The Touched virus is the first, but not last, alien virus that rips through the SGC. This episode establishes a fantastic Stargate trope in which the parasitic aliens our heroes have to fight are much smaller, and sometimes more deadly, than the goa'uld. But probably the most wonderful thing about "The Broca Divide" is that it introduces us to our chief medical officer, the no-bullshit queen, the absolute Stargate legend, Dr. Janet Fraiser.
Janet is a powerhouse in her first appearance, steamrolling into the Stargate franchise like she's been there since day one and we just weren't paying attention. Teryl Rothery immediately blends in with the main cast, the obvious missing piece for any base episode. "The Broca Divide" clearly does not have the same gravitas as "The Enemy Within," but Teryl's performance kicks it up a step and makes a hokey virus turning homo sapiens into Neanderthals seem like a credible and serious threat to neutralize.
Janet carries a lot of the weight of the episode, considering that four-fifths of the main cast get taken out by the virus. By the thirty-minute mark, the episode is relying on taciturn Teal'c and newcomer Janet to save the day. (And they do, and it's glorious.)
There's much about "The Broca Divide" that is forgettable (or should be forgotten, such as Daniel's casual decision to not intervene during an attempted rape), but if nothing else, it should remind you to take your allergy medication.
A few last notes of significance:
- The variety of cultures, sets, and matte paintings in the first few seasons Are. So. Good.
- When they discover P3X-797 is very dark, Daniel says, "This is crazy. We don't know what could be there waiting for us when we come through." And, based on all the crazy shit they walk into for the next ten years, that line is unintentionally hilarious.
- For those into hurt/comfort or whumping, Daniel spends most of this episode getting beaten up.
Quote of the Week:
- Daniel: Uh, maybe I have a natural immunity.
Teal'c: Perhaps you will develop symptoms later.
Daniel: Thank you for the moral support.
Episode Stats
Planetary Tally: P3X-797, aka The Land of Light
Series Total: 6
In Fashion: Jack and Sam wear dress blues during the briefing, and the team suits up in green BDUs and flak helmets for the mission
Brain Washed: Sam, Jack, and Daniel are all affected by the virus, overwriting their usual personalities and intelligence and reducing them to primitive states
Daniel: Series Total: 1
Jack: Series Total: 1
Sam: Series Total: 1
Next up: 1.06 The First Commandment
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chasethestars
chasethestars
Comments
RDA did a great job of acting like a Neanderthal, I thought. He really sold it. And of course you said it all about Janet. I heart Janet.
The Daniel and Teal'c relationship is so stunning. I'll probably wait to talk about that relationship until "Forever in a Day," but it is so important to me the way SG-1 characters identify the difference between villains and people who do not great stuff. (I wrote about this in the more "Brief Candle" review you'll see next week.)
Emotionally Daniel could easily blame Teal'c, and I wouldn't be surprised if there's a beat between "The Enemy Within" and "Emancipation" in which he puts it together and has to process Teal'c's role as first prime, but after he takes that time, he understands that it's not Teal'c's fault. Yeah, he picked Sha're, but any woman he picked was going to be someone's Sha're. Picking the most attractive woman likely meant fewer women would die, too, so if Teal'c didn't do his horrific job well, he'd have to cause even more harm. (Okay, this thought is too well formed in my head. Does the show actually address this in some way I'm forgetting or am I synthesizing fanfic?)
Some writers have grappled with that, but only a few. I myself have approached it and veered away, thwarted by the complexity.
So, for example, we know there are at least two missions between "The Enemy Within" and "Emancipation." On one of those missions (or in the down time between), Daniel could have had a talk with Teal'c, or Jack could have stepped in (anticipating that Daniel might eventually leap to the conclusion that Teal'c chose Sha're). But having what is likely 2 or 3 weeks between those episodes means that we have enough time to get them into a good working relationship so that by the time "The Broca Divide" rolls around, I can assume that Daniel and Teal'c are actually finding common ground and developing a working relationship.
Another thing to consider is that Daniel FORGETS ABOUT SHA'RE ALL THE TIME. Like, I love him and it's very clear that he loves and cares about Sha're, but he also gets really caught up in studying cultures and crystals and not giving a single thought to the fact that those things are not hunting down Apophis. He is easily distractible. So it's honestly very possible that he didn't make the connection that Teal'c chose Sha're until like, "Bloodlines" when he's confronted by the fact that Teal'c was First Prime and maybe that goes into his passionate decision to kill all the larval goa'uld.
... I did not expect to spew that many thoughts about this topic.
Yeah, this episode started out with heavy cringing, but then Janet! and RDA was great too.
Janet is so good in this episode. And RDA is another element that adds gravitas to an otherwise silly disease.