Stargate SG-1, Season 7, Episode 10

"Birthright"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

Commentary by:

Peter F. Woeste — Director
Jim Menard — Director of Photography
Mark Davidson — Set Decorator
Robert Davidson — Set Decorator

The commentary is very informative and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:  

Off world, meeting up with a Jaffa who wants to be a Free Jaffa, SG-1 is attacked by a group of Jaffa who are apparently good with being enslaved by the Goa’ulds.  Suddenly, the attacking Jaffa are wiped out by a flurry of staff blasts.  Expecting to see Free Jaffa, SG-1 instead sees a group of women Jaffa.  They are the ones who defeated the attackers, and call themselves Hak’tyl.  One of the Hak’tyl goes to a fallen Jaffa and removes his symbiote.  Well, yuck.  SG-1’s reputation precedes them, and the Hak’tyl invite the group to their outpost on another world.  Once there, SG-1 meets Ishta, the Hak’tyls leader, and gets the full story.

The Goa’uld Moloc decreed 30 years ago that all female Jaffa under his control be killed at birth.  Moloc believes only male Jaffa are effective fighters and worthy of being allowed to live.  Teal'c is unfamiliar with any Goa'uld that allows female Jaffa as part of their fighting force, but other Goa'ulds don't kill off their female Jaffa solely because they are female.  Some of Moloc's female Jaffa are kept alive as breeders, and a few more as priestesses whose job is to kill newborn female Jaffa born under his rule.  Ishta is one of the priestesses.  She and other priestesses rescue the female newborns when they can, and raise them at their outpost.  The Hak’tyl also form hunting parties to take down male Jaffa and procure their symbiotes, because once a Jaffa reaches puberty they must be implanted with a symbiote or else die (”Bloodlines”).  Teal’c disapproves of killing Jaffa, at least before offering them a chance to be free.  SG-1 tells the Hak’tyl about the tretonin option (”The Changeling”).

The Hak’tyl must decide to use tretonin, or lose Teal’c, and possibly by extension the rest of SG-1 and SGC, as allies.  Being Jaffa, the Hak’tyls are suspicious of living life without a symbiote.

The acting is okay.  Neither bad, nor great.  Jolene Blalock is Ishta, Christine Adams is Mala, and Kathleen Duborg is Neith.

Failures:

This episode is written by Christopher Judge, who usually adds interesting details about Jaffa society in his writings.  Not this time.  This is Stargate SG-1 does an Amazon woman warrior mythos story, with no new information about Jaffa society in the mix.  Nothing new about Amazon woman warrior mythos, either.  I rated this episode Fair, but it’s a very weak Fair.

Female Jaffa aren’t allowed to fight?  Pretty obvious after 6 seasons of Stargate SG-1, when there was nary a female Jaffa warrior in sight during battles.  Female Jaffa can fight, and fight well?  This is not surprising.

Not long after the episode begins, Moloc’s femicide of Jaffa born under his rule becomes a very minor plot device.  More of the story’s time is spent on Teal’c’s disapproval of the Hak’tyls killing male Jaffa willy-nilly, and the Hak’tyls reluctance to switch to tretonin.  When using something as horrible as femicide in a story, then give the topic the time and respect it deserves.  There were other options for initiating the story.

Stargate SG-1, Season 7, Episode 8

"Space Race"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

Commentary by:

Andy Mikita – Director
Jim Menard – Director of Photography
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:  

Warrick, an alien from the episode “Forsaken,” ventures to SGC via the stargate for a visit.  Well, for a visit and a favor.  Warrick’s home world, Hebridan, is holding a space race (roll credits).  If he can borrow one of SGC’s naquadah generators for his ship in the race, Warrick will give SGC access to specs for his people’s ion energy tech.  The winner of the race gets a lucrative contract from a large corporation on Hebridan.  Apparently getting tech from aliens in order to win the space race doesn’t break any rules, and SGC is always about learning new technology, so a trade is made.  I would not be surprised if the Hebridan space race rule book will be updated, but for this race it is what it is.  Don’t get me started on the selling out of Hebridan’s technological secrets by an individual so that said individual can win a lucrative contract.  Harsh words would be used.

Sam joins Warrick as his co-pilot for the race.  There is a nefarious secondary story, which I won’t spoil.  Mostly, there is a race.  In space.  Using space ships.  Go team Warrick and Carter.

The effects are marvelous.  Makeup, costuming, and sets are wonderful.  The acting is nicely done.  There are some amusing moments.  All of those factors don't compensate for an unsatisfactory story.

Failures:

I just can’t muster enthusiasm for the core story: a space ship race, with a side of espionage by the SGC against a friendly alien society -- while in diplomatic talks for said secrets.  The espionage is mitigated later in the episode, but that doesn’t change what SGC is willing to do to the Hebridans.  Between extortion (”Lifeboat”), willingness to commit genocide for resources (”Enemy Mine”), and now trying to steal secrets from a friendly alien society, SGC leadership’s moral compass is swinging to the sketchy side of the Force.  SG-1 and General Hammond still seem to have a hold of themselves.  Except for Carter in this episode, who is more interested in having fun with the race, and less interested in the ramifications of secretly making off with an alien ally’s tech.  SGC is getting ruthless.

Stargate SG-1 Season 6, Episode 13

 "Sight Unseen"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

Commentary by:

Peter F. Woeste – Director
Andrew D. Wilson – Director of Photography
Rick Dean – Chief Lighting Technician

The commentary is very informative, and interesting. Lots of behind the scene information. The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
This is a filler episode, set on Earth.  You'll lose nothing by watching this episode.  You won't gain anything, either.  The best part of this episode is the commentary.

Having learned nothing from past experience, SG-1 returns to Earth from an off-world mission, bringing back a piece of unknown alien technology.  What could go wrong?

Shortly after stepping through the Stargate back to SGC, Quinn sees a giant alien insect buzzing around the gate room.  No one else sees anything, but General Hammond sensibly sounds an alert.  Nothing is found.  What does the frontline defense against potential alien incursions to Earth do in this situation?  Pretty much blow raspberries at Quinn, dismissing his sighting.  And then, go on to putter around with the unknown alien tech they brought back to Earth.  It hurts my head to type this out.

Eventually, others begin seeing the technicolor big 'ol insectoids around SGC.  And, the cause is ... wait for it ... the alien tech.  Not even Carter understands how the alien machine works, yet she and Quinn work on the machine to fix things, i.e., make the giant bugs go away.  The situation becomes worse, with more people at SGC seeing the bugs, and then people outside of the SGC begin seeing the bugs.  In addition to exposing the Stargate program to the general public, the situation has the potential to become deadly.  SGC must find a way to fix the situation.

I'm bothered by the relatively mild reactions by SGC personnel when seeing the insectoids.  An 18 inch long, brightly colored, flying grub worm with very long fangs rates more than a fairly calm, “Whoa, did you see that?” in my book.  There should be screaming, throwing of things, running from the room, and possibly weapons fire.  Kudos to the person in the SGC mess hall who had an appropriate reaction to the situation.  Now, non-SGC folks have the sort of reactions I'd expect.  Much screaming and yelping.  Jody Racicot's performance as Vernon Sharpe is very good.  The candy color alien insects are a very nicely done effect.

The cast perform fine, my questioning the SGC characters near blase reactions aside.

Failures:

SGC has yet to learn not to bring unknown alien tech to Earth. 

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 7

"Beast of Burden"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

Commentary by:
Martin Wood -- Director
Jim Menard -- Director of Photography
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects 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:
The Unas named Chaka (“The First Ones”) is captured on his home world by non-Earth humans.  Daniel later sees video of the capture, taken by one of the cameras he placed near the stargate on Chaka’s home world.  The gate address used by the humans is also on the video.

Daniel wants to find Chaka.  O’Neill is not enthusiastic about the idea.  However, the human abductors possessed Goa’uld weaponry, which does spark his interest.  SG-1 heads to the humans’ planet, intent on learning why they have Goa’uld weapons.  Daniel also wants to rescue Chaka.  Arriving on the humans’ planet, the team makes their way from the stargate.  O’Neill and Daniel head into a nearby village.  There, they encounter Unas being auctioned off by a man named Burrock.  Carter and Teal’c remain hidden in the surrounding woods.

Burrock relates how, in the past, the humans on the planet were ruled by a Goa’uld who used Unas as cronies.  The Goa’uld left the planet, and never returned.  The humans overthrew the Unas during a long ago war.  Since then, the humans use Unas as slaves.  Burrock wants to keep Chaka, in order to introduce new blood into the inbred Unas population on that world.

Daniel is willing to do almost anything to free Chaka.  O’Neill, eh, not so much.  A failed attempt to save Chaka leads to Burrock capturing Daniel and O’Neill.  Outnumbered, with half the team imprisoned, and the stargate under heavy guard, SG-1 must find a way to regain their freedom, and get back home.

Dion Johnstone (“The Fifth Man”) is Chaka, and does a masterful job conveying emotion through the Unas costume, and makeup.  The rest of the actors’ performances are fine.

Failures:
There are missed, and ignored, opportunities in this episode.

The story demonstrates an interesting question, but does little else.  The question is: how intelligent must a species be before domestication turns into enslavement?  Daniel perceives Chaka’s intelligence to be at a level where his captivity is enslavement.  Burrock does not hold the same view.  The specifics of why the two men hold their disparate views are not fully addressed.  They both believe what they believe because that is what they believe.  This adds nothing to the story.  O’Neill seems to be riding the fence on the question, unsure about whether or not the Unas are actually intelligent.  And, he's still holding a grudge about the SG team members' deaths caused by Chaka (and, possibly other Unas) in “The First Ones.”  “Beast of Burden” was a chance to explore the fuzzy line between domestication and enslavement of a different species.  Ultimately, the story restates existing questions, without providing anything fresh.

Burrock is a missed opportunity.  Rather than a three-dimensional, fully rounded character -- one having redeeming qualities, as well as tremendous faults -- Burrock is just sadistic, greedy, and psychotic.  An appropriate analogy for slavery, but not the way to present a believable character.

For someone who earns his keep breeding and selling Unas, Burrock literally kills a lot of his trade with actions based on whims, and rapid mood swings.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 5

"Red Sky"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

Commentary by:
Martin Wood -- Director
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer
Amanda Tapping -- “Carter”

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 arrives on a planet, forcibly tumbling out of the stargate.  That sort of exit from a wormhole ended in Stargate SG-1’s first season, explained away as computer corrections for the shift in planetary locations over the millennium.  DHDs automatically correct such things, however, SGC uses an elaborate computer program to dial gate addresses, as they do not have a DHD.  The Russians have a DHD (“Watergate”), however, they are not allowing SGC to use it.

On the planet, the team encounters a group of humans near the stargate.  The people call themselves the K’tau.  Or, maybe that is the planet’s name.  The people are not particularly interesting, so it does not matter.  Some Goa’uld snatched the K’tau from Earth a long time ago.  K’tau is part of the Protected Planets Treaty (“Fair Game”), and safeguarded from the Goa’uld by the Asgard.  Like the people of Cimmeria (“Thor's Chariot”), the K’tau believe in gods based on a Norse pantheon, although their civilization is more advanced than the Cimmerians.  Maybe analogous to a 17th century Europe level of development.

Shortly after SG-1’s arrival, K’tau’s sun turns red.  The change in the visible light spectrum means that plants will die out, and the population will starve.  Based on their experiences on Cimmeria, SG-1 contacts the Asgard for help.  Rather than Thor, they reach Freyr who, unlike Thor, is not charmed by O’Neill.  Due to the tenets of the Protected Planets Treaty, the Asgard cannot fix the problem with the sun.  Something about not giving blatant aid that is more technologically advanced than a planet’s civilization.  How fixing the sun would advance the K'tau's techno-knowledge is not explained.  Messing up the sun sure didn't advance the K'tau's knowledge.  Anyway, SG-1 must determine the cause of that sun’s shift to the infrared spectrum, and fix the problem.

The actors' performances are fine.

Failures:
Part of the story concerns a superstitious culture arguing about whether or not SG-1's appearance on their planet is a harbinger of doom.  Nothing new is brought into the discussion, which bounces between a couple of K’tau characters that are two-dimensional cliches.  Elrad, a calm, thoughtful, leader versus Malchus a hyper religious zealot.  Zen peace versus chaos.  Thought versus fear.  Decafe versus caffeinated.  The rest of the K’tau are not endearing either, not doing much other than often muttering amongst themselves.

O’Neill is willing to allow all of the K’tau to die because the unsanctioned activity of one of the K'tau results in the death of two SG team members.  Having O’Neill care about SG people is essential to his character, but taking it to the point where he is willing to allow the annihilation of an entire planet as retribution is way over the top as a reaction.

The Asgard are vast with unhelpfulness when asked to aid people they protect.  The K’tau think everything that happens to them, or their world, is their gods' whim.  There was no chance that the Asgard fixing the problem with the sun would have artificially advanced the K’tau’s technological knowledge.  Agreeing to a treaty that only allows the Asgard to protect a planet from a Goa’uld threat seems shortsighted, and irrational.

There are interesting aspects to this episode.  However, many of the major players almost qualify as mustache twirling villains, due to their poor behavior, and inane rationale.

Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 3

"Ascension"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

Commentary by:
Martin Wood -- Director
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer
Amanda Tapping -- “Carter”

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 is off-world, exploring ruins.  One structure is different from the others.  Daniel studies writing located outside of the building.  Carter studies alien technology located inside the building.  O’Neill wants to go, leaving the study to a specialized SG team.

An unseen presence floats down to the area near Carter.  Cue a flash of light, and Carter is unconscious.  Back at SGC’s infirmary, Dr. Frasier checks out the now awake Carter.  SG-16, lead by Colonel Reynolds (Major Reynolds in “Touchstone”) is assigned the task of researching the off-world site.  Daniel will go with them to try to decipher the alien language.  The rest of SG-1 is given time off.  Carter wants to go with SG-16, however Dr. Frasier nixes that idea.  Carter is forced to go home, and relax.  We learn that: Carter has a very nice house; her car is a sweet ride; and that she has no life outside of SGC.

Back home, Carter discovers she has a stalker, whose name is Orlin.  Orlin can suddenly appear and disappear, as well as walk through kitchen counters.  A ghost?  Nah.  This is Stargate SG-1.  It is an alien in human form, because he is crushing on Carter, big time.  She hightails it away from Orlin, and contacts SGC.  Carter’s house is thoroughly checked out, but no sign of her visitor is found.  Orlin eventually returns to Carter’s house, and she interacts with him.  Since no one else has seen Orlin, folks at SGC are a bit worried about Carter’s seemingly imaginary friend.  Meanwhile, SG-16 continues to research the alien tech off-world.  Unknown to SGC, or Carter, another government faction wants to capture Orlin, and study him.

Everyone’s’ performance is fine.  A new, delightfully nasty villain is introduced.

Failures:
There are many interesting aspects of the story.  But, I dislike the science fiction insta-love plot device, which I think taints the entire episode.  This is not the first time insta-love is used on Stargate SG-1, and Carter has previously been the object of instantaneous alien affection.  In this episode, I think the insta-love plot device is a cheap ploy.  I think it would be far more interesting, and tell me more about Carter’s character, if her motivation did not involve her falling in love within seconds.

Stargate SG-1, Season 4, Episode 19

"Prodigy"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Episode Rating:  Fair

Commentary by:
Peter DeLuise -- Director
Paul Mullie -- co-Producer, and Writer
Joseph Mallozzi -- co-Producer, and Writer

The commentary is very informative, interesting, and entertaining.  Lots of behind the scene information.  Mr. DeLuise keeps the commentary on point with what is on screen.

Review:
O’Neill and Teal’c are sent off-world to determine if the location is suitable for a permanent research station.  Carter is giving a lecture at the Air Force Academy.  Daniel is off-world with SG-11.  O’Neill is not excited by his assignment because he has to interact with a group of civilian scientists.  Carter is intrigued by a female cadet, name Hailey, who is very intelligent, and perpetually seems on the verge of beating the crap out of everyone she meets.  O’Neill tries to ignore the scientists.  Carter mentors the sour cadet.  Daniel is absent from this episode.

Eventually, O’Neill and Carter’s stories cross paths.  O’Neill’s plotline is military versus scientists, without anything fresh in the presentation.  It is pretty much the cliche of the high school jocks and nerds disrespecting each other, but without swirlies.

Back on Earth, Carter tries to break through Hailey's belligerence.  When the cadet is on the verge of being kicked out of the academy, Carter intercedes on her behalf, and takes her through the stargate to O’Neill’s location.  A previously undiscovered threat emerges at the off-world location.  O’Neill bickers with the scientists, while Carter and Hailey argue about scientific hypotheses.  Eventually, the episode ends.

General Ryan, then Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, appears as himself in this episode.  Tapping provides the best performance of the regular cast members in the episode.  Elisabeth Rosen portrays the cadet, Hailey.  Ms. Rosen’s acting is good, however her choices focus on the character’s crankiness, rather than her being the smartest person currently at the Air Force Academy.  Hailey is supposed to be a frustrated genius moreso than a bellicose pugilist.  Unfortunately, in this episode Hailey is all about being irritated and surly, which makes her an unsympathetic, rather annoying, character.

Failures:
Overall, an unremarkable take on the military versus science cliche.  Why Carter felt the need to stick her neck out for Hailey is never clear.  There was some insinuation in this episode that Carter acted the same as Hailey when Carter was a cadet.  However, nothing in Carter’s behavior up to now in the series hinted that she was so obnoxious, and belligerent, as a cadet.  So, I don’t buy that premise for Carter's actions.

Stargate SG-1, Season 4, Episode 10

"Beneath the Surface"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Episode Rating:  Fair

Commentary by:
Peter DeLuise -- Director
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Supervisor

The commentary is interesting, and more entertaining than the episode.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
The episode opens in a dimly lit, windowless location, with a claustrophobic feel.  One skylight high above provides a distant glow.  Many people are sleeping in an open dormitory.  They are living and working in gritty conditions.  SG-1 is amongst those people.  O’Neill, Carter, and Daniel are unaware of their true identities.  Teal’c is there as well, and attempts to get the rest of SG-1 to remember who they truly are, however he fails.  Teal’c is then forcibly taken out of the area.

The viewer learns the gist of what is happening before any of the regular characters have a clue.  SGC attempts to locate the team, while SG-1 remains where they are, continuing to suffer from amnesia.  The pacing of the episode is tortuously slow, as SG-1 regains their memories in bits and pieces.  Much of the show involves waiting for SGC, and SG-1, to figure things out.

“Beneath the Surface” is similar in tone to an episode of the 1995 to 2002 television series The Outer Limits.  A bleak society with people working to create a bright future.  However, something else is going on -- dare I say it? -- beneath the surface.  The formula does not work for Stargate SG-1.

Failures:
Rather than being an adventure, this episode is like sitting on a bench at the mall, waiting for someone else to finish shopping.

Stargate SG-1, Season 4, Episode 4

"Crossroads"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Episode Rating: Fair

Commentary by:
Peter DeLuise -- Director
James Tichenor -- a 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:
At SGC, there is an incoming wormhole.  Bra’tac’s IDC is received; however, it is not Bra’tac who exits the wormhole.  The traveler is Shau’nac, a Jaffa priestess who knows Teal’c.  Possibly knowing him in a biblical sense, based on their steamy reaction to seeing each other.  Bra’tac could not accompany Shau’nac to SGC, and gave her his IDC because Shau’nac thinks she has discovered a way to defeat the Goa’uld.  She can mentally chat up her symbiote, and has convinced it to turn against the Goa’uld.  Yeah, no one is buying what she is selling.  This does not dent Shau’nac’s conviction.  She is confident in her belief, and since the Goa’uld symbiote she is toting around in her belly pouch is mature, and ready for a host, the truth will literally come out very soon.

With the help of the Tok’ra, a host is found for Shau’nac’s Goa’uld symbiote.  Apparently, she was correct.  The symbiote, whose name is Tanith, has rejected the badness that is Goa’uld-dom, and switched teams, willing to fight with the good guys.  Teal’c and Shau’nac plan to teach other Jaffa to chat up their symbiotes, in an effort to lure the baby Goa’ulds away from the dark side.  Having a chance to foment a new aspect of rebelling against the Goa’uld -- and being with Shau’nac, the smoking hot girlfriend -- convinces Teal’c that it is time to quit SGC.  The bright future for the Jaffa is dimmed by events impacting the new path of Goa’uld symbiote enlightenment, as well as Teal’c and Shau’nac’s happily ever after.

Musetta Vander is Shau’nac, and she does a good job portraying the Jaffa priestess.  The actor and part are a perfect fit.  I fully believe that Shau’nac and Teal’c are more than just acquaintances.  Everyone’s performances are okay.  The problem with the episode is that the story is not strong enough to sustain interest from the beginning through the end.  The characters debating about changing the minds of Goa’uld larva, and Teal’c making goo-goo eyes with Shau’nac, are the bases for the entire episode.  That is just not enough.

The story’s framework is not very believable, either.  The Jaffa who discovers a way to sway the minds of Goa’uld larva just happens to be the only Jaffa, other than Bra’tac, who has any chance of convincing Teal’c.  The difficult to contact Tok’ra just happen to quickly respond this time.  The ever short of hosts Tok’ra managed to wrangle up a host for Shau’nac’s symbiote.  Too many fortunate coincidences piled one after another.

Failures:
A lot of time is spent playing up Teal’c and Shau’nac’s romance.  I think their relationship is more confusing, than engaging.  “Family” established that Teal’c is no longer married to Dray’auc, so he is single.  However, that same episode had Teal’c getting crazy angry about being divorced, and he and Dray’auc declare how much they still love each other.  Their feelings for each other is a major turning point for events in “Family.”  Yet, now Teal’c is okay with being a swinging single.

Maybe it’s an unexplored aspect of Jaffa society.  Maybe Teal’c is a horny-dawg, going for whichever woman is closest to his loins, rather than closest in his heart.  I don’t know, and that bugs me.  I don’t like it when a character’s behavior is inexplicable, especially when it negates events of a previous episode.

Stargate SG-1, Season 4, Episode 2

"The Other Side"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Episode Rating: Fair

Commentary by:
Peter DeLuise -- Director
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Supervisor

Peter DeLuise’s commentary is sprinkled with a fair amount of humor, and lots of interesting information.  James Tichenor also provides interesting information.  Individually, DeLuise and Tichenor are both excellent commentators.  Together, they seem just slightly out of sync with each other.  The two men come across as liking, and respecting each other, so do not start rumors.  The best way I can describe it is that there is no chemistry between their commentary styles.  The commentary itself stays on point with what is on screen.  Also, there is the opportunity to hear Peter DeLuise sing lyrics to the opening sequence music as the view pans over the giant pharaoh’s head, with its seemingly crossed eyes.

Review:
SGC is contacted, via the stargate. by an off world, human society that is more technologically advanced than any society on Earth.  The people, who call themselves Eurondans, are at war with other humans on their planet.  The Eurondans want, and need, supplies from Earth.  Alar, the Eurondan leader, is willing to trade some of their advanced tech for supplies.  Military leaders, and politicians aware of the stargate program, are thrilled to finally encounter a technologically advanced society that is willing to share its knowledge.

SGC, and SG-1, are all about supporting Alar, and his people, against the Eurondan’s enemies.  Except Daniel.  Daniel wants to know more about the conflict in general, and the Eurondan enemy, in particular.  Alar is slow to provide specific details to Daniel, but great at delivering very grand, very vague, monologues about himself.  O’Neill does not want to spoil the trade deal with Alar, and tells Daniel to stifle himself.  Earth is so anxious to get access to advanced technology that many questions are not being answered about the people providing the advanced tech.

The acting is well done.  Rene Auberjonois portrays Alar, and it is delightful to see him on the show.  Mr. Auberjonois’ performance is very good, more nuanced than overt.  The episode’s premises are thought provoking.  I rated this episode “Fair” because once the final premise is uncovered, the story delivery becomes heavy-handed.  The mode switches from encouraging the viewer to think, to smacking the viewer upside the head with a moral lesson.

Failures:
O’Neill takes sides with the Eurondans, without questioning much of anything.  I can buy the Pentagon not asking probing questions about the Eurondans, but O’Neill’s behavior seems out of character.  Especially when he tries to shutdown Daniel’s questioning of the Eurondans.  Except for near the end of the episode, much of O'Neill's behavior does not ring true.

Stargate SG-1, Season 3, Episode 17

"A Hundred Days"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

SG-1 is on the planet Edora negotiating a treaty for naquadah mining rights.  The people of Edora are human, snatched from Earth by some Goa’uld a long time ago.  They have an agrarian society, with a technology level reminiscent of the mid-1800s.  A meteor knocks over the stargate, and leaves it buried under tons of rubble.  All of the team, and many Edorans, escaped back to Earth before the meteor hit, except O’Neill, and a few Edorans, including a woman named Laira (who is crushing hard on O’Neill).  Stargate Command redials the Edoran address, and sends a MALP through.  The MALP is unable to fully re-integrate on Edora, so no rescue can be sent for O’Neill.  None of Earth’s star-faring allies can send a ship to Edora for quite some time.  Unwilling to give up, Carter begins to work on a way to safely get through the gate to Edora.

Back on Edora, O’Neill is reluctant to accept that he may never return to Earth.  Laira spends a lot of time, and energy, trying to convince O’Neill to forget about Earth, and go native.  Laira’s attempts to get O’Neill to integrate with the remnants of Edoran society are creepy because she's way too satisfied that O’Neill is stuck on the planet with her.  Light-years from home, and any chance of getting a restraining order against Laira, O’Neill gradually accepts his lot.  Their relationship evolves during the passing months, taking on a vibe similar to the movie Witness.

Most of the episode involves Carter working on a solution, and Laira working on O'Neill.

This is a banner episode for Jack/Sam ‘shippers, as it is the first time Carter implies more than just teammate camaraderie-type of feelings for O’Neill.  Thus begins years of romantic speculation for something that goes against Air Force regulations if it is ever consummated.

Failures:
How is it that a naquadah rich planet is no longer on the Goa’uld’s radar?  The Goa’uld use naquadah.  They will abandon a planet, and the people they kidnapped, but not when there is still something of value available, like naquadah.

Stargate SG-1, Season 3, Episode 16

"Urgo"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

SG-1 steps through the stargate to investigate a planet.  Instead of arriving on the planet, the team exits the stargate back at SGC.  For SG-1, the trip is instantaneous.  General Hammond informs them that they were gone for 15 hours.  Physically, SG-1 seems fine, until Dr. Frasier discovers that some sort of metal object is implanted in the brain of each team member.  They begin to see, and hear, a being named Urgo.  No one else can see, or hear, Urgo.  Insert “maybe it is an alien, or maybe they are just nuts” jokes here.  Urgo does not control SG-1, however he can influence their decisions.  Urgo is tied to the devices in the team’s brains, and until the mechanisms can be neutralized, SG-1 is quarantined, and stuck at SGC.

Dom DeLuise is Urgo.  Mr. DeLuise is one of my favorite comedians.  I do not think the episode fully utilized Mr. DeLuise's comedic talent.  He is amusing during most of the episode and absolutely hilarious during the last ten minutes of the show.  The regular cast are foils for Urgo, and do not bring much to the episode.  Some mugging, and mild antics, but little substance.

Failures:
SG-1 does get an opportunity to travel off world, with Urgo.  The team heads out with alien devices stuck in their brains, yet they apparently still have IDC codes in order to return to SGC.  The show often refers to locking out IDCs when a SG team might be compromised while on a mission.  Why let SG-1 retain their IDCs, and return to SGC, when they are definitely compromised?

Stargate SG-1, Season 3, Episode 9

"Rules of Engagement"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

While surveilling a planet, SG-1 comes across an SG team under fire from a number of Jaffa warriors.  Moving to help defend the SG team, SG-1 is taken down by weapons fire from additional SG members who were camouflaged.  Awakening in a field hospital, SG-1 discovers they are in the midst of a war game.  The war game participants are young, with the oldest appearing to be in his late teens.  While they were unconscious (they were shot with weapons that stun, rather than maim or kill), some of SG-1’s weapons are mistakenly taken for use in a mock battle.  A war game participant is hit by a blast from Teal’c’s staff weapon, and SG-1 takes him to SGC for medical treatment.

While discovering the origin of, and the reason for, the mock battles, SG-1 also learns that they have unintentionally triggered a final, fatal war game battle.  The team must stop the possible bloodshed while trying to help a group of brainwashed youth.

Aaron Craven is outstanding as Kyle Rogers.  The other war game participants performed admirably.  Anderson and Judge had a few bright moments, but primarily the regular cast’s performance was sub-par.  The premise is interesting, but between SG-1 slowly learning what is going on, and pondering how to undo the brainwashing, the episode plods into dullness.

Failures:
The war game participants programming is so intense that they are willing to die.  Yet, it takes less than one minute to undo all the brain washing, all without getting shot with a ‘zat gun (“Family”).  One moment it’s, “Nothing can stop us from trying to kill each other!!!” and the next moment it’s, “Oh, okay.  Cool.  Well, we’re going home now.”

Stargate SG-1, Season 3, Episode 5

"Learning Curve"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

Stargate Command is establishing a relationship with the humans on the planet Orban.  The Orbanians are slightly more technologically advanced that the Taur’i.  As a gesture of good faith, the Orbanians allow Carter to study a naquadah reactor, a device that is not much larger than a shoebox.  Earth returns the gesture by allowing Jackson to explain the archaeological significance of items uncovered on Orban.  Possibly discovering how the often blond, seemingly non-Latin, Orbans descended from South American folks snatched by a Goa’uld during pre-Aztec times.  I like the Jackson character, but I think Earth got the better part of this deal.  Orbanians use some of their children to learn new information.  The child geniuses are called Urrone.  One of the Urrone, a girl named Merrin, goes to SGC to explain the workings of the naquadah reactor.

Most of the cultural differences between the Orbanians and Stargate Command are smoothed over, until SGC learns how the Urrone share their knowledge with their people, a procedure/ceremony known as the Ovarium -- a name that brings to mind fertility, scrambled eggs, and Ovaltine.  The ceremony is not shown during the episode, so let your imagination run free.  O’Neill wants to keep Merrin on Earth.  Merrin, and the Orbanians, want her to return to Orban.  O’Neill puts his own spin on conflict resolution about the impasse.

The episode presents the issue of handling cultural differences with the interesting contrast of viewpoints between the Orbanians, and SGC.  Until the end, at which point O’Neill decides to forcibly reconstruct Orban society to his ideal.  O’Neill's goal is admirable, however, his method is deplorable.  The dialog indicates that Jack is charmed by Merrin (but not in a creepy way) and wants to protect her, however, Merrin and O’Neill have no on screen chemistry, making Jack’s actions seem even more out of place.

Failures:
If you like watching children not emote -- without any of the Vulcans coolness -- then this is the episode for you.

SG-1 Season Three DVD Set - Content

I will rate each season’s DVD set before reviewing the season’s individual episodes.  My rating in this post solely reflects the DVD content, options, & extras (or lack thereof), not episodes.

Overall Rating for the Set: Fair

No commentaries, and no "play all" option.
The only audio language is English.

Subtitles: None

This is a five-disc set, with 22 episodes.
Each episode is approximately 44 minutes long.

All episodes are anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1.

Sound: 5.1 Dolby (Dolby Digital)

The special features are not rated.

Although there are no subtitles, the episodes are close captioned.  You can use the close caption option on your television to view the dialog in English.

The special features are not closed-captioned.

There is not a “play all” option.  Episodes have to be accessed, and viewed, one at a time.

Special Features:

Disc 1:  “Secret Files of the SGC: Colonel Jack O'Neill”
Disc 3:  “Secret Files of the SGC: The Stargate Universe” *
Disc 4:  “Secret Files of the SGC: Personnel Files”

*Note: Refers to Stargate SG-1; not the series Stargate Universe.

I rate this set Fair because it has the required bare minimum -- all of the season’s episodes in their entirety.  Slim cases, and nice artwork, but virtually no frills with this season’s DVD set.

Stargate SG-1, Season 2, Episode 22

"Out of Mind"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

O’Neill awakens in a cryogenic chamber.  He is at SGC in the year 2077.  According to the personnel from that time, O’Neill returned through the stargate to the base in the past already in cryogenic hibernation.  He was put in deep freeze until he could be safely awoken.  That took 79 years, and everyone Jack knew is dead.  In order to learn what happened to him in the past, a SGC doctor uses a machine to pull Jack’s memories, and display them on a screen.  Yup.  The season finale is a clip show.

The story's thread tying the clips together is unbelievable, and uninteresting until the last 15 minutes of the show.  Ending the season with a clip show is not a good move.  Especially compared to the spectacular ending of season one (“Within the Serpent’s Grasp”).  Most of what happens in this episode is covered in the season three premiere’s “previously on” opening.

Overall, a weak story, further burdened by flashbacks.

Failures:
It’s a clip show, without the redemption of Ronny Cox (“Politics”).  Some of the clips used are from season one, further weakening any flourish to this season’s finale.  It is the weakest, most blah season finale of the entire series.

Stargate SG-1, Season 2, Episode 19

"One False Step"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

Stargate Command launches a U. A. V (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), loaded with new technology, through the stargate to check out a planet.  During the test flight, SGC loses control of the radio-operated U. A. V., and it crashes on the planet.  A humanoid crosses in front of the vehicle’s camera, and drags the U. A. V. away.  SG-1 heads to the planet to recover technology from the vehicle, and investigate the indigenous life form.  The team encounters the humanoids.  The humanoids are bald, naked (no, they are not actually naked), and live near giant mushroom-ish things.  Let’s call them mushroom people.

After interacting with SG-1, the mushroom people become very ill.  SG-1 thinks it is possible that they have brought a contaminant, or illness, which is striking down the mushroom people.  The team tries to determine the cause of the illness before all the mushroom people drop dead.  Yup.  That’s it.

The humanoids are short on speech, and long on cutesy antics.  I think they are supposed to be adorable, charming, and engaging.  I think they are ecru, bland, and tiresome.  I think the entire episode is ecru, bland, and tiresome.  I did not give this episode a lower rating because although it is boring, just like the mushroom people it is basically inoffensive.

Failures:
The episode is determined to convey a gentle message of conservation and care, even if the message has to be jammed down your throat until you choke on it.

Stargate SG-1, Season 2, Episode 17

"Holiday"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Fair

SG-1 explores an off world structure containing numerous non-Goa’uld, alien devices.  An elderly man appears from behind some drapery, and moves towards SG-1.  Teal’c recognizes the man as a being named Ma’chello, who is hunted by the Goa'uld, and the creator of inventions to fight against the Goa’uld.  He was captured by the Goa’uld at one point, and tortured, but Ma’chello escaped before he was made a host.  Under the guise of demonstrating one of the devices, Ma’chello switches minds with Daniel.  Hilarity ensues.

It is a body/mind-switching episode.  A plot device used in other science fiction stories, and a few films.  It has the inherent weakness of this type of story: someone literally acts like a different person, yet no one notices.  The regular cast performs well, with Chris Judge being the most enjoyable.

Very nice opening camera angle, peering over the stargate from the top.  The episode is watchable, with a few bright moments.

17th episode broadcast.
18th episode in the DVD set.

Failures:
It is a body/mind-switching episode.

Stargate SG-1, Season 2, Episode 10

"Bane"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating: Fair

While SG-1 is investigating a planet, Teal'c is stung by a gi-normous alien insect.  Teal'c's symbiote cannot overcome the insect's venom.  Changes begin to happen to Teal'c on a cellular level.  Colonel Maybourne (last seen in the episode "Enigma") arrives at SGC with orders to take Teal'c away in order to help to study him.  SG-1 and General Hammond are not happy about this, but orders are orders.  Teal'c escapes from Maybourne.  It is a race between SG-1 and Colonel Maybourne to find Teal'c.  Meanwhile, there is a Jaffa, with a Goa'uld symbiote in his belly pouch, wandering around a city, and he is changing into a life form that could take over the world.

An exciting premise for a tepid episode which lacks suspense.  A story about Earth's civilizations possibly being destroyed by a space bug could be interesting.  However, the episode devolves into a retelling of the scene in the movie Frankenstein, where the monster comes across a young child who is too naive to realize the danger.  Teal'c is the monster.  The young child becomes a spunky 'tween in a desolate urban landscape.

Tom McBeath returns as Colonel Maybourne, and stays true to the character.  There is not any atrociously bad acting in this episode, just a lot of okay performances.  Not a lot of sharp dialog as a reprieve from a dull story, but nothing dreadful.

Failures:
It is never good when there is only one easy to attain, simple to ascertain, solution to a story's particular plot crisis.  Will Teal'c kill the girl?  No.  Will the alien insect be stopped from causing the destruction of Earth's civilizations?  Yes.

Stargate SG-1, Season 2, Episode 4

"The Gamekeeper"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating: Fair

Gating to a garden paradise planet, SG-1 sees a building in the distance.  While exploring the building, the team finds humans asleep or unconscious, hooked to mechanical devices.  Suddenly, metal coils snake out from empty apparatuses, snagging and binding SG-1.  The team goes down the rabbit hole, awakening to two scenarios from the past.  O’Neill and Teal’c are part of a covert military action on Earth from O'Neill's past, and the scenario keeps replaying itself.  Daniel and Carter are at a museum watching, over and over, something that happened when Daniel was a child.  SG-1 tries to determine why they are repeatedly experiencing these events from their past.

Dwight Schulz is the Gamekeeper.  I’ve enjoyed Mr. Schultz’ performances since the television series The A Team.  Loved him on Star Trek: The Next Generation.  I did not enjoy Mr. Schulz’ portrayal of the Gamekeeper in this episode.  The Gamekeeper comes across as Dwight Schultz doing a parody of Dwight Schultz doing a parody of a Dwight Schultz character.

Your DVD player will not spit the disc at you, insulted that you used it to watch “The Gamekeeper.”  Probably.  There are some interesting moments, although as whole, the episode is not cohesive.  I think a big problem is the story switches from believable misery to sketchy humor, and it does not work.  Anderson and Shanks provide good performances.  Teal’c and Carter are pretty much window dressing.

Failures:
Once “the secret” (dun dun DUN!) is revealed, the episode skips around, trying to play mind games with SG-1, and the viewers.  Overall, this is a dark, unhappy episode with strained moments of levity.  O’Neill and Daniel reliving past trauma overshadows the episode’s muddled message, which is live life to the fullest.  Or, schadenfreude is bad.  Or, you cannot change the past.  Or, don’t surrender your free will.  Or, don’t believe everything you’re told.  Or, perhaps, that tricks are for kids.