Stargate SG-1 - "Fail Safe" (TV Episode Review #8)

A giant asteroid is hurtling towards Earth.  SG-1 has to stop it.  It is a premise that sounds so familiar that in the episode, Jack makes a reference to a certain movie that features this same premise during the briefing; he notes, “I’ve seen this movie.  It hits Paris.”  Well, Jack, I’ve seen that movie, too.  And I can assure you: this episode is better than the movie.

The constant possibility of the asteroid coming to Earth provides a looming threat throughout the episode.  The pace is very, very fast, and at no point does SG-1 halt the pace for some slow “emotional moment”—they have to get in there and stop the asteroid RIGHT NOW!  Along the way, certain things go wrong, such as SG-1 losing contact with Stargate Command en route to the asteroid, and there are a few twists and turns that help the conflict stand out from other stories of the same ilk (i.e. the movie).  The premise may be simple, but it is these core details that make the conflict so compelling.

This may be “science fiction,” but the episode’s science is somewhat plausible.  For example, SG-1’s objective is to knock the asteroid off course with a nuke at a certain point in space.  This may seem like a stretch, but the episode subverts this approach by giving SG-1 some repercussions and side effects of what happens if the nuke is detonated at the designated point.  Such repercussions are explained by a plot twist that serves as a... credible enough excuse for how far-fetched it can get scientifically.  Then again, SG-1 resolve the conflict with a now-or-never plan so crazy that they even lampshade it—a narrative device that can only do so much.

For these logical issues, the episode also does a good job at plugging up any plot holes it can.  For example, why can’t Stargate Command call in the help of the allies they’ve made over the past five years?  Well, for one, the Asgard refuse to help due to a non-interventionist treaty with the Goa’uld preventing them from interfering with natural disasters.  The Tok’ra are also contacted, but any possible response is delayed by their current struggling state.  And the Tollan... well, just watch “Between Two Fires”.

On a side note, this kind of scenario calls for some heavy use of visuals, and “Fail Safe” excels at this.  The cinematography of this episode is beautiful, with so many well-shot angles.  The practical set designs of the asteroid are totally believable.  The CGI looks a little bit dated, 17 years later.  But for 2002, it looks pretty realistic.  For the wider shots, the asteroid coming to Earth shows the scale and magnitude of the rock and what damage it could cause.  Also, there is one particular special effect near the end of the episode that looks beautiful, still in 2019.  This is evident of the technological advancements that TV special effects had made in the early 2000s, having advanced to the point where it was a whole lot easier not to screw up an asteroid in space.

For all its efforts to patch up any scientific flaws, “Fail Safe” works because it embraces its concept of being pure straightforward popcorn fun.  With this simple premise, it makes it a good gateway episode for Stargate newcomers who do not want to start with the original movie or “Children of the Gods” (which, honestly, are the more logical points to start).  It captures the feel and essence of Stargate SG-1 quite well, and shows the iconic team working together at their strongest.