Spirits (213)

[liminoid]

I don't know. They've got some pretty sweet casinos out where I live.

"Perhaps you've forgotten about my extensive experience with the Native Americans, a proud and solvent people." -Shawn Spencer

[liminoid]

I don't know why people had problems with this episode. It's just your formulaic "shapeshifting aliens who can make stuff disappear and turn into animals in order to protect displaced Native Americans." It's so...intuitive.

[SG3Marine]

I don't understand how SG-11 missed that totem pole, it seemed to be right next to the base camp.

[LeftHandedGuitarist]

It seems I had forgotten about most of this episode. I started it up not feeling very enthusiastic - from my memory of it, it involved SG-1 on a planet with Native Americans and some misunderstanding/adventure there. I had completely forgotten about the whole second half based in the SGC, which is by far and away the best part of the episode.

I had also forgotten that there is some great humour in this episode, from Tanane's simple and charming responses

-"Can we have our weapons back?"
-"Okay."

to Jack and Daniel's brilliant banter

"Are you you?
"Yeah. You?"
"What?"

"How can I be sure you're you?"
"... Because."
"Yeah, okay."

this episode kept me chuckling throughout, which is always a good sign. It's an episode of two halves (something Stargate often surprised me with and pulled off well), and both have something to offer but the second half is more enjoyable by a long way. The aliens themselves (really freakin' weird looking) were one of the downsides for me though. I hated them from the moment we first see them, they have a serious attitude problem, not at all in line with the benevolent spirits we've been told they were.

They are a very interesting creation though, and their shape shifting abilities make things more fun. Don S. Davis gets to do some fun silly stuff in this one, watch his face when he makes some people disappear! The actors underneath the makeup are completely unrecognisable, as I looked them up afterwards and realised I had seen them both in several other shows but would never have guessed.

Unfortunately, it's an episode that's easily forgettable (as I demonstrated here). Never followed up, and not strong enough to stand on its own. It introduces a new side to General Hammond as he seems mostly okay with his orders to decieve the native population and steal the trinium, and that doesn't feel quite right. I think Jack got some good action in this episode, taking the arrow through the arm can't have been fun but he gets to shine as the episode progresses.

- Does trinium reappear in the show? I know my memory for these things is never the best but I honestly don't remember it and they were making a big deal out of it.

- Sam's first command, it appears earlier than I remembered/expected. She does a pretty good job I think, I like the way she handles the situation where SG-11 reappear and has to mediate a little bit.

- The wolf in this episode was a pretty good actor!

- Tonane is great fun, wonderfully easy going. I love his little half-stoned "cool!" expression as he reappears at the end of the episode.

- Captain Connor is of course from season 1's 'The First Commandment'. I love that he recurrs here (continuity rocks), but it's a shame we don't see him again. The actor went on to a fairly large role in several seasons of 24 as I recall, so he was happily busy I guess.

- Also, I'm glad to see they haven't forgotten about Doctor Warner.

RATING: 6 out of 10

[Lieutenant Sparrow]

God I love Tonane. His easy going attitude is great. The ep starts off slowly but really picks up near the end.

[Krisz]

My immediate reaction to watching this was to listen to 'Return to Innocence' by Enigma!

Very much, the save the environment from evil mining interests message here.

Jack's reaction to his superiors wanting to continue mining and destroying the planet behind the indigenous peoples' backs was definitely inspired by his own feelings towards the environment, RDA being an active supporter of the 'Sea Sheppard' organisation that protests and actively stands up to those who destroy marine life.

This episode has some of the more weird looking aliens, they were a little unsettling, great makeup!!!

[dtheories]

While it's slightly sad that an important, environmental question must be cloaked in humor (Jack and Daniel, Daniel's storage room tour), one can't but enjoy the ride. There's also Rodney A. Grant as a peaceful and curious mediator between the Spirits and the Tauri shown opposite Sam, who, as in Thor's Hammer, asserts her need to be right and her lack of imagination when in command. Oh, Jacob, what you created.

[Jae'a]

My LiveJournal post
I love that wolf!

[NowIWillDestroyAbydos]

What to say, a yawn episode.

I can't really say anything about it except that one guest star has a cool attitude, and Jack had an arrow shot through his arm.

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

- Does trinium reappear in the show? I know my memory for these things is never the best but I honestly don't remember it and they were making a big deal out of it.

Yes, it appears repeatedly in later seasons

- The wolf in this episode was a pretty good actor!

You mean the dog.

The special effect when Jack gets shot is terrific. If you watch it frame by frame you can actually see it hit his arm and go through.

I'm not that wild about the episode as a whole.

Seaboe

[hlndncr]

I consider this just an OK episode. I don't hate it, but I'll never love it.

For some reason I always look at AT in this one, especially the off-world scenes, and think she looks extra pretty. Don't know why. Maybe because she's in short sleeves, which is rare.

I think Sam as a scientist tends to be skeptical of the mystical and metaphysical, that's why she's impatient with people like Tonane and Kendra and their belief in spirits and signs.

I thought she was great in command of the team. Now if only we actually got to see that in Season 8 (and S9 and S10).

[majorsal]

i really enjoyed 'spirits', b/c it was great seeing sam in charge!

originally it wasn't supposed to be sam leading the mission (rick had to leave to be there for the birth of his daughter), but i felt amanda handled it greatly and i felt a definite leadership vibe... in fact, it was surprising how easily and normal her leading was for me, at this so early stage in stargate. too bad sam didn't get a chance to be in charge like that (leading the team, etc) until season 8...

the native american guy was a hoot!

my only complaint was... as soon as jack (rick actually) was able to return, the focus on him being lead on this mission was returned to him too, even though it made no sense to the story. the native american guy (i can't remember his name right now) created a relationship with sam, not jack, so you'd think he'd have stayed dealing with sam...

but anyways, i enjoyed the ep.

[Nut_ty]

There are 2 important issues covered in this episode. I definitely see the environmental angle on dealing with mining (human methods being too violent) and protecting the planet. The other issue (as Jack pointed out) is ignoring the rights of the Salish, and taking advantage of them.

This episode could have fallen into the stereotype of an advanced group of people vs. the less advanced, i.e., the English vs. the Native Americans. This trap was avoided by Jack’s outrage against the Pentagon’s plan of stealing the trinium behind the backs of the Salish, and with Daniel’s role as a mediator to keep the dialog going with the Spirits.

[muziqaz]

I loved this episode. 1st half was so calming with all that forest scenes. And Tanane was a delight. So easy going and cool
The alien attitude was a bit of concern to me, but that can be ignored.
Great episode to me

[mathpiglet]

I was disappointed in George Hammond's attitude of 'we'll mine the stuff and the heck with the consequences'. Although I'm sure he was pressured from above, I thought he'd be a little gentler.