Stargate SG-1, Season 1, Episode 17

"Solitudes"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Good

SG-1 immediately heads back to Earth after being attacked with a barrage of heavy weapon’s blasts shortly after arriving on a planet.  Teal’c and Daniel manage to make it back to the SGC, but before Carter and O’Neill can come through, the Earth stargate’s power systems overload, damaging the gate.  The wormhole destabilizes and shuts down.  The crew at Stargate Command works around the clock to repair the stargate.

O’Neill and Carter did get away from the planet.  Instead of SGC, they find themselves trapped underground in a glacial chamber, on an unknown planet.  Carter, and a severely wounded O’Neill, must survive in frigid conditions while Carter works on finding a way home.  Simultaneously, their teammates work to find Carter and O’Neill, and bring them home.

This is a Sam Carter-centric episode.  Amanda Tapping does a respectable job portraying Carter -- concerned about her injured teammate, resourceful, and as always, very intelligent.  Carter’s adherence to logic is a counterpoint to O’Neill’s unsubstantiated belief that things will work out for the best.  He is a good commanding officer, one who offers encouragement when needed to keep hope alive.

This episode marks Dan Shea’s first appearance as Sergeant Siler.  If you think Mr. Shea looks familiar, that may be because he is Richard Dean Anderson’s stunt double in every episode of Stargate SG-1.  Beginning in season three, he is also the show’s stunt coordinator.

The ice cavern looks very impressive.

17th episode broadcast.
18th episode in the DVD set.

Failures:
Nothing, really.  The episode isn’t an epic success, or failure.  It isn’t inspiring, or annoying.  It’s okay.