Deadman Switch

Stargate SG-1 Season 3 Episode 7 - Plot: SG-1 are taken captive by a Bounty Hunter. They are offered their freedom in exchange for their assistance in capturing a Goa'uld.

Aris Boch

The Bounty Hunter is a man named Aris Boch (Sam J. Jones). He claims he is from a race that was immune to being taken as a host by the Goa'uld. Sam is excited by the possibilities of such an immunity, but Aris tells them that the Goa'uld simply wiped out his race instead. We find out later that the Goa'uld enslaved Aris' people by lacing their water supply with an addictive substance.

A Goa'uld?

While Aris keeps Sam hostage, Jack, Teal'c and Daniel go to attempt to capture the Goa'uld. Problem is, he turns out to be a Tok'ra, that has recently gone on the run having been found as a spy by Sokar. The Tok'ra is Korra and he, along with SG-1 are unwilling to let him fall in to the hands of a System Lord, who may compel him to reveal sensitive information. Aris cannot return to Sokar empty-handed, so Teal'c offers to take Korra's place.

A Change of Heart

As Aris takes Teal'c away, he asks more questions about the Tok'ra and Earth's fight against the System Lord. He has a change of heart and makes his ship self destruct as he and Teal'c escape away in escape pods. Clearly, news of the Tok'ra and their fight with StarGate Command against the System Lords has given him hope of a future without them.

SG-1's Value

During their capture, Aris explains SG-1's value to a System Lord. Teal'c is obviously the most value, as they'd like to make an example of him to other would-be traitors. Sam is next as she contains the memories of Jolinar. After that is Jack for being a pain in the 'nikta' (which doesn't stand for neck). Finally, Aris says that Daniel is probably worth about a day's rations. Daniel is understandably perturbed by this.

However, Aris later reveals that Daniel is actually worth a lot more because he's the one that figured out how to use the StarGate in the first place. That news doesn't make him feel much better.

The Review

Well this was very enjoyable. Sam J. Jones was excellent as Aris, a funny, larger than life character. Probably the best thing is that he is, of course, Flash Gordon from the 1980 film. It took me ages to place him, he's certainly pretty well built now. They could've cast him as Marv in Sin City, they probably wouldn't have needed all the make-up they needed for Mickey Rourke to fulfill the role!

I thought the episode was being set up for a two-parter, with Aris taking Teal'c away to Sokar at the end of this episode, SG-1 would find a way to free him in the next. Still, it was quite a satisfying end, thanks mostly to a really classy shot where we see Aris ship flying off in to the distance behind Sam and Jack (see above). It then explodes and we see the two escape pods flying back down to the ground. Great effect and well produced.

So yeah, good fun!

8 out of 10

The Tok'ra, Part 1

Plot: Sam has a vision of Jolinar, which leads SG-1 to the Tok'ra in the hope that they might wish to form an alliance against the Goa'uld.


I think the real problem with this is that all of the action of the story is pushed to the 2nd episode. This results in this first part becoming a rather dry introduction to the Tok'ra. Indeed, it seems the writers really feel that it's important to give the audience plenty of time to get their head around the ways in which the Tok'ra are different from the Goa'uld.

Those differences are pretty clear. Where the Goa'uld take hosts by force, the Tok'ra only take willing hosts. On top of this, they form a symbiotic relationship with the host, in which both entities exist within the body. While this is certainly a better way for the symbiotes to exist, it does cause problems for the Tok'ra, as they are often unable to find a new host when an old host dies, meaning that the symbiote dies along with it.

One such symbiote has this problem at the moment, Selmak's host is very close to death and the Tok'ra offer SG-1 the chance to become Selmak's new host. As expected, they all refuse. Sam is particularly upset as she is still struggling with the after effects of her last blending, including strong feelings towards one of the Tok'ra, Martouf. It transpires that Martouf and Jolinar were mates for over 100 years and Sam feels the love for Martouf that Jolinar did. It's not especially exciting, but it is interesting, even if the scene revolving around this was rather drawn out, even to the point where Martouf asks Sam the exact same question three times.

Finally, this episode revives the plot surrounding Sam's father, Jacob, who is now very seriously ill with cancer. SG-3 are sent to extract Sam so she can be with her father, but the Tok'ra are unwilling to let her go. It seems that SG-1 and their knowledge of the Tok'ra's location presents a security risk and they take SG teams 1 and 3 in to custody until such time as they find another world.

We'll see how this is all concluded in the next episode, which, thankfully, is a bit more exciting. :)

6 out of 10

Thor's Chariot

Plot: SG-1 return to Cimmeria to help the people defend a Goa'uld invasion. While Jack and Teal'c are engaged in protecting the Cimmerians, Jack and Sam journey to Thor's Hall, where they hope the Asgard have left means for the Cimmerians to defend themselves.


We'll start with a great Teal'c quote:

DANIEL - Well I guess we’ll just have to hold up in here a while until things calm down.
TEAL’C - Things will not calm down, Daniel Jackson. They will, in fact, calm up.
O’NEILL - He means things will escalate, of course.

This episode's importance lies in the fact that it is the first appearance of an Asgard in their true form. We're introduced to Thor properly for the first time and will come to know him quite well through the next 8 and a 3/4 seasons. Thor only revealed himself after Daniel and Sam proved their worthiness. In truth, this was a method for allowing the Asgard to ensure that the Cimmerian's had reached a high enough level of sophistication for the Asgard to reveal their true selves to them. The process involved two trials, in which their bravery, selflessness and wisdom were tested. It was a fun watch and it won't be the last time that SG-1 have to go through similar trials to prove their worth to older civilisations.

Thor's Chariot is something of a sequel to Thor's Hammer and we see the consequences of the actions that were taken in that episode of season one. Specifically, the destruction of Thor's Hammer to free Teal'c from the labyrinth. Understandably, Thor is a little unhappy that the Cimmerians were put in danger in this way. Still, he rides in at the last moment in a spectacular ship to save the day from the invading Goa'uld.

That Goa'uld is Heru'ur, who has the rather dubious honour of being the son of both Ra and Hathor. Interestingly, SG-1 first suspected that the invading Goa'uld was Apophis. As I recall though, they should have been under the assumption that Apophis had been killed after they repelled the invasion of Earth at the beginning of the season. No matter though, as the audience at least knew that he'd escaped. I'm interested to see how that plays out when Apophis next returns in the show.

We also find out in this episode a little more about the after effects of Sam's blending with the Tok'ra Jolinar. It turns out that she can control Goa'uld technology, such as a hand device. It's interesting to see this develop as if it's a super power, though I think the writers lose interest with the idea after a while, because I don't remember it playing much of a part in the later seasons. It's akin to the ancient gene that is such a big part of Stargate Atlantis.

This doesn't quite reach the heights of Thor's Hammer, but it's fun and exciting and a fine conclusion to the plot that was started in season 1. SG-1 have now made a powerful ally in the Asgard, even if they still consider the Tau'ri a little too young to be allowed the keys to kingdom just yet.

8 out of 10

Need

Plot: A princess falls in love with Daniel and uses the narcotic power of the Goa'uld Sarcophagus to keep him at his side.


The episode kicks off with SG-1 scouting out a planet seamingly rich with Naqahdah. The ruler of the planet had long ago overthrown the Goa'uld that resided there, but continued providing shipments of Naqhadah so as not to arouse suspicion that the Goa'uld was no longer in charge. This was all 700 years ago, as the King had been using the Sarcophagus to extend his life. Daniel discovers that using the Sarcophagus when healthy has a narcotic effect, focusing the mind and stimulating the senses.

This stimulation is at a cost though. Firstly, Daniel falls through on his promise to get close to the King's daughter, the princess that has fallen in love with him, in order to free the rest of his captured team mates. SG-1 had been sentenced to work to death in order to prevent them leaving and spreading word that the former Goa'uld ruler has been overthrown. Secondly, Sam has a Tok'ra inspired vision that tells her that the Sarcophagus, when overused, will destroy a person's soul. This is interesting as it's used to explain why the Goa'uld are so evil, when the Tok'ra (who do not use the Sarcophagus) are not.

All in all, it's not a bad episode, though it doesn't seem to quite fit together. The bulk of the story takes place on the planet, while the climax takes place at the SGC, away from the established guest characters. It makes sense plot wise, but it still seemed to make the building of a relationship between Daniel and the princess rather redundant. The fact that SG-1 seemed to shrug off several days hard labour without much effort was also rather curious.

Still, this episode does well to develop mythology in regards to the Goa'uld and the Sarcophagus.

6 out of 10

In the Line of Duty

Plot: A Goa'uld escapes a dieing man by infesting Sam Carter. This Goa'uld is not what everyone assumes it be, however.


I'd say that this episode is most notable for really putting a new spin on the idea of the Goa'uld. So far, we've only been introduced to bad ones, but it transpires that there really are two sides to every tale. Sam is infested by Jolinar of Malkshur, who is a member of the Tok'ra. Daniel translates the worse as 'resistance', which helps to give some idea of what they're about. We learn a great deal about them in quite a short period of time, particularly how they live in harmony with their host, even building rewarding relationships. Most importantly, they oppose the idea of posing as Gods to enforce slavery upon people.

We'll see a lot more of that later in this series, as the Tok'ra play a fairly major part in it. They'll be an ally of Earth for years to come.

On top of that, we find that the Goa'uld can choose to leave the host if it wishes. Indeed, Jolinar gave his life to ensure that Sam lived. His life was lost after being found by a Goa'uld hunter. These hunters are the assassins of the Goa'uld world and are called The Ashrak. I'm not convinced that we ever see them again, but it's certainly an interesting concept. I think it ties quite nicely in with the idea of a Wraith Runner. The hunter and the hunted.

We also get the chance to catch up with Cassandra in this episode. She's played by Katie Stuart for the final time. We'll see her later played by different actresses, but she seems to be doing fine living with Janet Frasier, which is awesome.

This episode runs a funny parallel with the first episode of the last season, where Kawalsky was infested with a Goa'uld. This is a vast improvement on that episode for sure and helps to set up the major plot arc for the second season, the Tok'ra.

7 out of 10