Point of View

DVD, Stargate SG-1 (Point of View)

I had a suspicion that the whole episode might turn out to be completely unrelated to the 'real' reality that we know and instead be about a very similar reality that we assume is our reality, but is in fact an alternate alternate in its own right, so that when they went to the alternate alternate it would actually be an alternate alternate alternate. I'm starting to sound like Sam here. What I mean is I thought they might kill off, say, Daniel whom we'd assumed was the real Daniel, but then it would turn out he was an alternate Daniel. But since that plot twist never came and it really was a jaunt into an alternate reality it doesn't matter!

It's really just an excuse to bring back Kowalski (Charles, Major in this version) which they've done so every season so far and suggests they should have kept him as a recurring character, and we get a wimpy, sentimental crybaby version of Carter. I want to know why whenever they show a different version she's always presented as more feminine and weak than usual? Still, it does add fuel to the fire, (or more to the point, very slight spark), between Carter and O'Neill, once again.

The mirror technology from Season 1's 'There But For The Grace of God' is used effectively and having two Carter's around the tech-speak moves up a gear. Jack makes plenty of witticisms and things look visually well shot. Apophis makes a comeback of sorts, which is what I was hoping when we learnt they were going across to a parallel Earth. It might have lessened the impact of his death last season, but it was a suitable way of bringing in those that have died. I never really enjoy the soldierly creeping around that happens sometimes (it being a military organisation...), and the believeability of being able to accurately guess which universe was the correct one by seeing a window into one hallway is much harder to accept than even the mirror itself. You chalk that down to alien technology, but how could Daniel know for sure it was the right universe if all he could see was a bare corridor? I suppose you could say it was Carter standing there waiting that gave it away, but if one tiny change (Carter's still a Captain in one version) could happen there could be many more variations where she's waiting. I wanted to see the Asgaard too. It might have been better if we could have visited Daniel's reality from Season 1, but then again I think they all died so it wouldn't work.

***