Ep 16. Cor-Ai

SG-1 is tasked with negotiating with a civilization that harbors a deep hatred for the Goa'uld. However, things take a turn for the worse when Teal'c is unwillingly identified as a former First Prime of Apophis and is charged with murder. The team is forced to defend his innocence and navigate the difficult moral and ethical dilemmas that arise in the process.

The episode opens with SG-1 journeying through the Stargate to the planet designated P3X-989 in response to a request for aid from a planet that has been victimized by the Goa'uld. Upon arriving, they are surprised to find that the civilization they encounter is already aware of the Goa'uld and possesses knowledge of the Stargate program. They have managed to overcome the Goa'uld on their planet and are downright hostile towards anyone associated with them.

Despite this, SG-1 is able to proceed with negotiations thanks to the help of Lya, an alien they had saved in a previous episode. However, things quickly go awry when Teal'c is accused of murdering a human. SG-1 is taken aback by this accusation, as Teal'c has explicitly avoided violence unless necessary. Despite his protestations of innocence, Teal'c is sentenced to a trial by Ordeal.

The ordeal is an ancient practice where the accused must undergo physical pain, and if they survive, they are found innocent. Daniel, Sam, and Jack must take a backseat during the ordeal, as it involves Teal'c facing the consequences of his former life as a First Prime. Watching Teal'c go through the trial is a gruesome experience, and the team is left with a difficult question: what is the morality of Teal'c's former life?

Furthermore, the team is put in the difficult position of deciding whether they should simply take Teal'c and run or see the trial through to the end. They wrestle with the moral dilemmas and ethical considerations that arise from being caught between the rocks of cultural differences and the hard places of abandoning an innocent man to his fate.

Ultimately, SG-1 must come to a decision that they can all live with, and the conclusion of the episode is both satisfying and well-conceived. This episode dives deep into the moral and ethical questions that the Stargate Program must confront and make decisions about on a regular basis. The acting is excellent, with Richard Dean Anderson perfectly embodying the character of Jack, and Christopher Judge bringing in a great performance as Teal'c.

Overall, Cor-Ai is an excellent episode of Stargate SG-1 and is a great example of what the show can do. It deals with complex themes in a nuanced way and provides plenty of fodder for discussion, making it one of the memorable episodes of the first season.