Counterstrike - Review
23/10/2008 05:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rachel500Counterstrike is the 7th episode in Season Ten of Stargate SG1.
Review
Review
Counterstrike provides a return to the Ori arc in a story that illustrates the vast superiority of the enemy and the comparative weakness of Earth and its allies. Its purpose is to further the arc and it is never meant to be an uplifting episode but under the expected down-note of the ending is a sense of disappointment with the overall dramatic effect, (or lack thereof), despite the acting talents of the cast and great special effects.
The lack of drama in the piece is its main failing. The episode relies too heavily on the trappings to provide drama rather than the story itself. The musical underscore, the scenery design, the lighting and the special effects are all invoked well to create atmosphere but overall there is never a sense that our heroes are in real danger. This in part is because convenient beam-outs have become the usual escape route and with the Odyssey flying to the rescue, the end denouement is never in doubt.
But there is also no sense of urgency; for example, had SG1 been aware that they are about to be hit by the Dakara weapon, their diligent actions to lower the shields to escape to the Odyssey might have had more drama. Further, the dialogue is bogged down in speeches about rights and wrongs of the military strategy employed or about Origin again slowing the overall pace which is sometimes also thrown off by the use of humour. No doubt the Dr. Phil stuff was meant to provide some levity but it just feels jarring as does the attempt to lighten the moment with the ‘mother/battle seasoned warrior’ remarks right at the end.
The direction occasionally manages to find a moment of drama; the close-up of Mitchell, his fingers trembling on the trigger for the explosive is neatly done and the special effects of the Odyssey leaping into hyperspace just before the radiation wave of the weapon hits is nicely timed. But the direction also misses; the blocking of Sam, Teal’c and Mitchell at the moment SG1 realises that it was the Dakara weapon that was used seems awkward rather than dramatic and the blocking of Adria, Vala and Daniel just before the latter two get beamed out leaves the impression that the all-powerful Adria just stands there like a lemon.
The other problem the story has is with the Jaffa element of the plot. The new leader of the Jaffa is a wonderful creation and is brilliantly portrayed by David Andrews. Unfortunately, this is Se’tak’s first appearance (and presumably last) and the fragility in the Jaffa/Tau’ri alliance with the sudden decision of the Jaffa to use the weapon (and yes it is irritating that canon was slightly tweaked to retain its existence) seems jolting. The lack of lead-in means it feels like the audience is playing catch-up; it is discomforting suddenly being asked to view an ally (albeit a prickly one that has caused problems in the past) as an enemy.
A bridging episode was needed in terms of the overall arc for the Jaffa before this one. Had Se’tak been introduced and the fractures in the alliance already been seeded and the audience been shown how badly the Jaffa were faring rather than simply being told in prior S10 episodes – all would have deepened the understanding of the audience about how the Jaffa had come to reach this point and made more sense of the plot.
The other jolting moment in the story is the discussion between Daniel and Vala regarding Sha’uri. For me, it doesn’t fit and the premise on which the subject is introduced weak; Daniel’s situation with Sha’uri is very different from that of Vala’s with Adria. There is no real basis for a comparison of the experiences. It feels like the writers have jumped on the vaguest similarity (perceived death of Adria) simply so the two of them are seen to have discussed it but it does provide a nice moment between the characters that is well-acted by Michael Shanks and Claudia Black.
Indeed, despite its failings Counterstrike is uplifted by some superb acting. Claudia Black and Morena Baccarin have created a nice dynamic that makes the mother/daughter relationship feel very real and Baccarin excels as a powerful, precocious and brainwashed child in the body of an attractive woman. She and Shanks also seed the beginnings of a relationship here between their characters very effectively. Tony Amendola and Chris Judge deserve kudos for their characters’ understated, yet very evident, portrayal of disappointment and disillusionment in their brethren. Browder’s acting where Mitchell presses the button to blow them up only for it not to work is spot on and worth a mention, as is Tapping’s ability to play scenes all on her own and still demonstrate the requisite emotions. Beau Bridges manages to inject some drama in the scene with the Jaffa firing the weapon as he protests that his people might be on the ship. The Odyssey crew and the Free Jaffa are solid and believable. All perform outstandingly.
The special effects also add a touch of class to the episode; the battle between the Ori ship and the Jaffa ships superb; the destruction of Dakara chilling. The telekinetic ability of Adria in the suspension of the Jaffa and weapons is more subtle but equally impressive. Only the backdrop of the Ori ship behind the village seems a little false.
Ultimately, Counterstrike is not a bad episode; as a story it’s solid fare that successfully furthers the overall arc and it is definitely elevated by the depth and breadth of the acting talent on show and by the use of special effects. Still there is a lingering sense of disappointment because if the quality of the story had matched the rest, this could have been so much more than solid.
The lack of drama in the piece is its main failing. The episode relies too heavily on the trappings to provide drama rather than the story itself. The musical underscore, the scenery design, the lighting and the special effects are all invoked well to create atmosphere but overall there is never a sense that our heroes are in real danger. This in part is because convenient beam-outs have become the usual escape route and with the Odyssey flying to the rescue, the end denouement is never in doubt.
But there is also no sense of urgency; for example, had SG1 been aware that they are about to be hit by the Dakara weapon, their diligent actions to lower the shields to escape to the Odyssey might have had more drama. Further, the dialogue is bogged down in speeches about rights and wrongs of the military strategy employed or about Origin again slowing the overall pace which is sometimes also thrown off by the use of humour. No doubt the Dr. Phil stuff was meant to provide some levity but it just feels jarring as does the attempt to lighten the moment with the ‘mother/battle seasoned warrior’ remarks right at the end.
The direction occasionally manages to find a moment of drama; the close-up of Mitchell, his fingers trembling on the trigger for the explosive is neatly done and the special effects of the Odyssey leaping into hyperspace just before the radiation wave of the weapon hits is nicely timed. But the direction also misses; the blocking of Sam, Teal’c and Mitchell at the moment SG1 realises that it was the Dakara weapon that was used seems awkward rather than dramatic and the blocking of Adria, Vala and Daniel just before the latter two get beamed out leaves the impression that the all-powerful Adria just stands there like a lemon.
The other problem the story has is with the Jaffa element of the plot. The new leader of the Jaffa is a wonderful creation and is brilliantly portrayed by David Andrews. Unfortunately, this is Se’tak’s first appearance (and presumably last) and the fragility in the Jaffa/Tau’ri alliance with the sudden decision of the Jaffa to use the weapon (and yes it is irritating that canon was slightly tweaked to retain its existence) seems jolting. The lack of lead-in means it feels like the audience is playing catch-up; it is discomforting suddenly being asked to view an ally (albeit a prickly one that has caused problems in the past) as an enemy.
A bridging episode was needed in terms of the overall arc for the Jaffa before this one. Had Se’tak been introduced and the fractures in the alliance already been seeded and the audience been shown how badly the Jaffa were faring rather than simply being told in prior S10 episodes – all would have deepened the understanding of the audience about how the Jaffa had come to reach this point and made more sense of the plot.
The other jolting moment in the story is the discussion between Daniel and Vala regarding Sha’uri. For me, it doesn’t fit and the premise on which the subject is introduced weak; Daniel’s situation with Sha’uri is very different from that of Vala’s with Adria. There is no real basis for a comparison of the experiences. It feels like the writers have jumped on the vaguest similarity (perceived death of Adria) simply so the two of them are seen to have discussed it but it does provide a nice moment between the characters that is well-acted by Michael Shanks and Claudia Black.
Indeed, despite its failings Counterstrike is uplifted by some superb acting. Claudia Black and Morena Baccarin have created a nice dynamic that makes the mother/daughter relationship feel very real and Baccarin excels as a powerful, precocious and brainwashed child in the body of an attractive woman. She and Shanks also seed the beginnings of a relationship here between their characters very effectively. Tony Amendola and Chris Judge deserve kudos for their characters’ understated, yet very evident, portrayal of disappointment and disillusionment in their brethren. Browder’s acting where Mitchell presses the button to blow them up only for it not to work is spot on and worth a mention, as is Tapping’s ability to play scenes all on her own and still demonstrate the requisite emotions. Beau Bridges manages to inject some drama in the scene with the Jaffa firing the weapon as he protests that his people might be on the ship. The Odyssey crew and the Free Jaffa are solid and believable. All perform outstandingly.
The special effects also add a touch of class to the episode; the battle between the Ori ship and the Jaffa ships superb; the destruction of Dakara chilling. The telekinetic ability of Adria in the suspension of the Jaffa and weapons is more subtle but equally impressive. Only the backdrop of the Ori ship behind the village seems a little false.
Ultimately, Counterstrike is not a bad episode; as a story it’s solid fare that successfully furthers the overall arc and it is definitely elevated by the depth and breadth of the acting talent on show and by the use of special effects. Still there is a lingering sense of disappointment because if the quality of the story had matched the rest, this could have been so much more than solid.
