| The plot is a sci-fi staple, but it’s something I wonder about. Would technological knowledge or knowledge of future events make you so powerful?
Technological knowledge is nothing without the resources to manufacture the technology itself. We all know how to use electronic equipment but could you make a computer or a TV with “stone knives and bearskins” to use a Star Trek quote. Even knowledge of Pure Science is useless without the ability to apply it. You may understand Chemistry, but can you refine the chemicals you need, or blow glass equipment? If the Puddle Jumper had not been conveniently left behind they would have still been in deep trouble.
Also a great ruler needs to be a good leader, not a technocrat. It’s more likely you would instead become the King’s Wizard – a kind of Merlin figure to King Arthur - itself another sci-fi staple.
At least here, the story about Maybourne being able to read the prophesy made it a little more believable, if you can believe he learnt to read Ancient so quickly, and the speech about ‘plans for the new watermill, medicines and the code of laws’ showed Maybourne does have other qualities. And to begin with he was shown as more of an honorary figurehead than a real King.
If the locals knew about the prophesy from Maybourne, then why were they not expecting the arrival of ‘travellers from off world’ to help them defeat the Goa’uld? They seemed surprised to see SG-1 at the beginning.
Why has Jack stopped quoting ‘Wizard of Oz’ and started quoting ‘The Lion King’ – ‘It’s good to be King’?
Also, can all Jaffa read Ancient inscriptions now? That must have been quite a literacy programme to have to organise! And during a war too! Or are Aries Jaffa just better educated than the others? The First Prime even knew what Tau’ri weapons sounded like.
And taking on a Mothership with a Puddle Jumper – that was brave!
Does this mean that the SGC now has a working Puddle Jumper?
Are they leaving King Archos on the throne? |