"Lost City: Parts 1 and 2"
Overall Rating: Excellent
Commentary by:
Martin Wood — Director
Amanda Tapping — Samantha Carter
Robert C. Cooper — Writer
The commentary is very informative and interesting. Lots of behind the scene information. The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.
Note: While originally broadcast in two parts, on the DVD “Lost City” parts 1 and 2 are put together in one extended episode, so I’m writing them up together in one blog entry.
Review:
Part 1:
At SGC, Daniel Jackson is so excited about writings an SG team found on a structure off world on P3X-439, that he telephones Jack O’Neill at home to share the news. The writings make mention of a repository of knowledge, like the one found in “The Fifth Race.” Jack rightfully points out that he’ll be at SGC soon, and the news can wait until he gets there.
In Washington, D. C., Dr. Elizabeth Weir is rushing to get to a meeting with President Hayes. Weir is a well respected diplomat. Vice President Kinsey (”Inauguration”) rolls up in a sedan to give Weir a ride to her meeting, and hands her a file with a bare bones description of the stargate program. President Hayes wants Weir, a civilian, to be in charge of SGC.
At SGC, Daniel and Carter present their reasons to General Hammond for wanting to go to P3X-439 and investigate the writings. O’Neill is less enthused at the prospect, but understands the importance of maybe finding another repository of knowledge. He does suggest contacting the Asgard (”Fragile Balance”), but General Hammond states that an attempt was made to contact them, but there was no response. He also points out that without something more, hopefully something useful from the Ancient’s lost city, the Earth doesn’t stand a chance when a likely attack by Anubis (”Evolution: Part 2”) happens. The mission is given a go.
A Goa'uld reconnaissance drone was in the area before, so General Hammond sends SG-1, SG-3, and SG-5 to P3X-439. SG-3 and SG-5 set up to defend the stargate just in case, while SG-1 heads to the structure to check out the writings. An interface like the one in “The Fifth Race” pops up on the building. Then, Jaffa attack the location from the air and on foot. O’Neill wants to destroy the interface to keep it away from the Goa’uld. Jackson tries to use the interface for the knowledge about the lost city of the Ancients. O’Neill stops him and reluctantly uses the interface himself. Afterward, SG-1 destroys the interface then they run for the stargate while SG-3 and SG-5 fight the attacking Jaffa forces. All teams make it back to SGC. And Jack knows that his days are numbered, as the repository will begin to unwrap itself in his head, overwrite his mind, and destroy him.
The Jaffa attacking the SG teams on P3X-439 are with Anubis, who is also looking for information about the Ancient lost city. And he is none too happy about the Taur’i getting there first.
Pragmatically, Jack heads home for the weekend (with General Hammond’s permission), since before it took a couple of days for the knowledge in his head to come forth. Carter, Teal’c, and Daniel show up at Jack’s house. They know without the help of the missing in action Asgard Jack’s condition is fatal. They spend time with their friend. General Hammond shows up, too, as he has news to share with SG-1: Hammond has been relieved of command of the SGC. This doesn’t sit well with SG-1, but Hammond says leave it be. And, President Hayes shut down the SGC for three months to review all the goings on there. Which makes things a bit awkward for O’Neill in his current condition.
Later, back at SGC, Daniel speaks with Weir trying to convince her about the urgency of both Jack’s condition and the ongoing Goa’uld threat to Earth. During their discussion, Bra’tac (”Evolution: Part 2”) gates to SGC. He has news: Anubis and his full fleet are on their way to destroy Earth, and will arrive in three days. After SGC’s visit to P3X-439, Anubis thinks that Earth knows the location of the Ancients lost city, and decides now is a good time to obliterate the Taur’i. SG-1 and Bra’tac meet with Weir to discuss the situation. Kinsey shows up for the meeting, too. SG-1 and Bra’tac want to keep SGC going in order to deal with the impending Anubis situation. Kinsey says that they are lying just to keep SGC going. Weir has the final decision. Much to Kinsey’s displeasure, Weir states that she will consider allowing a stargate mission if O’Neill comes up with the location of the lost city. Bra’tac and Teal’c gate off world, hoping to garner space ships and Free Jaffa support to aid Earth.
Part 2:
At SGC, the repository’s knowledge is beginning to surface with O’Neill. He begins speaking, and writing down words, in the Ancient’s language. Daniel thinks Jack is providing the location of the lost city. It turns out that each symbol on a stargate has a corresponding sound. The planet’s gate address sounds out to the words Praclarush taonas. To convince Weir, they try the gate address Jack wrote down. There is a stargate at that address, but no wormhole can be established. Jack is going further down the repository rabbit hole, and gathers a lot of equipment for reasons he doesn’t understand. He, Jackson, and Carter gate to Teal’c and Bra’tac’s off world location, where the two Free Jaffa have gotten the use of a space ship from another Free Jaffa, named Ronan, who wants to go along with them. The six of them use Ronan’s ship to go to Praclarush taonas.
Back on Earth, President Hayes, General Hammond, General Maynard (”Inauguration”), and Vice President Kinsey are in the oval office when the National Security advisor, General Jumper, informs the president that three Goa’uld vessels have been detected exiting hyperspace. Still arguing just to argue, and demonstrating an utter lack of any sort of combat tactics knowledge, Kinsey says that three ships aren’t the full force of Anubis’ fleet. Hammond points out that the three ships are a test to see if Earth has weapons from the Ancients lost city. Which it doesn’t. Hayes decides to hold back on using what defenses Earth does have for now, rather than tip their hand.
Anubis orders his First Prime, Her’ak (”Homecoming”) to begin the attack on Earth. Back on Ronan’s ship, SG-1 finds Praclarush taonas to be devastated long ago by volcanic activity. But, there is one area that seems to be protected from the destruction. Using the ship's transport rings, SG-1 heads down to see what they can find. All while O’Neill becomes more and more Ancient-like, which is great for gaining knowledge but also means the clock is ticking down on his survival. While Praclarush taonas appears to be Ancient, no weapon is found. Instead, Jack operates the surviving machinery and pulls up a glowing crystal something. He then indicates that they need to head back to Earth, bringing the crystal thing with them.
Back at Earth, embolden by the lack of defenses, Anubis contacts President Hayes and demands Earth’s surrender. Hayes refuses, and Anubis rightfully believing that if Earth had the Ancient’s weapon they would have used it, calls in the rest of his fleet to destroy the Taur’i. More than thirty of his ships drop out of hyperspace and head towards Earth. Then, they begin to systemically destroy communication and power infrastructure.
SG-1 and company head back to Earth, hoping to find the lost city, now known to be called Atlantis, and a weapon to deal with Anubis. While Kinsey hightails it to SGC hoping to escape through the stargate, everyone else at the oval office decides to stay with President Hayes, who refuses to leave Earth. And, Hayes has a special assignment for General Hammond. At SGC, the power goes out just as Kinsey is about to gate out. Weir orders the iris closed, and good thing because Anubis dialed the gate and sent through a gi-normous bomb. There is a very satisfying moment where Kinsey gets his comeuppance.
Earth is under attack from the full force of the most powerful Goa’uld in the galaxy. O’Neill is fading away, as the Ancient depository of knowledge unfolds in mind. The last chance is an Ancient weapon that is, hopefully, buried under ice in Antarctica. Just as SG-1 approached the location, Anubis targets their small ship sending Al'kesh and gliders. Outnumbered, out gunned, and still trying to get to and use a hoped for weapon that is their last chance before Anubis wipes out everyone on the planet.
"Lost City: Parts 1 & 2" are outstanding!
The story is very well written, placing the Taur’i in danger of extinction in a believable manner. The actors performances keep that energy going, and ramp it up throughout. I cheer out loud every time I watch "Lost City." The special effects are wonderful. The SG-1 actors are great, with Richard Dean Anderson as O’Neill being the standout. Don S. Davis as General Hammond elevates the most basic lines with his delivery. Tony Amendola returns as Bra’tac, which is always a joy to behold. Jessica Steen as Dr. Weir does a great job as someone who is suddenly thrown into the deep end of things, and learns to swim fast and well. James McDaniel as General Maynard which is a pleasure. Ronny Cox as Kinsey, and William Devane as Hayes, both making those characters live. David Palffy returns as Anubis.
General John P. Jumper, then the real life U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, appears as himself. The winner of the Sci Fi channel's 2003 "Get in the Gate" sweepstakes has a cameo in part one.
Failures:
Absolutely none.
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