SG-1
and Jacob Carter/Selmak are sent by the Tok’ra to sabotage a negotiation
between the System Lords Apophis and Heru’ur.
Their hope is that this will prevent them from forming an alliance and
even strike a crippling blow to their respective motherships. But there’s just one problem: they’re doing
it all in a space minefield. Meanwhile, Teal’c has been captured by the
Goa’uld for their own purposes, which are totally
unrelated to Apophis and Heru’ur, right?
For
an episode featuring the Goa’uld, this one is less driven by action and more by
tension. SG-1 and Jacob spend 90% of
this episode onboard a Tel’tak transport ship, trying to rig a space mine for
it to be activated in conjunction with the Goa’uld motherships. They manage to pull one onboard (it also
floats inside the ship) and they spend much of their time trying to prevent it
from exploding on the ship while still working on their main objective. The efforts and measures they take make for
some moments of high suspense, and these scenes are where the tension is at its
highest.
The
B-plot of this episode features Teal’c in captivity under the Goa’uld minor
lord Terok. His scenes feel a bit
repetitive at times, since they generally follow the same format: Terok tortures
Teal’c and demands him to renounce his dissidence, but Teal’c always swears he
will never surrender. Thankfully, the plotline
is saved in part by guest actor Paul Koslo as Terok; he chews the scenery in
every interrogation scene, hamming up the villainy to such cartoonish levels
that I can’t help but feel the amount
of fun he was having with this small role.
The Jaffa warrior Rak’nor, who makes his debut in this episode, stands
out especially in these scenes. While
his progression and eventual growth are a bit predictable, there is sincerity
to his character and his relationship with Teal’c throughout the episode. In fact, I would argue this plotline is just
as much about Rak’nor as it is about Teal’c.
The
negotiations between the two System Lords, Apophis & Heru’ur, are where the
episode gets really unpredictable. Their personal motivations are shrouded in
mystery until the end, and you don’t know what decisions they’re going to make,
nor how the proceedings will play out. For
a while, you don’t even know which Goa’uld captured Teal’c, and for what exact purpose,
just yet. The negotiations unfold in an
unexpected way that heightens the stakes for all the heroes throughout the
story, which all culminates with an ending that you likely will not see coming. It is an ending that sets yet another new course
for the Apophis arc’s final act in preparations for its climax with the Season
4 finale, “Exodus”.
With
so little action, “The Serpent’s Venom” manages to create so much tension and character-based
drama with its effects-driven scenario.
It is so satisfying to finally see the two longest-running Goa’uld
System Lords on the show meet face to face—an opportunity that does not go
wasted. The ending will leave you
wanting more and looking forward to see how this story arc will culminate when
the season finale comes.
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