Stargate SG-1: The Torment of Tantalus

• Release Date: 3rd October 1997
• Season 1
• Episode 11
• Director: Jonathan Glassner
• Writers: Robert C. Cooper

The Pentagon sends StarGate Command some old files about some original tests that were done on the Stargate. Daniel watches the old videos, which Jack thinks is a waste of time – until they see the Stargate get activated and someone walks though, presumably still trapped on the other side (I initially thought they were dead due to a tether, which later on in the show would prevent the travel from happening) . Daniel takes this information to Catherine, the researcher they initially recruited him.

She reveals that she was never told that the gate was activated, but recognises the man that went through – her fiancé, Earnest (with the familiar face of Paul McGillion). Daniel takes her back to SGC and gives her classified information, about how they can travel to many planets now. The one weak part of this episode is they never explained how the gate was dialled, they just seemingly tried a random address (including randomly having the point of origin as the 7th symbol) and got lucky that it not only worked, but the planet was close to Earth so that stellar drift was not an issue.

Hammond is annoyed that Jackson has done all this without clearance, but agrees with the mission to find Earnest and bring him home after 50 long years. Catherine demands to go with them, and Hammond allows it. They head over and find themselves in a castle that is currently falling apart, and Earnest is still alive. He’s happy to see SG-1, but is oddly nonchalant about seeing Catherine again.

Daniel speaks to Earnest and discovers that he’s hallucinated Catherine all this time, and that she forgave him for risking his life with work without even speaking to her about it – the real one has not forgiven him. They’re in more trouble than they thought, as the DHD is broken and a massive storm is coming – with the castle not looking like it would survive. As Sam looks into how to get the power from the DHD to the gate (to dial manually), Earnest shows Daniel and Jack an amazing discovery: a repository of knowledge from four great races, one of them clearly being the Norse Gods from the previous episode.

The castle is hit by the storm, and the DHD falls through the floor. While Daniel gets more and more obsessed with the repository of knowledge, everyone else works out a plan: make a lightning rod, channel the power to the Stargate (which should absorb it and not explode) then use the stored energy to dial back home. As the plan is set in motion, Daniel wants to stay, with Jack convincing Daniel by saying that there’s no point having this knowledge if he can’t share it with anyone. They just about make it back.

Dialling the planet back doesn’t work, suggesting the gate is now in the water, meaning the knowledge is lost. Considering that they have better technology later on in the show, it’s disappointing that there’s no mention of looking for the device once it becomes a viable option – it would still contain a ton they don’t know. Still, an enjoyable episode.