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The Sam & Jack Episode Forum Shippy Review |
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SEASON OneEPISODE NUMBER 103EPISODE TITLE Emancipation |
WRITTEN BY Katharyn PowersDIRECTED BY Jeff WoolnoughREVIEWED BY Kelly Siegfried |
OVERALL OPINION
I think this episode is probably the first that really shows the potential between Sam and Jack. Jack is flirting shamelessly with her, trying to get her attention, but some of it goes over her head because her mind is too literal, and she just doesn't know him well enough yet. She plays back on occasion, but only thinks twice about his actions towards her when he's trying to be sincere. Their arguments show how stubborn both of them can be. He cares genuinely for her, but now it is becoming a different caring than what it would be for Daniel or Teal'c. It's not blatantly obvious, but you can begin to see the seeds of romantic thought growing in their heads.
NOTABLE SCENES
1) The Woman Take One: When Sam contributes to Teal'c's "The dogs are gone" with "for now," Abu gets agitated and whispers to O'Neill "This is a woman?", Jack answers "Oh yeah." Just makes you wonder how much he's noticed about her being a woman...
2) The Woman Take Two: One of the hunters makes a comment to Miguel about Sam, saying "That one is a woman." Jack smiles and glances at her, giving a quick look over before saying "Observant bunch." I think he likes looking at her every chance he gets.
3) Segregation: The team is escorted by the Shavadai to camp. Many celebrate because Abu was found and presumably, Abu's mother comes from the enclosed tent to greet him. More women pour from the segregated area and surround Carter. Even though her back is turned to the camera, you can tell she's shooting O'Neill a look that says 'uh, excuse me Colonel. I could use some help here' as they're leading her away. He returns with a slight shrug and a head nod to the side as his eyes roll, pretty much telling her 'okay, I know you hate it, but for now Daniel's right. Let's learn their customs and if this is what they want... come on Captain, you can do it.' They communicate so much without words.
4) Anthropology: Carter is more than miffed that she has to play dress-up just so she can do her job. Jack doesn't help her acceptance of the situation any when he gives her a wide smile and a slap on the shoulder. It is almost as if he's getting his kicks by teasing her. Countering with an 'eat shit and die' look after he stands up, she grits her teeth. I can just hear her thinking 'O'Neill, you're gonna get it!' As Abu's mother leads Sam out of the tent, Jack holds back the flaps of the 'door' and she gives him a pleading glance. He continues to walk away and doesn't see as she turns back again, reluctantly, and it seems she really would rather stay with him.
5) The Big Revealing: Abu leads the guys back to Sam's tent and the looks on their faces just says it all. You can see all of Daniel's dental secrets. Teal'c looks mildly amused. Jack's last into the tent and his face is priceless. He glances over Teal'c's shoulder, not quite believing that it is her until she speaks to Daniel. His eyes go wide briefly as his mouth hangs open; Jack's head turning to the side as if his mind is playing tricks on him. Slowly he fish-mouths in amazement as his head rolls in a big circle, looking her up and down. With his head tilted back slightly, you can see Jack's tongue roll around the inside of his mouth as if he is sucking in a great breath to try to calm himself. After the camera cuts away to show a shot of Sam, it flashes back to the three men, and Jack's face spreads into the widest, dopey-est smile his face could muster. When Jack realizes Sam is getting uneasy at their gawking, his eyebrows jump a few times as if he is mentally slapping himself back into reality. Eventually he lowers his gaze to the floor, and I'm sure if the camera shot was tight enough, you would possibly see a blush on his cheeks. Still peering at her through the corner of his eye, Jack has to bite his lip to keep from smiling when Abu says "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." Giving up, he cracks a grin as Sam lists her disagreements with the situation, not helping matters any for Jack when she pirouettes to show them the dress. She hates it completely, but being the cute slob/gentleman he is, Jack steps forward around Teal'c and says "I... I dunno. It kinda works for me. I..." He takes off his hat, showing a very nice head of hat hair, and holds it in his hands as he grins at her. His smile is different; he has recovered from the initial shock, but now he's just teasing Sam in a purely adolescent manner as if to cover up his attraction to her. Daniel on the other hand, takes the longest to recover and I don't think Sam realizes the impact she's had on 'her boys' until after Jack has to prompt him to tell her about the anesthetic Abu has shown them. Jack quips, teasing her again: "And with all due respect, *Samantha* (he gives her a slight wave of his hand and the corners of her lips upturn in the slightest smile), if we come back here it might be a better idea to bring an all *male* team. No offense." She plays along like a good camper, smiling brightly as she outlines her current living conditions and the fact she doesn't get to party with the boys, and Jack gives a grin. The music begins as drums are played and the boys make a motion for the door to join the celebration. Jack lingers a little longer, giving her a final appreciative look over before genuinely asking "are you going to be alright?" Sam answers with a smart quip about not being afraid of the dark since she was two. Turning back towards the door, he pauses once more to look and tell her that she looks great. It finally dawns on her that he's being truthful and she lowers her eyes to the floor before smiling at him again. After Jack exits the tent, Sam's eyebrows flash in amazement and without moving her head, she eyeballs her arranged cleavage as if she's starting to agree with him. Finding it all foolish, she shakes her head and frowns, throwing out her arms, still not quite able to see the point.
6) Kidnapped: Jack is extremely anxious when he finds out Sam is missing. He wants the troops round up and ready to leave in fifteen, presumably to look for Sam. Daniel tries to reason with him, telling Jack he could talk to Miguel to find out what might have happened, but Jack doesn't want to hear any of it. "To hell with culture. One of my team has been neutralized, that's a hostile act" he points out to Daniel. Jack's lips lie in a thin line and he chews his cheek as he talks to Miguel about Sam's abduction and Abu's newly acquired trading status. He is not a happy camper. Jack, I'm sure would feel this way about any teammate, but because it's Sam, the situation's a bit more urgent.
7) The Rescue: The team and Miguel is looking over Turgin's camp and Jack makes a motion to storm the proverbial castle. Miguel points out that if any hostile acts are taken against Turgin, the warlord will go on a rampage and show no mercy. Miguel offers an alternative: in the morning he will attempt trade with Turgin for Sam's release. Teal'c, probably already knowing the answer, asks "what will happen to Dr. Carter tonight if we wait?" Jack is sitting behind the Jaffa not looking pleased at all. Licking his lips and grimacing, he knows the truth all to well. Miguel answers that Turgin will partake in his newest acquisition. Quite determined, Jack states flatly "oh there's not a chance in hell." The threat is implied: if so much as a blonde hair on Sam's head is disturbed, Jack will go ballistic. Knowing that if she resists, she will die, O'Neill tells them they're attempting rescue immediately. Hearing the commotion from behind the tapestries, Sam parts one to look out and Jack steps into her line of sight. Her face lights up in a smile and she whispers "yes!" to herself. Just how excited is she to see him?
8) The Trade: Bargaining, they find out Turgin paid three-hundred weights of gold for Sam; enough to buy ten women as Miguel points out. They up the bid to four-hundred as Turgin tells them how difficult she's been. When he talks about making her his wife, Jack jumps in with an "oh for cryin out loud" and makes it five-hundred, with an aside to Miguel about paying him back. Clearly he's not willing to see that ever happen! Giving up on the whole 'culture' thing and trying to convince Turgin that Sam is needed for the purposes of surviving, Jack makes the bargaining 'profitable' for the warlord. Pulling out his 9mm, he aims for a jug hanging on the wall and promptly fires off a round, getting Turgin's attention. He's basically saying to himself 'screw this bargaining crap, just get me back my Carter and let's call it a day.'
9) Together Again: Sam is beaming, very appreciative of being rescued. "I've never been so happy to see you guys." Jack, picking on her again, and probably more than relieved to have her under his watchful eye again, replies: "Oh sure you have Captain! Remember that time on P3X595, you drank that stuff that made you take off your--" She cuts him off, the smile draining from her face: "ahem, we won't get into that now." He teases her quite a bit when he can, and it's a tell-tale sign of how much he likes her.
10) Morality: Abu finds their camping spot and tells them that Nya has been captured and that she'll be stoned to death if they don't help him. Livid, Carter demands they go back and help her. Jack tries to convince her otherwise, but he knows it will be like talking to a brick wall; she's made up her mind. Jack tries, saying "easy Captain" but she just spits back at him the motto of the Special Forces: To Free From Oppression. Sam's morals seem higher to her than standard military or cultural procedure. It's the first of many passionate arguments between the two over the same principles. Finally, the voice of reason, Daniel asks if there is a law to prevent the stoning.
11) Saving Nya: They manage to stop the stoning before it begins and Miguel states that one Chieftain can battle another to prevent a stoning. Not willing to fight a cripple, Turgin asks to fight another Chieftain and Carter takes a step forward, removing her helmet. The camera cuts to Jack and he grimaces briefly, almost thinking to himself about Turgin, 'now you've done it. You're definitely going to regret accepting that proposal.'
12) The Pep Talk: In his usual sarcastic diarrhea of the mouth, Jack is humorously cheering her on. She removes her gear and looks up in total confusion, the slightest smile on her lips. It is almost as if she knows he has no clue what to say to her. He's being cute and funny; his usual M.O. for when he's worried and doesn't want to show it. "You don't think I can win," she asks, shoving her gear at him in an attempt to shut him up. "Sure I do," he replies. Finally turning more practical, he asks her how much combat training she's had and she answers Level Three: Advanced. Giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder, he says she'll do fine.
13) To The Death: The smile leeches from his face when Miguel tells him that the fight is to the death. Turgin unsheathes his blade and Jack takes a panicked step forward, yelling "nobody said anything about--" before a guard places a edge against his throat. Eyeballing it, Jack finishes: "Knives?" He watches the fight gritting his teeth in genuine fear, fingering the safety on his HK. When she's knocked to the ground, he struggles against the guard, but the knifeblade at his throat keeps him back. When Sam finally disarms Turgin and knocks him down, Jack watches breathlessly, hoping that is the end of it. Turgin gives in and after Sam lets him back up again, she turns towards the Colonel, looking for some sign of approval and possibly shooting him a look of 'I told you so.' She has shocked him; it's evident on his face as he looks at her with pride, chewing on his lip to keep from smiling too wide. He's almost mentally thanking General Hammond for forcing the issue with him and making Sam part of his team.
14) Like No Other: When Miguel 'releases' the Shavadai women and tells Sam it is how she will be remembered, Jack looks down on her, smiling. He's happy for her and very proud of her too. After looking around him at the women, she glances back up to make eye contact, and her smile grows ever so slightly when she sees his face. It's almost as if you can feel that he wants to put his arm around her shoulders to give her a hug as they walk towards the gate.
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