Memo to all smug, superior elitists - the towers you build to lord over the peons beneath you make easy targets. It pays to make friends and share your toys.
Plot Synopsis:
The massacre is described at the Stargate Wiki.
The Skinny:
SABR Matt: Now that Apophis is dead (finally!!), we needed a new "big bad"...thankfully, this one is going to get a lot of well-earned mileage and be a major pain in the butt for 3 1/2 long years...and none of that time will be boring. The foreshadowing to the new big bad begins here and is well done. That alone would make this episode a good one - as would the moral dilemma between looking out for the interests of your own people at the cost of billions of innocent lives or fighting for what's right at the cost of your own lives. But, what it comes down to for me is this episode's clear lesson to would-be elitists. We have a lot of folks at the tops of our institutions of higher learning, government business, and policy research who think they know more than the lot of us...but, to paraphrase from an old Japanese saying: "The fat cat that stands tallest is blown to high hell if he doesn't stoop down and mingle with the commoners."
The story behind Tollana's position on sharing technology is at least somewhat believable and a cautionary tale on giving away too much too fast without proper supervision...but they, like many elites, went too far the other way in their own minds. They went from assuming that giving technological marvels to less developed people might raise their quality of life to assuming that anyone who isn't Tollan or even more advanced (the the Nox) is completely stupid and completely inferior and will surely blow themselves up if they get their hands on some new goodies. With that belief comes a narrow existence where you must always fend for yourselves but you have no reason to continue to innovate (you're high and mighty already, right?). The inevitable result...the Goa'uld see the Tollans as a threat and find a way around their defenses...and with no friends to help them, they are completely and totally screwed. Forced to do great evil to survive or perish in the name of a greater good - neither of which is a tolerable alternative.
Just because a man knows less about a subject than you do doesn't make you the arbiter and owner of that subject for all eternity. Note the difference between how we humans approached lesser species and how the Tollans handled it. We forged trade alliances, protected weaker people from Goa'uld oppression, developed a whole network of safe planets to which we could send refugees, gathered technology where possible, and hey...didn't blow ourselves up in the process! Even the Asgard could teach the Tollans a few things about how to handle less developed species. Point is...if you go it alone assuming you're too big to be toppled, you will be a target and you will fall. Hard. The more confidence you express in a scientific theory, for example, the more you encourage dissent and the harder people will work to inevitably find the flaws in your theory (*cough*global warming*cough*).
Stephanie S: The other currently relevant lesson that one can glean from this episode is this: It is not the moral position to look out solely for your own nation's interests. While I certainly don't advocate ignoring the needs of your nation entirely - I'm not a transnationalist, in other words - when an evil of global impact is on the rise, it is not enough to cut deals simply to safeguard your own countrymen. Not only is it unconscionable to ignore others who are facing the same threat, but there's no guarantee that such an enemy will ultimately honor the terms of any agreements you make. Before World War II, the allied powers foolishly believed that they could throw Czechoslovakia under the proverbial bus and therefore avoid German attacks at home, but all they did was embolden Hitler. Today, meanwhile, there are many who would rather ignore the Islamist threat in exchange for a steady flow of lucrative oil, but that has not made Islamic radicals any less determined to destroy us. We don't know what might've happened to Tollana had Narim not intervened and stopped his government's plan, but I'm betting that Anubis would've gotten around to destroying them anyway once they were no longer needed because that's how evil works.
Writing: 9.0 / 9.0
Effective foreshadowing and presentation style take an ordinary plot and make it very entertaining to watch even on second viewing.
Acting: 9.0 / 9.0
Other than Garwin Sanford (Narim) whose portrayal felt forced to me (probably because the quasi-romantic aspect of the story between he and Carter was always forced on us out of nothing), even the guest stars were well above par and the regulars' reaction to the end of the Tollan civilization feels very appropriate and very real.
Message: 9.0 / 9.0
See comments above - I'll take a good anti-elitist romp any day.
Highlights:
TRAVELLE
You've often expressed a strong interest in obtaining some of our technology.
O'NEILL
You could say.
TRAVELL
In the past, the prevailing beliefs of the Curia have made any such arrangements impossible.
DANIEL
I'm sorry. What does this have to do with Omoc's death?
TRAVELL
Some members of the Curia have been slowly changing their point of view about our isolationist ways. Recently, the balance of the votes on these issues have been split. Omoc strongly supported the old ways.
DANIEL
So with his passing, those in favour now control the vote?
TRAVELL
We would like to propose an exchange.
O'NEILL
Ah, the sound of the other shoe…
TRAVELL
Please, Colonel. Have you ever known any political body to act solely without concern for its own needs?
O'NEILL
What do you want?
TRAVELL
We originally chose this planet for our new home because of its natural supply of Trinium. However, our nation has grown much quicker than anyone anticipated. And the resources are becoming depleted.
DANIEL
Always a good reason to reassess your isolationist ways.
O'NEILL
She offered us an ion cannon.
NARIM
I don't believe it!
O'NEILL
Neither did we.
DANIEL
In exchange for some Trinium.
NARIM
That's impossible! The Curia would never agree to that.
DANIEL
Well, apparently, Omoc was the swing vote.
NARIM
But it goes against everything we've stood for!
CARTER
Do you think this is what Omoc was so worried about?
NARIM
Of course, it must have been. As you know, another world once destroyed themselves because we shared our technology with them. That's why we have so strongly resisted sharing what we know with more primitive societies.
O'NEILL
You know, we prefer "less advanced" if you don't mind.
NARIM
My apologies. You know what I meant. If used the wrong way, this ion cannon could lead you to disaster.
HAMMOND
I'm ordering you to proceed with the negotiations.
O'NEILL
(getting up)
Okay.
HAMMOND
Colonel, under the circumstances…
O'NEILL
If you are going to recommend that I continue to be suspicious and skeptical…
HAMMOND
I wouldn't waste my time.
O'NEILL
Good thinking, Sir.
HAMMOND
Just remember this deal could change the course of our history.
O'NEILL
So—don't blow it?
HAMMOND
What you're sensing as trouble could be simple internal political wrangling.
O'NEILL
I understand that.
HAMMOND
Or we could be walking into a minefield.
O'NEILL
Thank you, Sir. These little chats of ours always bring me great joy and serve to ease my mind.
O'NEILL
Yeah. Uh—we're going to ask for a whole whack of space guns.
NARIM
This is much worse than I thought.
CARTER
Narim, we understand why you're concerned, but those ion cannons could save Earth one day.
DANIEL
You're just going to have to trust our people won't blow each other up with them.
O'NEILL
And if we do, we won't blame you, promise.
O'NEILL
Well, we've come up with a solution you may not have considered.
TRAVELL
Yes?
O'NEILL
Give us more than…
O'NEILL
DANIEL
(together)
One.
TRAVELL
How many would you require?
DANIEL
(hesitently)
Mmmmm—thirty…
O'NEILL
…eight.
DANIEL
Thirty-eight. Total.
TRAVELL
I see. Well, I understand your dilemma. Please, give me some time to present your request to the Curia.
O'NEILL
That went—well.
DANIEL
You think Narim's right about Omoc?
O'NEILL
I think this thing smells worse and worse by the minute.
DANIEL
Are you still willing to proceed?
O'NEILL
Well, I think it's the only way we're going to find out what's really going on.
DANIEL
The question is, how far do we go?
O'NEILL
Well, all we know is that these people might be willing to part with some very powerful weapons. I have No problem with that.
DANIEL
Oh—no surprise there.
O'NEILL
At worse, some people disagree on some philosophical level that I don't even care to understand.
DANIEL
Actually, worst, they killed someone to make sure this would happen.
O'NEILL
Now, see? That makes no sense to me.
DANIEL
Exactly. So, we push on blindly, then.
O'NEILL
Blindly, yes. But we still have our slightly heightened sense of smell.
HAMMOND
As far as what you told me, there seems to be an evil conspiracy among the Tollan Curia, whose apparent goal is to give us everything we ever wanted. That makes no sense.
O'NEILL
I said that.
TEAL'C
Unless the Tollan can not procure Trinium on their own as easily as they claim.
DANIEL
Travell did go to great lengths to convince us it was just a face-saving exercise to appease the nay-sayers.
HAMMOND
Do we have any idea what the Tollans are going to do with the Trinium?
O'NEILL
Lots and lots of very interesting and unspecific things.
CARTER
Sir, we could try tagging the first shipment, see where it goes.
HAMMOND
How?
CARTER
Well, we introduce a barely detectable radioactive isotope. If the Tollans catch it and enquire, we say it's a by-product of the purification process, and we've been unable to eliminate it entirely.
HAMMOND
Do it.
NARIM
What I am doing is nothing.
O'NEILL
Then help us.
NARIM
How?
CARTER
Tell us how to get into Travell's office and access her computer.
NARIM
What?
DANIEL
If there is a conspiracy, she's in on it.
TEAL'C
It was in fact Travell that offered us the ion cannons.
NARIM
It's impossible! There's no way.
O'NEILL
Narim, will you get your head out of your ass? You started this!
DANIEL
Your government is deceiving its people. You said yourself, that's the most heinous crime you can think of.
NARIM
I should have reported this to the security office long ago.
CARTER
But you can't because the Curia ultimately have more power.
TEAL'C
As a citizen, is it not your duty to investigate such a crime?
NARIM
The security systems prevent…
DANIEL
Travell was able to turn them off in her office.
NARIM
Why would she do that?
O'NEILL
So she could talk to us off the record.
NARIM
That is a severe violation of the governmental conduct code.
O'NEILL
Gee, what a shock!
CARTER
There was no random ion cannon test.
NARIM
It says a Goa'uld ship entered orbit, and that the ion cannons fired in defense.
DANIEL
"Ineffectively?"
NARIM
I don't see how that could be! Our ion cannons have always been successful against Goa'uld mother ships.
CARTER
Maybe this Goa'uld has developed shields that defend against them.
NARIM
That would be catastrophic. We have no other weapons capable of defending…
CARTER
Wait a second—this makes no sense. It says, "Despite resisting your attack, the ship left peacefully."
DANIEL
Yeah, right.
CARTER
Why would a Goa'uld mother ship impervious to your ion cannons just leave?
DANIEL
Okay, where does the Trinium come in?
NARIM
Trinium is required to house any device that generates our phase shift technology.
DANIEL
Are you saying this bomb is being made so it can go through anything?
NARIM
Theoretically, yes. Of course, that must be it. This weapon is intended to replace the ion cannon in defence of our planet.
CARTER
Sorry, Narim. That just doesn't add up. A Goa'uld would never drop by just so you could check out his new shield technology and then go away to give your people time to build a weapon to penetrate it.
NARIM
What else could have possibly happened?
NARIM
(to Travell)
How could you do this?
TRAVELL
I have done nothing alone, Narim. The Curia is acting in the interest of Tollana.
NARIM
You murdered Omoc!
TRAVELL
Had we not done what we did, there would be no Tollana to speak of.
TANITH
And there won't be if you do not fullfil your promise, Chancellor.
TRAVELL
Rest assured, we will deliver as promised.
NARIM
You and the Curia are not in power to make such deals on behalf of the Tollan people. We would rather fight and die than trade our technology to the Goa'uld.
TRAVELL
I wonder if you would you be so quick to make that decision were you in my position.
NARIM
We were caught by Travell and the Goa'uld the Curia have entered into a bargain with. I managed to escape with this.
[He holds his arm up to show the device.]
NARIM
But the entire security force of Tollana must be looking for me—and you for that matter.
O'NEILL
Uh, back up to that Goa'uld bargain part.
NARIM
The Tollan Curia have made a deal with a Goa'uld. His name is Tanith.
[Teal'c reacts to the name.]
O'NEILLEasy, big fella.
NARIM
What can we do?
O'NEILL
Destroy them.
NARIM
How?
O'NEILL
You tell me.
NARIM
Travelle is right. It's not so easy when the fate of your planet is in your own hands.
O'NEILL
Narim…
NARIM
Look, the Goa'uld will attack Tollana if the delivery is not made. You are asking me to destroy my own world.
O'NEILL
I am asking you not to destroy Earth and God knows how many other planets to save your own ass. I'm asking you to do the right thing, and you know it.
DANIEL
(to Travell)
You know exactly why you were building these devices and what they would be used for.
CARTER
You just didn't expect them to make you pull the trigger.
DANIEL
The Goa'uld have no choice. Earth is a protected planet. They can't do it themselves without having to deal with the Asgard.
TRAVELL
I had no choice either.
CARTER
Yes, you did.
DAVIS
We're getting a direct transmission from a Tollan long range communication device.
NARIM
(garbled transmission over radio)
…To get the people out. The Stargate was destroyed…
CARTER
Narim.
NARIM
All defenses failing…our ships attempting to escape are being shot down…I just want you to know that…
[The transmission dies into static.]
DAVIS
I'm sorry, Sir. That's it. The transmission just died.
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