Spirits

Plot: SG-1 travel to a planet in search of the missing SG-11. There they find a population of Native American descent, who are protected by a group of mysterious spirits.


For a while, this episode is quite good fun. SG-1 are being briefed on SG-11 and their mission to mine a mineral called Trinium from PXY-887. The briefing is interrupted as the Stargate activates and SG-11's IDC is confirmed. Instead of SG-11 though, a Trinium tipped arrow is fired through the gate, the bullet proof glass of the briefing room and in to Jack's arm. This puts him out of commission for the mission, meaning that Sam gets her first shot at commanding a team. 'Cool', as Jack puts it.

There's no sign of SG-11 on the planet, but there is Tonane, who is a great character. He's fun and friendly and just all round pleasant to watch. He teaches SG-1 of the planet, the Trinium, which they call 'the key' and of the spirits. SG-1 manage to convince two of the spirits, one in the form of a crow, Xe'ls and one as a wolf, T'akaya, to free SG-11. SG-1 then try to negotiate for mining rights, eventually agreeing to let Tonane return to Earth with them in order to view Earth's mining methods.

This is where it all starts to unravel. Turns out SG-11 aren't SG-11, but instead the same spirits that took the form of Xe'ls and T'akaya. After Hammond gives an order to mine the Trinium without Tonane's people's permission, they begin trying to take over the base, by making the personnel disappear. this leads to SG-1 running around trying to find them and stop it. This goes on for about twenty minutes and it's all a little tedious. Eventually SG-1 convince the spirits to leave and return their people.

A point of interest is that the leader of SG-11 is Captain Conner, who we first saw in season one in 'The First Commandment'. He's again played by Roger Cross.

So not the best episode, though it is memorable for one great guest character and for Sam Carter's first command. Cool.

6 out of 10

The First Commandment

Plot: A member of SG-9 goes rogue, posing as a God for a primitive people. He works them towards death under the planet's dangerously high levels of UV radiation in order to develop a new society in his own image. It's up to SG-1 to stop him, with the aid of a member of SG-9 and a native of the planet.


Firstly, I'll mention a couple of cool guest stars in this episode. Roger Cross, who we all know and love as 24's very own Curtis, as well as William Russ, who I always remember as the Dad from Boy Meets World.

This is quite an interesting episode, as it begins to explore the idea of godhood in a bit more detail. We've already seen a running theme of native populations believing the users of the Stargate to be Gods. This episode takes that a little further to show how that belief can be exploited for personal gain.

I felt that the episode drew some parallels between Jonas Hansen, posing as a God, and Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now, assuming power through insanity.

The episode is notable for developing part of Sam's back-story, specifically that she was once engaged to Hansen, but broke it off. We see her trouble with men developed further in later series.

While this wasn't a particularly stunning episode, it did have intrigue and interest enough. It is the first episode written by Robert C. Cooper, who went on to become an executive producer for the show, as well as helping to create Stargate Atlantis. I think it's clear to see from this episode alonge how his influence on the show has permeated through the following two hundred-odd episodes, especially those related to ideas of godhood.

6 out of 10