How do we know we’re in the SGC in the 40s with the opening of this episode? The bluesy version of the Stargate theme, honestly it’s a solid episode that helps the series continue to build its backstory, and its worldbuilding.

Jackson (Michael Shanks) is watching old footage of the Stargate project and both her and O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) are stunned to see that the gate was activated, once back in 1945, and someone went through.

The Torment of Tantalus was written by Robert C. Cooper, told you we’d see that name start to pop up, and first aired on 3 October, 1997.

Jackson goes to see Catherine Langford (Elizabeth Hoffman), whose father originally discovered the gate buried in Egypt. He asks for help and clarification. We’re given a flashback with a young Catherine (Nancy Hillis) and the man she loves, Ernest (Paul McGillion – who will return to the franchise) who is working on the project and is the man who went through the gate, disappearing from Catherine’s life who was told that Ernest died in an accident.

Could he still be out there?

General Hammond (Don S. Davis) is less than thrilled by Jackson’s revealing this information to Catherine, but the rest of the team are delighted to work with her, and the fact that the goa’uld don’t seem to know about this gate proves they didn’t build it!

Off they go, and they discover Ernest (Keene Curtis) alive, if older, alone in an ancient fortress, on the edge of a cliff. And there is knowledge here, so much knowledge. There was an alliance, long ago, against the goa’uld, and maybe that means they are still out there and can help in the fight.

But will they be able to get home? The dial-home-device has been damaged, and there’s a massive storm coming that may destroy the entire fortress. Will the team be able to get home with the knowledge and other lives? Or will there be a choice?

There’s some wonderful moments between Hoffman and Curtis as their characters. Ernest spoke to Catherine in his mind constantly over the fifty years, helping him to hold onto his sanity.

Bloodlines is all about building out backstory for Teal’c (Christopher Judge) and introduces a couple more recurring characters. The episode brings us Bra’tac (Tony Amendola) and Teal’c’s son, Rya’c (Neil Denis).

Written by Jeff King from a story by Mark Saraceni this episode was first broadcast on 10 October, 1997.

Teal’c reveals to the SGC that not only does he have a wife, Drey’auc (Salli Richardson-Whitfield), and son, but his Rya’c’s prim’ta is approaching, In this ritual, he will be implanted with a juvenile goa’uld just like his father, which he will carry and serve as a jaffa as a slave to Apophis (Peter Williams).

Can Teal’c and SG-1 save his son before it’s too late? That means going back to Chulac, the planet held by the goa’uld. Will Hammond authorize the mission? Or will Teal’c have to go rogue? Or will the entire team get to go?

What will it mean for Rya’c and Drey’auc? There is lots to unpack here.

It’s a great episode, further cementing the character of Teal’c, letting Judge shine in his role, and lots of character and story development to continue building the series around. Now Teal’c has an even bigger investment in what is happening, and we’ve met some fun new characters.

Bra’tac is awesome!

This is the halfway mark for the first season, and the series is definitely making the Stargate concept its own. And I honestly forgot how much fun it is.