Stargate SG-1, Season 5, Episode 10

"2001"

images used above are courtesy of Gateworld and MGM

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Commentary by:
Peter DeLuise -- Director
Joseph Mallozzi -- Producer
James Tichenor -- Visual Effects Producer

The commentary is very informative, and interesting.  Lots of behind the scene information.  The commentary stays on point with what is on screen.

Review:
In the episode “2010,” the then former SG-1 team members uncover the evil doings of the seemingly benign Aschen.  The Aschen are a very advanced race, one whose activities embody the saying “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”  The future SG-1 team members send a message through the stargate to the past.  The message is brief, containing only a warning to stay away from P4C 970 (the Aschen’s home world), and some of future O’Neill’s blood.  There is no mention of the Aschen, or any detailed explanation.  Current day SGC receives the note, and wisely locks P4C 970 out of the stargate dialing program.

In the present, SG-1 encounters a new advanced race that seems benevolent, and willing to share their technology with Earth.  The new race is called … the Aschen.  Eek!  The world where SG-1 encounters the Aschen is not their home world.  It is the planet Volia, a techno-backward, lightly populated world that is essentially a planet-size farm.  The Aschen are pleased to meet SG-1, and Ambassador Faxon (who is not Earth’s ambassador, since most of the Earth’s population is unaware of the stargate program), however, they are reluctant to share the location of the their home world with Earth.  Just a bit wary.

Daniel and Teal’c discover a hidden past of the Volians, one that paints the Aschen in less than glowing terms.  Back at SGC, extrapolation of the few facts known about the Aschen narrows the number of planets that are their home world down to a few, including the locked out P4C 970.

SGC, and SG-1, want to investigate P4C 970.  If it is the Aschen home world, then it is time to run far, and fast, away from any dealings with them.  However, hubris rears its head in D. C., taking the form of Senator Kinsey (“Chain Reaction”).  Kinsey does not want anything interfering with the upcoming talks with the Aschen.  Also, Kinsey carries a deep grudge against SGC in general, and O’Neill in particular.  The senator places roadblocks before O’Neill and Hammond’s attempts to stall the talks until more is learned about the Aschen.  If successful, Senator Kinsey is sealing the doom of humans on Earth.

"2001" is not a true sequel.  The warning from the future to avoid P4C 970 changes the story enough to keep it from being a retread of previously mentioned events.  Bravo for a well-written story.  Everyone performs very well, and provide excellent portrayals of their characters.  Christopher Cousins is Faxon.

Failures:
The Aschen use the stargate on Volia to transport crops to the Aschen home world.  SG-1 knows this.  Why not watch the gate address used to access the Aschen home world in order to learn whether or not it is P4C 970?