The Curse

DVD, Stargate SG-1 S4 (The Curse)

An ideal episode for a rainy Sunday evening, this story marks the debut of Anna Louise Plowman as Sarah/Osiris. I didn't remember the story particularly, but I had a feeling I'd seen Steven and Sarah, before she was revealed as a Goa'uld, but looking back at my records I find Channel 4 showed this after the following episode, which is a bit strange. Knowing that Sarah was going to become Osiris rather dampened the twist of the episode, but I enjoyed the alternative perspective the episode offered up: that of the real civilian world and Daniel's academic and archeological past, his ties and the difficult situation he's in, shown through the fact he can't share what he's seen and knows to his colleague.

The long-awaited fishing trip happens at last for O'Neill, dragging a bored Teal'c with him, although the real reason was to remove the best soldiers from the story so that Osiris could get away from the lesser party of Daniel, Sam (sorry), and Dr. Fraiser, who got a rare trip off base. I'm surprised that Carter, who's all but admitted her love for her superior, made excuses, and seemed to prefer working on a motorbike with Sergeant Siler. Maybe O'Neill should be worried? I think the main thing is that she still serves under Jack and doesn't want to complicate matters more than may already be. But enough of the soap storyline - it's good to hear a bit of Goa'uld lore and go back to that side of the series which has been pushed aside to a degree this season. We get a roll call of the enemies so far destroyed: Seth, Ra, Sokar, Hathor... A reminder of what the SGC has achieved so far.

I thought Sarah was in more episodes before being a Goa'uld, but it all happens here. Also, I felt I recognised the face of Dr. Jordan, Daniel's former mentor, but couldn't place him. I don't know what Steven was doing in the museum storage area, in the dark without a torch, and he seemed very shady indeed. I got the feeling he wouldn't be above making a quick buck on some artefacts. He also didn't look that old, yet had been assisting Dr. Jordan for fifteen years. Maybe he dyes his hair? I wasn't sold on the ancient temple site from which the two symbiont jars had been excavated. The archeologists couldn't have done much of a good job if they didn't fully search the site and realise there was a huge pyramid (the ship) buried behind it. The rising technology opening looked a bit suspect too, as if they could have chipped through it with a pickaxe. And what kept the power going all those years? Seeing the deceased symbiont being opened up was good, but though there were some pretty good sets, and it worked as an Earth-based episode, the threat level and atmosphere were never sustained for long. Only the scene with Jackson creeping through the museum in the dark had any feeling of danger. Osiris got away all too easily, but I look forward to seeing her again.

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