Birthright

"Birthright" is the tenth episode of the seventh season of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis
SG-1 encounter the Hak'tyl Resistance, a group of rebel Jaffa females who renounced their "god" Moloc as a false one, after realizing he had ordered all young females to be put to death. SG-1 proposes that they no longer need to rely on symbiotes, since they are running low on them, and offers them a substitute, Tretonin. Meanwhile, Teal'c gets closer to the Hak'tyl leader, Ishta.

Plot
On an alien planet a Jaffa named Ryk'l walks through the forest and is confronted by SG-1. He wants to help them but they are ambushed and he is killed by attacking Jaffa. Suddenly, the ambushers are killed by several female Jaffa, who ask SG-1 to come with them. They also take the Goa'uld symbiote from the dead Jaffa. SG-1 follows them through the Stargate to their planet Hak'tyl (meaning liberation in Goa'uld). While walking to the Jaffa village, SG-1 discusses the similarities between these women and the Earth legend of the Amazons. At the village they meet the leader Ishta, who knows about Teal'c and wants an alliance with Earth. Teal'c is not happy about the Hak'tyl killing other Jaffa, though Ishta shows him a girl whose life was saved by the symbiote.

Ishta later tells Major Samantha Carter that the Goa'uld lord Moloc decreed that all newborn female Jaffa should be killed. However, because Ishta was the temple high priestess, she had the means to bring the girls to Hak'tyl. The Jaffa want the help of Stargate Command for basic supplies and symbiotes, but Carter tells them about the Tretonin. Later Carter discusses this with her teammates, but Teal'c is not pleased. He goes into the forest, where he finds a glade marked with symbols of several designs. Ishta shows up and they talk about the situation of the Jaffa. When they enter a great place they start to fight with training weapons. During the fight Ishta finds out that Teal'c doesn't carry a symbiote, much to her surprise.

Ishta then informs her people about the situation and wants four volunteers to go to Earth to test the Tretonin. Although the women are initially reluctant, four volunteer. One of them is a girl named Nesa but her older sister doesn't want her to go. At Stargate Command, the Hak'tyl Jaffa are greeted by Major General George S. Hammond. On the planet Teal'c talks with Ishta about his family and the Jaffa Rebellion. In the evening, when they are in a tent, they kiss. At SGC Carter talks with a woman named Mala about her life. It later turns out that Mala doesn't react to the drug. In the village Dr. Daniel Jackson talks with the girl Nesa but in the morning he is confronted by her older sister Neith, who tells him that two of her sisters were killed. To save Nesa she was forced to kill her own father.

Back at SGC, Mala's situation continues to worsen while the other three Jaffa respond well to the Tretonin. Although she will die without it, she refuses to take back her symbiote. Back on the planet Neith plans to challenge Ishta's leadership, despite the worries of the others, while Nesa's health worsens. At the SGC, Mala finally dies and Daniel informs the others after Ishta defeats Neith. To save Nesa, Ishta plans to find another symbiote, while Daniel and Teal'c are imprisoned by the Jaffa. However, they are then brought to Nesa and inform her about the situation. She agrees to try the Tretonin.

On another planet, the Hak'tyl have defeated several Jaffa, but Ishta is shocked when one of the severely wounded Jaffa declares his desire to be free. As Ishta wonders at how many others like him they have killed that day, Neith is shot by a Jaffa, who is then shot by Teal'c's zat. Neith is brought to the SGC where she meets Nesa, who now also takes the Tretonin, much to Neith's shock. The girl is able to convince her sister to take the Tretonin and she finally agrees.

The female Jaffa are soon healed, and prepare to leave the SGC. Just as they do so, Teal'c and Ishta kiss passionately.

Notable Quotes
(SG-1 is being led by a group of all women rebel Jaffa)

Jackson: Can't help but think of the ancient Greek Amazon mythos.

O'Neill: Yes, me too...

Jackson: They were umm, female warriors who would occasionally capture men of other tribes in order to mate with them. They would often remove their right breast so they could more easily fire a bow and arrow.

O'Neill: I see neither bow nor arrow.

Jackson: No.

O'Neill: Wait, you don't suppose thats why they want us, do you? I mean the three of us?

Jackson: You're talking about to mate with? No, no I don't think so.

O'Neill: 'Cause you know me, I'm all for helping people.

Carter: (laughing) Oh god.

(Carter is in the tent talking to the leader of the Hak'tyl while the men of SG-1 are stuck outside)

O'Neill: Well this is odd.

Jackson: She probably feels more comfortable talking to Sam.

O'Neill: Why, because we have penises?

Jackson: (Looks at him funny) Power bar?

Ishta: It means "courage." Each design represents an ideal that no warrior should ever forget.

Teal'c: Impressive that I did not sense your approach.

Ishta: Is not stealthiness one of the first talents taught to a Jaffa soldier?

Teal'c: With varying degrees of success.

Ny'sa: Perhaps you are in need of a symbiote?

Jackson: Yeah, I'll just stick with the glasses.

Teal'c: Then they will have to see there is another way.

O'Neill: Give'em the old Teal'c charm!

Characters

 * Ishta
 * Ka'lel

In other languages

 * French: Les Amazones (The Amazons)
 * Italian: Diritto di Nascita (Birthright)
 * Spanish: Derecho de Nacimiento (Birthright)
 * Czech: Právo na zrození
 * German: Die Hak'tyl (The Hak'tyl)
 * Hungarian: A születés joga (Right of birth)