One False Step

Plot: A UAV crashes on an alien planet, leading to SG-1 discovering a mysterious, docile and mute species. The team become concerned when members of the species begin falling ill whilst in SG-1's presence.


Well this was great, really fascinating science fiction. The race that SG-1 encounter are very interesting to watch. They're primitive, appearing to be communal but lacking any form of social interaction. Daniel's attempts at rudimentary communication offer little in the way of results. Things worsen when members of the population collapse with a mysterious illness. Frasier takes one of them back to the SG-C and is unable even then to diagnose, let alone cure the problem. It becomes more serious when members of SG-1 begin suffering symptoms, though they mysteriously disappear upon return to Earth.

It all transpires that the aliens have a symbiotic relationship with a plant organism on the planet. It emits a very low frequency tone that stimulates an organ within their bodies. In return, the aliens sing, causing the plant to grow and bloom. The crashed UAV damaged the planet, causing the tone to change, making the aliens ill. This is why the alien that returned to the SG-C did not get better, and why SG-1 did.

The mission puts a little bit of a strain and Daniel and Jack's relationship. One of the symptoms that they experience is agitation, causing them to get involved in a couple of arguments. It goes to show that not everything is as fun and friendly as we might expect. Indeed, imagining the team working and travelling together day in, day out makes me think that there might be the occasional clash of personalities.

This episode also raises a point about the damage that SG-1 could do, simply by visiting an alien world. Any alien species that they come in to contact with could possibly lack the antibodies required to deal with contagions carried by people from Earth. It's not usually a problem, as the populations that they encounter are transplanted Earth-based civilisations. With this species being so different - actual aliens - they may not have been able to cope with contact with other races. It's all very War of the Worlds.

This was a really fascinating watch. The aliens were intriguing and interesting and the whole story was very well written. It was a mystery that didn't fully unfold until the very last frame.

8 out of 10