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"The Nox," considered a classic by Stargate SG-1 devotees, is the centerpiece of this, the third of five discs comprising Stargate SG-1's first season. It's not hard to see why; with its combination of theme (the futility of fighting), characters (including Apophis, the recurring Goa'uld villain, and the appealing, fairylike title race), and the usual special effects wizardry, "The Nox" has all the elements that make Stargate SG-1 a superior sci-fi/adventure show. But the other episodes included have merit as well, including "The Torment of Tantalus," about a young professor who went through the gate 50 years ago, and "Bloodlines," in which Teal'c, the former SG-1 adversary, reveals the existence of the family he left behind when he joined the good guys (the other episodes are "Fire and Water" and "Hathor"). Once again, the only disappointment is the DVD bonus features, here limited to a profile of SG-1 big shot General Hammond (played by Don Davis). --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (7)

no problems for me
i did not have problems with the set it all worked fine also the episodes are great ones i highly recommend it.

A great series of personal episodes for the SG-1 crew
Volume 3 of Season 1 of "Stargate SG-1" offers up episodes 9-13 from the inaugural 1997-98 season, as the science fiction series starts to hit its stride. You will notice that one of the recurring themes in this episode is the quest of technology and/or knowledge from advanced civilizations and that several of the episodes have to do with the revelation of deep dark secrets:

Episode 9, "The Torment of Tantalus" (Written by Robert C. Cooper, Aired October 3, 1997) uncovers a story about the early days of the Stargate Project. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) is going over all the old records about the Stargate when he discovers footage of someone going through the Stargate in 1945. Confronting Catherine Langford (Elizabeth Hoffman) about the incident, the SG-1 team learns that Ernest Littlefield, Catherine's fiancé, went through the Stargate and never returned. Using computer enhancements SG-1 is able to go re-dial the location and go there, with Catherine, to see if they can find out what happened to Ernest. What they find is Ernest (Keene Curtis), which is good news, and a broken Stargate that will prevent them from returning, which is bad news. Meanwhile, Ernest shows Dr. Jackson the marvelous wonders left by alien races. 4.5 Stargates.

Episode 10, "Bloodlines" (Story by Mark Saraceni, Teleplay by Jeff King, Aired October 10, 1997) has Teal'c (Christopher Judge) revealing to his SG-1 teammates that he left a family behind on Chulak when he joined them. He kept the secret because he did not want them to doubt his loyalty. But now his son, Rya'c has reached the age at which he will be given his Goa'uld larva, and Teal'c wants to stop this from happening. General Hammond (Don S. Davis) allows SG-1 to go to Chulak, with the provision that they bring back a Goa'uld larva that can be studied. When they get to Chulac they discover that Teal'c's family has been declared outcasts and the news just keeps getting worse from there. Certainly a very personal story for Teal'c, it only heightens the sacrifice he made in betraying Apophis. 5 Stargates.

Episode 11, "Fire and Water" (Written by Brad Wright, Aired October 17, 1997) finds SG-1 returning from the planet Oannes almost immediately after leaving on a mission, but without Dr. Jackson, who was apparently consumed by flames. While Stargate has a funeral service for their friend, Jackson is being held captive by a creature called Nem, who is looking for information about his partner, who apparently lived in ancient Babylon. Daniel learns he and Nem have something important in common while the rest of the SG-1 team cannot shake the feeling that Jackson is not really dead. The only real problem with this episode is that it suffers in comparison to the rest of what is on this DVD. 4 Stargates.

Episode 12, "The Nox" (Written by Hart Hanson, Aired September 12, 1997) has the government really pushing the Stargate Project to show results in discovering and bringing back superior alien technology. Teal's suggests they visit a planet where the locals, the Fenri, have the power of invisibility. But when they arrive there they find the Goa'uld are there for the same reason, led by Apophis (Peter Williams) himself. Colonel O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) tries to ambush the Goa'ulds, but only succeeds in getting the SG-1 team killed. However, this does not prove to be a problem to the Nox, the strange creatures who also live there and whose leader Anteaus (Armin Shimerman), seems totally unconcerned by the threat of Apophis and his warriors. This is simply a classic episode, although I have to admit you would think O'Neill had watched enough "Star Trek" episodes to know that simple folk on alien planets are not always simple folk. 5 Stargates.

Episode 13, "Hathor" (Story by David Bennett Carren and J. Larry Carroll, Teleplay by Jonathan Glassner, Aired October 24, 1997) has everyone going back to their Egyptian mythology to recall that Ra had a wife named Hathor. In this episode she shows up in the flesh (Suanne Braun), discovered in a sarcophagus covered in Egyptian hieroglyphics found in a Mayan pyramid in Mexico. Making her way to the Stargate Project where she proceeds to quickly set herself up as a queen bee. While O'Neill, Jackson, Hammond and the other boys turn into dutiful and obedient worker bees and soldier bees, Captain Carter (Amanda Tapping) and Dr. Frasier (Teryl Rothery) have to come to the rescue the base from the evil seductress, aided by Teal'c. I really like the Girl Power aspects of this episode, which benefits from having a pretty good villainess. 5 Stargates.

These five episodes continue to prove that "Stargate SG-1" was one of the finest first seasons for a science fiction series in television history. The writers do a great job of taking the initial premises and key elements of the series and coming up with good plot lines to play out in each episode. By the time you get to Volume 3 from this first season you will be hooked big time (especially since Volume 4 is even better).

How do I get a replacement for Volume 3?
I have nothing but good things to say about Stargate SG-1. My gripe is the missing voice of Aphophis in the episode "The Nox". Can anyone out there tell me if there is a way to get a replacement for it? I can afford to replace it, but why should I have to pay for something that should have been right to start with.

Wouldn't even play
I love the series and would love to see these episodes again. Unfortunately the DVD wouldn't even play. I tried it in three different players and it didn't work in any of them. The only signal I got was a "no disc" signal after the disc supposedly got done loading. I have the other four DVDs from Season 1 and have problems with Vol. 5, also.

The best sampling from Year One
If you are not very familiar with Stargate SG-1, you may not want to splurge on the whole boxed set. If you just want to dip a toe in the water, this individual DVD is probably the best of the group. "The Nox" is considered a classic, but I always thought "Torment of Tantalus" had a good story and good guest actors. "Fire and Water" seemed a little hokey with the alien makeup, but repeat viewings have shown me that the character studies of the SG team are quite good. "Hathor" is an unconventional baddie who will recur in the future. It lets the doctor step out of her bedside manner role. "Bloodlines" not only provides good background for the Goa'uld culture; it lets Christopher Judge do more than arch an eyebrow.

You'll need to buy the boxed set to get the whole pilot-thru-cliffhanger experience (recommended!), but as a sampler, this one probably the best example of how the series makes good use of the stargate premise and lets the team members have real dimension. ... Read more

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Hollywood's film archives overflow with the carcasses of dismal movies based on lame '60s and '70s television shows, a syndrome that shows no sign of abating. But here's evidence that the reverse effect, turning a movie into a TV series, can have surprisingly positive results. Indeed, Stargate SG-1 is not only significantly better than the 1994 feature it's derived from, but arguably the best-made, most compelling sci-fi program on television.

The central conceit of the original Stargate--the existence of an artificially created "wormhole" through which one can travel to different worlds light years away from Earth--was an intriguing one. In seizing on the obvious possibilities for expanding on that premise, series executive producers-writers Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright smartly retained some of the film's basic elements (its amalgam of myth and theoretical hokum, or the ongoing clash of wills between scientists and soldiers), while adding a variety of fresh ideas (including new characters, new locations, and a welcome dose of humor, much of it supplied by Richard Dean Anderson, MacGyver himself, who replaces Kurt Russell in the central role of Colonel Jack O'Neill). The result is a show with multidimensional heroes and villains and consistently compelling story lines (many of them introduced in the pilot and carried forward through subsequent episodes) balancing excellent special effects and production values.

In the second season, "The Serpent's Lair" concludes the cliffhanger from the end of the first season in a rollercoaster of wit, plot twists, and cutting-edge special effects as the SG-1 team resign themselves to a suicide mission. In the two-parter "The Tok'ra," Sam's estranged father is dying of cancer, but her obligations sway her toward saving a member of the Goa'uld renegade Tok'ra who is also dying. In "Show and Tell," the central story arc takes a dramatic turn when a child arrives to warn that some survivors of a Goa'uld attack are determined to eliminate anyone who might host their enemy--which means Earth as a whole.

To resolve the season 2 cliffhanger, General Hammond rounds up every conceivable ally to rescue the SG-1 team from Hathor's clutches and gets a much-needed field trip in the process. In subsequent episodes in season 3, Daniel Jackson is intrigued by the planet Orban's scientific advances over only a few years. In a two-part cliffhanger, Sam must attempt to rescue her father, face Satan himself on a prison moon, and resurrect "Jolinar's Memories" from the Goa'uld she was briefly possessed by, then "The Devil You Know" reveals an embarrassing secret that could allow the team to escape the clutches of Satanic Sokar.

It wasn't until the beginning of the fourth season that fans knew to take the Replicator threat seriously. The spidery nasties had only seemed like one of many new enemies introduced in previous years. But when the one seemingly omnipotent backbone of the galaxy was asking Earth for help, clearly we were in real trouble! In fact, the team's list of enemies expanded and got far more complicated. There were quite a few Earth-based stories in the year, but not all the new enemies were originally local. Willie Garson comically guest-starred as Martin, a geekily suspicious guy with too much knowledge of the Stargate. More sinister was an old flame of Daniel's turning into something far more painful than an old wound (thanks to an ancient Egyptian curse). Thankfully, the writers hadn't forgotten the importance of one-off storylines too.

It now seems clear that season 5 will be remembered as the one in which something went awry with Daniel Jackson. Lots of behind-the-scenes rumors fueled the idea of cast tension, but whatever the problem, his sudden departure from the show was obviously through a quickly contrived scenario. Most shows go through a run-around, skin-of-their-teeth period awaiting renewal, and it certainly seems to have affected storylines this year. For example, a next generation of younger SG teams is introduced. The most unfortunate aspect, however, was that every single story was dependent on a part of the greater interwoven warring-species threads. Some of the one-off tales were terrific in and of themselves, but it was as if the writers fell into the trap of having to refer to as much backstory as possible, perhaps to ensure loose ends could be easily wrapped up? Ultimately none of this mattered since the show went on for quite a while.

The biggest change for the sixth season was its move to the Sci-Fi Channel. Financial rescue or genre haven from cancellation? With the addition of Daniel Jackson's replacement, Jonas Quinn, the new show dynamic (hinted at by the new title theme) meant far more convolutedly involved story arcs and less individual focus. One of very few solo spotlights came from Christopher Judge writing his own show, when "The Changeling" saw Teal'c act out a life as a fireman. There'd be several cameos through the year, culminating in a finale that relied on how much attention you'd been paying to that all-important back-story.

A gradual shift in overall style, character homecomings and departures, and evolving on- and off-screen roles for the major players are among the attractions of the seventh season. Perhaps most noticeable is the reduced role of star Richard Dean Anderson, who opted to limit his number of trips to Vancouver, where Stargate SG-1 is filmed. But that's not a bad thing. The show's ability to poke fun at itself has always been a strong suit, and while Anderson still brings a welcome sense of humor to his portrayal of wiseacre and loose cannon Col. Jack O'Neill, his act is getting a little smug by now. What's more, the other principal cast members have taken up the slack, both behind and in front of the camera: The seventh season also finds the series somewhat more earthbound than in the past; indeed, there are episodes in which the Stargate (the "wormhole" our heroes use to travel to different worlds) doesn't appear at all. On balance, the stories are more personal, and more political--especially the final two, with the newly elected U.S. President (William Devane) struggling to decide the fate of the Stargate program (and, of course, the fate of the entire known universe as well!). And then there's the ultimate villain, Anubis, who makes perennial nemeses the Goa'uld (of which Anubis is one... sort of) look tame. --Sam Graham and Paul Tonks ... Read more

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"One False Step" gives the SG-1 team a guilt trip for accidentally infecting a race with a disease. Then in "Show and Tell" the central story arc takes a dramatic turn when a child arrives to warn that some survivors of a Goa'uld attack are determined to eliminate anyone who might host their enemy--which means Earth as a whole. Episodes 21 and 22 finish season 2: there's great fun to be had in "1969" and a time-travel plot that loops many aspects of the show's story lines together. The cliffhanger finale, "Out of Mind," has Colonel O'Neill experience an Aliens-style awakening 79 years into his future. What the hell happened? And why is he being asked so many questions about Earth's defenses? --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A humorous review
I really just bought this DVD for the one episode, 1969, where Teal'c gets hair and they meet hippies. Fun times. But there's a hidden gem in here: "One False Step" is a real cracker-upper. Those aliens look like teletubbies!! watch for it and you'll see what I mean. The early episodes of this show are so fun to make fun of! Here's another question to giggle over: why do they never leave Canada? Ever considered it? Announcer: "Meanwhile, back in northern canada, our crew was facing some mighty opposition..." ... Read more

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Scattered through the five episodes contained on this fourth DVD from Stargate SG-1's first season are echoes of such science fiction classics as The Terminator (the cyborgs in "Tin Man"), Aliens (Carter's maternal instincts in "Singularity"), and Planet of the Apes (the story twist in "Solitudes"), along with such popular themes as cloning ("Tin Man" again) and the might-makes-right preoccupation of the military ("Enigma"). So the show is derivative. Stargate SG-1 still does a better job than most of creating engaging stories--such as "Cor-ai," which deals with issues of retribution and forgiveness when Teal'c (Christopher Judge) is put on trial for his actions when he was still a Goa'uld henchman. And let's face it: the effect of going into and through the gate itself never gets old. What is lacking are superior DVD bonus materials; here they include a featurette spotlighting Carter (Amanda Tapping) and an overview of the show that provides more promo than the promised behind-the-scenes insights. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The apex of the first season of "Stargate SG-1"
Volume 4 is the best single DVD out for Season 1 of "Stargate SG-1," which you will discover in due course after you have gone through the pilot movie and the episodes on the previous three discs. When the series begins its 8th season next year it will become the second longest running science fiction television series in the history of the universe (people keep guessing "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is number one but the answer is "The X-Files"), and such longevity is not a surprise given how great a first season they put together:

Episode 14, "Cor-ai" (Written by Tom J. Astle, Aired January 23, 1998) finds O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) and the SG-1 team traveling to P3X1279, which Teal'c (Christopher Judge) announces is Chartago, one of the favorite worlds from which the Goa'ulds like to gather human hosts for their larvae. Unfortunately, one of the locals, Hanno (David McNally) recognizes Teal'c as the Jaffa who killed his father. For this crime Teal'c stands trial. O'Neill and Carter try to defend their friend, but Teal'c freely admits to having killed Hanno's father and seems resigned to his fate. The outcome is rather predictable, but the key conflict here ends up being not between Hanno and Teal'c but between Teal'c and O'Neill. 4 Stargates.

Episode 15, "Singularity (Written by Robert C. Cooper, Aired October 31, 1997) has the SG-1 team traveling to P8X987 where another SG team had been getting ready to observe a black hole. But when they get there a strange disease has killed everyone on the planet except for a little girl named Cassandra (Katie Stuart ). Carter (Amanda Tapping) brings Cassandra back to Earth and the two quickly establish a strong bond. That is why Carter is upset when they learn that Cassandra's chest pains are caused by a metallic device growing around the child's heart. The device was planted by the Goa'uld to destroy the Stargate on Earth and as the bomb counts down to detonation Carter has to make some tough choices. This is a gut wrenching episode that gives Tapping a chance to shine as her character's emotions and intellect come colliding together over a frightened little girl. The resolution of this episode does justice to both. 5 Stargates.

Episode 16, "Enigma" (Written by Katharyn Powers, Aired January 30, 1998) sends SG-1 to Tollan, a planet with an erupting volcano and dead bodies all around its Stargate. The team rescues the few survivors they can find but back on Earth the Tollans are not at all grateful. Omoc (Tobin Bell), their leader, dismisses Earth as a primitive society and wants to be sent to a suitably advanced world. He also refuses to say anything about his people's advanced technology, which is a constant source of pressure from above on General Hammond (Don S. Davis). It seems that once upon a time the Tollan shared their technology with a planet like Earth, which then destroyed itself. SG-1 has encountered relatively few advanced races on its trips to date, so dealing with the Tollan is a welcomed change of pace and underscore the pressures from up high that will set up the cliffhanger to the first season. "Enigma" offers up another satisfactory resolution and shows that the story editors are paying attention to what has been going on. 4.5 Stargates.

Episode 17, "Tin Man" (Written by Jeff King, Aired February 13, 1998) begins with the members of SG-1 being dropped by an electrical charge as soon as they arrive on PX3989. They wake up to find Harlan (Jay Brazeau), a strange little fellow who claims to be 11,000 years old and is the only one of his people left in this giant underground lab. SG-1 returns home, over Harlan's objections, and are stunned when Dr. Frasier (Teryl Rother) finds they are all machines. O'Neill finds this particularly hard to swallow because he still thinks he is himself. To make things worse, they have to return to Harlan's world before they run out of power or end up dead. Back on PX3989 they discover that Harlan is also an android (or robot or whatever) and that he has done this to help him take care of the lab and to ease his loneliness. This is another episode where I am impressed by Richard Dean Anderson, who brings some nice nuances to O'Neill as a robot (or android) that thinks he is human. The final scene on this one is a hoot. 4.5 Stargates.

Episode 18, "Solitudes" (Written by Brad Wright, Aired February 6, 1998) finds the Stargate malfunctioning when SG-1 is retreating from a shootout on a hostile planet. Daniel Jackson and Teal'c make it back home, but O'Neill and Carter end up in an icy cavern on an unknown planet. O'Neill has suffered a broken leg and punctured lung, which means it is up to Carter to find and repair the Stargate so they can get back to Stargate Command, where Dr. Jackson is trying to narrow the odds on where rescue teams should look to find their comrades. Another classic episode with Tapping and Anderson working off each other all alone somewhere out there. 5 Stargates.

The common denominator on these episodes is that with the exception of the first one they all over very impressive resolutions to the dilemmas confronting our band of adventurers. I especially liked the twist on the last one. If Volume 2 showcased the acting talents of Richard Dean Anderson, then Amanda Tapping is the one who has the two standout performances in this quintet (and we still have the cliffhanger for the first season left to go).

Another must see for late comers
All of these episodes are winners & are great viewing. In addition, three of the episodes on this DVD contain background stories of characters who have shown up in more recent seasons. With 5 episodes on this DVD you can't go wrong buying it! Lots of good viewing for the money.
1. Cor-ai - Teal'c on trial for war crimes. An interesting plot & good story line.
2. Singularity - the background story of Cassandra, the girl who shows up in season 6 as a telepathic teenager.
3. Enigma - introduction of the Tollan people & Nareen, who figure prominently into later episodes.
4. Tin Man - Harlan, a lonely sole survivor of an alien race transfers the SG-1 team into androids. Harlan & the androids also show up in a later season.
5. Solitudes - Carter & O'Neill are trapped inside an "ice planet" when the gate malfunctions during their return to Earth. "Cool" ending, (pun intended), and an enjoyable episode. Also introduces some possibilities for other stories that haven't been explored yet.
Featurette on Capt. Carter was typical "bonus material." No real insights or new information. Behind the Scenes Feature was some better. Don't buy it for the bonus material, buy it for the shows.

Great Cast & show
This has been a great series cant wait for the rest of the seasons to come out. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

confusion
I think it is amazing the amazon can't seem to get this right. Is it collections? Is it 2.1, 2.2, etc? I took a tip from other reviews and went to bestbuy and got what I want. It was more expensive, but my time is a premium to me. All I wanted was order. Good luck finding it here.

Confusion still rules
After spending more time than I would like to admit, on trying to figure out what combination of Andromeda Season 2 Volumes and or Collections I would have to order to end up with a complete Season 2, I stumbled upon the customer reviews for Season 2 Collection 4. I was amazed that people were having the same problem over 6 months ago. What is amazing is that Amazon has yet to fix the problem. I guess I'll give up like they did and buy this at Best Buy.

We want to know the EPISODE NUMBERS!
A couple of the reviews below pointed out why I didn't buy this from Amazon. I don't know what I'm getting. I know the EPISODE sequence of the show. I know what I don't have...I DON'T know that this collection will give me EP
The Dance of the Mayflies
In Heaven Now are Three
The Fair Unknown
Immaculate Perception
The Knight, Death and the Devil
And if I don't KNOW that I'm going to get it from Amazon I'm not buying from them.

I'll buy mine elsewhere
If Amazon isn't going to correct this problem then I'll purchase mine elsewhere.

Andromeda: Season 2, Collection 4
This is not so much a review as an explanation of the "error" described in the prior review posted by another customer. There is not really an "error" on the part of the manufacturer, but rather confusion in the way our partners at Amazon.com have chosen to list the products.

I have tried to explain this "problem" to Amazon's customer service group before, but failed to get the point across.

The Andromeda series is being offered up in two separate DVD "formats", if you will... One being in "volumes" which contain two episodes on a single DVD and the other being "collections" containing four or five episodes on two DVD's.

Amazon has mis-matched these and the listing for "collection" number four shows the cover art for "volume" four - this is why the episodes don't match.

Since I could not get Amazon Customer Service to acknowledge the problem and tell me which was the collection and which was the volume, I just bought the title at my local Best Buy.

It turned out the collections were cheaper at BB and with no shipping charges. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

More headaches fro the Goa'uld for Jack and the SG-1 team
At the end of Season 2 of "Stargate SG-1," Hathor (Suanne Braun) was holding out a parasite to the human members of SG-1 and wondering which one of them was going to be the new host for this Goa'uld. Volume 1 of Season 3 resolves that cliffhanger and then gets the SG-1 gang back to the normal Stargate range of problems:

Episode 1, "Into the Fire" (Written by Brad Wright, Aired June 25, 1999) finds things getting worse for SG-1 as Hathor decides Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) should be the host. Meanwhile there two ongoing efforts to rescue SG-1. The first is on Earth with General Hammond (Don S. Davis) and Colonel Makepeace (Steve Makaj, while the other is on Chulak, where Teal'c (Christopher Judge) has joined forces with Bra'tac (Tony Amendola). Obviously the idea is to get the show back to "normal" by the end of this season premier episode, and while this was an interesting cliffhanger, it pales in comparison to what we had a season earlier. Solid but not specatular. Four Stargates.

Episode 2, "Seth" (Written by Jonathan Glassner, Aired July 2, 1999) has Jacob Carter (Carmen Argenziano), Sam's father and Earth's liaison to the Tok'ra, visiting SGC to report that the Goa'uld Seth (Robert Duncan) has been hiding out on Earth ever since the Stargate was buried in Egypt several thousands years back. Apparently Seth has managed to keep on being worshipped as a god having formed the Cult of Seth. Meanwhile, Jacob has some unresolved issues with his son. The idea of a Gao'uld doing a cult is a good one, but over thousand of years he has never tried to go global? I do not think so, Jack. 4 Stargates.

Episode 3, "Fair Game" (Written by Robert C. Cooper, Aired July 9, 1999) starts off with Carter (Amanda Tapping) finally being promoted to Major and O'Neill being whisked away in mid-sentence by the Asgard. It seems the Gao'uld thinks that killing Hathor makes Earth a threat, so the System Lords want to pay a visit. However, the Asgard want to mediate a non-aggression treaty between the humans and the System Lords to that Earth is one of the planets protected by the Asgard (and you thought intergalatic treaties were confusing in the "Star Trek" universe). The negotiations are compounded by the fact that apparently some System Lords are more trustworthy than others. I am not sure what the point is in trying to suggest the Gao'uld are not the bad guys of the series, so this one comes with a grain of salt. 4 Stargates.

Episode 4, "Legacy" (Written by Tor Alexander Valenza, Aired July 16, 2003) is where Daniel (Michael Shanks) goes insane and SG-1 has to deal with Ma'chello's anti-Goa'uld technology. Of course, Daniel is not really insane and there is a tangible threat to Earth behind what is happening. This is the best episode in Volume 1, mainly on the basis of Shanks' performance and the way in which the truth slowly emerges. We know he cannot really be insane, but figuring out what is really going on is difficult. 5 Stargates.

Although she is not the focus of any of these episodes, Sam Carter is showing some interesting abilities off of the Goa'uld protein marker left by Jolinar of Malkshur. These are all solid episodes but none of them qualify as "Stargate SG-1" classics and the best of Season 3 is yet to come. ... Read more

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This fifth and final DVD from Stargate SG-1's first season contains three episodes that, unlike the rest of the show, are intended to be viewed in sequence. In the first, "There but for the Grace of God," Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks, a dead ringer for James Spader, who played the role in the feature film) finds himself in a parallel reality in which the dreaded Goa'ulds are attacking Earth. In the second episode, "Politics," the SG-1 team goes head-to-head with a sardonic, ignorant senator bent on closing the gate down; numerous flashbacks from earlier shows are included. "Within the Serpent's Grasp," the season finale, has the Goa'ulds actually on their way to Earth, with our heroes the only ones capable of stopping them. But be warned: this episode is a cliffhanger as well, so those who missed the second season when it aired will just have to wait until it's released on DVD, too. However, we're guessing everything turned out OK. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (3)

"Stargate SG-1" ends Season 1 with a great cliffhanger
I suppose you could complain that there are only three episodes on Volume 5 of the "Stargate SG-1" Season 1 DVD collection, but that seems a minor matter given we are talking about the final three episodes from the best first season of a dramatic science fiction series ever (as in way better than "Star Trek: The Next Generation," better than "Farscape" and "Star Trek: Voyager," and even slightly better than season one of "The X-Files"). Besides, there is a thematic unity to this trio of episodes:

Episode 19, "There But For the Grace of God" (Story by David Kemper, Teleplay by Robert C. Cooper, Aired February 20, 1998) has Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) stepping through the looking glass he finds in an alien Stargate complex on P3R233. When he returns through the Stargate he finds himself in an alternative reality on an Earth where the Goa'uld have killed millions and are about to take Stargate Command. This is a world where Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) is the general and George Hammond (Don S. Davis) the Colonel at Cheyenne Mountain. But Dr. Jackson is able to convince Elizabeth Hoffman (Catherine Langford) that he is speaking the truth and as the base is attacked by Teal'c (Christopher Judge), who is still the head Jaffa of Apophis it is clear it is too late to save this Earth. But there happens to be another one out there to which the Goa'ulds are also on their way. This episode gives you all of the fun elements you expect to find in an alternative reality program (Samantha Carter with long hair), but it also provides the first half of the equation for the first season's cliffhanger. 5 Stargates.

Episode 20, "Politics" (Written by Brad Wright, Aired February 27, 1998) has Senator Kinsey (Ronny Cox) showing up with Lt. Colonel Samuels (Robert Wisden) in toe, ready to bring his righteous legislative fury down on the heads of Stargate Command. Dr. Jackson warns that the Goa'ulds are on their way, but the Senator only wants to talk about how wasteful and dangerous (in that order) the Stargate program has been. This is one way of reviewing the highpoints of the first season and we all know that Ronny Cox can play a powerful jerk as well as anyone (remember him on "St. Elsewhere"?). Yes, the ending is rather predictable, but clearly the point is to set in place the season finale. 4 Stargates.

Episode 21, "Within the Serpent's Grasp" (Story by James Crocker, Teleplay by Jonathan Glassner, Aired March 6, 1998) ends the first season with a pretty good cliffhanger. The bad news is that Stargate has been ordered shut down, but even worse a pair of Goa'uld ships are on their way to Earth. SG-1 intends to go down fighting and goes through the Stargate on a final, unauthorized mission to the location that they think is the point of origin for the attack. But they are in for a major rude awakening and O'Neill in particular is going to be stunned by what they find. I really do not want to spoil the rest of the fun for you. Is this as great a cliffhanger as "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I"? No, but nothing is so that is a moot point. The only problem is that "SG-1" is going to have a hard time topping this one (or maybe not; these writers are pretty good). 5 Stargates.

True, there are minimal DVD extras in this series, even on this volume where there are only the three episodes and plenty of space. But the good news is that Season 2 of "Stargate SG-1" is available so you do not have to wait a long time to find out what happens next. This series is going to become the second longest running science fiction television series of all time, behind "The X-Files," when it starts its eighth season. However, that is not all that surprising when you see how the solid premise for this series was developed during this great first season.

AWESOME! This DVD ROCKS!
If you can only have 1 DVD from the first season, THIS IS IT! Don't let the low number of episodes on the disk fool you, this DVD is well worth buying. The 3 episodes are not only meant to be viewed in order but they are also carry a very intertwined and on going story line.
Episode #19, There But For The Grace of God, is about Daniel's trip to an alternate universe where he gets a glimpse of a possible future for his universe. It is helpful if you had seen the previous episode, Torment of Tantulus, but not required. Very action packed episode.
Episode #20, Politics, takes up literally where #19 leaves off, with the SG-1 team cleaning up from the previous mission. An evil budget cutting senator is out to get the Stargate program and the team must justify it's existance in a hearing. Ends as a To Be Continued.
Episode #21, Within the Serpent's Grasp, is the season finale and begins with the SG-1 team AWOL in an attempt to thwart the Goa'uld attack against Earth and justify the existance of the Stargate program. Another "To Be" episode that leaves you hanging and wanting more.

Finally
I love this show. It took them long enough to put this out though. ... Read more

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Prepare for a science lesson (one of the series' strengths) in "A Matter of Time" as the gang ponders how to resist a black hole's pull. A voice from the past demands to be heard through Colonel O'Neill's lips in "Fifth Race." "The Serpent's Song" is a cry for help from the team's nemesis--Apophis--who they've been fighting since the beginning. It's a morality showcase all-round. While attempting a vacation in "Holiday," the team just can't leave alien artifacts alone, which gets them into all kinds of trouble playing with Ma'chello's body-swapping machine. This episode gives everyone a fantastic opportunity to impersonate one another. --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (1)

SG-1 saves the world (again) but will they save Apophis?
Somebody asked me the other day what my favorite television show was and I had to stop and think for a moment because the answer I have been given for the past six years, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," ended its run. So I went through all of the shows I watch regularly and found that the one I enjoyed the most, season after season, episode after episode, has probably been "Stargate SG-1." This DVD offering up Volume 4 of Season 2 provides evidence of the quality of this science fiction series and why Richard Dean Anderson turns out to have one of the drollest sense of humor seen on this planet or any other:

Episode 15, "The Fifth Race" (Written by Robert C. Cooper, Aired January 22, 1999) begins when a probe comes back from P3R-272 showing characters carved into the wall resembling one of the four languages inscribed on the wall of Heliopolis, the great meeting place of the four ancient races. This means Daniel Jackson is all excited since this could well be a clue to contacting one of those great races to help in the conflict with the Goa'uld. However, when they investigate, an alien device grabs O'Neill's head, and he collapses. Back as SG-1 O'Neill checks out but then starts acting weird: he starts speaking words in an ancient, alien language and then moves on to adding new Stargates into the computer database. Eventually these strange new abilities will lead O'Neill to an encounter with the Asgard and the identity of the fifth race. Obviously this is an episode with profound implications for down the road, but watching O'Neill use 90 percent of his brain is a hoot as well (5 Stargates).

Episode 16, "The Serpent's Song" (Story by Misha Rashovich, Teleplay by Brad Wright, Aired January 29, 1999) is where SG-10 dials up a real wrong number on their first mission when they gate to a world on the edge of a black hole. Unable to disengage the Stargate, the time-distorting gravity field threatens to destroy the earth as well. In addition to the threat to all life on the planet, there is the grim fact that even if earth is saved, nothing can be done for SG-10. Meanwhile, the black hole has enveloped SCG in a time bubble a lot slower than the rest of the world. Meanwhile, O'Neill has to put up with an unexpected visit from an old "friend." This is one of those episodes where the human drama is better than the imminent crisis (5 Stargates).

Episode 17, "Holiday" (Written by Tor Alexnader Valenza, Aired February 5, 1999) SG-1 discovers a room filled with advanced technology presided over by Ma'chello, an elderly scientist who has devoted his life to developing weapons to fight the Goa'uld. Ma'chello uses one of his devices to switch bodies with Daniel Jackson, however this turns out to be just the first in what eventually becomes a comic series of body jumps. This is one of those episodes where the comic contrivances are more enjoyable than the crisis, as the members of SG-1 take turns acting like each other (4 Stargates).

Episode 18, "Serpent's Song" (Written by Katharyn Powers, Aired February 12, 1999) takes an unbelievable turn as Apophis asks SGC for sanctuary from Sokar. Because he was defeated in his attempt to take over the earth, Apophis lost his status as a System Lord. Unable to regenerate in a sarcophagus, Apophis is dying in the infirmary and willing to bargain for his life. This engenders a big debate regarding Apophis, the Tok'ra, Sokar, and even the Egyptian host that Apophis has been using for all these centuries. Each of the SG-1 members gets a chance to spend a little personal time with Apophis, rehashing some shared memories. Then Sokar attacks through the Stargate and things become more urgent. "Serpent's Song" is a surprising episode, given that none of us ever thought the Apophis plot line would end with a whimper and not a bang (4 Stargates).

These four episodes are a good indication of the strength and scope of "Stargate SG-1." You have a couple of episodes dealing with the big picture regarding the Goa'uld, a couple of episodes emphasizing comedy, and several nice examples of pathos. This is just one of these series that you need to watch from the beginning because context means a lot in your enjoyment of these episodes. ... Read more

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Teal'c gets stung by a giant insect in "Bane," and Colonel Jack O'Neill is crippled in "Spirits." The best episodes are the two parts of "The Tok'ra." Captain Samantha Carter's estranged father is dying of cancer, but her obligations sway her toward saving a member of the Goa'uld renegade Tok'ra who is also dying. Although the resolution may seem apparent a mile off, the series takes one of many brave steps in not chickening out at the last moment. There may only be preliminary goodwill established between Earth and the rebels, but the dangling thread bodes well. In "Touchstone" the team is accused of stealing a gem from the planet Madrona that controls its climate. The revelation of who really stole it causes ripples in the pond back on Earth. --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Carter's relationship with her father comes to a head
You have to take the good and the bad with Volume 3 of Season 2 of "Stargate SG-1," which has already convinced me that when I start naming the best shows on television it should be included in the fingers on the first hand that I use. The good has to do with Captain Carter and the bad has to do with Colonel Maybourne:

Episode 10, "Bane" (Written by Robert C. Cooper, Aired by September 25, 1998) is the one where Teal'c (Christopher Judge) gets stung by a giant insect and starts turning into something else. To make things worse, Colonel Maybourne (Tom McBeath) takes Teal'c away from Stargate Command because he wants the infection or whatever it is to run its course, so that means SG-1 to the rescue. Unfortunately "Bane" has a couple of mine, the first being that Jack has not decked Maybourne yet, and the second being any episode of any science fiction series where the characters start mutating. I buy the mutating part, but the getting back to genetic square one at the end of the episode always bothers me. Three Stargates.

Episode 12, "Spirits" (Written by Tor Alexander Valenza, Aired October 23, 1998) finds SG-1 visiting a planet inhabited by Native American Indians, who claim to be protected by spirits who turn out to be advanced alien shapeshifters. To make things more interesting, O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) gets hit by an arrow shot through the Stargate, so Captain Carter (Amanda Tapping) gets to be in charge of the mission. This episode has some interesting ideas but when General Hammond (Don S. Davis) decides to repeat history and advocates taking the trinium they want, that seems a bit much. Fortunately, the spirits are a lot stronger this time around. Four Stargates.

The relationship between Samantha Carter and her father, Jacob (Carmen Argenziano), who is dying of cancer, is at the emotional heart of the two-parts of "The Tok'ra." For the first half of Season 2 there have been several awkward encounters between Carter and her father, with him trying to pull strings to get her into the astronaut core and her refusing to give up her work without being able to explain she to her father that she has already done more than all of NASA's astronauts combined. In Episode 11, "The Tok'ra, Part 1" (Written by Jonathan Glassner, October 2, 1998) SG-1 makes contact with the Tok'ra, the Goa'uld resistance movement that opposes the System Lords, and tries to make an alliance. However, the Tok'ra not only reject the idea, they will not let SG-1 and SG-3 return to Earth, where Sam's father is dying. Pretty good, and it gets better. Five Stargates.

Episode 12, "The Tok'ra, Part 2" (Written by Jonathan Glassner, October 10, 1998) centers on trying to resolve the impass between the SG teams and the Tok'ra, which comes down to Carter finding out that the symbiote can cure cancer. Besides having a rather satisfying emotional payoff to the relationship between Carter and her father, there are some long range implications to the conclusion of this one. This was is more an important episode than a classic "Stargate SG-1" episode, but there is nothing wrong with that. Five Stargates.

Episode 15, "Touchstone" (Written by Sam Egan, Aired October 30, 1998) has Maybourne back causing trouble again for the second time on this DVD. SG-1 is accused of stealing an weather-controlling device that is wrecking havoc on a planet, but it turns out that whoever did it went through the other Stargate on earth. Gee, whoever could be doing that? Even on the dark side of U.S. policy the government has to go behind its own back. Another episode that has long range implications for the series. Five Stargates.

Overall this volume has episodes that are clearly more important in terms of Stargate's mythology than being classics per se, but there are some important things that happen here, especially for Captain Carter.

great stories, great DVD
I bought this disk just to have the 2 episodes about the Tok'ra but it has some other great episodes too.
Ep. 10, Bane, is about Te'alc being stung by a giant insect. Yeah, right, sounded hokey to me too. But the NID twist & the ever resent Col. Mayborne makes this a good story.
Ep. 11 & 12, The Tok'ra parts I & II. More information on the mysterious, good-guy Gou'alds. But more importantly the story behind Capt Carter's dad, Jacob Carter, becoming a Tok'ra host.
Ep. 13, in Spirits, Native Americans on another world have been adopted by aliens impersonating the spirits of the native american religion. A mediocre story line with a weak ending.
Ep. 14, Touchstone. The Touchstone, an alien weather controlling device, is stolen by someone impersonating the SG team. Don't let the title fool you, the real story is less about an alien device and more about mystery & intrigue. Spies, espionage and that pesky Col. Mayborne again make this episode a favorite. It also continues the story of the 2nd stargate discovered in the Antartic in the Season I episode, Solitudes.

Solid Entertainment
I have the Stargate SG1 DVDs for both season 1 and 2 and I am eagerly, if not impatiently, awaiting the release of the other seasons.

I have had them now for about 3 weeks and have watched all of them at least 3 times.

I highly recommend this series to everyone. The storylines, the cast, the props and the presentation are all excellent.

I am hoping that the producers will produce some feature length movies with the same cast and characters (with some new story lines of course).

I have some favorite episodes: The Nox, The Enigma, etc. ... Read more

Description

After a few too many clashes with his superiors, brash agent Nick Slaughter find himself out of the Drug Enforcement Administration and on the beautiful atoll of Key Mariah.What appears as a calm, idyllic setting for retirement quickly proves to have more than enough work for Nick and his more rational counterpart, partner Sylvie Gerard.The appearance of dead bodies, drug running and beach women all draw Nick into a series of steamy new adventures. EPISODE 3 - FOWL PLAY:This episode is strictly for the birds.Nick is persuaded by Sylvie to take on the case of some dead rare exotic birds found on a local beach.The client is an overzealous, yet perky naturalist with hidden animal magnetism.The scent from the expensive poultry leads the two straight to some animal smugglers and a deranged reptile lover.The adventure is crawling with poisonous and slimy characters, and the reptiles are dangerous also.In solving the case, Nick and his client fit in a little romance with some odd mating rituals and help from a mouthy parrot. EPISODE 4 - SHE:Nick faces his past in this heart-touching episode.If the pain of a broken heart is not enough, Veronica, his old flame, is nothing but trouble for Nick.First, this beautiful blonde gets him fired from his DEA position five years ago, and now she returns with yet another favor to ask of him.She's found a wealthy older man to marry and wants to forget her drug days, but an old druggie buddy threatens to blackmail and expose her ugly past.The suspense builds to murder, voodoo and the occult with passion and action abound. ... Read more

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Concluding the cliffhanger from the end of Stargate SG-1's first season, "The Serpent's Lair" is a rollercoaster of wit, plot twists, and cutting-edge special effects as the SG-1 team resign themselves to a suicide mission. Then it's a case of ignorance of the law being no excuse in "Prisoners," as they wind up in a penal colony striking a deal with someone who will have a far-reaching influence on their future. In "In the Line of Duty," Sam is stalked by an assassin after a rescue mission. She saves someone in the most unique of ways--by taking over as host of their Goa'uld symbiont. This introduction of Jolinar is a key to much of the continuing story line. Dwight Schultz guest stars in "The Gamekeeper" in a garden that forces the team to puzzle their way out of reliving secrets of the past. But all is not what it seems. --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Bra'tac
This set is a must for all Bra'tac fans - and people who think
Jack could use a sock in the mouth for some of his uppity
behavior :) Bra'tac in "The Serpent's Lair" pretends to capture
the team then reveals himself and chews them out.
They come up with a plan, or as Bra'tac would say,
"You will do as I tell you".

The other episodes on the dvd are great as well, we get
introduced to Jolinar and the idea of a Tok'ra, and get to
see the group get tormented in The Gamekeeper.

But basically - get this dvd if you are a Bra'tac fan!
*does Bra'tac glare*

A couple of new plot threads and two great guest stars
When last we left our heroes SG-1 was on a Goa'uld warship heading for Earth and with that rather dramatic cliffhanger we begin Season 2 of "Stargate SG-1." Adding insult to injury, the ship is commanded by Klorel, the "son" of Apophis, who possesses the body of Skaara (Alexis Cruz). By the end of the DVD it is clear that the series that had the best first season in the history of science fiction television is going to be even better:

Episode 1, "The Serpent's Lair" (Written by Brad Wright, Aired June 26, 1998) the SG-1 team is now on a suicide mission having planted explosives on the warship. Unfortunately, there is more than one Goa'uld ship on its way to Earth. Then they are captured by Bra'tac (Tony Amendola), Teal'c's Jaffa mentor who also wants to free his people from the control of Apophis (Peter Williams). Bra'tac has a plan to stop both warships but the SG-1 crew will still end up just as dead and Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) still wants to free Skaara from Klorel's control. Meanwhile, back at Cheyenne Mountain there is a frantic effort to save part of American culture by sending people through the Stargate to an Alpha Site. General Hammond (Don S. Davis) is also preparing to defend the base as long as possible and is finding lots of subtle ways of telling Lt. Colonel Samuels (Robert Wisden), "I told you so, you arrogant jerk." Just because we have ever reason to believe the Earth is not going to be conquered at the end of the episode does not take away from the fun. 4.5 Stargates.

Episode 2, "In the Line of Duty" (Written by Robert C. Cooper, Aired July 3, 1998) introduces a major new element into the series. SG-1 is sent to Nasya to rescue survivors of a Goa'uld attack. When she resuscitates a wounded man Dr. Carter (Amanda Tapping) is taken over by a Goa'uld and the only one who notices when SG-1 gets back home in young Cassandra (Katie Stuart). Eventually O'Neill catches on and we learn that the Goa'uld in Carter is Jolinar of Malkshur, a leader of the Tok-ra Goa'ulds, a group in rebellion against the system lords. The threat, he tells them, comes not from himself but from an assassin who will kill him by killing Carter. Clearly in this second season there is an emphasis on expanding the show's roster of good Goa'ulds. An above average episode involving paranoia at Stargate Command with long-range implications for the season and the series. 4.5 Stargates.

Episode 3, "Prisoners" (Written by Terry Curtis Fox, Aired July 10, 1998) are exploring a planet when a frantic fleeing man begs to be saved from his pursuers. However, the man turns out to be a murderer fleeing justice and by helping him the SG-1 team is judged guilty of the same crime and receives the same punishment: life imprisonment on the prison world Hadante. Oddly enough, the person who appears to be in charge in this brutal environment is Linea (Bonnie Barlett), an old woman who actually strikes fear into the hearts of the prisoners. Linea is a scientist and if she can power the Stargate with a cold fusion power source, then SG-1 will help her escape with them. This certainly sounds like a good deal, especially since General Hammond is making little progress in negotiating the team's release from their captors. However, things just do not add up and the question is whether SG-1 can rework the math in time. Hopefully down the road there will be a sequel to "Prisoners," but even if there is not it will remain a classic episode with a great payoff at the end. 5 Stargates.

Episode 4 "The Gamekeeper" (Written by Jonathan Glassner & Brad Wright, Teleplay by Glassner, Aired July 17, 1998) offers the comic relief on this volume with guest star Dwight Schultz who plays the Keeper. The SG-1 team travels to P7J989 where they find a beautiful garden and a dome containing metallic chambers housing unconscious humanoids. While inspecting some empty chambers the team is ensnared. The next thing we know O'Neil and Teal'c are reliving a mission Jack had in his younger days where he lost a man. One of the members of his team was Captain Kawalsky (Jay Acovone). Meanwhile, Dr. Jackson and Captain Carter relive the accident that killed his parents. As soon as each scenario ends it restarts as if nothing had happened. Both O'Neil and Jackson try to change "history," but nothing works and eventually they both decided they do not want to play this sick game anymore. That is when the Keeper (Schultz) shows up and explains they are being given a chance to make things right. But the more the Keeper explains the situation and the rules, the more it becomes clear he is hiding something. I can only imagine how many times they had to reshoot scenes because the cast was breaking up at Schultz's vocal affectation. Even the most innocent lines become a real hoot with that voice he created for this character. There is a slight hole in the episode in terms of the inability of O'Neill and Jackson to save these lives (O'Neill's soldiers apparently do not know how to do a standard reconnaissance of a building they want to attack), but Schultz's performance redeems such problems. 4.5 Stargates.

One classic episode and three above average adventures is pretty good for a single volume of "Stargate SG-1" episodes, but if you have been working your way diligently through the first season and beyond then you should be completely hooked on this intelligently crafted science fiction series. I am most impressed by the effort to work in new elements right from the start of Season 2 to set up some important moments down the road. You also have a pair of excellent guest stars in Barlett and Schultz.

More Great Episodes From Season 2
Another great set of episodes from the 2nd season. The Serpent's Lair is of course the 2nd part to first season's cliff hanger finale. You'll love this episode even if you didn't see the first half of it. They also do a terrific job of filling you in on the previous episode so you don't feel lost.
In the Line of Duty is the introduction of the Tok'ra and specifically Jolinar who is mentioned repeatedly throughout the duration of the series. The episode itself it kind of thin, but it introduces and lays a foundation for later story lines.
Prisoners is more intense & will keep you guessing until the end. The crew is stranded on a prison planet because of crimes they unknowingly committed. They manage to rescue themselves by befriending another convict who was also seemingly misconvicted. Exciting end and lots of potential for future plots.
The Gamekeeper episode is rather shallow & not up to usual Stargate standards. Once again I felt like I was watching a take off on an old Star Trek episode. Still a couple of good episodes and one outstanding one make this DVD well worth the money! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

developing story lines
Five great episodes on this DVD develope some of the existing story lines and explore new territory.
Ep. 5, Need, is about chemical dependancy and overcoming a god-complex.
Ep. 6, Thor's Chariot, is a great episode and further developement of the story of the alien race that protects Earth. One of the 2 episodes that make this disk worth buying.
In Ep. 7, Message in a Bottle, the team brings home an "artifact" that decides to take over Earth.
Ep. 8, Family, revisits the planet Chulak in order to save Teal'C's son. Unfortunately he doesn't want to be rescued, and endangers the team and the planet Earth.
Ep. 9, Secrets, is a double plot episode that brings back Daniel Jackson's wife as he attempts to save her from the Goa'uld that has taken her for a host. At the same time Carter & O'Neill are off in Washington to receive a medal for what they did in Ep. 1, The Serpent's Lair. While there O'Neill is confronted by a reporter who threatens to blow the cover on the Stargate program, and Carter is confronted by a dying father who wants her to quit what she's doing to pursue her dream of becoming an astronaut. Key points of this episode are the introduction of Jacob Carter who plays prominently in later episodes, and Daniel finally getting to see his wife again. This episode is THE reason to buy this disk.

I highly recommend this DVD for anyone who wants some good basic episodes for viewing, or for those who want to revisit the history behind some of the current season's stories. ... Read more