5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great series of personal episodes for the SG-1 crew, July 19, 2003
This review is from: Stargate SG-1 Season 1, Vol. 3: Episodes 9-13 (DVD)
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).
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Voice of Apophis, November 18, 2002
This review is from: Stargate SG-1 Season 1, Vol. 3: Episodes 9-13 (DVD)
Hi, folks have complained about the voice of Apophis being inaudible on "The Nox" episode. I think this has to do with the surround sound setup on the disk. So, the voice is there, but if you don't have surround sound, you need to set your dvd player up properly so that it isn't doing surround sound output. Else Apophis is broadcast on channels you don't have, and you can't hear him.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Can't Imagine it Getting Better Than This, May 2, 2005
This review is from: Stargate SG-1 Season 1, Vol. 3: Episodes 9-13 (DVD)
Stargate SG-1: Season 1: Vol. 3 contains five episodes of the remarkable made-for-TV series based on the sci-fi movie Stargate. Richard Dean Anderson stars in the role Kurt Russell played in the movie, tough guy Colonel O'Neil.
"The Torment of Tantalus" - Deeply touching episode that has got to be one of SG-1's best. The old lady who was in the original movie is back. More about her past and her role with the Stargate is revealed.
"Bloodlines" - Til'c is a traitor on his home world, yet he goes back to rescue his young son from the Glou'ld ceremony. This ep was kind of a ripoff in my opinion.
"Fire and Water" - Eerily similar to a Star Trek episode in set, characters, etc. Daniel is held prisoner by an alien who is convinced Daniel has knowledge of his missing mate. Touching and well-done episode.
"The Nox" - The best episode on this disc, and my favorite in the SG-1 series so far. The Nox are a people who look like a cross between the Lorax and Hobbits. A peaceful forest people with incredible powers of healing, the Nox are targeted by Adophis and his vicious Jafa guard. I was so moved by this episode. I will never forget it. "Fear not . . . "
"Hathor" - The hot babe Hathor, Egyption version of Aphrodite, charms all the men on base. It is up to the women of SG-1 to save the day!
There is a bonus featurette about General Hammond. Don Davis talks about the character he portrays. We learn Davis really was an army captain in the 60's. I love it when he talks about growing up in the Ozark Mountains.
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