SG-1 Rewatch: Episode 1.06 "The First Commandment"

[theemdash]

Previous: 1.05 The Broca Divide

First, I have to get this out of the way: in an open flame like that, the fire would not have gotten hot enough to turn Frakes to bone and ash. There should still be a charred body. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

I walked away from this episode thinking a lot about the Goa'uld propaganda machine. Early in the episode Teal'c states that the Goa'uld terraformed many of the stargate worlds centuries ago. We know that's false since (1) the Ancients created the 'gate network and (2) the Goa'uld are much more likely to move a stargate to a new planet than bother with time- and resource-consuming terraforming. I mean, honestly, if the planet were hostile but had a bunch of naquadah, they'd enslave a bunch of Unas and drop 'em on the planet to work until they died. (That's right, Goa'uld, I know your tricks.) That means that this rumor that the Goa'uld terraformed the planets is all part of the Goa'uld lies to bolster their claims at godhood.

What the Goa'uld accomplished on a large scale is exactly what Captain Hanson accomplishes on a small scale. He steals technology (first Earth technology and then the shield technology) and calls it magic, placing himself in a position of power over the natives. Whether or not he goes a little insane after two days in the sun, he follows the Goa'uld playbook, using his newfound power to enslave the locals and build a temple. They never compare him to the Goa'uld in the episode, but the analogy is clear (especially in hindsight) and it's a reminder to the SG teams not to let their advanced technology go to their heads. (Which also makes me wonder if the SG psych evals got an update after this incident. Sam did say she knew he had this in him.)


A few last notes of significance:

• This is the first episode in which Daniel wears a bandana and I love whomever made this costuming decision.


• Based on Sam's analysis of the shield device (it follows the same basic circuitry patterns as the Gate technology), either the Ancients built it or the Goa'uld adapted other Ancient tech to create the UV shield.


• This episode foreshadows the fact that the Goa'uld mine planets for naquadah and then leave once the resources are depleted.


• It still bothers me that in this episode Sam immediately notes the absence of birdsong, but in "Spirits," Teal'c has to point it out to her.

Quote of the Week:

Jack: Does it say "colonel" anywhere on my uniform?

Episode Stats
Planetary Tally: the planet is unnamed in the episode, but the internet tells me it's P3X-513 or Avnil*
Series Total: 7
*I assume the source for this information is Stargate SG-1: The Ultimate Visual Guide

In Fashion: it's green BDUs and flak helmets all around; Jack swaps clothes with Jamala for some non-regulation robes


Next up: 1.07 Cold Lazarus

Comments

The First Commandment

[oldtoadwoman]

Jack: Does it say "colonel" anywhere on my uniform?

I loved that line! I swear I've never seen this episode before. I'd say I have no idea how I missed it since I've re-watched before, but honestly I don't think this would have been high on anyone's list of favorites so I can see it not getting recommended for a re-watch. And when I first watched Stargate it was like a scavenger hunt trying to find it on the TV schedule. My station would preempt it for sports constantly and then just randomly show it on a different day of the week. Hence it's not that surprising that I missed it the first time.

I love them starting out with a, "Why, yes, this planet does indeed look like the Pacific Northwest yet again, because of reasons." Even if in hindsight it sort of gets… unretconned? As you've pointed out though, it's very useful to have the powerful villains be liars so you've got unreliable narrators everywhere.

Re: The First Commandment

[theemdash]

Well, I mean, the reasons the planets all look similar is that the Ancients were also humanoid lifeforms. So it's just a different alien race picked specific planets and/or terraformed them. (I don't think the Ancients actually did any terraforming, but they probably could if they wanted to.)

I am of the firm opinion that Daniel is one of the biggest liars of them all. You cannot tell me he found the cartouche room ELEVEN MONTHS ago and never once tried dialing another planet. Like, I love Daniel, he is my very favorite TV boyfriend, but I also know how curious and obsessed he is. (And that's why I wrote a fanfic about his opening the 'gate on Abydos!)

Re: The First Commandment

[oldtoadwoman]

Yes, but not all humans would even pick Vancouver as the ideal for terraforming, let alone all humanoid lifeforms. I know travel is expensive, but I want to see more sci-fi shows just put it in their budget so that we can have a planet with gentle rolling hills one week and a beach planet the next week. Mountains, wide open plains, jagged cliffs, oaks dripping with Spanish moss, flowering cactus, fields of wildflowers… there's so much variety on Earth but we typically only see the same local filming locations. (I really wish Supernatural had the budget to have really gone on the road for a couple of episodes each season so that we could have episodes that really felt like they were set in New England or South Carolina or Arizona. Vancouver can pass for large chunks of the United States, but definitely not all of it.)

[princessofgeeks]

This is such a weird episode. Very creepy and "Apocalypse Now."

I think they were still trying to find their feet with the scripts. It's kind of wildly different in tone and character from much of the rest of season 1. I'm not sure I buy Sam's characterization in this one; it's hard to reconcile how she acts in other episodes.

[theemdash]

I actually don't think this episode is too far off in tone from the other episodes. Okay, it is following the utter goofiness that is "The Broca Divide" (which itself has a sprinkling of rape), but after it is the gut-punch of a crystal being turning into Jack's dead son. I think the real "problem" is this episode doesn't have the balance between emotional angst and humor that eventually defines the show. Most of Season 1 is more angst, less humor in general. There's some classic lines in there (like, "Does it say "colonel" anywhere on my uniform?"), but the writers haven't yet worked out that Teal'c has a sense of humor or cashed in on Jack and Daniel actually being friends. It becomes much more SG-1 once those pieces finally fall into place.

[green_grrl]

One of the things this episode always makes me think about is how BIG the SGC is in the background. By episode 4 SG-1 is chattering about an unseen mission where something else happened. By episode 6 some other team has embedded itself on another planet, gone rogue, and entirely altered the course of its inhabitants. Right from the start you get the sense we only see a tiny fraction of what goes on, although SG-1 as the flagship team tends to be/get involved in the really big Earth-impacting adventures.

[theemdash]

If they ever wanted to create an anthology series for Stargate Command and it followed individual missions of a handful of SG teams, I would be so into it.