The Stargate Franchise - A First Timer's Watchthrough

[DonIago]

Well, the NID is just terrible, though IIRC there is a bit of hypocrisy at one point where Carter reports the situation knowing that surveillance will ensue, then gets pissed off that surveillance ensues (not counting the surveillance that IIRC then occurs without her knowledge).

I'm sure if Orlin had it to do over again he would have been less stalkerish. Ordinarily it would sound pretty...awkward...that he claims to be in love with Sam, but he gains insights into her much more quickly than we're used to. I mean, it may still have been a bit premature, but you don't need to be an alien before (thinking you're) falling in love before it's actually happened.

I don't know how much of it was the actor's choices versus the direction, but Orlin's unusual physical mannerisms, at least early on, are great as well, and his emotions are played so openly that it's impossible (for me at least) not to empathize with him. And the actor played Young Indiana Jones!

 

[JD]

With that out of the way, I really appreciated how this was a 3 part story, but each episode was it's own unique thing. Enemies was about getting back and dealing with the replicators (Nice to see them again, by the way), and the irony of the Replicators actually helping in a way to deal a blow to the Goa'uld, especially the death of Apophis.

I hope it's not to much of a spoiler to say that the Replicators will continue to be a recurring presence in the franchise pretty much until the end.

 

[Jayson1]

Yeah, his stalker behavior is understandable. He is not trying to be a perv on purpose. He simply does not understand human etiquette since he's not a human and his existence is incredibly lonely. And yes, his life is a tragedy once we learn what really happened on his planet. But it still a bit uncomfortable to watch. And it must have been super weird and uncomfortable for Carter, knowing this invisible being is in her house and can see her every move. Her privacy was definitely violated, not just by Orlin but also by the NID.

One way to think of Orlin IMO is Starman from that old movie which I am to be honest not sure how many people even still recall that movie. A alien takes a human form and falls for the female lead and yet doesn't full understand human norms or the culture.

Jason

 

[BK613]

The Fifth Man is a bit funky to me because I went to school and joined the Navy in Tyler, TX.

 

[tomalak301]

Rite of Passage

It's nice to see Cassandra again, even though she does come across as a bit of a Jerk. I guess that's the teenager in her, but I really wanted to talk about the actress who they recast to play her. She was Ally in the episode Bane, and I think she was my favorite part of that episode, so it was awesome to see her back here. She grew a lot in the three years though. As for the episode, that was a very strong one for Janet and Sam. Don't mess with motherly instincts, even though I wonder if the show had aired today if Cassanda would have been killed off. It would have been sad so I'm glad it didn't happen that way. It was nice to get more on what happened on Cassandra's planet and I expect to see that Goa'uld Nirriti again. Great episode.

 

[Romulan_spy]

Rite of Passage

It's nice to see Cassandra again, even though she does come across as a bit of a Jerk. I guess that's the teenager in her, but I really wanted to talk about the actress who they recast to play her. She was Ally in the episode Bane, and I think she was my favorite part of that episode, so it was awesome to see her back here. She grew a lot in the three years though. As for the episode, that was a very strong one for Janet and Sam. Don't mess with motherly instincts, even though I wonder if the show had aired today if Cassanda would have been killed off. It would have been sad so I'm glad it didn't happen that way. It was nice to get more on what happened on Cassandra's planet and I expect to see that Goa'uld Nirriti again. Great episode.

Did you skip the episode Red Sky?

 

[tomalak301]

Did you skip the episode Red Sky?

No I saw it this afternoon. Didn't really have much to comment on in, even though I did like the episode. Interesting "prime directive" issue episode and I especially liked the scene with Jack in the Asgard high council.

 

[Romulan_spy]

No I saw it this afternoon. Didn't really have much to comment on in, even though I did like the episode. Interesting "prime directive" issue episode and I especially liked the scene with Jack in the Asgard high council.

Ok. Thanks.

 

[tomalak301]

Beasts of Burden

An episode about animal domestication and slavery. I liked this one better than First Ones, and this was very strong for Daniel. Kinda interesting how he only cared for Chaka and then he thought it was right for the Unas to go fight the war for their freedom. I also always love Jack and Daniel's disagreements. Decent episode but probably the weakest of the Season so far.

 

[The Wormhole]

Although I like John de Lancie, I can't say I cared very much for Colonel Simmons or his story arc. It's like after realizing they were depicting the NID is a shady and evil agency, they decided to do a storyline adding some gray area to them, only to end up reinforcing the shady evil angle to them in the end.

 

[DonIago]

I was always a bit confused as to where the NID was in the government hierarchy and how they were able to pull the things they were pulling without apparently answering to anyone.

Sort of the S31 of the SG universe.

 

[tomalak301]

I was always a bit confused as to where the NID was in the government hierarchy and how they were able to pull the things they were pulling without apparently answering to anyone.

Sort of the S31 of the SG universe.

I get the feeling that's exactly what they were. Only on Stargate they were well known and not very hospitable and on Star Trek they weren't very well known, at least from DS9's perspective.

I'm also watching the Tollan season 5 episode right now, so the last one I saw was the one dealing with the Russians. I found it kinda predictable, in a two colonels antagonistic point of view. I am noticing this season though Jack seems a little more pissed than usual. It seems like he's getting impatient with the whole Stargate mission and it started with the Tok'Ra. I'm not sure if they are writing Jacks character to be unlikeable this season or not, or maybe I'm reading it wrong. It does feel different in a negative way from prior seasons.

 

[tomalak301]

Between Two Fires

Well, I was wondering what the Season long arc is, and I think now I have a pretty good idea. I was wondering what happened to Tanith after the events of "Enemies" and he escaped Apophis's ship via escape pod, and allied himself with another System Lord we don't have an idea who yet. They have been forcing the Tollan to give them weapons because these new motherships have found a way to defend against the Ion Cannons and we have a fully fledged Tollan conspiracy on our hands. The twists in this episode was amazing, and the Goa'uld using the Tollan to get to earth to go around the protection treaty really does add another wrinkle to what is already happening. This was such a great episode and it came at such a great time to pick up the energy in Season 5. BOB and The Tomb were ok, I guess decent by Season 4's standards, but this one just ups the anti and brings the arc for the back half of the season into full view. Great episode.

Also, one of my top 5 episodes in season 4 was 2010, and the next episode is called 2001. I think I have an idea of what that is about and I'm really really excited for it. After what I just watched, I'm even more excited for it. Season 5 is getting really good now I think.

 

[DonIago]

"Between Two Fires" is such a tragic episode. I ended up really feeling for (most of) the Tollan, because they didn't ask for what happened to them, and by the time SG-1 is brought into things it's really too late for them to make any difference.

 

[tomalak301]

2001

Was that a prequel, sequel, or both? Either way, that's how you do a follow-up. I was expecting something amazing to follow up 2010, and that episode more than exceeded my expectations. It was so much fun knowing what the doomsday scenario was and just watching Carter, O'Niell and Jackson figure it out and the tension rising all the way. When it ended with the possible bioweapon heading towards earth and Carter cut the rope just in time to close the Iris, that was exiting. I think the Acshen are one of the most fascinating races we've seen in this series. You talk about methodical, they are the epitome of playing the long game. They treat you well until they sterilize the entire population and take over your world. Like I said when I talked about 2010, sometimes the price for peace is too damned high. It was so exciting watching them figure out why Jack sent the note though. That might be a top 10 episode of the series for me.

@DonIago

It really is. We go from really not liking to Tollan in their first episode to really sad what happens to them and feeling the emotion Carter felt when she heard Narim's message. Even the highly advanced technological races can be tricked and the risk is higher that you have more to lose.

 

[DonIago]

I want to talk more about the Tollan, but that would involve spoilers. But yeah, so in two episodes Carter loses Narim and what's-his-face who she ended up married to by 2010. Black widow syndrome indeed.

I thought it was really cool that the Aschen were revisited (I would have understood if the series didn't want to tug on that particular thread), but I've seen some criticisms that the Aschen as a race were, as Jack would likely put it, "boring". They may be the closest to Vulcans that SG-1 ever gets.
I do think it's unfortunate that Kinsey goes from having reasonable concerns in "Politics" to increasingly mustache-twirling as the series progresses. Not Gul Dukat levels, but I would have liked it if he'd been played more as well-meaning but opposed to Our Heroes without weaving in self-righteousness and ambition.

 

[tomalak301]

I want to talk more about the Tollan, but that would involve spoilers. But yeah, so in two episodes Carter loses Narim and what's-his-face who she ended up married to by 2010. Black widow syndrome indeed.

I didn't even realize it was the same guy. I've been watching this show so much they really are starting to flow together.

That makes the final scene and his sacrifice even more heart wrenching.

 

[bigdaddy]

I was always a bit confused as to where the NID was in the government hierarchy and how they were able to pull the things they were pulling without apparently answering to anyone.

Or like any branch of the actual USA government.

This topic is only three weeks old and 19 pages. I need to swing in the sci-fi area more often.

 

[Romulan_spy]

I was always a bit confused as to where the NID was in the government hierarchy and how they were able to pull the things they were pulling without apparently answering to anyone.

Sort of the S31 of the SG universe.

My feeling is that they are a legit department in the Pentagon, but that's a cover for a more hidden agenda. That's how they are able to get clearance to go around and do stuff since they are a legit department. But of course, the NID members know their real secret agenda.

 

[Romulan_spy]

Between Two Fires

Well, I was wondering what the Season long arc is, and I think now I have a pretty good idea. I was wondering what happened to Tanith after the events of "Enemies" and he escaped Apophis's ship via escape pod, and allied himself with another System Lord we don't have an idea who yet. They have been forcing the Tollan to give them weapons because these new motherships have found a way to defend against the Ion Cannons and we have a fully fledged Tollan conspiracy on our hands. The twists in this episode was amazing, and the Goa'uld using the Tollan to get to earth to go around the protection treaty really does add another wrinkle to what is already happening. This was such a great episode and it came at such a great time to pick up the energy in Season 5. BOB and The Tomb were ok, I guess decent by Season 4's standards, but this one just ups the anti and brings the arc for the back half of the season into full view. Great episode.

Also, one of my top 5 episodes in season 4 was 2010, and the next episode is called 2001. I think I have an idea of what that is about and I'm really really excited for it. After what I just watched, I'm even more excited for it. Season 5 is getting really good now I think.

Yeah Between two fires is one of my favorite episodes of the entire series. The Tollan arc episodes are consistently really good IMO. This episode gives us a good mystery, a great plot twist, and of course SG1 saving the day again.