01-15 Before I Sleep

[Colonel Carter]

Title:Before I Sleep
Directed by:Andy Mikita
Written by:Carl Binder
Original Air Date:December 6, 2004 (The Movie Network)

Synopsis:While exploring the city, the team stumbles upon a stasis unit holding an extremely old woman, who they believe to be an Ancient. When they revive her, she claims to be Dr. Elizabeth Weir, and she has a story she's been waiting ten-thousand years to tell. (This episode was nominated for a Gemini Award in the category "Best Achievement in Make-Up".)




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I really liked this episode. Interesting concept.

Only two things bothered me.

1. The Ancients spoke english, I noticed that immediately and I was like - since when?! We know they had a very different language, which we've learned from SG-1 and all the writing they've seen and when the Ancients knowledge took over Jack's brain, he eventually lost the ability to understand the others. So if the Ancients understood English, Jack would have never lost the ability to comprehend his friends. Yet when Elizabeth traveled back in time, they spoke perfect english.

2. The water filling up the gate room looked way too computer animated - it looked fake to me, more like a cartoon. Which really isn't that big a deal. Not as annoying as the Ancients being able to speak english.

When Rodney heard that he had died in that alternate reality, his reaction was exactly like mine, which I find it scary that he seems to think in the same way I do about things. That's two episodes now where I've seen that happen. Oh no, the character I'm most like is Rodney?! NOOOOOOO!!!

I would have been extremely freaked if I saw myself very old like that. That would be so freaky. And dumping my ashes out over the city? Wow.

Again, this episode showed me why I absolutely do not like the Ancients. The ones I do like are the ones shunned by the others, like the guy who built the time ship or the lady we saw in that other episode. Ones who actually care about others and do what they can to help.

Another thing I didn't like about this episode, the flashback scenes, particulary of when Elizabeth met with the Ancients, seemed to quick.

[Anissa T]

I did enjoy this episode. It was quite different (in a good way) from any of the other episodes they've done.

I think the fact that the spoke English didn't bother me because I figure it was just for simplicity of the show.

What I didn't understand is (or maybe I missed it), what happened to the doctor and Shepp (in the flashbacks).

I'm still having issues with the same people/person existing in the same place at the same time concept. I think it's really weird, but hey, they made it work out (for now).

[Colonel Carter]

She said that Sheppard and that other guy did not survive the puddle jumper crashing. Basically what was said was that she was the only one who survived.

Carson and Ford died while trying to get others into the ships.

Another thing I wondered about - did the Atlantis crew not gain access to SG-1 mission reports? Because Rodney was under the impression that time travel was impossible, but SG-1 has travelled through time.

[Anissa T]

Oh, I hadn't thought about that. But, I thought SG1's time travel were because of a fluke solar flare and not actual technological advances leading to time travel.

Perhaps that is why he was still thinking time travel was impossible. Of course, this was the same person who thought there was no way to save Teal'C.

Oh yeah, is it me or do the Ancients remind you (attitude anyway) a little bit of the Tok'ra? Although, I do find even the Tok'ra more cooperative. I was a little suprised that they mentonied that humans were the second evolution of the Ancients yet they are so unwilling to help their "own" people.

[Colonel Carter]

Actually, I think it was Johnas to say that these people were their second evolution. I'm not sure what the others thought, if they agreed with him or not.

What's up with repeating these names? Jonas has been used for more than one character in SG-1, John is common, now Johnas?

I wonder if that's a hint that John Sheppard is descended from Johnnas. Or better yet! What if Johnas, in his time machine, went to 20th century earth to observe, like we know he did on that one planet where SG-1 found his time ship (obviously the one he told Weir he planned on building), and unexpectedly fell in love and together they had a child - John Sheppard. That would make sense why the Ancient Lady in last week's episode was indicating to John that there seemed to be something more to him than just having the Ancient gene.

You know, we really don't know anything about John's life, other than a little info about his past military history. We don't know about his beginnings though, family, etc... Now I'm suddenly very curious to know.

In SG-1, we have learned about everyone but Jack's beginnings. We know about Teal'c, how his dad was First Prime to Apophis and was killed. We know about Daniel, his parents died when he was very young and he lived with foster parents. We know about Sam, her mom died when she was young and she chose to follow in dad's footsteps while her brother grew in resentment towards their dad. Nothing really about Jack's childhood that I'm aware of.

I'm wondering if we'll get to find out more about the childhoods of the people in Atlantis. As I mentioned, I'd really like to learn more about Shep now.

Just taking a guess here, I'm guessing that Shep was between 15 and 20 in 1985 when Back to the Future came out.

[Anissa T]

I did find Shepp's comments on Back To The Future rather amusing.