My Journey through Stargate SG1 - episode by episode.

[TryWhistlingThis]

Then I truly think that you will enjoy Stargate Universe. It focuses less on big explosions and builds tension from the interactions a dialogue between the characters. Not that it doesn't have action. The eight episode Time is a great example of an action-y episode, while the tenth episode, Justice is good example of an episode where tension is created from the interactions between the characters.

In all honesty, SGU looks like it's cloning Battlestar Galactica a little too closely. While I enjoyed BSG, I was glad to have finished it as the tone and environment of the show really took its toll. For some reason, from the parts i've seen, I can see SGU going down this path. For now, i'll stick to SG1. But again, I think action is essential in anything sci-fi. In fact, the latest Star Trek film is my favourite out of all of them and is pretty much the most action packed in the series to date but with a strong story to back it up. Again, give me plenty of action but not at the expense of the story.

To finish the point, here's some of my favourite action/adventure/sci-fi films that pay close attention to character tension and story while blowing the roof off the cinema at the same time:

- Casino Royale (The Martin Campbell version)

- The Dark Knight

- Star Wars: A New Hope

- Indiana Jones (mainly the first three, not that I hated the fourth, but the original trilogy achieved a stronger balance)

- Terminator 2

- Star Trek (2009)

- Heat

- Collateral

- Black Hawk Down

- The Matrix (this is a perfect example of having just as much spectacle as substance. Unfortunately, it didn't carry over too well when it came to the sequels)

[EvilSpaceAlien]

In all honesty, SGU looks like it's cloning Battlestar Galactica a little too closely. While I enjoyed BSG, I was glad to have finished it as the tone and environment of the show really took its toll. For some reason, from the parts i've seen, I can see SGU going down this path. For now, i'll stick to SG1. But again, I think action is essential in anything sci-fi. In fact, the latest Star Trek film is my favourite out of all of them and is pretty much the most action packed in the series to date but with a strong story to back it up. Again, give me plenty of action but not at the expense of the story.

I don't know if I would say that SGU is cloning Battlestar. Sure there are similiarities in that the two shows are both dark and they are both character studies. Otherwise I see no cloning. BSG could get very depressing at times, while SGU is still capable of maintaining a sense of humour, albeit a bit more cynical andl subtle than the two previous shows.

[TryWhistlingThis]

3.12: Jolinar's Memories

This half of the story provides an outlook for a very promising two parter. I really loved this episode for its darker tone, story and production. In terms of the production, I think it's the best i've actually seen for an SG1 episode so far. Sokar's depiction of hell is pretty much how I have picture it since I was a child. Hats off once again to Amanda Tapping who delivered a compelling performance. I also very much liked the plot twist of Apohis' return. However, I must admit that just before he removed his helmet, I kind of guessed it would be him. But it was still effective nevertheless.

The only place I felt this story let itself down was perhaps with a few of the plot devices. To begin with, the team went down without having actually established an escape route as intended by Samantha accessing Jolinar's Memories (no pun intended on the title there). The plot was further contradicted when Aldwin advised O'Neill that he would not send the team down to the surface without an escape plan ready. If the time came for them to go with still no way out, he would leave the team on the ship. However, O'Neill agrees to go down to the surface with very little question. I found this a little week given the amount of times we've been shown that O'Neill is battle tactic savvy when it comes to missions. This should be his mindset all the more in a rescue operation where it is stated that no one (with the exception of one) has ever escaped.

That aside, it was still a great episode. Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the more menacing and haunting tone of this episode and it also set up what I anticipate will be a very worthy second installment. Until then

4 out of 5

[lkg1980]

Joilinar's Memories and The Devil You Know is my favorite 2 part episode. I like the plot because it's simple they go to Netu to rescue Jacob, when you watch late season 2 part episodes there are multiple plots and it feels like your watching a feature film. I really like the production value the Netu set is one of my favorites next to the Hadante set (Season 2 Prisoners) sadly you won't see many more of these.

Christine

[TryWhistlingThis]

3.13: The Devil You Know

I must agree with lkg1980 in that this is the best SG1 two parter i've seen so far. Usually with the second installment of an episode from any episode, the tension has usually hit its peak halfway through the first part. Instead, it just got bigger with this episode. I also continued to love the Temple of Doom style setting...

I think the only floor I found here was the destruction of the planet and the ship. When you think about it, while the entire enemy are not dead, an act of Genocide was committed. Surely it's now debatable as to who has the moral highground. I'm certainly not glorifying the Goa'uld, but those types of tactics shown by the The Tok'ra aren't worlds apart from their adversaries. In fact, it was comparable to the Hiroshima bombing, but on a much larger scale.

That's where I would have liked to have seen this episode gone: "ok, we've lived to die another day but at what cost?" It's especially surprising that this wasn't asked by a human, O'Neill specifically who would appreciate the mindfulness of unnecessary deaths given how objective driven he is. Hence, the episode could have been perfect by challenging the moral and ethical ethos of the protagonists a lot more.

But, this episode still remains (for now) as the strongest 2-parter in the series.

4 out of 5

[kusanagi]

Jolinar's Memories and The Devil You Know easily get 5 out of 5. Great two-parter!!

[magictrick]

3.13: The Devil You Know

I think the only floor I found here was the destruction of the planet and the ship. When you think about it, while the entire enemy are not dead, an act of Genocide was committed. Surely it's now debatable as to who has the moral highground. I'm certainly not glorifying the Goa'uld, but those types of tactics shown by the The Tok'ra aren't worlds apart from their adversaries. In fact, it was comparable to the Hiroshima bombing, but on a much larger scale.
4 out of 5

You will find more and more of these situations as you continue watching, and will be disappointed because they are never addressed. Don't get me wrong, there are a few episodes where moral questions come into play on a larger scale, but there are also episodes such as this one that leave you wanting some answers. That's just the type of show SG-1 was designed to be.

[TryWhistlingThis]

You will find more and more of these situations as you continue watching, and will be disappointed because they are never addressed. Don't get me wrong, there are a few episodes where moral questions come into play on a larger scale, but there are also episodes such as this one that leave you wanting some answers. That's just the type of show SG-1 was designed to be.

This is very much the impression i'm getting. It's not putting me off in any manner, but I suppose that's why they made SGU.

[magictrick]

This is very much the impression i'm getting. It's not putting me off in any manner, but I suppose that's why they made SGU.

Exactly I was gonna put in something about SGU in my response but figured it would get too long.

[TryWhistlingThis]

3.14: Foothold

I think this is the most action packed an episode of SG1 has been - and I loved it! While some of the plot was predictable in that SG1 had been overrun and the ultimate goal was to restore the facility to its original state, the tension between the SG1 team and the adversaries was played out well. Maybourne seemed a lot more humble than usual, perhaps in some areas humble to the extent that he was totally out of character.

But one thing that came through was his concern and support for the SG1 program. One part that didn't make a lot of sense was when Samantha Carter was experimenting with the sound waves, only to be interrupted by the Hammond imposter. Why did he suddenly back out when he heard the alarm/announcement. Surely it would have only taken 10 seconds to finish the job.

Other than that, it was a thoroughly entertaining 42 minutes.

4 out of 5

[kusanagi]

I really like Foothold. I love to see Carter dealing with the crisis

Gets 4 out of 5 as well

[TryWhistlingThis]

I must say that out of everyone on the SG1 team, Carter is the one that has grown on me the most. She's the perfect cross between Jackson and O'Neill through her ability to be both the woman of intellect and action.

[kusanagi]

I must say that out of everyone on the SG1 team, Carter is the one that has grown on me the most. She's the perfect cross between Jackson and O'Neill through her ability to be both the woman of intellect and action.

[TryWhistlingThis]

Sorry for taking so long to post! My Internet has been down for the last 2 week because my service provider ended up terminating the account when all we asked of them was to amend the monthly rate. The situation got so bad that they ended up giving us the remainder of the contract free! But, point being, I am back!


3.15: Pretense

As a law student, I really appreciated the morals discussed in this episode. The wayt he legal drama played out along with the action toward the end fitted the episode quite suitably.

5 out of 5

3.16: Urgo

As you can probably predict I found the title character here quite annoying. The episode opened with a really promising premise. In fact, I was expecting it to be a time travel type episode. It wasn't all bad as there were some good one-liners from O'Neill and the story did at least have something going on. But, just not enough to sustain the 45 minutes.

3 out of 5

[magictrick]

Pretense was great. I pretty much liked any episode that features the Nox in some form.

I didn't like Urgo the first time I watched it either. The second time it was more bearable but not that great. I think your 3/5 rating is pretty accurate. Although I have to say Dom Deluise (RIP) did a great job with the character, just not my cup of tea.