Oh, it's been way too long since I last watched this episode. I think this is one of the few eps I only watched once (okay, maybe twice) and there is so much I forgot. For example, I completely forgot that they meet a Unas in the labyrinth. Completely forgot. How does one forget important things like that?
Anyway, about the ep:
First, let me point out that in the beginning, when Hammond gives Daniel the box they will later hand over to the Cimmerians, Daniel walks up the ramp to where the Malp is standing and puts the box somewhere on the Malp. The Stargate is already dialing. Now, what is the Malp doing on top of the ramp? And what is Daniel doing up there when the gate is dialing? We know the event horizon's "kawoosh" destroys everything in front of it, so bye bye,Daniel and Malp. (is there a technical term for "kawoosh"?). Obviously, both survived (did you know they only have one MALP, and it was really really expensive? I think it was said in an episode commentary once).
The box, btw, shows four humans, two adults and two kids. And the woman has very noticeable breasts and wears no clothes. I'm just pointing this out because american tv is usually so prudish that you don't ever see a naked breast, so I was surprised to notice that they would design the box like this, when it wasn't necessary.
The scene when they arrive on the planet is completely ridiculous. Vikings shouting "Thor! Thor!"? No wonder the actors laughed so much.
Teal'c and Jack are fabulous in this episode. I admit that I almost didn't watch "Thor's Hammer" today, because I remembered it to be rather boring. And the whole labyrinth thing is rather boring really, it's not like they were ever in real danger. But Teal'c and Jack make it worth watching. They are clearly already very close, but they are also still strangers, because there is so much they don't know about each other and there respective worlds.
Teal'c, in the labyrinth when Jack tells him to try to fire his staff weapon, makes a comment about how Jack's machine gun still functions because this race "may have considered projectile weapons too primitive to be concerned about". I'm just pointing this out because it becomes important later in the whole replicator arc. That's continuity. ;-)
Sam is a bit, well, I don't want to say annoying, so I'm just going to call her pale. It's not her fault, they must have intended for her to be the voice of reason and that can easily turn into someone who takes the fun out of everything. And she is right, of course, when she tries to stop Daniel from following Kendra any further, but it's the way she delivers it that makes me angry at her. Can't she see that this is Daniel's only hope? That he NEEDS to know?
On the other hand, I understand her. She just lost her commanding officer and earth's most important intelligence source re: Goa'uld, so all she wants is to go back, get reenforcements and try to save, well, Jack and Teal'c, but also her career. At least that's what I couldn't help thinking.
Daniel is heartbreaking and wonderful the whole episode. The hope in his eyes when he hears that he might be able to save Sha're. He keeps asking questions, as if he is already imagining bringing Sha're to the planet. And when he tells Kendra that he still dreams of Sha're, imaging that there is some sort of connection... *cries*
And then Jack is the one to destroy this hope, and that makes me cry even more (not literally, of course, the episode isn't that good. It's just a very real ache in my heart.) The look in Daniel's eyes when he says "Do you know what this means" to Jack? Then Jack, so sure: "It's the only way out of here." and "Teal'c is here now." And he hands Daniel the staff weapon and makes him destroy the hammer himself! It's maybe the only thing to do, because it is a decision that Daniel, if he can'T make it himself, at least has to carry himself. He, too, has to take responsibility for destroying the hammer and saving Teal'c, has to accept it as the right thing, and having him destroy it is the only way to accomplish this. But it seems so cruel at that moment. And yet, what I think is not "Poor Daniel", though I think that too, no, mostly I think "Poor Jack, for having to crush Daniel's only hope." Because even back then it clearly breaks his heart a little.
*thinks about tragic Jack/Daniel love for a bit longer*
Right, let's move on. The scene where they destroy the hammer is also showing a very clear chain of command. Jack decides that the hammer will be destroyed and so it will be. There is no question that what Jack says will be done. Yes, Daniel protests (a little, because he knows he has to do it), yes, Teal'c says he wants to stay. But ultimately, no one questions that it is Jack's decision. I noticed this because command structure is something that is completely missing from the current SG-1. Imagine the scene with Mitchell and Vala:
Cameron:"So I guess we will have to destroy this thing."
Daniel:"But! *long explanation of many things that completely distracts Cameron because of the way Daniel keeps wetting his lips with his tongue when he talks*
Sam: *didn't listen to Cameron or Daniel but is already taking apart the wall to figure out how to turn the hammer off*
Vala: *bouncing* "Can I? Can I? I never get to shoot things!" *pouts*
Teal'c: *raises eyebrow*
I mean, I really love Cameron and Vala, but they are so not SG-1. SG-1 is those people standing in the labyrinth in Thor's hammer, a very young SG-1 that still has so much to go through, so much to learn and to become a team, but with all the parts that we will later see and love about them already showing. And I love them so much, even now, after almost ten years.
Anyway, about the ep:
First, let me point out that in the beginning, when Hammond gives Daniel the box they will later hand over to the Cimmerians, Daniel walks up the ramp to where the Malp is standing and puts the box somewhere on the Malp. The Stargate is already dialing. Now, what is the Malp doing on top of the ramp? And what is Daniel doing up there when the gate is dialing? We know the event horizon's "kawoosh" destroys everything in front of it, so bye bye,Daniel and Malp. (is there a technical term for "kawoosh"?). Obviously, both survived (did you know they only have one MALP, and it was really really expensive? I think it was said in an episode commentary once).
The box, btw, shows four humans, two adults and two kids. And the woman has very noticeable breasts and wears no clothes. I'm just pointing this out because american tv is usually so prudish that you don't ever see a naked breast, so I was surprised to notice that they would design the box like this, when it wasn't necessary.
The scene when they arrive on the planet is completely ridiculous. Vikings shouting "Thor! Thor!"? No wonder the actors laughed so much.
Teal'c and Jack are fabulous in this episode. I admit that I almost didn't watch "Thor's Hammer" today, because I remembered it to be rather boring. And the whole labyrinth thing is rather boring really, it's not like they were ever in real danger. But Teal'c and Jack make it worth watching. They are clearly already very close, but they are also still strangers, because there is so much they don't know about each other and there respective worlds.
Teal'c, in the labyrinth when Jack tells him to try to fire his staff weapon, makes a comment about how Jack's machine gun still functions because this race "may have considered projectile weapons too primitive to be concerned about". I'm just pointing this out because it becomes important later in the whole replicator arc. That's continuity. ;-)
Sam is a bit, well, I don't want to say annoying, so I'm just going to call her pale. It's not her fault, they must have intended for her to be the voice of reason and that can easily turn into someone who takes the fun out of everything. And she is right, of course, when she tries to stop Daniel from following Kendra any further, but it's the way she delivers it that makes me angry at her. Can't she see that this is Daniel's only hope? That he NEEDS to know?
On the other hand, I understand her. She just lost her commanding officer and earth's most important intelligence source re: Goa'uld, so all she wants is to go back, get reenforcements and try to save, well, Jack and Teal'c, but also her career. At least that's what I couldn't help thinking.
Daniel is heartbreaking and wonderful the whole episode. The hope in his eyes when he hears that he might be able to save Sha're. He keeps asking questions, as if he is already imagining bringing Sha're to the planet. And when he tells Kendra that he still dreams of Sha're, imaging that there is some sort of connection... *cries*
And then Jack is the one to destroy this hope, and that makes me cry even more (not literally, of course, the episode isn't that good. It's just a very real ache in my heart.) The look in Daniel's eyes when he says "Do you know what this means" to Jack? Then Jack, so sure: "It's the only way out of here." and "Teal'c is here now." And he hands Daniel the staff weapon and makes him destroy the hammer himself! It's maybe the only thing to do, because it is a decision that Daniel, if he can'T make it himself, at least has to carry himself. He, too, has to take responsibility for destroying the hammer and saving Teal'c, has to accept it as the right thing, and having him destroy it is the only way to accomplish this. But it seems so cruel at that moment. And yet, what I think is not "Poor Daniel", though I think that too, no, mostly I think "Poor Jack, for having to crush Daniel's only hope." Because even back then it clearly breaks his heart a little.
*thinks about tragic Jack/Daniel love for a bit longer*
Right, let's move on. The scene where they destroy the hammer is also showing a very clear chain of command. Jack decides that the hammer will be destroyed and so it will be. There is no question that what Jack says will be done. Yes, Daniel protests (a little, because he knows he has to do it), yes, Teal'c says he wants to stay. But ultimately, no one questions that it is Jack's decision. I noticed this because command structure is something that is completely missing from the current SG-1. Imagine the scene with Mitchell and Vala:
Cameron:"So I guess we will have to destroy this thing."
Daniel:"But! *long explanation of many things that completely distracts Cameron because of the way Daniel keeps wetting his lips with his tongue when he talks*
Sam: *didn't listen to Cameron or Daniel but is already taking apart the wall to figure out how to turn the hammer off*
Vala: *bouncing* "Can I? Can I? I never get to shoot things!" *pouts*
Teal'c: *raises eyebrow*
I mean, I really love Cameron and Vala, but they are so not SG-1. SG-1 is those people standing in the labyrinth in Thor's hammer, a very young SG-1 that still has so much to go through, so much to learn and to become a team, but with all the parts that we will later see and love about them already showing. And I love them so much, even now, after almost ten years.