Overall Rating: 8.8
A very strong episode that, at one point, I thought was feature worthy, but have since adjusted my thinking downward somewhat to account for the lack of a truly scintillating script and the inclusion of some just plain awful romantic dialogue between Sam and Martouf. This two-parter does serve the very important function of introducing a powerful ally that serves as an important contrast philosophically to our biggest enemy despite sharing a common physiology (I'll discuss the implications of that more in the message portion of this rating). And it's an enjoyable episode from the perspective of watching the plucky humans outsmart the obnoxiously self-superior aliens and seeing Sam get a second chance with her estranged father.
Plot Synopsis:
Sam has a dream in which she, as Jolinar, is taking part in an evacuation. She even sees the stargate address Jolinar dialed to reach the new Tok'ra stronghold. With this information, Sam convinces SG-1 (and Hammond) that a trip to these coordinates is worth the risk. Upon their arrival on the apparently deserted world, they encounter a gaggle of Goa'uld soldiers who pop up from the sand and surround them, staff weapons at the ready. Sam, as luck would have it, recognizes one of them as Martouf, though she does not know why he is more familiar to her. This recognition helps ease tensions and, with a little convincing from Daniel and Sam (to Jack, these are still Goa'uld and it will stay that way as long as the show airs), SG-1 lays down its weapons and is taken to see the leader of the Tok'ra Council - Garshaw. Jack and Daniel each propose an alliance with the Tok'ra and Sam provides the council with key information about the fate of Jolinar and its affect on her personally.
After this introduction, Garshaw takes them on a tour of the Tok'ra tunnel system, describing how the crystal structure that comprises the tunnels can be grown very rapidly and destroyed in a matter of minutes if they are discovered by the Goa'uld. They are informed as they walk about the differences between Tok'ra and Goa'uld - they do not force humans to serve as hosts, only choosing hosts who volunteer for the blending. They allow their human host to speak freely and participate in decision making. Their queen is missing (we'll find her four years from now, unfortunately, near death), and they can't make more Tok'ra symbiotes - and worse, because they won't force a human to be a host, they often die when the host dies, so their numbers are dwindling fast, which is why they haven't been able to stop the Goa'uld System Lords from conquering the galaxy. This talk culminates in SG-1's introduction to Selmak (hosted by Saroush, who is near death). The Tok'ra think that by alliance, the humans mean someone will volunteer for the blending, but every member of SG-1 is repulsed by the idea. Confused and frustrated by this rejection of their ways, the Tok'ra come very close to rejecting our proposal for an alliance until Daniel begs to get their case heard more formally. He's certain they can find a way to help each other!
During the tour, Martouf invites Sam to take a walk on the surface. He wants to know more of Sam's brush with Jolinar. As it turns out, Martouf and Jolinar were lovers for over 100 years and this is why Carter is so familiar with him. Carter is seriously wigged out by some of the residual feelings left by Jolinar - in her words, she feels the same emotions for Martouf that Jolinar did and it confuses the hell out of her. Martouf rather inappropriately tries to become romantic with her and she backs away - he apologizes for the intrusion, saying he can't help feeling drawn to that little piece of his soulmate that is still alive in her. They're about to kiss when they are interrupted by Tok'ra scouts who call them back to the base.
Meanwhile, on Earth, Hammond gets word that Jacob Carter, Sam's estranged father, is near death from his cancer and goes to visit the old General at his hospital in downtown Colorado Springs. Here we learn that he has precious few days left and that he's a stubborn bastard (LOL) who doesn't want his daughter around to see him die (or as he puts it, lose the war). Hammond gives him a gentle verbal beat-down over it. He then asks if there's anything he can do and Jacob says he wants to know what his daughter is doing in that mountain, which of course, Hammond can't tell him. When Jacob nearly dies from cardiac arrest caused by liver failure, Hammond orders SG-3 to the Tok'ra home world to extract Sam.
Daniel and Teal'c appear before the Tok'ra Council and try to offer human technology (which is useless to the Tok'ra, since they are spies and must therefore always appear to be Goa'uld and use Goa'uld tech) and intelligence. Garshaw and the rest of the council are unimpressed. Meanwhile, Jack wanders off to explore the tunnels on his own and, given his superior recon skills, discovers a Tok'ra holding a Goa'uld long range communication device (or as he puts it later, a tele-ball dealy...LOL), which he finds odd. The Tok'ra in question calls himself Cordesh and offes to lead Jack back to his group, but Jack says he can find his own way...he doesn't trust any Tok'ra, but this one seems particularly shifty. Once he finds his way back to the council chamber, we learn that the Tok'ra have summarily decided that there will be no alliance, and worse, that because they know too much about Tok'ra operations, they will be prisoners here until the Tok'ra decide to move elsewhere. SG-3 chooses this moment to show up and get taken as prisoners by Tok'ra patrols. Colonel Makepeace arrives and informs Sam of her father's grave condition and she is naturally very upset that the Tok'ra won't allow her to leave.
As the second episode in this two-parter opens, Carter has come up with an idea that could save the Tok'ra alliance and give her father a shot at life. At first, O'Neill balks at the notion of bringing Jacob through the stargate (for one, he doesn't have security clearance and is near death, so it's risky, for another he knows a lot about US security interests) and offering him as a host to Selmak, but with a little pleading from Sam, who is certain her father would want to do this if his other choice is death, Jack relents. They convince Garshaw to allow Sam and one other (O'Neill) to return to Earth to offer the blending to Jacob. In the meantime, they get word that the Goa'uld are on their way to attack the Tok'ra base and begin an urgent evacuation.
On Earth, Sam finally gets to tell her father all about her interstellar adventures. He doesn't believe her at first, but Hammond assures him, it's all real. They offer him the blending and he evidently accepts, because the next time we seem him, he's preparing to go through the gate with Carter and O'Neill. This gives us another cherished opportunity to romance the gate as Jacob marvels at it in operation and then expresses shock at the feeling of traveling through it - it's nice to be reminded how cool it would be to have this technology. That is what sci-fi is all about, after all. :) At any rate, upon their arrival they find a sea of chaos. Teal'c, Daniel and SG-3 are helping the Tok'ra evacuate! O'Neill thinks he knows how their position was made. He tells Garshaw about the long range communication device he saw Cordesh using and Garshaw orders him found immediately. As the tunnels are being destroyed, Cordesh is located and he says he's not who he appears to be and that he couldn't stop the Goa'uld infiltrator. He sacrifices himself in one of the collapsing tunnels leaving the Tok'ra satisfied that the threat has been eliminated and leaving O'Neill highly suspicious that something else is going on.
Sam and Jacob are brought to meet with Saroush and Selmak. Selmak, it turns out, is a bit of a smart-ass, which I love. :) Jacob likes it too, though the whole idea of becoming a host he still finds disturbing. His cancer is making him ill and he excuses himself to hurl, which of course worries Sam, who thinks this might be too much for him to handle (she should know!). He insists he's just struggling with the chemo and didn't want his new symbiote to see him like that. Upon his return he expresses his no-nonsense attitude, which impresses Selmak, and the transference occurs (through the mouth, not the neck...it's much more civilized that way). The symbiote and Jacob are both very weak so after saying goodbye to Saroush, Jacob loses consciousness. They have to wait with him for the blending to either succeed or fail while the Goa'uld are breathing down their neck.
With most of the tunnels destroyed, O'Neill catches sight of a Tok'ra council woman carrying the same box Cordesh was using and restrains her. He opens the box and finds the long range communicator! The spy is still among them and Garshaw has her dragged off to undergo Goa'uld extraction. She (awkwardly) kisses O'Neill on the cheek and thanks him for his cunning - saying that perhaps they will be good allies after all. As the evacuation draws to a close, Sam awaits Jacob's recovery. When he finally does awake, he discovers, with some glee, that his arthritis is gone! :) He has a bit of a hangover, but is otherwise going to make a full recovery. They make their hurried escape from the base and flee to Earth where Selmak introduces himself to General Hammond. Jcaob is awarded the position of Tok'ra liaison to Earth and, fearing that the position of their new base was reported by the Goa'uld spy, Selmak and Garshaw ask to leave immediately to warn the Tok'ra and move to yet another new base. On the upside, Garshaw is impressed with our ingenuity in slapping together a DHD on our own, so there is perhaps hope for this alliance yet!
Writing: 8.0
The plot is well constructed, don't get me wrong. It's a feature-worthy plot, absolutely. In the same sense that the serpent two-parter was. A good, entertaining two-hour action sci-fi plot should not be overlooked. The problem here is that the writers get an F for their attempts to do realistic romnace between Sam and Martouf with no warning or build-up. That sequence was PAINFUL to watch. Just...ew. Stephanie S. heard me while I was watching the episode in preparation for this review making comments along these lines. Also, the rest of the script is rather devoid of moments in the dialogue that will hang in the memory and resonate with the audience. It's just comfortably well crafted. Nothing wrong with that...it just doesn't make it a feature.
Acting: 9.5
The only blemish in the acting is caused entirely by the forced, rushed romantic dialogue. You can tell Amanda Tapping is uncomfortable saying the words as is J.R. Bourne (Martouf) and when they're about to kiss, it made me feel very uncomfortable. No chemistry at all there. Stargate fans may now feel free to pelt me with rotten tomatoes...I know Martouf was very popular when the shows originally aired. I just...did not like it. Sorry. Otherwise, the guest cast was phenomenal - headed once again by the uber-talented Carmen Argenziano (Jacob), and RDA, Amanda Tapping and Don S. Davis were particularly excellent out of the regulars.
Message: 9.0
OK, here's where I will wax philosophical for a moment. One of the major problems I've had with the Goa'uld over the years (at least until the introduction of the Tok'ra and particularly the fourth season episode involving Daniel getting an illuminating and terrifying dream from delivered by the son of Apophis and Sha're...is that they appear to be evil genetically. Their memories are passed genetically and their vile nature arises the instant they are spawned. This is a serious problem for someone who believes in the soul given to any sentient life form. The idea that a machine (the Sarcophagus) or a set of data passed to you genetically or the very parasitical nature of your existance should make you evil by default doesn't fly with me. The introduction of the Tok'ra- who have CHOSEN to be good...CHOSEN to support freedom and human rights and oppose the system lords despite their genetic memory and their parasitical nature (which they have made the best of by treating it as a wonderful symbiosis) is absolutely critical to me. It proves that the Goa'uld are evil by their own choices, not by decree of nature. Why would God create a life form that is evil by its nature? He wouldn't...he would, however, allow such lifeforms free will and they would be at risk of choosing badly for themselves.
The Tok'ra were deeply needed in this canon, and their inclusion makes the story of the Goa'uld that much more sickening and powerful.
No Highlights this time around...I have not been able to get the screenplays as I usually do for some reason....the Stargate Wiki isn't functioning properly. And I am pressed for time today, so can't spend the 4 hours it would take to watch the episode and stop and start the recording to get the appropriate quotes. Apologies to the Gate fans in the room. :)
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