Overall Rating: 8.8
This one is interesting on a number of levels. This is the episode that transforms Maybourne from annoying idiot to clever little bastard...a process which will end with his becoming a much more interesting side character.
Plot Synopsis:
The details may be found here courtesy of the Stargate Wiki.
The Skinny:
Maybourne is WAY better when he's written to be a man of equal ability and intelligence to Jack...and when the moral distinction between the two is more subtle (and therefore more capable of communicating a valuable message). In this format, the difference between Jack and his nemesis is entirely about their personal motivations. They're both capable of great evil and great virtue, but because Jack centers his efforts on helping a fellow human being (and thereby helping the greater good), the result of his morally dubious actions is more likely to be positive than the results of any actions taken by Maybourne - who is entirely about his own enrichment (revenge is, after all, a form of enrichment). Actions matter, but so do the desires that drive us to take those actions. Jack is able to keep his feet firmly planted on terra firma specifically because he cares more about others than himself. His role in the political gamesmanship that fills this episode is never personal. Kinsey and Maybourne, on the other hand...
You have to appreciate the ingenuity of the shot the Gate writes take at American politicians here. We've heard many real world leaders and hopefuls say all of the things Kinsey said in his coming out speech. And we know that for most of them, it's all a crock. But the worst thing is...the inner circles of both parties in this country are equally guilty of believing that the American people are too stupid to know how to govern themselves...that we aren't worthy of virtuous leaders and that deals with the devil must be done to look out for our best interest. That kind if jaded belief that the people are less worthy than you to make decisions about their own lives is precisely the kind of thing that has derailed our fundamental optimism as a nation and left us hating our own Congress with unprecedented levels of scorn. On that scor,e this episode is a MAJOR winner.
As an added bonus, the other plot in this story reveals the importance of finding leaders who do not treat their subordinates as pieces on a chess board and who do not view casualties as acceptable losses if the greater objectives are achieved. As we covered in a recent feature Stargate Universe episode, a great leader is one who feels the burden of his command and suffers with every life that is lost under his command, but is nonetheless able to weigh those losses against the needs of the people at large and make the tough decisions. Bauer is dangerous precisely because he does not suffer when things go wrong. At least not until they nearly go so spectacularly wrong that his greater good is threatened. In contrast, we've seen Hammond have sleepless nights over the disappearance of one man. Yet he can still send his men out on incredibly dangerous missions if the risk is worth the potential reward. That's leadership. And that's why we wub Hammond like a big cuddly teddy bear. :)
Writing: 9.0
The banter between Jack and Maybourne is a treat, as is the awesome twist of words between Kinsey's "my people are too stupid to know what they're doing" speech and his "listen to the people" speech. :) All in all, this episode is very pleasingly written and the plots clip along very nicely.
Acting: 8.0
Lawrence Dane was not all that convincnig as Bauer, unfortunately...I think he played it a little too forcefully at times. However, RDA and Tom McBeath (Maybourne) played off each other very well and I enjoyed Chris Judge's and Amanda Tapping's reactions to Bauer's disregard for the lives and opinions of his troops.
Message: 9.5
Good stuff discussed in the Skinny report, including the need for commanders who care about casualties and take the opinions of their subordinates seriously and the importance of personal motivations being unselfish when getting involved in deals with the devil.
Highlights:
HAMMOND: It's been a pleasure serving with all of you.
CARTER: We'll miss you, sir.
DANIEL: I think I speak for everyone when I say it's been an honor.
TEAL'C: On Chulak, when a warrior of great skill retires from the field of battle, it is customary for his comrades in arms to sing a song of mourning. Fortunately, we are not on Chulak. (LOL...aww)
HAMMOND: Take care of yourselves, and each other. (aww)
BAUER: Colonel, I've been going over your mission reports. In the future, it might be beneficial for you to include bullet point summaries in every section. It makes for an easier read.
JACK: Bullet...point...summaries...
BAUER: Is there a problem, Colonel?
JACK: General, I realize the format of my mission reports is of vital importance to national security, and if you'd like, when we have time, we can meet to discuss fonts and margins, but...right now I'm more interested in the fact that you're...dismantling my team without discussion.
BAUER: Colonel, General Hammond may have allowed you considerable leeway in the past, but you'd do well to watch your tone around me.
JACK: Frankly, sir, General Hammond kept us together for a reason. The fact is, if it hadn't been for SG-1, you'd be sitting there with a snake in your head...instead of your head up your ass - (oh no he di'int!!)
BAUER: Colonel! (LOL) No one is above reproach here - not even you. If it continues, your long track record of insubordination will earn you an early retirement. Do I make myself clear? (Jack just stares back angrily) Now I suggest you take some time - decide whether you still want to be a part of the Stargate program. Dismissed. (ouch)
HAMMOND: You don't understand.
JACK: I won't...until you explain it to me.
HAMMOND: Two weeks ago, I was approached by a representative of the NID. He suggested that I should take a more aggressive position at the SGC.
JACK: They've got no jurisdiction over you.
HAMMOND: He wanted me to help them gain access to off-world technologies which they couldn't touch since we shut down their illegal gate activities.
JACK: You told 'em to go to hell.
HAMMOND: Of course. Two days later, men in plain clothes picked up my granddaughters from school.
JACK: You can't be serious.
HAMMOND: They took them for a little ride and brought them back home. The girls were fine. But I got the message. We're talking about an organization with as much power as the CIA. These people are above the law. I can't protect my family 24 hours a day. I had no choice.
JACK: Of course you didn't.
HAMMOND: Don't get yourself into trouble over this, Jack.
JACK: Oh, you know me, sir. (yes...yes he does...and that's why he's scared...LOL)
BAUER: Where is Major Wade?
TEAL'C: Dead.
BAUER: What happened?
TEAL'C: We encountered heavy resistance. Lt. Morisson was provided cover fire.
BAUER: What about the naquadah?
TEAL'C: (looking rather incredulous) I believe I secured a sufficient quantity.
BAUER: Excellent. You can give me your mission report later! (as Teal'c walks away looking mighty pissed)
JACK: (upon seeing Maybourne's secret pad) Have ya heard of Ikea? (LOL)
MAYBOURNE: You ought to feel privileged, Jack. No one...not even the NID knows about this place.
JACK: (reading some of Mayborune's mail) Jack Bliss?
MAYBOURNE: Now you know one of a hundred names I go by. (he opens the fridge and we see a huge stash of beer and some mustard in the door)
JACK: I see you're on that famous beer and mustard diet. How's that workin' out for ya? (LOL)
MAYBOURNE: I need to know you'll see this thing through to the end.
JACK: Under no other circumstances would I be sitting here watching you eat. (LOL)
CARTER: if that Iris succumbs to the heat and fails, there'll be nothing to stop lethal radiation from bombarding the base. We have to evacuate!
BAUER: We were certain the gate would be destroyed.
CARTER: Sir, we have to act now! (Bauer impotently nods and Carter gets on the horn) Attention, by order of General Bauer, commence immediate evacuation of the base. I repeat, evacuate the base. We can monitor the gate from the security station on level 16.
BAUER: (limply) What's going to happen, Major?
CARTER: I have no way of knowing, sir. (and by sir, I mean idiot)
JACK: We're not goin' anywhere.
KINSEY: Excuse me?
JACK: I'm not leavin' til I get what I came for.
KINSEY: And just what do you plan on doing about it?
JACK: Actually...I was thinkin' about shootin' ya. (whips out a gun and takes aim...AWESOME!)
MAYBOURNE: Jack...what are you doing?
JACK: Getting a little dirty for ya, Maybourne? (heh!)
KINSEY: Judge not lest ye be judged. I read the reports that come out of that mountain. You play with the fate of this planet every day!
JACK: I'm doing the job I was asked to do. I doubt very much your constituents can say the same about you.
KINSEY: Oh please! If given the chance, half of the people in this country don't even vote, and the other half are too stupid to know what to do when they do!
JACK: Which explains how you got elected. (LOL)
KINSEY: (continuing) If I have to shake hands with the devil to do the lord's work, then so be it.
MAYBOURNE: I'm done...we got it. (Jack takes the disk from Maybourne)
KINSEY: What are you going to do...take down the entire NID?
JACK: Nope. Here's the deal...you reinstate Hammond or this disk goes to the press.
KINSEY: It'll never see the light of day. In order to expose me, you'll have to compromise the security of the Stargate Program. Are you really willing to do that?
JACK: I think you won't see the light of day if your friends figure out that you were the weak link.
KINSEY: You learned to play hardball pretty fast, didn't you, Colonel. (heh)
PRESS: We heard you were announcing your candidacy for the White House.
KINSEY: The White House?!
PRESS: Is it true?
KINSEY: Diane...this isn't how I wanted this to come out.
DIANE: So it's true.
KINSEY: Well, you and I have talked a lot about my goals. (as Jack and Maybourne escape in broad daylight and wave to the black hats from the NID) You and I both know how I feel about the people of this great nation and how their leaders have let them down. You're damned right I'm running. The solution to our problems is simple. Listen...to the people. (awesome!!!)
JACK: General...about what you can do for me?
HAMMOND: Anything.
JACK: Well nothing right now, sir, but...one day I might ask you to...buy back my soul. (heh!)
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