Season eight gets underway on 9 July, 2004 with a two-part opener, New Order, written by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie.

Dr. Weir (Torri Higginson) has taken over Stargate Command, who is trying to keep things going, and negotiate use and access of the Antarctic discovery.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) is still in stasis in the remote outpost under the ice. And despite given the Goa’uld Anubis the permanent smackdown there are still system lords out there, and the Replicators are back!

Oh! and Teal’c (Christopher Judge) has a head of hair now!

The Replicators are back, because Carter (Amanda Tapping) knows that the Asgard are probably keeping an eye on the planet they’ve been trapped on. So SG-1, well Teal’c and Carter, heads out to contact them, and starts a whole new wave of problems. The Asgard were in the area, they had to collapse the system’s star to keep the Replicators trapped. But the Replicators have advanced enough to craft their own massive ships, and that is going to cause issues.

Teal’c and Carter are overrun by the Replicators, and Carter is beamed away to be tortured by Fifth (G. Patrick Currie) who is upset about being left behind and wants revenge. Teal’c and the Asgard set off in pursuit ,shocked to learn that the ship is headed to the new Asgard homeworld.

The waiting Asgard fleet destroys the Replicator craft, and Carter?!

Daniel (Michael Shanks) remains behind to work on deciphering the material found at the outpost in his own way to save O’Neill. And he and Weir find themselves negotiating with a whole series of system lords who have come to Earth because they were stunned by the SGC’s stopping Anubis.

But there are still super-soldiers out there, and they may be under the power of Baal (Cliff Simon). Weir toys with reviving O’Neill from stasis to use the outpost, as the Goa’uld decide to test Earth’s new defenses and send another fleet.

New Order: Part 2 picks up moments later (it was originally aired as a feature-length episode).

Weir imprisons the Goa’uld system lords before they can escape off-planet, and Earth readies for another assault.

Teal’c and Thor (voiced by Michael Shanks) return to Earth aboard the Daniel Jackson. They are seeking help from the SGC, and the information in O’Neill’s mind may help them stop the Replicators, who are making planetfall from their destroyed ship.

O’Neill is the only one to mention Teal’c’s hair when he is finally revived by Thor. Thor is also able to recall a weapon that was created by the Ancients from O’Neill’s mind.

As the Prometheus waits in Earth orbit to stand against the approaching Goa’uld, and some of the system lord prisoners offer to fight with them. And Weir makes a big decision.

Carter is still alive, stuck in a vision of Fifth’s programming. She is living on a farm with Pete (David DeLuise). Fifth is learning from her, and keeping her prisoner for his own enjoyment.

O’Neill and the team get a glimpse of Carter in the minds of a recovered Replicator, and head planetside to track her down, armed with O’Neill’s new weapon.

Things work out for the team, Weir gets assigned to see over the Antarctic expedition, and O’Neill finds himself promoted to Brigadier General, and placed in charge of the SGC. And Carter finds herself promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and takes over command of SG-1! And Fifth, he’s still out there, and he has a Carter Replicator.

There are lots of things going on! It’s a great season opener, reminding us that even with Anubis taken care of there are still lots of problems out there! Character arcs, narrative arcs, lots of continuity. So much going on here.