Season four got underway on 30 June, 2000 with Small Victories, which continues the story started in the season three finale with the Replicators!

Written by Robert C. Cooper, the episode picks up shortly after the end of the finale, with a Replicator. It boards a Soviet sub, and begins to wreck havoc. The only people who will be able to deal with it, SG-1! The American forces recover the deserted (of people) sub and are intent on making sure the little robotic creatures are stopped.

Carter (Amanda Tapping) is advising the Asgard on possible ways to fight the Replicators. She visits one of the Asgard worlds, and discovers their newest ship has a very familiar name. Honestly, there are lots of funny lines and character beats throughout this episode. The series has really found its voice – adventure, humor and a growing mythology.

Daniel (Michael Shanks) is recovered from his surgery and is delighted to be reunited with the group. He, O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) and Teal’c (Christopher Judge) – with a soul patch now – gear up to deal with their new enemy.

This all happens despite the fact that O’Neill still wants to go on vacation, and gets hauled back into it again.

Major Davis (Colin Cunningham) beseeches the team to stop the Replicators, but with the disappearance/seizing of their sub, the Soviets think there is something more going on.

The sub sequence definitely has Aliens vibes as O’Neill and Teal’c lead a squad inside, with Daniel watching on the monitors, the reveal of a Queen ties in with the Aliens film as well.

It’s a big, bold and fun opener that throws us right back into the adventure, expands the universe again, and makes for enjoyable entertainment.

I honestly forgot how much I loved this show.

The Other Side was written by one of the showrunners, Brad Wright and debuted on 7 July, 2000. It also features Rene Auberjonois as Alar, the episode’s antagonist. It’s also directed by Peter DeLuise, so you know there’s a cameo coming.

When Stargate Command receives a message from Alar (Auberjonois) asking for help, Sg-1 is deployed to render aid. It seems he and his people are under attack, in fact they seem to be making a last stand.

As the team lends a hand, Daniel begins to become suspicious of Alar and his people’s motivations, and that they may be on the wrong side of the conflict. Initially, O’Neill is angry with Daniel, they’re here to get some technology, Alar’s people are advanced, and Daniel is stirring up issues that O’Neill doesn’t want to confront.

But what if they discover that Alar’s people are no better than the Nazis? As the team begins to dig deeper into the causes of the war and the goals of Alar’s forces. We learn that Alar’s forces are definitely the wrong side, campaigning on racism and genetic purity.

SG-1 makes a final decision, and refuses to help Alar, losing the chance to gain any new technology, and letting Alar’s forces perish.

All the facts matter, and it’s a hard lesson, but they do the morally right thing in the end.