Emancipation (Stargate SG-1)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Stargate SG-1 episode | |
|---|---|
| “Emancipation” | |
 |
|
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 3 |
| Guest star(s) | Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Turghan Jorgito Vargas as Abu Soon-Tek Oh as Moughal |
| Writer(s) | Katharyn Michaelian Powers |
| Director | Jeff Woolnough |
| Production no. | 103 |
| Original airdate | August 8, 1997 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "The Enemy Within" | "The Broca Divide" |
"Emancipation" is an episode of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1.
[edit] Plot
On a routine trip through the Stargate, SG-1 find a beautiful planet with no apparent signs of technology. They suddenly see a man running from a bunch of rabid dogs, and they save his life. He is initially very grateful and introduces himself as Abu of the Shavadai, which Abu translates as "the people of the steppe". Suddenly he realises that one of them is not a man and points to Samantha Carter, and exclaims, "She is a woman!"
Abu's father, Mughal, and some of his clan show up, and when they see Sam they point arrows at her. Apparently, in this culture, women are not allowed to show their faces or wear the clothes of a man. Sam is offended and does not react well. Before mass-killing ensues, Abu tells his father that the woman saved his life, and the father declares that Sam is also saved from her fate at the hands of the law and invites them all back to his village.
Once there, Daniel discovers that they have encountered a culture resembling that of Mongolian nomads, probably from the Chagatai, and remain perfectly preserved since being transported here by the Goa'uld likely close to a thousand years before.
Mughal, though a law-abiding man, is very tolerant and is open to the concept of change. The laws of the various clans of this culture state that women must be obedient, not show their faces, and not speak unless spoken to. To prevent Sam from being killed, he places her in the care of the tribe's women who instruct her in the rules and give her a women's gown with a large headpiece and veil. The remaining male members of SG-1 poorly contain their avid appreciation for her new attire. Needless to say, she is less than amused.
While Daniel immereses himself in the anthropology along with Jack and Teal'c, Abu kidnaps Sam and takes her to a neighbouring clan led by a fierce warlord, Turghan. Abu tells Sam he intends to trade her for something he wants more than life itself. When Daniel discovers that Abu has done this he confronts Moughal, who, having guessed his son's intentions, joins SG-1 and persues Abu.
When Abu meets Turghan, Turghan lusts for Sam and debases her, studying her appearance as if she were an animal, her sarcasm and attitude make Turghan extremely violent. Abu wishes the hand in marriage of Turghan's daughter, Nya, in exchange for her, but Turghan refuses. He offers Abu 300 weights of gold or death in exchange, Abu takes the gold and reluctantly leaves. However, it is evident that Nya too is in love with Abu and is distressed as her father tells her she will marry the warlord of another clan by the "next moon". Later, Abu sneaks into Turghan's camp and tells her he will wait in the forest for her to escape so that they can elope.
Knowing that if they wait until the next day to rescue Sam, Turghan will 'partake' of his newest purchase, SG-1 attempt to repurchase her for 500 weights of gold, they tell Turghan that she is their shaman and they must have her back. Turghan refuses all offers until Jack offers his Beretta side-arm, demonstarting its effectiveness byfiring it at a gourd pot. The trade is made and all four members of SG-1 leave with Moughal. During this time Nya attempts to escape but is captured in the process and Turghan intends to stone her to death for her disobedience. Abu begs Sam and the others to save Nya using their weapons, but Moughal tells them this would bring war to the Shavadai - but that by defeating Turghan with law there can be no war. Moughal explains that there is a law that allows a clan leader to challenge another to halt a stoning. Sam challenges Turghan as the cheiftan of her clan, the battle begins and Turghan pulls a short sword-like dagger and Sam pulls her much smaller (by comparison) K-bar. Sam wins the ensuing hand to hand combat but refuses to kill Turghan; instead she makes him swear to release his daughter, not make war with the Shavadai and to yield to her.
In celebration and memory of Sam's bravery, Moughal, as an example to other clans and tribes, abolishes the old laws regarding women, and they are free to walk about the camp with their faces revealed. SG-1 return to Earth with a new anaesthetic derived from one of the local plants.
[edit] Notes
- The title refers to the freeing of the women in the world SG-1 visits.
- This was the first "regular" episode, i.e. its happenings were by and large inconsequential to the grand scale of things in the Stargate universe.
- Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Turghan also played Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat.
- The team makes reference to a past exploratory mission on P3X-595 where Capt. Carter apparently imbided a mind-altering substance that greatly reduced her inhibitions. Apart from the humorous story, the reference implies that SG-1 has many adventures which are not chronicled in the series.
- This episode marks the acting debut of Crystal Lowe, who plays Nya.
[edit] External links
- Official Stargate SG-1 site. MGM. Retrieved on 2006-06-08. Most of site requires Flash.
- Screenplay (PDF). Distributed by MGM. Prepared by Casablanca Continuity. Retrieved on 2006-10-18. Also see Google's cache.
- Summary. SciFi. Retrieved on 2006-06-05.
