Overall Rating: 6.7
Thank goodness...we've returned back to watchable TV - a step in the right direction at least. This episode isn't particularly eye popping for me, as I've never been a fan of the NID plots, but as NID stories go, this one at least carries some political intrigue worthy of note.
Plot Synopsis:
On the planet Medrona, SG-1 discovers an artifact that can apparently control the climate over the entire globe. The Medronan people aren't technologically advanced enough to have created the device, but they have been trained on how to use it to keep their weather mild and their crops plentiful. Carter wants to return to the planet and study the device, but when they arrive, they walk into a ferocious storm and are led at gunpoint to the shrine of the Touchstone. The device has been stolen by men in SGC uniforms and the Medronans want it back before their climate becomes unlivable. SG-1 pleads with the Medronan king to allow them to return to Earth to find and restore their device.
Once back on Earth, Hammond launches an investigation into how an SG team could have stolen the device without his knowledge. Carter quickly discovers that the second Earth gate has been used and Daniel monitors a series of anomalous weather events in the US that make it clear that the Touchstone is indeed 'local'. With all communication channels between the SGC and the Pentagon and White House conveniently cut off, Hammond sends SG-1 to "deliver documents" to NID headquarters, where they interrogate Maybourne about the second gate. He claims ignorance, but an inspection of the gate under his command reveals that it is made of plastic. The real gate has gone elsewhere! Maybourne then reveals his true colors, suggesting that he was under orders to move the gate and that they'd better drop their investigation lest they arouse the wrath of the higher-ups calling the shots.
Carter devises a clever plan to track the second gate - they send a MALP through from Medrona (though, why they would go back to a planet in crisis and face possible detention for returning without the Touchstone, I have no idea...presumably the plan would have worked from any off-world site, including the Alpha Site...but...whatever...LOL) and overload the Medronan gate to make sure it comes out through the second gate. The plan narrows their search radius to southern Utah before that MALP is destroyed. Hammond then calls in a marker with a mysterious acquaintance of his who seems to know a little about everything EXCEPT the whereabouts of the second gate. He does, however, tip Hammond off to a requisition for a C5 Galaxy aircraft to deliver a package to an NID landing site in Southern Utah. A C5 beging the only aircraft large enough to transport a stargate, Hammond sends SG-1 to stake out the landing strip where they do indeed find both the Touchstone and the second gate. The NID operatives running their little steal-and-study gig manage to activate the gate and escape off-world but Jack recovers the Touchstone with some skilled marksmanship. They return the device to Medrona, much to the relief of the local people. The second gate is then handed over to Hammond, who has it permanently sealed, though Maybourne doesn't seem particularly worried about losing his off-world access.
Writing: 6.5
It seems like whenever you need humans to do something evil, you can count on the NID (and later the Trust). It's a little disappointing that the Gate writers didn't spend more time giving logical motivations to the rogue NID...or making them smarter as an adversary to the SGC. We only get a cursory history on the formation of the NID's rogue elements falling from a squabble at the foundation of the SGC over the program's mandate (the NID being in favor of stealing whatever they wanted to defend Earth, no matter who they hurt in the process). A little more complexity in the bad guys would be appreciated. Frankly, I find the NID pretty boring despite the personal rivalry between O'Neill and Maybourne.
On the other hand, this episode actually clips along rather nicely and the plot is solid. For the most part, the dialog is only average, with a few chuckles and a few nice "ooooh!" moments to get your attention. It's standard TV fare and there's nothing wrong with that.
Acting: 7.5
Several very nice acting moments worthy of attention here. Teal'c face to face encounter with the man who tried to kill him in the name of creating a biological weapon that, in all likelihood, would have destroyed Earth's biosphere entirely...was classic. Hammond also had a number of outstanding scenes in this one - I particularly enjoyed his little confrontation with O'Neill in which O'Neill (very carefully) questions him about how people in SGC uniforms could have stolen the Touchstone. Lots of praise worthy subtle facial expressions communicating volumes...not bad for a Texan who, by his own admission, was just happy when he remembered all of his lines! :) (seriously, Don S. Davis was awesome...it's a shame he's no longer with us) I've always enjoyed Maybourne as well...despite the fact that he doesn't really look military. :)
Message: 6.0
This wasn't a particularly message-heavy episode. I guess the message is...never trust civilian government bodies who don't actually work in the field and who are accountable to no one to make the right call. :) But that's true of all NID-related episodes and it does get a little repetitive after a while.
Highlights:
CARTER: Sir, we believe the Medronans can proactively affect their own climate.
O'NEILL: That's a bit of an understatement, sir. They can call it up on command.
JACKSON: You've got a crop that needs rain, just...make it rain. If your crop needs sun...it's literally a matter of dialing it up.
HAMMOND: You sure you weren't under the local voodoo? (LOL)
(and a bit later)
CARTER: This may be the most important piece of technology the SGC has uncovered to date, sir.
HAMMOND: And you think you know how it works?
O'NEILL: That's why we'd like to go back, sir. Carter wants to get a closer look at it with some of her more sophisticated doohickeys.
HAMMOND: Doohickeys?
O'NEILL: I believe that's the technical term, sir. (LOL)
O'NEILL: Alright...we came here in piece...we expect to go in one. Piece. (LOL)
TEAL'C: SG2's point of origin was millions of miles away from Medrona.
CARTER: Yeah, but this energy spike is huge!
JACKSON: Remember what happened the last time we had an energy surge like that?
O'NEILL: Yeah...thanks for the memories...(LOL)
MAYBOURNE: Ah, Teal'c. Good to see you're doing well.
TEAL'C: (referring to his experience in Bane) In my culture, I would be well within my rights to kill you.
MAYBOURNE: (Looks ready to wet himself) Well...that's interesting. (BWAHAHAHA)
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