Stargate: SG-1: Volume 51 (Season 10 - Vol 2)

General Landry has arranged for SG-1 to spend the weekend relaxing in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere. However, Doctor Jackson is busy studying some ancient Egyptian artefacts, while Teal'c, Carter and Vala are investigating a mysterious beast that seems to be killing the inhabitants of another planet. Unfortunately this means that Mitchell is stuck on his own with Landry. When a beast starts roaming the woods near their position, it appears that a similar creature to the one that Teal'c, Carter and Vala has encountered is alive on Earth...

Uninvited is a bit of a poor episode. The basic plot revolves around a race of slug creatures that can alter the DNA of any creatures they come into contact with. The resulting beasts (which we don't see for ages) are pretty silly looking - they look like they've walked straight out of a poor man's Resident Evil game.

There is an attempt to create suspense - we don't see the creature in full until late in the episode. I have to admit that this did work, as the first time it appears in full it made me jump out of my chair.

Their are some very funny scenes between Ben Browder and Beau Bridges. If Bridges duck call fails to make you laugh then you really need to seek professional help for depression.

Sadly though the end result is a bit of a mess. Sloppy monsters and clichéd plot twists make this a rather unsatisfying offering.

William Waring (director) and Jim Menard (director of photography) provide the audio commentary. I loved the way they described the monster as an "evil piece of bubblegum". It was also interesting to hear that the various locations they generally use to shoot sequences in woods and forests are becoming rarer and rarer as they are being levelled for building.

The next off-world mission will be Mitchell's 200th trip through the Stargate. However, before he reaches that milestone Martin Lloyd returns to the SGC looking for help with his new Wormhole X-Treme! movie plot. General Landry is in no position to refuse to help as the Pentagon has ordered SG-1 to provide as much assistance as possible, believing that the project will provide an excellent cover story for the Stargate program...

200 is Stargate: SG-1's 200th episode, and what a treat the writers and producers have cooked up for fans. This is an episode that die-hard fans will love.

The show pokes fun at just about everyone - from the actors, producers, and directors, through to the heads of the studio and network. There are so many homages paid here to other shows that it's one episode you'll want to watch at least twice. It's also worth keeping the remote control close to hand, as you're sure to be hitting that pause button and rewinding to rewatch segments.

I won't spoil any of the major plot points, but it was a shame that Corin Nemec (who played Jonas Quinn) didn't make an appearance. It's also a pity that Don S. Davis (General Hammond) only makes a vocal appearance.

There are two audio commentaries for this episode. One is provided by executive producers Brad Wright and Robert C Cooper, while the second is provided by Martin Wood (director). Interesting revelations on the commentaries include the fact that for the invisible O'Neill scenes Richard Dean Anderson did indeed get suited up in a green costume - amazing when you consider that he really didn't have to; and that those scenes were originally written because the producers didn't know if Anderson would return to play O'Neill. Also of interest is Martin Wood's explanation of what "Donkey Face" means.

While on an away mission, SG-1 are quickly beamed away from the planet when some form of weapon is discharged - killing all of the inhabitants. Amongst the missing is Adria, Vala's daughter - who is now a young woman. At first the SGC think that the Ori are responsible for the deaths, until a familiar visitor arrives through Earth's Stargate to ask for SG-1's help...

Counterstrike is an interesting episode that shakes things up a bit. It looks like the Ori threat is intensifying as they lay waste to those civilisations that can't be converted, and another race has plans of its own for the Ori. Fans of Serenity/Firefly will be pleased to see that Morena Baccarin stars as Adria the Orici.

The relationship between Daniel and Vala is starting to be cemented a little more - as Daniel confides to Vala that he knows what it is like to lose a loved one.

Joseph Mallozzi (executive producer) and Andy Mikita (director) provide the audio commentary on this episode. There is an interesting discussion about the fact that Nathan Fillion (Serenity/Firefly) was originally discussed for playing the role of Mitchell - although apparently he was never approached as he'd already made it clear that he wanted to get away from the whole sci-fi captain role. However, be warned there is a spoiler in this audio commentary too - there is a discussion about something that happens to Daniel in a future episode.

Vala finds herself waiting tables in a diner after she loses her memory. As Vala was kidnapped prior to losing her memory, SG-1 follow up a number of leads in their attempts to rescue her...

Memento Mori opens with Vala working in a diner and thwarting two armed robbers. The rest of the episode is told in flashback as we discover how she managed to end up as a waitress. The relationship between Vala and Daniel also gets a little more interesting.

Executive producers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie provide the audio commentary. Their story about Goa'uld and Orici pronunciation problems is about the only really noteworthy comment. That's not to say that it's not an interesting commentary.

Extras on the disc include the aforementioned five audio commentaries; SG-1 Director's Series: Memento Mori Featuring Peter Deluise (12 mins a look behind the episode with the director. This is pretty impressive - mainly because there were quite a few stunts that we got to see being made); Stargate: SG-1: Behind the 200th (18 mins behind the scenes on the 200th episode. The highlight for me was the fact that you actually got to see what "Donkey Face" actually looked like); Photo Gallery; and Production Design Gallery.