Into The Fire

Stargate SG-1 Season 3 Episode 1 - Plot: The SG-C receives intel from the Tok'ra that helps them locate Sg-1 and launch a mission to rescue them from Hathor.


SG-1 rescued, Hathor defeated

With the help of the Tok'ra, General Hammond successfully returned his flagship team home to Earth after they had spent three weeks missing in action. SG teams 3, 5, 6 and 11 had initially been committed to the rescue, but failed to report back on schedule. A presidential request for further troops was denied, leading the Texan to turn to Teal'c and Master Bra'tac for help.

A co-ordinated effort saw the SG teams off world destroying Hathor's base. Meanwhile, Teal'c and Hammond flew a Death Glider through the StarGate to defeat defences on the ground.

Colonel O'Neill reports back safe and sound, despite Hathor's attempt to turn him in to a host. Of the Goa'uld, he said, 'she's dead'.

Teal'c fails to rally Chulak resistance

Having returned to Chulak, Teal'c appeared dejected at his people's lack of desire to fight the false Gods in the wake of the death of Apophis. The people of Chulak now fear the wrath of Apophis' son, Klorel. Despite an impassioned speech given by Teal'c, few were willing to stand by his side.

Episode review

So I'm trying a new style for the start of the third season. I've been getting a bit caught up in just relaying the story and not really analysing the episode in most of my reviews. So, I thought I'd try and separate the two, with a news report style to discuss the plot, and then a review to follow.

So I've got to be honest, this episode was as much of a mess as the clip show the preceded it. Little that any of the characters did made sense and a lot of things happened that had little point. Taking Jack being taken as a host, only for him to be put in to cryogenic stasis five seconds later. Sure it served a point to allow him to walk up to another of the Goa'uld pretending to be a Goa'uld himself. Problem is, he only kept that up for about two seconds and I can't really understand why the Goa'uld didn't just shoot him on the spot.

Furthermore, Teal'c's return to Chulak could really have been given an episode of its own. I felt that there was a lot to explore there. Instead all that happens is Teal'c finds Bra'tac hurt for some reason and then gives a speech that no one listens to. The people that are willing to stand by his side aren't even seen again, except in a long shot coming through the Gate. By that time, all of the threat has been neutralised!

Anyway, I guess Teal'c is going to return to the SG-C and he, along with the rest of SG-1 can put the incident behind them. I know I will be.

5 out of 10

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - Gnothi Seauton

Plot: Sarah enlists the help of an old friend to secure new identities for herself, John and Cameron.


While this second episode of the series isn't quite as thrilling as the first, I still found it to be a thoroughly engrossing hour of television. The plot has quickly become engaging and in that sense, this is probably a better episode than the premiere.

The old friend that Sarah tracks down is Enrique Salceda, the man who taught John how to shoot and gave Sarah some special forces training. He was played by Castulo Guerra in T2 and has done some TV in recent years, including playing Jean Briault in Alias and General Zavala in this season of Prison Break. Taking that in to account, it seems surprising that he couldn't be tempted to reprise the role in The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Still, we can probably forgive them that as Tony Amendola, friend of The SG-B, played the role in his stead. That's right, old master Bra'tac was there representing and doing a fine job of it. It was all happy families for a while to, until Sarah found out that Enrique was considered to be a snitch and may have sold them out. Cameron was unwilling to risk him doing that and promptly executed him. She's ruthless when she needs to be, it seems.

We learn quite a lot more about Cameron in this episode. Specifically the fact that she's under the orders of John from the future and won't necessarily do what present day John tells her. John himself has an idiotic five minutes as he leaves the house to go scouring the internet in public, as well as paying a visit to Sarah's former fiancee, Charlie. It's the kind of behaviour that'll lead to him being found. Charlie has gotten married since the trio disappeared from 1999 and I'm delighted by the fact that his wife is played by Sonya Walger, the same actress as plays Desmond's Penny in Lost, which is pretty awesome.

We see some more standard Terminator behaviour from Cameron in this episode. The awkwardness around other people, the mimicking of their actions to try and fit in, it all worked well. One thing that Summer Glau can do well is awkward and distant and I really think she's perfect for this role.

We didn't see much of FBI Agent James Ellison in this episode, except in investigating Enrique's death. I'm sure he'll have his chance to be properly introduced soon. For now, though, there's plenty of things for John, Sarah and Cameron to get straight as they bid to start a new life.

I'm quickly beginning to love this show. This was a very, very strong 2nd episode and next Monday can't come soon enough.

9 out of 10

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

The Serpent's Lair

Plot: SG-1 enlists the help of Master Bra'tac to save Earth from the Goa'uld invasion.


Season two really kicks off with a bang with this fine, fine episode. SG-1 are captured at the start of the episode, but are set free by Bra'tac, who helps them move to the other ship and to a pair of Death Gliders to escape the blast from the multitude of C4 they laid around the ship.

Bra'tac is in fine form again and we really start to see the makings of a strong alliance. He makes his first trip to the SG-C in this episode, it'll be the first of many. On the other hand, it wasn't quite the send of for Skaara that we might have expected. Klorel has control of the body for the most part and it's all a bit anti-climactic. We'll see him again, but not for a couple of years.

What's really awesome about this episode though, is that SG-1 genuinely saved the world. There was an invasion pending and they kicked some ass and took some names and returned home to a hero's welcome. There was a great moment as Sam, Jack and Teal'c were re-united with Daniel. They thought he was dead and he thought they were dead. Funny how they all make it through in the end though.

So I guess this means the Stargate program is saved. There are more adventures to come, but few will top this.

9 out of 10

Bloodlines

Plot: Teal'c reveals that he has a wife and son back on his home planet of Chulak. He is desperate to return in order to prevent his son from being implanted with a Goa'uld. Teal'c leads the mission to Chulak, enlisting the help of a former master, Bra'tac.


Teal'c had been something of a mysterious figure up to this point. Bloodlines is a welcome review of his backstory, helping to flesh out the oft-quiet characer. The key point is the revelation of the massive sacrifice that Teal'c made in defying Apophis and helping SG-1. His wife, Drey'auc and son, Rya'c have been forced to live in squalor, shunned even by the families of other traitors.

Teal'c's mission to prove the Gods as false is his driving force, but this is the first time we see how that has had consequences back home. We hear the term 'shol'va' for the first time. It translates as traitor and will eventually become synonymous with Teal'c. It is currently used in a negative way, but soon becomes a source of strength, as people across the galaxy take power from tales of his bravery. This episode highlights that bravery and adds a sense of realism to the work that SG-1 is doing. It's important and could help to alter the future for the entire galaxy. These are early days, certainly, but much has already been set in to motion.

This episode marks the first appearance of three characters that will feature on a reasonably regular basis from now on. Drey'auc and Rya'c, as Teal'c's family provide an important grounding for Teal'c's battle. Bra'tac, as played by Tony Amendola, will become one of Earth's greatest allies and will prove pinnacle in the battle against the Goa'uld. His chiselled looks, defiant attitude and bad ass moves help to make him a great character and one that fans look forward to seeing in action.

The past three episode have marked a real change of pace in the series. SG-1 has laid its foundations, now it's time to really take the galaxy by storm.

8 out of 10