All in all it wasn't a bad episode, but it was far from the best.
As a 3 part story arc, it was pretty good. However, I do have a few issues.
Origin seemed a little rushed. They really didn't need to do the Gerak story line. The whole Jaffa rebellion would have better been addressed in a separate episode.
Additionally, the Prior coming to SGC and Milky Way immediately could have been left to a later episode as well. Starting off another episode with perhaps a half-dozen Priors walking into a Stargate would have made for the beginnings of a really good episode.
Seemed to me like the whole Ori/Daniel thing should have been more than enough to fill the whole episode.
As for the Ori, they make good potential villains, however at this point I just don't feel that invested in them. Yes, they are potentially very evil, and make intriguing villains, but I just don't feel that we've seen enough about them to really feel how deep that evil can be.
For example, it would have been alot more interesting if they'd burned Pharus along with Daniel and Vala. The death by Darth Vader force powers was a little anti-climactic. A scene of torture mixed with sympathy and pity from the Prior prior to burning would have been a bit more disturbing and probably would have been more emotionally meaningful.
Similarly, I really didn't like the Mitchell tossing the communication device into the Stargate as a way of getting them back. It just seemed a little contrived. How much better would it have been for plot development if Daniel and Vala had burned to death, but upon their death they had been returned to their bodies? The emotional impact of Daniel/Vala burning, then physically dying at the SGC, then reviving would have resulted in a much more disturbing and dramatic character development. Not to mention the potential plot device the communication device could serve in the future. Though the concept of Daniel burning to death is unpleasant, it would have definitely put Daniel in a far more interesting place emotionally, as well as given more impetus to that sense of fear/trauma.
Finally, I really would have liked it had the Ori had talked about sending ships/missionaries while Daniel was still in their presence. Gods don't need to plot secretly. I can imagine it going something like this...
DJ: You can kill me, but I don't care what you say. I won't change what I believe.
Doci: Thank you Daniel Jackson, for you have shown us how great is the need to free your people.
DJ: I... I'm not sure I understand.
Doci to Prior: Gather the faithful. We shall build ships and send missionaries to cleanse the Evil and show the unfaithful the true path. Soon they shall all know the path of true enlightenment. And those who do not follow the path, shall be destroyed.
Prior : Hallow are the Orii.
Doci: We are done with him. Remove him from our sight.
I personally see no reason why they shouldn't be laying the guilt on Daniel extra thick. I would really liked to have seen Daniel in more a sense of despair.
Perhaps talking with Vala in the infirmary, wondering what happened to their hosts. Then, maybe ending with them in the briefing room and mumbling something like, "Maybe they're not Gods, but their powers are real. They're coming General Landry. They're coming..."
This could have made for an excellent season arc, with the focus being on trying to co-ordinate allies/etc. in preparation for the coming of the Orii.
Who knows, they may be able to salvage it still.
SirGalahad
As a 3 part story arc, it was pretty good. However, I do have a few issues.
Origin seemed a little rushed. They really didn't need to do the Gerak story line. The whole Jaffa rebellion would have better been addressed in a separate episode.
Additionally, the Prior coming to SGC and Milky Way immediately could have been left to a later episode as well. Starting off another episode with perhaps a half-dozen Priors walking into a Stargate would have made for the beginnings of a really good episode.
Seemed to me like the whole Ori/Daniel thing should have been more than enough to fill the whole episode.
As for the Ori, they make good potential villains, however at this point I just don't feel that invested in them. Yes, they are potentially very evil, and make intriguing villains, but I just don't feel that we've seen enough about them to really feel how deep that evil can be.
For example, it would have been alot more interesting if they'd burned Pharus along with Daniel and Vala. The death by Darth Vader force powers was a little anti-climactic. A scene of torture mixed with sympathy and pity from the Prior prior to burning would have been a bit more disturbing and probably would have been more emotionally meaningful.
Similarly, I really didn't like the Mitchell tossing the communication device into the Stargate as a way of getting them back. It just seemed a little contrived. How much better would it have been for plot development if Daniel and Vala had burned to death, but upon their death they had been returned to their bodies? The emotional impact of Daniel/Vala burning, then physically dying at the SGC, then reviving would have resulted in a much more disturbing and dramatic character development. Not to mention the potential plot device the communication device could serve in the future. Though the concept of Daniel burning to death is unpleasant, it would have definitely put Daniel in a far more interesting place emotionally, as well as given more impetus to that sense of fear/trauma.
Finally, I really would have liked it had the Ori had talked about sending ships/missionaries while Daniel was still in their presence. Gods don't need to plot secretly. I can imagine it going something like this...
DJ: You can kill me, but I don't care what you say. I won't change what I believe.
Doci: Thank you Daniel Jackson, for you have shown us how great is the need to free your people.
DJ: I... I'm not sure I understand.
Doci to Prior: Gather the faithful. We shall build ships and send missionaries to cleanse the Evil and show the unfaithful the true path. Soon they shall all know the path of true enlightenment. And those who do not follow the path, shall be destroyed.
Prior : Hallow are the Orii.
Doci: We are done with him. Remove him from our sight.
I personally see no reason why they shouldn't be laying the guilt on Daniel extra thick. I would really liked to have seen Daniel in more a sense of despair.
Perhaps talking with Vala in the infirmary, wondering what happened to their hosts. Then, maybe ending with them in the briefing room and mumbling something like, "Maybe they're not Gods, but their powers are real. They're coming General Landry. They're coming..."
This could have made for an excellent season arc, with the focus being on trying to co-ordinate allies/etc. in preparation for the coming of the Orii.
Who knows, they may be able to salvage it still.
SirGalahad
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