latest stargate ep (spoilers and tears)

[Kahuna Burger]

So I knew in advance that the doctor would be the one to die, and I don't know how I would have been effected if I didn't. The whole bait and switch was a little annoying - I care about the character who died enough that I didn't like the idea that her death was supposed to hit me as "oh goodie, jack's still with us!"

But anyway, I found carter's comments at the memorial to be very touching, and pretty cool. Kinda like the famous quote from Patton that you shouldn't be laying down your life for your country but making some poor bastard on the other side do it instead, I found the idea that Janet's life wasn't summarized in her own death but those she had prevented to be very moving. Unfortunately, the memorial seemed tiny considering the broad base of friendship and gratitude there must be for her on the base. The gateroom should have been stuffed, and it wasn't. There are more people in there when they are preparing for an unauthorized offworld activation... That and the artificiality of keeping the audience, the film guy and his whole military crew in the dark for so long left me nitpicking an ep I would have rather just been moved by.

but the speach mostly makes up for it, especially the realization that the core of it was teal'c's idea.

Kahuna Burger

 

[Napftor]

I did not know going in that it was ol' Doc Frasier that was going to die. From the previews, it seemed very much like O'Neill was going to get his (and then come back a few episodes later, of course). Believing this, I watched the episode in an ever-increasing jaw-dropping state. The battle in the beginning made me think of Saving Private Ryan because of the shaky camera, the dying soldier, and the whole scope of the thing.

I wasn't bothered by any of the things you mentioned, Kahuna Burger. When we finally saw Jackson's video and the Doc suddenly hit by a staff blast, I said out loud, "Wow." It gives me goose bumps just typing about it. For the last 20 minutes or so I was teary-eyed. The best dramatic episode of the season, hands down, and possibly of the whole series.

 

[Nifft]

I get the feeling that there's something that I'm just missing about the episodes that feature "making a TV show" as part of their major theme. The "Wormhole X-Treme" one, for example.

I really like SG-1 as "Hard, Military Sci-Fi" -- I'd rather have seen something more consistant with that theme.

As to the "twist" ending, I knew they couldn't kill off Jack, so it had to be a ruse of some sort. Sadly, they killed off the good doctor... it's too bad. I rather liked her as an unusually strong supporting character. I guess there wasn't room to expand her role, and this was the alternative.

-- N

 

[jdavis]

I wonder if this episode was written when they thought this would be the last season? It's towards the end of what was supposed to be the end of the series (they have since signed on for another season). I hated to see one of my favorite characters go but it made for a very powerful episode. I didn't care for the old bait and switch either, I mean you knew Jack wasn't going to die, it wasn't even a good bait and switch. Loved the way they filmed the fight scene, wish they would do more of them. Also liked the way they followed a different SG team last episode and into this episode, a good reminder that SG1 isn't the only ones doing all the work. I knew the doctor was the one before I watched it but they through a lot of hints it would be her in the last two episodes (we knew it wouldn't be Jack, what other character went to the planet and wasn't shown in the rest of the episode). Didn't care much for the Government storyline but then I don't care for those in general.

 

[swrushing]

part of the behind the scenes stuff rumor is thet rothery, who plays the doc, had made another agreement last year when season 6 was to be the last, and the renewal for 7 put her in a conflict. it was some kind of play iirc.

I knew who was down before the ep and while i really really enjoyed the eps, i know it would have been even better if i didn't have foreknowledge

The "surprise shot" of the doc on the tape should have been an "oh my god" moment.

All in all though, a really good pair of eps in my book.

i am really gonna miss the doc.

 

[Alcareru]

I really liked this ep. I figured that Jack wasnt going to be killed off, but was surprised it was the doc-I thought they were gonna throw us a swerve of some kind.

One of the things I especialy appreciated is how they didnt go the easy way in the newsguy vs military plot. At first, I thought they were going to paint the news producer as a cliched "evil" stereotype who wants a story vs the "noble" military and their "you dont undertsand what we do here" mentality. But the characters on both sides came to a meeting of minds and the news producer came off as a human being, as did the SG members.

Im really kinda surprised now in looking back at the series, how much this show has matured into a quality series, especially if you review the early shows. Sci-Fi Tv is going to have a big hole in it when this thing goes off the air.

 

[Napftor]

...Sci-Fi Tv is going to have a big hole in it when this thing goes off the air.

We can only hope the spin-off is just as good. And, IIRC, the exec. producer for Atlantis is Cooper, the guy who wrote this episode. So hopes are high.

 

[Truth Seeker]

Noooo...noooo....not her....noooo....damn it...nooo....

 

[Psychotic Dreamer]

This episode had me in a emotional mess. While deep down inside I didn't think Jack was going to die... I was worried. For me it would have destroyed the show if he died. He and Sam are the glue that holds this crazy little show together. Although Fraiser's death was quite rought also. Behind Same and Jack she was my favorite character. Although I did like the fact it showed the dangers of battle and such.

*sigh*

 

[buzzard]

I thought it was a great episode. I, however, wish I had not known in advance who was going to die. I think it would have been more enjoyable with that ignorance.

It's kind of like how the ads for T2 ruined the suspense that Arnie was not the bad guy. You could see how the movie had been well done to make the hero ambiguous at the start, but the ads had already given it away.

At least in this case it was my reading spoilers and whatnot that ruined it, not some TV commercial. I have noone but myself to blame.

buzzard