User Reviews

Another superb Ori episode. The philosophical insights into blind faith vs. reason were most astute. Seeing Vala actually turn her former husband against the Ori was an amazing twist I had not anticipated. The scene where the leader of the village calms the fears of the villagers was powerful as well. It was quite inspiring to see an example of how mob mentality might be overcome. The parallels with the interpretation of the Ori's literature and similar occurrences in real life where the Bible (or other holy books) are misused in order to suit the needs of those in power was most satisfying. The technical aspects of the device used to escape into a alternate reality were interesting as well.

Many reviewers don't seem to understand this episode.

Carter doesn't show weakness by questioning her faith, action on belief, in science. She shows humanity. When her science fails, Mitchell gives her a pep talk. But it's not his "dismiss God" pep talk that saves the day. It's a power crystal from an Ori staff weapon.

Meanwhile Tomin realizes the Prior mayor isn't quoting the word as given in the book of origin. The Prior is warping the word, misquoting it to fit his desire to wipe out the village. This is a comparison of the Ori to the God of his word. The Ori fall short of their good intentions Merlin mentioned in "The Quest".

Carter declares a desire to turn to "gods" for help, then she acts on that desire, shows faith. She uses the Ori power crystal, after the writers remind viewers that the word is pure. That's the positive reference to God.

One problem SG-1 always had in its treatment of the Goa'uld was there was no discussion of the Christian God. Senator Kinsey once said he would rely on God to save the Earth from Apophis, but the writers treated that as a nut calling on a false god.. Teal'c once said the Goa'uld don't have the compassion to pose as the God of the bible. That was a small nod to God.

But this episode makes a big connection.

Clearly McCullough is not a long-time fan of the series. From Season 1, especially into Seasons 5-7, Sam Carter has been the model of the female soldier and every bit as tough as the male officers. However, in every episode McCullough has ever written he's made Carter look weak, physically and mentally. In his first story "Insiders" she caves in to Baal with no real effort of resistance. Carter in past seasons would have resisted until finally outwitting him. I kept waiting for her to trick him, instead she just whined. In Company of Thieves she can't even speak to her male subordinate to tell him his commander has been killed because she is too overcome with emotion, yet how many fellow officers has she seen killed? Even after Janet dies in Season 7 Heroes Carter is upset, but is still tough and hard. In this episode, Line in the Sand, the storyline reads as though Carter 's never been wounded, though she survived for weeks alone and even rescued her ship mates in "Grace". In fact, since AM has been "executive story editor", from the beginning of S9, her character has been severely weakened(as has the show in general). I am surprised that the producers (and P. DeLuise in this episode) allowed this to occur, given the support from the Air Force. Is AM perhaps a misogynist? Does he believe women are too weak to serve? Fans can only hope he is not allowed to move to Atlantis Season 4.

It is also true, though, that they are desperately trying to find something to set Mitchell apart. In this episode, unfortunately, making him the hero came at her expense. In general, the writing was mediocre in parts, not at all engaging.

I used to love SG-1. For seven years, I loved this show, and the thing that drew me into the series was the character of Samantha Carter.

As a previous reviewer has noted, once the creative energies behind Stargate changed hands in the later seasons the character of Carter was severely weakened, and made into less of a heroic or admirable character, and more of a "damsel" ready to be put in distress at the whim of writers unfamiliar with the character and the whole image of her as a strong, competent, and intelligent Air Force officer.

But, this episode takes the cake ! Here Carter is severely wounded - although not as much so as she has been several other times on the series - and she spends a good deal of time in this episode lying in the infirmary, afraid for her life. The "real" Carter (ie. the one the writers gave us for 8 seasons) would be trying to get out of that bed and get right into the thick of solving the problem at hand.

She wouldn't be lying there whining to Mitchell that she wasted 10 years of her life "using science" to make people give up their beliefs in false gods, and now she wanted God to save her life.

This line was a slap in the face to any of Carter's atheist fans. And I happen to be one of those. And I am not trying to say anything against anyone's religion, or particular set of beliefs.

But we all like to see characters we can admire on shows we like. And a sympathetically portrayed atheist is very rare. I always enjoyed Carter because she was a scientist. She never said she was an atheist, but she certainly made an atheist, like me, feel that at least a strong belief in science was not a bad thing.

And now, the "brilliant" writers of season 10 feel the need to ruin 9 years of Stargate and make Carter retcon that message into a "maybe it's time to embrace the Lord" speech.

Just another attempt by the writers of the later seasons to show us a Carter who couldn't stand on her own two feet.

Insulting.