Stargate SG-1: The Tok'ra Part 1 Rewatch

March 12, 2025 3:38 PM - Season 2, Episode 11

Captain Samantha Carter has an intense dream in which she sees the mysterious Tok'ra Goa'Uld who briefly occupied her body. She finds out that Martouf and Jolinar were partners for a very long time.

Captain Samantha Carter's visions from Jolinar of Malkshur lead her and SG-1 to a planet where several Tok'ra are hiding. They attempt to form an alliance, which isn't going well. Meanwhile, her father, Jacob Carter, is dying from his lymphoma.

posted by Carillon (4 comments total)

To me this is where the show really starts to feel like SG1. They are tasked with dealing with something that is both super important for the galaxy, but depends very strongly on their own personal points of view and opinions. Sam is a standout as always here. I am a bit surprised that the Tok'ra aren't a bit more understanding of the SG1 reluctance when it's clear they've only ever met Goa'uld. Like yeah this might be a partnership, but you don't understand why they are suspicious? Thought I'm not surprised that the Tok'ra initially say they can't use the humans in an alliance, what else could they offer at this point?
posted by Carillon at 3:42 PM on March 12

Yeah, every time I watch this episode I think, "the humans have a fully industrialized planet 6 billion people deep (at the time) and the Tok'ra have a bag full of digging crystals." Surely there are some things they might like mass produced? Or a million of tons of some resource? C'mon guys.

The Watsonian explanation is that the Tok'ra are just that arrogant, and the Doylist explanation is that the writers just didn't read the same books as me.

And of course, this is the same psych flaw that eventually leads to the downfall of the Goa'uld. The Goa'uld are a relatively small population with a few powerful toys and a top-heavy governing structure. Their defeat was inevitable because they simply can't afford to lose too many times in a row, they literally don't have the capacity.
posted by Horkus at 7:03 PM on March 12 [2 favorites]

I really enjoy the wacky aesthetics of the Tok’ra. Like, cosmic Dynasty jewel tones AND desert camo prehistoric Celt-ish leathers at the same time. Martouf dresses like he works at a wilderness outfitter, Saroush could be anyone’s granny, and Garshaw is going to a terrible party in 1986?
And then the truly awful grown furniture?

I love it!
posted by janell at 9:22 PM on March 12

Also when you think about it, it shows how long Ra was in power that they're not Tok'goa'uld, but Tok'ra.
posted by Carillon at 9:35 PM on March 13