Season 4, Episode 15 - Chain Reaction
Original Air Date: January 5, 2001

The SG-1 team must adjust to a new commanding officer, because General Hammond decides to step down as commander of the SGC. Shortly after, O'Neill discovers foul play behind the general's resignation, and he must team up with a former enemy to get to the bottom it.

god i really thought gen.hammond had left for good and i really didnt like the new superior he was a complete bum. apart from that this episode was cool.

maybourne finally becomes acceptable! this is one of my favorite episodes. i liked when they went into kinseys office/study/whatever. Senator Kinsey, "How dare you come into my house waving a gun?" Colonel O'niell "Not waving, pointing."

yeah i suppose maybourne proved himself to be a bit of a alright character by helping jack.
but mind u ive always found maybourne quality entertainment

good relief

maybourne is just one of those cahracters which you can shout at through the tv.
buit i dont do that im not insane
yeah right whatever

I think this episode was interesting in that it showed what lengths O'Neill was prepared to go to in order to help his friend General Hammond, but also his team whom he obviously didn't like having broken up. And I'm sure he also had some grave concerns about what might happen to the Stargate program.

It was interesting that Maybourne gets upset with him for attempting to always smell like roses despite the fact that he has a special ops background. But then he does get dirty in the end and shows that he can play rough when he needs to - like any of the fans ever doubted it. But he does see that what he has done is wrong - right at the end when he says to Hammond that one day he may need him to buy back his soul.

What I also thought was amusing was the fact that when O'Neill asks Maybourne why he didn't try and escape while with O'Neill, Maybourne responds that he thought he was just too damn good to let him get away with it. It's interesting that, despite all the distrust between them, Maybourne obviously has some respect for O'Neill.

This was also a good episode for SC in some ways - it shows that no matter what her personal feelings are, she will follow orders. That also relates to other feelings that aren't expressed in this particular episode. She is just too professional to let her feelings get in her way of doing a good job.

I did not like this episode. It seemed interesting in the beginning, especially since I felt that Gen. Hammond is not out for good because his departure happened so quickly. I got a kick out of Col. O'neill telling the new General that if it wasn't for SG-1 he would've had a snake in his head instead of having his head way up his ass! LOL I was worried that O'neill would be out of character in this episode, but my fears never materialized.

Ongoing though and the episode gets a bit boring and unreasonable. First of all, Maybourne is one horrible hacker trying to get into the NID system by entering again and again his name and his password! And just how many operatives work for the NID accross the US to be able to reach O'neill and Maybourne after just a few minutes of them trying to "hack" into the system? And what's with O'neill's escape plan at the end? Why didn't those guys follow them? The media reporters provided coverage only at the senator's house, but the NID operatives could've gotten into their cars and followed the colonels. And finally, why would the NID just give up on the whole matter so quickly? If they are so powerful and cruel they should be able to counter-attack rather swiftly.

The SG-1 characters were impressive as usual though. That must've sucked to have desk and lab jobs instead of exploring and fighting. And I was so glad that the new general screwed up so bad, I just hope that he was thrown in jail for negligence or something.

Anyway, I'm not a big fan of political episodes even though it's interesting that the producers care to explain what happens backdoors and not just the offworld action. Maybe because I'm a political critic that I find simplifications rather annoying. That's my fault though

I agree with Aceuss, this was not a very good episode and was a bit unbelievable in places.

I liked this episode it was gr8! But mind you i fond any episode with mayborne in interesting! I Loved the bit ern the new general came in and O'Neill had to say squadron at ease it filled me with great pride! I also loved the bit about a snake in your head classic O'Neill and i bet if Carter had more time she would have shouted at that pig headed general!

i personally like any mayboune/jack eps. hope to see more of him in season 8

I like this episode because I like the link between O'Neill et Maybourne!!
They are funny! And we feel a real friendship with SG1 and Hammond!!

I also think it is interesting the friendship that seems to be developing between Jack and Maybourne. Maybe not as much Jack as Maybourne. Maybourne really seems to be taking a liking to him.

I think Maybourne has a good deal of respect for Jack, and while Jack might not like Maybourne's ethics, he is willing to conceed that generally Maybourne has his heart in the right place. The interaction is always interesting between the two, even though I am usually wanting to slap Maybourne upside the head!

You always have the urge "to beat the crap out of" a man like that. They are good allies too.

True, but for curiousity's sake, did you mean 'you' and in me specifically or 'you' as in everybody in general.

I think it is true in either case, although I am more in the "shoot him instead" school!

I liked this episode. It showed that sometimes you have to get your hands dirty. You can't always play nice-nice with certain people.

Yes, some people it would be best to shoot at first sight. Unfortunately, you can't know what they are like at first sight.

I think that General Bower was a major @$$! He's a mornic idiot for not listening to Carter, have you ever known carter to be wrong cause i can't remember an ep where carter was wrong.

Agreed, however, he had only just met the woman. He had probably getting his advice from that idiot in "48 hours".

He could've but I'm 100% certain that he read the mission reports from most if not all of the missions and reports that carter has done on Naquada reactors.

Besides whoever listens to Dr. Mcay is a moron.