In The Line of Duty

DVD, Stargate SG-1 S2 (In The Line of Duty)

As soon as the pacy opening gave way to Carter becoming a Goa'uld host the episode could have gone one of two ways. To it's credit it didn't repeat the best story from Season One, where Kowalski became a danger to the base, but the other side of the coin is the lack of drive with the choices they made.

New concepts always flesh out the mythology pleasingly, so it was a bonus to hear about the Tokra (they who would become 'Stargate's' Vulcans), and the Ashrak, an assassin. The story didn't play to the strengths of that chase drama - it wasn't 'Terminator 2', though the enemy was set up to be that kind of threat. Imagination would bring to mind an exciting chase through our world, with the SG teams attempting to cover up the fact that two aliens are fighting each other, while also trying to get to Sam. Instead she remains tightly locked away for the majority, and even the touching ending that throws their preconceptions of the Goa'uld on its head, can't lose the nagging feeling that this should have been much more.

The strength of this series is its characters, and though there were some good scenes, they weren't the focus. Again, continuity is not dwelt upon, and the audience is expected to recall much from the first season. On balance this is probably a good thing, as it isn't talking down to the viewers, but making us feel we're part of the series thanks to the details that are followed up on. Dr. Frasier makes her season debut, and Cassandra, the little girl Carter rescued in 'Singularity' seems to be coming along well in her new life, which is nice. The circle is complete as Cassandra is there to help Sam after her ordeal, just as Sam was with her at a difficult time before.

The assassin strand may not have been used to its full potential, but the directing and effects were noticeably strong. There was a lot of visual interest in the camera moves (the journey into the medical room, leaving Daniel, sweeping round the room to show the wounded doctor, then continuing round to see the enemy appear at the mirror, all in one shot; or the slide through the infrared beams of Carter's cell, for examples), and the CGI impressively made its mark, from the glider attack in the teaser to the alien 'ring' that revealed the inside of human faces. What I take away from the episode are the new facts, and the visuals, but not a lot more.

**