9.08 or 9.09 “Babylon”
Episode Summary
Gravely wounded in a battle with the Sodan warrior Volnek, Mitchell is taken captive by the Sodan and nursed back to health in order to prepare him for a fight to the death as atonement for spilling Sodan blood.
Spoiler Snippets
SG-1 goes to the planet of Sodan, home of a great Jaffa warrior race who sought Kheb, but found their planet instead. The Sodan warriors are descendants of those Jaffa who opposed the Goa’uld Ishkur 5,000 years ago. When Ishkur learned of their insubordination, he ordered their deaths as traitors, but they fled instead. They set out to find Kheb, hoping their souls would finally know peace, but their search led them to the world on which they now inhabit.
The Sodan see the Ancients, whom they call the Shen’asai, as the true gods. The Sodan Jaffa follow the Path of the Shen’asai. They have successfully hidden themselves away from the universe, free to pursue the path of wisdom and the nature of the true god without interference from the outside. SG-1 attempts to warn them about the Orii, but one of their leaders, Lord Haikon, has already accepted them as saviors.
Three Sodan are introduced in this episode:
Lord Haikon – He is a formidable Sodan leader who has held his position for over 100 years. During all of those years, Haikon meditated on the nature of the true god, but his fanaticism has caused him to become blind to reality and the needs of his people. He ignores Mitchell’s warnings about the Orii and bows down to them as the deities he has been searching for all of his life. Unfortunately, his gullibility sets his people up for disaster.
Volnek – He engages Mitchell in a fierce battle which leaves them both seriously wounded. SG-1, without Mitchell, takes him captive and saves his life by putting him on Tretonin. At first Volnek is hostile about being placed on Tretonin and about what Daniel and Teal’c are telling him about the Orii. Eventually he realizes that Daniel and Teal’c have his best interests at heart and he eventually comes to admire them. Daniel and Teal’c seek help in freeing Mitchell from the Kel Shak Lo (the fight to the death) and helping the Sodan overcome the Orii oppressors.
Jolan – He is Volnek’s brother who reluctantly nurses Mitchell back to health from his fight with Volnek. He trains Mitchell in Sodan warfare and grows to see him as a kindred spirit and a wise counselor. Jolan is the intended opponent for the fight to the death, but he engages in a cunning ruse to spare Mitchell’s life and then organize a splinter group of disgruntled Sodan to do battle with the Orii oppressors.
Action locations include the planet Sodan and the SGC.
There are no mentions of Carter or Vala for this episode thus far.
Guest Characters
Dr. Carolyn Lam [Lexa Doig], Jolan, Lord Haikon, Volnek, Prior of the Orii
Credits
Writer: Damian Kindler
Director: Peter DeLuise