Classics: SG1 4:2 - The Other Side

Overall Rating: 9.7

This episode is thoroughly engaging, morally well grounded, and extremely well produced, written and acted!

Plot Synopsis:

Another hour, another unauthorized offworld activation at the SGC! Carter reports that the same party has attempted to reach Earth five times in the last two hours as she frantically tries to unscramble a badly garbled radio transmission. When she succeeds, she realizes, to her horror, that the humans on the other side have tried to walk through to Earth. In fact Tech. Harriman reports three impact events were recorded, meaning three deaths. The people in question are a technologically advanced, but greatly outnumbered race calling themselves the Eurondans and they are desperately calling for aid. SG1 travels to their underground bunker and all too quickly strikes a deal to trade heavy water for all of the Eurondans' advanced technology.

Daniel objects on the grounds that these people can leave the planet through the gate and stop the fighting, but we're offering the one thing that will prolong a bloody war on a poisoned planet. Jack and Sam (and General Hammond) all think that the technology they're offering is too good to pass up and if the Eurondans want to keep up the fight and try to get back their world, who are we to tell them not to. What's really cool here is...they're all correct! Daniel's last desperate attempt to stop this deal is a plea for more information about the conflict (and he brings up a very good point about the need to know what kind of fight into which we are insinuating ourselves.

When the team begins poking around, irregularities begin to surface. Alar, the Eurondan leader, expresses some rather racist concerns regarding Teal'c, and Carter begins to realize that their compound must have been built long before the war started. Things just aren't adding up. Until, that is, Jack and Teal'c make the startling realization that all of the Eurondan elders kept in stasis look alike. Meanwhile, Daniel's questions lead to an admission from one of Alar's top underlings that their enemy's only crime has been free reproduction (oh dear...we've hit the mother load of eugenics!). Yes...these people are the clean and technologically advanced version of Nazi Germany! With that knowledge in hand, Jack and Teal'c guide enemy bombers into the city and torch the place by aerial assault while Sam and Daniel give them cover. They make their escape through the gate and seal it behind them, killing Alar as he tries to follow them to Earth.

The Skinny:

SABR Matt: The thing I like about this episode is it's balance and perspective. With a plot like this (the twist being that our potential bedfellow is evil), it would be all too easy to descend into TNG-esque chest-thumping regarding the importance of non-interference. But even the moral compass in the room (Daniel) doesn't argue for non-interference. He argues rationally that before we interfere in a conflict, we'd better know that conflict very well. And he's right! But his detractors (Jack, primarily) also behave in reasonable ways. At first, the trade seems imminently fair and given our precarious position re: the Goa'uld, it's impossible to turn such a deal down. As soon as he gets any indication of trouble, though, he backs out and tells Daniel to do some digging.

On top of the fairness with which the writers treat each side of the moral dilemma, we have the important historical perspective on the danger of eugenics. There are more than a few within the rank and file of the left in American politics whose ideologies border very dangerously on the edge of eugenics. The green movement is besieged with people who believe that freedom of reproduction is a curse on the planet. Many in pro-choice advocacy groups believe that abortion is the key to population control and a major aid in the battle against urban poverty (if you don't see the eugenicist linkage here, read the works of Margaret Sanger). We all need to shine a light on why eugenics is dangerous.

And above all else, the script CRACKLES with energy...Daniel and Jack at odds with each other fight with such verbal gusto and the Eurondan leader Alar speaks with such magnetic charm that all of the twists and turns feel very stimulating to the mind. A well-conceived plot well executed and well acted from the word go!

Stephanie S.: Now this is how you write a twist correctly. Too often in television, writers tack on "gotcha!" endings without laying the necessary groundwork first - or they lay too much groundwork and therefore give their plans away. Here, however, Brad Wright satisfies our inner Goldilocks by dropping just the right number of hints to justify the Big Nazi Reveal. We have, for example, Alar's early reaction to Teal'c, which - understandably - is initially thought to be quite in line with similar reactions SG1 has seen elsewhere. And then there's the doped-up pilot, who occasions another moment of unease for Jack in particular. All along, Wright gradually crafts his case against the Eurondans until, at last, their evil cannot be denied any longer - and that (in conjunction with the moral clear-sightedness my co-author notes above) makes this episode both interesting and eminently satisfying.     

Writing: 9.5 / 9.5

Apart from a few moments that perhaps push the boundaries on the normal interplay between Jack and Daniel and a bit of purple prose near the end, there is little about which to complain in the writing.

Acting: 9.5 / 9.5

Rene Auberjonois = awesome! In this role he was ESPECIALLY strong...even stronger than his usual Odo! Michael Shanks and RDA had innumerable great reaction takes in their conflict scenes, and Amanda Tapping's reaction to the realization that multiple Eurondans had died on her iris was also fabulous. The only problem I have is with Ferrell, who I thought was horribly wooden.

Message: 10.0 / 10.0

Eugenics are unquestionably inhumane and evil - in general, when we dare to tread where God prevails, we're going to go wrong. This episode makes no bones about the above. The fair and balanced perspective on international relations and the morality of entering someone else's conflict with an outside negotiation is a breath of fresh air, as well.

Highlights:

SAM: Sir, this is the fifth incoming wormhole in the last hour and a half.
JACK: Carter, I'm here two hours early. When did you get here?
SAM: I haven't left yet, sir.
JACK: Didn't I order you to get a life? (LOL)

ALAR: I repeat, this is Euronda base...Ellis, if you can hear me, please respond...have you reached the other side yet?
SAM: Damn! (talking over his further pleas) This is Major Samantha Carter of the United States Air Force. It is imperative that you send no one else through the gate!
WALTER: He can't hear you, sir. We still haven't matched their signal.
ALAR: To any humans on the other side, we believe this gate is a porthole to the home of our ancestors. Your kindred are under siege by an enemy that won't stop until we are destroyed. Our supplies are all but gone. Please...help us! (the Gate closes)
SAM: Damn it...there were four previous wormhole connections with this world...how many impact events did the iris sensors record?
WALTER: Three.
JACK: So...three dead...
WALTER: Yes, sir.
DANIEL: I'm gonna go look up Euronda.
JACK: It's not your fault, Carter. Let me know when you can make contact.
SAM: Yes, sir. (looks very mournfully at the gate - this is important when taken in counterbalance to the morality of the Eurondans)

ALAR: I am prepared to step through the porthole and meet with you face to face.
HAMMOND: We cannot allow that.
ALAR: May I ask why?
HAMMOND: We have in place on our gate an impenetrable shield called an iris that would result in your death.
ALAR: I see...and the the others I sent?
HAMMOND: There was no way to determine if they were friend or foe.
ALAR: And...this is still the case. Clearly we will need to gain your trust. (his image appears on screen)
WALTER: They're transmitting video.
SAM: How?
ALAR: Now you can see that we are indeed your kindred.
HAMMOND: We see that, yes.
ALAR: There is much my people can offer in exchange for your assistance. I would be glad to discuss it with you in person.
HAMMOND: We need to know more about this enemy you face.
ALAR: We coexisted with them on this planet for centuries. Now, they occupy the lion's share of Euronda's landmass.
JACK: That rules out anyone we know.
SAM: How have you survived for so long?
ALAR: Our facility is deep under ground, protected by defense shields...and our weapons technology is far superior to theirs. However, now, one or two of their bombers penetrate our air space every day (he is rocked by an explosion). We are under attack. Please, General...I must return to the war room...but I'm begging you...help us! (I love how the writers make you feel for the Eurondans at first...credit Rene Auberjonois for some of that too)

JACK: It's your call, sir.
HAMMOND: Colonel...
DANIEL: Now I know what you're going to say, sir, but...
HAMMOND: You have a go.
DANIEL: ...if you would just hear me out, I think you'll agree...what? (LOL)
HAMMOND: This command cannot and would not commit the resources to turn the tide in a world war. But as you point out, Dr. Jackson, there are humanitarian concerns.

HAMMOND: Colonel...we may have finally found an advanced civilization willing to trade technology to help us defend against the Goa'uld.
JACK: My thought, sir.
HAMMOND: If the Eurondan government opens up a dialogue and is willing to trade, you are authorized to negotiate. (eeeep)

DANIEL: They're passing out the supplies as we speak. Apparently they need...everything.
JACK: Alar, this is Daniel Jackson and that's Teal'c.
TEAL'C: Greetings.
ALAR: He is not of our kin.
TEAL'C: I am in fact a Jaffa, although like you, my ancestors descend from the Tauri.
DANIEL: The Tauri is...Earth.
JACK: He's part of our team.
ALAR: (suspiciously) Is he...well then...welcome. (oooooh)

ALAR: (after Jack blows up the enemy drone) Well done.
JACK: Yeah...not bad. (to the pilot in the next chair) Not bad for an old guy, huh? (the pilot turns and gives him a blank stare) What's with that guy?
ALAR: Olan is one of our best pilots, Colonel, but he's spent most of his adult life in that chair. Years of exposure to the neural interface is damaging. Most of us can never pilot again without risking what has happened to Olan.
JACK: Excuse me?
ALAR: Ah...rest assured, your brief exposure will cause you no harm. Now, let us celebrate our new alliance. (wow...creepy)

SAM: Your power requirements must be enormous.
ALAR: Don't your people utilize controlled fusion on Earth?
JACK: Controlled...no...
ALAR: The power generated by our deuterium oxide fusion process is enormous, but our supplies are dwindling.
SAM: Heavy water, sir...it's like water but the hydrogen nuclei have two...
JACK: I know what heavy water is, Carter. And if that's what the Eurondans need, then we'd be happy to provide.
ALAR: In exchange, my people can teach you how to construct weapons systems like ours...aero-fighters, defensive shields, stasis chambers...
JACK: That sounds fair. Carter?
SAM: Medicine, sir...
JACK: Oh yeah. We were very impressed with that...beta-car...beta-candy stuff. (LOL)
ALAR: Beta-cantin. Of course!
DANIEL: Jack...
JACK: Daniel...
DANIEL: Don't you think we should ask them what they'd use the heavy water for?
JACK: No, I don't think so. (Daniel looks peeved)
ALAR: Your heavy water would be used to power our defense shields, Dr. Jackson.
JACK: Daniel? (Daniel has a hurt bunny look and sips his wine)
ALAR: And in due course to strike back at our enemy.
DANIEL: Jack? (now Daniel looks vindicated...LOL)
JACK: Daniel! Don't you think we should be having this discussion at another time?
DANIEL: No, I don't think so. (I love the echoing in this discussion)

JACK: The next time I tell you to shut up, Daniel...
DANIEL: I don't think you actually said that.
JACK: Too subtle for ya?
DANIEL: Well, for once, yes. (LOL) Will you hear me out, Jack?
JACK: No, Daniel!
DANIEL: We came here to help these people!
TEAL'C: Is that not what we are doing, Daniel Jackson?
DANIEL: No! Their whole planet is in flames and we're offering gasoline! How is that helping them?
TEAL'C: We are in fact offering water.
JACK: Yes, thank you Teal'c!
DANIEL: I was speaking metaphorically.
JACK: Well stop it! It's not fair to Teal'c. (ROTFL!)
DANIEL: Jack...
JACK: Carter? What are our standing orders.
SAM: To seek out new technology and weapons to aid in our fight against the Goa'uld, sir.
JACK: And have we carried out our orders, as of yet?
DANIEL: These people could leave at any time...you're helping them prolong this war and for what?
JACK: Enough, Daniel! We're offering something they want, they're giving us everything we want! I don't have a problem with that. The decision's made.
DANIEL: This conversation isn't over, Jack.
JACK: No, you're right. It's never over! It's always something with you!
DANIEL: This isn't about me!
JACK: Damn it, Daniel, do you even realize what these people are offering us?!
DANIEL: At what price?! (this exchange is 100% awesomeness)

CARTER: Sir, Colonel O'neill has negotiated access to virtually every advanced technology the Eurondans have in exchange for an unspecified quantity of heavy water.
HAMMOND: That's all they want?
CARTER: That's all!
HAMMOND: What do they want it for?
DANIEL: Thank you! Thank you, sir, for asking the question.
SAM: Sir, as you know, heavy water contains deuterium.
HAMMOND: Which can be used to make nuclear weapons.
SAM: Yes, but they use it to power nuclear fusion generators.
HAMMOND: Fusion?
SAM: Yes, sir.
HAMMOND: And they're willing to share this technology?
SAM: Yes, sir, and it is incredible. They're at least 100 years ahead of us, maybe more. But if we don't act quickly, they'll be overrun.
HAMMOND: Sergeant Cyler?
CYLER: I'll get right on it. (Daniel kvetches)
HAMMOND: Dr. Jackson, you don't approve.
DANIEL: You said yourself, this command would not devote the resources to win a war. Yet that's exactly what we're doing here.
HAMMOND: Obviously, I was speaking in terms of military assets - human lives.
DANIEL: But there was a moral issue, too.
HAMMOND: Yes.
DANIEL: But if the resources they want are simply water, the moral issue just...evaporates?
HAMMOND: I shouldn't have to remind you that Apophis is alive, Dr. Jackson, and at present capable of summoning enough force to wipe off the face of this Earth. It is our job to make sure that doesn't happen.
DANIEL: I understand that, sir. I do. (thinks for a moment) Do we even know anything about the enemy they're fighting? What are they fighting for?
SAM: Their lives!
DANIEL: Yes, and I was all for saving those lives, but we're about to go way way...way...beyond that. We're about to turn the tide in a war we know...nothing about. Shouldn't we learn something more about these people?
SAM: It's a fair question, sir.
DANIEL: Yes. It is. (indeed...this is great...you can perfectly understand the solid morality upon which every single member of this cast's decisions are based...from Jack to Daniel, the plot is completely fair. That's awesome!)

DANIEL: I have a question.
JACK: Daniel...
SAM: General Hammond would also like to know, sir.
ALAR: It's alright. We'll answer any questions.
DANIEL: How did this war start?
ALAR: The first enemy bombs that fell on Euronda hit in the night in a surprise attack. As a young boy of nine, I remember the floor boards in my home shaking with each explosion. I remember realizing that every tremor meant that another building, another home...another street...in the city I loved...was gone. That is how this war started, Doctor.
DANIEL: And for that, we have only your word.
ALAR: Three of my people died impacting your iris.
DANIEL: Well that was an accident.
ALAR: And for that, we have only your word.
JACK: Any more questions, Daniel?
DANIEL: Yes, we'd like to know more about your enemy.
ALAR: Is this part of your bargaining procedure, Colonel?
JACK: Not normally, no.
ALAR: What more can we promise than everything we have to offer?
DANIEL: You can answer the question.
ALAR: Colonel O'Neill, do we have an agreement?
JACK: We do.
DANIEL: Jack...
JACK: Daniel! Shut up. Is that clear enough for you? (oooooh)

ALAR: I'll look forward to your return, Colonel. Which reminds me...perhaps it would be best if the Jaffa did not return.
JACK: Teal'c? Why? He hasn't said a word.
ALAR: It's not what he said, Colonel, it's what he is.
JACK: Well he's a little different, I'll grant you that.
ALAR: Not like us.
JACK: (freaked out) Right. (Daniel makes to dial the gate but Jack stops him) We're not going.
DANIEL: Why not?
JACK: Teal'c and I are going to have a look around first. You...go ask questions.
DANIEL: You told me to...
JACK: ...I know what I said. It was rude, short sighted and I'm sorry.
DANIEL: Well, thank you for realizing that.
JACK: Now I'm saying this. Go ask questions. Lots of questions. (heh!)

CARTER: You must have been building this facility for months or even years before the war started.
ALAR: The war was inevitable.
CARTER: Well how long did you intend to stay down here?
ALAR: Until the air was free from poison. (wait...didn't that happen when the war started?? uh oh!!)

JACK: What's your impression of Alar?
TEAL'C: That he's concealing something.
JACK: Like what?
TEAL'C: I am unsure. He is concealing it. (LOL!)

CARTER: There were these huge gas pipes that led from holding tanks deep underground straight up to the surface.
DANIEL: And their atmosphere is poisoned.
CARTER: It was a preemptive strike, sir. When your enemy started bombing, they were trying to stop you!
ALAR: It was his vision. My father saw how breeders were spreading across the face of this planet like a plague - millions of them! We don't know how so many of them survived our attack, but they did. Now...contact your General Hammond and tell him we need that fuel immediately.
DANIEL: We're not gonna do that.
ALAR: Arm! (they take SG1 at gunpoint) Contact your General Hammond! (a huge fracas ensues during which the data on Eurondan technology is destroyed - D'OH!! - and O'Neill and Teal'c manage to dive bomb the city - WOOHOO!!)
JACK: I wouldn't follow us if I were you. (they make for the gate and just as they're about to make their escape Alar arrives in desperation)
ALAR: Wait! I can still teach you everything I know! Just take me with you! (Jack stares coldly back at him and they exit through the gate)
JACK: Close the iris! (and the iris shuts, followed by Alar's impact event...and the audience roars its' approval...LOL)
HAMMOND: I take it, Colonel, that you were unable to procure any of the Eurondans' technology.
JACK: That's correct, General.
HAMMOND: I'm sorry to hear that.
JACK: Don't be.