Review of Absolute Power

Quite frankly, I think this is the biggest letdown of the series. Not that this is a bad episode. It's interesting and sadly plausible (and Daniel, who is normally the most ethical guy ever, has already been shown to handle power rather badly). Daniel's slow descent into power-crazed megalomania is chilling to watch, especially as part of him is sincerely struggling against murderous instincts. The moment when O'Neill finally resigns himself to killing him felt really heart-wrenching to me. Of course, the fact that that part of the story was set "one year from now", along with the rather radical things Daniel had done, clearly showed that this reality would be erased before the end of the episode, but it still made for an interesting illustration of how power (especially Goa'uld power) is bound to corrupt. (And meanwhile, poor Harcesis was being corrupted by the horrible influence of... TV. LOL.)

But in terms of overall storyline, I'm sorry to say, we've been swindled. This episode ends an arc that actually began in season 2 when Daniel found Sha're pregnant, and was regularly continued across the galaxy with the Keb and Ascended arcs. For two years we've been told how precious and powerful the Harcesis was, and THIS is what we get? "Oh, okay, bad idea, sorry, bye." Come on, Sha're died for this. Daniel set his grief aside for this. Even though I get the point about power and corruption, and even though (as I said) the episode in itself is far from bad, I want a refund.