Redemption 1 & Redemption 2: Corin Nemac becomes a member of the team. The problem here is that Corin Nemac is supposed to be Daniel's replacement, but he comes off more flyboy jock than geek. Though Michael Shanks is quite buff (rather startlingly so), he always managed to project more diplomatic/investigator persona than soldier persona. Colin, on the other hand, looks like a gunny from JAG.
Still, he is a sweetie with a dry sense of humor.
Some good problems are presented. Anubis is a fairly boring bad guy, but the episode includes strong McKay-Carter interactions and a smart way to get rid of the Russian gate. (I love how the Russians would rather rent out their Stargate than fund their own program: it's so real!)
Descent: Okay underwater adventure. Like the next episode, this episode is prepping us for Stargate: Atlantis.
Frozen: And Stargate becomes the X-Files!
This was the first episode of the entire series that felt like a total non-story to me: stuff happens only for what needs to take place later on.
Nightwalkers: Adrian Cole is an interesting problem. Unfortunately, he will eventually be paid-off in a dismal fashion.
The episode also makes complete sense in terms of characterization.
Jack isn't the ascending type. And Daniel isn't the sit-back-and-not-get-involved type. I love how it is heavily implied that Daniel helped solve the problem of getting Jack out.
(Even if this episode is a retelling of A Beautiful Mind. For awhile, after A Beautiful Mind came out, everybody was doing these types of episodes!)
The Other Guys: A fabulous episode! Patick McKenna and John Billingsley are hilarious. I love the Trek references though my favorite line is Jack's: "Why look everybody—he's got Coombs with him!"
I must mention Felger shooting randomly when he and Coombs arrive on the ship and Coombs walking indifferently down the middle of the corridor while Felger tries to act cool by skulking in the shadows.
My only problem is that the ending implies the whole thing was a dream. According to the commentary, the events happened, just not the kiss.
Allegiance: Tok'ra and Jaffa tale. Interesting tensions are presented. There are some GREAT Jack moments, which underscore his role as a natural leader. Also, Melek—a fairly interesting character—is introduced.
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| Baal isn't related to this episode--just those clothes! |
The episode has an "ends justify the means" plot with no definitive villains. I like how the "ends" themselves are quite problematic which is very real (no such thing as utopias on Stargate).
This episode also explains the origin of the Tok'ra which is fairly interesting. The Queen of the Tok'ra is a real class act.
Prometheus: This is a conspiracy theory episode. Unfortunately, the SGC as a big secret society breaks the magic for me. A faux fun secret society like in Men in Black is one thing; a real secret society turns the good guys into people invested in protecting their specialness: erk.
But at least I now know where the spaceship—which shows up in Stargate: Atlantis—came from!
Unnatural Selection: Replicators again! At least now they have a human face, but the story is rather shaggy and depressing and obviously just done to set up problems later on.
Another Teal'c like: Ben & Jerry's!
Sight Unseen: A rehash of earlier Stargate ideas—bugs, confused civilians, otherworld devices that cause problems on earth—not all that interesting an episode.
Smoke & Mirrors: An N.I.D./Senator Kinsey episode. Great beginning! There's a nice pay-off at the end.
And I get a kick out of the continual mention of "Daniel Jackson" (yes, folks, he is coming back).
Paradise Lost: Maybourne shows up! I like how Maybourne can't stay away from the SGC. Criminals return to what they know.
Which brings up: would it really be a good idea to set Maybourne loose in the universe?
Metamorphosis: Nirrti shows up! And dies!! What a way for her to go!!!
It really is quite a good pay-off.
Disclosure: A flashback episode. Generally, I dislike these, but this one includes a nice summary/overview of the Stargate universe/mythos.
And I love the diplomacy at work: let the United States fund the intergalactic space program; they will have all the responsibility while we reap the rewards of their research!
Forsaken: Pretty interesting problem, but, again, a rehash of a previous problem with a rather abrupt pay-off.
I also love how everyone plays the right role in T's alternate universe (of course, Jack would be fire chief!) and how Daniel is actually playing himself, ascended, as well as "the resident psychologist."
Great episode!! I discuss it more here.
Memento: Interesting look at first contact with a people who behave much like Earthlings. I admire the philosophy behind the episode (the Stargate philosophy is that exploration is better than playing it safe, no matter what the consequences). However, I wish that Kalfas hadn't been dismissed/overcome so easily. Just because we know SG-1 are the good guys (hey, we watch the show!) doesn't mean Kalfas should trust them.
Prophecy: Good episode, but it also illustrates a problem that plagues Season 6.
Jonas was brought in to replace Michael Shanks: he took Daniel Jackson's position on SG-1; he also took Michael Shank's position on the show in terms of plots/lines.
And at first, this worked, but as the season continued, Jonas needed to develop more of his own personality. This particular episode, however, was pure Daniel. Its problem is the kind of problem that would happen to Daniel, not Jonas, and Jonas behaves like Daniel, not like himself.
Naturally, it is possible that the producers knew that Michael Shanks was coming back at this point, but overall—despite some good episodes—the entire season has the feel of treading water.
Full Circle: Final episode of Season 6. Fairly good action sequence. Daniel's decision to finally, ultimately, completely interfere makes sense considering what is at stake.
And Jack gives a great line: "Personally, I think this whole 'ascension' thing is a bit overrated."
However, again, the episode is used to set up things that will happen later on. The show has become a serial.
To a degree this serial business is inevitable. Star Trek: Next Generation managed better than most shows in retaining its one plot/episode approach. Stargate post-Season 4 is something of a compromise. Like Season 5, Season 6 does offer fun/interesting/great single episodes. But there's this feeling of madly generating story-lines to keep the viewer hooked.
Seasons 1-4 are still the best!
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