Beast of Burden

DVD, Stargate SG-1 S5 (Beast of Burden)

This season's Unas episode, and it is the best of the season so far. I wasn't keen on them 'humanising' the fearsome Unas that had been so effective as monsters of myth, but it had already happened and I suppose I should have had more faith in the writing since the last Unas episode turned out to be so good. Initially I had the impression this was just another story of another human race on another alien planet as we've seen so many times before, even this season. They could become tiresome with their fat, evil leaders, intent on personal gain and power. For that matter it didn't make much sense for the leader, Burrock, to assume they weren't of his kind since they were all human, and apart from different clothing Daniel and Jack looked the same. The town set was expansive and impressive in its own way, although seeing the captive Unas, used as slaves and mishandled was sad and apparently confirmed what kind of story this was going to be. Burrock wasn't the most rational slave trader, killing his stock before it could escape. It would have made more sense to Zat the escaping Unas into unconsciousness rather than lose such a valuable item of stock as he's just been proclaiming it to be.

We soon learn, if we hadn't already guessed from the way he mercilessly gunned down Chaka on his home planet as the unsuspecting Unas offered him the food Daniel had left, that this Burrock is not a rational sort, only interested in what he can get, regardless of others. He makes a compelling case for his actions, citing the way his own ancestors were held in appalling captivity by the Unas and that he treats them better than they treated his people. That is until you realise that it's not revenge that drives him, but control, always control with these people, and as Daniel points out past equalling past wrongs doesn't make it right. The shocking thing is that he's brighter than his greed, it allows him to see further, and when his theory of the usefulness of the 'gate is proved true, unfortunately by the SG-1 team, he sees even greater potential for profit. That the team could be responsible for unleashing this bully upon the wider universe is a horrible thought, but how long would he have succeeded in enthralling other peoples? He may have eventually encountered the Goa'uld who would have put a stop to his plans, but in that time who knows how many planets he could have affected.

There was a moment in the episode when it went from being average to reaching a level of goodness that I always hope to see in episodes I watch. The visual quality was all there to back it up, but it was when Chaka first speaks to the other Unas, the servant who's previously cowered from his masters. He repeats the word and you realise this is a turning point for the captives. And that's the moment O'Neill and Jackson choose to enter on their mission of mercy to retrieve Chaka. If only they had waited, perhaps Chaka's strong and free spirit would have turned the Unas against their masters, but it merely takes longer to get to that point because of the human's intervention. It may have been that Chaka would have been shot down before his rebellion had formed so at least SG-1's presence gave him time to gain respect, though even some of the Unas are too far gone, as the guard of the young human boy, taking him to see the attacker of his Father, shows. He turns from Chaka's words, dismissively, but whether he's adapted to life as a slave or sees no alternative I'd love to know what happened to him.

I'd love to know what happened next to all the people, both human and Unas, because a war has basically broken out. It may only be two against a society, but Chaka's will was strong enough to turn others, so I'm sure a terrible time would have ensued. After I realised where things were going, and the horror of Burrok's plans, I realised just how good the episode was. It puts a different perspective on things in a very 'Star Trek' way, and this is one that franchise would have been proud to have under its belt. Daniel, usually so keen to stay passive, this time advocates the opposite, and its Jack who doesn't want to do anything. Early on he says he doesn't care about the Unas, later his views change, but he doesn't believe he can do anything. I loved the dynamic of having him and Jack as the ones trapped together, while Carter and Teal'c were the ones on the outside having to wait and hope.

As we learn more through the gradual realisation that these are truly intelligent beings (we knew it before, but now it's reinforced), there's a chill up the spine. The Unas in the barn are united in their captivity, to the detriment of one of them, gunned down by Burrock without compunction. The episode doesn't rest on its laurels and instead provides an exciting rescue by Carter and Teal'c, really well directed, as the whole episode was. The camera sweeps along as chaos reigns, people rushing to put out the fire in the town. It even has a tougher ending than might be expected: Chaka has learned to kill his enemies, and Daniel may have started a war of the species. It's a difficult position to be put in, but as he says it was Chaka's choice to fight for freedom, and they've meddled in the affairs of other worlds before. Chaka's killing of Burrock as he lay helpless on the ground doesn't bode well, but it demands to have a sequel. With Jackson leaving soon I have my doubts, but I enjoyed seeing Chaka for a second time, and it proves anyone can come back.

A word should be said for the fantastic alien prosthetics. The Unas have always looked great, and so very alien in the body language and voices. What started as a mythical creature stalking the depths of a dark cave, became a real culture that was understood through Dr. Jackson's work. I wasn't thrilled to see Unas of small stature, dressed in the American settlers style of clothing, but that can be explained away by their inbreeding and their exposure to humans, and the important thing was that they were once again used in an excellent way. Everything worked in this one - the directing, the action, the stunts (see that guy drop in the river!), the colour, the sets, the makeup and the conflict in the team and outside it. The humans could have been explored more thoroughly, their culture examined in more detail, but even there they had their moment with the young boy. If this is the shape of Unas things to come, I want more of it.

***