Thought of the Day for TPTB
Abyss Review by Marcia
Stargate SG-1’s Swan Song?
At last. An episode of Stargate SG-1 aired Friday night after a very long and painful drought. I knew it when I saw it. I recognized it for the intelligent writing, the outstanding and skillful performances of the two principle actors, and the directing and production values not seen in a couple of years.
Congratulations, Mr. Wright! This was indeed everything promised and more. It brought bittersweet tears to my eyes – sweet in the sense of finding something precious that was lost and bitter in the sense of utter frustration at the still-unresolved loss of that precious thing and losing it again. Mr. Wright, you definitely know how to write for this show. THIS was Stargate SG-1 at its finest. I hope there will be more of the same.
Richard Dean Anderson turned in probably one of his finest, most inspired performances ever—such a variegated interpretation. Angry, confused, stubborn and belligerent at first to desperate, anxious, and despairing. He was superb and every bit the clever, tough, and three-dimensional Jack O’Neill I remember.
His trademark sarcasm was used sparingly and appropriately. It was there in the early stages of his imprisonment, but faded away as O’Neill’s spirit was slowly breaking. RDA’s interpretation of O’Neill’s utter abandonment and desolation was heartbreaking. The frustration of trying to get Daniel to help him escape, Jack’s futile attempts to reason with him and his principles as an ascended being were real and passionate, and his despair at finding Daniel gone when he returned to his cell at one point, evoked unrestrained angst at his plight. O’Neill needed Daniel with him more than anything else, and we needed him there with Jack, too.
Michael Shanks knows Daniel Jackson (certainly better than some of the writers do.) And this was Daniel in every sense of the word—the strong, sensitive, intelligent, flawed, impulsive, pacifistic scholar and student of the universe. MS brought Daniel back to us in style with an enthusiastic, powerful, angst-filled and savvy portrayal of a character he so obviously cares deeply about—one he walked away from to protect. Without question, when he is challenged and his character is valued, he delivers in spades.
There was one moment that made me chuckle, because it was SOOO Daniel. When Daniel was trying to get Jack to agree to ascend, he rather hastily instructed, “Now I need you to open your mind.” Pretty funny. I mean, when the heck has Jack been readily able to accept an outlandish idea without a rather protracted debate on the subject? It was a memorable moment and excellent example of the impulsive, ever-optimistic, and maybe a little naïve Daniel.
Jack’s response was spot-on. It was like they were back in the temple on Kheb, and Daniel was trying to convince Jack he could light the candle with his mind. This was classic Jack and Daniel.
RDA seemed to be enjoying himself, too—you could see it. He’d said in the past he’d always enjoyed his on-screen interactions with Michael Shanks and vice versa. It was clearly evident in the enthusiasm they brought to their scenes together, and they easily slipped back into the chemistry that made the Jack and Daniel dynamic so appealing in the first place—an unlikely friendship between a career military man and a brilliant civilian “geek.” Unlikely, and yet still a deep and abiding bond of honesty, loyalty, love, and trust. A bond that was ridiculously and unnecessarily minimized in the last two seasons and woefully glossed over in Meridian—a grievous error in judgment.
As far as the plot goes, there are some discrepancies in canon about what the ascended can and cannot do, and it has been argued that Daniel wouldn’t act this way. Fans say that he would never allow Jack to be tortured, that he would take action to free Jack much like Oma did the team on Kheb, that the “No Interference” policy is a plot device. More than likely, it is.
*Or* perhaps in typical Daniel fashion, he will always strive to find another way *first*. Perhaps if all else failed, he would do everything in his power—including sacrificing his ascended self—to save Jack.
I believe Daniel when he said, "[the other ascended beings] won't let me." I believe him when he said to Jack that if their positions were reversed, "they would stop you." And the bottom line is—as Daniel pointed out—that in spite of his abilities, he was no more qualified "to play God than the Goa'uld." That's the quintessential Daniel Jackson.
I believe it was him based on 1) his peace-loving, gentle nature, 2) his consistent determination to try to find another way, and 3) at least three stories in canon where Daniel had a taste of power and didn’t like what he saw of himself with it: Need, Upgrades, and Absolute Power.
I believe the ascended Daniel is a product of his innate decency and the lessons learned in his pre-ascended existence, and it was borne out here as he struggled with saving Jack's soul—Daniel’s initial purpose for being there. Helping Jack to ascend was an afterthought.
But clearly, there was interference on Daniel’s part as Hammond, Carter, Teal’c and Jonas were trying to work this problem out back at the SGC. The ideas they were coming up with were obviously inspired from a source outside of themselves. It could be argued that Daniel interfered. It could also be argued that there’s a distinction among the ascended between *direct* interference and *indirect* interference. I’ll go with the latter explanation.
As for the rest of the team, I’m relieved to see that Teal’c has some personality back. He used to have more emotion and depth in the early seasons, so it was good to see him more at ease. It also warmed my heart to see Teal’c make the connection and put forth the solution to finding O’Neill. *And* it was appropriate that since Daniel and Teal’c shared Kel-no-reem time in the past, that Daniel chose that time to convey the answer to Teal’c. I’m glad Teal’c could be made to contribute meaningfully in ways too often reserved for Sam.
And speaking of Sam, where was she? I’ve known her to be a warm and caring teammate in the past and would think that she would be deeply concerned over the fate of Colonel O’Neill and at least as desperate to save him as she was in Solitudes. She was thinking on her feet all right, but this was still uncharacteristically very business-like for Sam.
For example, I found it odd for Carter not to help Jack drink the water he asked for at the end. Clearly, he was weak and unable to sit up, and the bed was not set at an angle that he could comfortably reach the bed table where she set the cup. Perhaps any interaction between Sam and Jack would have diminished the significance of the last exchange between Daniel and Jack. It probably would have, but I still think it odd.
Don S. Davis was his usual wonderful self. His character, Hammond, seemed to carry the brunt of the concern and outrage over the fate of Colonel O’Neill as it was noticeably lacking in the other members of SG-1. I’ve always admired DSD in his performance of Hammond. He delivers consistent quality, and it’s about time was listed as a part of the opening credits.
I found Jonas Quinn not entirely intolerable, but certainly not interesting enough to keep my attention. His sizeable contribution to the dilemma of O’Neill’s predicament appeared to be awkward and a subtle contrivance, but I’m thankful his exposure was kept to a minimum. The in-your-face Jonas is a little too much to take for fans still smarting over Daniel’s loss.
Production, set design, and special effects were classy and not overwhelmingly garish. The multi-directional gravity prison cell and web that trapped O’Neill as he was being tortured were extremely clever and very well-done. The set designers and special effects folks deserve kudos for their understated yet complex efforts.
All in all, this was Stargate SG-1 and Jack and Daniel as we haven't seen in years. It brought me to tears because of the poignant and powerful story written and the two actors who brought it to life with such care and passion.
It also brought tears of frustration over what this show had been and what it could have been—that it is most definitely possible to write and direct to this level of quality if you have people in charge who care enough about the show to do so. How a show this good can become so senselessly perverted, so unrecognizable in a shallow attempt to draw in another demographic, I’ll never understand for as long as I live.
I must extend my sincerest congratulations to Michael Shanks and Richard Dean Anderson for superlative and memorable performances, Martin Wood for outstanding directing, and Brad Wright for an excellent script that shows a profound understanding of the two principle characters and what this show (as it was originally developed) meant to a vast majority of fans who, like me, are leaving after Abyss, not to return until Daniel does.
I beseech you, Mr. Wright. Please bring Daniel Jackson back. Don’t let Abyss be his swan song. For if it is, then it is most assuredly Stargate SG-1's as well.
But what the hell do I know? I’m just a Stargate SG-1 fan.
By Marcia
22nd July 2002
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