Extreme Measures

DVD, Stargate SG-1 S5 (Extreme Measures)

These home planet spy stories either work or they don't. Perhaps an obvious statement, but there's a lot of mileage to be had from spies and shady deals, I just don't often get the feeling the series played them the best way. As soon as I saw the close up of the soldier smoking I instantly got the impression he was foreign and probably Russian. Is that racist to suggest such a slovenly or tardy stereotype? From there the story pretty much slotted into the boxes you'd expect, not really doing anything new or clever, although I did enjoy O'Neill's conversation with the homeless man. And he wasn't joking, he really did have a ton of 'National Geographic' magazines! The teaser boded quite well with it's mysterious branded prisoner of the Russians and Carter being abducted by 'Ninjas' - she certainly knows her hand to hand combat. From there the story degenerated into locating Carter, suspecting Simmons, getting Mayborn involved, running around inside an abandoned building and chasing a Goa'uld that has escaped by pretending his host, the woman's boyfriend, is still in control… ho hum.

It was good to have Mayborn back, even though he's just a slimy, untrustworthy, loose cannon you can barely turn your back on. At the same time as giving the impression he'd ditch O'Neill and the rest at any opportunity that suited his profit motive, he also appears to genuinely care what happens to the SG-1 team as if he has real affection for them. I can't see him sacrificing himself to save one of them any time soon, or ever, but he loves to act as if he's part of the gang. It's kind of endearing, but also disturbing, knowing that he is so treacherous. He impresses with his ability to run around and play games, and even Jack takes him a little more seriously these days, seemingly impressed by him returning to the country even though he's a wanted criminal. I never used to like him, but he's had his uses over the years and is much more interesting as a third party that has all the knowledge the general public don't, but very little allegiance to any side.

On the subject of knowledge, it's a wonder the Stargate project remains a secret. It's explained away as spies passing on top secret information to the public sector for dough, but if such practice were widespread the 'gate would surely have come out by this time. There's always the argument that no one would believe such stories without proof, but it's a crack in the structure of the series that could potentially erode the credibility and mystery of its premise - I preferred the days when it was known only to a select few. Since then we've got former enemy nations butting in, other organisations, politicians and myriad other parties. Amazingly the 'gate has remained unknown to the general public!

I'd love to know how Mayborn made it back into the country, but with his newfound wealth (or additional wealth), from being paid off like that, I expect he could do a lot of things. Simmons being a bit of a traitor, or alternatively doing what he can for his corner of the power base, isn't a surprise and I haven't felt de Lancie has had much to work with so far in the role. Knowing how it pans out doesn't help, but even at the time I originally saw it, this wasn't an episode I was enamoured with. I think it's because the team isn't integral to the story, it's much more heavily on the shoulders of more powerful forces above our heroes. All they can do to be a part of it is to go round mopping up guards with guns at the end (Teal'c wearing his best 'Murray' hat). I didn't believe in little details such as Carter sawing her way out of restraints with a scalpel blade. I buy that it's possible, but the execution (gently rubbing against the thick leather would take ages, plus it could be seen from the angle on the security monitor), was harder to accept.

Despite this, I felt the direction was to be commended. There were several nice shots that stood out to me as having flair, it was the story that was at fault, usually going in the direction you'd expect. Always easy to say ex post facto, but even so. There were few characters that elicited interest, though it was fun to see Frank C. Turner as the homeless man as I'd also seen him on 'Smallville' as a farmer and he has that memorable kind of face where you know you've seen it before, but can't remember where. I also thought the large, bald guy with glasses did a good job of portraying menace amidst passion for an exciting project. O'Neill rushing in to rescue Carter should have meant more at the time, and it was also ridiculous, and an obvious loose end for the writers to play with in future, that he leaves Mayborn to guard the two men when it would have made much more sense to let the ailing Carter sit with a gun trained on them. But she had to get her action bit in.

At least they didn't go down the route I was expecting and have her held captive by the Goa'uld, leaving O'Neill no choice but to let him go. Still, when expectations are lifted by a good opening it's best not to drop the ball and let an episode drift into banality as this one did. At least they got the 'Starsky & Hutch' joke in again.

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