Solar Flare: Science Fiction News

I mentioned in my review of Reckoning Part 2 that it felt like a season finale. Well Threads feels almost like a series finale. It isn’t of course but it had a definite air of wrapping things up. Not only do we get a a resolution (of sorts) to the threat of Anubis, we finally get a feel of how he got where he was and why he hadn’t been dealt with previously.

On top of that the “relationship” between Carter and O’Neil is explored again in a suitably tentative fashion. Nothing is really resolved here, but rather the possibility is opened up again.

So all around there is a feel of wrapping things up in and leaving everything tidy. But as I said, its not the end of the series, its not even the end of the season. So it was either written when they though it might be the last season or with the intention of really moving Stargate SG-1 in a new direction next season.

While this episode is great at the character moments, the biggest irritation is that it keeps referring to major events that we aren’t allowed to see. It’s essentially a play set in three locations and all the real action occurs off stage.

The Jafa are attacking Anubis’ base, but we don’t see it. Anubis’ forces are defeating the Jafa, but we don’t see it. While I enjoyed the more character based storytelling, this reliance on just telling us about things happening off-screen was rather annoying for what is after all an action show. I did really like the revelation of who Anubis actually is though, and the actor they picked to play that role did it perfectly.

Perhaps the best thing about this episode though is how it blows things wide open. The Goa’uld are scattered and weakened. The Jafa have a nation. Anubis is out of the way. The replicators are either decimated or completely wiped out. The whole balance of power has just shifted.

But before we get to that we have a time travel story to enjoy!