DVD, Stargate SG-1 S5 (Summit)
An episode of extremely large scale which covers many bases and really jolts the status quo as never before, even though it doesn't feel as special as it should, probably because we've seen most of the story elements before and this is just a new shuffle of the deck. But it's also more than that because it introduces and shows more System Lords than we've ever seen, let alone most of them in one place. This was one of the developments that stuck in my head when I originally saw the series, but seeing it now it's hard to believe these are the same warring leaders, proud and haughty, ambitious for power, that we've always been told about. Now that a 'mystery' enemy has been going at them they've finally agreed to at least talk about pooling their resources, but not having quite the insight into the inner workings of the series I felt like I was missing things. There were too many names to remember (and I thought the days of Cronus, Nierte, Apophis and Yu were difficult to keep track of!), too many allegiances and feuds and I didn't think they would come together so easily. Granted, the whole episode could have been about the Goa'uld summit alone, Daniel getting there, his experiences as Yu's servant and the plan to release the toxin. But that was only one small part of a multi-stranded story. I should have realised this was going to be a two-parter.
But that wasn't the only twist I stupidly failed to anticipate. The question of genocide, and Dr. Jackson's part in it, was enough to keep my mind occupied on that storyline so I didn't even consider the inevitable appearance of Osiris (or Sarah, as Daniel insists on thinking of her, having lost his wife to the enemy, he doesn't want to lose a former friend, too), but when it happened I realised I should have seen it a mile off. Jackson's quandary over using deadly means, which he's always been opposed to in general, was only briefly touched on, but it is ironic that he should be the chosen one to go undercover as Yu's servant and do the fatal deed (or at least agree to do that deed). O'Neill would have stood out like a sore thumb, but would have had no compunction in killing off a room full of Goa'uld (though he doesn't seem particularly accepting of Jacob's revelation that the Jaffa may also die from the plan). Carter would be perfect, but doesn't speak Goa'uld, and Teal'c would be easily recognised. Would Daniel have agreed had he known about the Jaffa side of the problem? I would suggest not, and neither would Teal'c - in fact it seems clear the Tok'ra didn't expect any of them to go along with the destruction of the Jaffa which is why they didn't mention that pertinent little fact at the briefing!
As it stands, Daniel chooses not to activate the toxin once Osiris/Sarah enters the room and from that moment on he's a compromised agent not acting in the best interests of the result he set out to accomplish. I imagine Jacob will be furious, but Daniel's failure to act will ultimately bring about good. If you think about it, killing off all the old leaders is a bad thing because if all their forces were united against a common enemy, they'd be fighting him (Anubis, I assume, mentioned by the unnamed Roman-looking Goa'uld with excellent teeth and a penchant for looking down his nose at people, and probably the guy hinted at by Tanith previously). Not that their plan makes a lot of sense - the Tok'ra talk about sweeping all the remaining Goa'uld forces into oblivion once their leaders are dead and they're in disarray, but then the Tok'ra woman (she died so I don't need to remember her name at least!), said they were not equipped to fight the Goa'uld, so how are they going to wipe out their forces? The Tok'ra would have more latitude to do what they do, but they've never really shown themselves to be as wise as they are advanced. They continue to protect the Zatarc technology at all costs. What is the Zatarc technology? I can't remember, but it sounds high-tech and Carter wanted in on it so it must be important. They have an odd way of looking at things - Lantash, Martouf's surviving symbiote can't be used to save a dying soldier because… we say so. Yet it makes it's own decision to jump inside Lieutenant Elliot (he of the 'Proving Ground' youngsters), for survival and Elliot's benefit.
I didn't see those cadets appearing again so that was… different. He wasn't in it too much so didn't have the chance to be annoying and the development of becoming a host, not just to any old snake, but one that used to be in Martouf (whom Major Carter cared about), and that suggests interesting things to come for him. Unless it was a one- (or two-) episode wonder and he dies next time, there's plenty to be mined. I've felt that Teal'c has been less well used this season and in this he remains in the background again, but there is a nice scene when he goes to see Daniel, though I'm not sure whether it was to persuade him to take the mission or to admit he knew no other way of achieving the result they were looking for. He also gets to run through fiery blasts with O'Neill again, though one thing didn't surprise me: the 'redshirt' Tok'ra who had a medium-sized speaking part gets killed as they run back. But if sensors couldn't penetrate the planet surely scurrying out to take a look at the landing of a Goa'uld army would immediately show up? How did they even get close to the Tok'ra base if there was a whole planet to search? Statistically they should have been pretty safe. Why do the Tok'ra build such badly designed bases that fall apart under bombardment? How could Daniel's magic ring completely change Yu's mind in less than a second? If they have that capability why don't they use it more often on the Goa'uld to fool them into altering their brains? Best not think too much…
For spectacle alone this is an episode worth watching, but it also has some important pieces that would play a role in many future episode, not the least the first appearance of Baal, the guy that would replace Apophis as the main recurring enemy. I was actually expecting Apophis to pop up because I thought I saw the actor's name in the credits, but he didn't.
***
Monday, 16 April 2012
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