Sorry in advance for the babble...
I can see a change in attitude on Daniel's part towards Vala in this ep, more so than in the previous eps. At the end of TTTB I noticed that look after Vala waved at Teal'c and I think then is when he starts 'softening' his attitude towards her.
In TPTB he is frustrated at the beginning, even more so when she begins talking in a goa'uldish voice and for her encouraging the villagers to believe she is still Qetesh.
When she does tell the villagers the truth she's trusting him that they'll believe her and wants to encourage the villagers not to fall for the Prior's words. When they imprison her, not only is she questionning her trust in him, he's kicking himself coz he let her down. Most of his frustration towards her in that scene feels like it's his own frustration at himself coming out on her. If she hadn't been imprisoned what would he have done? Probably given her some kind of speech where how good the truth feels, then told her he was proud of her for doing the right thing? I bet it was a huge step for someone like Vala to do that, admit her lies to people who were quite willing to believe them, and put her own neck on the line by doing so. He would've recognized that (and did) and rewarded her someway. ( think of that what you may )
Instead he feels like he let her down and moves to right his wrong by arguing her case in the Mal Doran.
When Vala helps the villagers with the healing device it's not for any personal gain and while I doubt it's the first time ever she's done that, I bet it's been a while. The more irritated and frustrated Vala gets, the more Daniel seems to see that she's not doing this for herself, perhaps not even to redeem herself, especially when she begins to admit defeat. When she's sitting on the steps to Qetesh's throne, hand device idle and he comes to her, he's there to encourage her and comfort her. At that point I think Daniel is beginning to see the Vala behind the mask. Again, what could've happened if Mitchell hadn't interrupted? He knew she was upset but had to go tend to the villager who got sick again.
When she's crying over the dead villager he doesn't touch her, but lowers his voice, assuring her that she did everything she could. Again, seeing the Vala that is hidden.
The big thing for me is mostly that. If I watch D/V interaction at the beginning of the episode it's much different than towards the end. Haven't watched the next ep in a while so I'm not sure how it continues or if Vala goes back to her usual self.
Actually watching this ep for about the third time tonight as I write this and again I've thought of something else. When Vala is packing up Qetesh's treasure I wonder if she's scared to tell them the truth and hiding it behind the 'I'm in it for myself' attitude and/or trying to convince SG-1 that by telling the villagers the truth will force them into believing the Ori. Is she scared of what they will do to her after what happened to her previously? Or more scared of what they will think of her/damaging her pride. Daniel's angry and argues with her and rants but then when he grabs her arms, he begins to plead with her to trust him. That's a pretty big leap of faith for Vala to take, but she does anyway.
Ok, think I've gone around and around with this and it's taking me far too long to post it...
I can see a change in attitude on Daniel's part towards Vala in this ep, more so than in the previous eps. At the end of TTTB I noticed that look after Vala waved at Teal'c and I think then is when he starts 'softening' his attitude towards her.
In TPTB he is frustrated at the beginning, even more so when she begins talking in a goa'uldish voice and for her encouraging the villagers to believe she is still Qetesh.
When she does tell the villagers the truth she's trusting him that they'll believe her and wants to encourage the villagers not to fall for the Prior's words. When they imprison her, not only is she questionning her trust in him, he's kicking himself coz he let her down. Most of his frustration towards her in that scene feels like it's his own frustration at himself coming out on her. If she hadn't been imprisoned what would he have done? Probably given her some kind of speech where how good the truth feels, then told her he was proud of her for doing the right thing? I bet it was a huge step for someone like Vala to do that, admit her lies to people who were quite willing to believe them, and put her own neck on the line by doing so. He would've recognized that (and did) and rewarded her someway. ( think of that what you may )
Instead he feels like he let her down and moves to right his wrong by arguing her case in the Mal Doran.
When Vala helps the villagers with the healing device it's not for any personal gain and while I doubt it's the first time ever she's done that, I bet it's been a while. The more irritated and frustrated Vala gets, the more Daniel seems to see that she's not doing this for herself, perhaps not even to redeem herself, especially when she begins to admit defeat. When she's sitting on the steps to Qetesh's throne, hand device idle and he comes to her, he's there to encourage her and comfort her. At that point I think Daniel is beginning to see the Vala behind the mask. Again, what could've happened if Mitchell hadn't interrupted? He knew she was upset but had to go tend to the villager who got sick again.
When she's crying over the dead villager he doesn't touch her, but lowers his voice, assuring her that she did everything she could. Again, seeing the Vala that is hidden.
The big thing for me is mostly that. If I watch D/V interaction at the beginning of the episode it's much different than towards the end. Haven't watched the next ep in a while so I'm not sure how it continues or if Vala goes back to her usual self.
Actually watching this ep for about the third time tonight as I write this and again I've thought of something else. When Vala is packing up Qetesh's treasure I wonder if she's scared to tell them the truth and hiding it behind the 'I'm in it for myself' attitude and/or trying to convince SG-1 that by telling the villagers the truth will force them into believing the Ori. Is she scared of what they will do to her after what happened to her previously? Or more scared of what they will think of her/damaging her pride. Daniel's angry and argues with her and rants but then when he grabs her arms, he begins to plead with her to trust him. That's a pretty big leap of faith for Vala to take, but she does anyway.
Ok, think I've gone around and around with this and it's taking me far too long to post it...
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