"Stargate SG-1" Review Season 02, Episode 10, Bane

"Stargate SG-1" Review Season 02, Episode 10, Bane

9/10

25th September 1998
Written By: Robert C. Cooper
Directed By: David Warry-Smith

While exploring what looked like an abandoned yet highly advanced planet, Teal'c is stung by an alien insect bigger than most pigeons, and SG-1 evacuates as a swarm of the same insect rush towards them. However, unlike most injuries the strong and silent Jaffa has gotten, this sting does not heal and grows more severe.

As previous episodes have shown, this episode illustrates the consequences of scrupulous and thoughtless pursuit of knowledge and technology at the expense of individual rights; taking a somewhat controlled situation and releasing it when arrogant minds think they have it under better control.

This episode introduces four things.

The first being the insect, which reproduces by stinging a living body. It's DNA overwrites the host's and uses its mass to make more; equal mass conversion. It is surprising that there aren't more of these things around the galaxy, as Jaffa are frequently sent out to reconnoiter old worlds and would undoubtedly have been stung and in a panic returned through the gate, spreading the bug. But this episode is the only one where these insects are present outside clip shows. There is no clue as to whether it was engineered or brought back through the gate after exploration.

The second introduction is that despite their great regenerative ability, Goa'uld larvae are not capable of healing everything a Jaffa encounters. Though they may stem the tide.

The third introduction is that a Goa'uld larva will in its infant form need a tiny but steady electric current to stay alive, a current present in all living hosts but not in a tank of water.

The fourth introduction is the method of making the mark on the foreheads of First Primes; a knife carves the flesh, and then molten gold is poured into the wound.

The plot is good, the acting talent is good, and the effects are a little more prominent in the beginning, followed then by animatronics and animated insects.

Link to Series Review:
Stargate SG-1