Stargate SG-1: The Basics (Part 2) - [Updated 2-5-2011]

Today in Part 2, I'm going to outline the three main factions that SG-1 encounters and is forced to fight throughout the series. The series starts with the fight against the Goa'uld System Lords and their slaves, the Jaffa. Toward the end of the System Loads reign, they encounter the Replicators that have been fighting against the Asgard for years. Last, the Ori enter the picture, attempting to use their advanced technology and knowledge to trick the galaxy into worshiping them.

Goa'uld

The Goa'uld are a serpent-shaped parasite that possesses a human host to survive. The resulting combination is an exceptionally strong creature with enhanced strength and extreme longevity (when paired with their resurrection device, the Sarcophagus). They use this and their advanced technology to set themselves up as gods. Taking humans from Earth thousands of years ago, they spread them throughout the galaxy and began to rule over them as various gods from human mythology. Notable Goa'uld System Lords include Apophis, Anubis, Hathor, and Sokar.

Jaffa

The Jaffa are the slaves of the Goa'uld. They are descendants of humans that have been modified to that they have to serve as an living incubator for larval Goa'uld. Without a larval Goa'uld, the Jaffa will die soon after hitting puberty due to a failing immune system. In fact, if the symbiote is removed from an adult Jaffa, they will die a slow, painful death within a matter of hours. They must either acquire a new symbiote, or they require regular injections of a drug developed by the Tok'ra, called tretonin. The Jaffa often where armor with a helmet resembling the a specific animal. For instance, all of Apophis' Jaffa wore helmets resembling serpents.


Because of the reappearance of SG-1 and the Tau'ri in the galaxy, may Jaffa are realizing that the Goa'uld are not the gods they thought them to be and are rebelling against them. These actions aid SG-1 and the people of Earth as they try to bring down the System Lords.

Replicators

The Replicators are mechanical beings composed of nanotechnology. Their main goal is to increase their numbers and spread across the universe by assimilating the advanced technology of other species. For this reason, the Replicators are opposed to all other life-forms. They started out as an arachnid-type androids, but in "Unnatural Selection", they developed human-form Replicators. Normal Replicators are resistant to energy weapons, like the Jaffa staff weapon, but can be broken apart and destroyed by projectile weapons. However, human Replicators are resistant to both types of weapons because they're make up of smaller blocks that resemble cells. They were eventually completely destroyed by the Dakara Superweapon in Season 8.

Ori

The Ori are a group of Ascending beings who are incredibly similar to the Ancients. They use their ascended powers and infinite knowledge of the universe to force other lesser beings to worship them. The Ori differ from the Ancients in one key way, their life view. The Ancients value science while the Ori value religion. They created a fake religion known as "Origin" to sway beings to worshipping them. Origin is designed to channel the energy created by the human worshippers to the Ori. So, while they promise Ascension to their followers, they won't acually help other Ascend because they would have to share the energy they sap.

All their technology is designed and targeted to help get more followers to sap more energy from. Since the Ori are Ascended, they don't directly interfere on the physical plane. They instead recruit humans called Priors to spread their word. They artifically evolve the Priors to be one step from Ascension in order to give them special powers. Because of the number of followers the Ori have, they are nearly unstoppable.

Stargate SG-1 has had the perfect villians since it was concieved. Starting with Ra, the writers continued to come up with great storylines and great enemies that kept SG-1 on their toes, and us on the edge of our seats. That's it for part 2, part 3 on the basic technology of Stargate will be posted tomorrow afternoon. Soon after, we'll be starting on the reviews of the series, starting with the extended cut of "Children of the Gods". Till next time, stay classy!

[UPDATE]

We'll be starting with the original 1994 movie "Stargate", which kicked the franchise off. Coming Soon!