The Sam & Jack Episode Forum

Shippy Review

 

SEASON Two

EPISODE NUMBER 202

EPISODE TITLE In The Line Of Duty

WRITTEN BY Robert Cooper

DIRECTED BY Martin Wood

REVIEWED BY Lola

 

OVERALL OPINION Even though Sam is controlled by Jolinar for most of the episode, I happen to think that it is one of the shippiest episodes in SG-1. The anguish that Jack goes through because of Sam's possession shows the depth of feeling that has developed. Quite and angst ridden 44 minutes. On the whole a very shippy episode, even without direct interaction between Sam and Jack. This is also the episode where Sam first calls him Jack while not pretending to be someone else. Also this is the only episode that I remember ever hearing Sam plead with anyone other than her father. So it's interesting that it's Jack and not Teal'c or Daniel that she pleads with. And of course all of the anguish that Jack goes through because of Sam's possession is indicative of the feelings he has for her.

 

NOTABLE SCENES

1) And So It Begins: The scene opens to a battlefield, death and destruction occurring all around. Sam stops to help a wounded man; Jack runs by carrying a child and reminds her that the Gliders are on their way. Jack goes back for Sam after handing the child over. It's obvious that he knows Sam well enough to know that she will risk her own life to save someone else. His concern is obvious when he sees her bleeding. Once he grabs onto her to get her back to the Gate he doesn't let go until they reach the safety of the Gate room even while they are running. It's as if by maintaining a hold of her he can make sure she gets back okay. Back in the Gate room Jack notices that she hasn't followed him and looks for her. Upon spotting her he asks her for a second time if she's okay.

Jack: Let's go Captain, those fighters are coming back around.
Sam: This man's alive. (Stops to help man.)
Jack: Cannot wait. (Continues on to Gate.) Teal'c. (Hands kid that he's been carrying over to Teal'c.) I gotta go back for Carter. (Jack runs back for Sam.) Carter! (Grabs onto her jacket.) We've got to go. (She turns to look at him, she's bleeding from her mouth, where the Goa'uld entered her when she was giving its dying host CPR.) Are you all right? (He leans in closer and keeps one hand on her arm.)
Sam: Yeah.
(He pulls her up and they run to the Gate, all the while he still has a hold of her jacket. On Exiting the Gate Jack is on one side of Sam, his hand supporting her elbow and Teal'c is on the other supporting her other elbow. Jack walks down the ramp, Sam is slow to follow, she's watching the iris close. Jack looks back at her for a few seconds.)
Jack: Carter, you okay?
Sam: Yeah, fine. Thanks.

2) Just A Little Reminder: During the briefing Sam draws a few looks from Jack and the rest of SG1 for her un-Sam like comments. After the briefing he reminds her that she hasn't been in for her medical exam. She tells him that she go and socks him in the arm. His confusion with her whole response is evident.

Jack: Oh Carter, I hate to be a nag about this, but ol' Doc Fraiser says you haven't been checked out yet.
Sam: Go right now, wouldn't want to break post-mission protocol, right Colonel?
(Then she gives him a friendly punch in the arm. Jack slowly looks up and gazes the way she went confused. He's not quite sure what's up with her.)

3) I've Got A Secret: Even though Sam isn't in the scene where Cassie reveals to Jack that Sam is possessed by a Goa'uld, we do get to see Jack talking to Cassie about Sam. When Cassie tells him that Sam said she'd kill her if she tells anyone he gently tries to dissuade her of the possibility, stating that Sam loves Cassie. Jack assures her that Sam wouldn't hurt her, Cassie disagrees. It's clear that Jack wants to know what is causing Cassie's distress and equally clear that he can't believe that Sam would ever hurt Cassie. His tone of voice while talking to Cassie about Sam is very gentle. Cassie tells him that Sam is now a Goa'uld. Unfortunately the camera is on Cassie, so we don't get to see his reaction.

Jack: Hey. (Jack walks over and slides down to sit on the floor near Cassie.) Janet says you've been a little upset since Sam was here. (Cassie slides closer to Jack.) What happened?
Cassie: She said she'd kill me if I told.
Jack: Well, you don't mean kill you, kill you. (Cassie nods her head.) No, I doubt that.
Cassie: She said she would.
Jack: Cass, Sam loves you. She'd never do anything to hurt you.
Cassie: She would now.
Jack: Why?
Cassie: She's a Goa'uld.

4) Losing It: Sam is pacing back and forth in front of the Gate, anxiously awaiting Jack's arrival so that they can go on their next mission. Jack comes in and tells everyone that they're on stand down. Jack then injects Sam with something; it should take down an elephant. Carter's still standing, and she's *not* happy. The Goa'uld takes control. She grabs her gun and tells them to open the Stargate. A guard shoots her with a tranq and she aims at him. Jack grabs the gun disarming her. She backhands Jack and he goes flying. The guards pull their guns and Teal'c aims his staff weapon. Jack tells them not to shoot. Jack walks over back in front of her, placing himself between her and everyone else. He keeps talking to her, hoping the tranq will take effect. Once the tranq takes effect, he takes care of the grenade. The Guards start to pick her up to take her to the brig. Jack is concerned about Sam, and tells the guards to take it easy; it seems that they are not gentle enough with Sam.

Sam/Jolinar: Open the Gate now, or we will all die. (She pulls out a grenade, and drops the pin.)
Jack: Hold you're fire! Teal'c.
Guard: I have a shot, sir.
Jack: And if she drops that grenade, then what? (Jack walks over in front of her.) Nobody's gonna open that Stargate. We're all gonna live or we're all gonna die, right here.
Sam/Jolinar: Let me go. I must go.
Jack: Not gonna happen. (It's obvious that possessed or not he's not going to let Sam go anywhere. Sam passes out; Jack grabs her hand with the grenade and eases her down on the ramp. The guards rush to where she is, lifting her.)
Jack: Take it easy.

5) Now What: This scene shows Jack's concern for Sam, even though she's not in it. They discussion on how it got into Sam. The conversation moves on to what are they going to do with Sam. Jack is adamant about getting it out of Sam; no ifs, ands, buts, or failure is an option. As if by force of will alone he can make it happen. He is very protective of her. His asking the General for agreement is more of an after thought. He has decided that she will be "cured" and that NID will not be informed and that is that. When the General tells Jack to interrogate the prisoner it's obvious that that is the last thing that Jack wants to do. His "Yes, sir." Is a resigned and unhappy one.

Daniel: A, a what are we gonna do about Sam?
Jack: We're gonna get that thing damn thing out of her is what we're gonna do!
Daniel: Well, that didn't really work with Kawalsky. And if any of those NID guys like Colonel Maybourne find out about this.
Jack: Well there not going to. (Pause.) Are they General?
Gen. Hammond: Agreed. I'm not giving up on Captain Carter either. But until someone presents me with a viable option, I'm putting you in charge of interrogating the prisoner.
Jack: Due respect, sir. I don't think that thing in her head is gonna tell me anything.
Gen. Hammond: Colonel, we need to know what that Goa'uld's doing here.
Jack: (Sighing and answering quietly.) Yes, sir.

6) How Do You Do That: This is another scene that while Sam is not present demonstrates Jack's feelings for Sam, the difficulty that Jack is having and the emotional turmoil he is going through because of her situation. Jack is sitting in the locker room, the expression on his face is bleak, and he looks like he lost his best friend. Having gone through something similar with Kawalsky must make this even harder, at least the first time through he could hope for the best. Now he knows the the odds are not in their favor. Teal'c opens the door and enters the room. Teal'c states that the task before Jack is difficult. The interesting thing about this scene is that Jack does not retreat behind a mask of sarcasm. By this you can tell that the situation is really getting to him. Instead of his usual smart-assed quip he quietly admits that it is difficult. Teal'c offers advice for questioning the Goa'uld. When Jack gets up to go question Sam he looks more like a man going off to his own execution than a man about to question a prisoner.

Teal'c: This is difficult.
Jack: Yeah. Yeah it is.

A moment later:

Jack: (Heavy sigh.) Yeah.
Teal'c: Colonel O'Neill, when you speak to her, do not see your friend.
Jack: How do you do that?

7) Staring Contest: Jack goes to question Sam. He starts off using Teal'c's advice, telling the Goa'uld that he screwed up. This tactic gets him nowhere fast. They then have a staring contest. Finally the Goa'uld talks. The Goa'uld promises to leave Carter if they'll let her through the Stargate. Telling Jack that Carter would be returned with her mind intact as she was before. You can see the split second of indecision; his eyes look away briefly and back before he states that he can not trust the Goa'uld. Jack walks over to the door, to leave. Jack pauses briefly bringing his hand to his head, the whole interview is getting to him. The Goa'uld relinquishes control of Sam. She calls to him, using his first name; desperation is clear in her voice. It's clear that Sam is trying to get through to him, but almost as if she knows there is no way he'll believe her. Jack bangs against the door and can not get out of the cell fast enough. He doesn't look back at Sam, it's almost as if by looking back he might give in.

Sam/Jolinar: Carter's mind would be intact. She would return to you as you knew her before.
Jack: You know I can't trust you.
Sam: Oh God! He's telling you the truth. Please, Jack. (Jack bangs on the door.) No, Jack, please! Don't leave me, please! Please, give me a chance! Don't leave me like this. Please!

8) Let's Try This Again: After Teal'c talks to the Goa'uld, Jack and Teal'C return to question Jolinar about the Nassian who was badly burned but miraculously got up and disappeared. Jolinar reveals that the Nassian is probably an Ashrak, sent to kill him, a look passes through Jack's eyes.

9) The Ashrak Cometh: Jack and Teal'c race to the holding cell, hoping to stop the Ashrak from killing Sam. When they are almost to Sam's cell they pass three guards, one of the guards (the Ashrak) tells them that the prisoner and the guards are dead. Teal'c pauses briefly but Jack doesn't even slow down. Upon entering the holding area Jack almost trips over one of the downed guards, he pauses to regain his balance and then goes straight to Sam. He calls to her, using her first name. He also turns her head toward him, one hand on her chin, the other brushing her hair back. He is obviously very concerned about her. She's rushed to the infirmary; Jack is pushing the gurney. Jack and Teal'c stand off to one side. We see Jack wipe his eye, as if wiping a tear away and rub his nose. He seems a bit misty eyed. The situation is grim, it looks like the Goa'uld is dying and taking Sam with him. Suddenly the alarm goes off, code red, intruder alert. Jack looks to over at Teal'c motioning and telling him to go. Jack, for once, does not go running when the alarm bells go off. He doesn't leave Sam, despite the emergency, even though he must know that the intruder is the Ashrak. Jack is stoic through the rest of the emergency, when Dr Fraiser announces that the parasite is dead Jack doesn't even move, just blinks. Everyone looks at Jack after that announcement, the doctors look at Jack quite a few times through out the whole emergency. When Sam starts to recover and they say that she has a pulse, Jack moves closer to Sam, slowly, and it's almost as if he doesn't believe it. Jack tells Sam that she won, she beat it. Sam tells him that the Goa'uld gave it's life for her. You can see that Jack is having a hard time with this, he doesn't believe it.

In the cell after Carter has been attacked by the Ashrak:

Jack: Sam. Sam. Sam! Teal'c get a medical team down here right away. Come on Sam.

After she starts to recover:

Jack: You did it Sam. You won.
Sam: (Shaking her head.) Wasn't me.
Jack: Oh yes it was. You hung in there.
Sam: The Goa'uld gave it's life for me. It saved me.

 

| Back |