MGM Studios DVD presents

Stargate SG-1: Season 3 (1999)

O'Neill: Come on Teal'c, lighten up. We've been in these situations before.
Carter: No sir, we haven't.- Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping

Stars: Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Christopher Judge
Other Stars: Don S. Davis, Teryl Rothery, Peter Williams, Tony Amendola, Colin Cunningham, Tom McBeath
Director: Varied

MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (contains television violence and language)
Run Time: 16h:11m:40s
Release Date: 2003-06-17
Genre: television

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
A-	A-	B+	A-	C

 

DVD Review

Entering its third season in the fall of 1999, Stargate SG-1 had garnered a devout following and held a firm position on television. Creators Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner had constructed a sturdy foundation with the first two seasons and now were able to expand the science-fiction series even further. Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, and Christopher Judge had all developed individual aspects of their characters, who would all be tested greatly during these 22 episodes.

This season begins with several intense Goa'uld threats and ends with the introduction of a new and deadlier enemy, the Replicators. Earth becomes a Protected Planet from the System Lords, but that does not mean that nasty enemies do not exist for SG-1. The renegade Goa'uld Sokar remains an especially powerful threat, and the longtime enemy Apophis once again avoids apparent death. We also see the return of Machello's technology, "destroyer of worlds" Linea, and the slimy Colonel Maybourne. Captain Carter becomes a major, and she is the only team member who does not spend at least some time in retirement from duty. In addition, possible romantic feelings between Carter and O'Neill begin to surface.

The highlights of this season vary between the action-packed, big-budget Goa'uld threats and the slower-paced, one-off entries. An emotionally charged two-parter brings SG-1 into conflict with both Apophis and Sokar on a hellish planet. Additionally, Daniel comes to terms with a personal loss and Jack spends three months stranded with a new life on a distant planet. Teal'c deserves even more screen time, but his spotlighted moments remain some of the best of the season. Before I lose you in additional unnecessary introduction, here are the episode summaries:



Into the Fire
Written By: Brad Wright
Directed by: Martin Wood
Guest stars: Tony Amendola as Bra'tac, Suanne Braun as Hathor, Colin Cunningham as Major Davis, and Steve Makaj as Colonel Makepeace

Continuing the cliffhanger from the Season 2 finale Out of Mind, three SG-1 members are prisoners of Hathor, the wife of Ra—defeated in the original movie. After nearly being defeated by them once before (Hathor), she has slowly rebuilt her forces for an attack on her fellow Goa'uld. General Hammond orders all of the available SG teams to mobilize and attempt to rescue O'Neill, Carter, and Daniel from Hathor's clutches. Colonel Makepeace arrives with the troops, but he may be too late to stop one of them from becoming a Goa'uld host.

This dark and sinister episode cranks up the volume for the season opener and places the team into extremely dire circumstances. Although very attractive, Hathor is not one of my favorite Goa'uld villains, but the story remains nicely inventive. Christopher Judge is especially powerful as Teal'c returns to Chulak to rally his fellow Jaffa to the rescue. This entry's only downside is the presence of Makepeace, who generates virtually nothing interesting. The conclusion even includes a surprisingly intimate moment for Sam and Jack, who both may have more complex feelings hidden beneath the surface.

An energetic, big-budget opening inspires 4 out of 5 Stargates.





Seth
Written By: Jonathan Glassner
Directed by: William Corcoran
Guest stars: Carmen Argenziano as Jacob/Selmak, Robert Duncan as Seth, and Mitchell Kosterman as Special Agent James Hamner

Sam's father Jacob arrives with stunning news that the powerful Goa'uld Seth may be hiding out on Earth and posing as a religious cult leader. SG-1 flies to Washington and joins the ATF in surrounding an apparently impenetrable blockade. It seems that Seth has been using a strong narcotic to influence disenchanted youths to join his cause. His goal is chaos, but he lacks the ambitions of such System Lords as Ra and Apophis. Defeating Seth may require O'Neill, Daniel, and Carter to allow themselves to be infected with the drug. If the plan fails, they could reveal disastrous secrets to the enemy.

Seth is the second major Goa'uld enemy that the gang has faced in as many episodes. The pace drags slowly during the first half, but the tense finale makes the story worthwhile. We also witness an intriguing holographic ranking of the System Lords that acts similar to a family tree. Teal'c tells a joke, which receives the expected confused human response. Jacob also has some emotional issues to resolve with his son Mark, and this adds some needed weight to the tale.

This solid episode earns 3 out of 5 Stargates.





Fair Game
Written By: Robert C. Cooper
Directed by: Martin Wood

Guest stars: Ron Halder as Cronus, Jacqueline Samuda as Nurrti, and Vince Crestejo as Yu
Captain Carter receives a well-deserved promotion to major, an impressive achievement for her young age. Without giving her any time to celebrate, the Asgard Thor arrives and delivers unfortunate tidings. Hathor's defeat has served notice to the System Lords that Earth could provide a threat. The planet's final chance rests solely on the shoulders of O'Neill, who represents us in negotiations. Events become tense when Teal'c clashes with Cronus, a vicious Goa'uld who originally murdered his father. Can the Jaffa put aside his animosity and allow a settlement to be reached? Even if they come to an agreement, however, the price could be extremely high for Earth.

A pivotal moment in the series, Fair Game completely shifts the direction of Earth's dealings with the Goa'uld. In addition, the episode introduces three new possible enemies who will appear again in the future. The Teal'c/Cronus confrontation is one of the most emotionally charged moments of the early season, and it adds considerable depth to Judge's character. Jack handles the negotiation with his typical sarcasm, and his bewilderment adds enjoyment to this top-notch story. We also learn of an even greater enemy who scare even the mighty Asgard. The producers will hold this card for a while, but their eventual introduction is worth the wait.

One of the best episodes of the season. 4.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Legacy
Written By: Tor Alexander Valenza
Directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest stars: Kevin McNulty as Dr. Warner, Eric Schneider as Dr. Mackenzie, and Michael Shanks as Ma'chello

SG-1 discovers a room filled with dead lesser Goa'uld who once revolted against the System Lords. While searching through the nasty remains, Daniel touches a strange tablet that begins to drive him mad. He "sees dead people" and even observes a larval Goa'uld jumping into Jack's neck. No one else understands these visions, and the psychiatrist Dr. Mackenzie concludes that the constant Stargate travel has driven Daniel insane. In reality, the tablet possesses remnants of Machello's anti-Goa'uld technology. Originally introduced in Season 2's Holiday, the eccentric scientist once created a powerful, if unwieldy, device for battling the enemy.

Legacy is generally considered one of the season's highlights by devout fans, but I found it mostly uninteresting. It is always impressive when the writers connect to past episodes, and that makes this story noteworthy, but it is only mildly effective. Michael Shanks does a nice job playing up Daniel's insanity, and the visions are cleverly compiled. However, the pace lags at times, and the conclusion didn't work for me.

This episode rates 2 out of 5 Stargates.




Learning Curve
Written By: Heather E. Ash
Directed by: Martin Wood
Guest stars: Andrew Airlie as Kalan, Brittney Irvin as Merrin, and Lachlan Murdoch as Tomin

The planet Orban has achieved remarkable technological advances in an extremely short period of time, which intrigues Daniel and the SG-1 team. The Orbanian children possess remarkable knowledge and appear much brighter than their adult companions. Something is definitely not right here, especially when a brilliant girl named Merrin appears to have no concept of fun. Angered at the Orbanian way, Jack takes her to a playground near the base and tries to open her eyes to a larger world.

The concept of the Averium is intriguing and does create a worthy moral dilemma for this episode. However, the dialogue is a bit stiff at times, and the middle stretch seems to repeat the same arguments several times. The one saving grace is the last act, which showcases Jack's compassion for kids and its eventual effect on the Orbanians.

This less dire entry receives 2.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Point of View
Written By: Jonathan Glassner (teleplay), with story by Glassner, Brad Wright, Robert C. Cooper, and Tor Alexander Valenza
Directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest stars: Jay Acovone as Kawalsky, and Peter Williams as Apophis

In Season 1's There But For the Grace of God, Daniel activated an alien quantum mirror and was transported to another dimension. The information that he gained eventually helped SG-1 to defeat Apophis' planned invasion of Earth. Fleeing their own Goa'uld invasion, alternate versions of Kawalsky and Carter arrive via the mirror. This creates a dilemma for Hammond and SG-1 over what to do with the doubles. This Carter has long hair, never joined the military, and has a much closer relationship to O'Neill. Should SG-1 cross into the other dimension and try to stop the invasion?

I usually enjoy complex science-fiction plots, and this episode is no exception. The idea of multiple alternate dimensions was explored less successfully in the series Sliders, but it works for this story. O'Neill and the alternate Carter get to share intimate moments not possible for the actual duo. These scenes also reveal a possible connection between Major Carter and O'Neill that is explored more in upcoming episodes.

Very entertaining! This episode rates 4 out of 5 Stargates.




Deadman Switch
Written By: Robert C. Cooper
Directed by: Martin Wood
Guest stars: Sam J. Jones (Aris Boch), and Mark Holden (Korra)

Searching for their downed UAV probe, the SG-1 team is captured within an energy field by the bounty hunter Aris Boch. This generally friendly guy uses advanced technology and appears to be very good at what he does. He has trapped our heroes for assistance in capturing the Goa'uld Keltar who opposes the mighty Sokar. Things become even more complicated when they discover that their quarry is actually a Tok'ra named Korra.

This fairly low-key episode works because the hulking and charismatic Sam J. Jones makes for an intriguing opponent. Aris Boch appears to have no ethics, but we slowly begin to see the more complex layers hidden beneath the surface. In the finale, Teal'c once again makes a noble sacrifice, which again showcases his intense dedication to his fellow team members.

This episode rates 3 out of 5 Stargates.





Demons
Written By: Carl Binder
Directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest stars: David McNally as Simon, Alan C. Peterson as the Canon, Laura Mennell as Mary, and Richard Morwich as Unas

SG-1 discovers the first appearance of a medieval Christian village on an alien planet. Its residents most likely descended from humans taken by the Goa'uld from Earth in the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, Sokar has taken advantage of their devout beliefs and created the idea of demons living among the villagers. A massive Unas (first encountered in Season One's Thor's Hammer) appears periodically and "sacrifices" them. SG-1 tries to end the charade, but the Canon has them captured for this blasphemy.

Demons definitely ranks as one of my least favorite episodes of the season. The people act very predictably and foolishly, and the Canon falls flat as an adversary. The Christian premise could be used effectively, but it generates few items of interest here. The Unas is a nasty enemy, but most of the story focuses on the conflict with the villagers.

This boring episode rates 1.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Rules of Engagement
Written By: Terry Curtis Fox
Directed by: Bill Gereghty
Guest stars: Peter Williams as Apophis, Aaron Craven as Captain Kyle Rogers, Dion Johnstone as Captain Nelson, and Jesse Moss as Lieutenant J. Hibbard

A possibly missing team from the SGC appears to be caught in a tough battle with Jaffa on an alien planet. What are they doing here? Assuming they are the SG-11 team lost a few months ago, SG-1 joins the battle and is shot by their own members. Waking up with splitting headaches, they realize that strange war games are occurring here. Apophis brainwashed citizens of other planets and brought them to this world to prepare for the invasion of Earth. Now, SG-1 must try to stop these games before any more serious damage is done.

While a bit flat at times, this tale does showcase an intriguing avenue for Apophis to invade the SGC. Although he is currently dead, the Goa'uld's legacy continues to cause trouble. An especially cool device is the giant hologram where Apophis states the rules of the games. The military elements of the series dominate this episode, which may turn off some viewers but still generally succeeds.

This episode rates 2.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Forever in a Day
Written By: Jonathan Glassner
Directed by: Peter Deluise
Guest stars: Erick Avari as Kasuf, Vaitiere Bandera as Sha'are, and Jason Schombing as Rothman

The people of Abydos have been enslaved by the Goa'uld Amonet, whose host is Daniel's wife Sha'are. SG-1 arrives and enters a fierce battle with numerous Jaffa. When Daniel enters her tent, Amonet attacks him with the Goa'uld hand device. Teal'c enters the tent and stops the attack, but he kills her in the process. Daniel has extreme difficulties coming to terms with his wife's death and Teal'c's actions, and strange visions complicate matters even further. Sha'are appears multiple times and speaks of the Harcesis child who will possess all of the Goa'uld genetic knowledge.

Forever in a Day presents a compelling, magical story that showcases why this series stands well above most entries in the science-fiction genre. Michael Shanks delivers a standout performance and perfectly grasps Daniel's internal struggles. While the visions of his dead wife could become silly, they remain interesting because of the personal aspects of the tale. The only drawback to this premier episode is the unfortunate acting of Vaitiere Bandera, who performs acceptably but does not match her talented co-stars.

An enchanting and spiritual story earns this episode 4 out of 5 Stargates.





Past and Present
Written By: Tor Alexander Valenza
Directed by: Bill Gereghty
Guest stars: Megan Leitch as Ke'ra, Marya Delver as Layale, and Jason Gray-Stanford as Orner

SG-1 arrives on the planet of Vyus and discovers that everyone there is suffering from amnesia. "The Vorlix" occurred a year before and no one remembers anything prior to that event. A young woman named Ke'ra returns to the SGC with several others to help in searching for a cure to the affliction. Unfortunately, complications ensue when Carter discovers that Ke'ra is actually Linea, the "destroyer of worlds" from Season Two's Prisoners. It seems that her experiments caused the amnesia, but Ke'ra remembers nothing of her true self.

It's generally enjoyable to see the continuation of stories from previous episodes and the first two seasons. However, the creators really drop the ball with this one. The revelation of Linea's true nature in the finale of Prisoners is a surprising moment that could have lead to an intriguing future tale. Unfortunately, this tale doesn't work nearly as well and only grows interesting at the very end.

This episode rates 2 out of 5 Stargates.





Jolinar's Memories
Written By: Sonny Wareham, Daniel Stashower
Directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest stars: Carmen Argenziano as Jacob/Selmac, J.R. Bourne as Martouf, Bob Dawson as Bynarr, Dion Johnstone as Na'onak, Peter Williams as Apophis, David Palffy as Sokar, and Tanya Reid as Jolinar

Carter is stunned to discover that her father Jacob—the host of the Tok'ra Selmac—has been captured by Sokar. Joining the familiar Tok'ra Martouf, SG-1 must attempt a daring rescue mission on Netu, a moon designed to resemble a Christian version of Hell. In hopes of escaping this dire planet, Carter must channel the memories of Jolinar, who once was imprisoned there. The mission appears destined for failure, especially when an old enemy surprisingly returns from the dead.

This classic episode succeeds on the large, epic scale and on the intimate, personal level. The emotional impact of accessing Jolinar's memories is especially painful for Carter. Amanda Tapping finally gets to do more than spout technical data, and she performs wonderfully. Also, we finally get to view Sokar in person, and the image definitely lives up to expectations. A tense, action-packed episode, Jolinar's Memories provides one of the high points of the season.

This grand episode rates 4.5 out of 5 Stargates.





The Devil You Know
Written By: Robert C. Cooper
Directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest stars: Carmen Argenziano as Jacob/Selmac, J.R. Bourne as Martouf, Peter Williams as Apophis, David Palffy as Sokar, and Tanya Reid as Jolinar

Continuing from the cliffhanger of Jolinar's Memories, Apophis has returned and captured SG-1, Jacob, and Martouf for interrogation. Using a hallucinogenic drug called the "blood of Sokar," he attempts to trick our heroes into revealing pivotal secrets. This moments are especially trying for each member and relate to the individual's past troubles. Jack must again face his son's death, Sam remembers her mother's death, and Martouf sees the impending death of his past mate Jolinar. Does any possibility of escape exist? Meanwhile, the Tok'ra have decided to attack Sokar, but they could destroy SG-1 in the process.

Eclipsing even the previous episode for emotional impact, The Devil You Know makes things especially difficult for SG-1. In dealing with their inner demons and standing up to Apophis, the cast members once again showcase their considerable talents. Peter Williams makes the post-torture version of Apophis especially chilling, and his confrontation with Sokar is another top moment. The final ramifications of this episode will affect the team for many episodes in the future.

Best of the season. This episode rates 5 out of 5 Stargates.





Foothold
Written By: Heather E. Ash
Directed by: Andy Mikita
Guest stars: Tom McBeath as Colonel Maybourne, Colin Cunningham as Major Davis, Richard Leacock as Colonel Brogen, and Colin Lawrence as Sergeant Warren

Returning drenched from a rainy planet, SG-1 are immediately ordered by General Hammond to be taken to the infirmary. Dr. Frasier injects them and knocks them unconscious, which is an odd action. Events become even weirder when Carter and Teal'c awaken and see the general and doctor conversing with aliens about invasion. Carter escapes and contacts Colonel Maybourne about a possible "foothold" situation. Are the aliens impersonating the SGC members, or have they overtaken the humans' minds?

Foothold introduces a new species of alien who plan to invade Earth by overtaking the Stargate base without anyone's knowledge. The concept is not a new one, but it does generate an intriguing story. It is nice to see Carter able to be proactive and save the day with little assistance from the other team members. Maybourne's return is always a welcome moment, even though he makes an incorrect decision.

This decent episode rates 3 out of 5 Stargates.





Pretense
Written By: Katharyn Powers
Directed by: David Warry-Smith
Guest stars: Frida Betrani as Lya, Alexis Cruz as Skaara/Klorel, Kevin Durand as Zipacna, Garwin Sanford as Narim, and Marie Stillin as Travell

Ska'ara has been trapped as the host for the Goa'uld Klorel for several years. When his ship crashes on the Tollan world, he requests freedom from the demon. The Tollan conduct a triad, in which three parties debate the worthiness of his request. O'Neill and his team defend Ska'ara, Lord Zipacna speaks for Klorel, and Lya of the Nox stands in the middle. As the trial progresses, the Goa'uld may be plotting to attack the technologically superior Tollan.

Beginning with very impressive outer-space effects and settling nicely into the trial, "Pretense" is one of the season's more intriguing episodes. Alexis Cruz is the film's only major character who continues to play himself in the series, and he brings a touching humanity to the role. The idea of two individuals vying for the same body leads to several memorable debates.

The fate of Ska'ara is decided! This intelligent episode rates 4 out of 5 Stargates.





Urgo
Written By: Tor Alexander Valenza
Directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest stars: Dom DeLuise as Urgo and Togar, Nickolas Baric as SF Guard, and Bill Nikolai as Technician Alberts

SG-1 enters the Stargate and strangely return just moments later. However, Hammond explains that they were gone for 15 hours. While they appear healthy, a strange being named Urgo keeps appearing to them, and their senses has been improved significantly. Everyone indulges in many desserts, and Teal'c even drinks an entire pot of scalding coffee. Who is this goofy man, and what has happened to the team?

I appreciate it when the creators are willing to make a silly episode, but Urgo is a very tedious experience. Dom DeLuise plays himself well enough, but everything becomes old pretty quickly. The actors do have some fun with this story, but it does not translate well to the overall success of the episode.

This unfortunate episode rates 1.5 out of 5 Stargates.





A Hundred Days
Written By: V.C. James (story) and Brad Wright (teleplay)
Directed by: David Warry-Smith
Guest stars: Michele Greene as Laira, Julie Patzwald as Naytha, Gary Jones as Harriman, Shane Meier as Garan, and Marcel Maillard as Paynan

Edora is a tranquil place that also contains valuable naquaada, the mineral used in Goa'uld weapons. However, the annual "fire rain" will become deadly this year, and Edora's residents only have a short time to leave and escape it. During the chaotic moments, Jack is stranded in a cave and the Stargate is buried. It seems that no hope exists, and he begins to settle into a comfortable life. A relationship blooms with Laira, and the slower life might actually suit Jack well. Meanwhile, back at the SGC, Sam strives to find a way to bring the colonel back to Earth.

Devout fans seem to have a love/hate relationship with this episode. Sam's feelings for Jack do appear in their most direct form, which is a good thing. However, many viewers did not like Laira and her relationship with Jack. I believe this episode represents a wonderful change-of-pace and one of Richard Dean Anderson's finest performances. Amanda Tapping is great as always, and the conversation with Dr. Frasier about her feelings is a pivotal scene.

This charming episode rates 4 out of 5 Stargates.





Shades of Gray
Written By: Jonathan Glassner
Directed by: Martin Wood
Guest stars: Tom McBeath as Maybourne, Steve Makaj as Makepeace, Marie Stillin as High Chancellor Travell, Christian Bocher as Neumann, and Linnea Sharples as Lt. Clare Tobias

Following SG-1 assistance to the Tollan in Pretense, they are negotiating with the race for access to their advanced technology. Angered at their refusal, O'Neill steals a piece of their technology and returns to Earth. This act leads Hammond to give the colonel two choices: court martial or early retirement. A dull life seems to be his destiny, but Maybourne appears with an intriguing proposition. O'Neill can lead a rogue NID team that travels offworld and "acquires" alien technology by any means necessary. Has he lost all of his ethics?

This story is puzzling as O'Neill basically severs ties with his friends and exhibits tendencies that actually are very similar to the unethical Maybourne. The scenes with the rogue team could have been handled better, but this episode is generally very effective. It contains many noteworthy moments and also represents a welcome end to Colonel Makepeace, one of the dullest recurring characters in the series.

This episode rates 3.5 out of 5 Stargates.





New Ground
Written By: Heather E. Ash
Directed by: Chris Allen
Guest stars: Richard Ian Cox as Nyan, Daryl Shuttleworth as Rygar, Desiree Zuroski as Parey, and Jennifer Copping as Mallin

Traveling through a recently unburied gate, SG-1 meets Nyan—a scientist living on the continent of Bedrosia. This area's people believe that life was created by the god Nephertim, which places them in conflict with the Optricans, who hold an opposing belief that aliens brought them through the gate. When the Bedrosia leader Rygar captures Jack, Sam, and Daniel, he refuses to believe their story. Meanwhile, Teal'c has been seriously injured, and only Nyan can help in saving his friends.

New Ground once again tackles ideological issues relating to religion and science, and we see very stubborn leaders who refuse to entertain thoughts of other cultures. This premise could be used to generate an interesting episode, but everything seems a bit too familiar here. Christopher Judge does a nice job, and the story is decent enough, but it provides few surprises.

This episode rates 2 out of 5 Stargates.





Maternal Instinct
Written By: Robert C. Cooper
Directed by: Peter F. Woeste
Guest stars: Tony Amendola as Bra'tac, Terry Chen as Monk, Aaron Douglas as Moac, and Carla Boudrea as Oma Desala

Bra'tac arrives at the SGC with news that viewers already knew—Apophis is alive and well. Additionally, he has taken Sokar's massive army and become extremely powerful. One of his first acts is to attack Chulak in the search for the Harcesis child. Daniel knows the boy has been taken to the unknown location of Kheb, and Bra'tac helps them to discover its location. Once there, they must try to find the Harcesis before Apophis. However, perhaps it would be better if SG-1 does not acquire the Goa'uld genetic memory held by the boy.

I held extremely high expectations for this tale following the events of Forever in a Day. The Buddhist temple and teachings of Oma Desala (Mother Nature) did not seem to be a likely avenue for this story. It works for the most part, with Daniel learning a valuable lesson about trust and power. However, the initial promise of this tale did leave me a fairly disappointed.

This episode rates 2.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Crystal Skull
Written By: Michael Greenburg and Jarrad Paul (story), Brad Wright (teleplay)
Directed by: Brad Turner
Guest stars:

The MALP probe reveals a gigantic pyramid that could house every pyramid on Earth and still have extra room. SG-1 ventures inside and spots an odd Crystal Skull that appears identical to the artifact discovered by Daniel's grandfather in Belize in 1971. When he looks into the skull's eyes, Daniel disappears and becomes "out of phase" from everyone else. To discver what happened to him, Archaeologist Robert Rothman studies the skull and the others go to visit the grandfather, Nicholas Ballard, in a mental institution.

The visual effects of the pyramid are especially stunning given the series' television budget. In addition, the finale contains a gigantic alien that ranks as one of the more memorable images of the season. This episode is also intriguing because we view the team members for Daniel's unknown observation point. Ballard is also an interesting character and his connection to his grandson provides a nice emotional context.

This episode rates 3.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Nemesis
Written By: Robert C. Cooper
Directed by: Martin Wood
Guest stars: Colin Cunningham as Major Davis

It's time for SG-1 to take a vacation, and O'Neill is planning to go fishing in Northern Minnesota. While that sounds like the plot of a great season finale, larger events are in store. While speaking with Carter, he is transported by Thor onto the Asgard ship to battle their ancient enemy. Considered far more dangerous than the Goa'uld, the bug-like Replicators have overtaken the Asgard and used their own technology against them. O'Neill, Carter, and Teal'c must desperately try to save Earth from a similar fate. Hordes of Replicators inhabit the ship, and little hope exists for an escape.

This crazy episode marks the first appearance of the Replicators, who will wreak even greater havoc in upcoming seasons. They don't seem very tough initially, but their adaptive abilities and sheer numbers are extremely difficult to overcome. This tale begins with O'Neill asking Carter to join him for fishing, which she almost accepts. It is one of the few light moments in this especially dire entry. The season ends with a nasty cliffhanger that could mean the end of SG-1 and the entire planet.

Did Jack, Sam, and Teal'c survive? The action-packed finale rates 4 out of 5 Stargates.







Rating for Style: A-
Rating for Substance: A-

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.78:1 - Widescreen
Original Aspect Ratio	no
Anamorphic	yes

Image Transfer Review: The Stargate SG-1: Season 3 Box Set appears in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that represents a significant enhancement over the original television version. The colors are much brighter and help to make the various planets look more impressive. This is especially the case on Jolinar's Memories, which presents the hell-like planet with strong, clear images. The one downside of this transfer is the presence of a small level of grain in certain darker scenes. It never creates a major distraction, but does slightly lessen the overall viewing experience.

Image Transfer Grade: B+
 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
Dolby Digital 5.1	English	no

Audio Transfer Review: This collection utilizes an excellent 5.1-channel Dolby Surround transfer that crafts an entertaining audio presentation. The Stargate moments are especially worthwhile, with the effects emanating well from the rear speakers. The battles offer forceful sounds and help to create a believable atmosphere. Although slightly below the premier movie tracks, this transfer provides a surprising level of complexity not always prevalent in television releases.

Audio Transfer Grade: A- 

Disc Extras

Static menu
Scene Access with 110 cues and remote access
3 Featurette(s)
Packaging: Box Set
Picture Disc
5 Discs
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: dual

Extras Review: The Stargate SG: Season 3 Box Set once again drops the ball and lacks the inclusion of any feature-length commentaries or extensive documentaries. The lone extras are three featurettes that provide worthwhile information but fall short of the desired material. Each one contains bookends from General Hammond and Dr. Frasier as they address us like visitors to the SGC. Titled as Secret Files of the SGC, the pieces quickly cover a topic and provide quick interviews with the series' creators and actors.

The first entry runs for about 14 minutes and discusses the character of Colonel Jack O'Neill. Richard Dean Anderson seems very down-to-earth when describing the show's intelligence and sense of humor. Executive producers Brad Wright and Michael Greenburg also discuss Anderson's changes to the original character. The second featurette is titled the Secrets of the Stargate Universe and lasts for about 16 minutes. Wright and others cover the writing process and mention certain episodes that rank among their favorites. Some of these actually occur in the fourth season and contain minor spoilers. One interesting note is the idea that the Air Force would not "allow" them to have a romance between Jack and Sam. Finally, Personnel Files has the actors and crew describing various anecdotes from the series. Frequent director Martin Wood provides much of the detail, including a visit from actor Kurt Russell.

This box set represents a disappointment in terms of bonus features and even lacks the preview trailers of Season Two. Luckily, the upcoming fourth season release this month appears to rectify the problem and includes a wealth of extras.

Extras Grade: C
 

Final Comments

Critics and many viewers often relegate Stargate SG-1 among the hordes of bland syndicated series populating the weekend airwaves. It is considered a weak imitator of Star Trek that pales in comparison with other popular science fiction shows. In actuality, this compelling series continues to provide some of the most creative and character-driven stories in the genre. The third season builds on its predecessors and rarely falls flat throughout its 22 episodes. It opens the door to numerous concepts that would continue to affect O'Neill, Jackson, Carter, and Teal'c for many (currently four) future seasons.

Dan Heaton 2003-09-02