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Stargate SG-1 Season 9 Episode 5

The Powers That Be

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8.8

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AIRED: 8/12/05

SG-1 and Vala go to a planet where she is still worshipped as Qetesh, and in order to prove to the people that the Ori aren't truly gods, she tells them the truth about herself. However, she is then forced to stand trial and possibly be executed.moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (15)

The new cast is working

9.1

By paulcornelius, Jan 30, 2011

After watching a few episodes of the new season, it's time to make an assessment of the cast changes. And the verdict? It's working--for the most part. Claudia Black has brought a huge amount of energy to this show. So much so that Amanda Tapping had better watch out. I suddenly realized during this episode that I've barely missed her. It may be time to move Claudia Black from being a "guest star" to being a series regular. Otherwise, last night's episode also highlighted just how well Ben Browder and Lexa Doig have blended right in. Beau Bridges, however, is still hard to take. Even the Landry/Dr. Lam father-daughter plot line revealed in this episode didn't inject much into Bridges' role. Bring back Don Davis, I say.moreless
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Is Stargate SG-1 becoming a Scifi channel mix?

9.0

By jazn22, Jan 30, 2011

What is SG-1 becoming? We now have main actors from Farscape and Andromeda taking larger and larger part of the series. I do like Andromeda (except season 5) and Farscape but where is O'Niel and Sam?

Season 9 is not up to par jet. The repartee and comments of O'Niel is a mayor part of the watching enjoyment for me and many others. Mitchell is doing his best but its not the same.

Vala and Daniel is adding some enjoyment...

But the evil Ori is a bit unimaginative in my opinion. Its a bit more of the same ...

I hope it gets better because i really like the series.moreless
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An interesting, yet not crucial episode.

9.5

By cupsandplatos, Jan 30, 2011

This episode was quite entertaining. It really expresses the new casts various roles in the show. I really don't like the overly emotional moments back at SG-1 homebase. I have to say that those weird moments between our new Dr. and her father are the only things that brought this episode down. A lot of allusions to other parts and episodes were made that weren't really needed, but they did well as filler for blank moments. This episode could use some re-writing, but it does pose the new pivotal questions for the show to reveal later in the series. Valla is becoming more of an interesting character. She is still the slimeball everyone thought she was, posing as a god, but she is a strong character for the new season and I approve of her. The new squad is working well together and I await more of their adventures.moreless
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Not bad, I was hoping for something different.

6.8

By strangergol, Jan 30, 2011

The 9th season of SG1 is starting to look a lot like Farscape. I guess that the fans of the previous seasons and the "old crew" are more than dissapointed. Teal'c is almost invisible, the only hope lies with Daniel Jackson, although I don't think he's going to save the show on his own. I hated the doctor-general scenes. IMHO Lexa Doig appears only because she's Michael Shanks wife. The scenes with Vala as the god were awful. On the other hand, I was quite surprised with the ending. I also liked the scenes involving the Ori.moreless
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Now THAT'S what I'm talking about.

9.1

By nick3333, Jan 30, 2011

Woot, the season's getting back on track!

After all the Daniel-Vaala stuff I was expecting to see another pseudo-funny sci-fi'ish example of how a show can go terribly wrong. Needless to say it pleasantly surprised me when the show went from slapstick to serious, filler to important piece of the story in one episode.

Now, sure: O'Neill's not here, and a lot of people miss him (real-life viewers, but also characters in SG-1... Note that constant references are made to O'Neill in the new series). His witty cynical remarks and outlook on things are what made the show, really. But let's not dwell on him being gone, I say. David Browder is a fine actor. Another gripe is that I still really don't see SG-1 as a team. They're not convincing as a team like the old SG-1 was, but maybe that'll take some time (for the chemistry between the actors to build up etc). Now though the team feel a bit cold towards each other.

Despite all of this, however, I feel the show's getting back in the right direction. This episode was an ominous taster of things to come, and aroused anger (towards the Ori for being such cryptic, powerful bastards) and excitement on my part. It also raised many questions, mostly about the Ori, and how the hell SG-1 could fight such a threat.

So, in short: great episode.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Christopher Judge	Teal'c
Ben Browder	Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell (Season 9+)
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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Michael Robert Coleman	Med Tech	Guest Star
Nicola Correia Damude	Village Player	Guest Star
Matt Johnson	Village Player	Guest Star
Claudia Black	Vala	Recurring Role
Lexa Doig	Dr. Carolyn Lam	Recurring Role
Gary Jones	Technician/Sergeant Walter Davis	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- At the end of the previous episode, Teal'c comments to Mitchell that he should not mistake his presence for wanting to rejoin SG-1. However, without reason, Teal'c is on the SG-1 team in the next mission (this episode) which by usual standards is a relatively normal mission.
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QUOTES (22)
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- Vala: Really? A Mal Doran. Are they going to let me be the judge?
  Mitchell: Don't think so.
  Vala: Then it's not a real Mal Doran is it?
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- Daniel: Just relax, we're going to get you out of this.
  Vala: Oh you are? I feel a lot better, I'm sorry I got a little nervous, what with the whole execution looming and all!
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- Vala: Look, despite what Daniel might think, I really can help. I know how things work out there, I'm good with weapons, not to mention (loud over shoulder) seductively attractive!
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- Vala: Have you considered that if I die, you die?
  Daniel: Believe me, it's not going to come to that. Trust me.
  (Vala gasps and then pouts)
  Daniel: This time.
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- Vala: (in jail) So Daniel, when does that warm and glowy feeling for doing the right thing kick in? Because I'm not there yet.
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- Vala: What are you doing here?
  Mitchell: Having lunch.
  Vala: Don't you care that there could be Priors out there taking advantage of poor innocent people? Luring them into an oppressive religion or worse…killing them for rejecting it.
  Mitchell: Are you bored of bothering Jackson?
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- Asdak: Your punishment will be imprisonment for the rest of your life!
  Vala: What? After everything we've been through? Together?!?
  Asdak: You made me rub your feet!
  Vala: Weren't you justly rewarded?
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- Vala: Making people feel good is a natural talent of mine.
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- Vala: I'm pleading innocent, right?
  Daniel: You already confessed.
  Vala: A god can change her mind, can't she?
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- Mitchell: It's going to be a long day.
  Teal'c: Indeed.
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- Daniel: You need to tell these people the truth!
  Vala: I have a lot of needs, Daniel, but that's not one of them.
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- Vala: (as "Qetesh") It's pointless lying to your god. I am all-knowing as well as all-beautiful.
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- Mitchell: Well, I'll see you guys in the morning. (leaves)
  Vala: Thank you! I apologize for ever doubting your masterful skills of negotiation.
  Daniel: He's doing the best he can.
  Vala: That's what terrifies me.
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- Vala: Oh please - the truth is so overrated.
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- Teal'c: Others believe you will slay the Prior in a show of power upon his return tomorrow.
  Vala: Tomorrow...hmmm, tomorrow's no good for me.
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- (hearing about the virus)
  Vala: Tell me, Daniel. Am I hot? Hotter than usual? (puts his hand on her forehead) Oh, you know what I mean.
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- Mitchell: ...and we don't want to get into a god-off, especially since we know you're not even close...
  Vala: Forget what I said about the twenty percent!
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- Mitchell: Hello? Stealing this planet's most valued treasure is the least of our concern right now.
  Vala: I like your attitude! I was thinking of cutting you boys in at ten percent, but now I'm thinking twenty!
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- Daniel: ...and if necessary, I will tell them we're planning to kill you!
  Vala: I have heard of better plans!
  Mitchell: I kind of like it.
  Vala: Shut up!
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- Daniel: (about Vala's plan) This is not what I had in mind.
  Vala: (with the Goa'uld voice on) What your mind may or may not be able to imagine is really none of my concern. Now kindly get out of your god's face.
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- Vala: It just so happens I have a good relationship with the people of the planet you designated P8X-412.
  Mitchell: Define "relationship".
  Vala: They trust me. (Mitchell gets up) Where are you going?
  Mitchell: To talk to Landry.
  Vala: Why?
  Mitchell: Because anyone who trusts you is in a great deal of danger.
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- Vala: Can a girl have a little privacy?
  Daniel: No. Besides, I think I have seen everything there is to see.
  Vala: Right!
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NOTES (10)
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- Amanda Tapping does not appear in this episode.
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- International Air Dates:
  The Netherlands: June 30, 2007 on Veronica
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- Writer Martin Gero wrote this episode before Executive Producer Robert Cooper began writing "Origin." So after Cooper finished writing "Origin," he rewrote part of the script because no one on the writing staff (including Robert Cooper, himself) had a clear idea what Origin and the Ori doctrine would be. So Gero wrote the script very vague, and the court sequence and how it would take off after was part of a major rewrite (by Cooper, after Gero moved on to Stargate: Atlantis full-time) after "Origin" was written and Origin was something.
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- The opening scene, where Vala and Mitchell are in the cafeteria, was originally suppose to involve Daniel and Vala in Daniel's Lab, with the same information revealed in both versions of the opening scene. However, the day the scene was suppose to be shot, Michael Shanks shaved his beard, without letting anyone know, so the opening scene was changed. The opening scene was shot during production of "Beachhead" using the 2nd unit crew.
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- The dress that Vala changes into at the beginning of the episode was originally planned to be the dress that Vala wore when she first stepped though the gate in "Avalon" (1).
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- Syndication Premiere: October 21-22, 2006
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- This episode first aired in Canada on December 8, 2005.
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- This is the first episode of the series in which Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) is neither seen nor mentioned.
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- Claudia Black is listed as Special Guest Star.
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- This is the 179th episode of the series which surpasses the total (178 episode) run of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the longest-running "Star Trek" series.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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