It seems it's back to basics in what appears to be Michael Shanks' first episode back from his extended summer hiatus. In a return to what many fans would call the days when as peaceful explorers, SG1 "went through the gate and got into trouble", Bad Guys sees the team (minus Sam Carter) finding themselves unwitting gate crashers at an offworld soiree when the gate they travel through proves to be housed as an exhibit in a museum, an unknown (and unused) curio.
As the inhabitants of the planet have no idea of the true function of the gate, SG1's story of travelling from another planet is not believed and they are thought to be hostage-taking rebels from a fanatical religious group opposed to the current Viceroy's plan to separate state, the Governing Council, from religion, the Circle of Heavens.
Unable to convince anyone of the truth and stranded because the DHD proves to be merely a replica made from old drawings as part of the museum display, SG1 has to maintain of a pretense of being the terrorist they are thought to be, taking the party goers hostage while holding off the gathering police forces and searching the museum for parts of the original DHD they have been told are somewhere there. This vital information has been given to them by Cicero, a museum researcher who, somewhat like Daniel before him, has attracted the derision of his peers for his belief that the "pyramid circle", as the gate is known, is in fact a some kind teleport device. Delighted to be vindicated in his beliefs he attempts to assist SG1 but his efforts may not be the help he hopes they will be.
Outside, Quartus an experienced hostage negotiator has arrived, ostensibly to make a deal with the "terrorists" within and begins to negotiate with Daniel via radio for a non violent resolution to the siege. This however is doomed to failure as, unknown to each other, neither of them are really what they claim to be. It seems Quartus is under orders to exterminate the "rebels" and Daniel, with information provided by Cicero and Teal'c's guidance, is forced to play the role of a volatile and dangerous fanatic with a long list of demands and a willingness to kill the party guests, buying time while Mitchell and Vala seek a means of escape.
Adding to the confusion is a ineffectual museum guard with a name which will no doubt be curiously familiar to regular readers of these pages, Jayem Seran is a frustrated hero. Thwarted in his ambitions to join the Council's Guard by youthful indiscretions, he sees the situation as his big chance to prove himself and when brushed off by the police he slips back into the museum in an attempt to disrupt the rebels' plans on his own. In the end he may just get his wish to be a hero, that is if Vala doesn't accidentally blow them all up with her stash of Goa'uld bombs, found as a display in the museum...
The episode is listed as number sixteen in production order (though screening order may vary) and will shoot in Vancouver from August 16th to 24th. It is written by Martin Gero, who brought us last season's The Powers That Be and will be directed by Peter DeLuise.
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