“You know what their weakness turned out to be? Water!”
- Release Date: 27th June 2003
- Season 7
- Episode 4
- Director: Peter DeLuise
- Writers: Peter DeLuise
The stargate activates at Stargate Command and SG-1 radio in – they’re under attack and need a quick exit. They get through, but a Jaffa makes it – and manages to shoot Teal’c in the stomach before being killed. Medics are called and he’s rushed off. We cut to the infirmary, where Dr Fraiser tells Teal’c that he’s very lucky, and that if he wasn’t on tetronin, he would be dead from the blast killing his symbiote. However, the blast caused additional damage and Teal’c will need to heal normally, which will take time, which Teal’c does not like.
SG-1 inform Hammond that the jaffa they encountered seem to belong to a mixture of Gou’ald, but mainly Ba’al – who they helped put in charge of the System Lords. Dr. Fraiser enters and lets them know that Teal’c will be fine, but it will take him a while to recover, but they can visit him. We cut to Daniel visiting and asking how Rya’c is – and when Teal’c is confused by the question, says he figured he would be bored of “how are you?”. Teal’c says they’re on a mission for the rebel Jaffa and that does not want and company – he clearly feels ashamed at not being immediately ready. Daniel hears something as he walks away.
As Daniel and Carter discuss the movie Signs, they head into the gym where Teal’c is training to restore his legs, but refuses to stop when the therapist says to stop. When Carter and Daniel ask him to not overdo things, he yells at them to leave him alone. Daniel hears the voice again, and Carter notices him looking around.
In the control room, Daniel is asking Carter to look for… something in the gate records. He doesn’t know, but says it has something to do with an incoming wormhole. He also wonders if he could be doing more good while ascending. Carter gives him access for him to look through. She acts as though she’s still a bit unhappy about the whole thing – first leaving them and then visiting Jack and Teal’c, but not her.
Fraiser clears Teal’c for active duty – he’s stronger than anyone else on the base, but Teal’c says he’s not ready. We cut to Jack checking in on Daniel, who’s still looking, when he suggests taking a break to help. They visit Teal’c and ask him to talk – but he does not want to. Jack pulls the chain of command and Teal’c says he’s weak, which is considered no different to being dead. They realise this has to do with the Tetronin, with Teal’c claiming he feels weaker with it. Jack says that he’s still stronger than anyone else, but is willing to give him more time.
Daniel takes Teal’c to Teal’s quarters and asks him to try to kel’no’reem – which Teal’c has stopped doing. Daniel says that humans still meditate and asks Teal’c to indulge him, which he’s willing to do. Daniel gets a vision of Rya’c and Bra’tac, they’re slaves and Bra’tac is being whipped. After he tells Teal’c, Teal’c tells Daniel about when he was dying and using a symbiote to sustain both him and Bra’tec – Daniel appeared to him and helped him through it. Which is why he fully believes Daniel’s vision.
We cut to the briefing room to Daniel being very surprised that Hammond also just flat out believes him. However, they don’t know where to look and Bra’tac must be getting very low on his Tetronin. They decide to send for another rebel Jaffa, Rak’nor. We cut to the prison planet, Rya’c is concerned about Bra’tac while Bra’tac is trying to be strong. Elsewhere in the camp, some Jaffa saves that have slowed down are executed.
Daniel describes the planet to Rak’nor, who recognises it as Erebus. It’s where the Gou’ald build their Ha’tak vessels. It’s so intensive that only Jaffa are used – it’s a good place to recruit rebel Jaffa, but Ba’al recently took it over, likely preventing their escape. There’s one major problem, the stargate has a forcefield similar to the Iris, and a signal is needed to get through. Daniel gets flashback of Bra’tac dialling the alpha site but getting ambushed, but he managed to send a signal though.
Daniel rushes to check the Alpha Site records. He finds a moment where the stargate was activated and a strange signal was received – that’s the code for the forcefield. Carter says she can copy it. We cut to everyone being ready in the gate room. Teal’c claims that he’ll be a liability and wishes for Jack to watch over Rya’c if he dies. They throw a Gou’ald stun grenade through the gate and step trough, backed up by a few other SG teams, and secure the area.
We cut to the camp, with Rya’c realising that Bra’tac is injecting himself with nothing – the Tetronin is gone. He says he will do what he can to help Rya’c survive, and will last as long as he needs to without the Tetronin. SG-1 and the other teams reach a ridge and come up with a plan to sneak in at night, so lie low. At night, Carter stuns one of the guards while Jack uses a sniper and mic to observe (with Daniel translating). Teal’c heads in, but not long the guards seem to be getting more active.
Teal’c enters the tent with Rya’c and Bra’tac and is greeted by his son, who apologises for not believing that he will come. He hands Bra’tac some Tetronin and says he’s come to take them back. Rya’c wants to help everyone else, though. Teal’c says they will die if they try, to which Rya’c responds by saying they’ll die if they don’t. Teal’c ends up getting captured and whipped. Jack decides to not move in – a huge firefight will just end with lots of deaths, so the lie low for another opening.
After his torture, Teal’c struggles to walk, but Rya’c urges him to try, and anyone who can’t work will die. Bra’tac is at least doing better. Teal’c mentions that a rescue will still happen and he didn’t come alone. We cut to SG-1, with Daniel blaming himself for not doing anything, but Jack kindly reminds him that he would have been stopped. There’s too many guards, so they need a distraction – Jack wants to take out the mothership under construction.
In a tent, Teal’c asks Rya’c to spread the word to everyone to prepare to fight. He then says that he is weak and won’t be able to fight, which Rya’c refutes, but he still follows his father’s orders. Carter and Daniel sneak onto the ship to mess with the gravity platforms keeping it in the air, but on their way out, spot Jaffa at their escape route.
Bra’tac speaks to Teal’c saying he is feeling better, then has a go at Teal’c for being forgetful. He says that he’s taught him enough times that a warrior’s true strength comes from his heart and mind – which is why he’s beaten Teal’c in all their duals. Teal’c seems to get some of his spark back and claims that he has been letting Bra’tac win, which pleases Bra’tac a lot.
As Rya’c is spreading the word, the leader of the camp notices that he’s not at his designated work spot, so grabs him and says he will be executed. Teal’c steps out and says that Rya’c is still able to work, and demands to take his spot – which the leader agrees to. Jack asks Carter how things are going, because they need to act now. The leader is about to execute Teal’c when the ship starts to crash into the ground, with Jack ordering everyone to open fire and Bra’tac telling the Jaffa to fight.
As the battle commences, Rya’c tries to help Teal’c with the leader, but gets thrown aside, which boosts Teal’c determinations. As they struggle, Rak’nor readies a staff weapon to help Teal’c, but Rya’c stops him, realising Teal’c needs to do this on his own. Teal’c gets the upper hand and breaks his neck. We skip the rest of the battle to SG-1, Bra’tac and Rak’nor in the gate room. The prisoners have evacuated and are eager to join the rebellion, and Hammond lets Bra’tac know that Daniel is the one to thank for this.
We end on Teal’c’s quarters, about to kel’no’reem, when Daniel visits. He says that kel’no’reem does actually help. He also says that Jack has said he has his mojo back. Daniel says that he’s realised that he thought that ascension would help him feel like he belongs somewhere, but he’s realised he already did belong – and that he’s part of something important. Teal’c agrees.
It’s good to have an episode focusing on Teal’c getting used to Tetronin on a more emotional and mental level, believing himself to be weaker because of it when it’s really not the case.
