Sorry I'm so late with this review. I've been sick all week and it's hard to concentrate. I hope this makes at least some sense.
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Summary
SG1 are ambushed and rescued by a bunch of Amazon Jaffa Warrior Women. They will only negotiate with Sam because her reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside. Sam offers to help them be freed from the oppression of the goa’uld Molech, who has ordered the death of all female Jaffa born within his domain, by giving them tretonin. After an intense “discussion†(read foreplay) between Teal’c and the leader Ishta, she agrees to a trial. While some of the warrior women are sent to the SGC to try the tretonin, Chris Judge (being no dummy) writes himself some romance. He even gives Daniel a little love interest; although noticeably younger than the usual alien princess who falls for him. Jack, on the other hand—and somewhat to his chagrin—gets no action because CJ is also a shipper, and the Jaffa women seem to know he belongs to Sam.
But, there is some dissension in the ranks. After a cat fight between Ishta and one of her lieutenants that sadly for the men in the audience happens off screen, Ishta’s told that her other lieutenant has died because the tretonin didn’t work. Now in solidarity once again, Ishta and her warriors go off to ambush some Jaffa and procure a symbiote for the next girl in line who will shortly die without one.
The ambush is successful, but Ishta discovers that at least one of the Jaffa they have killed was a part of the Free Jaffa movement. She refuses to take the symbiote. The one who opposed her is almost killed. Eventually, with a lot of tears and touching moments, the little girl and the malcontent are saved and all of them are apparently put on tretonin and sent on their way with enough food and supplies to continue their fight for freedom for all Amazon Jaffa Warrior Women. And of course it ends with Teal’c getting some more lip action in the gateroom before Ishta departs.
Favorite Scene
Sam tries to explain her “special relationship†with Jack.
Favorite Lines
Wait, you don't s'pose that's why they want us, do you?
To…to mate with? No, no, I don't think so.
'Cos you know me, I'm all for helping people.
Oh God!
Generally
I’m not a big fan of Jaffa episodes, but this one would probably be my favorite. I like that it shows a different aspect of Jaffa society. It also isn’t just a Teal’c story. For me it has more of a team feel. Sam plays an important leadership role, Daniel pours on the charm and helps bring reconciliation at the end. Jack doesn’t do much I admit, but he doesn’t feel as absent to me as in many episodes of season 7. He is supporting his team.
I have to say that I think CJ is an excellent writer. The Changeling, which he also penned, was brilliant and this is a great follow-up. He had to find a group of Jaffa both brave enough and desperate enough to try the tretonin. These women fighting to save their children from a sentence of death was the perfect choice. The connection to earth history and mythology is also well placed as Molech was a god of the Ammonites in Old Testament times whose worship consisted of passing children through fire.
I also like how even the minor characters are interesting and well-rounded. For example, we see very little of Ka’lel but she comes back later to be the representative of the Ha’ktyl on the free Jaffa council. I buy this because she does appear to be someone of station and respect who helps us and maybe even takes Mala’s place as one of Ishta’s seconds at the end. It’s those little touches that make the world seem full and complete and I appreciate that about CJ’s writing.
One dynamic that I found interesting in this ep was between Sam and Teal’c. First, we see some rare friction. Teal’c is upset that the Ha’ktyl are killing other Jaffa to procure symbiotes and Sam takes their side. She feels an empathy for them that Teal’c doesn’t. He believes they should accept death (like Drey’ac) rather than do what they must to survive. Sam points out that they have been forced into the situation and are doing it to protect their children.
Sam a person Teal’c respects as a leader and warrior in her own right. Yet, it seems that it takes a little time and a push from Ishta (pointing out his own pride and some of his own cultural baggage) to grant the Ha’ktyl women an equal respect. But I do think that because of his association with Sam he does have a better perspective than most Jaffa on the value and strength these women can add to his cause.
Sam and Jack
I think there are some interesting aspects of the ship presented in this episode.
The first thing I wonder is what made it so obvious to Mala that Sam and Jack were close? We don’t see much interaction between the two of them, but she clearly picks up on something that prompts her to ask about it later. And that just shows that these two aren’t doing a very good job of hiding their true feelings from anyone but each other.
There’s that little exchange when they are walking in the woods and Jack offers to “help.†Sam’s reaction is very unusual for her. She doesn’t try to hide her surprise and annoyance at his lame joke.
He’s annoyed when he is mostly ignored and Sam is the one that ends up being the one they want to deal with. I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t have confidence in Sam to handle things. A lot of times when they’re together he lets Sam do most of the talking (especially as he tends to run his mouth off or make earth cultural references no one understands). I think he just doesn’t like being out of the loop.
At any rate, by the time we get to Sam and Mala talking in the infirmary Mala has noticed there is something between them. Sam calls it a “special relationship,†which says to me that she doesn’t really know how to classify it or explain it but it is very important to her. She clearly sees it as more than the “mutual respect†Mala mentioned when she went straight to the disclaimer, “We aren’t . . . We don’t . . . †(Fish?) I think Mala used the mutual respect line to give Sam an out when she became clearly uncomfortable. I don’t believe that’s all that Mala saw between Jack and Sam because she next turned the conversation to her lost love. Sam could certainly sympathize with a relationship that is forbidden by rank and station. But it also I think further bolsters Sam’s fear that love leads to terrible pain and loss. She could see herself in Mala’s place, and her heartbreak came from breaking the rules and choosing love over duty.
Banner by Me
Summary
SG1 are ambushed and rescued by a bunch of Amazon Jaffa Warrior Women. They will only negotiate with Sam because her reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside. Sam offers to help them be freed from the oppression of the goa’uld Molech, who has ordered the death of all female Jaffa born within his domain, by giving them tretonin. After an intense “discussion†(read foreplay) between Teal’c and the leader Ishta, she agrees to a trial. While some of the warrior women are sent to the SGC to try the tretonin, Chris Judge (being no dummy) writes himself some romance. He even gives Daniel a little love interest; although noticeably younger than the usual alien princess who falls for him. Jack, on the other hand—and somewhat to his chagrin—gets no action because CJ is also a shipper, and the Jaffa women seem to know he belongs to Sam.
But, there is some dissension in the ranks. After a cat fight between Ishta and one of her lieutenants that sadly for the men in the audience happens off screen, Ishta’s told that her other lieutenant has died because the tretonin didn’t work. Now in solidarity once again, Ishta and her warriors go off to ambush some Jaffa and procure a symbiote for the next girl in line who will shortly die without one.
The ambush is successful, but Ishta discovers that at least one of the Jaffa they have killed was a part of the Free Jaffa movement. She refuses to take the symbiote. The one who opposed her is almost killed. Eventually, with a lot of tears and touching moments, the little girl and the malcontent are saved and all of them are apparently put on tretonin and sent on their way with enough food and supplies to continue their fight for freedom for all Amazon Jaffa Warrior Women. And of course it ends with Teal’c getting some more lip action in the gateroom before Ishta departs.
Favorite Scene
Sam tries to explain her “special relationship†with Jack.
Favorite Lines
Wait, you don't s'pose that's why they want us, do you?
To…to mate with? No, no, I don't think so.
'Cos you know me, I'm all for helping people.
Oh God!
Generally
I’m not a big fan of Jaffa episodes, but this one would probably be my favorite. I like that it shows a different aspect of Jaffa society. It also isn’t just a Teal’c story. For me it has more of a team feel. Sam plays an important leadership role, Daniel pours on the charm and helps bring reconciliation at the end. Jack doesn’t do much I admit, but he doesn’t feel as absent to me as in many episodes of season 7. He is supporting his team.
I have to say that I think CJ is an excellent writer. The Changeling, which he also penned, was brilliant and this is a great follow-up. He had to find a group of Jaffa both brave enough and desperate enough to try the tretonin. These women fighting to save their children from a sentence of death was the perfect choice. The connection to earth history and mythology is also well placed as Molech was a god of the Ammonites in Old Testament times whose worship consisted of passing children through fire.
I also like how even the minor characters are interesting and well-rounded. For example, we see very little of Ka’lel but she comes back later to be the representative of the Ha’ktyl on the free Jaffa council. I buy this because she does appear to be someone of station and respect who helps us and maybe even takes Mala’s place as one of Ishta’s seconds at the end. It’s those little touches that make the world seem full and complete and I appreciate that about CJ’s writing.
One dynamic that I found interesting in this ep was between Sam and Teal’c. First, we see some rare friction. Teal’c is upset that the Ha’ktyl are killing other Jaffa to procure symbiotes and Sam takes their side. She feels an empathy for them that Teal’c doesn’t. He believes they should accept death (like Drey’ac) rather than do what they must to survive. Sam points out that they have been forced into the situation and are doing it to protect their children.
Sam a person Teal’c respects as a leader and warrior in her own right. Yet, it seems that it takes a little time and a push from Ishta (pointing out his own pride and some of his own cultural baggage) to grant the Ha’ktyl women an equal respect. But I do think that because of his association with Sam he does have a better perspective than most Jaffa on the value and strength these women can add to his cause.
Sam and Jack
I think there are some interesting aspects of the ship presented in this episode.
The first thing I wonder is what made it so obvious to Mala that Sam and Jack were close? We don’t see much interaction between the two of them, but she clearly picks up on something that prompts her to ask about it later. And that just shows that these two aren’t doing a very good job of hiding their true feelings from anyone but each other.
There’s that little exchange when they are walking in the woods and Jack offers to “help.†Sam’s reaction is very unusual for her. She doesn’t try to hide her surprise and annoyance at his lame joke.
He’s annoyed when he is mostly ignored and Sam is the one that ends up being the one they want to deal with. I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t have confidence in Sam to handle things. A lot of times when they’re together he lets Sam do most of the talking (especially as he tends to run his mouth off or make earth cultural references no one understands). I think he just doesn’t like being out of the loop.
At any rate, by the time we get to Sam and Mala talking in the infirmary Mala has noticed there is something between them. Sam calls it a “special relationship,†which says to me that she doesn’t really know how to classify it or explain it but it is very important to her. She clearly sees it as more than the “mutual respect†Mala mentioned when she went straight to the disclaimer, “We aren’t . . . We don’t . . . †(Fish?) I think Mala used the mutual respect line to give Sam an out when she became clearly uncomfortable. I don’t believe that’s all that Mala saw between Jack and Sam because she next turned the conversation to her lost love. Sam could certainly sympathize with a relationship that is forbidden by rank and station. But it also I think further bolsters Sam’s fear that love leads to terrible pain and loss. She could see herself in Mala’s place, and her heartbreak came from breaking the rules and choosing love over duty.
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