Over the course of ten seasons, SG-1 encountered numerous alien races, and not all of them were friendly. The aim of the Stargate program was to explore distant planets, relying on hope and luck in order to find allies and technology that would expedite the destruction of the Goa’uld threat. In all their travels, SG-1 and humanity at large never found better friends than the Asgard, one of the few cultures advanced enough to be a danger to the Goa’uld. The Asgard were staunch supporters of the Stargate program, and some members of their leadership even formed personal bonds with SG-1.

The Asgard were one of the oldest civilizations in the known universe, having long since passed their prime by the time Earth’s first Stargate was rediscovered. Within Stargate SG-1, they became a tragedy that was also a warning, proving themselves to be technologically superior but physically degraded. Their story was made more impactful with the inclusion of characters like Thor, who was a close friend to SG-1. Thor and the Asgard represented learned wisdom, a parental authority that helped the SGC and humanity grow into their potential.

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In Stargate SG-1, it is established early in the series that the Goa’uld are not the reigning superpower in the universe. The so-called System Lords were preceded by the Ancients, the Nox, the Furlings, and the Asgard, four races known for their great technological advancement, wisdom, and benevolence. The Ancients built the Stargates, and seeded thousands of worlds in the Milky Way galaxy before evolving to a higher plane of existence. The Nox and the Furlings were insular, avoiding the war with the Goa’uld by ignoring it. The Asgard are the only race to involve themselves in the galactic struggle, acting as protectors for many human civilizations even before the death of Ra. With the disappearance of the Ancients, the Asgard are the most advanced race in the galaxy, and they pass on that mantle to the Tau’ri during the events of the show.

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The Asgard evolved to a proud people in the Ida galaxy, developing a culture that peaked tens of thousands of years before humanity was in its Stone Age. Around 8,000 BC, the Asgard made peaceful contact with the rest of the Great Races, and then made less peaceful contact with the Goa’uld. The Goa’uld planned to enslave all of humanity, so the Asgard installed themselves on multiple human-settled worlds, planning to defend them until humans had developed enough to do it on their own.

As seen in season 1, episode 10, “Thor’s Hammer,” the Asgard became gods to the humans they sheltered, affecting Norse mythology much like the Goa’uld impacted Ancient Egyptian mythology. The Asgard’s full power and influence is only revealed to their human wards in season 2, episode 6, “Thor’s Chariot,” when they appear in a ship to frighten off Heru’ur, a Goa’uld who was looking to exploit the protected world of Cimmeria. Their firepower amazes even SG-1, who are looking for more allies for Earth.

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After meeting Thor and witnessing the force of the Asgard, SG-1 come to rely on his aid more often. Thor helps Jack O’Neill broker a treaty with the Goa’uld in season 3, episode 3, “Fair Game,” which rapidly turns into a murder mystery. The quick thinking of Thor and SG-1 results in The Treaty of Protected Planets, which places Earth directly under Asgard protection. The Asgard treat the Tau’ri, also known as humanity, as their ideological descendants, as the Asgard themselves were of the Ancients.

The altruism of the Asgard is returned later in the show, when the Goa’uld threat is superseded by that of the Replicators, a mechanical virus that is systematically destroying Asgard fleets. The whole Stargate program is stretched thin in season 6, episode 12, “Unnatural Selection,” when Thor asks SG-1 to help stop the Replicators from devouring the Asgard home world. They are successful, but only temporarily. Later in the season, Thor repays the generosity of the SGC by appearing in front of a gathering of Earth government officials, convincing them of the legitimacy of alien threats and allies. The reciprocity of the relationship helps to keep Stargate Command funded, and keeps the Goa’uld at bay for a while.

The Asgard, whose civilization and world are in the process of dying, suffer greatly at the hands of the Replicators for the rest of the series. In season 8, episode 2, “New Order, Part 2,” the Replicators attack the last Asgard outpost, which was set up after the attack on the Asgard home world in season 6. The Asgard as a species are decimated not only due to war, but because for thousands of years, they have reproduced solely by cloning. They have degraded at a cellular level, achieving effective immortality, but at the cost of their future. In season 10, episode 20, “Unending,” the series finale, Thor gives SG-1 the plans of the Asgard’s most advanced technology. He then grants the Tau’ri the title of ‘The Fifth Race’ and returns to his people, who annihilate themselves on the remains of their last outpost.

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In many ways, the Asgard are set up to be a mirror to the Goa’uld, though a far better reflection. The Asgard were also perceived as gods by the humans they encountered, though they did not demand worship. The Asgard were also integral to the development of the Tau’ri, though in a much more positive way. They were an ancient people who used their knowledge for good instead of domination.

The Asgard culture was depicted primarily through the character of Thor, who became an honorary member of SG-1 over the decade he knew them. Thor was a representation of the ancient universe, a time long passed that belonged to the Goa’uld and the Four Great Races. His friendship helped SG-1 turn into heroes; much like the Asgard helped humanity reach for its full potential.

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