10.18: Family Ties

[Dave]

Vala’s father, Jacek, contacts Stargate Command wishing to trade information about a series of planned attacks on Earth in exchange for sanctuary on the planet. Once safe, Jacek reverts to his scheming ways (illegal betting, fake medicine scams, diet plan books) and he is later found to be associating with one of Arkad’s Jaffa splinter cells. When challenged on his motives, Jacek once again manages to persuade the Stargate team that he has vital information for them. Was Vala right all along? Can her father really be trusted?

Family reunions abound as Gen. Landry arranges to meet his ex-wife, if he can make it on time!

I didn't care much for this episode. It didn't really tell me much about Vala's character, except the sad bit near the end with the jewelry box and the letters. And Landry could easily have left the SGC and been kept informed about developments via a cellphone. If he was really worried that a Naquidah bomb was going to be set off on Earth (which I don't think he ever was) then his ex-wife should have a lot more to worry about than the meal being late!

And I saw the final scene coming right from the moment Jacek said he had tickets.

The final scene may surprise some viewers, but only if the network leaves it in. I don't want to oversell it, but it is perhaps the greatest final scene in the history of Stargate." — Paul Mullie, TV Zone Special #74, January 2007.

I can’t say much about the scene in question. Suffice it to say, the episode has a few “topical references”. When I wrote the scene, I assumed someone would insist I lose it. As it turned out, nobody objected (because, I suspect, they were too busy to notice and figured someone else would get around to objecting for them). Can’t say more." — Joseph Mallozzi, Personal Blog, January 21, 2007.

I think he was overselling it! I've not seen the show in question myself, but it is very popular and supposed to be quite funny. It has run in London's West End for many years, then went on tour around Britain. I assume if it is "topical" right now, then it must have just arrived in the USA.

 

[Steffi]

Well I kind of watched it....again it's another one where I ended up reading a book at the same time, it didn't grab me at all.....am I getting cynical??

You just knew straight away it was all going to be a scam...it's Vala's Dad!!

I did like the start though when the girls came back from shopping, nice to see them bonding.

 

[Dr.Jackson]

Okay, so it wasn't the greatest episode ever. It was watchable though. I just think that the 'comedy' episodes are taking over as the show winds down, and that is depressing. Why so little on the threat of the Ori? Even the threat of the bombs took a back seat in this episode, despite being the opening premise!

I liked Fred Willard as Jacek, he was amusing enough to keep me watching, but the character relations that I thought were going to be explored were kinda glossed over. It doesn't say much for the show that there is about 5 minutes worth discussing from a 45 minute episode, however.

Unfortunately, this is the last episode that I will be commenting on for a while as a dispute between the cable company and Sky has left me without my 'Gate fix . This means that I'm going to be missing the last few episodes of SG-1 nad the rest of the series of Atlantis, Oooooh, I'm not happy!