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 7, Episode 7

"Enemy Mine"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Good

Commentary by:

Peter DeLuise — Director
Gary Jones — Walter (on the DVD commentary menu as “actor”)

The commentary is informative, and at times stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:  

Off world, an SGC survey discovers a mother lode of naquadah.  Naquadah is a mineral not found on Earth, and used in a lot of alien technology by the Goa’ulds, the Asgard, and the Ancients.  Earth uses it in building powerful generators.  Usually SGC comes across planets depleted of naquadah by the Goa’uld.  With a chance to mine a rich source of the mineral, SGC says go for it.

But, the planet has a population of Unas (”Beast of Burden“) who aren’t happy with SGC’s mining efforts.  A fight ensues between SGC personnel and the Unas.  Daniel uses his knowledge of the Unas’ language, and gets them to stop attacking.  Back on Earth, SGC’s position is: get rid of the Unas.  Either by forced relocation or just force.  Chaka (”Beast of Burden”) gates to SGC to help Daniel parley with the Unas.  The Unas say nope to relocating.  SGC says don’t care, we want the naquadah.

World with a history of forcibly relocating native populations and taking their land’s resources tries to forcibly relocate an alien race on another planet in order to take that planet’s resources.  

The actor Dion Johnstone previously portrayed Chaka, but was unavailable for this episode.  Chaka is instead portrayed by Patrick Currie.  The change is noticeable, but not immersion breaking.  The title, “Enemy Mine,” is a reference to the novella by Barry B. Longyear and the 1985 film of the same title.  However, I think the episode “The First Ones" is closer to the spirit of the novella and film than this episode.  Parts of this episode remind me of the film Zulu (1964).  Michael Rooker guest stars as Colonel Edwards, and Steven Williams as General Vidrine.

Failures:

This isn’t the first episode where the powers that be of Stargate Command are willing to run rampant over a planet’s population in order to get what they want.  Pretty similar situation occurred in the episode, “Spirits.”  There is less (virtually no) self-reflection in this episode by Earth humans.  Making for a far less interesting story dynamic.  The focus is more about the differing command styles of O’Neill and Colonel Edwards.  The question of one society riding roughshod over another society to get what they want isn’t addressed from a moral standpoint.  At the least I would have liked for someone to point out the parallels between the intended treatment of the Unas on the planet by Earth humans, and how the Goa’uld treat, well, everyone who isn’t more powerful than them.  The end result is a story that doesn’t rise above okay, buoyed by the the good performances of the actors.

Stargate SG-1, Season 7, Episode 6

"Lifeboat"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Very Good

Commentary by:

Peter DeLuise – Director
Peter F. Woeste – Director of Photography

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, a MALP detects a large space ship of unknown design that crash landed on the alien planet.  SG-1 investigates the ship and discovers what appear to be humans in individual stasis pods of some sort.  While the crash survivors appear human, the ship is truly alien in design, not seen before by SGC.  There are a lot of pods, and Sam discerns that the people within are unconscious but still alive.  A few pods were damaged, possibly in the crash, and the people within the damaged pods did not survive.  O’Neill calls for a quick survey of the number pods, with the intent to turn the situation over to an SGC science team.  Suddenly, there is a strange sound, and bright flash of light.  SG-1 drops, unconscious from whatever just happened.

A short time later, at least a short enough time where SGC isn’t wondering why SG-1 is out of contact, Teal’c awakens.  He finds the rest of SG-1, but can only rouse Daniel.  But, Daniel is not okay.  Seeing Teal’c, Jackson screams like he just stepped on a Lego piece with his bare foot.  Back at SGC in the med bay, O’Neill and Carter eventually regain consciousness and seem to be fine.  Daniel on the other hand is acting very not Daniel, and insists his name is Martice, and that he is the Sovereign of Talthus.  Martice says he was on the ship, bound for another world, not the one where the ship crashed.  Somehow Daniel’s mind is now inhabited by Martice.  Hold up.  Also occupying Daniel’s mind is Tryan, an engineer on the ship, and a young boy named Keenin who was a passenger on the ship, and possibly up to a dozen different personalities total.

Martice is overbearing and demanding.  Tryan is polite and confused about the situation.  Keenin is incredibly frightened.  The rest of SG-1 and Dr. Fraiser are stymied by what the how happened to Daniel.  General Hammond gives a go for Sam and Teal’c to check out the cryogenic system on the crashed ship, seeking answers.  O'Neill stays at SGC for Daniel.  Dr. Fraiser speaks with the personalities in Daniel as they surface, hoping to learn more about how they wound up in Daniel.

Daniel’s current state is unsustainable, with the different personalities fighting and jostling for dominance and control of Daniel’s body.  A solution to the situation must be found before Daniel Jackson’s consciousness is lost forever in a morass of strangers occupying his mind.

A good story is elevated to a very good episode primarily due to Michael Shanks’ performance.  He is amazing, giving every surfaced personality its own voice and demeanor.  Teryl Rothery does a fine job as Dr. Fraiser, aptly and smoothly matching Fraiser’s delivery to the dominant personality inhabiting Jackson in a given moment.  The regular cast is fine.  That’s not a reflection of their acting skill.  This episode is very much a Michael Shanks showpiece.  James Parks is a guest star in this episode, and does a masterful job portraying his character.

I rate the story as good, and Mr. Shanks and Mr. Parks’ performances as excellent.  Overall, a very good for the episode as a whole.  The crashed ship is wonderfully done, both as an effect with the exterior, and the practical effects with the look of its interior.  Costume design is great, as well.

Failures:

The ending keeps me from loving this episode.  Daniel had no input in the final decision on how to save him.  SGC decided saving one of their own to be the greater good, and used extortion to get it done.  I question if Daniel would've approved of what happened, but his reaction to the cost of his being saved is never shown.  And, extortion is never a good look.

I think this is definitely an episode worth seeing, but it is also one that leaves me feeling a bit dissatisfied.

Stargate SG-1, Season 7, Episode 5

"Revisions"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Very Good

Commentary by:

Michael Shanks — Daniel Jackson
Martin Wood – Director
Jim Menard – Director of Photography

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 a MALP sent to the planet P3X-289 sends back telemetry, including a live visual feed.  The planet’s atmosphere is toxic and corrosive.  Since there is a stargate on the planet, Sam and Daniel postulate that at some point there was a breathable atmosphere, some sort of life.  Part of the information from the MALP shows a dome-like structure in distance, about 2.2 kilometers wide and 500 meters high in size, as the only area that seems to withstand the planet’s atmosphere.  Moving the MALP towards the dome, the MALP’s arm goes through the dome’s field.  Its video feed shows a lush, tailored, green space with a blue sky, and indicates a breathable atmosphere.  The video feed is abruptly cut off at the MALP.

SGC does love getting a hold of new technology, and that dome is unlike anything Earth technology is capable of creating.  Also, there’s the out of contact, possibly missing, MALP.  Those things aren’t free.  So, it’s time to go exploring.

SG-1 gates to P3X-289, and walks through the dome’s field.  They encounter the bucolic scene sent by the MALP, as well as the MALP itself.  Sam thinks the inside of the barrier projects a sort of hologram, giving the impression of being in a larger vista than its 2.2 kilometer size.  And, the barrier not only prevents the poisonous atmosphere from entering, it even scrubbed the protective gear SG-1 is wearing of contaminants.  Oh, yes.  This is some technology worth investigating.  Then, an adorable little boy greets SG-1.  The child takes SG-1 back to his town.

The town folks are curious rather than afraid.  SG-1 meets up with the four member town council.  Mildly surprised by SG-1’s arrival, the council explains that they are aware of the the barrier.  They use technology, mainly a small whatsit they can attach to, or remove from, their heads.  They call the gizmos, and the access to a vast source of knowledge about their planet and society’s past and present, the link.  Demonstrating the link, a council member pulls up information about their planet’s past to answer some of SG-1’s questions.  All of the council members, and the lookie-loo villagers peering through the council room’s windows, freeze for a moment.  Then, one by one the council members relate information they gained from their links.  Every villager now knows the same information the one council member pulled up via their link.  Creepy, but the villagers aren’t fussed about it.

Quite some time ago the Goa’uld System Lord Morrigan (”Last Stand”) brought humans to P3X-289, later abandoning the planet and the people.  The people made technological advancements over the centuries.  Out of control industrialization poisoned the ecosystem.  The dome was created to protect the remaining folks, who made a deliberate choice to live simply in order to not repeat the mistakes of the past.  They have lived this way for 400 years, and are fine with the situation.  Still interested in learning more about the dome’s system, after making a report to SGC, SG-1 stays on the planet.  They are invited to spend the night at some of the villagers homes. 

During the night, one of the council members awakens in their home, packs a small suitcase, and calmly walks through the dome’s field out into the poisonous atmosphere.  Unaware of what happened with the council member, the next morning SG-1 chats amongst themselves.  O’Neill doesn’t get why the people would be happy living in a bubble.  Sam wants to know more about their technology.  Daniel is almost always in learning mode.  Teal’c is ready to punch anyone who needs punching, but there is a lack of anyone needing punching, so he is pretty much just there.  SG-1 meets with the village council again, this time offering to move anyone who wants to leave to another, non-poisoned, planet.  The council politely declines relocation.  They see no reason to leave.  The council makes decisions for the entire town, and the three council members say their decision to stay is unanimous.  Daniel asks about the fourth council member's decision, and the council insists that there was never a fourth member.

SG-1 knows that something hinky is going on with the friendly town folks who don’t seem to remember a person who is now missing.  Sam investigates the technology aspect.  Daniel goes to do research in the town’s paper archive, which is small and neglected due to the usage of the link.  O’Neill and Teal’c go to the MALP to update SGC, but the MALP is not where they left it.  Returning to town, the two find out that the household they stayed at the night before is also not where they left it.  SG-1 is faced with a mystery while dealing with non-hostile, mostly nice, town folks who are apparently lying through their teeth to SG-1.

This episode is a nice change up from the running and gunning that usually involves SG-1.  It’s an enigma, but without the usual “they are up to something” blatantly bad behavior.  There is a direct message of the dangers of rampant pollution making a planet unlivable, but there is also another message unveiled later in the story.  I think this episode is good as far as writing, but the actors elevate the episode to very good.  The acting is done with tempered sincerity and believability.  The best performances are by the guest stars, although the rest of the cast does a good job.

Failures:

When SG-1 heads to P3X-289, they ponder the possibility of badness that could be the result of walking through the dome’s barrier.  After all, the MALP stopped sending telemetry shortly after crossing the dome’s barrier.  But, they all head through the barrier anyway.

Stargate SG-1, Season 7, Episode 4

  "Orpheus"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Very Good

Commentary by:

Peter DeLuise – Director
Peter F. Woeste – Director of Photography

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, General Hammond is prepared as SG-1 fights their way through enemy Jaffa off world, and to the stargate.  The gate room is set, with a fully armed and ready for combat defense team.  SG-1 makes it through the gate, but so does one enemy Jaffa, who gets a shot off from his staff weapon before being taken down by the SGC defenders.  The staff blast hits Teal’c, and he collapses.  Some time later, Teal’c regains consciousness in the sick bay.  Dr. Fraiser has tended Teal’c’s wound, and gives him a dose of tretonin (”The Changeling”).  The injury would have been a fatal if Teal’c still had a symbiote, instead of being on tretonin.  As it is, Teal’c’s injury is still significant.  It will take time for Teal’c to heal up.

Although I don’t know how much real time has passed in the show, Teal’c has only been on tretonin for the last six episodes of SG-1 before this one.  And this is his first serious injury since no longer having a symbiote.  Jaffa are all about strength and fighting skill, and Teal’c is all about being a Jaffa.  Unsurprisingly, Teal’c is concerned that he will no longer be a real Jaffa, or of use to SG-1, after this injury.

While Teal’c is recovering, Daniel begins to faintly hearing Rya’c ("Redemption: Part 2") calling out in distress.  Despite years of experiencing the unusual during his time with SGC, Daniel initially dismisses what he heard.  Instead, Daniel focuses on trying to remember his time as an Ascended being.  Teal’c recovers, physically if not mentally, and Daniel rummages through SGC stargate logs to see if something sparks his memory of being Ascended.  One SG-1 team member ponders his future, and another team member searches for memories of his past.

Although medically released by Dr. Fraiser, Teal’c does not think he is fit for duty.  While still stronger, with more stamina, than a human, Teal’c has secretly thought that he was “less than” since going on tretonin.  Kek — a Jaffa word for both death and weakness is where Teal’c’s mindset is stuck.  O’Neill pretty much tells Teal’c to get over it.  Not out of meanness, but because in O’Neill’s experience one can hold a door open for someone, but they have to walk through it on their own.

Daniel Jackson wants to do more for Teal’c and continues to try and help Teal’c get his self-confidence back.  One method is using kelno’reem, a method of meditation and rest used by Jaffa with symbiotes instead of sleeping.  Being on tretonin means that Teal’c doesn’t need to kelno’reem.  But, something does come to Daniel when he and Teal’c give the meditation method a go.  A memory from Daniel’s time as an Ascended being resurfaces.  One involving Rya’c and Bra’tac.

In the present, Bra’tac ("The Changeling") and Rya’c are enslaved prisoners, along with other captured Free Jaffa, doing forced labor in a mining location for the System Lord Ba’al (”Homecoming”) on the planet Erebus.  Jaffa loyal to Ba’al oversee the slavery, and brutally punish any Free Jaffa who don’t work.  Based on information from Daniel’s resurfaced memories from his time as an Ascended being, SG-1, a couple of other SG teams, and Rak’nor (”Allegiance”) go to Erebus to free Bra’tac and Rya’c.  Things don’t go smoothly, resulting in Teal’c and Rak’nor being captured by Ba’al’s forces.

The rest of SG-1 and the accompanying SG teams try to figure out how to free their captured colleagues while faced with an overwhelming force of enemy Jaffa.  Meanwhile, Teal’c faces his fear that without a symbiote he is no longer of use to SGC, to the Free Jaffa, or to his son Rya'c.

This is an interesting episode that addresses an important aspect of the Jaffa society.  While tretonin is the best known way for Jaffa to overcome the Goa’ulds hold over them, tretonin is not a panacea for being without a symbiote.  It does maintain a Jaffa’s immune system, but tretonin does not promote fast healing like a symbiote does.  In this episode Teal’c expresses something that any Jaffa considering switching to tretonin likely thinks — with tretonin, am I still truly a Jaffa?

A big portion of this episode is carried by Christopher Judge’s performance, which he does very well.  The viewer is right there with Teal’c as his doubts surface about his future both with SG-1 and as a Jaffa.  Tony Amendola returns as Bra’tac, Obi Ndefo as Rak’nor, and Neil Denis as Rya’c.  Stargate SG-1 continues its wonderful practice of almost always keeping the same actors portraying their characters.  David Richmond-Peck portrays Ba’al’s Jaffa Commander at the Erebus mining site with an excellent balance of evilness without becoming a silly parody.  I always want to boo at the screen when his Jaffa character is shown.  Well done Mr. Richmond-Peck.  The regular cast does a great job with their characters, too.

Something that I think Stargate SG-1 excels at is scene lighting.  The skill of the people doing the lighting is on spectacular display in this episode.  My favorite being the one inside of a tent in the labor camp.  Despite being dimly lit, everyone in the scene is discernible, shown in a haunting way that exemplifies their feelings of despair in a seemingly hopeless situation.  It is all just so well done.

Failures:

Christopher Judge’s strong performance as Teal’c in crisis is offset at the end of the episode.  Not because of Mr. Judge’s acting, but because the story line is a bit predictable and mawkish by the end.