Okay here I am!
This episode is one of my favorites from season one.
It's going to be hard for me to explain it, but I really enjoy watching it.
I'll try anyway
The episode has a fun and lighthearted beginning. SG-1 is about to gate to a planet well known to the SGC since they have already visited it, made friends with the people living there, and even established a small base.
This is a scientific mission (a first in the show) to get the opportunity to observe a black hole during a solar eclipse.
It has several lines that really made me laugh before the team goes through the gate:
Daniel: "it's black, it's a hole.."
Jack: "It might be a black hole!"
And on the access ramp:
Jack: "It's called an accretion disc"
Daniel continues what he was saying and then stops: "what did you just say?!"
Jack: "it's just an astronomical term.."
Sam: "You didn't think the Colonel had a telescope on his roof just to look at the neighbors?"
and Jack answers, after a little blank and a look at Teal'c: "Not initially..."
Jack's explanation of a black hole to Teal'c when they are both waiting in the base is hilarious too
"Well, a black hole is this really.. big thing, well basically it's a massive... hole, out there (with gesture showing well.. out there
). And what happens is everything gets sucked into it, even light. That's why we can't see it, it just gets... sucked in..."
And the irony of Teal'c answering "I see" is funny to me too
I like the fact that these lines remind us that Jack has a passion for astronomy and that he is not completely lost when Carter delivers her science. He's not as good as Sam is, of course, but he is not completely ignorant either
This episode has in fact many funny lines to me. Here are some others:
- Daniel sneezing in the infirmary causes a fun reaction from Jack: "Allergies, right?" (that allergies thing disappeared quite rapidly after that ^^)
- Jack saying to Teal'c to look friendly when he approaches Cassie
And for once he kind of succeeds
I really like General Hammond's statement:
"The decision is quite easy, the consequences are what's difficult" -- so true
And I want Jack's rule to be real!
"It's an earth rule: every kid has go to have a dog"
that scene is so cute in the playground
About the story, I think it's interesting.
- The fun of the beginning is quickly erased by the fact that everyone on the planet seems to be dead
- It's the first time we hear about Nirrti and her awful experiments. It unfortunately won't be the last..
- Sam takes the cliché role of the caring person, as Domi said, but I will add that Cassie asks for it in the beginning, by not letting Sam leave her side. And then Sam gets attached to her and of course has trouble leaving her in the underground facility (and really well played by Amanda)
This situation causes a great team moment. We can see here the real family bond that the 4 of them has. They are ready to stay and won't leave anyone behind, without even saying a word -- beautiful
I am also really glad we got to see Cassie again several times in the show and see her grow up. Changing planets must be difficult and we have here an opportunity to see her adapt to her new life (or at least she will be simply mentionned sometimes)
So great episode to me, new characters, new opportunities, new threats too..
I like this episode a lot
