SG-1 does its addiction episode with Need. Written by Robert C. Cooper from a story Cooper developed with Damian Kindler. It first aired on 24 July, 1998.

When the team arrives on a distant world Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) saves a young woman, Shyla (Heather Hanson) from taking her own life. The team is captured by guards, dressed as Jaffa, though Carter (Amanda Tapping) and Teal’c (Christopher Judge) agree that there are no goa’uld here.

Imprisoned and made to work in the mines, O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) and the rest struggle to survive, while Daniel is taken into the princess’ confidence and slowly becomes addicted to using the sarcophagus that Shyla, and her father, Pyrus (George Touliatos) use to remain vibrant and in control.

Can Jackson be weaned of it before the rest of the team are worked to death in the naquadah mines?

Jackson keeps using the machine, ignoring the plight of his friends in the mines. When Daniel is finally able to negotiate the team’s release, they return to Stargate Command, and it becomes increasingly clear that Daniel has become an addict.

Can the team help him? Does he want to be helped? And then can Shyla be helped or is it too late for her as well?

It’s a fairly rote episode, but there are some nice moments, some cracking dialogue, and the characters, as usual, make each episode shine. But in the end, it’s the SG version of dealing with addiction issues – Carter even blatantly states it.

Thor’s Chariot was written by Katharyn Powers and first debuted on 31 July, 1998. Serving as a follow-up to Thor’s Hammer from the previous season, SG-1 returns to Cimmeria following a plea from Gairwyn (Tamsin Kelsey) who beseeches them to help, because the goa’uld have returned.

Thor’s Hammer has been destroyed and the goa’uld are overrunning the planet. O’Neill insists on taking responsibilty for the destruction of Thor’s weapon, so does Teal’c, Jackson and Carter. So off they go to see how they can help.

If they can find a way to discover Thor’s weapons, Cimmeria, and Earth may have a chance against the goa’uld system lords. But this goa’uld army is led by Heru’ur(Douglas Arthurs) who, Teal’c tells them, is possibly worse than Apophis (Peter Williams). The list of baddies is just getting longer and longer!

While Teal’c and O’Neill stir up trouble, Carter, Jackson and Gairwyn investigate Thor’s Hall of Might in hope of finding a superweapon, or at least some help.

The series reveals Thor’s true nature, he’s a Gray, from a race known as the Asgard. And his chariot? An Asgard spacecraft! Is it possible, that the SGC has a new ally alongside the Nox? We also learn that Carter has the ability to trigger goa’uld technology to some degree, because of her possession by one of them.

Continuity grows, the universe expands, and there’s lots of fun to be had still to come.