Emancipation (Stargate SG-1)

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“Emancipation”
Stargate SG-1 episode

Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 3
Guest stars	Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Turghan Jorgito Vargas as Abu Soon-Tek Oh as Moughal
Written by	Katharyn Michaelian Powers
Directed by	Jeff Woolnough
Production no.	103
Original airdate	August 8, 1997
Episode chronology
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"The Enemy Within"	"The Broca Divide"
Episode chronology

"Emancipation" is an episode of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1.

1 Plot
2 Quotes
3 Notes
4 External links

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

On a routine trip through the Stargate, SG-1 finds a beautiful planet with no apparent signs of technology. They suddenly see a man running from a bunch of rabid dogs, and 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. 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. Abu tells his father the woman saved his life, and the father declares Sam is thus saved from her fate at the hands of the law and invites them all back to his village.

Once there Daniel discovers the local culture resembles that of Mongolian nomads, probably from the Chagatai, perfectly preserved since likely being transported here by the Goa'uld close to a thousand years before.

Mughal, though a law-abiding man, is very tolerant and open to the concept of change. The laws of the various clans of this culture state that women must be obedient, hide their faces, and remain silent unless spoken to. To prevent Sam from punishment, he places her in the care of the tribe's women to instruct her in these rules and provide her a woman's gown complete with headpiece and veil. The remaining male members of SG-1 poorly contain their avid appreciation for her new attire. Sam is less amused.

While Daniel immerses 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 Abu's deed he confronts Moughal, who, having guessed his son's intentions, joins SG-1 and persues Abu.

Turghan lusts for Sam and debases her, studying her appearance as if she were an animal; her resulting sarcasm and attitude make Turghan extremely violent. Abu wishes to trade Sam for the hand of Turghan's daughter Nya. Turghan refuses, instead offering Abu 300 weights of gold or death in exchange, Abu takes the gold and reluctantly leaves. Nya is in love with Abu and becomes 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 Nya he will wait in the forest for her to escape so that they may elope.

Knowing that if they wait until the next day to rescue Sam, Turghan will 'partake' of his newest purchase, SG-1 attempted 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, demonstrating its effectiveness by firing it at a gourd pot. The trade is made and all four members of SG-1 quickly leave with Moughal before Turghan can learn that the pistol has a limited amount of ammunition he can't replace. During this time Nya attempts to escape but is captured in the process. Turghan intends to stone her to death for her disobedience. Abu begs Sam and the others to use their weapons to save Nya, 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 chieftain of her clan. Turghan pulls out a short sword-like dagger while Sam pulls out her much smaller (by comparison) K-bar. Sam wins the ensuing hand to hand combat but refuses to kill Turghan; instead making him swear to release Nya, not make war with the Shavadai, and to yield to her.

In celebration of Sam's bravery Moughal, as an example to other clans and tribes, abolishes the old laws regarding women allowing them to walk freely about the camp with their faces revealed. SG-1 returns to Earth with a new anaesthetic derived from one of the local plants.

[edit] Quotes

Teal'c: "What is an Oprah?"

[edit] Notes

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Emancipation (Stargate SG-1)

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.
No explanation is given in the episode for Nya being caucasian despite all other indigenous inhabitants of the planet being Asian, including her own father.
Don S. Davis does not appear in this episode.