Stargate SG-1 (TV Series) Memento Mori (2006) User Reviews

The Fifth Musketeer

[owlaurence · 8/10 · 17 August 2010]

This is a good, honest episode which definitely integrates Vala to the team, oddly enough considering that for most of the episode she's on her own. (In the next episode, she will join SG1 on the famous last shot of the opening credits).

Now, considering how hard Vala usually works at hiding her true self and feelings, I guess amnesia was the best option to really show her true colours, even though that particular plot device feels a bit done to death. It turns out that despite her slight and spontaneous tendency to lie and try to cheat her neighbour, the former smuggler really has a good heart -along with excellent fighting skills and a stunning capacity for adaptation. And as an aside, I was surprised at how different she was as a waitress. (I mean, she usually is so classy. Here... not so much. Congrats to Claudia Black for that piece of acting.)

Besides showing what Vala is really like under all the bluster, the episode also manages to pick up some loose ends -such as that mysterious Goa'uld female who was with Ba'al in Ex Deus Machina (her reintroduction is a bit phony, but well), Vala's past as a host (I wish we had learnt more), the situation with Bennet from the NID, and of course Vala and Daniel's relationship (they are SO cute together, especially with Daniel stubbornly pretending there's nothing to it. --but what he says about her, to Mitchell and herself, is really moving.)

So all in all, a good episode with plenty of good moments, character development, humour and action.

Vala loses her memory.

[groazamica · 8/10 · 12 September 2006]

The Trust kidnaps Vala and uses a Goa'uld device meant to recover some of her memories, but the device is destroyed in a bad moment and erases all her memory. There is a funny twist: she works as waitress (which seems to me to fit her perfectly - I think because of her attitude) for a couple of weeks until she singlehandedly stops two robbers. It's a classic theme (amnesia), but the script is pretty good and it works. The fans can't be disappointed as there are a few details that are adorable (Daniel takes Vala out, but refuses to call it a "date", Col. Mitchell is "kidnapped" by Vala,...). Besides these, I always find it refreshing to see the characters on Earth - in street clothes, trying to behave normally (and the actors trying to pretend they are pretending to be normal... hihihi) and the way the common people get entangled.

Solid

[ComradWinston · 8/10 · 6 January 2021]

An episode in any show that involves amnesia is usually pretty annoying but they managed to do a solid job of it.

Welcome home

[Calicodreamin · 8/10 · 13 April 2022]

A well developed storyline that unexpectedly had me in my feels. Great character development and the acting was compelling. Plot was unique and a breath of fresh air.

The Date

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 28 February 2022]

While having dinner with Daniel in a fancy restaurant, Vala is kidnapped by Trust agents and delivered to Athena. The Goa'uld believes that Vala has repressed memories that can lead her to an Ancient treasure and the agents connect her to an alien machine. However, the SG-1, agents and the police are looking for Vala and they find the Trust hideout and when they break in, the machine causes amnesia in Vala that flees. Now the SG-1 and the Trust are looking for Vala.

"Memento Mori" is a funny and full of action episode of "Stargate SG-1". The discussion of the date of Daniel and Vala is hilarious. Mitchell without trousers on the motel bed is also very funny. The reaction of Vala when she is surprised by the two thieves is also very funny. Mitchell telling Vala who she is also great. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Memento Mori"

Annoying

[rcsipe · 5/10 · 6 January 2021]

It is beyond annoying at how easily and continually these saviors of the universe are captured, in many cases with very little effort. Daniel, out on a date in public knowing there are Goauld members of the Trust about and there's no protection watching your alien date?! So she's drugged on the way to the bathroom and that's all it took for them to disappear her, permanently if they wanted. Pretty pathetic

Remember to Die

[fcabanski · 2/10 · 10 October 2015]

The title is a Latin phrase for reflection on mortality. The episode has nothing to do with reflection on mortality.

Adria, a god in human form, just destroyed the super weapon at Dakara. Before she did that, she showed she's immune. How can they stop her? What happens next? Will we find out? No, we'll chase amnesiac Vala around while she tries to recover her memories. The Trust snatched her to get to her memories of a treasure that doesn't exist. BTW, it has nothing to do with the Ori. Vala loses her memory while SG-5 tries to rescue her - they overload a Tokr'a memory machine with a Zat.

This is another episode that starts in the middle. With a story this weak, the writers had to do something they thought was clever. Show the audience the middle, then let them discover how the story advanced to that point. Unfortunately he technique also tells the audience that nothing happening before the middle matters. Will Vala escape the Trust? Yes, she ends up working in a diner. Will Vala escape unscathed? No, it's clear she has amnesia when she's working in the diner. How did she get amnesia? Writers "A'ha! Flashback/catch up episodes work." Why is the Trust involved? At least that has something to do with Ba'al, right? Wrong. Some minor Goa'uld wants access to Vala's memories of that non-existent treasure.

In the end Vala returns to SG-1. She gets her SG-1 patch, because by losing her memory she proved her loyalty...eh never mind why. She got her patch. Now back to fighting the Ori. They have to get to work, because Adria upped he ante by destroying that Dakara weapon.

No, not really. They're off to celebrate Vala's patch at a new rib restaurant.

The good news is you'll likely forget the episode as soon as it ends.

It's two stars instead of one because of a great shot by Mitchell. He Zats a metal beam, which conducts the Zat energy to a bad guy hiding behind the beam. That was brilliant.