"Stargate SG-1" Review Season 02, Episode 15, The Fifth Race

"Stargate SG-1" Review Season 02, Episode 15, The Fifth Race

10/10

22nd January 1999
Written By: Robert C. Cooper
Directed By: David Warry-Smith

Upon finding a world with inscriptions matching one of the four races on Heliopolis where they found Ernest Littlefield, Doctor Jackson is convinced that this world is friendly and might offer an ally if not meaning-of-life knowledge. A device appeared on the wall when Colonel O'Neill crossed the written ring on the ground and when he looked in it grabbed his head and held him in place until he passed out. Once back on Earth they found nothing wrong with O'Neill, but he soon began to exhibit strange behaviour without being aware of it until it is pointed out.

This is the first appearance of the Repository of Knowledge. It contains all the knowledge of the Ancients; the Gate Builders. It leads to several amusing and distressing situations as the knowledge takes over O'Neill's conscious mind, and also makes a few changes. It will be featured later in the series.

The first change made by the knowledge downloaded into O'Neill's mind is that new Stargate destinations are entered into the system, destinations unknown to the Goa'uld. This is something which will be featured later in the series.

The second change is that O'Neill makes very detailed plans of the DHD, and how to repair one. This will not be mentioned later in the series.

The third change is that O'Neill cobbles together a single-use power magnifier for the Stargate, which helps increase the range of the Stargate to other galaxies by using an eigth chevron. This device will reappear later in the series.

The fourth change is that O'Neill and Jackson get far in cobbling together a translation of the Ancient language. This knowledge will reappear later in the series, and will be gradually elaborated.

The plot is good, the acting talent is good, and the special effects are good.

Link to Series Review:
Stargate SG-1