TVSquad

(S10E18) Let's start with the best part of the episode first, which would happen to be the last scene. Teal'c, who had very little to say or do this week (he had his moment last episode) takes in a showing of The Virginia Monologues, at the recommendation of Vala's estranged father Jasec (more on him later). Of course, Jasec being from an alien planet and all, he kind of got the title of the play messed up. So, Teal'c got to see a wonderful production of The Vagina Monologues instead. Watching this feared Jaffa warrior squirm in his seat while sitting in a audience of solely women was the funniest part of the episode.

All of the scenes prior to that . . . not as funny or as interesting.

I don't know about you, but I would have thought that the last few episodes of the longest-running, syndicated science-fiction show in the history of television would have a bit more meat to them. Something about an impending alien invasion from an unknown race that the SG-1 team had to race against the clock to find. Instead, we get a story about Vala and her father, with a side story about General Landry and his family. Where's the pulse-pounding adventure of the previous seasons?

Now, before you get all angry at me, I know that this last season has dealt a lot with family. Last episode featured a family theme with Teal'c, a few weeks ago we got to meet Cameron's family, and earlier in the season the SG-1 team dealt with Vala and her daughter. But, at least some of those episodes featured the SG-1 team spanning the universe to unlock clues that would stop an Ori invasion. This episode barely touch on any type of malevolent race bent on destruction. Yes, there was a brief mention of the recently departed Arkad and his plan to invade Earth, but it was a minor plot point.

Maybe if someone else other than Fred Willard were cast as Vala's father I would have enjoyed the episode more. I like Fred Willard and have enjoyed him in everything I've seen him in all the way back to -- ready for this blast from the past -- Real People. But he just didn't fit the persona of Vala's father. Their relationship on screen was very awkward, and I'm not talking about Michael Scott of The Office awkward. I'm talking about the lack of chemistry between the two actors.

I think it may have been the way that Willard played Jasec. There was no range of emotion to the character, no real feeling of trying to redeem himself (not even the part where he check his image in the mirror to make sure he was presentable to his daughter). He oozed sleaze from the first time we saw him on the video to the last scene where he was attempting to wrangle a deal for fake explosives. He didn't seem charming to me. In fact, he was quite unlikeable. Hmm, maybe it wasn't the actors after all. Oh, those devilish writers and directors!

Just like last week, the rest of the SG-1 team had very little to do (even less than the week before). Samantha did have a good scene with Vala at the beginning of the show, and it was nice to see both of them out of standard green utilities for once. Heck, General Landry and his daughter Carolyn (nice to see Lexa Doig on these last few episodes) got more screen time then the rest of the team. I do hope that they have a little more team interaction in the last two episodes.

So, in summary, I'll take the Teal'c scene into consideration and give this week's episode of Stargate SG-1 a rating of

We are down to the final two episodes of this series. I hope to see you back here next week. Meanwhile, take a peek at this week's poll.