The key technique you've used here is what Ba'al's NOT revealing deep down; it lets the reader project emotions onto him (as necessary) but also gives an accurate sense of the detachment inherent between Goa'uld and humans. Very appropriate in a short ep rehash.
Had this been a vignette about Ba'al's inner conflict/sympatico between symbiont & host, you could've indulged in more introspection. Or had this been a longer piece, you could've revealed later in the story's development deeper points of empathy between the reader & Ba'al. This piece is perfect AS IS for restraint in brevity.
Ba'al's one of the most nuanced, entertaining, complex Stargate antagonists; he deserves fair treatment in fiction, and I'm glad you do it so well :)
Naughty me, read this earlier but didn't leave a comment. Yay fic!
There's the selfish, shippy part of me that wishes it was more Baal/Sam, and then I feel bad wishing for more of that when I still haven't got past the first paragraph of the Vegas piece I started however long ago. Anyway, as genfic episode rehashes go, that was good. But then I always like anything from Baal's perspective, and you do well at capturing his voice as a complex, morally ambiguous character rather than out-and-out sadistic villain.
I wanted to write something more in canon than usual, though I believe I'm allowed a little play since there was clearly a vibe going on between them. :D
Baal has always been shown as someone who contemplates everything very carefully - even in Summit/Last Stand, where his behaviour is in direct opposition to the description Daniel recites. He is a strategist, and part of that is knowing the right thing to say to the right person, at the right time. That's why I knew immediately what episode I wanted to write, and from whose perspective.
Comments 14
LOVE IT. Ba'al's POV here feels so authentic; it's the names he uses to reference other characters that add the perfect touch.
Baal could barely believe this was SG-1, a team he knew as one of action.
i LOL'd
The Jaffa had definitely picked up some Earth humour. Pity most of it seemed to originate from O'Neill.
THAT IS SO BA'AL
For a moment, she'd forgotten who he was, had allowed herself to be amused by him.
hhnnng :3
Such a treat. I was getting a little bored of all the Daniel-centric Genfic & really needed this piquant episode POV rehash.
Reply
Thanks! :D
Reply
Had this been a vignette about Ba'al's inner conflict/sympatico between symbiont & host, you could've indulged in more introspection. Or had this been a longer piece, you could've revealed later in the story's development deeper points of empathy between the reader & Ba'al. This piece is perfect AS IS for restraint in brevity.
Ba'al's one of the most nuanced, entertaining, complex Stargate antagonists; he deserves fair treatment in fiction, and I'm glad you do it so well :)
Reply
I'm still working on the novel. It's just taking far more research than I'd first imagined.
Reply
Reply
Reply
There's the selfish, shippy part of me that wishes it was more Baal/Sam, and then I feel bad wishing for more of that when I still haven't got past the first paragraph of the Vegas piece I started however long ago. Anyway, as genfic episode rehashes go, that was good. But then I always like anything from Baal's perspective, and you do well at capturing his voice as a complex, morally ambiguous character rather than out-and-out sadistic villain.
Reply
Reply
A very fun twist on a great ep. Thanks so much for contributing, and I'm sorry it took me so long to get down to the letter W. :)
Reply
Thanks for commenting. :)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment