Within the Serpent's Grasp

"Within the Serpent's Grasp" is the twenty-second episode and the season finale of the first season of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis
The Stargate program is shut down after Senator Robert Kinsey's visit, but SG-1 still plans to stop the Goa'uld invasion. They gate to what they think is the Goa'uld home world, but soon discover they are on a Ha'tak vessel, lead by Apophis and Skaara, now host to Klorel. The ships are also now heading straight for Earth.

Plot
Senator Robert Kinsey has shut down the Stargate program. Major General George S. Hammond went to him twice and the second time he was thrown out of Kinsey's office. He then went to the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, even the President of the United States himself; but it would be political suicide for any of them to override the Senate Appropriations Committee. Knowing that the slaughter that took place in "There But for the Grace of God" could happen in this reality, Dr. Daniel Jackson convinces his team members to violate orders. They then arm, activate the Stargate and travel to the home of the Destroyers.

They find themselves in a large room and at first don't know on which planet they are. Exploring the room, they however find an until now unknown type of Goa'uld small hand weapon named Zat'nik'tels, which they take with them. Suddenly there is a strong movement and all the members of the team (except Teal'c) are thrown back. Hidden doors open and SG-1 hide as Jaffa march in. They bow before the Stargate as a large ball rises into the center of it. The Jaffa leave. Teal'c explains the ball is a Goa'uld Long range visual communication device. They soon discover they have gated not to a planet but to a Goa'uld mothership which was in orbit of a planet. It launched into hyperspace towards Earth after their arrival, cutting off escape. On Earth, Major Louis Ferretti is ordered to bring them back, officially for court-martial, but because the ship jumped into hyperspace they also can't go through the gate.

SG-1 hid in the Death Glider bay and realizes they are on an attack ship headed to Earth. They also notice that Jaffa are heading to a gathering. Sneaking back into the cargo room, they watch a large meeting in which they overhear Apophis unveil his son, Klorel (Skaara), the leader of this ship until Apophis rejoins them. Colonel Jack O'Neill orders Captain Samantha Carter and Daniel to plant C-4 all over the ship while he and Teal'c grab Klorel, in the hope that Skaara can fight the Goa'uld within him.

They capture Klorel but Skaara is able to assert control only briefly after one painful shot from a Zat gun (two shots kill). He says sorry to O'Neill since he feels responsible for Klorel's doings but then the Goa'uld takes back control. When guards enter they surrender rather than kill Klorel, who then brings the two into the cargo room and contacts his father. Apophis is pleased, and orders Teal'c's and O'Neill's immediate execution. When asked if there are other humans aboard, Klorel makes a typical Goa'uld mistake of overconfidence, declaring "I assure you, father. There could be no more."

Skaara seemingly exerts some influence, as Klorel disobeys his father's orders and delays their execution, bringing them to the Pel'tak (bridge) to witness the destruction of Earth. Carter sets a timer on the bombs, and she and Daniel try to free their friends. They successfully take out the guards but then Klorel grabs Daniel, knocks the gun out of his hands, and uses a Kara kesh on him, intending to kill Daniel. When Klorel doesn't stop, O'Neill is forced to kill Klorel/Skaara.

Looking through the window, they see Earth while the Death Gliders prepare for launch. And as the camera pans out, a second ship is seen.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Notable Quotes
Teal'c: If the coordinates are for a Goa'uld world which is not on the Abydos cartouche, the Goa'uld will most likely not expect us. I believe a medical attack could be successful.

O'Neill: Surgical attack, Teal'c. It's called a surgical attack.

O'Neill: (referring to a group of Jaffa) I always get a happy, tingly feeling when I see those guys.

Jackson: (staring at a huge floating sphere) Teal'c, What is this?

Teal'c: It is a Goa'uld long range visual communication device. Somewhat like your television, only much further advanced.

O'Neill: Ya think it gets Showtime?

O'Neill: (trapped on a Goa'uld starship) I suggest the two of you figure out how get us back home.

Carter: Sir, the only way to do that would be to turn this thing around and go back to where we started.

Jackson: Right, I'll just go tell the pilot...

O'Neill: (confronting a Jaffa) Hey! How're ya doing? Ah, seen a bathroom around here?

Goofs

 * When SG-1 sent the MALP through onto the Ha'tak, Captain Samantha Carter states that the destination is dark and that she is "switching to infrared." The surroundings then become visible. Since inanimate objects generally do not give off heat of their own (unless they contain a power source of some sort), this wouldn't show the surroundings and the view would remain dark. What Carter should have said was something like, "switching to night-vision" which amplifies existing, very dim, light. However this should not even be necessary as other episodes have shown that an active Stargate can provide ample light for the surrounding area. This is also confirmed a few minutes later when the Stargate is activated from the destination side by the team. The gate gives off plenty of light to see by.
 * When Colonel Jack O'Neill and Teal'c first go to rescue Skaara, he tries to attack O'Neill using his Kara kesh. Teal'c restrains Skaara/Klorel's hands to prevent him from being able to use it. When O'Neill shoots Skaara/Klorel he no longer has his Kara kesh. Later in the scene when Klorel goes to communicate with Apophis he is again wearing the Kara kesh.

Nominations

 * Nominated Gemini for "Best Visual Effects" (Mark Savela, Michelle Comens, John Gajdecki and Simon Lacey)

In other languages

 * French : Dans le Nid du Serpent (In the Serpent's Nest)
 * German: Die Invasion, Teil 3 (Invasion, Part 3)
 * Italian: L'Incubo si Avvera (The Nightmare Happens)
 * Spanish: A Merced de la Serpiente (At the Serpent's Mercy)
 * Czech: V Sevření Hada (In the Serpent's Grasp)
 * Hungarian: A kígyó szorításában (Within the Serpent's Grasp)