“Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise”
- Release Date: 3rd February 1999
- Season 2
- Episode 21
- Director: Charles Correll
- Writers: Brad Wright
While SG-1 are preparing to set off on a routine mission, Carter is adjusting the computer to make sure the wormhole doesn’t go through the sun. Hammond approaches her and gets her to put a note in her pocket. One important thing to notice is that Carter has a nasty cut on her hands. I think this is supposed to be the one she got in One False Step (it seemed to be important there but nothing came of it), although it wasn’t present in the previous episode (I wonder if the production schedule changed it – this season has been a bit funny with ordering being different depending on region and DVD vs airing). Once that’s sorted, they head through the Stargate…
They then seem to emerge on the other side right back at Stargate Command, with the Stargate vanishing after they step out (there’s a contradiction here that I’m going to be kind and say that it was due to Carter messing with the computer). They also discover there is a missile above them about to go off, with Teal’c saving them at the last second by shooting it with a Zat. They get arrested by the guards.
Sam deduces that they’ve somehow gone back in time. She’s not sure if they can get back, but they need to try and reduce the damage they do to the timeline – which means escaping and destroying their equipment. They get asked if they’re russian spies (in russian) and Daniel stupidly responds with “nyet”. Jack gets interrogated and he first claims his name is James T Kirk and then Luke Skywalker. While Star Trek was released before 1969, it was niche (so the base commander probably hadn’t heard of it), but I do wonder what he thought when Star Wars was released 8 years later. Another soldier looks at the equipment and spots a note.
SG-1 get transferred to a truck when a tyre pops. Two of the soldiers repair the wheel while another heads inside. He demands to know who they are and what the note is about. He’s a Lieutenant with the surname Hammond, and the note was addressed to him. Sam realises that this is a younger General Hammond, who is helping them because of a note from his future self. He gives them a Zat gun and they stun the guards (this seems to be where the show ignored the “extreme pain” aspect), along with those of the truck carrying their equipment, which they vaporise with the Zat gun’s third shot (incidentally, this is the last time that feature is used on the show).
In this scene, Aaron Pearl does a phenomenal job as playing a younger George Hammond. His looks, voice, accent and mannerisms are all spot on – SG-1 should really have identified him straight away. After helping, Jack says he knows how to stop him from getting court marshalled (so he can become General) and stuns him as well (after borrowing some money). They head to a main road to hitch a ride and work out what to do. They don’t know how (or even if) they can get back to their own time, but they at least need to locate the Stargate so they can figure it out. Daniel suggests tracking down Catherine, who is in New York, and the note gives them two dates but no further information.
Teal’c stops a hippy van, who are also on their way to New York – to Woodstock to be precise. They presume that SG-1 are on the run from the authorities and help them out. We get a fun travel montage (complete with a marker on a map), and they even teach Teal’c how to drive. Shortly before New York, while camping, they discuss what the plan is. Sam realises what happened: a solar flare must have messed with the wormhole and the dates and times are for two more. The two hippies helping them overhear and SG-1 admit that they’re aliens that need help returning to their planet. They’re fully on board.
Jack and Teal’c head to an observatory to verify that the dates are for solar flares while Daniel and Sam pretend to be foreigners who worked with Catherine’s father and that they’ve found something related to the Stargate. She reveals that it’s at an army base in Washington, DC. On the way there, one of the hippies reveals that they were drafted for the Vietnam war and is considering fleeing to Canada because he doesn’t want to hurt anyone. Jack is about to give him advice when Sam stops him – don’t want to mess with the timeline. They ask to go along with them, but SG-1 disappoint them and refuse.
Reaching the army base, they open up the Stargate and use a few trucks to power it, manually dialling the original address. They have to fight a few more soldiers, but make it through the gate. They return to the gate room but everything is all covered up. An old lady greets them – it’s Cassandra, the girl they saved from being a bomb. She explains that Sam told her that she has to do this as they travelled too far forward. She activates the stargate with a small hand device (and no kawoosh) and says they’re needed at the right time.
They get back to a very pleased General Hammond, who said he almost didn’t send them on the mission. He knew it was time when he saw Carter’s hand injury, he then tells Jack how much he owes due to interest. It’s a great episode, and utilises time travel well (with a healthy dose of the bootstrap paradox). It’s interesting thinking of early episodes and how he knew of SG-1 before they formed, but couldn’t be too hasty or obvious or else he might change things.
