Uh… Let’s see… Based on the image on the title screen, I have a feeling we’re going to get a look at what happened to Chulak. Or something along those lines. APOPHIS?! One can only hope.
The ‘Gate whirls to life on the SGC base, and it’s BRA’TAC!! Yay!
…Oh, wait, never mind. It’s some lady. A really pretty lady, but she’s no Bra’tac. …Ahem. Anyways, she introduces herself as Shan’auc, and she was just using Bra’tac’s IDC to get through. One thing’s for sure, though: Teal’c is happier than I think I’ve ever seen him when he sees her. Given that and the sweet little piano melody in the background, we can all probably ascertain what kind of, ahem, past is between them. Jack gets a little irritated when she recognizes him and calls him “Teal’c’s apprentice” (confession: I laughed hysterically here at his expression) but Hammond a “great leader”.
But things get a little crazy… she says she’s got to see the Tok’ra immediately, because she has information “that could destroy the Goa’uld”.
At the Hangout, Shan’auc announces that she has been able to communicate with her symbiote, and also convince it that the ways of the Goa’uld are wrong. Hm… Personally, I’m not buying it. I think it’s more likely that the Goa’uld is influencing her… but who knows. The Tok’ra had to have come from somewhere.
However, despite everything, it’s urgent that her prim’ta have a host, and soon – it is almost fully mature. If they hold out too long, they could both die. However, she is willing to risk her own life.
Even Teal’c, though, isn’t convinced. Though as a priestess she likely had time to spend in kel’no’reem, a deeper state of that anyways, and thus communicate, there’s really nothing but her word to go on it.
Just then, she collapses, and they take her to the infirmary.
Pretty much, since the symbiote is adult, her immune system is breaking down.
Teal’c is highly bothered by her insistence that she has taught this Goa’uld to be different. Shan’auc, however, goes so far to say that he is closed-minded. The others leave, and she explains to him how, following his rebellion against Apophis, hearing the thoughts of her symbiote convinced her that he was right – the Goa’uld were no gods. From that day on, she vowed to change its thinking.
In Jackson’s office, Carter and O’Neill have joined him, and Jack speculates that they have “history”. (Uh, you think!?) Carter is thinking that Shan’auc might be telling the truth. Teal’c enters and asks them all for their assistance. (What are you thinking now? Risking your life again?)
He leads them into his quarters, and says that he plans to attempt what Shan’auc has already achieved – a connection with his symbiote. (Uh, do we really want to know what Junior’s thinking? Given all the situations he’s gotten himself into, I don’t suppose it’s a happy camper.) However, there are risks involved, and he wants the rest of SG-1 to make sure he doesn’t freak out or anything. (Aww! He trusts them so implicitly!)
He enters kel’no’reem, and starts to have flashes of visions; of his father. He sees Cronus (oh god not that guy again)… and the murder of his father.
Teal’c collapses, but he’s all right. Though he now realizes just how much good ol’ Junior hates his guts (no pun intended), he realizes that Shan’auc was indeed telling the truth.
Later, Anise has joined them (I knew she’d be back!) and she explains how the Tok’ra came from the goddess Ageria, a very old enemy of the Goa’uld, though one herself. She also says that some Goa’uld have defected, but none in the past few centuries. Given this, she’s agreed to talk to the High Council about her offer.
Before she leaves, though, Teal’c makes a “personal request”: That they attempt to procure a symbiote for Shan’auc. He actually says, “I do not wish her to die.”
Oh man.
Teal’c, do you remember the last time you cared about someone on Chulak? Your wife left you for your best friend, who then ended up being a traitor, your son went mad, and basically made your life hell?
But I’ve got to admit… It’s kind of cute.
That evening, Teal’c approaches Shan’auc in her quarters, and things aren’t going well for her. They talk (yup, she’s an old flame for sure… wonder if Drey’auc knows about her) and she expresses her disappointment that he has not returned to Chulak.
Just before he’s about to leave, she asks him what his symbiote showed him in the vision, and when he tells her, speculates that he should be stronger than the fear it wanted him to know. He then confesses one more thing:
“I fear losing you a second time.”
(Oh!! Heartbreak! I bet they were together before she became a priestess and then had to break it off when she left.)
They kiss, and, well, you can guess what happens next.
He leaves her quarters positively beaming and just uncharacteristically happy. Or maybe not. Even when Jackson stops him in the hallway and says that if he wanted to talk, he was here for him, Teal’c expresses his strong belief that all prim’ta could be swayed away from their instincts.
He’s got his girl, hope again for his people, and another way to fight the Goa’uld (well, maybe). What’s not to be happy about?
They travel to Vorash and are greeted by Anise/Freya. The Tok’ra have indeed found a new symbiote for her (yay!). They take Shan’auc to meet Hebron, who will be the Goa’uld’s host. Jack can’t help but be a little skeptical – their past couple encounters with the Tok’ra haven’t exactly been the greatest – but Hebron ensures that he knows what he’s getting into.
Shan’auc suddenly collapses, and insists that the transference must occur now. The symbiote enters through his throat (hold up, I thought they only went through the mouth..? Well, maybe he didn’t know better) and immediately takes over. He says he had no choice but to act immediately. He introduces himself as Tanith, and Tanith, I don’t much like the look in your eyes as you “pledge allegiance to the Tok’ra”. Hm…
He allows Hebron to speak, and the host ensures them that Tanith is pure of heart. (Yeah, well, Sokar also thought that Apophis was a loyal servant.)
Shan’auc returns, and she is well. She’s delighted to finally be able to speak to the one who was once her prim’ta.
Teal’c stays behind while the rest of the team goes to the ‘Gate, and he’s just sooo happy!..
…But now I’m kind of bummed out. Turns out that he plans to leave the SGC and join Shan’auc on Chulak in order to spread news of her success and encourage others to do the same.
Well, I guess so long as he’s happy…
On Vorash, later, Shan’auc approaches Tanith/Hebron. But… oh god this looks bad. He says to her, “How dare a priestess touch the mind of one who would be her god?”
OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP, he’s a Tok’ra my BUTT!!
He clasps a hand over her mouth and says one last thing:
“You have showed me the means to destroy the Tok’ra. Now you will have your reward.”
…Something tells me this isn’t going to end in her favour.
Back at the SGC hangout, Teal’c announces his resignation on the grounds that he is needed most on Chulak, at Shan’auc’s side. (Okay, Teal’c, you’re not fooling anyone. We all know you want to be with her. You know, long-distance relationships do work.) But I suppose it only makes sense. His purpose in joining SG-1 was to fight the Goa’uld, and now that he has what he believes is a most worthy cause, he’ll follow it.
The ‘Gate whirls to life… and it’s the Tok’ra…
…and Anise doesn’t look happy…
…and they have…
…a casket.
CRAAAAP.
Teal’c, what did I tell you? What did I tell you!?!
Anise tells him that Shan’auc’s symbiote merely failed – it was too young. I’m not buying it, though.
Teal’c’s final words to her are this:
“Kell mah veriunte shree.”
Our love does not end in death.
WHY ARE YOU SUCH A RIDICULOUS ROMANTIC?!
That evening, he sits in kel’no’reem, and once again has the vision of Cronus murdering his father. This time, though, he also sees blood on Cronus’ hand. Then he realizes that… Shan’auc was murdered.
“Murder, I tell you; murder!”
They take this information to the Tok’ra, Teal’c now convinced they had used Shan’auc in order to implant a spy among the Tok’ra. (Sounds about like them.) He thinks that Tanith must have crushed her symbiote and thus forced a mixing of the blood. This was also evident in Shan’auc.
Pretty much, Teal’c wants his revenge. (You get that jerkface!)
The Tok’ra aren’t letting him have it. (Well. That stinks.)
Teal’c tries to fight his way through the Tok’ra, but they stop him before he can get much further. Anise explains (or rather, Freya does) that they plan to make Tanith think he’s getting good information, but in turn work his own tactic against him. Teal’c still looks ready to murder someone, though.
Later, he approaches Tanith, but doesn’t overtly let on that he knows he’s a Goa’uld. I think it’s pretty clear they both know what the other hides.
Tanith: “Why have you come to see me?”
Teal’c: “To look upon you… and know Shan’auc’s sacrifice will not be in vain.”
Tanith: “You have my promise. I hope one day we will meet again, Teal’c, and together remember she who meant so much to both of us.
Teal’c: “We will meet again… you have my promise.”
Final thoughts… Teal’c just doesn’t have any luck at all in the relationship department, does he? He finally gets a chance to save his people, be with his first love, go home… and of course it all falls apart because of that wonderful Goa’uld deceit. He doesn’t even get to exact his revenge on the jerkface who killed her.
You know, it really is unfortunate. As far as I know, Drey’auc’s gone. Their marriage was over… well, when she divorced him for Fro’tak. And clearly he and Shan’auc were pretty serious – he was ready to drop everything and go with her. Was it just part of the script for dramatic effect? Yes, but it doesn’t make it any less heart-wrenching.
There’s also the apparent realization that you just can’t turn a Goa’uld. It’s too bad, really; Shan’auc had had Bra’tac, Teal’c, and probably plenty of others convinced of her success. And for a world like Chulak which has suffered again and again at the hands of Apophis, and seemingly now more than ever (as we saw in “Maternal Instinct” (3x20)), they probably could’ve used some good news. However, in terms of the storyline, it does add an interesting facet to those who are Jaffa. If one can be in some sort of communication with his or her symbiote, beyond just kel’no’reem as we know it, there could be… um… Well, I don’t know what there could be, but it’s an interesting idea nonetheless. If anything it should be able to sway the thinking of enough Jaffa, unless, of course, they fear happening to them what happened to Shan’auc.
The scene with Daniel is kind of interesting (also rather amusing). Jackson’s probably thinking, “Oh god, he’s going to lose this woman he loves,” which of course is right up his alley (with losing Sha’re and all that) but it is in fact Teal’c who’s the optimistic one here. Just kind of a funny role change.
All in all I thought it was a really good episode. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see Bra’tac (aww! Sad!) but of course I have a thing for episodes that tend to be Teal’c-centric. Chris Judge himself had a few really good scenes, just purely as an actor. The opening where he first catches Shan’auc’s eyes was simply adorable and I honestly could not get enough of that. I was also really impressed with his work on the scene where they bring in Shan’auc’s body on the stretcher. Judge is such a fantastic actor in that he’s so subtle. He lets the moment take you, instead of trying to force it, and in turn just racks up the emotion so high.
I also have to give major props to Peter Wingfield in the role of Tanith/Hebron. His transition from good-guy-ready-to-join-the-Tok’ra-YAY to evil-Goa’uld-I’m-gonna-kill-your-girlfriend was just flawless. He’s so creepy in that at first you don’t even know what side he’s on, but then by the end you just want to punch his face in, but don’t, because he’ll kill you if you touch him. His scenes with Shan’auc (when he kills her) and the final confrontation with Teal’c are just unbelievably intense. Gotta love it. Got to love it.
Also, just one more note: If you have the DVDs this episode had some fantastic commentary. I really enjoyed Peter DeLuise’s thoughts and it was worth hearing/seeing again. Sometimes he’ll crack a stupid joke but it’s fun to hear his point of view as the director!
REFLECTION/PREDICTION THINGY
(Well.)
Jackson: This has been… kind of unfortunate.
Carter: I just hope Teal’c’s okay.
O’Neill: You think cake would help? Because cake helps everything.
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