Right. So I ended up crying. Thanks for nothing, and don't laugh at me.
Once again, we begin with a dire situation, and the episode is divided into two parts: finding out what really happened, and trying to solve it. And sad to say, only one of these two plots will succeed.
I guess nobody feels really afraid when we learn that Daniel is dying of radioactive exposure. He's been dying countless times, dead a few times, after all. Besides, dying from radioactive burns is just too slow, too awful and not heroic enough, right?
Wrong.
As we follow Daniel's horrible agony and his spiritual "trial" with Oma Tessala (very nice use of continuity here, even though it is annoying to have a new actress for that part), it becomes clear that he won't get a reprieve this time. And when Teal'c all but breaks down and cries, things start to look seriously hopeless.
However, that storyline is punctuated with flashback sequences that show exactly what Daniel is dying for: a world to save, a new technology that might tip the scales in the fight against the Goa'uld, and even a very likable new character, Jonas Quinn. So even as we realise that Daniel won't make it, we also have to admit that it was worth it.
I guess that for a hero, this is a good way to go. Everybody gets a touching goodbye, especially Jack, whose special bond with Daniel (despite all their differences) is acknowledged. The whole episode is an homage to Daniel, who dies heroically, but turns out to be special enough that he doesn't "really" die. Still, right now I am too busy being upset to care.
Once again, we begin with a dire situation, and the episode is divided into two parts: finding out what really happened, and trying to solve it. And sad to say, only one of these two plots will succeed.
I guess nobody feels really afraid when we learn that Daniel is dying of radioactive exposure. He's been dying countless times, dead a few times, after all. Besides, dying from radioactive burns is just too slow, too awful and not heroic enough, right?
Wrong.
As we follow Daniel's horrible agony and his spiritual "trial" with Oma Tessala (very nice use of continuity here, even though it is annoying to have a new actress for that part), it becomes clear that he won't get a reprieve this time. And when Teal'c all but breaks down and cries, things start to look seriously hopeless.
However, that storyline is punctuated with flashback sequences that show exactly what Daniel is dying for: a world to save, a new technology that might tip the scales in the fight against the Goa'uld, and even a very likable new character, Jonas Quinn. So even as we realise that Daniel won't make it, we also have to admit that it was worth it.
I guess that for a hero, this is a good way to go. Everybody gets a touching goodbye, especially Jack, whose special bond with Daniel (despite all their differences) is acknowledged. The whole episode is an homage to Daniel, who dies heroically, but turns out to be special enough that he doesn't "really" die. Still, right now I am too busy being upset to care.