After the chaos of the pilot — which is why this review skips straight to episode three — you’d think Stargate Command would finally get a week to breathe. Nope. The universe isn’t done with Earth yet… and neither are the Goa’uld.
Episode Synopsis
After escaping their last encounter — and losing Sha’re and Skaara — SG-1 returns to Earth only to discover a horrifying stowaway: a Goa’uld hiding inside Kawalsky. Meanwhile, the military still mistrusts Teal’c, the Jaffa who betrayed his gods, even though he may hold the key to saving Kawalsky’s life.
This episode dials down the adventure and zooms in on the cost of what just happened. It’s the first time SG-1 stops running through the Stargate and starts facing the fallout because of it. What follows is paranoia, grief, and the uneasy birth of a team that will define the series.
The SGC Never Gets a Break
We open with the Goa’uld testing their power against the Iris — now revealed to be made of titanium, strong enough to block anyone from stepping through the gate.
Meanwhile, Kawalsky starts suffering mysterious headaches right after returning from the last mission. O’Neill pushes to add Teal’c to the team, but Hammond isn’t convinced.
Teal'c Mistrusted and Rejected From SG1
Hammond doesn’t want Teal’c on the team. And he’s not the only one. Military higher-ups show up at the SGC to interrogate him, demanding details about Goa’uld ships, firepower, and strategy. Teal’c answers what he can — but as a former servant, there’s only so much he knows.
They can’t prove his loyalty, even though O’Neill believes in him. Plans are made to move him to another base for study… until Kawalsky’s symbiote starts making its move.
The Goa'uld: Body Snatchers With a Vengeance
The episode revolves around Kawalsky’s infant symbiote trying to escape Earth by taking control of him. At first, Kawalsky blacks out, unaware of what’s happening — but as the symbiote gains strength, the blackouts become longer and more violent.
For the first time, the show builds its mythology through science: the team spots the symbiote on an MRI scan and even attempts surgery to remove it.
It’s the first time the series proves it’s willing to hurt its characters for the sake of story.
But we soon learn how dangerous these creatures really are — the “removed” symbiote turns out to be an empty husk. The real one has already merged deeper with Kawalsky.
The final confrontation at the Stargate is brutal. O’Neill orders Teal’c to keep Kawalsky’s head partially inside the event horizon, killing both host and parasite in one instant. It’s the first time the series proves it’s willing to hurt its characters for the sake of story.
Teal'c Officially Joins The Team
After Kawalsky’s death, Hammond gets the call — the President has approved Teal’c’s official addition to SG-1.
Earlier in the episode, Teal’c’s quiet conversation with O’Neill already hinted at this moment. He wants their trust. He wants redemption.
During his debriefing, Teal’c also shares one key piece of lore: a legend that Ra took primitive humans from Earth — the Tau’ri — and scattered them across the galaxy. This confirms what Ra himself told Daniel in the movie: humanity didn’t just explore the stars. We were taken there.
The episode closes on Teal’c suited up, staff weapon in hand, learning how to say “sir,” ready to step through the gate as one of Earth’s own.
The Show is Coming Into Its Own
The movie and pilot felt connected — this episode feels independent. It’s our first story that starts and ends within the SGC.
We also learned a ton of lore:
- Goa’uld hosts can shed their original symbiote husk as the parasite merges deeper.
- Immature Goa’uld can’t control a host for long.
- The transition from immature to mature happens terrifyingly fast — days, not weeks.
- The Goa’uld call Earth Tau’ri, confirming our place in the wider galactic mythos.
For the first time, SG-1 shows it can tell a complete, high-stakes story without ever leaving Earth. The world’s getting bigger — even when we stay home.
What Did You Think About The Episode?
I loved how this episode expands the lore while giving us a real emotional gut-punch. We closed the thread of Kawalsky and his symbiote, but I hope we’re luckier with Sha’re and Skaara next.
The surgery scene gave me hope there might be a way to save them — but seeing how fast Kawalsky’s parasite evolved makes me skeptical.
We’ll just have to keep watching and find out. What did you think of the Goa’uld? Did this episode hit you as hard as it hit me? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
Read the previous episode's review here or read the next one here.