This episode is a lot like that movie with the same name, isn't it?
Enemy Mine
- Thread starter splodenode
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Since Daniel doesn't attack villainous soldiers to save his Unas fosterchild, the similarities are a little remote, I'd say.
SG1 always had a strong Air Force/general military influence. The episode reads like a manifesto declaring that oil could be pumped by friendly local governments, if they were treated with respect. And it is the obligation of the civilian government to devise peaceful means to achieve necessary goals before putting soldiers into harm's way, especially when they foolishly underestimate the natives. Of course, General Vidrine declares the willingness of the US military to annihilate the natives if it's a matter of us or them (admittedly an insane position to ascribe to the world's sole superpower, but there you are.) Even so, despite the promilitary aspect, the episode is insufficiently bloodyminded to win the interest of the bbs. Enemy Mine is offhandedly dismissed as "boring."
SG1 always had a strong Air Force/general military influence. The episode reads like a manifesto declaring that oil could be pumped by friendly local governments, if they were treated with respect. And it is the obligation of the civilian government to devise peaceful means to achieve necessary goals before putting soldiers into harm's way, especially when they foolishly underestimate the natives. Of course, General Vidrine declares the willingness of the US military to annihilate the natives if it's a matter of us or them (admittedly an insane position to ascribe to the world's sole superpower, but there you are.) Even so, despite the promilitary aspect, the episode is insufficiently bloodyminded to win the interest of the bbs. Enemy Mine is offhandedly dismissed as "boring."
stj is right. Although the episode title is a reference to the film and the original short story of the same name, it has little resemblance to either. The earlier Unas story, “The First Ones,” had more in common with it.
I agree less with the proposition that the episode is “insufficiently bloodyminded to win the interest of the bbs.” I think it's a fairly serviceable hour, aided by the appearance of Michael Rooker and detracted by the brief role of Richard Dean Anderson. The episode's proposition that the natives must choose between being annihilated or choose to labor in the mines in order to exchange their extremely valuable naquada (or whatever it was they were mining) in exchange for much less valuable food is...well...the less thought about the better. Which is usually the case with Stargate SG-1.
I agree less with the proposition that the episode is “insufficiently bloodyminded to win the interest of the bbs.” I think it's a fairly serviceable hour, aided by the appearance of Michael Rooker and detracted by the brief role of Richard Dean Anderson. The episode's proposition that the natives must choose between being annihilated or choose to labor in the mines in order to exchange their extremely valuable naquada (or whatever it was they were mining) in exchange for much less valuable food is...well...the less thought about the better. Which is usually the case with Stargate SG-1.
The episode was pretty explicit that the Unas made the deal because they very much desired the naquada be used to fight the go'a'uld, not just because they were pitiful savages who couldn't feed themselves and needed to trade for food.
The episode didn't dwell, but the implication was not just that Daniel and company avoided a Custer's Last Stand scenario. Good for them personally, but it was also good for the Unas because the sequel would have been the annihilation of the Unas, just as the Sioux victory at Little Big Horn led to invasion by three US forces.
The three Unas episodes, The First Ones, Beast of Burden and Enemy Mine, are very strong drama, with quite interesting political overtones. (Other Unas appearances feature go'a'uld parasites, really.) Which, since SG1 is basically adventure/comedy as serious as National Treasure or the like, means they should be well worthy of comment.
But, practically no one else at this bbs would rate any as more than "serviceable," or "okay." Most people just call it boring, a meaningless term that serves to condemn when one either can't or won't articulate the reasons.
The episode didn't dwell, but the implication was not just that Daniel and company avoided a Custer's Last Stand scenario. Good for them personally, but it was also good for the Unas because the sequel would have been the annihilation of the Unas, just as the Sioux victory at Little Big Horn led to invasion by three US forces.
The three Unas episodes, The First Ones, Beast of Burden and Enemy Mine, are very strong drama, with quite interesting political overtones. (Other Unas appearances feature go'a'uld parasites, really.) Which, since SG1 is basically adventure/comedy as serious as National Treasure or the like, means they should be well worthy of comment.
But, practically no one else at this bbs would rate any as more than "serviceable," or "okay." Most people just call it boring, a meaningless term that serves to condemn when one either can't or won't articulate the reasons.
i'd like to have seen more unas episodes. think they'll turn up in universe?
Doubt it. The Stargate Universe producers have said that their aliens will be in District 9 territory (i.e. non-humanoid CGI creations). Moreover, the series takes place so far away from the Unas and everything else SG-1 related that I don't expect them to be showing their faces on the series anytime soon. Then again, reading spoilers about the final three episodes of the season, perhaps the producers won't be able to help themselves when it comes to such things. They certainly couldn't help themselves when it came to Stargate Atlantis.
I enjoyed the Unas episodes simply because it is nice to see aliens who are truly alien. The Unas speak their own language, practice their own customs, live their own life. Not very many aliens like that in Stargate or sci-fi in general.
And I'll have to agreen that we likely won't see Unas in SGU. After all, I was under the impression the Unas were native to the Milky Way, so that prevents any SGU appearances.
And I'll have to agreen that we likely won't see Unas in SGU. After all, I was under the impression the Unas were native to the Milky Way, so that prevents any SGU appearances.
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