“It was your stupid idea, Major Carter.”
- Release Date: 30th June 2000
- Season 4
- Episode 1
- Director: Martin Wood
- Writers: Robert C. Cooper
The episode starts off on a Russian submarine, which is exploring the waters near where Thor’s ship is shot down. One of the soldiers hears a noise in the torpedo tube and checks it out – inside is the replicator that survived the explosion at the end of the previous season. We get to see just how deadly replicators are when it attacks the people there, spraying a corrosive substance in their faces.
It has been a week since the previous episode, and the beta gate has only just started working after it was installed when SG-1 blew up the previous gate on Thor’s ship. SG-1 are finally able to return home after escaping, with Daniel (still recovering from having his appendix removed) rushing to meet them. There’s little fanfare (they’ve already saved the world before), but at least they can get their vacation now. Jack invites Carter again, but she declines, before interrupting Jack again to tell him about an issue.
American spies have found intelligence from a Russian submarine that was attacked, with intel matching what we know about the replicators. The Navy has intercepted the sub and towed it to an area where it can be reached. They can’t just blow it up as the Russians are already asking about the fireball from the ship wreckage. SG-1 start to prepare to head to the submarine when there’s an incoming wormhole. The Iris doesn’t work and the power goes out. Thor steps though.
But Thor isn’t the savior this time, he’s come to ask Earth to help. The primitive ideas that humans have proved to be effective against the replicators, and the Asgard’s home planet of Othala is under threat. Carter agrees to go with Thor to offer advice, and heads through the Stargate with him. On Othala, Thor shows Carter their new, most advanced starship: The O’Niell. However, it’s not ready so they head off to meet the three oncoming replicator controlled ships in an older ship, with Thor giving Sam more access to their knowledge of the replicators.
Jack, Teal’c and a few redshirts head to the submarine to see what’s going on. They note that these replicators are a different colour and they find a larger replicator forming new ones. Teal’c and a redshirt gets attacked (the redshirt dying) and they retreat to form a new plan. They decide to blow it up when Daniel stops them. He shows them a bit of replicator found in Teal’c’s wound: because it’s made from Earth metals, it’s much weaker. Instead of just blowing it up, they need to destroy the one replicator made from Asgard metals then sink the ship. So Jack and Teal’c have to return.
Sam and Thor approach the replicator-controlled ship. They have no interest in them as the ships they control are more advanced than theirs. After a lot of feeling way out of her league, this gives her an idea. Thor verifies that the replicators are interested in new technology. Her plan is to use the O’Niell as bait, get the replicators to chase it through hyperspace (their shields would not work during this) and blow it up. Thor hates the idea, as the Asgard would be throwing away their best ship – it’s illogical and stupid. Sam points out that stupid ideas are the reason why she’s there. Thor agrees to speak to the council.
Back on the submarine, Jack plants an explosive to lure the replicators away from the “queen” one, as the original replicator is part of this. They manage to blow it up with some grenades and gunfire, but the other replicators retaliate, blocking them in and closing in with their attacks. In another galaxy, Sam’s plan is put into action and it works (we see most of it as a visual on a screen to save money). Thor is very thankful. As Jack and Teal’c are about to be blown up by a torpedo, Thor manages to beam them up. The Asgard are safe for now (but the war continues) and says that if they manage to beat the replicators, they’ll help fight the Gou’ald. Jack invites Thor to join him for fishing, but Thor beam them all down.
This shows how adaptable replicators are, as well as why the Asgard see humans as the fifth race. Having the Asgard in the debt of Earth is also a big thing.
