Daniel (Michael Shanks) is in the middle of a global conflict in Icon. Written by Damian Kindler, it first aired on 6 August, 2004.

Told through flashbacks while Daniel recovers, the story sprawls three months, from SG-1’s first contact with the planet of Tegalus. Daniel briefs O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), Carter (Amanda Tapping) and Teal’c (Christopher Judge) about the rising tensions between two armed nations, and with their arrival, the rise of a religious fanatic, Soren (James Kidnie).

Soren believes the great ring (read as stargate) will lead to the return of their gods, and when SG-1 walks through it… well…

Conflict erupts, Daniel is injured and nursed to health by Leda (Amy Sloan), the wife of Daniel’s host, Jared (Matthew Bennett).

Soren grabs the gate, and that keeps Daniel trapped on the planet. The other members of SG-1 were able to escape during the opening conflict, and are working desperately to find away to deal with Soren and find their missing member.

And before he escapes, can Daniel find a way to help soothe the global tensions that are wracking the planet?

It’s a fairly standard story, for the series, but it’s done well. I like the fact that it takes place over three months, allowing time for Daniel to get to know the world, and cause some problems between Leda and Jared.

And, of course, the final showdown to put Soren in his place, and hopefully allow the planet to move forward peacefully.

A solid Daniel story, and though O’Neill is in this episode, Anderson’s lack of prominence in the series hurts my heart a little. He was always my favourite, so I delight anytime he is on screen.

Avatar was first broadcast on 13 August, 2004, and was also written by Kindler.

Dr. Lee (Bill Dow) has finished his work on VR training chair. Teal’c tests it out, and cites that it is too easily beaten. So he agrees to help Dr. Lee.

Can you see this one coming?

Teal’c gets trapped in the game, getting killed and shocked over and over again, putting his real life in danger. He fights his way through the training sequence over and over; a Goa’uld invasion of Stargate Command using Kull super-solders. But can he survive? And will his physical body live?

While Lee and Carter try to figure out a way to get Teal’c out, Daniel decides to go into the training session and help him.

As the game continues, Teal’c begins to tire of everything, and is on the verge of giving up. As Daniel works to convince him he’s the actual real Daniel, the pair race to find a way to stop the game once and for all.

But that will lead to a standoff between Teal’c, Daniel, Carter and O’Neill!

I feel everyone did one of these kinds of episodes, The Next Generation, The X-Files, and that’s just off the top of my head. It’s still fun, and it’s a nice fun shoot ’em up episode with no real emotional cost, because it’s all simulated.