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Stargate SG-1 Season 9 Episode 8

Babylon

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AIRED: 9/9/05

Offworld, SG-1 is attacked by Jaffa of the Sodan, and Mitchell is wounded in a fight with one of them. Thinking that the Jaffa was killed, the other Jaffa take Mitchell back to their village to be trained for a fight to the death.

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Fan Episode Reviews (12)

Confusing episode. What's the purpose of it?

9.2

By bramucci, Feb 10, 2011

It was interesting to see the different way that POWs are treated on earth and with the Sodan. The Sodan warrior refuses to believe that he won't die without his symbiote and remain adamant about not trusting the humans or other Jaffa.

Mitchell is healed also, but only so he can be trained for a battle to the death to avenge the "dead" warrior. It was a little obvious that the guy training him was going to be the one who fought him. I liked it that he was able to become somewhat good at the fighting technique. His work ethic did a lot to impress his trainer, which provided him a reason to trust Mitchell's comments about the Ori who have come to assert their god status with the Sodan. And it explained why he would help Mitchell fake his death but still be able to avenge his brother's blood.

The reason this episode was confusing is that it didn't really seem like it did anything for the overall storyline. Okay, they let the Sodan warrior return home, but how is this going to affect anything unless the Sodan have a way of contacting SG-C. Hopefully they will have an episode where the reason for this one is explained.moreless
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Season 9 ... what a disappointment.

1.0

By klyork, Feb 10, 2011

Alrighty, then. We give up. What in the WORLD are the producers thinking?! When we find ourselves looking at our watches 15 or 20 minutes into episodes ... and thinking we can't wait 'til it's over, something is way wrong. Forget Season 9 DVDs :-
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Some will no doubt hate it because of the focus on Mitchell, but open-minded fans will enjoy it

8.0

By entil2001, Feb 10, 2011

Ever since Mitchell’s first appearance this season, I’ve been waiting for the writers to give us an episode devoted to the new commander of SG-1. A lot of the earlier episodes were devoted to Daniel and his motivations, with Mitchell being little more than the one applying pressure to get the team back together. His reactions have been muted during the rise of the Ori, giving Daniel room to maneuver. This time, though, it’s all about him.

I, for one, enjoyed it. I was getting worried that the writers were turning Mitchell into a John Crichton clone. This episode clarified the situation. While both characters use humor and pop-culture references to alleviate tension, Mitchell is a capable military officer. He’s not some fish out of water trying to survive, forced to lead despite himself. Mitchell is, at the core, the kind of man that O’Neill might have been before his life took that downward spiral after Charlie’s death.

Some elements of the story were a little predictable. Particularly, I was able to identify Jolan as Volnak’s brother (I think that was the name of the injured Warrior of Sodan) even before Jolan mentioned that the nearest relative would fight Mitchell to the death. Actually, I’m still not entirely clear on what the tradition was. OK, if a non-Warrior kills a Warrior, and the non-Warrior is captured, the non-Warrior is taught the ways of the Warriors so that he can die at the hands of a Warrior in a battle to the death…how does that make sense again?

That really doesn’t matter, though, since it’s all an excuse to have Mitchell there to deal with the invasion of a Prior among some of the most respected of legendary Jaffa. The situation is such that he’s the only one in the position to do something about it. For all their efforts with Volnak, the rest of the team makes very little progress. So it gives the writers a chance to show something of Mitchell’s character.

Mitchell recognizes that the Sodan leader, Haikon, has bought into the propaganda of the Prior. The Sodan tend to do whatever Haikon says they should do, and that means bowing down to “gods” that are just too hard to resist, especially when they are close enough to the Ancients that they already worship. Mitchell determines that the one way to get his message across to other Sodan is by gaining their respect. Thus, he trains harder than any non-Warrior ever has, hoping that it will be enough.

The resolution is stolen right out of the “Amok Time” handbook, and a possible revolution is sparked for good measure. I expect the Sodan to make another appearance relatively soon (and yes, I’m still avoiding spoilers, so I’m not going by that). The writers acknowledge it, at least!

One aspect I really liked were the hints about the politics of searching for Mitchell; apparently, the whole issue with the international committee is going to be an ongoing one. In past seasons, the political aspects of the show were sometimes less balanced, taking over too much or not enough of the story. This season, with the return to gate travel as the norm, the politics are still present but more integrated. Along with the positive focus on Mitchell as a distinct character and a vivid Sodan portrayal, that balance is what makes this episode work so well.

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Mitchell

9.6

By ferriswheel01, Feb 10, 2011

I liked watching this episode as it contained a lot of Mitchell. I loved the development of the character and is it me or is he getting hotter. Watching him getting all tired and sweaty ... what a turn on. I loved watching him putting on a brave face. I felt really upset when Daniel and Carter were trying to get Landry to issue a rescue mission and he said no and that he was going to declare Mitchell MIA. Stargate SG1 as per usual is great and the atmospheric tension is amazing. Oh I almost forgot about Teal'c. He is a legend.moreless
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Not one of the greater episodes. And the fight at the end was very Emancipation/The Warrior. So, not very original. But parts with half-naked Mitchell, more than make up for that.moreless

7.8

By cvvrede, Feb 10, 2011

I don't think this is one of the better SG-1 episodes. And the fight at the end was very Emancipation/The Warrior. So, not very original. But parts with half-naked Mitchell, more than make up for that.

Funny thing; at the start of the mission they’re all wearing something else on their heads. First there was Cameron Mitchell: backward cap as the though and defying USAF officer. Second there was Sam Carter: normal cap as the goody, goody, following protocol USAF officer. Then we have Daniel with his pirate/archeologists cap and Teal’c, as the warrior, without anything on his head.

The interrogation of the captured Jaffa was more funny the impressive. The fight wasn’t very original, but it was fun to watch. Jolan’s ‘betrayal’, though not very unexpected, was a nice story twist. But it wasn’t like I was for a moment convinced that Mitchell had died. The whole training up to the fight, I did like.

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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Christopher Judge	Teal'c
Ben Browder	Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell (Season 9+)
Amanda Tapping	Captain/Major/ Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter
Beau Bridges	General Henry "Hank" Landry (Seasons 9+)
Michael Shanks	Dr. Daniel Jackson (Seasons 1-5, 7+)

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Tony Todd	Lord Haikon	Guest Star
Jason Winston George	Jolan	Guest Star
Jarvis W. George	Volnek	Guest Star
Gary Jones	Technician/Sergeant Walter Davis	Recurring Role
Lexa Doig	Dr. Carolyn Lam	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (2)
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- Why does the SG-1 team wear the black uniforms to the Sodan planet? They must have sent the MALP before going through the Stargate, so they must have known that it is located in a forest. And the SG team, that later arrives for reinforcement, wears olive drab uniforms.
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- Mitchell says that Airborne Training at Fort Benning is six weeks long, but it is really three weeks long.
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QUOTES (12)
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- Mitchell: You know, your bedside manner totally blows.
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- Daniel: What did (Teal'c) say?
  Mitchell: "The warriors of the Sodan exist, Colonel Mitchell. I am certain of it."
  Daniel: It needs more bass.
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- Sam: You think the information is bad?
  Mitchell: I think it's vague: "A world, once inhabited by Ancients. A village, shrouded in the mist of time", it sounds like a movie trailer.
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- Mitchell: Look – I'll do any crazy exercise you want. (long pause) Within reason.
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- Jolan: You may provide a challenge to your opponent after all, Mitchell.
  Mitchell: Followed by my violent death, of course.
  Jolan: Of course.
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- Mitchell: All I know is the moment you accept your fate, you're dead. Until then, all bets are off.
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- Volnek: You two, again?
  Daniel: Yes, us two, again.
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- Tass'an: Heed my words, brother. If a Prior visits your world…leave.
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- Jolan: May you die well.
  Mitchell: Likewise.
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- Harriman: We're receiving an IDC, Sir. It's Colonel Mitchell.
  Daniel: You're kidding!
  Harriman: I would never do that, sir.
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- Volnek: You would never have survived kel shak lo alone
  Mitchell: Don't know. Took you down pretty good.
  Volnek: You were lucky.
  Mitchell: Lucky is good.
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- Mitchell: You know, a bag of sand with a hole in it is not an accurate timing device.
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NOTES (3)
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- International Air Dates:
  The Netherlands: July 7, 2007 on Veronica
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- This episode first aired in Canada on Thursday, December 29th, 2005.
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- Syndication Premiere: November 11-12, 2006
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Mitchell: Well done, Bones.
  This is a direct reference to episode #30/2.1 of the original Star Trek, "Amok Time," in which Dr. McCoy gives Kirk a drug that simulated death when he was faced with a similar duel against Spock.
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