Thor's Chariot

DVD, Stargate SG-1 S2 (Thor's Chariot)

A sequel to one of the more enjoyable episodes of Season One; 'Thor's Hammer'. Unfortunately it doesn't feature a great beast for them to avoid down in the dark, but there is a similar test of wits to reach Thor's Might, or, in other words, the reality of Thor as a member of the long-anticipated Asgard race. At last we get to see one, even if it is a familiar 'grey' alien from folklore, and one that doesn't see fit to meet with humans as they are still 'too young'. I guessed the test of the narrow beam crossing was actually a holographic representation, but that didn't stop me from wondering - Garewin was an expendable character after all. It was sad to see Kendra had been killed, but in general it's great when they go back to a previously visited world, and in this case, one in which they had altered things.

My one problem was with Thor himself. How come he could be available to pop up as soon as he became aware the Cimmerians had activated the 'hall', yet never realised the Hammer was destroyed last season, or that the people were under attack? If he got a message from one piece of equipment you'd expect the same technology would have informed him of the presence of enemies. A small quibble in an otherwise reasonable story, and featuring some good action shots (how they love blowing up Goa'ulds and flinging them through the air!).

It ends without ceremony, but I suppose there wasn't anything left to do but return through the Stargate. A new System Lord arrives on the radar (can't remember his name - Harea, or something like that), strikingly thuggish-looking. It's always a good idea to broaden the mythology, so let's hope this new guy proves more of a threat than Apophis has. The return of old characters and places is something to celebrate, as is the addition of new pieces to play with on the chessboard. But. I still didn't feel it was quite substantial enough to be called a good episode, even if it had quite a few good scenes.

**