"Holiday" offers an enjoyable variation on the old "switched minds" warhorse, a staple of science fiction for decades. (The original "Star Trek" memorably used the device, for instance -- literally and figuratively -- in its last episode, "Turnabout Intruder.") Here it's a chance to allow the various actors to experiment with one another's characters -- and so it's amusing to see Christopher Judge (normally stoic to the point of being Spock-like as Teal'c) cracking wise as Col. O'Neill, or to see Richard Dean Anderson assuming the beatific persona of Teal'c.
This episode also allows Michael Shanks a chance for a real tour de force, playing both himself (at the beginning and the end) and Machello, a hero of the struggles against the Goa'uld. He is unrecognizable under the Machello makeup, yet still manages to play the character convincingly under all of the prosthetics and paint. Shanks also gets a brief run at playing O'Neill's character during one of the "interim" transfers as Capt. Carter tries to put everything right (which it's a cinch she will do, given that this is still a television series). This sequence, which is much shorter than the Teal'c/O'Neill switch, unfortunately is limited to a few words and some body language, but the actors know one another's characters well enough to make it convincing, even on a subconscious level.
The main story -- that Machello wants to make the switch with Daniel Jackson permanent so that he is spared death as an aged, suffering man -- has no chance of being carried off, of course, given once again that this is series television. Nevertheless, he strikes up a brief, poignant friendship with a panhandler named Fred (Alvin Sanders), who imbues his character with more than clichés. Almost as memorable is a lovely young actress, Melanie Skehar, as a waitress whose persona seems to justify Daniel/Machello's unrequited request for a kiss. (The "holiday" of the title refers quite simply to Machello's brief sojourn on Earth in Daniel's body before he is recaptured.)
Still, except for Capt. Carter (the one member of SG-1 who only gets to play herself), the fun of an episode like this is getting to watch each of the actors play with one another's personae for one outing. In that sense, it's also a "holiday" for, e.g., Christopher Judge from the flat characterization he normally had to assume for Teal'c -- how startling to hear some inflection in his voice! It's also a rare chance (like this season's earlier "Bane") to see some real street scenery, which makes the show seem to take place in the real world and not just on a sound stage or in a Canadian rain forest doubling as one of the other "Stargate" worlds. In sum, it's an enjoyable romp that's nevertheless combined with a more thoughtful undercurrent.
This episode also allows Michael Shanks a chance for a real tour de force, playing both himself (at the beginning and the end) and Machello, a hero of the struggles against the Goa'uld. He is unrecognizable under the Machello makeup, yet still manages to play the character convincingly under all of the prosthetics and paint. Shanks also gets a brief run at playing O'Neill's character during one of the "interim" transfers as Capt. Carter tries to put everything right (which it's a cinch she will do, given that this is still a television series). This sequence, which is much shorter than the Teal'c/O'Neill switch, unfortunately is limited to a few words and some body language, but the actors know one another's characters well enough to make it convincing, even on a subconscious level.
The main story -- that Machello wants to make the switch with Daniel Jackson permanent so that he is spared death as an aged, suffering man -- has no chance of being carried off, of course, given once again that this is series television. Nevertheless, he strikes up a brief, poignant friendship with a panhandler named Fred (Alvin Sanders), who imbues his character with more than clichés. Almost as memorable is a lovely young actress, Melanie Skehar, as a waitress whose persona seems to justify Daniel/Machello's unrequited request for a kiss. (The "holiday" of the title refers quite simply to Machello's brief sojourn on Earth in Daniel's body before he is recaptured.)
Still, except for Capt. Carter (the one member of SG-1 who only gets to play herself), the fun of an episode like this is getting to watch each of the actors play with one another's personae for one outing. In that sense, it's also a "holiday" for, e.g., Christopher Judge from the flat characterization he normally had to assume for Teal'c -- how startling to hear some inflection in his voice! It's also a rare chance (like this season's earlier "Bane") to see some real street scenery, which makes the show seem to take place in the real world and not just on a sound stage or in a Canadian rain forest doubling as one of the other "Stargate" worlds. In sum, it's an enjoyable romp that's nevertheless combined with a more thoughtful undercurrent.