Episodes
Episode 118 Allegiance
The Tokra are attacked and take refuge at the Alpha site unaware of the large group of rebel Jaffa are based there themselves refuges from an attack on their world. Almost immediately conflict arises and suspicions aired and then despite the deaths from the attack a Tokra is murdered and a Jaffa suspected but complications arise when that Jaffa is then found murdered.
Has the Alpha site been infiltrated by a Goauld or are the SGC simply dealing with the millenia old greivances that are being brought to the surface by such close proximity?
Nothing to see here.
This is the first look at this Alpha site and the first episode in which both Bra’tac and Jacob come face to face, two excellent characters and actors who have graced the series with their presence over the last few years. An interesing titbit is that the majority of the extras in Allegiance were also featured in the early episode “Warrior” whose Jaffa rebels were driven from their home to the Alpha Site, a nice touch.
The gym must have been full
Alligeance is an ok episode, it works more due to it’s production value (Location, stunt work and guest stars) then as an overall story but it is more than the sum of it’s parts and adds a lot of depth to the relationship between the two shaky allies and the humans who stand between them. It also has RDA shooting a really big gun in slow-mo so props to the steadicam operator.
Say hello to my little friend
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Episode 117 The Other Guys
On a babysitting mission SG1 are captured by the Jaffa of the system lord Khonsu but two members of the science team decided to play hero and ring up to the orbiting Ha’tak and discover that SG1 do not want to be rescued, they are on a mission which requires an unorthodox means of communication. It turns out a Tok’ra undercover agent buried deep is searching out the source of Anubis’s technology and has information to pass on but who is playing who and have SG1 walked into a trap.
Way to defy gravity.
The Other Guys is an out and out comedic episode yet still has time to provide it with firm footing in the overall season arc. The two scientists (Felger and Coomb) played by Patrick McKenna and John Billingsley are wonderful comedy actors who not only excelled with the script they were given but we’re able to expand on the limits writers by design impose on their characters. While Abyss holds the lead in terms of drama there is no doubt this episode has the laughs and even though the events spin around the two scientists it doesn’t preclude SG1 from playing the “straight” men in the performance.
Act casual
The Other Guys is an episode that you can cherry pick for someone new to the show and looking for a way in, it’s not typical but the humour fits right into the series as a whole, highly recommended episode and looks fantastic to boot and if you have the time have a listen to the DVD commentary with Peter DeLuise and Chris Judge.
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- The Other Guys Wiki
- Patrick McKenna
- John Billingsley
- Adam Harrington
- Michael Adamthwaite
- Martin Sims
- Randy Schooley
Episode 116 Shadow Play
A delegation from Kelownan arrives to discuss the possibility of an alliance despite the events which led to the death of Daniel Jackson, Jonas Quinn stealing some Naquadria and then turning his back on his home world. The three visitors a scientist, soldier and diplomat ask the SGC for military aid in exchange for more of the Naquadria as their nation is now the target of a new alliance between the two other states on their world and war is imminent. With technology similar to our 1940′s they face overwhelming odds in terms of man power and strategic aircraft and their only ace in the hole is a Naquadria bomb whose power rivals any of the SGC’s most modern enhanced nukes. Jonas enters into discussions with his former mentor Dr Kiernan who claims an internal resistance is looking to overthrow the current government and with similar movements with the Andari and Tiranian nations with the goal of peace and prosperity.
Let the party begin.
The SGC have a big decision to make, they know that giving the Kelownan’s even some basic military technology aimed at defence will eventually be used in an offensive manner and they show some mature restraint given our worlds oft used policy of arming societies with weapons well beyond their means and suffering the consequences.
Shadow Play is a merging of two proposals/stories aimed at given Jonas more background as well a homage to the movie “A Beautiful Mind” and it does that but falls a little flat despite a stellar guest performance from Dean Stockwell as Dr Kiernan. You could even argue it’s very much in the vein of a Trek morality tale and in many ways that would be correct, it’s a little more subtle but the message is certainly relevant when you look at the state of our world.
Love the classic Laboratory.
The episode is also interesting as Jack seems to be channelling Daniel at times, granted he has an aversion to the Kelownan’s due to their betrayal of Daniel so he’s never going to be waving the flag in support but he seems well into sync with the Tollan/Nox attitude of limited or no technical assistance beyond basic humanitarian. Overall an interesting episode with some some top notch casting but more of a drama than an action piece with some wonderfully moody lighting.
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Episode 115 Abyss
Jack now blended with the Tokra Kanan is innjured and captured whilst attempting to escape for a system lords secret research facility. The Tokra consider Kanan and by default Jack as being lost in action but the SGC are not prepared to give up so easily and demand access to all the mission data from Kanan’s spying. Meanwhile Jack is being systematically tortured and then murdered by Baal who uses the sarcophagus to revive him and then a miracle happens. Daniel in his ascended form visits Jack to offer comfort and solace with an offer to help him ascend as that is the only direct help he can offer as the Ascended are not allowed to interfere. The search for Jack continues but time is running out, there is only so much of Jack that can survive the multiple visits to the life giving sarcophagus.
Time to wake up Jack
Abyss is a fan favourite and easily demonstrates how well Jack and Daniel have evolved their close and rewarding friendship, it’s made more evident because we have been denied this interaction after Michael Shanks left the show and as of yet Jonas’s character is still under development. The Tok’ra back story once again highlights the divisions between the SGC and their weakening resistance against the System Lords but it’s a nice idea to have Jack’s ethics and personality drastically effect the reasoning of Kanan who probably was a very direct and decisive operative willing to sacrifice anyone regardless of any personal feelings.
Pure evil but with style
The production of this episode is once again top notch, some clever movie making is used to create the visuals and tight writing and direction required to make the most of the intense dialogue between Jack and Daniel and Jack and Ba’al.
To put it simply Abyss is the highlight of the season so far.
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Episode 114 Nightwalkers
A desperate call for help has Sam leading an investigation into the death of Dr Richard Flemming a former employee of Immunitech a concern with links to Adrian Conrad and may have had access to Goa’uld research. Finding evidence of a conspiracy a more indepth look into the town reveals some strange behaviour by the inhabitants and a startling discovery and double cross.
Studying, Jack is notably absent.
Nightwalkers is an unusal SG1 episode, it’s style is different to the bulk of the series and it’s also the first episode Richard Dean Anderson does not appear in which may have been the impetus to try something new. The direction and photography is reminiscent of the X-Files and includes homages to a number of offbeat shows and noir features and boasts some nice costuming and a strong guest cast.
This can't be good, pretend we're not in.
The episode does offer up a fine supporting cast and ultimately it is rewarding even though it’s not high on any viewer popularity list but it starts the ball rolling on one of the pivotal events of the series which we will be covering at the appropriate time.
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Bonus Episode December 2011
Well I said I might come up with a little something for the holidays and while this small edition of The Gatecast doesn’t include the review I had intended to do (Big Finish Audio Story) it does have the review for a Stargate SG1 novel. Sometime in 2012 I would like to do an indepth review of some of the audio books out there for the franchise assuming funds and time allow it because I think along with the novels they are all we’ll have for years to come. So we present a review of Ashley McConnell’s Stargate SG1 novelisation and the favourite episode entries to the 100th ep competition we had earlier this year.
Ashley McConnell Website
Fandemonium Stargate Portal
Have a great New Year
♥ Stargate Forever ♥
Episode 113 Frozen
At the Antarctica facility a discovery is made in the ice near the location where the gate and DHD were found. A body is revealed embedded in ice which is close to 50million years old, the surprising bit is that there are signs of life and who would has been around that long ago and surrounded by technology that is linked to the gate system?
SG1 arrive at the base after all who else but our heroes could handle a pure science mission, yeah I know it really doesn’t make sense at the point, after the woman is revived and her heritage identified then yes it makes more sense to have SG1 on hand. That said I love this style of episode even more so when it’s in an icy wasteland, The Thing and ICE (X-Files) all exploited the huge scale yet paralysing confinement at the top and bottom of the world, oh lets not forget that episode of House either:)
Are we there yet?
Things start to go wrong when SG1 and the scientists fall ill, no co-incidence I guess and as we know the Ancients had to deal with a plague on Earth and this could be it and now the clock is ticking and not everyone can be saved.
Doesn't say a lot but speaks volumes.
Praise must be given to Ona Grauer who played Ayiana and if you watch some of the behind the scenes extras on the DVD you see how she had to put up with the body moulded plastic required to put her into the ice cube rather than a dummy. It really does pay off in the episode, no question Ayiana is real and in the ice and you do get the feeling she is helpless when lifted from the ice. Shooting on the same stage as the season 1 episode “Solitudes” extra ice-conditioning is fitted to shoot in -2 degree temperatures which allows the cast to work in warm gear and not cook, it all adds to the atmosphere of the episode.
Ok, I just like the scene:)
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Episode 112 Descent
A Goauld Hatak appears in the solar system but makes no move to attack the Earth. Jacob along with SG1 and Major Davis investigate and find the ship deserted with no signs of battle damage except for one sealed doorway. Whilst exploring they come across a nasty surprise and then everything falls apart and they end up on the ocean floor slowly but surely flooding and the clock is ticking as the ship is set to self destruct. So much for Jack slapping a US flag on the hull and flying it to Area 51.
Death from above.
Descent continues a number of plot points from the season opener in terms of Anubis and Thor it also builds upon the baby steps Jonas is having to take to be accepted as part of SG1 mainly it has to be said from Jack. As we’ve seen already the production side of the show continues to set an amazing standard with some excellent CGI and real water/submersion tank work with the actors. This also adds to the feel and texture of the episode and worth every penny it cost especially when you watch some of the behind the scenes coverage of the shooting of the water scenes.
Swim Forrest Swim
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Episode 111 Redemption 2
Anubis has made his intentions known to the SGC and they are desperately looking for options to defeat the use of his energy based wormhole weapon, meanwhile Tealc and company are engaging the enemy on his own soil not knowing if it’s already too late to save the SGC and their friends.
The conclusion to the season opener two parter is every bit as good as the first, expansive lineup of guest actors, excellent CGI and lots and lots of action. We see Teal’c, Bra’tac and young Rya’c showing us what special forces Jaffa are truly capable of which makes you wonder once again if the arrogance of the generic system lord blinds them to what a powerful and precise weapon they had. Too many times we’ve seen old style line ‘em up and rush the enemy tactics employed which with throw away troops is maybe not too much of an issue but when you see these three kicking ass then run for the hills.
Yes we always need grenades.
What is also evident once again is that Anubis himself seems to set a standard for his Jackal tattooed Jaffa which is much higher than that of other System Lords, his men seem more intelligent and capable but of course for purposes of the show our heroes have to keep surviving but we can get them into some dire straits at times:)
The natives are not friendly!
Once again it was great to see the early days of the Rodney McKay we came to know and love, his interactions with authority and the few people who were his peers ( he may refuse to admit that) is always fun to watch and of course this is where Jonas finally gets his chance.
Next week we’ll be watching and discussing episode 3 of the season “Descent”.
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- Redemption Part 2 Wiki
- Garry Chalk
- Tony Amendola
- Neil Denis
- Aleks Paunovic
- David Hewlett
- Christopher Kennedy
Episode 110 Redemption I
Life without Daniel is tough on SG1, while Sam deals with Jonas setting up residence in Daniels old office Jack has to deal with finding a replacement and is going through candidates with wild abandon until such time as Hammond drops the Russian demand for one of their people to take the vacant place. Faced with doing the improbable and with Tealcs encouragment he finally considers Jonas Quinn as the fourth member of SG1 but first there is the apparant attack on the SGC by Anubis using the Stargates ability to deliever energy into the system eventually leading to a catastophic explosion.
As luck would have it Teal’c is offworld dealing with his families own issues and is in a postition to aid the SGC at a time when gate travel is denied them and their only unproven interstellar vehicle is in dire need of field testing and incapable of transporting them off world.
Just a snack
Redemption (Part 1) is the season six premiere and the first episode of SG1 to debut on the US Syfy channel. While their are not any obvious signs of a change in production style or intent the show does feel different thanks to the loss of Michael Shanks and all the things he and his character Daniel brought to the party. Ultimately the episode hits the ball out of the park by being an excellent season opener and a kickstarter to the new team dynamic and the prospect of facing a uber system lord but without may of the crutches the SGC has relied to survive this far.
Corin Nemec now a regular cast member with credit carries own the almost happy go lucky approach with Jonas whose is a friendly and outgoing express delight at of all things the weather channel and despite some reservations his intelligence and reasoning gets him out of the base much quicker than Teal’c was able to achieve.
So we have an excellent season opener with drama, comedy and suspense not to mention a fair amount of out and out action combined with some top notch CGI, what more could you want.
Trust me I'm an alien
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