Family

Plot: Teal'c returns with SG-1 to Chulak in order to rescue his son, Rya'c, who has been taken prisoner and brainwashed by Apophis.


I mentioned a couple of episodes ago the curious fact that SG-1 assumed that Apophis was attempting to invade Cimmeria. This episode makes their assumption all the more curious as they seem quite shocked after being told by Bra'tac that Apophis has returned to Chulak alive and well. I hate to pick bones, but it seems there was a little miscommunication in the writing there, as no way should SG-1 have even entertained the possibility that Apophis was alive, let alone able to invade a planet.

Anyway. The first twenty minutes of this episode are rather tragic for Teal'c. First of all, he finds that his wife, Drey'auc, has had their marriage cancelled and is now wed to another man, Fro'tak. He's understandably a little upset at this, though is brought round to the idea that Drey'auc should be allowed to move on in order to ensure a better life for Rya'c. Conveniently, Fro'tak betrays Teal'c and SG-1 and is killed by Jack.

More tragic is that fact that Rya'c has been brainwashed by Apophis and wants nothing to do with Teal'c, even so far as alerting the palace guards to SG-1's presence while they attempt a rescue. SG-1 eventually sneak Rya'c back to Earth, only to find that he's been implanted with a deadly virus within two false teeth. If Rya'c bites down hard enough then he'll release the virus, which Sam expects would wipe out all life on Earth within a week. Maybe Apophis should make use of that a bit more often, though I don't know where he'd get any slaves from if he made that his policy.

As you'd imagine, everything works out nicely in the end. Jack suggests electro-shocking the brainwashing out of Rya'c, but Teal'c thinks a Zat gun would be safer. Turns out he's right and Rya'c returns to normal. Rya'c and Drey'auc then go off to live in the Land of Light. It's good to see that the people of that planet are still willing to help Earth out, even if we rarely see them.

Not the most amazing of episodes and it certainly drags at the beginning, but who doesn't love a happy ending? :)

7 out of 10