Holiday

Plot: A dying scientist named Ma'chello uses an invention to switch bodies with Daniel Jackson.


Body switching usually leaves room for a bit of comedy. This episode isn't rip-roaringly hillarious, but it does have its moments, mostly due to Jack and Teal'c accidentally switching bodies upon retrieving the device from Ma'chello's lab. It's fair to say that Christopher Judge plays a better Jack than Richard Dean Anderson does a Teal'c.

The main focus of the story is based around Ma'chello. The dying body of whom is played well by Michael Shanks. In Daniel's body, Ma'chello heads in to town, befriending a homeless man named Fred. He uses one of Daniel's credit cards to treat Fred and a restaurant full of diners to a meal as he attempts to learn about Earth culture. Through what he says at this point, as well as at others during the episode, he developed a number of inventions aimed at protecting Earth by stopping the Goa'uld. For his trouble, his wife was made in to a host and he was severely tortured. He feels that Earth owes him a debt and has taken Daniel's body as payment. He doesn't see through his resentment to see that in doing so, he is no different to the Goa'uld.

Sam works on the device, but Ma'chello reveals that it can only transfer identities one way. This means that she has to arrange a bit of musical chairs to get everyone back in to their proper body. Ma'chello dies, but leaves a number of inventions that, once deciphered, could help in the fight against the Goa'uld. I'm wondering if these play a part in the build up to the season two finale and future battles with the System Lords. Admittedly, I've not seen a big chunk of the next 2 or 3 seasons, so it's becoming quite fun to try and piece everything together.

I did quite enjoy this episode, the body swapping was reasonably light and fun, while Ma'chello's resentment and actions posed some interesting questions and thoughts.

7 out of 10