09-14: Stronghold

[Colonel Carter]

EPISODE NUMBER - 914
ORIGINAL U.S. AIR DATE - 01.27.06
SYNDICATION AIR DATE - 02.05.07
EXCERPTS WRITTEN BY - Robert C. Cooper, Martin Gero, Brad Wright
WRITTEN BY - Alan McCullough
DIRECTED BY - Peter DeLuise
GUEST STARRING - Tony Amendola (Bra'tac), Cliff Simon (Baal), Reed Diamond (Major Bryce Ferguson), Dakin Matthews (Maz'rai), Yan Feldman (Til'Vak), Don Thompson, Veena Sood (Dr. Kelly), Eric Breker, Gardiner Millar (Yat'Yir), Simone Bailly (Ka'lel)

Baal kidnaps Teal'c as part of a plot to brainwash those Jaffa advocating a move toward democracy. Cameron Mitchell learns that an old friend is about to die.

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I was seriously unimpressed with this episode. There was no main plot, just subplots intermingling. I saw no purpose or benefit to the subplot involving Cameron's friend who was dying. The subplot involving Teal'c's capture was far too under-developed, probably because they wasted time on Cameron and his friend.

And bottom line, I was not moved by General Landry's speech about Teal'c being family because that whole subplot involving his capture felt too unreal and distant and the main focus seemed to be on Cameron and his friend which was probably the most boring subplot I've ever seen on this show. They needed to have more focus on Teal'c's stoyline and Chulak

I would imagine that Sam was in so little of it because she was doing a crossover with Atlantis.

I just didn't like this episode at all. The subplot with Cameron's friend should have never been written and the subplot of Teal'c's capture should have been the main plot and better developed.

[Anissa T]

I actually liked Cameron's subplot. It was the deeper look into Cam that we've been asking for. However, I'm not sure it went with this episode. Or if Teal'C story went with Cams episode.

[Colonel Carter]

I'm all for deepening Cameron's character, but I've been saying all along that it should be done while in the company of his team. I think he's too new of a character for him to be going off with these deep subplots that don't involve his team in any way. They need to see his depth, imo. Although that was a nice little interaction with him and Teal'c in the locker room at the end. I see a trend of Cameron having deep moments with SGC people in the locker room, first Landry, now Teal'c. I guess next it'll be Daniel with him in the locker room - and Sam?

Jack O'Neill never went off and had deep subplots alone. Neither did Daniel. Sam sort of did with her dad but she was an established beloved character by that point.

I just think it's too soon for Cameron to be having personal stories apart from SG-1 like that yet. I think his depth should develop with his team and not alone.

[Anissa T]

Perhaps that is what is going to make him different from Jack. Something else we've been asking for.

[Colonel Carter]

That's not the kind of difference I've been asking for. The only difference that I'm seeing in him that I'm liking is that we've seen him be more serious than O'Neill and see that he has a lot of pain in his life that he struggles in dealing with unlike O'Neill who moved past his son's death by simply never thinking about any painful memories. So I'm liking that difference in Cameron - he doesn't just dismiss the pain in his past and seems to focus on it more. Which I can identify with that as well and I would say I'm more like Cameron than I am like Jack.

[Anissa T]

I forgot to mention, I did like the little talks Cameron had with both Sam and Teal'C.

Oh yeah, did Baal ever say how he could help with the Ori?

[Colonel Carter]

No, but I'd love to know what he was planning to do.

[Anissa T]

I didn't use to like Baal. But something about him this season has gotten me intrigued. Plus, last nights episode more than every before, I really heard the actors accent. In the past they have atleast semi covered it up. Not that I care, I actually like his accent. I just noticed more than ever in last nights episode.

[Colonel Carter]

Baal is the only Goa'uld I've ever liked. :)

[cb49747]

I agree with new fan. I liked the Cameron sub plot however I don't think it went with this episode. I think it would have made for a good filler episode towards the end of the season. By filler I mean a episode full of flash backs used to fill out the season.

I think this could have been a good episode if it just centered around The capture of Teal'c.

[Livia Sabina]

I just think it's too soon for Cameron to be having personal stories apart from SG-1 like that yet.

I agree. The subplot with Cameron's friend didn't fit with the storyline, it felt as though it had been tacked on to force the audience to relate to the character. Teal'c's capture, Ba'al's involvement, not to mention the Jaffa nation's move towards democracy and the difficulties with that move all felt like secondary storylines. Removing the plot with Cameron and his friend would have allowed the episode to be developed better.

Teal'c-centric episodes have never been all that common throughout the show's run, at least not when compared to the focus on other characters, and I didn't like that a potentially great Teal'c story had to be crammed into half the time to accomodate Cameron's story.

I also find it difficult to believe that Cameron's friend would be given clearance to learn about the Stargate programme and to use alien technology just to make Cameron feel better. With Jacob, he would never have been told if they hadn't needed his help, Sarah was possessed by a Goa'uld and Pete had already seen quite a bit before he was told. Cameron's friend wasn't even asked to sign any confidentiality agreement before experiencing his memories.

Is the Stargate programme not supposed to be secret anymore?

Edited to add that it was nice to see Sam commanding Teal'c's rescue, even if she wasn't present for most of the episode.