So Very Posh

Stargate SG-1: 09-14, “Stronghold”

Rating:

The Jaffa Council is putting democracy up to a vote.  Some previous supporters of democracy for Jaffa are now acting strangely opposed to it, as if they’ve been brainwashed.  So when Teal’C is kidnapped, everyone is worried about who may have taken him and for what purposes.  In the meantime, Mitchell uses the memory device from “Collateral Damage“ to allow his dying friend to look back on his memories of being involved in the Stargate program over the last year.

Spoilers inside! You know the drill, proceed at your own risk.

This episode left me conflicted.  I hate Jaffa-centric episodes because I can’t stand the way they dress or talk to one another.  It’s all politics and that’s boring enough on Earth - I don’t need to be drawn into a fictional culture’s politics as well.  But, then Baal walked in the room and my interest was immediately peaked.  Seems he’s been brainwashing the Jaffa clan because he wants them all to “work together” to defeat the Ori.

Baal brings in Bra’tac for Teal’C to kill once he believes the brainwashing is complete.  Of course, Teal’C resists the mind control and turns the staff weapon around on Baal and his crew.  That scene was worth all the Jaffa drivel I had to endure to get to it.

The Mitchell subplot was incredibly dull.  I’m left wondering why the writers included it at all.  I can’t imagine it’s going to be brought up again in a future episode as a plot point, so I can only assume it was just filler.  They must have done some screening tests and found out that a 100% Jaffa-centric episode would cause bleeding from the eyes.

I miss SG-1 working together as a team that cares about one another.  In the end, Teal’C goes to Mitchell to thank him for being there, even though his friend was sick.  To Teal’C, it was an act of friendship on Mitchell’s behalf.  Mitchell quickly put that thought to rest and told Teal’C he was just doing his job.  He would have done it for anyone.  Way to go, idiot!  Teal’C could have been a good friend and come over to your place in a cowboy hat, with pizzas, beers and Revenge of the Sith on DVD, but no, you have to close yourself off from others.  That’s not what SG-1 is all about and you better get used to it, buddy, because I’m tired of seeing you all work as separate entities.

And if I don’t get an episode where Daniel gets to speak more than 5 lines that anyone could have spoken, I’m going to scream.  There was a time when this show was written around each persons’ strengths and weaknesses and each episode involved teamwork.  I’m not seeing that lately and if it doesn’t improve, the tenth season is going to be a nightmare.

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