Hammond takes Carter off of the P4S-237 mission, just in case.  Teal'c, O'Neill, and SG-15 head off-world.  Jonas continues having periodic visions that he hopes will be of good use.  Until something happens that brings in to question the usefulness of Jonas' visions.  The first time he tried to change the future based on his visions didn't end well.  Things aren't going well for SG-15 and the ½ of SG-1 on P4S-237, either.

Everyone's acting performances are fine.  Victor Talmadge is very good as Mot, exuding a nice level of Goa'uld menace.  The regular cast performs well, with Corin Nemec's portrayal of an increasingly ill Jonas being the best.  The story is all right.  Jonas' prophetic ability overrode the other story in this episode, the situation on  P4S-237.  Carter and Jonas' discussions about seeing the future are mildly interesting.

Failures:

Nothing major.