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Colonel O'Neill and chums arrive on a planet to witness what
appears to be the missing SG-11 team engaged in combat. However,
not all is what it seems.
If
there is one thing this series is good at, it's action, of
which there is plenty in the first episode on this DVD - Rules
of Engagement. However, the bangs and flashes are not
at the expense of a solid script, which whilst not particularly
sophisticated, delivers the goods. As usual Richard Dean Anderson
(Colonel O'Neill) steals many of the scenes, but that seems
to be down the to fact that he gets a lot of the best dialogue.
All in all, this is a highly enjoyable episode, but not one
that makes for challenging viewing.
Whilst
rescuing Kasuf, Daniel encounters his wife, Sha're, now host
to a Goa'uld. She attempts to kill Daniel, but not before
Teal'C intervenes and ends Sha're's life. But where is her
son.?
Forever
in a Day gives Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson) a chance
to stretch his acting legs, convincingly portraying his anger
at Teal'C and the pain of his loss over Sha're's death. A
little more emotion would have been welcome, but you still
feel sympathy for Daniels' plight. The sub-plot of him leaving
the SG-1 team and returning to civilian life is a cliché,
as is his predictable subsequent return, but the revelations
concerning Sha're's son are startling, whetting the appetite
for future episodes. What will have you scratching your heads
are the many dream sequences. Pretty soon you're not sure
what is reality and what isn't, but hey, it's all part of
the fun! A very moving and involving episode, but did Teal'C
really have to kill Sha're? Couldn't he have just wounded
her?
SG-1
visit a planet where everyone is suffering from amenesia.
Eventually, it transpires that SG-1's old foe Linnea is at
the centre of it all.
Past
and Present is an absorbing episode, which has at the
centre of it the question of self and identity. I was very
much reminded of the season three Babylon 5 episode
Passing Through Gethsemane, the themes being similar.
A strong supporting cast help make the script work, especially
the actress playing Linnea. Daniel Jackson enjoys a little
love-interest, but it really does seem too soon, even if he
does make reference to his wife's death and his reluctance
to become emotionally involved again. Of particular note is
the design for the alien planet, looking very much like something
out of Fritz Lang's Metropolis. A dramatic episode that tackles
an intriguing moral issue.
Captain
Carter receives word that her father has been captured by
Sokar, and is languishing in what basically amounts to Sokar's
re-creation of Hell. A rescue mission is mounted.
Jolinar's
Memories draws on the season two two-parter The Tok'ra,
where Carter's father was saved from cancer by becoming host
to a renegade Goa'uld. The production team's realisation of
the moon Sokar has transformed into Hell is very impressive,
and although we see little of Sokar, what we do see is quite
chilling. What will have you leaping out of your chair and
screaming for volume 11 is the cliffhanger ending to this
episode. Prepare to be gob-smacked!
Volume
10, as with previous DVD releases, is presented in the original
widescreen format. Early Stargate SG-1 DVDs were a
little lacklustre in their presentation, and didn't sport
any additional features. Volume 10 comes replete with de rigeur
animated menus, and a profile on Teal'C (Christopher Judge).
The profile is enjoyable to watch, and Christopher Judge comes
across as interesting and very likeable. The picture quality
of this DVD has also improved on previous offerings, which
were somewhat grainy.
Jeff Watson
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