Nightwalkers
Generally
Nice review, Petra.
On first watching, I remember thinking I found it weird that Jack didn't appear at all. Mostly I think because this is the first episode ever where he doesn't appear at all (unless I've forgotten one). And back then, I remember thinking it wasn't the wisest decision given they'd just lost Daniel/Shanks, to take out Jack/Rick for a whole show; to lose one fair enough, to lose two seemed careless. Moreover, I was expecting the episode to deal with Jack's recovery (and hoped for some nice Sam/Jack scenes) so was doubly disappointed.
Of course, now, several years and rewatches later, the whole arc is better understood when watching Nightwalkers and there is the knowledge that both Daniel and Jack actually feature heavily in the next episode, Abyss. But back then, with all respect to Teal'c/Judge, Sam/Amanda and Jonas/Corin, I think that it coloured mine (and a lot of people's) initial reaction to the episode that the two original characters from the Stargate-verse were in effect MIA and that the episode seemed jarring in the flow of the story from Frozen given its homage to the X-Files and the underlying note of being played for laughs.
In rewatching since then, I actually do enjoy Nightwalkers as a bit of a light-hearted romp, and the mini-team of Sam, Teal'c and Jonas. It did allow Sam to express more of her leadership side; enabled Teal'c and Jonas to get more of the action (love the scene in the bar and the diner).
However, it is one of those episodes that stretches the believability to the maximum (a whole town is under the influence of the Goa'uld and they all just blithely accept the injection as a virus outbreak/innoculation??). I also think the whole issue of Sam being Goa'ulded even briefly is swept under the carpet just far too rapidly and speaking of Sam...
Sam and Jack
So, my first issue with Nightwalkers is why the SGC and SG1 simply allow Jack to be left in the Tok'ra's custody; effectively leaving him behind. Yes, the Tok'ra are an ally but I can't see it myself without something else going down that forced the SGC and SG1 to *have* to leave him such as the Tok'ra making a fuss and suggesting that they weren't trusted. I personally hold to Jack, in regaining consciousness briefly with the initial implantation, also telling them to go and that it's OK - because while Sam might begrudingly follow an order to head back to Earth, I can't see Teal'c doing it without Jack's explicit agreement.
However, it does seem as Petra pointed out that Sam is staying in touch with the Tok'ra closely and monitoring progress from afar. Moreover, I love the scene where she wakes up and takes the phone call, very rapidly as though she's not really fully asleep and is waiting for a call in the middle of the night perhaps to tell her that the Tok'ra are bringing Jack home.
I like Petra's point too that Sam works out quite quickly that Jonas is trying to act dumb and that she doesn't fall for it - which does kind of allude to her having the same knowledge of Jack. She knows he plays dumb occasionally and she's aware of how smart he is really.
Other than that, I would also say that Jonas questions Sam about how Colonel O'Neill feels about him as though he accepts that she would know the Colonel's thoughts - that Sam would either be the Colonel's confidante or would know him so well to just know - which isn't shippy per se but I think indicates how their new team-mate sees their connection and bond.
Generally
Nice review, Petra.
On first watching, I remember thinking I found it weird that Jack didn't appear at all. Mostly I think because this is the first episode ever where he doesn't appear at all (unless I've forgotten one). And back then, I remember thinking it wasn't the wisest decision given they'd just lost Daniel/Shanks, to take out Jack/Rick for a whole show; to lose one fair enough, to lose two seemed careless. Moreover, I was expecting the episode to deal with Jack's recovery (and hoped for some nice Sam/Jack scenes) so was doubly disappointed.
Of course, now, several years and rewatches later, the whole arc is better understood when watching Nightwalkers and there is the knowledge that both Daniel and Jack actually feature heavily in the next episode, Abyss. But back then, with all respect to Teal'c/Judge, Sam/Amanda and Jonas/Corin, I think that it coloured mine (and a lot of people's) initial reaction to the episode that the two original characters from the Stargate-verse were in effect MIA and that the episode seemed jarring in the flow of the story from Frozen given its homage to the X-Files and the underlying note of being played for laughs.
In rewatching since then, I actually do enjoy Nightwalkers as a bit of a light-hearted romp, and the mini-team of Sam, Teal'c and Jonas. It did allow Sam to express more of her leadership side; enabled Teal'c and Jonas to get more of the action (love the scene in the bar and the diner).
However, it is one of those episodes that stretches the believability to the maximum (a whole town is under the influence of the Goa'uld and they all just blithely accept the injection as a virus outbreak/innoculation??). I also think the whole issue of Sam being Goa'ulded even briefly is swept under the carpet just far too rapidly and speaking of Sam...
Sam and Jack
So, my first issue with Nightwalkers is why the SGC and SG1 simply allow Jack to be left in the Tok'ra's custody; effectively leaving him behind. Yes, the Tok'ra are an ally but I can't see it myself without something else going down that forced the SGC and SG1 to *have* to leave him such as the Tok'ra making a fuss and suggesting that they weren't trusted. I personally hold to Jack, in regaining consciousness briefly with the initial implantation, also telling them to go and that it's OK - because while Sam might begrudingly follow an order to head back to Earth, I can't see Teal'c doing it without Jack's explicit agreement.
However, it does seem as Petra pointed out that Sam is staying in touch with the Tok'ra closely and monitoring progress from afar. Moreover, I love the scene where she wakes up and takes the phone call, very rapidly as though she's not really fully asleep and is waiting for a call in the middle of the night perhaps to tell her that the Tok'ra are bringing Jack home.
I like Petra's point too that Sam works out quite quickly that Jonas is trying to act dumb and that she doesn't fall for it - which does kind of allude to her having the same knowledge of Jack. She knows he plays dumb occasionally and she's aware of how smart he is really.
Other than that, I would also say that Jonas questions Sam about how Colonel O'Neill feels about him as though he accepts that she would know the Colonel's thoughts - that Sam would either be the Colonel's confidante or would know him so well to just know - which isn't shippy per se but I think indicates how their new team-mate sees their connection and bond.
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