User Reviews

This is a very important episode in the series' early development. Not only did it establish the existence of the Asgard prior to their debut in Season Two but it also proved conclusively that the host's personality survives (which was only hinted at in "The Enemy Within"), features the first reference to the System Lords and is the first episode to suggest that the Goa'uld did not create the Stargates.

Aside from its importance, it's also a wonderful episode in terms of quality. The two story lines complement each other well and Kendra is a very engaging character, probably one of the most important one-off characters in the series' history as the ramifications of learning that something of the host survives would resonate throughout the rest of the series. It's a shame that she did not return in "Thor's Chariot". I also really liked the scenes in the labyrinth in which Jack and Teal'c confront Unas as, aside from being well written and acted, they provide more insight into Goa'uld history with the revelation that they once took hosts which were far more formidable than humans.

The scene in which Daniel has to decide to destroy the Hammer is probably my favourite of the episode as you can tell how torn he is between potentially being able to save Sha're and Skaara and saving Teal'c then and there. It's a nice early example of how much the team already meant to each other, best exemplified by Jack's statement that Teal'c is "part of this family now."

Before Ra ever took over the body of Jaye Davidson, the Unas were the original Goa'Uld hosts- Creatures both Intelligent, and in this episode, malicious and evil.

While the Goa'Uld were out masquerading as less than beneficent gods, another race was also pretending- to be the Norse gods. This yet unnamed race- assumed to be called "The Asgard" had set up a planet "Cimmeria" that was protected by Thor's very own hammer.

Daniel Jackson's book-worming's have shown him the way to where he thinks Thor's Hammer is situated... But it is not the kind of weapon SG-1 thinks it is. Through a slight misadventure, Jack is trapped with Teal'c- and there are no Doughnut's in sight.

This first Unas played by the 6'8" Vincent Hammond was the very best Unas ever. In fact, the same actor plays another huger Unas, in a season 5 episode, "Beast of Burden". But those Unas' were nowhere near as cool as this original one. Especially with our own Darth Vader voicing him.

This is our first glimpse of Thor as well, and... Well, first impressions are deceiving. Especially if they are a Hologram. A hologram voiced by Michael Shanks. And a glimpse of Galyn Görg as a former Host does not hurt this episode much.

I really enjoyed this whole episode, especially the difficult choices made at the end: To save Teal'c, Daniel had to destroy technology that could have been used to save his wife, Sha're, and Jack's friend, Skaara--and anyone else taken over by a Goa'uld!

Teal'c, in turn, offered himself up (to stay in the labyrinth forever), if Thor's Hammer could be used to save Sha're and Skaar (specifically, because of their importance to his team members), because he felt that he owed that to his friends--the people who had led him to freedom.

Jack, showing team leadership, pointed out to Daniel that Sha're and Skaara weren't there (to be saved), but that Teal'c was, intimating that they may not ever have the opportunity to save their loved ones, but that a choice needed to be made now.

With an obviously heavy heart, knowing that he may be destroying his only chance to save his beloved Sha're, Daniel destroyed Thor's Hammer and Teal'c was able to escape from the labyrinth.

I know that some reviewers have commented on SG-1's tendency to destroy the very technology they are charged with discovering, and I get that; but who would they be saving the world from over the next nine seasons if it were that simple?

Great episode, but was it really wise or ethical to destroy the worlds main defense? O'neill kindof waved it away saying that the Goa'uld didn't know the hammer had been destroyed, but judging from the fact that Uran has managed to keep himself alive for who knows how long seems to indicate that once in a while some Goa'uld, like Kendra herself did, still come through. And once one has come through the game is basically up. Blocking the exit wouldn't really help much against the energy staffs blast imho.

And with the staff working it seems to me that they could have just blasted a hole in the rock around the hammer gate that could have been blocked after. Without being able to go through the hammer gate an energy staff wouldn't work in reopening that hole.

Another planet

I could not understand if thor was real. That signals such as storms, lightnings or only beliefs. Image reflection of thor made me think maybe it is not real. In other planets, Goa'uld did same. Created some gods. Maybe this can be like that.

If thor's people did this planet and that defense mechanism, why did they put unas there? It is goauld creature.

In the end, i like episode.

This interesting episode really does a tremendous amount in terms of fleshing out the backstory of who might have built the gate system and what happens to a host when they are taken. And it's a huge revelation that there is a powerful race of aliens out there that are fighting the Goa'uld.

But this episode is a glaring example of one of the things that I always found incredibly disappointing about SG-1, and O'Neill in particular. They constantly leave a trail of destruction behind.

Keep in mind, their standing orders are to find technology that will help in the fight against the Goa'uld. Those are their orders! In this instance, they have found an absolutely incredible piece of technology that can safely remove a Goa'uld from its host. That is priceless in the fight against them. It literally means any Goa'uld can be captured and brought here to set the host free. That is incredible! Especially since we now know that the host's personality and memory remain intact. Not only is it fantastic that the host can be saved, but think of the strategic intelligence that could be obtained from them. I'm sure any host would be happy to tell everything they remember.

Just as important, this technology is vital to the Cimmerians, and to keeping them safe. The recording that greets O'Neill and Teal'c clearly indicates there's a treaty in place, and this is a vital part of it's enforcement. What right does O'Neill, or anyone, have to destroy it?

But O'Neill destroys this incredible piece of technology (in contradiction to their standing orders) for no other reason than it's inconvenient! Teal'c is in no danger whatsoever. With the Unas dead, he can remain in the labyrinth as long as he needs to for SG-1 to find who built the Hammer and contact them. There's simply no legitimate reason or right to destroy the technology. Not to mention it would be a far more positive first contact with the Asgard.

Much as I like Stargate SG-1, and I have the entire series on DVD, this egocentric and destructive characteristic of the team, mainly O'Neill, is the one thing that I have always disliked, and really puts a stain on an otherwise very heroic group of characters.

The first time in season one that a monster appear. SG-1 is visiting planet Cimmeria to find allies against the Gou'ald. Jack and Teal'c are trapped in a labyrinth by arrival at the planet and are told that the on;y way to get out of the maze is through the hammer of Thor. We actually see Thor here speaking and that makes it all a bit cheesy.

But the monster Unas makes it rather watchable. The second story here lays in the fact that we go back to the history of Daniel who lost his wife due the Gou'ald. She's somewhere in space and that's the only reason for Daniel to join SG-1 to find her.

Another typical entry in the first season.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 3/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5