Enigma (116)

[Pic]

I have an idea why the Tollans seem so stunted emotionally: their whole race went through extreme trauma when they lost their world. As Omoc said, their neighboring planet blew itself up, no doubt raining lethal fragments on the Tollans. One asteroid was enough to kill off all the dinosaurs here on Earth; imagine the cataclysm that a million fragments could wreak.

Namir was astonished at seeing a bird, saying that his world (the new Tollan planet) did not have them. Looking back, I think he meant to say that birds, flowers, and many other beautiful things once existed on his former world but are gone forever. I can't imagine the profound sense of loss that he and all the other Tollans must feel. The trauma their whole race went through might explain why most of them seem so cold.

This is my guess from what I have seen of Season One. I'm experiencing all the episodes for the very first time, so I could easily be wrong.

It's been an excellent series so far!

I'm glad you're enjoying SG1 - it is an excellent series.

I hadn't thought of the trauma leading to their lack of warmth, that's an interesting opinion. I had always considered them arrogant with a side-dish of a superiority complex. I can imagine that such a large scale loss would harden a people.

P.S. I still think Omac is an ass.

[Cello]

I'm glad you're enjoying SG1 - it is an excellent series.

Thanks, it's looking good so far. I'm watching one episode a day on the Space Channel (the Canadian equivalent of the Sci Fi channel). Maybe that's going a bit too fast, because I'm hit with another episode before I've fully absorbed the previous one. I feel as if I've been drinking too much!

The truth is though, earlier in Season One only Sam Carter kept me coming back.... she is so appealing. But the last few episodes have been strong -- I'm up to "There but for the Grace of God" now -- and I think I'm hooked!

I hadn't thought of the trauma leading to their lack of warmth, that's an interesting opinion. I had always considered them arrogant with a side-dish of a superiority complex. I can imagine that such a large scale loss would harden a people.

Especially if a lot of them died during the tragedy.

P.S. I still think Omac is an ass.

So do I! I still can't understand why he wasn't grateful for the rescue.

[Butlersgate]

i love that tobin bell was in this episode they should of brought him back

[The Stig]

i find the tolan a tad snobish. An episode i completely forgot about but looking back it was a great change to find a civilisation more advanced than us (not counting nox as they don't do anything)

[Zwegan]

I just started watching the series on DVD, and the thing that jumped out at me in this episode was the continuity problem.

At the end the Nox come through the gate to rescue the Tollen (prolly spelling both wrong) and then they go through the gate back to the Nox homeworld...

But wouldn't the gate have to have been dialed from Earth for them to return?

I thought it was a 1-way thing.

[MistressBratak]

This episode showed me why my evil (hormonal) alter-ego could never work at the SGC. As soon as the mighty leader of the Tollan said his first ungrateful, condescending word, I would have said, "Oh, looks like we've got a Lieutenant Dan Syndrome on our hands." (I had a destiny! I was supposed to die with my men!)

Then I would have had someone dial the gate to wherever we got those folks from, (if possible), escorted Mr. High and Mighty to the Gateroom in a custom-made, body-size sling.
Then I would have had Teal'c pick him up and swing him in the air, 'round and 'round,
(let's pause and imagine that for a moment, complete with sound effects: whoosh! Whoosh! Whoo-whoo-whoo-WHOOSH!)
and sling his pompous precious self right through that gate.
What? It's not my fault I'm too primitive to understand that that's not the proper way to use the gate?
Then I would have turned to everyone else and said,
"Look, I know we are primitive and inferior. We could try to detain you here, but you will obviously find a way out. At the same time, we don't want you hangin' around turning up your precious little noses at our pitiful primitive secrets either. So how about you cut to the chase, and get the heck off our planet. And do it quickly.
"What? Don't look at us. We don't know squat! We're primitive. Sorry. Can't help you."

[Tawny]

I just started watching the series on DVD, and the thing that jumped out at me in this episode was the continuity problem.

At the end the Nox come through the gate to rescue the Tollen (prolly spelling both wrong) and then they go through the gate back to the Nox homeworld...

But wouldn't the gate have to have been dialed from Earth for them to return?

I thought it was a 1-way thing.

Aye, wormhole travel is one way. It's been a while since I watched this episode, so here goes:
If the wormhole doesn't disengage after they step through, probably a mistake with the continuity.
If it does disengage, but doesnt appear to be dialled, its because they have that wierd arm movement that opens the gate without dialling.

[eaglevision]

I just started watching the series on DVD, and the thing that jumped out at me in this episode was the continuity problem.

At the end the Nox come through the gate to rescue the Tollen (prolly spelling both wrong) and then they go through the gate back to the Nox homeworld...

But wouldn't the gate have to have been dialed from Earth for them to return?

I thought it was a 1-way thing.

The gate shut down after Lya step through. After that:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y83...nsx/enigma.gif

[lordofseas]

I just started watching the series on DVD, and the thing that jumped out at me in this episode was the continuity problem.

At the end the Nox come through the gate to rescue the Tollen (prolly spelling both wrong) and then they go through the gate back to the Nox homeworld...

But wouldn't the gate have to have been dialed from Earth for them to return?

I thought it was a 1-way thing.

What the previous poster stated above. When you watch more of the series, you learn that it is possible to do what Lya did. The Nox are indeed technologically advanced.

[jsonitsac]

I thought this was an ok episode and we got to dip a toe into Mayborne's psyche. I didn't find the Tollan all that sympathetic, but I could understand how they felt about the issue.

One thing that bugged me (and this is probably because I've taken graduate level classes in the history of science and technology) was Daniel's comment about the Dark Ages. I realize it's a cliche to say "if it weren't for the Dark Ages..." but the fact is that statement is patently false. First, technology doesn't really have a linear progression (in fact many scholars who study this hate the concept of "progress"). Also, it's very Western European centric, Daniel forgets about the various glories of the Islamic and Asian civilizations during the "Dark Ages." Again, this totally comes from my educational experience and I realize that many people who haven't really studied these things in-depth probably wouldn't nit-pick like that.

[drewandian]

I'm doing a S1 rewatch...and almost skipped this episode....I just don't like the Tollans and Narim is just...I dunno....ick....he just rubs me the wrong way.

The whole phasing through walls thing is still cool though....

[Huge Gold Space Cadillac]

I'm doing a S1 rewatch...and almost skipped this episode....I just don't like the Tollans and Narim is just...I dunno....ick....he just rubs me the wrong way.

The whole phasing through walls thing is still cool though....

I've actually never seen any of SG-1 and am watching S1 for the first time. It was a pretty boring episode. The romance felt forced a bit, too. The cat was awesome, though. XD

[SSJPabs]

Re-watching this episode and I can't help but wonder: What would the Tollan think of humanity if they'd only encountered us in the series present, that is, with all the Asgard tech and ships, and defeated the Goauld etc.

Would they still see us as dangerously primitive? More dangerous than ever?

Also: Always like Lya. She seemed a bit happier to be proactive and help out humans. It's a shame the Nox kind of faded out though I understand there's not really a whole lot interesting you can do with them that doesn't just break the series.

[mrscopterdoc]

I'm doing a S1 rewatch...and almost skipped this episode....I just don't like the Tollans and Narim is just...I dunno....ick....he just rubs me the wrong way.

The whole phasing through walls thing is still cool though....

The cat was awesome, though. XD

I totally agree

[hawk97135]

So do I! I still can't understand why he wasn't grateful for the rescue.

Now this is pure guesswork and as far as I know there have been no references made to this in any episode at all. But I think that the Tollen may have access to a sarcophagus or something of that nature because just after Omoc is introduced there is the following exchange;

OMOC: There was a rescue transport on the way.

O'NEILL: Well, half your people were already dead. I don't think it would have gotten there in time.

OMOC: Perhaps that's more of a problem for you than it was for us.

Now that makes me think that they can bring someone back from the dead.

Even if this was true Omoc could have been nicer to SG1.

Another point is that no one seemed to think of using the Stargate to goto a planet that was nearer their new homeworld and send a message to them to be picked up from there. But that idea wouldn't have brought back the Nox who are always good.

[StargateWatcher]

No they don't

You're right we did meet other advanced peoples. It's just that for me, the Tollans are the first race that we meet that actually "feels" advanced.

Plus I've always thought of the Nox as more biological then technelogical, though I know they do have technology, they don't seem to care about it or why the heck would you live in a hut with no amenities? (They wouldn't share either )

The Oannes -- those were Nem's people right? -- Did he say were his people were? We only ever saw him. I guess he just struck me as a loner, not so much as a people.

OR my brain wasn't working and I just forgot about them

from what we saw of Thor's mothership, I think we could've deduced they were clearly minimally as advanced though know we know a heck of a lot more as one o the ultr-advanced 4 races

[StargateWatcher]

b) Omac was a true leader, carring for his people's safety (wish we could've seen some more of him);

Spoiler:

those Goa'uld *******s just had to kill him

The Goa'uld didn't kill him; some of his fellow Tollan did to prevent him from snitching on the fact they were collab w/ Goa'uld

[StargateWatcher]

I thought this was an ok episode and we got to dip a toe into Mayborne's psyche. I didn't find the Tollan all that sympathetic, but I could understand how they felt about the issue.

One thing that bugged me (and this is probably because I've taken graduate level classes in the history of science and technology) was Daniel's comment about the Dark Ages. I realize it's a cliche to say "if it weren't for the Dark Ages..." but the fact is that statement is patently false. First, technology doesn't really have a linear progression (in fact many scholars who study this hate the concept of "progress"). Also, it's very Western European centric, Daniel forgets about the various glories of the Islamic and Asian civilizations during the "Dark Ages." Again, this totally comes from my educational experience and I realize that many people who haven't really studied these things in-depth probably wouldn't nit-pick like that.

excellent pointin out of these 2 concepts viewers would benefit to keep in mind

[StargateWatcher]

Now this is pure guesswork and as far as I know there have been no references made to this in any episode at all. But I think that the Tollen may have access to a sarcophagus or something of that nature because just after Omoc is introduced there is the following exchange;




Now that makes me think that they can bring someone back from the dead.

Even if this was true Omoc could have been nicer to SG1.

Another point is that no one seemed to think of using the Stargate to goto a planet that was nearer their new homeworld and send a message to them to be picked up from there. But that idea wouldn't have brought back the Nox who are always good.

think he means more of a problem fr Earth's supposed transport vessels fr his peoples' transport vessel to getthere in time

[Jacquelyn]

I actually quite like this episode. I mean meeting another advanced race of people. (though they don't share their technology) And MAINLY because of how sweet the couple of Narim/Sam are. (i dont care if that isn't Narim. ) I mean I reallyy LOVE Jack/Sam but Narim is a good guy as well.