I enjoy this episode for the emotional impact it has, but I think it's very flawed.
On a first viewing it's utterly confusing, and it's only after seeing it several times that I came to understand the only parts of it which are real are the beginning and end - although, it really makes it difficult to accept that. There are too many moments in the so called "dream" sequences which are far too solid, such as the addition of Rothman to the team, and the small moments where people are talking when Daniel isn't around (Jack and Rothman, Jack and Hammond, the moment after Daniel jumps through the gate).
Also, the episode is much too repetitive and moves at a snail's pace. We flashback to the "hear me, Daniel" moment too much. The actress who plays Sha're (can't remember how to spell her name) is particularly bad in this episode. I was never a big fan of hers, but she really doesn't do a good job here. For these reasons, I think the episode would have worked much better without her in it apart from the start/finish, and just played through with the twist at the end that the whole thing has been a dream sent by Sha're through the hand device.
The good points of the episode are that it's genuinely emotional, and there is some very heavy stuff between our characters. Daniel's eventual forgiveness of Teal'c is handled well. The fight at the start of the episode is all a bit over the top, and the big vehicle-mounted gun is kind of ridiculous. There's some pretty poor continuity in some scenes, notably on Abydos where the weather changes from dark and windy to bright sun between shots.
I really like the purple plant planet at the end, it's a great effect.
RATING: 6.5 out of 10
On a first viewing it's utterly confusing, and it's only after seeing it several times that I came to understand the only parts of it which are real are the beginning and end - although, it really makes it difficult to accept that. There are too many moments in the so called "dream" sequences which are far too solid, such as the addition of Rothman to the team, and the small moments where people are talking when Daniel isn't around (Jack and Rothman, Jack and Hammond, the moment after Daniel jumps through the gate).
Also, the episode is much too repetitive and moves at a snail's pace. We flashback to the "hear me, Daniel" moment too much. The actress who plays Sha're (can't remember how to spell her name) is particularly bad in this episode. I was never a big fan of hers, but she really doesn't do a good job here. For these reasons, I think the episode would have worked much better without her in it apart from the start/finish, and just played through with the twist at the end that the whole thing has been a dream sent by Sha're through the hand device.
The good points of the episode are that it's genuinely emotional, and there is some very heavy stuff between our characters. Daniel's eventual forgiveness of Teal'c is handled well. The fight at the start of the episode is all a bit over the top, and the big vehicle-mounted gun is kind of ridiculous. There's some pretty poor continuity in some scenes, notably on Abydos where the weather changes from dark and windy to bright sun between shots.
I really like the purple plant planet at the end, it's a great effect.
RATING: 6.5 out of 10
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