Stargate SG-1, Seaon 1, Episode 9

"Thor's Hammer"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating: Excellent

Synopsis:
Based on his research of Earth mythologies, Daniel Jackson believes that the Goa’uld were not the only alien race to visit Earth.  He believes that there were also good “gods” who helped humans.  Daniel thinks the Viking god Thor is a good alien, one whose race may be technologically equal to, and an enemy of, the Goa’uld.  Teal’c recognizes the symbol of Thor’s hammer as belonging to the planet Cimmeria, a planet that the Goa’uld avoid.  SG-1 is off to Cimmeria.

Arriving on Cimmeria, SG-1 sees something that might be Thor’s hammer.  Positioned a short distance in front of the stargate, the hammer-shaped sculpture begins to emit an electronic whine after SG-1 arrives.  A number of blond men passing by the stargate, laugh at SG-1, and begin to chant Thor’s name.  The pitch of the electronic noise increases, and O’Neill orders SG-1 back through the stargate.  Before Daniel can dial home, a blue light emanates from the top of the sculpture.  The light painlessly scans the human members of SG-1, before locking onto Teal’c and causing him a great deal of pain.

Attempting to get Teal’c out of the beam’s path, O’Neill tackles Teal’c, and both men, and the blue beam, disappear.  Carter and Daniel remain at the stargate, stunned, and try to determine what happened to Teal’c and O’Neill.  By now, the blonds had scattered.  A woman rides up to the stargate on a horse.  Her name is Gairwyn, and she confirms that the people on the planet are Vikings, and the sculpture/beam emitter/monument is from Thor.  She doesn’t know what happens to people taken by the beam; however, a woman named Kendra has personal experience with it.  Gairwyn takes Carter and Daniel to Kendra.

The episode splits into two stories -- O’Neill and Teal’c, and Carter and Daniel.  O’Neill and Teal’c must find their way out of a grim, underground labyrinth, but they are not alone.  Something else, something old and evil, hunts within those passages.

Carter and Daniel must convince a justifiably frightened Kendra to lead them to O’Neill and Teal’c’s location. Daniel is enthralled by the possibility of having a way to get the Goa’uld out of Sha’re, his wife.  Kendra bounces between determination, and fear, as she tries to remember (or, tries to want to remember) where she emerged from the mountains ten seasons ago.  Carter is cranky with Daniel, and often short with Kendra.  Not a deal breaker for the episode, but not consistent behavior, either.

Tamsin Kelsey as Gairwyn, and Galyn Gorg as Kendra, are both very good in this episode.  Gairwyn is solid: caring, pragmatic, and judging by that big ‘ol sword she carries around, quite a warrior.  Gairwyn believes in, and respects, Thor.  She does not fear Thor.  Kendra is all over the place: haughty, flighty, strong, fearful, and unsure.  This is not an uneven acting performance; it's Kendra coping with having been host to a Goa’uld, and being asked to help save a Jaffa (Teal'c).  Very nicely done, Ms. Gorg.

A very exciting episode, and one of my favorites.

9th episode broadcast.
8th episode in the DVD set.

Failures:
Minor.  Okay, Daniel’s hypothesis that nice aliens visited Earth in the past is a bit out of left field.  Ditto for Teal’c knowing the gate address for Thor’s planet.  Still, Jackson’s idea stays within the series’ framework of Earth mythology, and alien races.  The no muss, no fuss, presentation of Daniel’s idea, and Teal’c’s knowledge, keeps the episode from being bogged down.