The Fourth Horseman

DVD, Stargate SG-1 S9 (The Fourth Horseman)

Something of an info-dump episode with multiple strands disguising the amount of new information we're given to assimilate. Three main stories are run through, none of which reach a conclusion due to this being a two-parter. The first, and most pressing, catastrophe is a Prior plague being carried back to Earth by an SG team, which spreads across America. At the same time, the most surprising development occurs with the Jaffa, Gerak, actually coming to a conversion of 'Origin,' the teachings of the Ori. I never would have suspected that any of the Jaffa, even the thorn in the SGC's side that is the leader of them, to side with the Ori, and at first I put it down to some kind of ploy to buy time for whatever he was planning. When Gerak vowed to the Prior to spread the Word of the Ori I found it harder to believe it was a trick, because despite all his flaws he's still a Jaffa, and they rate their honour rather highly. But by the end of the episode the most bizarre thing has happened and Gerak has allowed himself to be transformed into a Prior! The man must be mad, but at least we get some kind of a reason why this set of beliefs might have been accepted by he and some of the other council members: they're old and want some kind of assurance about life after death. You'd think the Jaffa's many traditions would have been enough for them, but apparently not.

The other plot is much more convoluted, stretching way back to a Season 5 episode where we first met an Ancient called Orlan who now returns to help the humans against the Ori and bring them lots of information. He can fight the plague, but his Ancient knowledge is degrading since he's now human, and a child (I guess they couldn't get the original actor back for the role, but the plot device worked fine and he was never a memorable character anyway). To fight the plague they need some DNA from the Prior who began it on whatever world it began so Dr. Lee and Carter go to work on, basically, an anti-Prior gun. If it sounds like I'm just repeating the story rather than commenting on it, then that's probably true because this was a very 'text heavy' episode, a lot of narrative to unspool before the second part works with it all. Yes, it's essentially setup, and not uninteresting, but could have done with some conclusion or development somewhere. In its defence many things can be overlooked when the great Master Bra'tac finally reappears. I'd been wondering at his absence all season, what with Gerak needing a strong voice to oppose him, but he's here now, and preventing Teal'c from going crazy. It's great to see the wise old codger again, but I hope for more from him in Part 2. Fortunately, Gerak wasn't so far gone that he took out the 'rebels' on Chulak, avoiding civil war his only positive action in the episode.

Another old face it's a pleasure see return is Hammond, giving a patriotic talk to servicemen and women when he has to be bundled away from the infected SGC member. So it was only a fleeting appearance, and he doesn't interact with any of the main cast, but nonetheless a pleasure to see him again. The episode was a bit like that: good to see, but not very consequential as a whole, and again, I would hope they didn't bring Don S. Davis back for one measly scene out of the blue, but something more meaningful. As long as it's not going to be his death, as that would be terrible! The main addition of consequence is Orlan's knowledge of the Ori and how they don't actually ascend their followers, but merely need worship or the relinquishing of will by humans in order to give them energy. Or something like that. They try and wrap it in some pseudo-science, but it's all a bit mystical and weird. The main point is that even the Priors don't know the evil intentions of their masters, though whether they're ever likely to be turned is extremely unlikely. But progress has been made against them: the ultrasonic frequency device that should negate their mental power. The potential is there for a cure of the plague. It's all up in the air at this stage. It's definitely one of those episodes that can only be fully appreciated when the whole story is unrolled. As setup it's fine, though depressing with so much negative happening, but it has to go dark before light can dawn, so I don't blame it for that.

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