Solar Flare: Science Fiction News

After a less than impressive start last week, Stargate: SG-1 rebounds this week with a wonderful episode. Capturing that perfect balance of humor and action which characterizes SG-1 at its best, this episode was primarily a Daniel Jackson one but had the welcome return of General Hammond.

Now a Lieutenant General, Hammond has been placed in charge of a mission to take the Prometheus and rescue the Atlantis team. He recruits Daniel Jackson and Walter Harriman (who gets much more face time than usual I’m pleased to say).

The episode starts off with some amusing comedy moments courtesy of a brief appearance from Richard Dean Anderson and the hiccuping character of Dr. Lindsey Novak who I hope we get to see more of. It then steps into high gear with the arrival of Vala, (played by Claudia Black) as a possible rebel/arms dealer/pirate of uncertain morals who has apparently been alone in space too long.

The interaction between Vala and Jackson is the high point of the episode and I’m really looking forward to Claudia Black’s return in Season 9. I can’t claim that there was anything hugely original here, or any major storyline developments. But the simple fact is that I was throughly entertained for the full hour of the broadcast and thats an achievement in itself.

Obviously fans of Teal’c and Carter are going to be disappointed by their complete absence from this episode, but simply looking at it from a story point of view it was great.