Enigma (Stargate SG-1)

"Enigma" is an episode from Season 1 of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1.

Plot

SG-1 reaches a planet which is at the brink of destruction, something which happened only recently. There they find several survivors of an advanced civilization, fleeing the destruction of their planet and despite the protests of one of them the team brings them all back to Earth. However, the survivors, known as the Tollan, flaunt an arrogant air about Stargate Command over their advanced knowledge and technology. Especially their leader, Omoc, behaves very arrogantly and is even angry about being rescued by SGC since a rescue transport was already on its way. However another Tollan, named Narim, becomes interested in Captain Carter and they even develop some kind of relationship. SGC offers to find the Tollan a new home, but the Tollan are doubtful of SGC's ability to help them. This becomes evident when SGC offers the Tollan a place on a world they met some time ago (see "The Broca Divide"), but they react very arrogantly about the primitive civilization on that world.

The US government, seeing their first chance at securing some advanced technology, places the Tollan under lockdown. They also send Col. Harry Maybourne to get information from them. Nevertheless, the Tollan, using their advanced technology, are able to walk through walls, and easily escape to the surface. This proves that their technology is far superior to that of the Goa'uld. However, they are unwilling to share their technology with what they see as primitive cultures because of what happened on their home planet. In former times, the Tollan discovered another inhabited world, named Serita, near their planet and when they became advanced enough, the Tollan shared an unlimited energy source with them. Within one day, the people had used the gift to make weapons and destroyed their entire civilization. This was what caused the destruction of their world.

Because SG-1 is unhappy about how Maybourne is treating the Tollan, they decide to help Omoc and his people. Daniel Jackson then tells the Tollan about the Nox and leads the Tollan leader outside where he sends a signal to the coordinates Daniel provides for the Nox homeworld. Daniel then leads them to the gate room where the Nox come through the Stargate and offer the Tollan a home with them until they can leave to their new homeworld. Col. Maybourne intervenes and says that if Dr. Jackson allows them to leave he will be court martialled, but Col. O'Neill reminds them that Daniel isn't in the military, and therefore can't be court martialled. Daniel says goodbye to the Tollan and the Nox take the Tollan home with them. The Nox tell Daniel that his civilization has learned nothing, but that he has learned something, reminding him that the very young do not always do what they are told.

Series continuity

This episode marks the first appearance of the Tollans, who will appear in several future episodes.

This episode marks the first appearance of Col. Maybourne, who will be a recurring villain, then anti-hero, until season 8.

External links

"Official Stargate SG-1 site". MGM. Retrieved 2006-06-08. Most of site requires Flash.
"Screenplay" (PDF). Distributed by MGM. Prepared by Casablanca Continuity. Retrieved 2006-10-28. Also see Google's cache.
"Summary". SciFi. Retrieved 2006-06-05.