Mark Watches ‘Stargate SG-1’: The Enemy Within

Thanks to Devon for commissioning some crucial episodes that I needed to watch before I got to the Tok’ra arc in season 2! This particular episode, which falls after the pilot episode, ended exactly as I thought it would and not at all like I thought it would. Discuss.

The video file for “The Enemy Within” is available for download here, and all Mark Watches videos are indexed in my Dropbox folder.

• When all is said and done, this is a fairly standard body invasion/infection story, one you see a lot of in science fiction. The Twilight Zone did it, The Thing is my personal favorite in the genre, and most sci-fi shows I’ve seen since that movie usually contain a nod to it. We knew Kowalski had a Goa’uld within him, so it was only a matter of time before everyone else knew. 
• Is there an explanation for why a lot of sci-fi writing has proper nouns that use apostrophes in the middle of words? Why does that happen? THIS IS A GENUINE QUESTION, I’M NOT BEING SARCASTIC.
• I found “The Enemy Within” far more compelling because of Teal’c’s plotline, which played off the clever title of the episode. He’s treated as if he is a possible enemy, despite that he’s demonstrated a clear desire to ally with humankind. I know this aired before the United States had enemy combatants and before 9/11, so it’s interesting to watch this after those events and see how relevant the themes still are.
• Okay, so there’s a moment where the show references the movie, right? The whole “humans are actually the Tau’ri,” right? Because otherwise this show just dropped a massive mythology plot twist into the middle of a conversation like it was no big deal.
• GOA’ULD HAVE GENETIC MEMORY. okay, THAT is super cool.
• Okay, so wait, Teal’c has a Goa’uld within him in the larval state, so is it gonna grow up and rebelliously move out someday while screaming YOU’RE NOT MY REAL DAD because I’d like to see that.
• FAKE OUT. I honestly didn’t think Kowalski would survive the surgery, but he DID, and that was GENUINELY SURPRISING TO ME. So I totally fell for the twist that came after this. Kowalski had been dead FOR HOURS. Jesus.
• AND THEN HE GOT HIS HEAD PARTIALLY CUT OFF BY THE STARGATE. Well, that was unexpected.

Just a reminder that we have THREE MORE Stargate episodes for commissions this week!