Stargate SG-1, Season 7, Episode 3

 "Fragile Balance"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Very Good

Commentary by:

Peter DeLuise – Director
Damian Kindler – 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:  

All is quiet at the SGC.  Anubis' super weapon is destroyed.  The Langarans are united in cooperation under the guidance of Jonas Quinn.  A slightly more snarky, significantly more buff, Daniel Jackson is once again part of SG-1.  The only new incident is a kid trying to get into the SGC using Jack O'Neill's I.D.  Mild stuff, compared to SGC's usual problems.  However, no one can get in contact with O'Neill.  After all of the galaxy shaking, Earth is doomed, shooting and zat'ing, and alien threats, has Jack O'Neill been harmed by something so mundane as a wayward teen?  Nope.  The wayward teen says that he is Jack O'Neill.

After going to sleep the night before as an adult, O'Neill awoke the next day as a teenager.  Medical tests, and knowing things that only Jack O'Neill would know, backs up the teen's claim.  Let's call him Teen O'Neill.  SG-1 begins investigating the who, what, and why of a de-aged O'Neill.

A seemingly basic premise is woven into an entertaining story.  The viewers follow along as SG-1 pieces together information, ultimately unveiling the surprising explanation.

Everyone's performances are done well.  Michael Welch excels as Teen Jack, carrying the episode.  He has O'Neill's mannerisms and speech pattern down cold, ably upholding the premise that he is Jack O'Neill.  All in all, an episode well worth watching.

Failures:

One scene is off-putting, and taints an otherwise excellent episode.  Teen O’Neill is going to high school.  When dropped off at the school, Teen O’Neill looks at a nearby group of teen girls, and gives them a small smirk and makes a knowing comment.  In the commentary, Mr. DeLuise and Mr. Kindler put forth an air of innocence about the situation.  We have, essentially, a 50-something year old man looking forward to going to school with teenage girls.  That’s a lot of “ew.”  Someone, at some point, should have said, “Look at the optics of this scene.  It isn't okay.”  And, someone in charge should have listened to them.