Stargate Review

Stargate (the movie)

Theatrical release October 28, 1994

Length 116 minutes

Written by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich

Directed by Roland Emmerich

Starring Kurt Russell as Colonel Jonathan 'Jack' O'Neil, James Spader as Dr. Daniel Jackson, Jaye Davidson as Ra, Viveca Lindfors as Catherine Langford, Alexis Cruz as Skaara, Mili Avital as Sha'uri, Leon Rippy as General W.O. West, and John Diehl as Lieutenant Kawalsky.

Back in 1928, Catherine Langford's father unearths a huge circular object protected by stones covered in hieroglyphs. In 1994 Dr. Daniel Jackson, a discredited Egyptologist, is asked to help translate the symbols, some of which don't resemble any known language.

Jackson determines that the unidentified symbols are an address or pathway to another star system. The address is dialed into the Stargate and a stable wormhole forms. A probe is sent through, showing that there is breathable air and another stargate.

Jackson, Colonel O'Neil, and the rest, step through the Stargate to Abydos, a desert planet. They are inside a pyramid. They meet the locals. Soon, Ra arrives, landing his ship on top of the pyramid and causing havoc.

Quite a few things are not well explained in this movie. What happened to the Stargate between 1924 and 1994? How did they know how to power the Stargate? Why did they think the energy field would lead to anything except destruction? The Abydos Stargate is located inside a roomy and defensible pyramid. Why set up camp outside in the hot sun? How do so many people live on and work in an area with almost no vegetation or water sources?

Although Kurk Russell, as Jack O'Neil, gets top billing, this is Daniel Jackson's story. James Spader does a believable job of portraying Jackson as an intuitive genius, who is sometimes socially clueless.

Once Ra arrives, glowing eyes and all, the action starts. There are battles and fight scenes and a nail-biting conclusion. There even a bit of a love story.

This is a great stand-alone film, but it is also the beginning of the Stargate SG1 television series. The television series features many of the characters from the movie, some played by the same actors. Most of the personalities are similar.

Jack O'Neil is the exception. Kurt Russell's portrayal of Jack O'Neil is vastly different from Richard Dean Anderson's portrayal of Jack O'Neill. Even the name is spelled differently.

Reviewed by Roman a Drew July 4, 2020

The Goa'uld

Season 1

Children of the Gods - Final Cut (2009)

Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2

Directed by Mario Azzopardi, Written by Jonathan Glassner & Brad Wright

Originally aired July 27, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson as Colonel Jack O'Neill, Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson, Amanda Tapping as Captain Samantha Carter, Christopher Judge as Teal'c, Don S. Davis as Major General George Hammond, and Gary Jones as Sgt. Walter Harriman.

With Jay Acovone as Major Charles Kawalsky, Vaitiare Hirshon as Sha're/Amaunet, Robert Wisden as Samuels, Peter Williams as Apophis, Brent Stait as Louis Ferretti, Alexis Cruz as Skaara/Klorel, and Rachel Hayward as Sargent Carol Weterings

A year after the incident on Abydos, inside Cheyenne Mountain Complex, a few soldiers play cards in front of the Stargate, which is covered in a tarp. The tarp blows off and a wormhole forms, scaring everyone. A ball rolls through, followed by Apophis and his goons. They kill the men and grab Sgt. Carol Weterings, the only woman. Then they march back through the Stargate taking her with them - more about that later.

Jack is recalled from retirement, again. General Hammond wants to send another nuke through the gate to Abydos. To prevent that, Jack fesses up and tells him that Daniel is still alive, and there are thousands of innocent people on Abydos. The team goes to Abydos to find the Goa'uld, who attacked the complex.

Of course, Apophis isn't on Abydos. Daniel is, as is his wife, Sha're, and Jack's friend, Skaara. But it isn't long before Apophis shows up and wreaks havoc.

Children of the Gods sets up the series. The Goa'uld are evil looking wormy parasites that control their hosts. SG1 consists of Daniel, the gentle the geek, Sam, the scientist, Jack, the military mind, and Teal'c, the muscle who knows the enemy. Thanks to Daniel, they now also have hundreds of gate addresses to try.

Showtime broadcast Children of the Gods as two episodes shown back to back. In 2009, the two episodes were combined into one movie, Children of the Gods - Final Cut. Final Cut is tightly edited and moves along without a dull moment. It has a complex plot and excellent character development. Michael Shanks copies James Spader's Daniel. But Richard Dean Anderson's Jack is much more likable than Kurt Russell's.

I watched Children of the Gods on SciFi as two episodes a week apart. But those recordings are old and a bit fuzzy. This time I watched the remastered Final Cut version on commercial DVD.

I remember five scenes that are not in this version but were in the original: Sam telling Jack to call her by her rank rather than her salutation, Teal'c dragging Sargent Carol Weterings out of Aphophis' harem, a Goa'uld diving into Kawalsky, Teal'c giving his staff to Sam after they return to Earth, and the last scene, Kawalsky's eyes glowing.

I don't know why these scenes were cut, Kawalsky being a Goa'uld seems like an important detail, especially since it is part of the next episode.

In the beginning of the show, Apophis reopens the gate and goes back through. Since there isn't a dialing pedestal (or DHD as it will be called later), how did he open the gate? If he used the dialing computer, or ordered someone to dial, there would be a record of where he went, and therefore, no reason to go to Abydos.

Reviewed by Romana Drew July 7, 2020

The Enemy Within

Season 1, Episode 3

Directed by Dennis Berry. Written by Brad Wright

Originally aired August 1, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, and Don S. Davis.

With Jay Acovone as Major Charles Kawalsky, Kevin McNulty as Dr. Warner, Alan Rachins as Colonel Kennedy, Warren Takeuchi as Young Doctor.

The dialing computer is now programmed with many gate addresses. SG1, headed up by Jack O'Neill, and SG2, headed up by Charles Kawalsky, are ready to do reconnaissance on two new planets. But Kawalsky has a headache.

It turns out that Kawalsky has an immature Goa'ul wrapped around his spine, attempting to take over.

Against Jack's wishes, Teal'c is questioned by Colonel Kennedy, who intends to take him away for study.

This is an exciting episode. It moves along without a hitch. Although Sam and Daniel don't have significant roles, it develops Jack's character and establishes Teal'c as a trustworthy ally. It also explains how the Goa'uld came to exploit the galaxy and why all the worlds are populated with humans from different time zones.

Now, the series is ready to head off to new adventures on different worlds.

Reviewed by Romana Drew July 9, 2020.

Emancipation

Season 1 Episode 4

Directed by Jeff Woolnough. Written by Katharyn Powers.

Originally aired August 8, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, and Don S. Davis.

With Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Turghan, Jorge Vargas as Abu, Soon-Tek Oh as Moughal, and Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe as Nya

SG1 steps through the Stargate into a beautiful meadow surrounded by forests with no evidence of humans. Attacking dogs chase a young man into the meadow. The team chases off the dogs. He is grateful until he sees Sam. Then members of his tribe ride into the scene and attempt to kill Sam.

When the father learns that the strangers saved his son's life, he welcomes SG1 to his village - as long as Sam agrees to dress the part, cover her face, and so forth. That night, she is kidnapped and sold to a rival clan.

During this part of the episode, Sam wears an elaborate sky blue dress. Although the costume is stunning, it is highly unlikely that the society portrayed, Mongolian nomads, would have access to such fine materials or such vibrant blue dyes.

Emancipation explores the exploitation and subjugation of women. Samantha Carter, soldier and scientist, isn't about to be subjugated or exploited.

The episode has some great lines and scenes. The conclusion is both action-packed and ever so satisfying. However, the episode drives home some points a bit too hard, making it tedious and predictable in a few places.

This is also the episode that sets the standard for languages. Everyone, whatever their history, speaks English. Of course, that doesn't make sense, but having a language issue in every episode slows things down and gets rather annoying.

Reviewed by Romana Drew July 13, 2020

The Broca Divide

Season 1, Episode 5

Directed by William Gereghty. Written by Jonathan Glassner

Originally aired August 15, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, and Don S. Davis.

With Teryl Rothery as Dr. Janet Fraiser, Steve Makaj as Colonel Makepeace, Nicole Oliver as Leedora, Gerard Plunkett as High Councilor Tuplo, Danny Wattley as Lieutenant Johnson, Roxana Phillip as Melosha,

The Broca Divide introduces Teryl Rothery as Dr. Janet Fraiser. She, along with Gary Jones, as Sgt. Walter Harriman, are credited as guest stars, but they are in almost every episode.

SG1 gates to P3X-797. They enter a dark world full of trees and are immediately attacked by a tribe of primitive humanoids. SG3 steps through the gate and chases the attackers away, assisted by a group of white-robed people who throw rocks at the primitives.

SG's 1 and 3 follow the white-robed people to their settlement, which looks much like a Minoan village.

The primitives living on the dark side of the planet are 'the touched,' normal humans who have reverted to an animalistic state. Since the Goa'uld have not visited this world for several generations, and there is nothing of technological value, Jack insists everyone return home.

All seems well until those who visited P3X-797 change and become violent.

The Broca Divide investigates another world where the Goa'uld placed humans from the past. Although this episode has some technical issues, it has plenty of action and suspense. Richard Dean Anderson does a great job fighting against the disease that has stripped him of rational thought. And Michael Shanks is wonderfully comedic as a creature defending his mate.

If one side of the planet is in perpetual darkness and the other in perpetual light, the vegetation on the two sides would be vastly different, but it isn't. The primitive humanoids don't seem to have the intelligence to make fire, and yet they are always sitting around a fire. A better question is, why do they stay in the dark? And, why is the stargate on the dark side?

The use of Chlorpheniramine Maleate to defeat the disease isn't too hard to accept, but using it as an anesthetic just doesn't ring true. It does make you sleepy, but getting hit by a dart full of it won't knock someone instantly unconscious.

There are anesthetics that render people unconscious in moments when injected into a vein, but when injected into muscle tissue, they take several minutes.

And, about those darts. It looks like they hold at least five milliters, a teaspoon. The syringe Sam wants to use on Daniel looks like a half full 10 ml syringe. That is way too much to inject intramuscularly.

Still, if not taken seriously, this is a fun episode.

Reviewed by Romana Drew July 16, 2020

Sam and Hanson

Daniel and the cave dwellers

The First Commandment

Season 1 Episode 6

Directed by Dennis Berry. Written by Robert C. Cooper.

Originally aired August 22, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With William Russ as Captain Jonas Hanson, Roger Cross as Lieutenant Connor, Zahf Paroo as Jamala, Adrian G. Griffiths as Lieutenant Baker, D. Neil Mark as Frakes, Darcy Laurie as Cave-Dweller.

SG9 is MIA, so SG1 goes to Avnil to retrieve them. They meet Lieutenant Connor, who tells them that SG9's leader, Captain Jonas Hanson, has gone native, posing as God and enslaving the people of this world. From there, things head south.

Sam gets captured. Hansen is her ex-fiance. And Connor is tied to a post and left to die.

This episode almost works. Most of it is fine, but there is just too much Hanson. Megalomaniacs with delusions of godhood are a common theme in stories about dystopian societies. They're often the cause of the dystopia.

In this case, Hanson's motives are not all that bad. The UV radiation on Avnil is deadly. The locals live in caves and only come out at night. Hanson wants to give the cave dwellers a chance to live in the open and improve their lives. So, he forces them to work in the sun until they die.

Although Hanson creates the problems that must be solved, his character is rather boring. Or rather, there is too much of him.

Sometimes, it's the actor who can't quite make the character interesting. But more often, as here, the actor is fine. The point is made in the first moment or two, but the scene goes on and on. It is like a song that finishes long before it ends, repeating verses and choruses more times than anyone wants to hear.

This isn't a really bad episode, just a bit repetitive and slow. You might want to fast forward through some of Hanson's self-aggrandizing speeches.

Reviewed by Romana Drew July 20, 2020

Jack and the Crystal

Jack and Charlie

Cold Lazarus

Season 1 Episode 7

Directed by Kenneth J. Girotti. Written by Jeff F. King.

Originally aired August 29, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery ,and Don S. Davis.

With Harley Jane Kozak as Sara O'Neill, Wally Dalton as Sara's Father, and Kyle Graham as Charlie O'Neill.

SG1 gates to a desert planet with patches of blue crystals. Jack touches a crystal and is knocked flat. His doppelganger then returns to Earth with the team. Even though the doppelganger acts a bit strange, no one notices until Jack wakes up and gates home, wondering why everyone left him.

Cold Lazarus fleshes out Jacks relationship with his ex-wife and his feelings about his son's death. It deals with powerful and difficult emotions in a sensitive and realistic way. This is the most adult and mature episode so far, a refreshing change from primitive people and megalomaniacs.

Kyle Graham was perfect as Charlie.

There are a few things that are not well explained. How do the crystals duplicate humans? How did the duplicate Jack turn into Charlie? Why did he spew out radiation for a while and then stop? Why did the Goa'uld consider the crystals so much of a threat that they blasted them to pieces?

Perhaps it's best not to ask those questions and just go with the story.

Reviewed by Romana Drew July 25, 2020

Anteaus and Nafrayu

Apophis

The Nox

Season 1 Episode 8

Directed by Charles Correll. Written by Hart Hanson

Originally aired September 12, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery ,and Don S. Davis.

With Armin Shimerman as Anteaus, Peter Williams as Apophis, Ray Xifo as Ohper, Frida Betrani as Lya, Terry David Mulligan as Secretary of Defense David Swift, and Addison Ridge as Nafrayu.

The secretary of defense complains that the Stargate program has not been successful at finding advanced tech. Teal'c suggests they visit a planet with a creature that can make itself invisible. Off they go.

They fail to capture the creature. Instead, they go after Apophis, who just happens to be wandering around with a couple of guards. It's a dumb idea. They should all know better. And they all get killed.

Not to worry, this is the home of the Nox.

Finding themselves alive in what appears to be a primitive society, SG1 sets out to protect these cute, little, unassuming beings from the evil Goa'uld.

This is a lesson in how appearances can be deceiving and why it is not wise to make assumptions before gathering sufficient data.

The Nox is an interesting episode, with several clever plot twists. It also introduces a race of beings with superior technology and no fear of the Goa'uld. The Nox will show up again in future episodes.

It is also nice to see Armin Shimerman (Quark) playing a different role.

Reviewed by Romana Drew July 29, 2020.

Jack and Kynthia

Kynthia doing the marriage dance

Brief Candle

Season 1 Episode 9

Directed by Mario Azzopardi. Story by Steven Barnes. Teleplay by Katharyn Powers.

Originally aired September 19, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Bobbie Phillips as Kynthia, Harrison Coe as Alekos, Gabrielle Miller as Thetys.

SG1 gates to utopia, where all the people are young, healthy, and happy. They dance and sing all day.

Kynthia feeds Jack a special cake, just for him, and he ends up in her bed. The moment the sun goes down, everyone falls asleep, where ever they are, what ever they're doing, including Jack.

Infected by alien nanobots, the people of this world grow to adulthood in a few days and only live for one hundred days. Jack is infected even though he has already lived for thousands of days.

The search is on for a cure.

Although it has no battles or evil villians, Brief Candle is a nice episode, well worth watching. It gives Richard Dean Anderson an opportunity to stretch his acting skills a bit. But don't look too close at the logistics of this world.

The inhabitants dance, sing, and enjoy life, but never to do any work. So, where does the food come from? They fall asleep where ever they are the moment the sun goes down and wake the next day in the same clothes. Apparently, the nights don't get cold, and it never rains.

If the anyone goes far enough away from the village, they are no longer under the influence of the computer controlling the nanobots. It is hard to believe that no one has ever done this and returned to lead the villagers to freedom.

The inhabitants don't seem to grow old, so how do they die? Perhaps they just don't wake up one morning. Having a character die, and seeing how the village deals with it, would have been interesting.

Reviewed by Romana Drew August 1, 2020

Teal'c and Thor's Hammer

Daniel, Kendra, and Sam

Thor's Hammer

Season 1 Episode 10

Directed by Brad Turner. Written by Katharyn Powers.

Originally aired September 26, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With: Galyn Gorg as Kendra, Vincent Hammond as Unas, Tamsin Kelsey as Gairwyn, James Earl Jones as the voice of Unas, and Mark Gibbon as Thor.

Teal'c says that all Gou'ald are forbidden to visit Cimmeria, the home of Thor's hammer, so SG1 goes there.

As soon as they step through the gate, the locals laugh at them. A blue beam shines down from the top of an obelisk, scaning everyone. It concentrates on Teal'c. Jack tries to push Teal'c out of the beam, and they both disappear.

Jack and Teal'c end up in a maze of caves with Unas, an un-killable monster. Sam and Daniel ask the locals for help.

This episode just moves along at a great pace with never a dull moment. We learn that there is hope for those taken by the Goa'uld, along with a little history of the Goa'uld. We also meet Thor, or his avatar, and learn that other powerful races can protect planets from the Goa'uld.

That makes two races who don't fear the Goa'uld, the Nox, and Thor's race, which will be revealed in a future episode.

The people on Cimmeria are Vikings, which means they have been here for over a thousand years. Why haven't they developed any new technology? This can't be blamed on Goa'uld suppression. Goa'uld are dispatched as soon as they come through the gate.

Still, it is a good episode.

Reviewed by Romana Drew August 4, 2020

Ernest Littlefield naked and wondering if SG1 is real

Ernest and Catherine

The Torment of Tantalus

Season 1 Episode 11

Directed by Jonathan Glassner. Written by Robert C. Cooper.

Originally aired October 3, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Elizabeth Hoffman as Catherine Langford, Keene Curtis as Ernest Littlefield, Duncan Fraser as Professor Langford, Nancy Hillis as Young Catherine Langford, and Paul McGillion as Young Ernest Littlefield.

While reviewing footage of the 1945 gate experiments, Daniel discovers that the researchers succeeded in opening the gate and sending someone through. That person never returned. And, the gate research was abandoned.

Daniel shows the footage to Catherine Langford. She says the fellow who went through the gate was Ernest Littlefield, her fiance. She was told that he had died in an explosion. Although it has been fifty years, Ernest may still be alive.

So, off they go on a rescue mission, including Catherine. Of course, the DHD is broken, and the building about to fall into the sea.

This episode doesn't focus on the difficult and risky climb to the top of the building in a raging storm. That has been done many times. Instead it focuses on the people inside the building: Daniel's willingness to die in his search for knowledge, Jacks determination to get everyone home, and Catherine and Ernest coming to terms with the events that separated them.

The Torment of Tantalus is one of the great episodes. Keene Curtis' performance as Ernest Littlefield confronting real people after fifty years of living alone is sensitive and humorous. The team finds evidence of four advanced races and a world of information about those races, probably the gate builders. But, once again, that information is lost before it can be retrieved.

Reviewed by Romana Drew August 7, 2020

Drey'auc

Master Bra'tac

Bloodlines

Season 1 Episode 12

Directed by Mario Azzopardi. Written by Mark Saraceni. Teleplay by Jeff F. King

Originally aired October 10, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Tony Amendola as Master as Bra'tac, Salli Richardson as Drey'auc, and Neil Denis as Rya'c.

Teal'c is determined to return to Chulak to stop his son from being implanted with a larval Goa'uld, or prim'ta. At first, General Hammond forbids Teal'c to leave, then the entire SG1 team goes with him.

Teal'c's house is in ruins, and his wife and son are missing. Teal'c's manages to stop the implantation but Rya'c is dying of scarlet fever.

Bloodlines explores life on Chulak. We meet Teal'c wife, Drey'aic, son, Ray'c, and his teacher, Master Bra'tac.

There are a couple of things that don't make sense. The larval Goa'uld are kept in a tank out in the open, unguarded. Sam and Daniel just walk up and steal one. If it is that easy to steal one, why did Drey'auc have to beg for one? And if all you have to do is stick one inside the pouch, why does it require a special tent and a priest?

This episode is well worth watching, but gets a bit slow and obvious in a couple of places.

It is nice to see Salli Richardson, Allison Blake from Eureka, in a very different role as Drey'auc.

Reviewed by Romana Drew August 10, 2020

Daniel and Nem

Hammond and Jack at Daniels wake.

Fire and Water

Season 1 Episode 13

Directed by Allan Eastman. Written by Brad Wright and Katharyn Powers. Teleplay by Katharyn Powers.

Originally aired October 14, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Gerard Plunkett as Nem.

Sam, Jack, and Teal'c return from Oannes unexpectedly and sopping wet. They saw Daniel get killed in a fire spout, except they know he is alive. Daniel is kidnapped and held in an underwater lair by a Nem, an Ohnes, a sea-dwelling alien.

This episode explores how the team copes with the loss of a member. All the ceremonies seem hollow and unsettling. Sam, Jack, and Teal'c have recurring visions of Daniel's death, but they all feel he is still alive. While under the sea of Oannes, Nem demands Daniel tell him what happened to his mate four thousand years ago.

Nem's costume and makeup are great. What he eats, and why he lives underwater is not explained, but the lair is interesting.

At one point, Nem rushes out, leaving the "door" open. A force field holds back a wall of water. I liked the way Daniel first touched the wall then swam away.

The scenes in the SGC are interwoven with scenes in Nem's lair. The difference between the two worlds makes the switching a bit jarring but also adds interest to the episode.

A couple of questions. Daniel reads cuneiform writing that contains the name of Nem's mate. How did he learn to pronounce Cuneiform? That form of writing was used by several different cultures, with different languages, none of which are spoken today. Even if they were, the pronunciation would have changed.

How did Nem know Daniel had a memory of his mate? If he could 'see' the memory, why did he have to use a painful machine to retrieve it?

During the funeral, they hand a wreath on the event horizon of the gate, then it gets sucked into the wormhole. I wonder where it went? Imagine the people on the other end. The gate activates, and a ring of flowers lands on the ground. The gate closes.

Reviewed by Romana Drew August 14, 2020

Hathor and Jack

Hathor, babies, and daddy Daniel

Hathor

Season 1 Episode 14

Directed by Brad Turner. Written by David Bennett Carren and J. Larry Carroll. Teleplay by Jonathan Glassner

Originally aired October 24, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Suanne Braun as Hathor.

A group of archeologists discover a Goa'uld sarcophagus. They twist the red button and out hops Hathor, goddess of fertility, inebriation, and music. Unfortunatly for the archeologists, Hathor isn't in a good mood, and they don't stay long alive.

Sensing the Stargate, Hathor infiltrates the SGC, where she entices all the men into her service. Daniel makes his unique contribution to Hathor's plans. Never fear, the women, and Teal'c, come to the rescue.

This is an entirely enjoyable episode. Suanne Braun is perfect as Hathor, the queen Goa'uld protecting all her little offspring.

I especially liked the way she got out of the tank and was perfectly dry. Of course, it was the film run backward, but it worked wonderfully well.

Now, we know where all those baby Goa'uld come from. And she escapes, so we can meet her again in a future episode.

Reviewed by Romana Drew, August 17, 2020.

Sam, Cassandra, and Daniel

Cassandra and her dog.

Singularity

Season 1 Episode 15

Directed by Mario Azzopardi. Written by Robert C. Cooper.

Originally aired October 31, 1997

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Katie Stuart as Cassandra.

SG1 gates to Hanka to join SG7 and watch a black hole eclipse the sun. But everyone is dead, scientists and locals alike. Only one little girl is still alive. They take her back to Stargate Command.

Dr. Fraiser discovers naquadah in her blood. Soon a bomb grows inside her. If she goes through the gate, the bomb will explode, destroying the gate. If she doesn't go through the gate, the bomb will still explode with enough energy to pulverize Cheyanne Mountain and surrounding area.

This episode introduces Cassandra and naquadah, the material the Stargate is made of. Naquadah is quite versatile and will be a McGuffin and several future stories. We also learn of another Goa'uld named Nirrti.

Cassandra bonds with Sam and looks to her for help, which shows a motherly side of Sam. Daniel also shows his gentle, caring side as he supports both Sam and Cassandra.

Singularity is a bit like a ticking timebomb story with a twist at the end.

Reviewed by Romana Drew August 19, 2020.

Preparing Teal'c for His Execution

Hanno

Cor-Ai

Season 1 Episode 16

Directed by Mario Azzopardi. Written by Tom J. Astle.

Originally aired January 23, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With David McNally as Hanno, Peter Williams as Apophis, and Christina Jastrzembska as Female Elder.

SG1 gates to a planet Teal'c recognizes as Cartago. For once, there is a settlement surrounding the Staregate, more about that later. It looks as if everyone scattered as soon as the gate opened. Food is on the fire, but no one is around.

Slowly the villagers return. Hanno recognizes Teal'c as the Jaffa who killed his father. The villagers imprison Teal'c and prepare for Cor-Ai, or trial. Teal'c admits he killed Hanno's father and is sentenced to death. It makes no difference to Hanno that Apophis ordered Teal'c to kill his father.

Cor-Ai explores different concepts of justice. Here Teal'c is guilty unless he can prove his innocence. And his accuser, Hanno, is the only one who can determine his punishment.

Although the episode moves along at a good pace, it is a bit unsatisfying and predictable.

Apophis visits this world regularly to harvest people for implantation. When the lights on the gate activate, the villagers run and hide in nearby caves. Apophis only catches the slowest.

Why do the villagers continue to live around the gate? Why not move to a remote location where Apophis can't find them. Or, at least, make him travel some distance to catch them.

Also, Teal'c is a little out of character, giving up like that. Yes, he did terrible things as First Prime, but he wants to defeat the Goa'uld and free the Jaffa. He can't do that if he's dead. Staying alive to fight again should be pretty firmly ingrained in his personality.

Reviewed by Romana Drew August 26, 2020

Omoc and Narim

Lya

Enigma

Season 1 Episode 17

Directed by William Gereghty. Written by Katharyn Powers.

Originally aired January 30, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Tobin Bell as Omoc, Garwin Sanford as Narim, Tom McBeath as Colonel Harry Maybourne, and Frida Betrani as Lya.

SG1 gates to a world in volcanic upheaval. They are about to go home when they discover several dying people covered with volcanic ash. They bring the survivors back to Stargate Command.

The Tollans are not pleased to have been rescued. They are human, but technology far advanced from Earth. Having seen a primitive race misuse their technology, they want nothing to do with Earth and are not shy about saying so.

In steps Colonel Harold Maybourne from NID (The National Intelligence Department, AKA National Institute of Defense.) He intends to take possession of the Tollans and transfer them to his jurisdiction: Hamond, SG1, and the Tollans object.

Colonel Maybourne is a complex and thoroughly obnoxious character who plays a role in many future episodes.

This is an interesting episode featuring another race with superior technology. They may be self-centered and standoffish, but at least they are peaceful. Omoc says that the Tollans know about the Goa'uld but do not interact with them even though their world has a gate.

If the Tollans are human, they must have originally come from Earth. Daniel suggests that we would be more advanced had it not been for the dark ages. The Goa'uld lost track of Earth when the gate was buried. The Tollan gate is still active. How come they were able to develop without Goa'uld interference?

Reviewed by Romana Drew August 22, 2020.

Sam and Jack

Hammond at the New Stargate

Solitudes

Season 1 Episode 18

Directed by Martin Wood. Written by Brad Wright.

Originally aired February 6, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

Under an automated attack, SG1 leaps through the gate home as fast as they can. Daniel and Teal'c roll down the ramp at Stargate command. Sparks fly and the gate controllers burst off their mounts.

Jack and Sam wake to find themselves inside a glacier. Jack is injured. The gate is there, but the DHD has to be dug from its ice tomb. While Sam keeps Jack alive and fixes the DHD, Daniel, Teal'c, and General Hammond try to figure out where Jack and Sam are.

The first time I watched this, I assumed that Sam would fix the DHD, and she and Jack would gate home. Maybe there would be some complications, but ultimately that would be the conclusion. Instead, Daniel saves the day.

This is a good episode, showing how the team members are commitment to saving each other. It does get a little slow in the middle with Sam worrying over Jack. But the rest is excellent. The ending is great.

If Sam had tried to gate to a different world, they would never have found the second gate.

Reviewed by Romana Drew August 29, 2020.

Harlan "Comtrya"

Robot Jack

Tin Man

Season 1 Episode 19

Directed by Jimmy Kaufman. Written by Jeff F. King

Originally aired February 13, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With: Jay Brazeau as Harlan.

SG1 gates to P3X-989, Altair. They meet Harlan, the caretaker of a massive underground complex of machines. They get zapped by beams of light and wake up in different clothes. Jack's pissed and sends everyone back to Earth, where they discover that they are now androids.

The basic plot is quite simple. SG1 needs to get back into their human bodies so they can go on about their lives. However, a couple of philosophical questions are explored.

Can robots be human? All the members of the team feel human. They have the same desires, except being hungry or thirsty. So are they alive, or are they just machines?

What rights do sentient machines have? On Earth, they are imprisoned and then sent back to Altair. The humans return to Earth, leaving their mechanical counterparts to live with Harlan forever, a fate none of the humans would ever accept.

The ending is a bit unsatisfying. The robots have the same minds as the humans. It is unrealistic to expect them to stay put and fix the machine forever. Never fear, we will see them in later episodes.

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 1, 2020.

Daniel and the Mirror

General Jack O'Neill and Teal'c

There But for the Grace of God

Season 1 Episode 20

Directed by David Warry-Smith. Written by David Kemper. Teleplay by Robert C. Cooper.

Originally aired February 20, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Elizabeth Hoffman as Dr. Catherine Langford.

On P3R-233, Daniel discovers a collection of objects from other worlds. Teal'c finds a Goa'uld warning to stay away, so Jack orders everyone home. Before he leaves, Daniel touches a mirror and gets a mild shock. When he goes to the gate, everyone is gone, so he gates home to a very different Earth.

Catherine Langford is in charge of the Stargate program, Jack is in charge of the military. The Goa'uld are destroying Earth, and nobody knows Daniel.

This episode introduces the concept of alternate universes, something that will be used in future episodes. It is also the first of four episodes. The next two episodes close out season 1 with a cliffhanger. The fourth is the first episode of season 2.

The mirror Daniel touched is straight out of Star Trek. It looks a lot like the time portal on Golana, that Molly O'Brian fell through. And it's not too far off from the one in the TOS episode, The City of the Edge of Forever.

This is a fast-paced and exciting episode. It lets us see the main characters in somewhat different roles.

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 3, 2020.

Kensey and Samuels
The dynamic duo.

General Hammond

Politics

Season 1 Episode 21

Directed by Martin Wood. Teleplay by Brad Wright. Exercepts by Jonathan Glassner, Brad Wright, Hart Hanson, Jeff F. King, Robert C. Cooper, Steven Barnes, and Katharyn Powers.

Originally aired February 27, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Ronny Cox Senator as Robert Kinsey and Robert Wisden as Lt. Colonel Bert Samuels,

Daniel returns from his trip to the alternate reality with an injured shoulder and a wild tale to tell.

Senator Robert Kinsey, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee decides it is time to shut down the Stargate program because it is a waste of money and hasn't produced any significant technological breakthroughs. He dismisses the Goa'uld threat.

Most of this episode is either talking heads or flashbacks. It is the second of four connected episodes that close out season 1 and introduce season 2. Shutting down Stargate Command is its only contribution to the story arc.

It's a nice review of season 1, but it can be skipped with only a slight blip in continuity.

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 4, 2020

Jack and Klorel.

Daddy Apophis talking to his son, Klorel

Within the Serpent's Grasp

Season Episode 22

Directed by David Warry-Smith. Story by James Crocker. Teleplay by Jonathan Glassner.

Originally aired March 6, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Peter Williams as Apophis and Alexis Cruz as Skaara / Klorel.

Stargate Command is shut down, and the gate is scheduled to be buried. Daniel persuades SG1 to defy orders and go through the Stargate to the address he found on the alternate world, believing it to be the Goa'uld homeworld. But it isn't a planet, it's a Goa'uld attack vessel orbiting a planet.

As soon as the ship goes into hyperdrive, the Stargate is useless, trapping SG1 on the very ship destined to destroy Earth. Although that is just where they need to be if they want to sabotage the attack, it's also smack dab in the middle of hundreds of jaffa with no place to hide.

This is an exciting episode. It builds from frustration with the obvious stupidity of the politicians to a daring escape to save Earth. In the end, SG1 is captured, and Earth is about to die.

The ship is great, lots of gold panels with raised hieroglyphics, very showy. It's also quite convenient that every corridor is lined wide pillars just perfect for hiding behind.

Originally viewers had to wait nearly three months to watch the conclusion - the first episode of the next season. I am reviewing them separately because that suits my website organization better. However, I watched them one after the other. I highly recommend doing so.

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 5, 2020

The Tok'ra

Season 2

Apophis and Klorel.

Daniels Last Stand

The Serpent's Lair

Season 2 Episode 1

Directed by Jonathan Glassner. Written by Brad Wright.

Originally aired:
Sky One - June 26, 1998
Showtime June 26, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Tony Amendola as Master Bra'tac, Robert Wisden as Lt. Colonel Bert Samuels, Peter Williams as Apophis, and Alexis Cruz as Skaara/Klorel.

Trapped on one of two Goa'uld Ha'tak attack ships, SG1 struggles to stay alive long enough to blow up the ships and prevent Earth's destruction. While down below, Colonel Samuels assures everyone that the military has the situation under control, while sending groups of people through the gate to the Alpha Site, just in case the Goa'uld succeed.

When all is lost, Master Bra'tac shows up to save the day, sort of. And Daniel dies for the second time.

The Serpent's Lair is the first episode of the second season and the exciting conclusion to Within the Serpent's Grasp, the final episode of the first season. These two episodes are best watched one right after the other. I am somewhat surprised that someone hasn't released them as a movie.

There are some great scenes with Hammond and Samuels, and equally great scenes with Jack and Bra'tac. Samuel's mindset is not that far off from Apophis'. When failure seems imminent, run away, to hell with everyone else.

There are a few technical goofs: The sarcophagus apparently repaired Daniel's clothing as well as his wounds - same for Kloral. Samuels assurances that the missiles were invisible to radar is silly. They were visible to the naked eye.

All that aside, this is a superb episode.

Reviewed by Roman Drew September 6, 2020

Sam/Jolinar

Dr. Jacobs/Ashrak & Daniel
just before Teal'c zats them both

In the Line of Duty

Season 2 Episode 2

Directed by Martin Wood. Written by Robert C. Cooper.

Originally aired:
Sky One July 3, 1998
Showtime July 3, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

Peter Lacroix as Ashrak/Dr. Jacobs and Katie Stuart as Cassandra.

On Nasya, SG1 and the Nasyan village is attacked by Goa'uld death gliders. They run for the gate, taking as many Nasyans as they can save.

While Sam is giving mouth to mouth to a dying Nasyan, a Goa'uld symbiote jumps into her mouth. Back at Stargate command, Sam looks the same, but her behavior is a bit off. Her symbiote pulls off the disguise until she is outed by Cassandra, who can sense Goa'uld.

Imprisoned in Stargate Command, the Goa'uld insists she is Jolinar of Malkshur, a Tok'ra, and an enemy of the Goa'uld.

Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Dr. Jacobs is infected with an Ashrak, a Goa'uld super-assassin bent on killing Jolinar/Sam.

In the Line of Duty introduces the Tok'ra, another race that will play important roles during this season.

I understand why the writers wanted the viewer to think that Sam was infected with an evil Goa'uld in the early part of the episode. But in retrospect, Jolinar's behavior is too harsh at first. Also, letting Sam talk a bit more would have helped Jolinar convince the others that she wasn't evil, although that might have messed up the story line.

These are small complaints. The episode is a good one.

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 8, 2020.

Hadante

Releasing the Destroyer of Worlds

Prisoners

Season 2 Episode 3

Directed by David Warry-Smith. Written by Terry Curtis Fox.

Originally aired:
Sky One July 10, 1998
Showtime July 10, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Bonnie Bartlett as Linea, Mark Acheson as Vishnoor, David Bloom as Scavenger, and Kim Kondrashoff as Roshure.

While SG1 explores the rainforest on a new planet, a man in ragged clothing crawls up, begging for help. They're headed back for the gate anyway, and offer to help him. A light from above transports them to an empty room. Disembodied voices find them guilty of trespassing and helping a criminal, sentencing them all to life in prison.

They are sent through a Stargate to Hadante, an underground prison. The only escape is throught the Stargate. Without a DHD, that is impossible.

Life is pretty rough in Hadante. An elderly woman, Linea, rules the roost.

Prisoners is well done and moves along without a problem. However, like all prison stories, it is a bit dark and depressing at times. Since the series continues for several more years, the crew obviously escapes. But it doesn't end there.

Unleashing the Destroyer of Worlds on an unsuspecting universe sounds ominous. But that storyline is dropped, which is a bit unsatisfying. It would have been nice to encounter Lenea again. However, the first time viewer doesn't know that, making the ending feel almost like a cliffhanger.

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 10, 2020.

Jack in the machine

The Keeper

Daniel is pissed

The Gamekeeper

Season 2 Episode 4

Directed by Martin Wood. Story by Jonathan Glassner & Brad Wright. Teleplay by Jonathan Glassner

Originally aired
Sky One July 17, 1998
Showtime July 17, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Dwight Schultz as the Keeper, Jay Acovone as Captain Charles Kawalsky, Michael J Rogers as Colonel John Michaels, Lisa Bunting as Claire Jackson, and Robert Duncan as Melburn Jackson.

SG1 gates into a well-tended garden on P7J-989, but nobody is around. There is, however, a dome with unconscious people hooked up to machines. Before long, the devices capture all the members of SG1.

The devices transport Jack and Teal'c back in time into the middle of a raid in Germany, where one of Jack's friends gets killed. As soon as that happens, the scene resets, and they must do it again.

Daniel and Sam get transported back to a museum where Daniel's parents are killed. As soon as they die, the scene resets, and it happens again.

The Gamekeeper is a variation on time loop stories where only one or two characters know that time is repeating. Those can be fun stories, but this one isn't. The two scenarios that loop are tragedies causing Daniel and Jack emotional distress, while the residents of the planet watch for pleasure. To make things worse, the Keeper can't understand why Jack and Daniel refuse to keep repeating these events.

The scene with Daniel's parents just doesn't work. No museum, or equipment operator, would let anyone stand under a large, heavy object as it is moved about. Nor would anyone with half a brain be where his parents were.

Dwight Shultz (Reginald Barclay on Star Trek and Amis in the Babylon 5 episode The Long Dark) plays the Keeper to perfection.

Teal'c and Sam don't have adventures of their own because the machines cannot extract their memories. Teal'c because he is Jaffa, and Sam because she was Jolinar's host, which suggests that Jolinar may have left Sam with more than just memories.

Reviewed by Romama Drew September 14, 2020

Daniel and Jack

Shyla

Need

Season 2 Episode 5

Directed by David Warry-Smith. Story by Robert C. Cooper & Damian Kindler. Teleplay by Robert C. Cooper

Originally aired
Sky One July 24, 1998
Showtime July 24, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Heather Hanson as Shyla and George Touliatos as Pyrus.

While SG1 secretly watch villagers place a container of naquadah through the Stargate, a young woman stands at the edge of a precipice. Daniel pulls her back, just as she starts to fall into the abyss.

Since no good deed goes unpunished, they are all captured and forced to work in the naquadah mine. An attempted escape leaves Daniel critically injured. Shyla, the woman he saved, places him in a sarcophagus to heal. She wants him for a husband,. The rest struggle to stay alive in the mine.

And Daniel dies (almost) again.

Need explores the addictive effects of the sarcophagus and how it changes the personalities of those who use it. It does explain in part why the Goa'uld believe themselves to be gods, and why the Tok'ra don't use the sarcophagus.

We also learn that Sam can tell if someone is Goa'uld by just being near them.

This episode starts to showcase Michael Shank's acting skill as Daniel's personality changes, and he goes through withdrawal.

It was too easy to persuade Shyla to destroy the sarcophagus. How did she know that shooting it with a staff weapon would deactivate but not blow up the entire building? Why do the pretend Jaffa guards sound like Goa'uld? And, why didn't SG1 go through to the address they sent the naquadah, or at least send a probe?

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 16, 2020.

Thor

Heru'ur

Thor's Chariot

Season 2 Episode 6

Directed by William Gereghty. Written by Katharyn Powers

Originally aired
Sky One July 31, 1998
Showtime July 31, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Tamsin Kelsey as Gairwyn, Andrew Kavadas as Olaf, Douglas Arthurs as Heru'ur, and Mark Gibbon as Thor.

The Stargate activates. The iris closes. The gate deactivates, leaving a trace of Iridium. Sam thinks the Cimmerians sent the Sagan Institute Box through. So, they send a probe to Cimmeria.

The Goa'uld Heru'ur has devastated the village and built three landing platforms. Motherships are on the way. Out-numbered and out-gunned a thousand to one, SG1 searches for The Hall of Might, believing it to be a weapon to defeat the Goa'uld.

The Hall of Might is puzzle room full of impossible challenges. To the writer's credit, there are only two challenges. Both work well and move along just fine.

Instead of weapons, they discover Thor, the little gray guy, and our first view of the Asgard. We also meet Heru'ur, son of Ra and Hathor, and all-around bad guy.

This episode works quite well. It has excitement, intellectual challenges, and great views of the landing platforms.

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 21, 2020.

The Sphere

Jack and the glowing microorganisms

Message in a Bottle

Season 2 Episode 7

Directed by David Warry-Smith. Story by Michael Greenburg & Jarrad Paul. Teleplay by Brad Wright

Originally aired
Sky One August 7, 1998
Showtime August 7, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

Tobias Mehler as Lieutenant Graham Simmons and Dan Shea Sargent Siler.

On a trip to P5C-353, an airless world, SG1 collects a sphere that emits low levels of power and was obviously made by an advanced race. Back at Stargate Command, Sam and Daniel attempt to decipher the device.

It comes to life, skewers Jack, sends out streams of glowing microorganisms, takes over the computers, and activates the self-destruct.

The episode moves along pretty well. The microorganism is apparently intelligent. It can manipulate computers and communicate through Jack.

If I suspend my disbelief and accept that these microorganisms can manipulate materials, understand alien (to them) electronics, and commandeer the mind of a human, I still can't figure out why they need writing.

The sphere is covered with tiny writing. Daniel sees the writing through the spacesuit helmet, so it must be thousands of times larger than the microorganisms. Do they eventually coalesce into larger organisms, or do they just spread all over everything like a fungus? If so, what do they think about, and how did they make the sphere? Does the sphere contain a master brain controlling all the little minions?

We'll never know.

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 22, 2020.

Jack in Disguise

Apophis and Rya'c

Family

Season 2 Episode 8

Directed by William Gereghty. Written by Katharyn Powers

Originally aired
Sky One August 14, 1998
Showtime August 14, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

Peter Williams as Apophis, Tony Amendola as Master Bra'tac, Brook Susan Parker as Drey'auc, Peter Bryant as Fro'tak, and Neil Denis as Rya'c. as

Bra'tac gates to Earth with news - Apophis and Klorel are alive and harassing Chulak. And Apophis has kidnapped Rya'c. Hammond orders a rescue mission to bring both Rya'c and Drey'auc to Earth.

But Drey'auc is remarried, and Rya'c is brainwashed, believing Apophis a loving God.

Brook Susan Parker plays Drey'auc in this episode, Salli Richardson played Dreyauc in Bloodlines during the first season.

The first half of this episode runs along just fine, but it gets a little tedious once Rya'c is captured. I can't fault Neil Denis's acting. He does a fine job of being both cloyingly cooperative and out of control angry. But the script is rather predictable.

It is a little hard to believe that anyone could be brainwashed to the extent that Rya'c is; or recover without any memory of the experience. Also, Rya'c tries to bite down and break two teeth implanted by Apophis. Why couldn't he feel that the teeth were now missing?

I wonder just how happy Drey'auc and Rya'c will be in the Land of Light. They eventually return to the show in future episodes.

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 26, 2020.

Kasuf and Sha're

Jacob Carter

Secrets

Season 2 Episode 9

Directed by Duane Clark. Written by Terry Curtis Fox

Originally aired
Sky One August 21, 1998
Showtime August 21, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

Vaitiare Hirshon as Sha're / Amaunet, Peter Williams as Apophis, Carmen Argenziano as General Jacob Carter, Douglas Arthurs as Heru'ur, and Erick Avari as Kasuf.

It has been one year since Daniel left Abydos and the gate was buried. It is onc again operational. He and Teal'c travel to Abydos to tell Kasuf, his daughter, Sha're, has been taken by a Goa'uld. At the same time, Jack and Sam travel to DC to receive an award from the president.

Sha're is on Abydos about to give birth to Apophis' child - his future host - which is a bit weird. While she is pregnant, Amaunet 'sleeps', letting Sha're do as she wishes. Once the baby is born, Amaunet takes over, Heru'ur and Apophis show up, and the excitement begins.

In Washington, Sam learns that her father is dying of cancer. Jack discovers a reporter who knows way too much about the Stargate program.

This is an important episode for two different story arcs. Both Jacob and Sha're's baby play significant roles in future stories.

Parts of this episode hark back to the original movie. Jack tells the reporter. "O'Neill', with two Ls. There's another Colonel O'Neil with only one L, and he has no sense of humor at all." Which sounds a lot like Kurt Russell's O'Neil.

Although Michael Shanks has added depth and complexity to Daniel Jackson, while on Abydos, he is back to copying James Spader.

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 27, 2020.

Teal'c and Bug

Ally

Bane

Season 2 Episode 10

Directed by David Warry-Smith. Written by Robert C. Cooper.

Originally aired
Sky One September 25, 1998
Showtime August 21, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Tom McBeath as Colonel Harry Maybourne, Scott Hylands as Dr. Timothy Harlow, and Colleen Rennison as Ally.

SG1 gates to Svoriin, a technologically advanced planet with no people. It isn't long before a giant bug lands on Teal'c's back. Before Jack can shoot, it stings Teal'c, and a swarm swoops down out of the sky. They hightail it for the gate.

Teal'c's DNA changes. Even his symbiote can't stop it. Maybourne shackles Teal'c for a trip to the netherworld of NID. Teal'c breaks Maybourne's arm and escapes, leaving his larval Goa'uld to die. The chase is on.

The team must find Teal'c before he turns into a swarm of bugs, his primta dies, or Maybourne finds him.

The only thing wrong with this episode is that it comes between Secrets and Tok'ra: Part 1, interrupting that storyline.

Christopher Judge does a great job of being sick, and Colleen Rennison is wonderful as his savior. We even get to spend time with despicable Maybourne.

SG1 takes a video of bugs hatching from a dead person. That implies that they arrived on Svoriin just after the bugs killed everyone. It's a bit too coincidental, but the episode is fun to watch. Although, Bug Wars might have been a better title.

Reviewed by Romana Drew October 3, 2020.

Yosuuf/Garshaw of Belote, Cordesh and Martouf/Lantash

Martouf and Sam

The Tok'ra: Part 1

Season 2 Episode 11

Directed by Brad Turner. Written by Jonathan Glassner

Originally aired
Sky One October 2, 1998
Showtime October 2, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Carmen Argenziano as General Jacob Carter, Sarah Douglas as Yosuuf / Garshaw of Belote, JR Bourne as Martouf / Lantash, Winston Rekert as Cordesh, Joy Coghill as Saroosh / Selmak, and Steve Makaj as Colonel Makepeace.

In a dream, Sam remembers Jolinar dialing a gate address as the Tok'ra fled an attack. Hammond orders a mission to that world. While SG1 is off-world, Sam's father is hospitalized in critical condition.

The Tok'ra are not impressed with the Tau'ri, especially since none will become a host to Selmak. His host, Saroosh, is dying of old age. When SG3 shows up to take Sam home, things go further south.

Part 1 ends with a cliff hanger, as expected. Even though I have seen these episodes before, I can't wait to view part 2.

Amada Tapping does a sensitive job of portraying Jolinar's feelings and her attraction to Martouf.

Although the Tok'ra's crystal built tunnels are a clever idea, interesting sets, and good special effects, they're just a little hard to believe. An enormous amount of energy is required to convert tons of dirt into crystals and it would probably produce, or require, an equally enormous amount of heat.

The special effects of the rings on the sand were great. The sand bounced and really looked as if the rings popped up and down through it.

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 28, 2020.

Jack, Yosuuf/Garshaw of Belote, Daniel, and Jacob.

Saroosh/Selmak

The Tok'ra: Part 2

Season 2 Episode 12

Directed by Brad Turner. Written by Jonathan Glassner

Originally aired
Sky One October 9, 1998
Showtime October 9, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Carmen Argenziano as General Jacob Carter/Selmak, Sarah Douglas as Yosuuf/Garshaw of Belote, JR Bourne as Martouf/Lantash, Winston Rekert as Cordesh, Joy Coghill as Saroosh/Selmak, and Steve Makaj as Colonel Makepeace.

The Tok'ra refuse to let SG's 1 and 3 return to Earth, and Sam's father is dying of cancer. Selmak's host Saroosh is also dying. Sam suggest her father as a possible host for Selmak. Sam and Jack return to Earth to visit Jacob Carter, and the Goa'uld attack the Tok'ra settlement.

This episode has plenty of action and excitement, as well as several absolutely charming scenes between Jacob Carter and Saroosh/Selmak. Carmen Argenziano does a sensitive portrayal of Jacob's doubts and eventual determination to become a host. But Joy Coghill steals the scenes. An amazing performance especially considering that all we can see is her head, and she lays still on a slab.

Although the Tok'ra claim not to be Goa'uld, they are just as arrogant.

I do have one question. Cordesh, the spy, says he isn't who they think he is just before the tunnel devours him. I took that to mean that he didn't have his usual symbiont but had been taken over by a Goa'uld. Later, a woman is found carrying the communications device and is found to be carrying a Goa'uld. Is it the same Goa'uld, or a different one? If it is the same one, how did it survive being entombed? If it transferred hosts before Cordesh died, why didn't he run from the tunnel? If it is a different one, the Tok'ra had two spies.

Reviewed by Romana Drew September 29, 2020.

Tonane

T'akaya and Xe'ls

Spirits

Season 2 Episode 13

Directed by Martin Wood. Written by Tor Alexander Valenza.

Originally aired
Sky One October 23, 1998
Showtime October 23, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Rodney A. Grant as Tonane, Alex Zahara as Xe'ls, Christina Cox as T'akaya, Kevin McNulty as Dr. Warner.

PXY-887 is rich in Trinium, a useful mineral, so SG11 goes there to mine the stuff. Then they go missing. The gate opens with their code, but instead of SG11, an arrow flies through, winging Jack.

Sam leads Daniel and Teal'c to PXY-887 to find SG11 and make a deal for Trinium. They get captured by the locals, descendants of the Salish.

Tonane's tribe has access to technology that appears magical, far beyond their technological development. Why that is unfolds during the episode. The plot has lots of twists, turns, and misunderstandings, which keep it interesting and moving along at a good clip.

Rodney A. Grant's Tonane is loveable and unique. He takes everything in stride. He never makes demands, but also can't be swayed from his convictions. Unimpressed by all the modern technology, he only wants to go home.

Reviewed by Romana Drew October 7, 2020.

LaMoor with the Touchstone

Escaping Through the Second Gate

Touchstone

Season 2 Episode 14

Directed by Brad Turner. Written by Sam Egan.

Originally aired
Sky One October 30, 1998
Showtime October 30, 1998

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Tom McBeath as Colonel Harry Maybourne, Matthew Walker as Roham, Jerry Wasserman as Whitlow, Tiffany Lyndall-Knight as La Moor.

SG1 gates to Madrona to study the Touchstone, a device that controls the planetary weather. A wild electrical storm is brewing, the Touchstone is missing, and the locals accuse SG1 of stealing the device.

Back on Earth, the weather is bonkers. They surmise that the second gate was used to steal the Touchstone. It is now on Earth, and someone is experimenting with it.

Maybourne and the NID are at it again, or are they? There is some question as to how much Maybourne actually knows. He doesn't seem to be the one pulling the strings.

Touchstone establishes adversarial forces at work within the US government. This opens up many opportunities for stories about those forces and about the second Stargate, which probably isn't as secure as it appears to be.

I wonder why Jack and Daniel returned to Madrona to tweak the gate so they could send a MALP to the second gate. Couldn't they have gone to any other planet, one without a blizzard? Of course, going to Madrona showed how critical it was to find and return the Touchstone.

I also wonder how something so small can alter weather on any level.

If memory serves, the show never returns to Madrona, and Earth never benefits from any form of weather control.

The picture of the gate on its side brings one more question to mind. What happens if you travel to a gate that is on its side? Do you pop through and then fall back onto the event horizon? Do you sit there waiting for the thing to shut off, or do you die? The gate is one way, so you can't end up where you started.

I think Teal'c does this in a future episode.

Reviewed by Romana Drew October 9, 2020

Watch Out Jack

The Asgard

The Fifth Race

Season 2 Episode 15

Directed by David Warry-Smith. Written by Robert C. Cooper.

Originally aired
Sky One December 16, 1998
Showtime January 22, 1999

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

While exploring new gate addresses, the MALP sends back pictures of symbols, just like those found in the repository where Ernest Littlefield was trapped. The crew gates into an empty room with no visible means of escape. Jack steps into a circle, and a device pops out of the wall. It grabs Jack by the head, shines lights into his eyes, and then lets him go.

When he regains consciousness, back at the SGC, Jack reprograms the dialing computer, talks in a strange language, and builds weird devices.

This episode takes us to the Asgard homeworld in another galaxy. It also gives a little more information on the gate builders. They are called the Ancients, one of an alliance of four powerful races, including the Asgard, Nox, and the Furlings, who we never meet.

The Asgard tell Jack that humans may become the fifth race. They never they mention the Goa'uld.

Jack undergoes significant changes in The Fifth Race, but never seems disturbed by the changes. With Daniel advocating for him, saying he has the knowledge of the ancients in his mind, Jack is permitted to do the things he needs to get back to normal.

Also, this episode doesn't have any real guest stars. There are, of course, the Asgard, but they are either computer generated or animatronic, and therefore, never get credited.

Reviewed by Romana Drew October 12, 2020.

Cromwell on P3W-451

Jack on a Rope

A Matter of Time

Season 2 Episode 16

Directed by Martin Wood. Story by Misha Rashovich. Teleplay by Brad Wright.

Originally aired
Sky One December 9, 1998
Showtime January 29, 1999

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

Dan Shea as Sgt. Siler, Marshall R. Teague as AF Colonel Frank Cromwell, Tobias Mehler as Lieutenant Graham Simmons.

SG10 attempts to gate home before a black hole engulfs them. They never make it through the Stargate, so a probe is sent to P3W-451. Time has slowed, and SG11 looks as if they are frozen mid-stride.

The black hole's gravitational pull slows time inside the SGC and stops the Stargate from shutting down. The longer the gate stays open, the greater the effects. Time slows, and gravity increases. If the Stargate isn't shut down, the entire planet may be pulled through the Stargate into the black hole!

This is one of those, you've got twenty minutes to save the world stories. If you lean back and watch without thinking too much, it's quite enjoyable, with lots of excitement, questions to answer, problems to solve, good characters. Great show.

However, there are a few things that don't make sense. How can the gate get power from a black hole? Lots of energy surrounds black holes, radiation from compressed matter, dust and rocks whirling around the gravity well and getting launched back into space. I have a hard time believing this unstable and unpredictable energy can power the Stargate.

The ropes that Jack and Frank Cromwell climb down have several problems. Siler stands at the edge of the observation room and feeds the ropes out horizontally. Why doesn't the gate exert the same gravitational force on him? Yes, the gravity gets stronger as objects approach the Stargate, but that should be gradual, not have a cut-off point. Especially since it is affecting time throughout the SGC. The people in the control room should be fighting against the pull from the gate and leaning away from it as the center of gravity is no longer the center of the Earth.

There are several other technical problems with that scene, but let's move on.

Why did two people have to follow the bomb to the gate? Couldn't they have triggered the bomb via a wire run back to the control room? Of course, that wouldn't be nearly as exciting.

A white dwarf star engulfs a larger star. When it reaches critical mass, a black hole forms. That should have caused a supernova, which may then form a black hole, but not before it obliterates all of nearby space in a matter of seconds or less.

I may be wrong. Stellar physics isn't my field of expertise.

Reviewed by Romana Drew October 15, 2020

Ma'chello

Ma'chello and Fred

Holiday.

Season 2 Episode 17

Directed by David Warry-Smith, Written by Tor Alexander Valenza.

Originally aired
Sky One January 13, 1999
Showtime February 5, 1999

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, and Don S. Davis.

With Alvin Sanders as Fred, Melanie Skehar as Waitress, Darryl Scheelar as Cop, and Michael Shanks as Ma'chello.

SG1 finds an abandoned lab with odd equipment and notes in an unknown language. After a few minutes, an old man named Ma'chello appears. He asks Daniel to take hold of two handles while he grabs the other two. Ma'chello collapses and is brought back to Earth.

The old man wakes, claiming to be Daniel. Ma'chello, now in Daniel's body, wonders around the town, eating food and wondering how to find a wife. While Daniel, trapped inside Ma'chello's body, lies in sickbay near death.

In the meantime, Jack and Teal'c inadvertently switch bodies.

Holiday is an opportunity for Richard Dean Anderson and Christopher Judge to stretch their acting wings playing each other's characters. It also showcases Michael Shanks' versatility. He plays himself, Ma'cello as an old man, and Ma'chello in Daniel's body.

Except for a philosophical discussion between Daniel as Ma'chello and Daniel as a dying old man that goes on a bit too long, this is a fine episode. Sam saves the day by orchestrating a session of musical bodies.

Reviewed by Romana Drew October 20, 2020.