Join or Sign In
Sign in to customize your TV listings
By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.
Stargate Universe Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
20 Episodes 2009 - 2010
Episode 1
Air: Part 1
Fri, Oct 2, 200945 mins
Part 1: When Icarus Base is attacked, its inhabitants are forced to flee through the Stargate. The base was created on a distant planet to take advantage of a powerful energy supply located there. Their goal is to try to determine the purpose of the mysterious ninth symbol of the Stargate, which they've never been able to lock in. In going through the Stargate, they are transported not to Earth, but to a very old apparently uninhabited spacecraft. With the group's commander injured, Lt. Scott and the chief scientist - Dr. Nicholas Rush - lead the exploration of the craft. Several areas of the ship have been damaged but it is basically functional. They are able to learn that they are, in fact, billions of light years from Earth. Part 2: Tensions rise as the new arrivals explore the ship. Dr. Rush comes under suspicion with his secretive behavior and attitude. He determines however that the ship is losing air. They find a damaged room that is partly exposed to space but the problem is that the door can only be closed from the inside. Who is prepared to sacrifice their life for the others? Once that problem is solved, Rush determines that the level of carbon dioxide is rising rapidly. The ship comes out of hyperspace near a planet that will have the materials needed to fix the scrubbers. They are given only 12 hours to get what they need.
Episode 2
Air: Part 2
Fri, Oct 2, 200946 mins
During an official visit by Senator Armstrong, his assistant Chloe, and Eli Wallace, a recently recruited gaming genius, to Icarus, a secret off-world military base, the base falls under a full force attack leaving Colonel Everett Young with no choice but to retreat. He orders an evacuation to Earth. However, a last minute maneuver by scientist Dr. Nicholas Rush thrusts the escapees headlong into his experiment, which transports everyone to deep space. The survivors arrive on an uninhabited ship floating billions of light years away from Earth. Panic spreads throughout the group and Col. Young, who was severely injured during the escape, transfers command to Lt. Matthew Scott, before lapsing into unconsciousness. Teams led by Dr. Rush and Sgt. Greer try to make sense of the situation, while Lt. Tamara Johansen, a medic who was days away from leaving the program, is thrust into the role of chief medical officer. After secretly contacting the Homeworld Command using communications stones-a device which allows the swapping of consciousness between bodies across vast distances-Dr. Rush claims that he has been placed in charge by General O'Neill and there is no hope of returning to Earth. When the ship's air supply systems begin to fail, his theories are challenged by Eli. As the crisis deepens, divisions emerge between those who want to attempt a return to Earth, including human resources executive Camile Wray, and those who want to remain aboard the Destiny.
Episode 3
Air: Part 3
Fri, Oct 9, 200943 mins
With the ship out of FTL for twelve hours, Lt. Scott, Sgt. Spencer, Ian, Dr. Rush and others travel down to the planet to find the minerals necessary for the scrubbers to provide them with breathable air. They find a desert planet that should have what they need but they will have to locate a dried lake bed as it will be the likely source. Scott recalls some of his troubled past. As time winds down, some of the team decide to use the gate to transport themselves to a habitable planet, despite Ian's advice to the contrary. Chloe Armstrong communicates with her mother to tell her about what's happened to her father.
Episode 4
Darkness
Fri, Oct 16, 200944 mins
Having resolved their situation and with an ample supply of breathable air, Dr. Rush turns his attention to their limited power supply. His short temper - not to mention his tantrums - is grating on everyone and Col. Young tries to establish some control over the scientist's activities. Rush has been working virtually non-stop, leading him to collapse. When the power fails completely the occupants find themselves hurtling into a new solar system. Elsewhere, several of the refugees record messages and some are on the verge of rebellion thinking information is being withheld from them. Eli is forced to help calm them.
Episode 5
Light
Fri, Oct 23, 200944 mins
As Destiny is flying directly into the sun, unable to change its course, the crew decides to abandon ship and attempt to survive on a nearby planet. However, the shuttle they need to escape can hold only a fraction of the crew on Destiny. Colonel Young decides to hold a lottery to choose who will go on the shuttle, Scott and Johansen are chosen by Young to lead the evacuation and Young and Rush remove themselves from the lottery. Those left on the ship wait for death, but are surprised to find that instead of being destroyed the ship regains power. Relief lasts shortly, however, when they realize that the shuttle is unable to meet up with Destiny again. All is saved by the quick thinking of Colonel Young.
Episode 6
Water
Fri, Oct 30, 200944 mins
The water reserves are mysteriously disappearing in massive amounts, and members of the crew are quick to blame others. When Destiny drops out of FTL the only planet in range is an ice planet with a toxic atmosphere and only two of the space suits are operational. Colonel Young and Lieutenant Scott gate to the planet and start the search for pure ice using Eli's new invention, a hover cart. When the Colonel is away, Johansen, who is currently in charge, discovers that the dust aliens Scott found on another planet followed him to Destiny and are using up massive amounts of water. The aliens seem harmless until aggravated by a startled crew member and attack him. Meanwhile, Scott and Young have found pure ice a ways from the gate and have returned for a second load. Johansen has a plan to trap the aliens in an air locked room, but when they do the now angered aliens begin to look for a way out. Back on the planet, while returning to the stargate with another load of ice, Lt. Scott fall into a crevasse during a tremor and becomes stuck. With Young attempting to dislodge him and pull him out, another tremor causes the crevasse to enclose tighter and rupture Scott's suit, causing him to slowly lose consciousness. With time running out, Young must decide whether or not to leave Scott behind and get the ice back to Destiny. On Destiny, the trapped aliens find a way out of the locked room, so Johansen comes up with a plan to lure them into a container of water and lock them in. Another tremor occurs on the planet and releases Scott to fall farther into the crevasse but Young is able to catch him just in time and pull him out, just in time to rush to the gate to see the container of aliens being hurdled out through the stargate and gate back before Destiny goes back into FTL. The ice provide some water but the problem remains: there is not enough water to survive.
Episode 7
Earth
Fri, Nov 6, 200944 mins
The Ancients communication stones are used to allow certain crew members to return to Earth via compos mentis using volunteers on Earth. A risky plan is then hatched that might bring the crew home, and Dr. Rush is certain it is doomed to fail.
Episode 8
Time
Fri, Nov 13, 200944 mins
The travelers aboard the Destiny find a Kino recording a visit they have made to a planet. The only problem is that haven't visited it yet. It seems that at some point in the near future several members of the crew use the gate to travel to a nearby planet but soon after their arrival, some begin to fall sick. Fearing that they may have contracted a communicable disease TJ decides they must remain on the planet or risk spreading the disease to others aboard the ship. They soon learn they are not alone on the planet and come under attack. Aboard the Destiny, Dr. Rush tries to learn just what has happened but when crew members fall ill, as they would have if they had gone to the planet below, TJ finds there is another explanation to the illness they have contracted.
Episode 9
Life
Fri, Nov 20, 200944 mins
Exploring Destiny the team finds a chair similar to the one found in Antarctica by General Jack O'Neill. Young orders that no one sit in it: the neural interface can be very dangerous. Rush has found an Icarus-like planet filled with naquadria in Destiny's database, only a year away. The news heightens crew moral, evident in the Psych evaluations performed by Johansen. On a trip to the planet, Matthew Scott gets a letter from an old friend and when he goes to visit her he discovers that she has an eight year old child that he fathered. Camile goes to the planet to visit her girl friend and an emotional reunion ensues. When Scott returns to Destiny he has a vision of Telford visiting Emily Young, Everett Young's wife. Young goes to the planet to see Telford with his wife and attempts to attack him but the stones are pulled before he can. It is discovered that Rush has planted the information about the planet, and there is no way to dial home yet. Rush claims that this is because he wanted to boost morale on the ship. In the end Young surprises Telford on the planet and beats him.
Episode 10
Justice
Fri, Dec 4, 200944 mins
When Sgt. Spencer is found shot in his quarters, Lt. Scott conducts a room-to-room search for any evidence. It looks bad for Col. Young when Scott and Eli find the murder weapon in the Colonel's room. He asks Chloe to represent him at a hearing that will be held on board. The military members of the crew are prepared to back-up their commanding officer with force if necessary but Young insists they all calm down and let the process continue. Eli manages to find conclusive evidence about what exactly happened to Spencer and who put the gun in Young's room. Knowing who is behind the deception, Young takes action.
Episode 11
Space
Fri, Apr 2, 201044 mins
Col. Young returns to the Destiny having left Dr. Rush on the planet below. Some are dubious about his explanation and Camile puts Young on notice that her own report may cast doubt on his motives. When he tries to use the communication stones to report back to Earth, he is transferred in to a being on a alien ship. He returns safely but they soon come under attack where the aliens take Chloe prisoner. Young returns to the alien vessel via the communication stones to rescue her but is shocked to find someone else in their holding tanks as well.
Episode 12
Divided
Fri, Apr 9, 201044 mins
Now safely returned to the Destiny, both Chloe and Dr. Rush are having nightmares about their period of captivity. Rush believes that the aliens are only after one thing - the Destiny itself. They find a tracking device attached to the underside of the ship and manage to destroy it. Rush and Camile Wray however are concerned at Col. Young's actions and decide to protect their own interests by forcing them to submit to civilian authority. Rush's attempt at getting control of the ship and sealing off the military personnel in one part of the ship computer nearly results in Young and Lt. Scott's death. When the aliens reappear and once again attack the ship, Eli realizes how they were found.
Episode 13
Faith
Fri, Apr 16, 201044 mins
Now firmly in control again, Col. Young and the other military personnel try to find a way to live with the civilians who tried to take control of the ship. When the Destiny prematurely comes out of hyper-space due to a computer glitch, they find both a sun and an Earth-like planet that should not be there. Rush concludes that the entire system was created by an alien race that is far beyond their imaginations. With the ship malfunctioning and a month's worth of repairs before it can jump again, several of the military and civilians decide to spend time on the planet. Hard feelings from the mutiny persist and it's an opportunity for everyone to mend fences. When the time comes to return to the Destiny, several of them decide they want to stay on the planet. Young is prepared to let them stay, but he imposes severe conditions.
Episode 14
Human
Fri, Apr 23, 201044 mins
Dr. Rush relives his past life by sitting in the alien chair in an attempt to download critical data. A university professor, his wife's cancer returns and he is recruited by Dr. Daniel Jackson for what will be called the Icarus project. He's avoiding dealing with his wife's situation and throws himself into his work. In his dream-like state, he's trying to make sense of all the information he is accumulating. Back on the ship, the Destiny comes out of hyperspace and some of the crew investigate the planet below. They find an ancient archaeological site but are trapped when part of the site caves in. Digging them out is a slow process and the next jump is quickly approaching.
Episode 15
Lost
Fri, Apr 30, 201044 mins
Still trapped on the planet after the Destiny has jumped, Lt. Scott, Sgt. Greer, Chloe and Eli try to find a way out of the underground maze. After one is caught in another cave in, the remaining three make their way to a gate but must jump blindly from planet to planet hoping to pick up a signal from the Destiny before it jumps. On board the ship, Col. Young decides to send out a search party. The clock is ticking down and the next jump will take them into an inter-galactic void forever leaving their friends behind. TJ meanwhile decides the time has come to tell Col. Young that she is pregnant with his child.
Episode 16
Sabotage
Fri, May 7, 201044 mins
The Destiny has jumped into hyperspace and is now traveling through an inter-galactic void. They've also been unable to locate Eli, Chloe and Scott who have been left behind. Dr. Rush has calculated that based on their current energy consumption, the Destiny has insufficient fuel to reach the next galaxy and they are doomed to die. The engines suddenly fail however and they arrange for an expert, Amanda Perry, to come on board via the communication stones and help them out. Perry and Rush have known each other for many years but as a quadriplegic, is experiencing what life has to offer. On Earth, Camile Wray's consciousness has been transferred to Perry's body and is wheelchair bound.
Episode 17
Pain
Fri, May 14, 201044 mins
Several members of the crew begin hallucinating and their desires and phobias come to the fore. Lt. James believes she's spent a passionate night with Matthew Scott. Chloe sees her deceased father and they have a pleasant conversation. Lt. Scott sees his young son on board the Destiny. Sgt. Greer sees Camile Wray skulking around and is convinced she is once again plotting a takeover of the ship. The hallucinations may be spreading and TJ thinks she's found an infectious agent that may be behind it all.
Episode 18
Subversion
Fri, May 21, 201044 mins
Col. Young investigates the possibility that Col. Telford is a traitor who may have given information to the enemy leading to the attack on the Icarus base. The initial report on Telford comes from Dr. Rush who had a flash when he used the communications stones. Something similar had happened to Lt. Scott when using the stones which led him to suspect that Col. Young's wife was having an affair with Telford. As a result of that affair, Young's investigation will be suspect. Rush returns to Earth via the stones inhabiting Telford's body and Young returns as well to brief General O'Neill. On board ship, Telford knows something is up. Rush doesn't fool anyone and is soon taken prisoner by Commander Kira. The crew meanwhile have a baby shower for T.J. who worries about the kind of life her unborn child will have.
Episode 19
Incursion: Part 1
Fri, Jun 4, 201044 mins
Having extracted a confession from Col. Telford, Col. Young and his troops prepare for the expected attack from the Lucian Alliance. Hotly pursued by Col. Samantha Carter, the Lucian Alliance's Commander Kiva orders everyone through their gate and directly onto the Destiny. Young anticipated their plan and was intent on letting them get control of the gate room but then cut off life support to them. He has to change his strategy when he realizes that Col. Telford has jumped with them. In the ensuing skirmishes, several of Young's personnel, including TJ and Lt. Scott are taken prisoner and Commander Kiva is quite prepared to kill them all if need be.
Episode 20
Incursion: Part 2
Fri, Jun 11, 201044 mins
The battle between the Lucian Alliance and the crew of the Destiny continues with the Lucians seeming to gain the upper hand. Camile Wray takes charge of the negotiations after the failed military strategy and finds that Commander Kiva is a very tough negotiator who will take every advantage available to her. They manage to negotiate at least a temporary truce when it's determined that a module on the exterior of the ship requires repair. Lt. Scott and Sgt. Greer make the journey but when the temporary truce on board the ship goes sour, they find themselves unable to return. Eli and Chloe meanwhile are still trapped in a remote part of the ship and it's left to Eli to find a solution to Scott and Greer's dilemma.