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Recap / Stargate SG 1 S 5 E 20 The Sentinel

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"I don't care how good Carter thinks she is or how cocky you are, the device is way too complicated for you to try to repair without us... you already know that, or you wouldn't be here."
— Col. Grieves

The planet Latona comes under attack from the Goa'uld as a result of their defense system, a device called the Sentinel, being rendered inoperable by members of the rogue NID operation. The team embark on a mission to fix the Sentinel, but must enlist the help of those who broke it in the first place — a Col. Grieves and Lt. Kershaw, both currently convicted of treason.


"The Sentinel" provides examples of the following tropes:

  • Agony Beam: O'Neill is subjected to the Goa'uld cattle prod once again.
  • Continuity Nod: Lt. Grogan makes another appearance, having been assigned to SG-9.
  • Dead Man's Switch: Kershaw explains that the original caretaker of the Sentinel wore a device that would alert the other Latonans to his death by causing a flame in Merule's chambers to go out. Kershaw rigged it so that the flame would keep burning after the caretaker was shot by Grieves.
  • Every Man Has His Price: Said by O'Neill when Daniel explains that the Latonans are an egalitarian society who don't care for material wealth and would not respond well to bribes.
  • Failed a Spot Check: O'Neill and Grogan are caught off-guard by one of Svarog's Jaffa, despite the fact that the guy isn't even trying to be stealthy.
  • Flashback: Used to show Grieves and Kershaw's initial encounter with the caretaker.
  • Heroic Sacrifice: Ultimately, what is required to operate the Sentinel. It uses a person's Life Energy to make the enemy vanish in a flash of light.
  • Hidden Depths: Daniel apparently has an ear for music, as he manages to hack into the Sentinel's complicated harmonics-based forcefield in a matter of hours while it took Grieves and Kershaw two days the first time.
    Kershaw: Do you know what you're listening for?
    Daniel: The mathematical progression of the harmonic in each given pattern relative to its spectral equivalent.
  • Hostage for MacGuffin: A variation where the Jaffa threaten to kill O'Neill and Grogan unless they're given access to the Sentinel; O'Neill orders Carter not to make the trade, but Grieves takes a third option and sacrifices himself to power up the Sentinel.
  • In the Back: Kershaw gets shot in the back with a staff weapon just as she managed to get the forcefield back up.
  • Irony: A rather dark manifestation — in his last appearance, Grogan was always the one member of the team who would get "killed" in their training exercises. Here, he's the lone survivor of SG-9 after a routine mission unexpectedly goes south.
  • Kick the Dog: Grieves shooting the original caretaker in the flashback, and then refusing to get him medical treatment for fear of blowing their cover, forcing him to die a slow and painful death on the floor of the Sentinel room.
  • Low Culture, High Tech: Grogan explains that though the Latonans have a lot of advanced technology left over from their ancestors, their culture has regressed to the point where they no longer understand how any of it works and simply rely on it to keep working by itself.
  • Orbital Bombardment: Svarog's mothership begins one on Latona after they refuse to surrender.
  • "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Grieves delivers one to O'Neill when the latter pays him a visit in prison at the beginning of the episode.
    Grieves: Do you really think the Asgard or the Tok'ra will really rush to our defense when the Goa'uld finally decide to stomp on us? That day is coming, Colonel. Don't kid yourself.
  • Recruiting the Criminal: The team are forced to enlist the help of Grieves and Kershaw, both currently on death row after being convicted of treason, as they are the only ones with any real understanding of how the Sentinel works.
  • Redemption Equals Death: Grieves sacrifices himself to activate the Sentinel and wipe out Svarog's forces after realizing that it needs a human component, while Kershaw eventually dies as a result of her staff weapon wound.
  • Remember the New Guy?: Neither Grieves nor Kershaw originally appeared as a part of Maybourne's operation in "Shades of Grey", so the "previously on" segment inserts them into the scene where everybody was getting arrested.
  • Sarcasm-Blind:
    Daniel: You don't think it's possible for an NID operative to lie?
    Teal'c: I believe it is, Daniel Jackson.
  • Scarily Competent Tracker: When Carter voices her hopes that a Jaffa patrol will simply pass them by, Teal'c states that it's likely the patrol actually followed their tracks.
  • Sequel Episode: To "Touchstone".
  • Snark-to-Snark Combat: Between Daniel and Kershaw just prior to the mission:
    Kershaw: I feel better just knowing there's an archaeologist watching our backs.
    Daniel: (holding up a knife) Yeah, which end do the bullets go in again?
  • Sole Survivor: Grogan is the only remaining member of SG-9 after the attack begins.
  • Some Kind Of Forcefield: The Sentinel is protected by one, which the team must disable by solving a musical puzzle.
  • Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Much of the interaction between SG-1 and the convicts, though there are also shades of it between Grieves and Kershaw.
  • What Is One Man's Life In Comparison?: Grieves uses this to justify his allowing the caretaker to die in the flashback, insisting that his sacrifice will be worth it if they can use the Sentinel to defend Earth.

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