It's Good to Be King (Stargate SG-1)

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Stargate SG-1 episode
“It's Good to Be King”
Episode no. Season 8
Episode 13
Guest star(s) Wayne Brady as Trelak
Tom McBeath as Harry Maybourne
Nancy Sorel as Garen
Writer(s) Michael Greenberg & Peter DeLuise and Joseph Mallozzi & Paul Mullie
Director William Gereghty
Production no. 813
Original airdate February 4, 2005
Episode chronology
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Episode chronology

"It's Good to Be King" is an episode of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details for Stargate SG-1 Season 8 follow.

SG-1 receives intelligence that the Goa'uld are now beginning to return to previously abandoned planets with the intent to turn them into new strongholds and hideouts. Even worse, they discover that the System Lord Ares is preparing to invade the planet which former Colonel Harry Maybourne has retired to. General Jack O'Neill sends SG-1 to bring Maybourne back to Earth.

Upon arriving at the planet, the team discover that Maybourne has been proclaimed 'King Arkhan the First', much to their chagrin. When Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter tries to bring Maybourne up to speed, he reveals that he already knows the Goa'uld are on their way. He shows them a set of stone pillars inscribed with Ancient writings, which appear to be a historical record of things that have yet to occur. Maybourne had already translated it, and had used the knowledge of the future to help the people of the planet. Most shocking of all is the prophecy that the invaders of old - the Goa'uld - would return, and that a team of warriors - SG-1 - would save them and defeat the invaders.

Carter says that SG-1 can't help and tells Maybourne that they have to take him back now. But Maybourne refuses to go; he enjoys living with the civilization here and is confident that the prophecy will be fulfilled.

Dr. Daniel Jackson's and Teal'c's further investigation of the surrounding forest turns up the most interesting find of all: a Puddle Jumper that seems to be capable of time travel. But the ship requires the pilot to have the ATA gene. The only person they know of who has the gene is General O'Neill.

O'Neill arrives on the planet to much fanfare from Maybourne and his minstrels, and proceeds directly to the ship. Carter's repair attempts fail, and O'Neill can't even get the ship off the ground. With no other options, Maybourne steps down as king and is forced to reveal to his people that he's not a prophet like he claimed, and that the prophecies are written on the pillars for all to read. He tells them all that they must leave or risk being killed or captured.

But the townspeople refuse to accept Maybourne's resignation, saying that the prophecy will come true like all the others and holding other, non-prophecy related achievements as examples of his great leadership. O'Neill decides to pull out, but its too late; Ares's First Prime and several Jaffa have arrived.

While the Jaffa take control over the small village, O'Neill and Carter hide out in the ship while Daniel and Teal'c hide out amongst the townsfolk. But both are quickly discovered; Daniel and Teal'c are captured, and O'Neill is forced to defend the ship until Carter can get it working again. When she finally does, O'Neill takes the ship up into orbit, where a Goa'uld Ha'tak has arrived.

Some of the village warriors attack the Jaffa in the village, allowing Daniel and Teal'c to escape and help fight and kill the few remaining Jaffa. In orbit, O'Neill uses the ships limited, but immensely powerful weapons (the same Drone weapons, which he used in the episode Lost City) on the Ha'tak, severing some vital systems and causing the ship to explode. Ares, who was onboard, is killed - as the prophecy predicted.

As SG-1 leave, O'Neill offers Maybourne a chance to return to Earth, but Maybourne declines; he'd miss his people, his new home...his wives....

[edit] Notes

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
  • The title refers to the film History of the World, Part I by Mel Brooks.
  • This is the first appearance of Maybourne on the series since the Season Six episode "Paradise Lost".
  • Carter realised the jumper was designed to fit through a Stargate. Presumably, it was taken to the Alpha site after destroying Ares' mothership.
  • Wayne Brady is apparently a fan of the show and asked the producers for a possible guest role, they happily obliged.
  • This time-travelling Puddle Jumper was presumably constructed by Janus after the Ancients evacuated Atlantis ("Before I Sleep"); other than the colour of the DHD keys, it was identical to the one found by the Atlantis Expedition in the City of Atlantis.
  • Jack goes off-world again for the first time since "New Order".
  • When rebroadcast during the summer of 2005, this episode was shown on the same night as the Atlantis episode "Before I Sleep". It's possible they were intended to be viewed this way.
  • This Puddle Jumper is used in the final episodes of this season, Moebius.
  • According to this episode, the System Lords are losing the war against Ba'al: Bastet and Olokun are dead, while Morrigan has surrendered. Yu and Amaterasu were preparing for a last-ditch attempt to repel Ba'al, while the majority of the other System Lords were either planning for or engaged in withdrawl from combat.

[edit] External links

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