Pretense

DVD, Stargate SG-1 S3 (Pretense)

Heavy on the backstory, but you can't criticise an episode for that, especially when it begins in such a spectacular way with two Goa'uld motherships being destroyed and Scarra/Clorrel crashing down onto a planet. The CGI is extensive - as well as the opening battle the Tolan Stargate and some of their city is created and other moments in the episode. Sometimes it's a little unreal, but for the most part it holds up, a bit like the excellent sets - generally they're brilliant, but there are moments that demonstrate the artificial nature such as the judge lady's transparent screen which smoothly rears up, but judders a bit when descending.

Nareem makes his return, still after Major Carter, and the technology his people possess is still impressive. A new Goa'uld is introduced in the giant form of Zipacna. Though he comes up with some arguments the result should never have been in doubt and the whole proceeding only goes to show the Tolan's arrogance at believing themselves so advanced that they won't take sides against the obvious aggressors. It was a little unsuitable for Lya of the Nox to reappear as she was more in human favour, but I was expecting her to confound the status quo and announce that Clorrel should live, voting in the Goa'uld's favour which would have turned out to be a tactic to save the planet. In the event things were much simpler and Teal'c only asked her to hide a defence cannon (being quite disobedient in his lack of compliance with O'Neill's orders).

So there isn't a lot of depth and it's a courtroom drama, but seeing so many old faces was fun and the direction was worthy of note as there were many different and impressive shots used - we follow the bolt from the cannon up to the attacking mothership, a plan view of the courtroom (sorry 'Triad' room) and other camera views made it seem like the director was having fun and flexing his camera muscles. The references come thick and fast, with the players above, Heruer mentioned and a few threads tied up. Scarra is at last free, but how long will he live as I don't remember him showing up in later episodes?

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