SG-1 investigates a planet that requires them to wear spacesuits, so it’s cool to know Stargate Command has access to that kind of thing. I mean after the shuttle rescue at the beginning of season two, i guess they have all kinds of access.

But that’s only the precursor to Message in a Bottle. Written by one of the showrunners, Brad Wright from a story by Michael Greenburg and Jarrad Paul. It debuted on 7 August, 1998.

The group discovers an ancient artifact, but when they bring it back through the gate, it activates, and pins O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) to the wall, and seems to infect him with a virus!

Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) put their scientific heads together to figure things out, to figure out what the artifact is, and does. Everyone tries to do their part to free O’Neill, from Teal’c (Christopher Judge) using his staff weapon, to Fraiser (Teryl Rothery) researching with Sam.

And then there’s a nice little story thread about a lieutenant (Tobias Mehler) who has a bit of a crush on Carter, and is also infected.

And speaking of supporting characters, there’s Gary Jones as Harriman, and Dan Shea as Siler.

Will a cure be found? Will SG-1 figure out what the device is? And maybe O’Neill wasn’t in the way by accident, maybe he’s the key to communicating with the device.

Family sees Bra’tac (Tony Amendola) coming to Earth to bring news of Teal’c’s family. Rya’c (Neil Denis), his son, has been taken by Apophis (Peter Williams).

Written by Katahryn Powers, this episode was first broadcast on 14 August, 1998.

It seems Apophis survived his exploding ship a the climax of the season two premiere by use of the onboard stargate, and has now engaged a plan to resume control, and bring Teal’c and SG-1 to heel, by striking at the heart of the team.

O’Neill and the team, with Bra’tac at their side, go to rescue Rya’c and his mother, Drey’auc (now played by Brook Susan Parker) and keep them safe from Apophis once and for all, but Rya’c, standing at Apophis’ side denounces his father!

And on top of that Teal’c learns that his wife has taken a new husband (but does she love him?). He’s getting kicked on all sides in this episode, poor guy. There’s lots of problems going on in Teal’c’s life. The man she married was his best friend, Fro’tak (Peter Bryant). Ouch.

If they are able to rescue Rya’c, will they be able to cure him of whatever Apophis has done to him? Was the rescue too easy? Will Teal’c be able to keep his family safe and will they be reunited? And how long will Apophis be a thorn in SG-1’s side? And what plans does the goa’uld have in play?

The goa’uld show how cruel and evil they are with the reveal of what the plan was, Drey’auc notices something amiss with Rya’c that saves the planet, but can they deprogram him from what Apophis has done to him?

Judge gets to shine as he his character is put through the ringer, and fights to balance his familial obligations with his greater mission to see his people, and the galaxy free of the goa’uld.

The series is really firing on all thrusters here.