SG1: The Powers that Be
Aug. 13th, 2005 05:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tenayaI liked this one, even though it was slower than last week's, but as the content was heavier, it makes sense it was slower going. It certainly left me with more questions.
This one was written by Martin Gero, which is I believe his first SG-1 script. It's a meta moment but I loved the line, "Rid the galaxy of evil doers." Heh heh heh. But while I think Boston Legal can dabble with the real life political/religious situation in America, I'm pretty sure SG would be better off to avoid that quagmire.
While I really like Teal'c, I have to wonder why he is in this ep. He's still needed with the Jaffa thing, isn't he? I would have liked a line to explain his presence. Actually, I'd have liked him to have a few more lines, period, but I'm sounding like a broken record here. I did like that he referred to the villiagers as 'humans' as that reminded me of the whole Jaffa political thing and I wondered if he's segregating people in his mind. Can you act like a politican without eventually thinking like one? Run, Teal'c, Run!
I'm beginning to understand Dr. Lam's diligent setting of borders with Landry. He is really pushing her. I wish they hadn't waited until now to define their past relationship because it seemed very creepy when Lam could have been his old flame. It's still unpleasant to me that he's crowding his daughter when all she is offering is professionalism. From their comments, it would appear Landry was an absentee father. Considering how he deligates most of his meetings and work, one wonders why he didn't have more time?
I loved Mitchell's line, about a God-off. He's still a bit reticent as a team leader I think, but that should improve. I have to say I didn't recognise Mitchell when he was a patient, so I wonder if there was a missing scene (or was it slopping editing?) Upon a second viewing I did catch a few things that foreshadowed Mitchell's collapse. From the angle he was filmed lying upon that bed I was surprised that he reminded me of Kurt Russell's version of O'Neill. Hello! And since I've mentioned Jack, I'll say that I think if Jack was still on the team, he would have been the one to stand up and shoot at the Prior when Daniel failed with his arguments. And it was good to see Mitchell playing cards with Teal'c. It's a small thing but keeps them in the scene in a believable way and shows that they are comfortable with each other and maybe becoming friends. Nice and slow, very organic growth of these team bonds, imo.
Mitchell admits to feeling tingly when he recovers. He's being held by Dr. Lam at this point and his quick, "how about we pretend I didn't say that" makes me wonder if there's a Lam/Mitchell romance being hinted at that I haven't noticed yet. It came out of the blue for me, and I can't say I like it much. The chemistry isn't being shown at all. If those guesses are correct, they are pushing that way too fast and I don't really see a reason for having it at all. Is there some law that states there must be a romance on a show?
For the Vala moments (and I still wish we could keep her) I loved how she kept trying to wriggle out of the cell, and when Daniel wapped the cage to shush her. I liked the character developement where she went from be a fun loving god to where she tried to help 'her' people and eventually displayed true compassion and distress over their fate.
I thought the trial was a good way to set up the theological debate. Yes, there's been other trials in SG, but I didn't think it redundant; it's just a story type. The whole point of a trial is to listen to the argument and the people and the arguments have been different.
Daniel's definitely plucky; he has never been put off by a strong enemy nor his he now. I can see how this could be yet another episode where fans will view his choice of action with the same division as they view Need and The Other Side.
So, the Priors come to a planet, demand the Ori are to be worshipped. If you don't, the Prior causes an illness that they can cure to show miraclulous powers. If they still are denied, you are killed. Once you accept the Ori, you are promised knowledge and enlightenment, but you get hours of praying instead and are kept in a stagnant, primitive state. And you are killed if you try to think for yourself.
Daniel argues enlightenment should be gained for oneself and killing unbelievers is wrong. He doesn't agree that one should have to give up their free will before you can accept enlightenment. He encourages the villiagers to stand up and resist the Ori. It's a non-violent strategy and it had to be attempted, but obviously it didn't work. Was he wrong to attempt this? Was he foolishly and arrogantly risking the lives of the villiagers for a theory? It would seem the Ori have stacked the deck when the Priors land on a planet and make their pitch. If you don't offer any resistence, then you must buy what they're selling and that's the end of your freedom.
The trouble is Daniel is debating dogma and he can't win, not when the audience will be killed if he wins. I'm quite curious to see what it is that he hasn't sussed out yet, why the Ori care if they are worshipped. With this set up, it better be good!
So, even though there wasn't much new info given about the Ori in this ep, I appreciated it anyway. From Origin, we got the bullet point summary the Ori are bad. In this ep, we got demonstrated just how thorough their trap is, and how much trouble our galaxy is in. I think if they hadn't done this ep, I would have felt the Ori threat was rushed by me, the viewer.
And I've managed this review in a more timely manner (ain't I proud?)
This one was written by Martin Gero, which is I believe his first SG-1 script. It's a meta moment but I loved the line, "Rid the galaxy of evil doers." Heh heh heh. But while I think Boston Legal can dabble with the real life political/religious situation in America, I'm pretty sure SG would be better off to avoid that quagmire.
While I really like Teal'c, I have to wonder why he is in this ep. He's still needed with the Jaffa thing, isn't he? I would have liked a line to explain his presence. Actually, I'd have liked him to have a few more lines, period, but I'm sounding like a broken record here. I did like that he referred to the villiagers as 'humans' as that reminded me of the whole Jaffa political thing and I wondered if he's segregating people in his mind. Can you act like a politican without eventually thinking like one? Run, Teal'c, Run!
I'm beginning to understand Dr. Lam's diligent setting of borders with Landry. He is really pushing her. I wish they hadn't waited until now to define their past relationship because it seemed very creepy when Lam could have been his old flame. It's still unpleasant to me that he's crowding his daughter when all she is offering is professionalism. From their comments, it would appear Landry was an absentee father. Considering how he deligates most of his meetings and work, one wonders why he didn't have more time?
I loved Mitchell's line, about a God-off. He's still a bit reticent as a team leader I think, but that should improve. I have to say I didn't recognise Mitchell when he was a patient, so I wonder if there was a missing scene (or was it slopping editing?) Upon a second viewing I did catch a few things that foreshadowed Mitchell's collapse. From the angle he was filmed lying upon that bed I was surprised that he reminded me of Kurt Russell's version of O'Neill. Hello! And since I've mentioned Jack, I'll say that I think if Jack was still on the team, he would have been the one to stand up and shoot at the Prior when Daniel failed with his arguments. And it was good to see Mitchell playing cards with Teal'c. It's a small thing but keeps them in the scene in a believable way and shows that they are comfortable with each other and maybe becoming friends. Nice and slow, very organic growth of these team bonds, imo.
Mitchell admits to feeling tingly when he recovers. He's being held by Dr. Lam at this point and his quick, "how about we pretend I didn't say that" makes me wonder if there's a Lam/Mitchell romance being hinted at that I haven't noticed yet. It came out of the blue for me, and I can't say I like it much. The chemistry isn't being shown at all. If those guesses are correct, they are pushing that way too fast and I don't really see a reason for having it at all. Is there some law that states there must be a romance on a show?
For the Vala moments (and I still wish we could keep her) I loved how she kept trying to wriggle out of the cell, and when Daniel wapped the cage to shush her. I liked the character developement where she went from be a fun loving god to where she tried to help 'her' people and eventually displayed true compassion and distress over their fate.
I thought the trial was a good way to set up the theological debate. Yes, there's been other trials in SG, but I didn't think it redundant; it's just a story type. The whole point of a trial is to listen to the argument and the people and the arguments have been different.
Daniel's definitely plucky; he has never been put off by a strong enemy nor his he now. I can see how this could be yet another episode where fans will view his choice of action with the same division as they view Need and The Other Side.
So, the Priors come to a planet, demand the Ori are to be worshipped. If you don't, the Prior causes an illness that they can cure to show miraclulous powers. If they still are denied, you are killed. Once you accept the Ori, you are promised knowledge and enlightenment, but you get hours of praying instead and are kept in a stagnant, primitive state. And you are killed if you try to think for yourself.
Daniel argues enlightenment should be gained for oneself and killing unbelievers is wrong. He doesn't agree that one should have to give up their free will before you can accept enlightenment. He encourages the villiagers to stand up and resist the Ori. It's a non-violent strategy and it had to be attempted, but obviously it didn't work. Was he wrong to attempt this? Was he foolishly and arrogantly risking the lives of the villiagers for a theory? It would seem the Ori have stacked the deck when the Priors land on a planet and make their pitch. If you don't offer any resistence, then you must buy what they're selling and that's the end of your freedom.
The trouble is Daniel is debating dogma and he can't win, not when the audience will be killed if he wins. I'm quite curious to see what it is that he hasn't sussed out yet, why the Ori care if they are worshipped. With this set up, it better be good!
So, even though there wasn't much new info given about the Ori in this ep, I appreciated it anyway. From Origin, we got the bullet point summary the Ori are bad. In this ep, we got demonstrated just how thorough their trap is, and how much trouble our galaxy is in. I think if they hadn't done this ep, I would have felt the Ori threat was rushed by me, the viewer.
And I've managed this review in a more timely manner (ain't I proud?)
