Marina Sirtis guest stars as a Russian scientist, Svetlana Markov, who asks Stargate Command for help in Watergate.

First airing on 11 August, 2000, it was written by Robert C. Cooper.

When Stargate Command is unable to activate their gate, they trace a signal to Siberia where there seems to be an open gate! And for some reason it’s not turning off, though past events have suggested it should shut down after 38 minutes.

O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), Teal’c (Christopher Judge), Carter (Amanda Tapping) and Daniel (Michael Shanks) head to Siberia with Markov who reveals that they recovered the gate from Thor’s crashed ship.

They also have a Dial Home Device, recovered from a Nazi hoard, so their gate supersedes that of the SGC.

The gate they’ve opened leads to a submerged world, and everyone at the Russian base is dead. Markov, Daniel and Carter take a sub through the gate to investigate, while O’Neill and Teal’c investigate the base.

The duo find a frozen Maybourne (Tom McBeath)!

It doesn’t take long to figure out what is going on, but the characters in the episode seem a little slower on the uptake than most sci-fi viewers. The liquid isn’t water, it’s a sentient species, and they want their comrades, taken as a sample by the Russians, back.

It’s a fun episode, brings yet another Star Trek alum into the mix, and keeps the Maybourne arc alive. It’s fast-paced and enjoyable, has some great banter and shows that the series is just rocking at this point.

The First Ones introduces the P-90 as the new weapon of choice for SG-1, replacing the MP-5s.

The episode was written and directed by Peter DeLuise – which may have meant that he was too busy for a cameo. It first debuted on 18 August, 2000.

Daniel has joined Rothman (Jason Schombing) and SG-11 on a planet that may have been the original homeworld for the Goa’uld. During the course of their excavation, Daniel is grabbed by an Unas, Chaka (Dion Johnstone) and dragged away.

O’Neill and the rest of SG-1, newly kitted out with P-90s, head off in pursuit!

Daniel and Chaka begin to build a rapport. Even as they face the dangers of Goa’uld infested waters, and a confrontation with Chaka’s tribe!

Teal’c must confront all of the other SG teams, one of them may be taken over by a Goa’uld and could pose a threat. Consequently, there’s going to be a death for an occasionally recurring character.

A solid, if basic episode that has some wonderful character moments, and lets Daniel be explorer and scientist.

Somehow this series just gets better and better with solid stories but great character beats.