Stargate 9x07 "Ex Deus Machina"

[oceana]

First of all: I just cruised my flist to find out the title of the episode (I wasn't really paying attention these last weeks), and there were almost no posts about the new Stargate episode. Atlantis - yes, Battlestar Galactica - yes, Stargate -not so much.

Are people even watching the show anymore? If you have stopped after the last eps, you better start again. Yes, I liked this episode. It was mostly earth-based, which is never good,but it felt like Stargate, and I had missed that since the beginning of the season.

But let's start from the beginning.

I still think the lack of credits sucks. Not that I ever watched the credits, but these pseudo-credits almost give me a heart-attack. They creep up on me and before I've realized what's going on, they are already over.


So, dead Jaffa, SG-1 to the rescue. Look how the general separates Daniel and Cameron, again. Either he noticed the looks Cameron's been giving Daniel, or he read all those super-sekrit "Aliens made us do it" reports. Either way, you can tell that he wants to avoid having to tell Jack that Cameron and Daniel got stuck on a planet and had to sacrifice their virtue in order to escape.
"Jack! You know that mission to P3X-567, where you had to fuck your entire team on the golden altar in front of the natives? This time the altar was silver, shame you weren't there."
I doubt that would go over well. So Landry keeps them separated as food as he can. Smart man.


Sam! There is Sam. I didn't have time to squee about Sam last time, but I was so glad to see her. I know I've had issues with Sam in the past, but that was on-screen Sam. In-my-heart-Sam is still the wonderful, intelligent woman I love.


Jaffa Council. While I like the Jaffa story, the council scenes bore me to death. You'd think they'd have learned from the briefing room that it is almost impossible to make these scenes interesting, but no, they create a second briefing room, with more people and less light.


Does it strike anyone else as strange that there is a woman on the council?

So far, the Jaffa haven't exactly been progressive in the way the create their new society. Women, as far as we know, played no role in the Jaffa society. They wear mothers and housewives - they certainly didn't fight. And suddenly they are part of the newly founded Jaffa council?

Forgive me if I have trouble believing that. Of course they should be equal, of course they should be part of the government, but it's really rather unrealistic.

Also, if I were a Jaffa, the first thing I'd do is get rid of the stupid and uncomfortable uniforms. Especially the head thing. Maybe they have all have a little masochistic streak.


Now, cafe scene. Pay attention, because this is round-breaking news: Daniel, Dr. Daniel Jackson, the man who in fanon hides the most expensiev coffee on his bookshelves, puts MILK in his coffee.
This is a historic moment, and I can only assum that he does that because he misses Jack, and drinking coffee the way Jack likes it makes him feel closer to Jack. Closet romantic.

Michael Shanks really know how to play us, doesn't he? I bet it was his idea to wear the leather jacket.


More jaffa scenes. As I said, I like the jaffa story, because I find it fascinating how they are trying to build a functioning society now that they are free, but the actual scenes bore me.

SQUEAK!
BA'AL!
GUH!

(I think I involuntarily jumped into the air when I first saw that scene. Ba'al!)

Enough with the Dakara scenes already.

Now that Vala is gone (and did I mention that I'm really sorry to see her gone?), Daniel is Daniel again. Before, he was Michael Shanks playing Daniel. I like this better.

The Jaffa on earth scenes are scary. The idea that the Jaffa could invade earth really scares me. They could. They might not win, but they could bring enough destruction to end civilization as we know it. I don't trust them. Garrak is a fanatic who is willing to do everything to keep his newly gained power.All that talk about the free jaffa who will not submit to a new master - earth - is just the beginning. If Garrak decides that earth is a threat to the jaffa, he will attack. And if he is really as bad as he seems to be, he will make up a reason to attack earth. The jaffa don't have an infrastructure, they probably have little knowledge about technology, and they probably haven't been given the chance to study anything by themselves underthe control of the goa'uld, so they won't be able to maintain there fragile society for long. Earth would be the ideal place for them, with it's resources and knowledge. I trust the Jaffa less than I ever trusted the tok'ra, and that's saying something.


Damn, but Ba'al looks good in a suit. Even with the yellow tie. It is the latest fashion though, or so I've heard. Not with a black suit, though.


Awe, Cameron. So cute. Such a fangirl. I love Ben Browder for what he did with his role so far. His Cameron fangirls SG-1, yes, but he also made it clear that he is a part of this now, not just an outsider looking in. There is not a hint of doubt in his character that he will stay. It's as if he wants to say "I'm not Jack, I'll never be, but I'm here now, so live with me and let's have fun.", and that's excatly what I'm having.


Vala (still miss her), upstaged him a little bit. She was loud and pretty and took everyone's attention when she entered a room. Now that she is gone (miss her), I am suddenly aware of that Cameron has already become SG-1. It was a great idea to have the other leave the team, because now it's Cameron who has been there first, and the careful confidence (yes, I just decided there is such a thing as careful confidence), with which he puts his team back together, mirrors that feeling. Love Ben Browder. As I said before, I'm almost sorry for the others, because he is such a great actor.


I'm still not used to Teal'c's nw hair, btw. It reminds me of that MacGyver episode.


Someone should tell them that those big grey vans look a tiny little bit suspicious. Might not be the best thing for surveillance.

Wow, they mentioned Cassie. So she is still alive. I do no want to know what Sam meant by the "not exactly". *puts hands over ears and sings* (but I'm happy for the shippers. All these years they had to live the blatant Jack/Daniel love on screen, they deserve small things like that.)
I wonder if someone is geeky enough to calculate the size of the mothership, now that they have the moon as a comparison. (the moon, btw, has a diameter of 3,476 km, in case you were wondering). I can't believe I'm geeky enough to actually have that idea. More random facts for you: "Hammel" is the german word for a male sheep.

Is there a reason for Sam to show that much cleavage? Not that I mind, but it doesn't seem to be the appropriate outfit for a surveillance, let alone searching bombs.

Yada, yada, building, Prometheus saves the day, what else is new.

On no, you can't kill Ba'al! I want Ba'al!

Clones? Uhoh. More than one Ba'al?

*stares*

*drools*

Oh, if you could see the pictures in my head...


Yes, I liked the episode. I like that they are being a team again and I can't wait for them to go off-world together. I liked that for once it wasn't about the Orii. I really enjoy to see Teal'c struggle with his role as a jaffa leader and part of tge SGC. His loyalties are clear, but it can't be easy for him. I think Cameron should have lots of sex (with anyone, I don't really care as long as it isn't Landry), and I'd love to see how Jack deals with Ba'al being on earth.

Now I'll have to go and watch Atlantis.