Stargate SG-1: The Nox

• Release Date: 12th September 1997
• Season 1
• Episode 8
• Director: Charles Correll
• Writers: Hart Hanson

The Nox, named after a new and powerful species that SG-1 discovers in this episode, and one that uses their power to keep to themselves (for the most part). We also get to see the wonderful Armin Shimerman, aka Quark from Deep Space Nine, the first of many Trek actors to appear on Stargate.

It starts with Hammond saying that the government is unhappy with the technology that the Stargate Program has managed to bring back, and Teal’c saying he once went to a planet to capture an invisible creature for Apophis but failed. Hammond thinks it’s worth checking out and sends SG-1.

Once there, they discover Apophis, who only has three Jaffa with him. SG-1 decide to try and capture him instead of the creature. They plan an ambush and absolutely botch it. Teal’c steps out and just misses large targets standing still, and everyone else is absolutely useless. SG-1 all ends up getting killed, but their bodies fade away.

They wake up in a hut, revived by a group of aliens who currently can’t speak to them, although it doesn’t take long for them to figure out English. They talk about their peaceful ways and, as far as they’re concerned, SG-1 attacked first. They also have a member of Apophis’ guard, also received. SG-1 want to take them with them but The Nox say that will only happen if he is willing to do so on his own accord.

The Jaffa screams out to make it seem like Teal’c is attacking him but then stabs Teal’c and a young Nox girl, Lya, killing the young girl. The Nox perform their ritual to revive her, but SG-1 – and the Jaffa – notice that it leaves The Nox vulnerable. Even worse, a little Nox boy is very curious about the Gou’ald. He speaks up and gets killed by Apophis.

SG-1, knowing it was a trap, use bows and arrows to try and stop Apophis before they can harm The Nox. Jack hopes that an arrow will be slow enough to get blocked by Apophis’ personal shield (punches seem to work) and fires one with a tranquilliser to try and capture Apophis. However, The Nox intervened.

Having sent Apophis back home, Jack is still concerned about The Nox, mentioning that the Gou’ald have ships. The Nox are not worried, and show off a massive floating city to show that they can handle themselves, they just choose to stick to their own ways. SG-1 head back, knowing that their mission was a bust – the invisible creature has no abilities, the Noz hid it, but with potential new allies.

It’s an enjoyable episode, and we later learn that The Nox are one of the great races of the galaxy, even if they end up not used much at all. It’s still nice to see a species with a different perspective.