Stargate SG-1 (TV Series) The Enemy Within (1997) User Reviews

Dramatic and Tragic Episode

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 17 April 2015]

Colonel O'Neill asks to General Hammond to let Teal'c join his SG-1 team but Hammond is reluctant since the alien hosts a Goa'uld. The arrogant Colonel Kennedy comes from Langley and wants to use Teal'c as a guinea pig to study the Goa'uld. Meanwhile, Major Charles Kawalsky is not aware that he has a Goa'uld inside him and has headaches and blackouts. He goes to the infirmary and kills the doctor, trying to escape through the gate. However he is captured by O'Neill and Dr. Warner finds the alien form around his spine. He decides to submit Kawalsky to a surgery to remove the Goa'uld. Will he succeed in the surgery? And what will be the fate of Teal'c?

"The Enemy Within" is a dramatic and tragic episode, with another great story. Kawallsky was a promising character and his loss was very sad. The attitude of General Hammond shows that he is a qualified leader, protecting his men. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "The Enemy Within"

A Step Up from the Pilot

[georgesepiclife · 8/10 · 31 March 2017]

This was another good episode, and a direct continuation from where the pilot left off. Although this episode is much more small-scale and mainly focuses on Kawalsky, I thought it was better than the pilot because it was more focused, and continued to develop the main characters. It is tense and exciting throughout, and there are some really sad moments. Aside from Kawalsky, I liked the continuation of the Teal'c story line, and of what would happen to him. The ending is very emotional and satisfying, but well deserved, and there is a very good line said by O'Neill that will stick with me. Overall, a step up from the pilot, and one that leaves me excited for what is ahead.

Enemy mine

[Calicodreamin · 7/10 · 30 December 2021]

Flowing seamlessly from the pilot, delving into the stranger that came in from the portal. The ending was kind of wild and unexpected. Acting was decent and the effects worked well.

A truly terrifying episode! Starts of the series Nicely!

[joshi_3592 · 10/10 · 15 August 2009]

A truly terrifying episode where we learn that Kawalski has been infested by the Goa'uld (this isn't much of a surprise if you've seen the original version of the pilot)and starts terrorizing the SGC, Whitout being aware of it himself.

In the meantime the military wishes to conduct experiments on Teal'c considering that he is the first alien on earth, and that he carries a larva Goa'uld inside him.

The episode is about the struggle to save Teal'cs freedom, and Kawalsky's life. This is a much more darker episode than usual, and Marks the beginning of the team SG-1.

PS: Makes sure that you watch the pilot before you see this, or else you'll be very confused, I saw this episode first and had no clue what was going on.

Passenger

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 14 September 2014]

This episode, although dealing with the formation of the "SG Teams" and looking at Teal'c's character- focuses more on how a Goa'Uld takes an unwilling Host.

I think the idea for this kind of creature came from a Robert Silverberg story called "Passengers". - where people lived in fear of "picking up a passenger", which were Entities that could take over a person, abuse that person, abuse another "passengered" person, and then leave the body. In the story, these entities would simply be seeking pleasure or mischief but they usually didn't harm their hosts, they never killed anybody, their eyes did not glow, and they were not megalomaniac power hungry dictators, but they would still cause the host body to do things it would normally not consider doing while the host consciousness had to sit there and watch it all happen.

That is the only similarity between passengers and Goa'Uld.

Remember we saw a symbiont leave a dead Jaffa's pouch and jump into the non-John Deihl Kowalski (Jay Avacone- the Cop who says "What?" In Terminator 3). Since this symbiont is still in its larval stage, it cannot completely take over Kowalksi. While the symbiont is in control we see the nature of the Goa'Uld, they are not patient, they don't know how to be covert, they are demanding- basically they're all the same since they all share the same genetic memory.

And although they have a high understanding of scientific principles, they are all relatively stupid when it comes to social things like how people interact - they really don't know how to live in any kind of society where people have to live with each other, therefore they are always fighting and killing each other*. And they basically use the Jaffa to do it for them since they are too scared to risk their own lives, when they lose they escape and then they go into hibernation in a sarcophagus-resurrection box, and the nature of those things is explored later... But in the original movie that was how Ra was able to live forever (until he was blown into atom- sized pieces of space dust).

Since we never know who is really in control of Kowalski it adds a lot of suspense to this episode which was handled very cleverly, and... It shows us basically what would happen if anybody left their head in the Stargate while it was closing.

*The Goa'Uld named "Ba'Al" actually tried living with humans and other Goa'Uld in a more cooperative way, he wanted to be a "Benevolent god" - refer to the "Stargate: Continuum" movie. Basically his plan failed because he never figured on Betrayal from his Queen "Ketesh", She made him see the "two halves" of the situation, so to speak.

Fairly Strong Follow-up Episode That Develops Characters

[enterzec · 6/10 · 4 August 2017]

Who is truly the villain, is it the known enemy the Goa'uld that's exist inside Teal'c (Christopher Judge) or is it mankind itself. Everyone is not the same on either side of the battle, Colonel Kennedy (Alan Rachins) clearly show us just that when he wants to use Teal'c and his symbiot as a test subject. While the political dilemma is going on Charles Kawalsky (Jay Acovane) is having his own problem with a Goa'uld symbiot. 

Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) is just the kind of leader of a team you need, he looks after his friends and the people who treat him good, he fights all he can for Teal'c even though he has only known him for a short period time. He also tries to do everything he can to help his long-time friend Kawalsky to get rid of his symbiot. The whole Kawalsky getting black-out is a good story point and that the rest doesn't know at first that it is Kawalsky that is causing the problem at the base.

It's a shame that we won't be able to see the friendship between O'Neill and Kawalsky but that will open up to newer friendships between the other major characters and we will see them grow from the start on the screen instead of imagine what those two has gone through before. Don S. Davis really did a good job in this episode as the George Hammond the leader of the base and one who has to take difficult decision and standing up against Colonel Kennedy and his wishes. In the end we got our SG-1 when Teal'c is able to join the team to fully form SG-1.

Score: 6/10 (Solid)

Dark yet awesome episode.

[sam_smithreview · 9/10 · 8 May 2016]

Great Addition to a great show:

This episode, although dealing with the formation of the "SG Teams" and looking at Teal'c's character- focuses more on how a Goa'Uld takes an unwilling Host.

I think the idea for this kind of creature came from a Robert Silverberg story called "Passengers". - where people lived in fear of "picking up a passenger", which were Entities that could take over a person, abuse that person, abuse another "passengered" person, and then leave the body. In the story, these entities would simply be seeking pleasure or mischief but they usually didn't harm their hosts, they never killed anybody, their eyes did not glow, and they were not megalomaniac power hungry dictators, but they would still cause the host body to do things it would normally not consider doing while the host consciousness had to sit there and watch it all happen.

Remember we saw a symbiont leave a dead Jaffa's pouch and jump into the non-John Deihl Kowalski (Jay Avacone- the Cop who says "What?" In Terminator 3). Since this symbiont is still in its larval stage, it cannot completely take over Kowalksi. While the symbiont is in control we see the nature of the Goa'Uld, they are not patient, they don't know how to be covert, they are demanding- basically they're all the same since they all share the same genetic memory.

And although they have a high understanding of scientific principles, they are all relatively stupid when it comes to social things like how people interact - they really don't know how to live in any kind of society where people have to live with each other, therefore they are always fighting and killing each other*. And they basically use the Jaffa to do it for them since they are too scared to risk their own lives, when they lose they escape and then they go into hibernation in a sarcophagus-resurrection box, and the nature of those things is explored later... But in the original movie that was how Ra was able to live forever (until he was blown into atom- sized pieces of space dust).

Since we never know who is really in control of Kowalski it adds a lot of suspense to this episode which was handled very cleverly, and... It shows us basically what would happen if anybody left their head in the Stargate while it was closing.

*The Goa'Uld named "Ba'Al" actually tried living with humans and other Goa'Uld in a more cooperative way, he wanted to be a "Benevolent god" - refer to the "Stargate: Continuum" movie. Basically his plan failed because he never figured on Betrayal from his Queen "Ketesh", She made him see the "two halves" of the situation, so to speak

Truly loved this episode, it didn't try and stick to a formula of everything being good and Hollywood.

Description of Episode

[AllenLynn23 · 6/10 · 10 May 2006]

As the Goa'uld splatter against the protective iris installed inside the stargate, the SG-1 team faces several problems close to home.

Col. Jack O'Neill wants to add a new member to the team: Teal'c, an alien who risked his own skin to save O'Neill and his team on the other side of the stargate. But Gen. Hammond won't approve the appointment and O'Neill must watch as military intelligence treats Teal'c like a guinea pig.

To make matters worse, Kawalsky, O'Neill's right-hand man, has been having terrible headaches, which are caused by an alien larvae that has attached itself to his brain. What they don't realize is that this larvae is trying to take over Kawalsky's body in an attempt to go back through the stargate.

With guidance from Teal'c, the doctors operate to remove the alien … but did they get it in time? Or is Kawalsky still under alien control, ready to kill his former comrades when the order comes?

still about how to form SG-1 team

[trashgang · 7/10 · 23 March 2013]

The first episode made for television that clocks in at 42 minutes. I can't really say that this is a real episode because we still go deeper into the characters and this time it's all about Teal'c (Christopher Judge).

Being asked by team SG-1 to join the team the Major General George Hammond (Don S. Davies) has his doubts about letting Teal'c going into the team. He's an alien and the army wants to see what and who he is, he has already not being faithful after all on planet Abydos.

The stargate itself isn't much into this episode. One other character is being watched closely, Major Charles Kawalsky (Jay Acovone) has been infected by a Goa'uld, it's only at the end that the host takes over from Kawalsky.

But at the end all things are okay for the SG-1 team, Teal'c has show his loyalty,by helping in,the surgeon towards Kawalsky's body, to the planet and SG-1 so he can join forces with them.

The last minute SG-1 is a real team and the series can take off, be advised to watch Children Of The Gods first to understand this episode. It's weird that Children Of The Gods isn't included in the complete box, the new complete box do has this flick but only to find after season 5.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 3/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5

A dark episode

[Paularoc · 5/10 · 27 June 2012]

In this sad and dark entry, Teal'c's character and background is further developed. He's nothing if not stoic and unemotional – but not wooden, oddly. General Hammond will not grant O'Neill's request that Teal'c be allowed to join his SG-1 team. Air Force higher ups want to study Teal'c since he is the first alien they have captured. We know from the pilot episode that Major Kawalsy has been invaded by a Goa'uld and in this episode after suffering terrible headaches and blackouts, the doctors discover this and decide to undertake a very risky operation to remove the alien. There is a touching scene between O'Neill and Kawalsy just prior to the operation. One thing that was somewhat amusing (I am a bit ashamed to say) was when the aliens trying to breach the door of the star gate made a sound like a splat and the nonchalant reaction of those who witnessed (heard) it.