Stargate SG-1: Enigma

• Release Date: 30th January 1998
• Season 1
• Episode 17
• Director: William Gereghty
• Writers: Katharyn Powers

SG-1 go to a rather stunning looking volcanic planet, with ash in the air. Volcanoes are erupting in the background and, while it’s certainly an incredibly dangerous place, there’s something rather beautiful about it. SG-1 find people lying on the ground, some dead, some dying. They decide to evacuate them on Earth.

Back at SGC, the people from the planet start waking up, discovering that their advanced technology has been taken. The leader, Omoc, sees Earth as primitive and instantly dislikes everyone, and says that a rescue party was on their way, before it gets pointed out that if they waited any longer, they would all be dead.  Another survivor, Narim, clearly has eyes for Carter.

Sam sends a UAV though the gate and discovers that the area around the gate will be inhospitable for a few days, but lava will cover the gate before them. These people are stuck on Earth. Hammond contacts some previous planets and the tribe from The Boca Divide offers them sanctuary, which Omar refuses – he does not want to live with primates. Meanwhile, Carter shows Narim the surface and he’s amazed that Earth still has animals.

We’re introduced to Mayborne, sent from the government ordering Hammond to keep them here until the US creates a secret camp for them to live in – they’re staying on Earth so we can learn about their technology. Hammond lets them have their technology back, and they appear to walk through walls and are found stargazing. They say it was a test to see if they’d come after them with guns – they were right.

Sam carries on talking to Narim and even brings him a cat, called Schrodinger, she explains the theory which he recognises as quaint quantum physics – they’re beyond that. He does explain why they refuse to share technology with others. They discovered a civilization on their neighbouring planet and gave them a new energy source. It didn’t take long for the neighbour them to not only blow up their planet, but knock the other one off it’s orbit, which is why it was cataclysmic.

Hammond and Jack try to work out how to defy Mayborne’s orders – it’s not right to imprison people like that. None of them can defy orders but Daniel is a civilian, so Daniel explains what’s going on. Omar takes him to the surface and, with Daniel sending the gate coordinates, sends a message to the Nox. They head back and go to the gate, with Narim sneaking off to say goodbye to Carter and hand her a device which recorded his emotions. They kiss and he joins the group (with the cat).

Lya form The Nox comes though the Stargate as soldiers pour into the room. She forms a wormhole in the Stargate and heads back, making everyone invisible and making the guns vanish. Mayborne threatens Daniel, but nobody is concerned, he’s too important.

It’s interesting to meet a more advanced civilisation, who essentially have the Prime Directive some Stargate, something Stargate Command have zero care for. It would have been nice for them to have discussed the Gou’ald, as they must have visited at some point, but that’s a minor issue.