The Fifth Race

DVD, Stargate SG-1 S2 (The Fifth Race)

It's difficult to appreciate the magnitude of much that happens in this one since it potentially changes quite a lot and introduces more of the familiar pieces that would make up the series as it progressed. To begin with there are some nice references to 'The Torment of Tantalus', with the knowledge found on Ernest's world and that Daniel had to abandon, finally rediscovered. So good job he didn't sacrifice all to stay behind! As O'Neill takes on the database of the ancients (I remember the wall devices that grab your head) there's a bit of comedy gold, but it soon turns into a bit of a plodder. Not to say the revelations aren't interesting, they are, but it's getting there that seems to take a long time. I actually wondered if this was a special, longer episode which doesn't say much for the pace of the story.

The main thing is that they discover how to unlock gates outside the Goa'uld system which could lead to further developments (and I assume is what led to the spinoff TV series'). Or do they? The Asgaard representatives note that humanity isn't ready for the level of information Jack unlocked, so I'm not sure if that means the 8th chevron will be coming into play or not. I guess if it did it would just mean non-human worlds since they would be places the Goa'uld hadn't been to and taken their human slaves. In a way it's a little sad that so many questions have been answered as I love the fact that in the first season they're flying blind, stumbling round the galaxy without a proper inkling of what it means, and now we discover that humans may be the 'fifth race' that the good old aliens will want to join them as guardians of the galaxy eventually.

Of course more information is better than none and it puts things on Earth in perspective, with governments and wars, while this incredible gateway to untold knowledge is kept secretly guarded. I suppose it was clever to tie the typical grey aliens into 'real' life where people think they've been abducted, etc (even if it is craziness), and I'm sure people thought it was wonderful that these aliens are here to rescue us from ourselves, etc (even if it is craziness), but I always felt they looked rather awkward and immobile, much too puppet-like. Sure, the translucent skin and glassy eyes were nice, but they couldn't be real enough compared with a human prosthetic. Then again, they mention the Nox (sweetly ironic that they turn out to be one of the four important races!), who looked a bit silly too. I'm not sure what the Furlings are, the other race mentioned with the Nox, Asgaard and ancients, but they bring to mind Ewoks!

The new, expanded effect of the wormhole journey brought back memories, and I had the impression of seeing this episode before. I recognised many parts of it such as the ancients head device and someone meeting a whole collection of Asgaard, but I'm not sure if those memories come from this or other episodes (I'm sure it was Daniel who got his head stuck in a head grabber for example). Regardless, it leaves the series wide open, which it must have been designed to do, answers a few questions (except 'where is the guy with glasses who used to operate the gate computer?'!), and encourages further viewing, even if it's not that good an episode in and of itself.

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