Stargate SG-1: Within the Serpent’s Grasp

• Release Date: 6th March 1998
• Season 1
• Episode 22
• Director: David Warry-Smith
• Writers: James Crocker, Jonathan Glassner

Right after the events of Politics, Hammond attempts to get the President to overrule Senator Kinsey’s orders. The president, while supporting the Stargate program, says it would be political suicide to go against him. Better to risk the destruction of the Earth than to risk your career, I guess. SG-1 do exactly as you’d expect: they lock the doors (as everyone is away and tidying up, a bit too convenient but possibly planned by Hammond) and head to the coordinates Daniel found in the alternative reality. 

They end up in an Egyptian style room and discover crates which contain Jaffa weapons, including a new sidearm we haven’t seen before. Teal’c introduces it as a Zat’nik’tel (which O’Niell shortens to Zat gun) and it causes three levels of harm. The first is extreme pain which can lead to unconsciousness, the second usually kills someone and the third disintegrates a body – handy for a stealth mission. 

What this turns out to be as Jaffa enter the room, forcing SG-1 to hide. They install a strange orb into the stargate (which stopped working after the room vibrated). SG-1 sneak around and find a room with a window and sarcophagus, noticing that they’re on a ship and moving – Teal’c says the ships can move at 10 times the speed of light, which Carter works out means it will take a year to reach a year to reach Earth. 

The Jaffa seem like they’re in a hurry, so SG-1 sneak back to the Stargate room. Apophis appears on the strange orb in the Stargate and orders his Jaffa to follow the orders of his son, Klorel, who arises from the sarcophagus in the body of Skarra. Jack and Teal’c decide to try and capture Korel and get Skarra to fight, while Sam and Daniel head off to plant C4 in strategic bases. 

Jack manages to get Skarra to come out by shooting him with a Zat, Skarra asks for forgiveness before Klorel takes control, managing to get Jack and Teal’c to surrender. He speaks to Apophis who orders their destruction, but Skarra manages to influence Klorel and he keeps them alive to witness the destruction of their home, he shows them that they have arrived at Saturn and will be meeting Apophis at Earth.

Carter sets a timer of 24 hours on the C4 and heads back to save Jack and Teal’c. They manage to subdue the guards, but Klorel gets Daniel – forcing Jack to kill Klorel. They look out the window and see Earth – the Gou’ald are there, and the timer Sam set before knowing they were close is a bit too long – 24 hours. A great conclusion to the first season.