Cor-ai

DVD, Stargate SG-1 S1 (Cor-ai)

Another of those cliches of science-fiction, or even drama, is the courtroom episode. This episode strongly reminds me of the DS9 story 'Dax', which had a similar perspective of the defendant accepting the accusation, though in this Teal'c wanted to atone for all the evil he had committed under Apophis's rule. There are problems however. O'Neill gives this speech about soliders just carry out orders, and although he softens it a bit by adding that those in charge should carry some of the blame at least, it's a flimsy argument. And if Teal'c was such a conflicted guy how did he get to be First Prime? Was his family held to ransom, did he develop a conscience? And why did it take SG-1's interference to finally turn him against his masters?

There were also things which hadn't ever come through before, such as that Teal'c feels guilty for all the people he killed and would immediately accept death because of it. The other is that Daniel wanted to hate him at first, but I don't recall him ever showing that at all. And we have to endure the same temple/stairs set, and dungeon set we've seen used over and over again. I suppose, somehow, but mostly for the ending, the episode pulls through. Hammond gets to be unapologetically blunt about Teal'c's standing, which seems a bit harsh considering all that he's gone through for them, and the man himself gets to go all Rambo at the end and prove he's not a bad guy at last.

All sci-fi also have titles at some point or other which are gibberish, and I never appreciate that because they should be able to come up with a better title. But as I said, the episode just about pulls through, thanks to the characters, as usual. We also see Apophis in flashback and Shackle returns (from 'The Nox') for an abrupt death.

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