Title:
Stargate: SG-1 – Midseason Finale: “Fourth Horseman, Pt. 1
Stars:
Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Michael Shanks, and Beau Bridges
Gust
Stars: Lexa Doig, Lou Gossett Jr., Bill Dow, Julian Sands, and Don S. Davis
Writer:
Damian Kindler
Director:
Andy Mikita
Executive
Producers: Robert C. Cooper and Brad Wright
Running
Time: 44 minutes without commercials
Media:
SCI FI Channel Original Series (NTSC DVD Screener)
Premiere
Friday, September 16, 2005, at 8pm (ET/PT)
Network:
SCI FI Channel (Check your local cable/satellite listings for channel)
TV
Rating: Not Available At The Time Of Interview
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
The best
night of science fiction television programming ever is taking a midseason
hiatus, though as has always been the case with SCI FI Fridays, new episodes of
all three series will conclude their respective seasons when they return early
next year. I have really enjoyed all three SCI FI Friday shows so much that I
think I might go through some TV watching withdrawal symptoms after they’ve
gone on hiatus. To my pleasant surprise Stargate: SG-1 has become revitalized
with the inclusion of Ben Browder as Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell. Basically I
suppose audience expectations require Browder to be somewhat smart-alecky, but
Browder is charismatic and his personality does create a new kind of working
relationship that I’m sure carries over both on and off the screen.
Basically he has help to create a new synergy between the cast members.
His character is also a bit more disciplined in my opinion than the one he
portrayed on “Farscape.” Conversely Claudia Black’s character is just
about the opposite of her character on “Farscape,” with the exception of
still maintaining her sexy persona.
The new
villains, the Ori, are an interesting and possibly deadliest foe the SG Command
has ever had to face and as the episodes have progressed, we have and will still
learn more interesting tidbits about them, but I’m still wondering when they
will crossover villains from “Stargate: Atlantis” and “Stargate: SG-1?”
I mean who knows what would happen if the Ori sent a representative to Atlantis?
What if the Wraith found Earth and attacked? How come just about every humanoid
race in space, regardless of their technology, has no problem accepting the idea
that there are other beings on other worlds, but the general population of the
Earth is still kept in the dark because somehow we just couldn’t accept it? I
mean how can I be expected to believe that a bunch of guys running around like
they were living two or three centuries ago can handle interplanetary space
travel as well as contact with beings from other worlds and humans on Earth
can’t? Sooner or later if the producers want the franchise to stay fresh and
last, they are going to have start taking more chances and thinking outside of
the box a bit more. I mean I tune in to sci-fi shows to escape reality and
witness the “what if?” If I wanted to see non-fiction like drama I’d tune
into the news.
The
midseason finale of “Stargate: SG-1” has Teal’c (Christopher Judge)
attempting to dissuade the Jaffa council from adapting the beliefs of the Ori,
which Gerak (Louis Gossett, Jr.) is leaning towards – no surprise. However the
events of the episode at least gives Gossett the chance to humanize his
character a bit so at the very least we can understand that this is not a bad
man, but a misguided one seeking what he believes is the best for his people.
Back on Earth, Carter receives a surprise visitor in an unexpected form just as
she is developing technology that could be critical in helping defeat the Ori
threat. At the same a viral epidemic sent by the Ori spreads rapidly throughout
the globe and adds a ticking clock for the team to save humanity from
extinction.
The
episode features guest appearances by Lexa Doig, Julian Sands, Bill Dow, and Don
S. Davis. Before I conclude this review I just want to state one more
observation for the record. I like Beau Bridges, but the writers need to get his
character involved more in the action. So far he seems rather inept for me to
believe that he would earn the command of the SGC.
It should
be noted that both midseason finales of “Stargate: SG-1” and “Stargate:
Atlantis” will be preceded by another brand new original episode at 8pm on
their respective airdates. The midseason finale of Stargate: SG-1 entitled
“Fourth Horseman, Pt.1” will premiere on Friday, September 16, 2005, at 9PM
(ET/PT) only on SCI FI.
©
Copyright 2005 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.