021 - Are You Now or Have You Ever Been
Summary
Instead of a missing person case, the team is front and center. Jack’s methods in the investigation of child molester could result in the case being kicked out of court. Then, on top of that, the Office of Professional Responsibility decides to investigate the team’s handling of previous cases, but their real target is Jack.
Rating
1 star. I hate these type of episodes. I’m going to call it an “on-Earth episode” even thought, obviously, they’re all on Earth. In Stargate (my first fannish obsession), episodes that took place on Earth were usually fairly dull, but they were cheaper to make, so there would be one soon after production blew their budget on special effects and whatnot on an earlier episode. I doubt that really applies here, though, as there are hardly many space battles in WaT, and yet this episode feels very much like an on-Earth episode, especially with clueless bureaucrats chasing after our protagonists, a common Stargate on-Earth theme. And it is just as boring as an on-Earth episode. I don’t want to give it less than one star, though, because it’s got some very good performances.
Discussion
Notes
This is the episode where it is confirmed that Samantha and Jack had an affair. Before this, it was hinted at, but never outright stated.
Quotes
OPR Guy: Have you and Agent Malone ever had a sexual relationship?
Samantha: I beg your pardon?
OPR Guy: Unless you’re going to go Clinton on me, it’s a fairly straightforward question.
Danny: You suggested that I come back today if I reconsidered.
OPR Guy: And you have.
Danny: I have. So have my colleagues.
Samantha: We think we understand your Advice of Rights form now. As it turns out, you have the right to be a miserable little bastard.
Vivian: And we have the right to tell you to shove it.
[They rip up their forms.]
Judge: Agent Malone, you knowingly and willfully violated this man’s right to be questioned with an attorney present. What were you thinking?
Jack: I can tell you exactly what I was thinking. I was thinking it was 38 degrees in the Coleman Caves, and that there was a terrified young man in one of them, tied up like an animal, shot full of drugs, so that Mr. Spaulding could have sex with him. I was thinking that if I turned around and went back to New York so that Mr. Spaulding could consult with his attorney, Andy Deaver would be dead by the time I got back. I can also tell you what I was not thinking. I was not thinking about his constitutional rights. I was not thinking evidence suppression, or even this trial. That’s the job of this court. And this court will decide whatever it decides. But I can say this without reservation: given the same set of circumstances, I would do exactly the same thing because my primary responsibility was to save Andy Deaver. That’s my job. That’s my job.
Jack: So you guys just tore them up?
Samantha: Well, Ferrell had the originals. We tore up copies. It was more of a symbolic gesture.
Jack: Well, I appreciate the gesture and the symbolism.
Danny: Martin, when this is all over, and you and I are looking for our next gig, I just want you to know that I think we make a hell of a team.
Martin: What, selling shoes?
Danny: Shoes, boots, pumps, whatever.