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» related articles » chat about it » post a message
 Sci-fi > tv > Stargate SG-1, Rite of Passage

 Stargate SG-1, Rite of Passage

The ladies take the spotlight.

August 8, 2001

Series
Stargate SG-1
Episode
Rite of Passage
Airing Date
2001-08-03
Sci-fi Bits
Invisibility devices and accelerated evolution.
Juicy Bits
Jackson + Frasier = shippiness?
Featuring
Richard Dean Anderson as Colonel Jack O'Neill
Michael Shanks as Daniel Jackson
Amanda Tapping as Major Samantha Carter
Christopher Judge as Teal'c
Don S. Davis as General Hammond

Sorry for the possible lateness of this article, SG-1 fans! Your humble geek demigod was busy attending the ultimate in geekiness, GenCon. Nevertheless, I serve you, oh loyal readers and I write this review in the hopes that you’ll forgive my tardiness.

So this week’s episode begins with Dr. Frasier’s adopted daughter, Cassandra, developing a nasty retrovirus that grants her electromagnetic powers at the cost of her health. Searching for a cure, SG-1 heads to Cassie’s now unpopulated planet where they find a subterranean lab where Nirrti was working on a freaky experiment: accelerate human evolution to create a super-powerful Goa’uld host. Believing her to be dead, the SG-1 is quite surprised to find Nirrti invisibly lurking about the SGC to check on the last survivor of her experiments. A deal is struck and Nirrti cures Cassie of the illness in exchange for her own release.

Cool bits about this episode mainly revolve around the female cast of the show. Carter gets some screen time as well, playing the role of surrogate aunt to Cassandra. Usually, Carter gets alienated by her intellect and is relegated to finding the odd bit of alien technology or studying that odd bit of alien technology in her claustrophobic little lab. I like seeing her interacting in a non-scientific capacity; it develops her character just that much more.

But this episode belongs to Dr. Frasier. Considering the recent trend of episodes centering on a specific character (Teal’c and Carter have both gotten the spotlight this season), I was wondering when the writers would get around to devoting a story to the most often appearing but underdeveloped character, Dr. Frasier. She’s been on the show since the beginning, as I recall, and she’s still not in the opening credits. Bummer. We don’t learn all that much about her in this episode, really, but at least we get to see her forced into desperate measures when the only person who can save Cassandra is the person who infected her in the first place.

One baaaad momma.
I’m not sure how I feel about Frasier knocking out a guard, taking his weapon and kicking down the door. Shouldn’t she be facing some kind of probation or punishment for that kind of action? At least scold the guard for being so easily taken down. Ah, well. It’s still cool as sin seeing her aim a gun straight at Nirrti’s face and demand her assistance. I suppose that scene could have veered dangerously close to the cheesy "mother pushed too far" setups on a Lifetime original movie, but I liked it just the same.

What was up with the Jackson’s solemn consolation of Frasier about half way through the ep? Was it just me, or did he hold her hand a little too long for it to be just a friendly reassurance? Frasier and Jackson... I have to admit, I never saw it coming.

Finally, ah… Nirrti, played by Jacqueline Samuda. Two words: Mee...ow. Samuda was born to play Catwoman somewhere, somehow. Any directors listening out there? Snatch this kitten before she saunters away.


--Daniel Solis has a thing for pale brunettes.


4 out of 5


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