SG1: There But For The Grace of God

[Ghilz]

https://sfdebris.com/videos/stargate/sg1s1e19.php

Coz who doesn't like parallel universe stories?

I do like the way the show plays off the whole nukin of Chu'lak, as something the SGC definitely might do when cornered, and something that ultimately bites O'Neill in the ass because it antagonizes Teal'c.

[Rocketboy1313]

The series has a weird relationship with atomic weapons.

They are often portrayed as just another tool in the heroes tool kit, and when you are talking about a conflict for the fate of the galaxy where planets can be annihilated... yeah the horror of nukes does seem rather rolled back in the mind of the audience and would definitely register as less horrifying in the minds of the US military and the heroes.

On the other hand, whenever they are used as offense weaponry they are shown to be a combination of useless and/or actively harmful to the situation (the best example is their use against the Ori in the later seasons when they use the "Gate Buster" 8-gigaton bomb and all it does is help the bad guy hurry along their plans).

They do come in handy when it comes time to deal with science issues tied to the gate, most notably the blackhole... well, now that I say that I can't think of another scenario.

[Ghilz]

They rarely ever use nukes in a situation where they might hit civilians. Most of the time it's entirely against space ships filled almost entirely with combatants.

[Rocketboy1313]

They rarely ever use nukes in a situation where they might hit civilians. Most of the time it's entirely against space ships filled almost entirely with combatants.

Certainly, but at the same time, you can't break the will/spirit of lovecraftian horrors like the space parasites who think they are gods... So using them against a civilian target would be meaningless.

Did they ever show a mirror universe akin to the Terran Empire? Where the humans were so comically evil that they would have used nukes in an attempt to break the will/spirit of the Goa'uld via mass nuking of their slaves and servants? Like idiots.

[Ranadiel]

Love this episode. It does a great job of telling an interesting story while also setting up the stakes for the finale.

On the other hand, whenever they are used as offense weaponry they are shown to be a combination of useless and/or actively harmful to the situation (the best example is their use against the Ori in the later seasons when they use the "Gate Buster" 8-gigaton bomb and all it does is help the bad guy hurry along their plans).

They were a little bit more useful in Atlantis where one of their standard tactics in ship to ship combat was to just beam a nuclear bomb onto the enemy ship and call it a day. At least until their enemies created countermeasures against beaming.

Did they ever show a mirror universe akin to the Terran Empire? Where the humans were so comically evil that they would have used nukes in an attempt to break the will/spirit of the Goa'uld via mass nuking of their slaves and servants? Like idiots.

Looked through all the alternate timelines and dimensions listed on the SG wiki, and I did not see any universes that could be considered to be like the Terran Empire. Closest would be an alternate dimension where the US had become an isolationist dictatorship following the reveal of aliens when Anubis attacked and that is only close if you squint.

There is a universe where Teal'c is carrying around a staff cannon instead of a staff weapon, which could be more militaristic. However I don't think we actually learn any details about that universe because that is the episode where dozens of SG-1s end up in SGC and staff cannon Teal'c is not one of the two teams that get focus.

[Zatman]

Even prime Teal'c carried a staff cannon on occasion, he used it to blast Tanith's Alkesh (which caused Teal'c to get stuck in the Stargate, but we got to meet McKay so...win win?).

[McAvoy]

I suppose you could say that at least in the early days of SG-1 that nukes was the only weapon you could call an equalizer in the face of an enemy with superior weapons and technology. Though it is interesting with all of the science fiction tech SG-1 and Atlantis had, they never really went past the nuke, super powerful now, but still a nuke.

[TheGreenMan]

I'm watching these again with someone who is seeing them for the first time and just saw this episode last week.

I enjoy the 'what if' factor of the episode but thought the killing off of everyone was a bit heavy handed, though it got the point across. I think the other quantum mirror episode got a better balance.

[FlynnTaggart]

Probably one of my favorite episodes just because I love tiger strip camo.

I think the use of nukes was not really evil. Its clear the SGC of that reality is not aware of the dynamics of the System Lords and Jaffa, don't know anything about the slave armies and false gods. To them they are fighting an enemy that seem fully unified, indeed they are fully unified despite some like Teal'c and Bra'tac having doubts. Chucking nukes at everyone, you get a nuke, you get a nuke, is probably about all they can do. Nuke em and hope it hurts the enemy enough to buy them some time or maybe get some negotiation or something, the war seems essentially lost by time Daniel crosses over into their reality.

[clearspira]

Mostly what I remember about this episode is Carter's horrific wig tbh.

There are always innocents in war. That's the tragic part of it. But that doesn't make the use of nukes wrong especially in the dying days of your entire civilisation at the hands of said enemy. I think you can make a similar argument for the Goa'uld that you can for the Viidians over on VOY or the Wraith on Atlantis: they are Hostis Humani Generis - Enemy Of Mankind. They want to kill, enslave, torture and rape you just for being human. In that situation, assuming innocence is a good way to get you killed or worse.