Stargate SG-1: Politics and Within the Serpent’s Grasp

Stargate SG-1 Politics

Thought I had forgotten about the Stargate blog posts, hadn’t ya? Actually…I hadn’t. Turns out there was a massive Stargate rewatch schedule happening online, using the hashtag #sgrewatch, and since I knew I was at the end of season one (and had watched a disc of season two already), I decided to hold off posting the final blog about season one of Stargate SG-1 since the month of August was devoted to season one.

I’m going to retroactively add the #sgrewatch hashtag to the Stargate posts, and I’m looking forward to continuing this series in season two during September! But first…the second and last episodes of Stargate SG-1, Season One!

Stargate SG-1 – Season One – Episode 21 – Politics

This episode is what is known as a “clip show”, meaning more than half (probably) of the episode is comprised of clips and scenes from prior episodes. A good way for TV producers to save money, but annoying to devoted audiences.

Recap

Following the events of Daniel Jackson’s trip to an alternate reality, he now is faced with the task of explaining where he was and just how important it is for SG-1 to prevent this Goa’uld attack on Earth. Unfortunately, the meddling Clinton Administration government (what? the episode is called politics!) doesn’t see any value in the Stargate program and, after lengthy meetings with the team, shuts down the program.

Thoughts

This episode isn’t one of the great ones. Nor even a good one. It does an admirable job being a clip show, showing the clips in the guise of a military briefing, but it only goes so far. This episode is notable for featuring the first appearance of Ronny Cox as Senator Kinsey, who shows up quite often later on.

Hammond: It costs nearly a billion dollars just to turn the lights on around here.
O’Neill: How about a bake sale? Yard sale? Garage…?
Hammond: This is what I look like when I’m not laughing, Colonel.
O’Neill: Car wash?

Best to move on.

Stargate SG-1 Within the Serpent's Grasp

Stargate SG-1 – Season One – Episode 22 – Within the Serpent’s Grasp

Season finale of season one of Stargate SG-1!!

Recap

The Stargate program is shut down. Everyone is all mopey. SG-1 grows a pair and decides to defy orders and gate to the Stargate address that Daniel Jackson was given in the alternate universe. Only instead of a planet, they arrive on a space ship orbiting a planet, mere moments before it takes off in hyperspace. Discovering that Apophis is not on the ship, but actually his “son” in the body of Skaara, SG-1 sets about trying to both rescue Skaara and destroy the attack ship. SG-1, when confronting Skaara, is captured, and the episode and season ends with SG-1 staring out the viewpoint at gunpoint as the ship hurtles toward Earth.

Thoughts

Good season finale. This episode marks the first appearance of the Zat gun, which is sort of the phaser of Stargate: one shot stuns, two shots kills, and three shots disintegrates. Very handy and useful weapon for the rest of the show. It’s also good to see Skaara on the screen again, the best link to the movie that the TV franchise had. This episode also keeps the comedy high while still staying firmly out of “camp” territory:

Teal’c: If the coordinates are for a Goa’uld world which is not on the Abydos cartouche, the Goa’uld will most likely not expect us. I believe a medical attack could be successful.
O’Neill: Surgical attack, Teal’c. It’s called a surgical attack.

Looking forward to seeing how our heroes survive this latest harrowing experience! Stay tuned til next fall on Showtime (or, rather, in a week or so on Stu Station)…