SG-1 10x12: Line in the Sand

[moonshayde]

I've been avoiding LJ because I couldn't watch this episode until today. It's bad enough people spoiled me a bit for this episode before so I didn't want to make it worse by venturing out last night. But at least now I have seen it.



Who wrote this episode? This episode had some of the finest acting and writing I have seen in a very very long time.

I don't know. This is two for two. First there was Quest 2 that just left me aching and hungry for more. Now, Line in the Sand airs and it's another winner. I could watch both of these eps over and over and over.

Anyway, nice bit of continuity. I love how much chemistry AT and BB have as Sam and Cam. Some of AT's best acting in this episode. Far far too often all she gets to do is technobabble which is a shame since she's a layered character like the rest of them. It was nice to see this side of Sam and I don't feel it weakened her at all. And wow, I love Cam. BB has done such a fine job at portraying a stronger, more mature and more secure Cam this season, while still not losing his spark and some of his doubts. It's awesome. Nice mention of Daniel and Cassie. Yay! I figured Sam would mention her when she started talking about personal letters. I suppose the password is fishing was a way to throw a bone to Sam/Jack shippers. I can deal with that because it wasn't anything overt. Everyone wins that way.

I was spoiled for Tomin which really really annoys me. I should have filtered all my communities when these started airing overseas because since then people have been spoiling me with icons and fic descriptions and the like, so I knew Tomin was in this one. Would have preferred not to know.

I love Tomin. I've loved Tomin since he first came on as a character. I think he and Vala have this really complex relationship and both of them play it so well. I don't think they could ever get back what they had -- there is just too much pain and mistrust, but I like them together. Tomin helped make Vala a better person imo and Vala has helped Tomin see the good in himself. There are too many differences between them, but you can tell they love each other. It's all very heartbreaking.

I don't know who plays Tomin, but the actor is awesome. He completely took over the scenes he was in. I wanted more! His scenes were intense, and I loved the interplay between him and Vala and him and the Prior. I'm glad they didn't kill him and I can pretend that deep down, he's trying to soul search to see how he can do the right thing without compromising his beliefs. But watch, they'll probably kill him in a few episodes just so he won't be in the way anymore *sigh*

I liked the townspeople. Where have I seen the traitor guy before? He looked very familiar. And I liked the plot. I'm confused though. Wasn't there an episode this year about phasing out that brought in bad bugs? Oh wait. Those were those Sodan things. Never mind.

Teal'c...didn't have much to do. I love Teal'c anyway. I mean Teal'c always rocks. He's just awesome. But I wish he would have more to do these days. He keeps getting shafted quite a bit lately.

Very nice moment there at the end with Sam, Cam, and the macaroons. When Sam said she'd be there for a few weeks healing, I was like, ha. I guess that is how they'll sneak in the next episode, which I am also somewhat spoiled for due to loose lips *scowls*

Anyway, I adored this episode and I'm very pleased. We'll see for next episode. Maybe we can make it three for three!

Comments

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

I really loved "Line in the Sand". I love it when they beat the Ori, however they do it, and this was a victory on more than one level, so I liked it even more.

You are completely right about the acting.

I'll...say more about next week next week. :)

Glad you're liking the second half. It's been so awesome to have everyone catch up with me. If I had more time, I'd rewatch. Maybe when things settle down a little...

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Two for two! It's been awesome. I hope for more awesome!

[autumndandelion.livejournal.com]

I liked this episode for the most part. The first scene just really threw me, because it doesn't seem to mesh with what just happened in the last episode. SG-1 doesn't seem phased at all that Daniel's gone. Then again, he's been dead so many times that what's once more?

I hope I wasn't one of the people who spoiled you for the episode. I hate any form of spoiler with a passion.

[cyren-2132.livejournal.com]

I said the exact same thing. Seriously, the first line of my episode commentary is: "This was a good episode, but I was a little thrown at the start." I guess I can get behind the "Daniel's never really dead, for long" rationale, though.

[calantha42.livejournal.com]

Joseph Mallozzi acutally addressed this in his blog. They wrote and filmed a longer intro which mentions Daniel, but it was cut for time. :(

[cyren-2132.livejournal.com]

Is Mallozzi blogging on Gateworld again, or is this somewhere else?

[calantha42.livejournal.com]

On blogspot:

http://josephmallozzi.blogspot.com

[cyren-2132.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Those are some long posts.

[yamadara.livejournal.com]

Just a friendly warning. Joe's blog is interesting, but I'd wait till you watch all the eps before you read it. There are quite a few major spoilers for the last half of the season for both SGA & SG1 in the Q&A portions.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Really? That's a bummer. I think it was something that should have been addressed right away, but I loved the ep so I can't complain too much.

[calantha42.livejournal.com]

I agree. I'm not sure where they could've found the time, but it was important for the story to mention Daniel immediately.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

It threw me too. At first I thought they might be lookign for him and then they came down all smiley and I was like huh? But I quickly decided they were in denial and working to avoid thinking about his fate.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I thought maybe they threw themselves into their work to avoid thinking about it. But I was just informed that they had written it in but it was cut for time. Darn it.

And no, you didn't spoil me. I appreciate how you've been good with cuts and stuff. it's mostly been random people in communities and such.

[autumndandelion.livejournal.com]

It was just odd. They came through the gate all smiling and happy. I'm going to choose to believe they just had faith in the fact that Daniel is the Kenny of SG-1 and that he'd return.

I had something big spoiled for me for Atlantis season four and was pretty upset. Cut only make sense to me for that reason. If others want to be spoiled, that's their choice, but I wish people would be more careful to keep people unspoiled if that's what they want.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Oh yes! The acting in this was very tasty. What a treat Amanda and Ben were. I, too, would love to have seen them give CJ a little more work in the episode. However, I continue to enjoy the Teal'c/Vala interaction. I like how the most effusive member is drawn to the least. And being Teal'c, he's totally unphased by her.

I'm not so fond of the set-up -- far too many holes there, I think, but I was willing to play along because the acting was so enjoyable. And watching the Prior try to peer into their dimension? I LOVED it.

As for Sam's password, I swear that in MY living room her password was, "fizzing." I paid extra for my parental control anti-S/J chip t.v. *nods*

I haven't been spoiled for the next episode - although I'm guessing now that Sam won't be in it? Hell, I don't even know what the next episode is. I stopped going to Gateworld or anywhere, really, and my f-list, bless their fingers, did a wonderful job of cutting.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

The throw away S/J thing didn't bug me. I prefer that to any kind of overt ship. For any of the characters, really. I've never had problems with ship for guest characters though: (Sara, Pete a little, Sha're, Drey'auc, Tomin, etc.)

Loved that Sam mentioned Cassie. Loved it.

I adore Teal'c/Vala. I wish Vala was with Daniel a little less so we could have more Teal'c and Vala.

Sam not in next week? it looks like a Sam-centric ep. I just am figuring that they are going to use her laid up excuse as a way of springboarding to whatever mishap happens next week. I'm basing that on the preview, not spoilers. But then again, the stupid preview man called her Amanda and not Sam.

[crayonbreakygal.livejournal.com]

You heard that too? Amanda? My son and I looked at each other and shook our heads like we were hearing things. Glad I wasn't.

[cyren-2132.livejournal.com]

I loved Cam and the macaroons.

As for Teal'c, this episode kind of reminded me of a DVD extra on...one of the seasons between one and eight, and I remember hearing that Christopher Judge gave, I think it was Brad Wright and Robert Cooper a signed poster that said snarkily "Thanks for all the great dialogue!" during those early seasons were Teal'c would literally just stand there all episode. Maybe fire his staff weapon.

Speaking of the staff weapon: I miss it. I can't quite tell if it's that the P-90 just looks wrong, or if the sleeve-less shirt just makes everything else look really wrong.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Oh that's too funny. I love CJ.

I miss the staff weapon so much, but I can sort of see why he'd trade it in. But the man needs a shirt. Seriously. He's got great muscles, but he needs a shirt!

[calantha42.livejournal.com]

Hee, I've already watched this one 3 times. (I watched the SkyOne broadcast a few months ago.)

Definitely holds up over multiple viewings.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

So far Quest 1 and 2 and Line in the Sand are my faves of the season. I'm mostly unspoiled for the rest of the season, but I hope for some more gems!

[suzannemarie.livejournal.com]

I really like this one too.

The funny thing about the "fishing" password is that it would never have occurred to me to look at in a shipping context. When I saw some shippers taking it that way, all I can think is "now, you're really reaching, fishing as it were, for cannon support for this ship. My predominate thought was that someone like Sam would come up with a much more complicated password that includes numbers and symbols, not a simple word.

I don't ship anyone because I don't want any ship on this show. But if I did, the one that I might go for is Sam/Cam. They have a nice easy chemistry with each other that I could easily see growing into something more. I'd find them a much more believable couple than Sam/Jack could ever be for me. I thought it was really noticeable in Line in the Sand.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

If I wasn't so involved in the fandom, the fishing thing would have never occurred to me. But since the fishing things seems to be debated by everyone under the sun, I couldn't help but catch it.

Maybe that password was just for her personal letters. She mentioned the password when she was talking about Cassie.

I don't ship anyone on the show either. I think it would ruin things. In fandom, I'll write anything because I see it as a different animal altogether. But for the show? NO.

That being said, I really enjoy the relationship between Cam and Sam. You can see it as ship or friendship easily. That is the beuaty about subtext. Everyone wins.

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

I totally missed the whole "fishing" thing, so it didn't bother me. Hearing people talk about it now is not as bothersome as if I'd seen it on the show. *g*

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

She said "d'oh" too. But none of that bothers me. I have a tendency to pick up other people's speech myself. And the fishing thing? I knew what the writers meant by that, but it's one of those things that can be read however you like it, imo. The time Sam went fishing it was a team event anyway. For all we know, they all are nuts have fishing as their password.

Jack is evil like that.

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

When Jack asked Daniel to go fishing, he said yes, even if he couldn't go right then. I firmly believe that Daniel was at Jack's cabin many times before that team event. hehe (Slash or friendship, that's how I read their relationship. hehe)

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

I wasn't spoiled for the Tomin part, but I don't think it would have mattered to me that much if I had been. I really liked him, though, and I like his interaction with Vala. I think they really love each other. I really wanted him to go with her! I still don't really understand why he wouldn't.

I don't know who plays Tomin, but the actor is awesome. He completely took over the scenes he was in. I wanted more! His scenes were intense, and I loved the interplay between him and Vala and him and the Prior. I'm glad they didn't kill him and I can pretend that deep down, he's trying to soul search to see how he can do the right thing without compromising his beliefs.

Me too. I don't know the actor either, but he was pretty amazing--totally holding his own with someone like Claudia Black, which is a feat in itself.

I'm going to hope they don't kill him off. I'd be really sad.

Very nice moment there at the end with Sam, Cam, and the macaroons.

It was. I liked it. :-)

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I think Tomin is just really conflicted. He couldn't go with her, even though she wanted him too. I think he needs some time to mull over what is going on and he needs to do that alone. And he might feel better if he can keep an eye on things where he's at. If he doesn't get killed, that is. He might get axed yet.

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

I don't understand why the priors/ori didn't kill him already, though. By staying, he has nothing with which to protect himself.

[crayonbreakygal.livejournal.com]

My favorite part was Cameron. He looked like he was ready to cry at one point when Sam said she didn't think she'd make it.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

So much Cameron love for this episode. Ben Browder just was fantastic.