The Stargate Franchise - A First Timer's Watchthrough

[The Wormhole]

For as much as humanity seems to help the Tok'ra, the Tok'ra don't seem to want to recipricate.

As others have said, this becomes a recurring theme throughout the series. To quote O'Neill from a later episode, "for all the Tok'ra preach about coexistence, in the end we are just a nice place live."

Window of Opportunity

Well, that episode came as advertised. I freaking loved it. It was comedy done really well, and it had a ton of heart. We're all used to the time loop episodes, but when you have Richard Dean Anderson instilling some classic Jack wit into everything, it feels so much more fresh. We had Jack and Teal'c doodling in Daniel's office (The juggling was my favorite part), we had them golfing through the Stargate,

Hammond: (Angry) Colonel O'Neill, what the hell are you doing!?
O'Neill: (Shouting) In the middle of my back swing!?!?

That episode has a lot of great moments. Some other favourites of mine include Teal'c constantly getting the door slammed into his face, and the young guy on the other side saying "sorry, sir. I didn't see you there." Teal'c says "you say that many times. Next time I may not be as forgiving." Or when O'Neill tries to convince Daniel that he and Teal'c are in a time loop.
O'Neill: "I knew you were going to say that. Which is why last time, I recorded our conversation."
Pull out tape recorder, presses play. Nothing plays.
Daniel: "If time really is resetting, like you say, then that conversation you claim we had that you recorded never happened."
Teal'c: "Did I not warn you-"
O'Neill: "AH!"

 

[tomalak301]

I think Tok'ra strategy is also informed by their lack of ability to make new Tok'ra. It's why they take a more risk averse approach, every Tok'ra who dies forever depletes the population. Because of that they're so sure of their approach that they dismiss any other more risky approach that makes more sense if you can replace the dead.

Wasn't there an agreement at the end of the Tok'ra two parter that the Tok'ra could take humans who were near death to use as hosts? I mean I'm reading what you guys are saying and I'll probably get caught up by Sunday night in terms of more of this story but up to episode 6 of Season 4, SG-1 hasn't really done anything to disrupt the balance of power yet, other than maybe destroy Apophis's ship, which the Tok'ra asked them to do. It just feels like to me this "alliance" so far is pretty one sided.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Wasn't there an agreement at the end of the Tok'ra two parter that the Tok'ra could take humans who were near death to use as hosts? I mean I'm reading what you guys are saying and I'll probably get caught up by Sunday night in terms of more of this story but up to episode 6 of Season 4, SG-1 hasn't really done anything to disrupt the balance of power yet, other than maybe destroy Apophis's ship, which the Tok'ra asked them to do. It just feels like to me this "alliance" so far is pretty one sided.

It was an item under discussion.

Yeah, it's unclear what the Tok'ra get from the alliance besides another source of intel. And somebody to point out when someone on their side is compromised.

There are some episodes in season 4 and season 6 which suggest other things Tok'ra get from Earth. I don't remember when the season 4 episode is and if you've gotten to it yet.

 

[Romulan_spy]

Yeah, it's unclear what the Tok'ra get from the alliance besides another source of intel. And somebody to point out when someone on their side is compromised.

This is precisely the argument that the Tok'ra Council made against forming an alliance in the season 2 two-parter. They argued that they would not get anything of value from the alliance. Really, the only reason why the Tok'ra agreed to a tentative alliance in the first place is because Jacob agreed to the blending and because SG1 helped them evacuate.

 

[tomalak301]

This is precisely the argument that the Tok'ra Council made against forming an alliance in the season 2 two-parter. They argued that they would not get anything of value from the alliance. Really, the only reason why the Tok'ra agreed to a tentative alliance in the first place is because Jacob agreed to the blending and because SG1 helped them evacuate.

And that's not enough?

 

[Romulan_spy]

And that's not enough?

It should be if you ask me. But there is a fundamental philosophical disagreement between the Tok'ra and SGC on how to deal with the Goauld. You'll see what I mean when you get to the S4 finale Exodus.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

This is precisely the argument that the Tok'ra Council made against forming an alliance in the season 2 two-parter. They argued that they would not get anything of value from the alliance. Really, the only reason why the Tok'ra agreed to a tentative alliance in the first place is because Jacob agreed to the blending and because SG1 helped them evacuate.

Don't forget (Mid season 4):

Spoiler

Tanith

Also various times throughout the series where the humans ability not to die from things that kill symbionts comes in extremely useful. Also the fact Tok'ra simply do not suspect their own people of being compromised.

 

[Silvercrest]

Yeah ... for such paranoid people, they certainly are trusting.

 

[tomalak301]

Watergate

Decent episode, and it was quite a surprise to see Marina Sirtis on an episode of Stargate SG-1, but I was distracted by her Russian accent to really fully enjoy this episode. I did like the idea of the Russians rescuing the gate that was submerged under water though from "Nemesis".

 

[The Wormhole]

Ooh boy, does that episode ever set up some story threads that will be active for the rest of the series.

 

[tomalak301]

Ooh boy, does that episode ever set up some story threads that will be active for the rest of the series.

I'm not surprised. I mean the entire world shouldn't run through the US, yet so far in 4 seasons it really has. I think it might be time to start expanding this universe to other countries, and I can see a Cold War-like story happening between Russia and the US in this series, because why not. I just couldn't get over Sirtis's acting in this episode to really "love" it.

I did see the next episode, the one about the Unas and Daniel forming a bond. Not much to say about that one other than what is it with Sci Fi shows doing the whole enemy mine thing. I've never actually seen the movie, but TNG did it with The Enemy and Enterprise did it with Dawn. The only thing good about that episode was Teal'c's assertiveness when he thought everyone of the search party has become Goa'ulds.

 

[The Wormhole]

That Unas episode is itself kind of meh, but it does have some follow up episodes in the later seasons which are pretty damn good.

 

[David cgc]

I always loved Daniel's line when he mentions to the Unas as they're sharing an energy bar that he met his father-in-law the same way. That, and Teal'c shooting the winged Goa'uld over his shoulder.

 

[tomalak301]

I think I've come to a bit of a lull in season 4. It started with the Russian episode, then the Enemy Mine Episode, the episode about the two aliens laying the claim to the same planet was pretty good, and now I'm watching the one where the SG-1 team has lost their memories and are working in what looks like a mine. I can't help but feel like the writers have looked to Star Trek scripts for episode ideas so far. Granted, scifi troupes have been used all over the map, but this current episode I'm watching strikes me as being Stargate's version of Workforce, the crew losing memories and having to work.

I'm hoping this season improves soon. I still say my favorite season so far is Season 2.

 

[Jayson1]

I think their was a few stinkers in season 4 and they did a few things early on I didn't like such as adding Annise and even small style things like Tea'c goatee and they dolled up Carter's hair early on which I don't like because they were trying to hard in selling sexy at first and I like how Carter is a realistic military woman and not just their for sex appeal which of course was still issues back in the day on tv.

Jason

 

[tomalak301]

Point of No Return

This isn't a great episode, but I just loved how they wrote Martin as this conspiracy nut and he actually had it validated. I bet he and someone like Fox Mulder would get along really well, and it was sad to see Martin's home planet decimated. I wonder if we may see the deserters again. I also just want to say that this group of episodes had a bit of Battlestar Galactica Alumni theme to it. In Scorched Earth, we got the guy who played Gaeta, and in this episode we got the guy who played Doral. It's fun seeing actors you know in other parts. Heck, the guy who played Martin was even in the 30 Days episode of Voyager.

I still think this season is in a bit of a lull, but PONR was probably my favorite episode (or second, close to Scorched Earth) that I saw tonight. We're in the back half of the season now so hopefully things start picking up, and I have more Tok'ra story to look forward to, such as why I feel like they've had a big change of heart from the prior two seasons to being untrusting in Season 4.

 

[Jayson1]

Point of No Return

This isn't a great episode, but I just loved how they wrote Martin as this conspiracy nut and he actually had it validated. I bet he and someone like Fox Mulder would get along really well, and it was sad to see Martin's home planet decimated. I wonder if we may see the deserters again. I also just want to say that this group of episodes had a bit of Battlestar Galactica Alumni theme to it. In Scorched Earth, we got the guy who played Gaeta, and in this episode we got the guy who played Doral. It's fun seeing actors you know in other parts. Heck, the guy who played Martin was even in the 30 Days episode of Voyager.

I still think this season is in a bit of a lull, but PONR was probably my favorite episode (or second, close to Scorched Earth) that I saw tonight. We're in the back half of the season now so hopefully things start picking up, and I have more Tok'ra story to look forward to, such as why I feel like they've had a big change of heart from the prior two seasons to being untrusting in Season 4.

I think it's safe to say Martin and his friends will return again. In very great and memorable stories.


Jason

 

[BK613]

I can't help but feel like the writers have looked to Star Trek scripts for episode ideas so far. Granted, scifi troupes have been used all over the map, but this current episode I'm watching strikes me as being Stargate's version of Workforce, the crew losing memories and having to work.
.

Beneath the Surface first aired in 2000. Workforce p1 first aired in 2001. So maybe the other way around?

 

[Romulan_spy]

That Unas episode is itself kind of meh, but it does have some follow up episodes in the later seasons which are pretty damn good.

And I forget. Is it this episode or another Unas episode that explains the origin of the Goauld? Because I did think the connection between the Goauld and the Unas was an interesting one.

 

[Romulan_spy]

@tomalak301 The next 3 episodes, Tangent, The Curse, and The Serpent's Venom, are really good IMO.