SG-1 returns to the SGC with sad news, it seems Jackson (Michael Shanks) is dead. Or at least that is the way O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), Carter (Amanda Tapping) and Teal’c (Christopher Judge) remember it.

Fire and Water was written by Kathryn Powers from a story she developed with Brad Wright, one of the showrunners. It first aired on 17 October, 1997.

While the team and the whole command struggles with the loss, Daniel Jackson is being held by the last surviving member of an aquatic race on the planet SG-1 was visiting.

Frasier (Teryl Rothery), Hammond (Don S. Davis) and Harriman (Gary Jones) all join in the grieving for their lost friend. Jackson is given full honors during his funeral at the SGC, and is remembered in the wake following. It is here that slowly O’Neill and the rest begin to suspect that the memories they have of Daniel’s death are false.

The being, Nem (Gerard Plunkett) wants to know the fate of his mate, Omaroca, and believes that Jackson with his knowledge may be able to help him discover it. He planted the memories in SG-1’s minds to keep them away and make them accept the loss of Daniel, but it isn’t enough to stop the team as they finally figure out what is going on.

It’s a solid episode that explores the ideas of memory and how we remember things. It’s pretty amazing how solid the first season is, right out of the gate and how it’s worldbuilding and character arcs are set up, and ground them in the universe the show creates.

Hathor brings us another goa’uld to worry about, the titular Hathor brought to life by Suanne Braun.

Written by Jonathan Glassner from a story by David Caren and J. Larry Carroll this episode was first broadcast on 24 October, 1997.

In a Mayan temple a sarcophagus covered in Egyptian hieroglyphs is discovered, inside and waking when it’s opened is Hathor. The sarcophagus, now empty, arrives at the SGC and on the trail of it, is Hathor.

She installs herself as leader, and is able to seduce and control all the male members of the complex through the release of pheromones. Hathor reveals herself to be the mother of the goa’uld, or at least a goa’uld queen, and she is going to be trouble. She is able to create goa’uld, and uses DNA of the host species to allow for proper bonding. Oh and she’s picked Daniel, and maybe O ‘Neill. Or at least he’s lined up to be the first of Hathor’s new jaffa.

Teal’c proves impervious to Hathor’s abilities, and the female officers under the able leadership of Carter and Frasier plan to send Hathor packing – she takes off through the stargate, practically guaranteeing we will see her again.

The male officers are restored to their usual self, O’Neill is made whole again by the use of the goa’uld sarcophagus, and Carter and Frasier get some solid action beats. The series is rolling along brilliantly and is willing to play with the characters and the environs. Man I’m loving this rewatch.