Stargate SG-1: The Serpent's Lair Rewatch
December 18, 2024 11:01 AM - Season 2, Episode 1 - Subscribe
The Ha'tak vessels arrive over Earth, and SG-1 is captured after killing Klorel. Fortunately, a small team of Jaffa led by Bra'tac is secretly stopping Apophis from taking over the Earth and rescues SG-1 for their assistance.
As the Goa'uld attack fleet approaches Earth, all four members of the SG-1 team are taken prisoner. They get help from an unexpected source when Bra'tac, Teal'c's mentor, reveals that he is on board. Apophis has delayed the attack until his son Klorel is revived, giving them some time to prepare. SG-1 has used all of the C4 on one of the two ships but must find a way to dispose of the second. Back at Stargate Command, Lt. Col. Bert Samuels arrives as a Pentagon liaison officer but also reveals a new weapon they have developed. General Hammond is dubious. They begin to transport humans to an Alpha site in order to ensure the continuation of mankind.
As the Goa'uld attack fleet approaches Earth, all four members of the SG-1 team are taken prisoner. They get help from an unexpected source when Bra'tac, Teal'c's mentor, reveals that he is on board. Apophis has delayed the attack until his son Klorel is revived, giving them some time to prepare. SG-1 has used all of the C4 on one of the two ships but must find a way to dispose of the second. Back at Stargate Command, Lt. Col. Bert Samuels arrives as a Pentagon liaison officer but also reveals a new weapon they have developed. General Hammond is dubious. They begin to transport humans to an Alpha site in order to ensure the continuation of mankind.
This was a pretty great conclusion and I had forgotten they had Christopher Judge step in like Majel Barrett on TNG to do "And now the conclusion."
I was convinced that they saved Skara (sp?) in this episode, but I guess Apophis and Klorel made an off stage escape? I also had this idea that the C4 was gathered up, all but the one planted on the bridge by Michael, so I don't know where my memories were for this one.
Bra'tak is one of the best reoccurring characters in the show and I loved how he referred to Hammond as, "Hammond of Texas." Speaking of which, Hammond telling Samuels he was going to die in that mountain with everyone else was just chef's kiss.
One a week isn't bad, I could probably do two, based on how often I want to jump ahead.
posted by Atreides at 12:45 PM on December 18, 2024
I was convinced that they saved Skara (sp?) in this episode, but I guess Apophis and Klorel made an off stage escape? I also had this idea that the C4 was gathered up, all but the one planted on the bridge by Michael, so I don't know where my memories were for this one.
Bra'tak is one of the best reoccurring characters in the show and I loved how he referred to Hammond as, "Hammond of Texas." Speaking of which, Hammond telling Samuels he was going to die in that mountain with everyone else was just chef's kiss.
One a week isn't bad, I could probably do two, based on how often I want to jump ahead.
posted by Atreides at 12:45 PM on December 18, 2024
Who put Daniel in the sarcophagus? I'm confused about that.
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 7:53 PM on December 18, 2024
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 7:53 PM on December 18, 2024
I think he put himself in.
posted by Carillon at 8:10 PM on December 18, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by Carillon at 8:10 PM on December 18, 2024 [1 favorite]
so at about 30:09 is where Daniel gets shot. At Daniel's urging, Jack gets up and walks away letting Daniel "watch his back". Jack walks into the sarcophagus room and announces Daniel's "not coming". They leave & go to the transport rings. At 31:02 Daniel is shown crawling across the floor. At 35:20, there's a cut and we see Daniel in the opening sarcophagus. He takes a careful look at his surroundings (and the sarcophagus has also apparently fixed his clothing) before jumping out and checking the timer on the C4 planted nearby.
So, yeah, there is a tiny indication that Daniel got himself into the sarcophagus. If you blink & miss it, you're left wondering (like me) whether someone else helped; and, like, whether it would become a plot point later. (For instance, we learn later that [spoilers] had some operatives on those ships, who were killed when they exploded. But it wasn't somehow one of them who saved Daniel)
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 5:55 AM on December 19, 2024 [1 favorite]
So, yeah, there is a tiny indication that Daniel got himself into the sarcophagus. If you blink & miss it, you're left wondering (like me) whether someone else helped; and, like, whether it would become a plot point later. (For instance, we learn later that [spoilers] had some operatives on those ships, who were killed when they exploded. But it wasn't somehow one of them who saved Daniel)
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 5:55 AM on December 19, 2024 [1 favorite]
I just relish Hammond’s smackdown when Samuels wanted to go to the alpha site (or the aloha site, as my phone prefers).
Also the reminder for Carter to look out the window of the death glider instead of -just- tallying the oncoming doom.
posted by janell at 11:33 AM on December 19, 2024 [1 favorite]
Also the reminder for Carter to look out the window of the death glider instead of -just- tallying the oncoming doom.
posted by janell at 11:33 AM on December 19, 2024 [1 favorite]
lots of fun VFX stuff here - blowing stuff up is always a good time. It's interesting how much the way vfx has changed since then. The gliders were built in the model shop, and filmed using motion control so they could do a few passes - like one lit as they appear in the scene, but also an unlit pass where they put steel wool over the model and burnt it to get that fizzly light effect showing how the gliders were damaged. Put the 2 passes together, the burning pyramid ships behind and it's a nice bit of visual storytelling.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:07 AM on December 23, 2024 [3 favorites]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:07 AM on December 23, 2024 [3 favorites]
Just really want to say, as someone who loves to hear how the magic is done, I really appreciate and enjoy your comments about the approaches used for these episodes. Thank you!
posted by Atreides at 6:21 AM on December 23, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by Atreides at 6:21 AM on December 23, 2024 [2 favorites]
oh yay, that's great to hear! thanks! here's another (hopefully) interesting bit - the way the gate turns on was already established in the movie, but they shot a bunch more of the water spouts to use in the series - that big water plume you see as the gate opens is created by shooting a big blast of compressed air through a huge tank of water. They filmed that from every angle so it could be dropped in whenever needed. What I got to design, though, is the look when the gate shuts down. I always like using filmed elements when creating a look, there's that bit of randomness to them I find pleasing to the eye. I found that in between takes of the water plume blast there was a moment when the bubbles rose to the surface and dissipated, so I took that, sped it up and used it to turn off the gate .
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:15 PM on December 23, 2024 [4 favorites]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:15 PM on December 23, 2024 [4 favorites]
I can't recall if I'd ever heard about the gate effect, but definitely not how the off gate was created. Which, if you think about it, is just as important as the initial activation. The gate turning off was the linchpin to the whole effect, if it didn't feel real, then it undermined everything before it. (so, uh, I guess no sweat on your part?). Thank you for the tidbit!
posted by Atreides at 2:13 PM on December 23, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by Atreides at 2:13 PM on December 23, 2024 [1 favorite]
Seconding that, so much of the imagery is burned into my memory, and hearing about how it was done is fascinating. I always thought the gate closing effect had such a cool "last wisps of matter getting pulled through the wormhole" look, I love that it was fittingly created from the dissipating results of the gate opening effect.
posted by lucidium at 3:38 PM on December 25, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by lucidium at 3:38 PM on December 25, 2024 [1 favorite]
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Programming wise, for those following along, how has the weekly posting been feeling? I like it, but could also try for 2 a week if that would work better for folks.
posted by Carillon at 11:09 AM on December 18, 2024 [2 favorites]