Origin (episode)

"Origin" is the third episode of the ninth season of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis
Dr. Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran are made aware of the Ori and discover that people are forced to worship them or die. From them, the Ori learn of the existence of the Milky Way and a Prior, a missionary of the Ori, sets foot in the galaxy. Meanwhile, Major General Henry Landry, the new commanding officer of Stargate Command, plans to learn more about the new Jaffa leader, Gerak.

Previously on Stargate SG-1
Vala Mal Doran comes to Stargate Command with a tablet written by the Ancient Merlin and uses Kor mak bracelets to link herself with Dr. Daniel Jackson. The tablet leads to a cave under Glastonbury Tor where Jackson finds the Alteran history book and a Long-range communication device. The device takes Jackson and Vala to another galaxy where they meet the worshippers of the Ori. They also encounter the Anti-Ori underground and Vala is burned alive for heresy but revived by a Prior.

Plot
Dr. Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran, still in the bodies of Harrid and Sallis, are taken by a Prior of the Ori to the City of the Gods, on the Plains of Celestis. They are left in a dining room with a copy of the Book of Origin. Another Prior is sent to the Milky Way to convert the people there. Daniel meanwhile begins to read the Book of Origin. The Prior of the Ori returns, and asks Daniel and Vala who else in the village has strayed from the path of Origin. Daniel insists on talking to the Doci, the chief Prior and mouth of the Ori. He is taken there while Vala is left behind. The Doci takes him to the Flames of Enlightenment, where he is possessed by an Ori who says, "All will know the power of the Ori".

Back in the Milky Way galaxy, Major General Henry Landry orders Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell and SG-12 to investigate on the planet where the Prior appeared. The team brings the Prior back with them. Landry in the meantime meets with Gerak of the new Free Jaffa Nation because he wants to make a treaty with the Jaffa nation. Gerak, however, is more interested in the Prior, wanting to hear and challenge his claims.

Daniel returns to Vala, telling her the Ori believe that their ascension entitles them to worship by all Humans. Priors will be sent to convert the people of the Milky Way, and if they don't see the light, they will be "cleansed". Recognizing the threat the Ori posed, the Ancients were shielding their existence from the Ori until recently, and it is unlikely that the Ancients will do anything to stop the Priors, as they are still human. Daniel and Vala are returned to the village. Worried that Fannis and the resistance will be discovered through them, they stay in the house. Fannis comes to them, insisting on helping even if he dies. Fannis takes them to another Ancient Long-range communication device, which they use to return to their original bodies and to warn Earth of the Priors. However, the device is destroyed and Daniel and Vala again enter Harrid and Sallis and witness Fannis being killed by a Prior, who also prevents Daniel from helping him. Then Daniel and Vala are taken to the Ara to be burned to death.

Back at Stargate Command, Mitchell and a team of guards go to confront the Prior meeting with Gerak, who demands an explanation. They take the staff from the Prior, but he takes it back and destroys himself in flames. As Daniel and Vala's heart rates rise when they are tied to the Ara, Mitchell and Teal'c dial the Stargate and throw the Ancient long-range communication device into the unstable vortex, which destroys it and breaks the link. Daniel and Vala are returned, leaving Harrid and Sallis to most likely burn.

Back at Celestis, at the request of the Doci, The Administrator comes to the Flames of Enlightenment, where he is transformed into a Prior. The Doci says that great holy armies will be gathered to fight the evil and that ships will be built to send warriors across the stars. All this is necessary to spread Origin over the stars.

Vala meanwhile releases the Kor mak bracelets from her and Daniel. Daniel discusses whether or not the Ancients will continue to protect them from the Ori. The fact is, however, that the Priors will come, but Landry says that they will use their strength against the enemy's weaknesses. Major General Jack O'Neill drops by the SGC, and he and Daniel discuss the Ori, with Daniel admitting that for the first time since he came to the SGC, he's truly scared, while O'Neill reminds Daniel that they've been up against some powerful bad guys in the past and won. O'Neill also takes a flight with Mitchell in an F-302, and mentions it to Mitchell that hasn't picked out his team yet. Mitchell replies that he's hoping he won't have to.

Notable Quotes
Jackson: The central icon of the religion seems to be fire.

Vala: I don't need a book to tell me that.

Jackson: That would make sense. Fire is light, energy, warmth. And yet on Earth at some point fire became associated with demonic imagery. Things that are evil. Hell not Heaven.

Vala: And?

Jackson: I was wondering if the Ancients had something to do with that.

Vala: Tell you what. Why don't we flip to the end and let's see how it all turns out, hm?

Doci: They shielded you. (Referring to the ascended Ancients in the Milky Way galaxy)

Jackson: Really? I didn't think they did much of anything for us, but I guess I was wrong.

Doci: Great holy armies shall be gathered and trained to fight all who embrace evil, in the name of the gods ships shall be build to carry our warriors out amongst the stars and we will spread origin to all the unbelievers. The power of the Ori will be felt far and wide, and the wicked shall be vanquished.

Jackson: Hey. Wow. What the hell are you doing here?

O'Neill: Nice to see you too.

Jackson: No, sorry. I just wasn't expecting to see you.

O'Neill: Well I was in the neighborhood. And I've got a little surprise for Mitchell.

Jackson: Oh. Yeah he loved the last one.

O'Neill: Sorry you missed Daedalus.

Jackson: No, you're not.

O'Neill: You're right. I'm not.

O'Neill: Now see that's one of the great things about being a General: You pretty much get to do whatever you want.

Mitchell: Well I suppose after you save the world seven or eight times...

O'Neill: Who's counting huh?

Mitchell: Teal'c... actually. He mentions it quite often.

Goofs

 * The Stargate on the Prior that the prior came through is seen to have Earth's Point of Origin.
 * When MSgt. Walter Harriman completes the dialing sequence to a random planet, the address changes from Chulak's address to that of Abydos.

In other languages

 * French: Le Livre des Origines (Book of Origins)
 * Italian: Gli Dei del Fuoco (The Gods of Fire)
 * Spanish: Origen (Origin)
 * Czech: Počátek (Origin)
 * German (DVD/TV): Die Herkunft (The Origin) / Das Geheimnis der Ori (The Secret of the Ori)