“All right, anybody with a snake in their head raise their hands!”
- Release Date: 18th August 2000
- Season 4
- Episode 8
- Director: Peter DeLuise
- Writers: Peter DeLuise
Daniel is part of a paleontology dog with his previous assistant, Rothman (who has had a strange history, first appearing in a dream and then in SCG but as someone that seems unaware of other planets). They’ve found Gou’ald remains, but very old, and with ml traces of naquadah. This is the origin planet of the Gou’ald, although it doesn’t seem like as big a deal as it should be – this is the home planet of their biggest enemy, and they’re not here any more. There’s lots of questions.
The dig gets interrupted by an Unas – makes sense that the Gou’ald’s first host resides on the same planet – which kills one of the guards and takes Daniel. A few hours later, Rothman heads back to Earth to get help, saying the team that was with him set off to find Daniel but he’s heard nothing since. Jack gathers SG-1 and another team to hunt for Daniel, and Rothman turns up to go with them (complaining that nobody told him, which Jack did on purpose as he hates him).
On the planet, the Unas is pulling Daniel along with a rope. He’s got clothing and it suggests they have some kind of culture instead of just being beasts (this is the first one we’ve seen that isn’t a host). Daniel tries to rest and use his radio, but the Unas doesn’t let him – although he does get off a quick signal so SG-1 knows someone is out there. Eventually, they sit down with the Unas performing some kind of ritual at the moons and Daniel trying to figure it out. SG-1 find a member of SG-11, he’s shocked and it seems his whole team is dead.
Near a stream, Daniel asks for water and the Unas lets him, but tells him off for trying to dip his head into the water, instructing him to scoop with his hands. Daniel points to the ropes and five Unas unties him – Daniel runs into the steam to wade across and the Unas seems terrified, but manages to find a safe place across upstream and waits for Daniel on the other side. An eel like creature starts heading to Daniel, so he gets on shore, with the creature leaping out of the water straight at Daniel, but the Unas catches and kills it. It’s a Gou’ald, and the Unas saved Daniel’s life.
They make their way to a cave and the Unas cooks the Gou’ald. Daniel doesn’t want to eat it, repeating “ka” at the Unas, which Daniel has learnt to be “no”. They act like a parent and a toddler, with the Unas saying to eat and Daniel throwing it back and saying no, with both bursting out in laughter. Daniel eats an energy bar, offering some to the Unas and says to not knock it until he tries it..just after refusing to eat the Gou’ald (that said, the Gou’ald are a sentient species). They rest for the night.
Following the tracks of the Unas, it’s time to rest for the night. Jack asks Rothman if his teammate seems off and he just says he doesn’t understand people at all. They take turns to watch, sitting near the Gou’ald-infested water. Teal’c has the last shift and he spots a Gou’ald as it tries to launch itself at him (using little wings to glide) before being blasted by a staff weapon. Teal’c gathers everyone, saying that any one of them could be a Gou’ald except him (as he’s immune). They reluctantly agree to get tied up and Teal’c goes to find Daniel.
The Major they rescued breaks free, trying to kill everyone when Teal’c returns to shoot him, he knew the Gou’ald would be able to escape. As he unties everyone, he notices that Rothman was also breaking through his restraints, he tries to attack but gets shot. It’s a pretty ruthless plan from Teal’c, especially as these Gou’ald don’t have any technology. Now they have a relationship with the Tok’ra, it seems irresponsible to not try and incapacitate them instead. It does show that, even with no experience in hosts, the Gou’ald are very capable at understanding who they’re controlling. They’re also pretty nasty, even without the sarcophagus making them worse.
Daniel wakes up before the Unas and picks up a rock to smash his head in, but can’t do it. Chaka leads Daniel though, with him drawing arrows, and SG-1 are hot on his tail. Daniel gets taken to the cave where Chaka’s clan live and it’s evident that he was some kind of right of passage, some prey brought from a hunt, but the Unas seems to be arguing with the leader to protect Daniel. SG-1 arrive and Daniel orders them not to shoot.
The leader heads to Daniel, with Daniel saying “no” in their language. He pauses for a second before continuing, with SG-1 shooting him. He survives, but the Unas captor protects Daniel and kills the leader. He invites Daniel to the tribe, but Daniel notions that he has to go with his people. They say goodbye and Daniel understands that they’ve been invited to visit again.
This is a really good episode. It’s a good example as to why the writers had to make most of the galaxy speak in English, as learning a language takes a while and would just waste too much time of a 45 minute episode, but having an occasional episode focused on understanding and learning with alien races is great. It’s nice for the Unas to be fleshed out as more than just monsters. I just wish that they did a bit more with the discovery of the Gou’ald homeworld.
