Economics and a diminishing pool of unwatched sci fi got the best of me. After originally deciding to abort viewing the middle seasons of SG1 due to a lack of excellence, i'm resuming for two reasons: the improved entertainment value of seasons 9-10, and the ridiculously cheap prices on Amazon. At first my choice seemed unwise, as the show still felt like the special olympics of sci fi, but then a funny thing started to happen.
FOUR STAR - none
NOTEWORTHY
-Point of View ***
Actual, bona fide heart...you may just have an emotional response (consider yourself warned). An alternate universe Sam and Kowalski arrive at Area 51, having transported from an Earth which has been conquered by the goa'uld, and on which Sam and O'Neill were married (though he died). They plan a mission to return and make first contact with the asgard. Tapping and Anderson's scenes aren't perfect, but good enough. Plus an unexpected moment of homicidal ruthlessness from Teal'c, as he murders his alternate, who is loyal to the goa'uld. That ain't taking care of a brother. Also, i understand the unforgiving, unflattering nature of television acting, but...it sometimes seems that the gap between Tapping and Streep is just a little wider than it ought be.
-Deadman Switch ***
Sam Jones (FLASH GORDON, 10) displays no small acting chops as a bounty hunter in this abnormally character-driven tale.
-Forever in a Day **
An okay resolution to the relationship between Daniel and Sha're (Vaitiare Bandera) which began in the movie. She deserves better, but whatever. Freeing Abydonian slaves, SG1 confronts Amaunet. As she is killing Jackson, Teal'c kills her. Daniel refuses to forgive, and resigns from the team. Visions from his slain wife tell him he must return to the stars, to find and protect her child. Another charming appearance by Eric Avari (STARGATE, DAREDEVIL) as Sha're's father.
-Past and Present ***
The most comedically-obvious "that's what we calls exposition" moment in sci fi history? But after that, it's one of the rare occurrences of actual science fiction in TV sci fi. A planet is found in a state of amnesia, with no old people. It's discovered that they've been used by a genocidal stranger (Megan Leitch), in a quest to find a youth drug. This stranger grew young with everyone else, but also lost her own memories, and now exists as their leader. She and Jackson fall for each other, then the truth is discovered.
-The Devil You Know **
Evidence that even Mr. Anderson was guilty of one of the worst sins of STARGATE acting, that of being unrealistically blase' during life and death situations. There are also times when the "dumbing down" from Anderson to O'Neill rings false.
-Foothold ***
A fine little adventure about a covert alien invasion (with body snatchers) surprisingly free of the usual SG1 weaknesses.
-Pretense ***
A charming little diversion featuring the return of Skaara (Alexis Cruz, STARGATE). Having crashed on the tollan planet, they put him on trial to sort out his plea to be freed of the goa'uld enslaving him. He arranges for SG1 to advocate on his behalf. A goa'uld lord prosecutes. Garwin Sanford (Narim) and Frida Betrani (Lya) return. The courtroom scenes are actually intelligently written.
-Urgo ***
Dom DeLuise (!) plays a holographic alien who is projected into the brains of SG1. He wants to heighten their senses, follow them around, give them subliminal suggestions, and learn...forever. He's puckishly wonderful - when he's onscreen, it's almost impossible to not smile. One more rewrite might have really juiced this one...in particular, there's no scene wherein he "suggests" amorous thoughts to one (or more) of them. But it's lovely.
-A Hundred Days ***
One of the few episodes that, if you saw it having never seen any SG1, you'd want to see more. During a mercy mission, Jack is stranded in a faraway solar system when the stargate is apparently destroyed. He and the surviving villagers rebuild. Three months later, Teal'c arrives underground at the buried stargate. Jack has fallen in love, and started a life with Laira (Michele Greene, L.A. LAW). No writing weaknesses. It reminds you of TREK's "Paradise Syndrome", where Kirk loses his memory and falls in love among pastoral, simple people. Instead of paling in comparison, seeing both episodes together might be a sweet experience.
-Shades of Grey ***
Jack steals technology from an ally, and is forcibly retired from SG1. The writers have "formulaic" locked in, but at least it's well-rendered formulaic. He gives a hard cold shoulder to all the members of the team, and the acting, even from Shanks, is up to snuff.
-New Ground ***
Pretty good. Strangely gritty. Has SG1 turned a corner?
-Maternal Instinct ***
A compelling monk (Terry Chen) whose esoteric ramblings are strangely well-written. Look for a baby-faced Aaron Douglas (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) as a dying jaffa.
-Crystal Skull ***
Tight, adventurous...with a grand feeling that should have been more common in SG1 so far. The team finds a pyramid that dwarfs any ever encountered. A crystal skull transports Jackson out of our reality, though he can still see and hear us. He returns with the team to Earth, where they enlist the aid of the only other scientist to ever find a crystal skull (and write of being teleported)...Daniel's grandfather (Jan Rubes, WITNESS), a discredited scientist who's been in an asylum for decades. He can see Daniel, but doesn't tell the others, out of fear of being called crazy. Jan's presence is pure wonderfulness, and not just because of our warm, fuzzy memories of Eli Lapp. You be careful out there among them English.
-Nemesis ***
Okay, what's going on? They've taken my regular SG1, and replaced it with Folger's Crystals? We're still not breaking the four-star barrier, but in the last third of the season they left two-star land with style. This one's a corker...visually scrumptious, with strong dashes of menace. Jack is beamed aboard an asgard ship. Thor is dying, his vessel being taken over by a lethal new enemy - the replicators, robot bugs that know nothing but consumption and reproduction (hmmm, it's a shame i'm not a bigot, there's a great illegal alien joke in there). Teal'c and Sam beam aboard for a possible suicide mission. The stargate is sacrificed in a rescue attempt. Suddenly, SG1 is acting like a book i don't want to put down.
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