Thor's Chariot

"Thor's Chariot" is the sixth episode of the second season of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis
The Goa'uld has discovered that Cimmeria is no longer protected by Thor's Hammer, which SG-1 destroyed to save Teal'c, and is enslaving the natives. Their only hope is to somehow contact the mythical Thor and his people.

Plot
A connection is made to the Earth Stargate, but since no IDC is received the Iris is left closed and something impacts it. Investigations reveal that the impacting object was not organic but contained high levels of Iridium. Captain Samantha Carter is convinced that the object was the Sagan Institute Box, which was left with the Cimmerians to give to Thor, should he show up. They assumed that he had gotten it.

A MALP is sent and shows dead Cimmerians, Jaffa, and Gairwyn (who SG-1 met on their previous visit) pleading for help because the "Ettins" — meaning the Goa'uld — have come. SG-1 felt responsible as they destroyed Thor's Hammer to free Teal'c, leaving the planet open to the Goa'uld. On arriving on Cimmeria, SG-1 finds a large Goa'uld presence under the command of Heru'ur (Son of Ra and Hathor). They go with Gairwyn to Kendra's grave where Carter finds out that she can use Kendra's Kara kesh. They then retreat with Gairwyn to the caves where the population are hiding. After discussion, Dr. Daniel Jackson and Carter with Gairwyn as a guide go to look for the Hall of Thor's Might which they suspect contains weaponry, whilst Colonel Jack O'Neill and Teal'c start a fight with the Jaffa using conventional weapons (principally A-M18A1 Claymore mines).

Carter, Jackson and Gairwyn find the Hall of Thor's Might and are faced with a hologram of Thor demanding they complete his challenges to "prove their worth". Once they successfully completed the challenges they are then faced with what Carter believes is another Hologram, this time of Thor in his real form (a Roswell Grey), Thor explains that in fact this is a real-time communication device. Jackson and Carter tell Thor how his Hammer was destroyed to save Teal'c and apologize, then ask where the weapons are. Thor tells them that the tests were not to protect any weapons, they were to check that the Cimmerians were advanced enough before revealing the true nature of the Asgard. Carter and Jackson find themselves transported back to the planet surface — without Gairwyn.

Disappointed, they return to the caves where they meet O'Neill and Teal'c who have retreated from fighting the Jaffa. Unfortunately, the caves have been discovered and SG-1 are forced to surrender themselves in order to save the remaining Cimmerians.

As they are escorted back to the Ha'tak, an even larger spaceship appears in the sky which they realize must be Thor's Chariot — all the Jaffa and their ships disappear as they are touched by white rays emanating from Thor's Chariot (This phenomenon will later be revealed as the Asgard transporter). Heru'ur escapes through the Stargate at the last minute.

Gairwyn materializes next to them and tells them that Thor gave her a message: "They are friends to all. Protector of all. All except the Goa'uld with whom they are at war. Thor's new hammer will make an exception for the one called Teal'c".

Notable Quotes
Teal'c: The destruction of the hammer device to save my life may have caused this. If so, I am responsible.

O'Neill: General, I gave the order.

Jackson: And I fired the staff at the machine.

Carter: And...I was there...

Jackson: I guess we'll just have to hole up in here until things calm down.

Teal'c: Things will not calm down, Daniel Jackson; they will in fact calm up!

Jackson: This is the Hall of Might?

Gairwyn: You were expecting something different?

Jackson: Well... uh... maybe a hall?

Jackson: (after seeing the first test) I don't suppose this is the best time to bring up my problem with heights?

Jackson: Before riding into battle the Sioux used to say, 'It is a good day to die'

(O'Neill hits Jackson on the arm for saying it, when the skies suddenly darken. Black clouds roll out of the bright clear sky and peals of thunder are heard.)

O'Neill: Oh my!

(Out of the middle of the black clouds a massive ship looking like the hammer teleportation devices descends upon the Goa'uld motherships and camp.)

Jackson: Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe this is Thor's Chariot.

Teal'c: An Asgard Mothership! I've only heard of them described in Jaffa legend!

Gairwyn: The Ettins are gone. Thor sends his thanks. Without you this would not have been possible.

Jackson: Well, I still think we got kind of lucky.

Gairwyn: I was to give you a message to satisfy your curiosity. They are a race that has visited your world often. They are friend of all, protector of all. Except the Goa'uld with whom they are at war.

O'Neill: That's fine. But I would've still liked to have met the fellow.

Gairwyn: Well like us, he says you are still much too young. As for us, we have much to rebuild. Thor promises to send an Asgard teacher to help us.

Teal'c: So Cimmeria will be a safe world again. That is good.

Gairwyn: I am also to tell you that Thor's new hammer will make the exception for the one named Teal'c. You are welcome here any time.

Goofs

 * Daniel draws a radius on the circle to solve pi. However, pi is the ratio of the diameter to the circumference, not the radius.
 * While attempting to solve the riddle of the runes, the second rune, Perthro, is drawn improperly (the right side of the shape should be open, not closed with a line), and Dr. Daniel Jackson misinterprets it as meaning "fate," but it actually means "chance." He also misinterprets the fourth rune, Raidho, as meaning "wagon," but it actually means "ride," or "journey."
 * At the beginning of the episode when the Stargate was engaging, SSgt. Laura Davis stated that there was no IDC signal coming though, yet the wormhole had not yet been established.

Characters

 * Thor
 * Heru'ur
 * Ryn'tak

Race

 * Asgard

In other languages

 * French : L'Œil de pierre (The Stone Eye)
 * German: Rückkehr des Thor (Return of Thor)
 * Italian: Il Carro Trionfale di Thor (Thor's Triumphant Chariot)
 * Spanish: El Carro de Thor (Thor's Chariot)
 * Czech: Thorův vůz (Thor's Chariot)
 * Hungarian: Thor szekere (Thor's Chariot)