The Sam & Jack Episode Forum

Shippy Review

 

SEASON One

EPISODE NUMBER 116

EPISODE TITLE Enigma

WRITTEN BY Katharyn Powers

DIRECTED BY William Gereghty

REVIEWED BY Vanessa

 

OVERALL OPINION Ok, now my position on this episode has already been vocalized pretty clearly, especially my opinion on Narim :) but for the sake of doing a review, I decided to torture myself and rewatch it. :) Imagine my surprise when I realized that if you remove (and totally ignore) the Sam and Narim moments, Sam and Jack are all but glued to each other's side from beginning to end! I swear, there's only about two scenes they're in in which they're not *immediately* next to each other... but even then, they soon move to stand together! :) Not a shippy episode if you consider the whole Sam/Narim thing, but when you delete those scenes, a *very* promising 'shippy' atmosphere can be detected and projected. Overall, it loses points on the shippy scale *only* because of those scenes between Sam and Narim. If they weren't there, this episode would be, in my opinion, one of the highest season one shippy-rated episodes. :)

 

NOTABLE SCENES

1) Rescue 101: SG1 have just brought through the survivors of Tollan and General Hammond is asking them who these people are. As they talk, Jack and Sam both drop down onto the base of the ramp, dusting themselves off. As Jack initially answers General Hammond, he looks to Sam, looking her up and down briefly as if making sure that she's ok.

2) Initial Debriefing: In the debriefing, Sam sits next to Jack and they are sitting *very* close. :) Their elbows are touching for the entirety of the scene and neither make a move to abort the contact. :) Only SG1 and General Hammond are at the table, so there's plenty of room, and a glance at Teal'c and Daniel sitting opposite Sam and Jack show the men sitting beside each other but nowhere near as close as Sam and Jack. :)

3) Second Contact: As SG1 and General Hammond enter the infirmary to talk to the aliens, Sam and Jack walk in together and immediately stand next to each other for the scene. When Omac demands the return of their belongings, Sam immediately looks to Jack who's got a definite 'oh for crying out loud' type expression on his face. When Omac then goes on to state that he'll "say no more", Sam again looks at Jack, her expression one of 'what the...?'. As SG1 and General Hammond begin to leave, Jack proceeds Sam but briefly glances at her to see that she's following. At that point, she is.

4) UAV: Not an SJ scene, per se. Sam is at the computer, controlling her baby (the UAV) and Jack is behind her (Daniel, Teal'c and General Hammond are also present). As the UAV enters the wormhole, Jack grins murmuring an almost triumphant "yeah!". This reaction is also present in the future episode "One False Step". Out of all of Sam's scientific experiments, this is one Jack will always have time for and be willing to witness. :) As Sam commentates the UAV's readings from Tollan, Jack murmurs the occasional joke and question which Sam answers in kind each time. Show's a very friendly rapport even in their working relationship.

5) Relocation Briefing: Once again it's just SG1 and General Hammond in the briefing room and once again, Sam and Jack are side by side. :) This time there's a definite relaxed air to the meeting, evidenced by the almost slouching positions most are taking. Sam, who's sitting 'behind' Jack, spends most of her time looking at him. As General Hammond gives his decree (Jack and Teal'c will call in inter-galaxy favors, Daniel and Sam will get the refugee quarter's ready) Sam *almost* rolls her eyes in Jack's direction as if to say 'why does *he* get the interesting assignment!'. :)

6) The Hunt: SG1 and various other personnel are searching the surrounding woods for the Tollan's. As the SGC personnel race through the woods we are shown only Daniel and Teal'c in 'pursuit'. However when the aliens are 'found', Jack bursts into the clearing, Sam half a step behind him. Gotta love it when those two are paired together. :)

7) Favors 101: For the third time, General Hammond and SG1 are in the briefing room, and yes, Sam and Jack are once again sitting next to each other. Coincidence? I think not. :) As Tuplo from "The Land of Light" in episode "The Broca Divide" greets General Hammond and Omac, Jack glances at Sam a couple of times, giving her small smiles which she returns. When Omac refuses Tuplo's hospitality, Sam and Jack mutually shake their heads with identical looks on their faces as they look down at the desk (in tune, or what?). :)

8) Confrontation: When SG1 and Omac and the Tollan's discuss the previous night's escape, once again Sam and Jack are next to each other. This time, Jack had been pacing before deliberately moving to Sam's side. :)

9) Video Camera: When watching the security camera's playback of the Tollan's escape, Sam and Jack are, you guessed it, standing next to each other again. :)

10) Colonel Maybourne 101: Ok, it's getting repetitive I know, but once again we're in the briefing room and once again, Sam and Jack are sitting side-by-side. :) After General Hammond stands up to Colonel Maybourne, all but telling him where he can stick it, Jack comments that the General is a "good man". Sam's smile towards Jack tells us that she's in full agreement. :)

11) Colonel Maybourne 201: In the briefing room, Sam and Jack sitting/standing side-by-side. No more needs to be said. As Colonel Maybourne's decree is stated and unwillingly confirmed/authorised, Sam stares at Jack's back, her expression just as disgusted as his, and obviously wishing there was something he--or she--could do.

12) The Secret Society: As General Hammond approaches SG1 outside, he asks what he's doing there. Jack states that it's because Colonel Maybourne isn't and Sam does that 'finishing-sentence/thought' trick they're so good at by explaining that they want to talk about keeping the Tollans away from Maybourne. Oh, and before Hammond arrived, Sam and Jack were standing next to each other. :)

13) Escape 101: As Colonel Maybourne shouts down to Daniel, telling him that he'll be court-martialled, Jack replies with a grin that Daniel's not in the military... and finding a civilian court to handle this kind of thing would be difficult. Sam's small smile at Jack's response speaks volumes. :) When Nya from the episode "The Nox" steps through the Stargate, Jack lets a small smile slip out and Sam looks up at him, sending him a sweet smile of 'oh yeah, I feel the same way when I see them too'.

14) After The Deed: The Tollan's and Nya have left, Colonel Maybourne and his cronies skulking away. As the Stargate disengages, Jack leaves the control room, Sam jumping up immediately to follow him. In the gate room, they *naturally* stand beside each other. When Teal'c asks of Maybourne, Sam rather Jack-like replies that "ooh, he's not a happy camper" and Jack's grin widens slightly at the comment as Sam looks at him (no doubt checking for his response to her quip). The episode fades out on SG1, all smiling towards the gate. :)

 

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