“The Serpent’s Lair” is episode one of season two of Stargate SG-1.
At the end of the season one finale, “Within The Serpent’s Grasp”, Stargate Command had been shut down based on the prejudices (and stupidity) of Senator Kinsey from “Politics”. The man will return again in future episodes to be generally a self-interested pain in the neck. SG-1 had, against orders, gone through the stargate to what turned out to be one of two ships being lead by Apophis in an attack on Earth, an attack that would commence shortly. They also found Skarra, the boy abducted by Apophis in “Children of the Gods: Part 1” along with Daniel’s wife, who had been taken over by a Goa’uld – both of whom were first met in the original film. SG-1 is now trapped on the hostile starship.
General Hammond was mustering forces to fight off the Goa’uld attack, but, as Daniel had seen in the alternate universe in “There But for the Grace of God”, that was probably going to be futile. It certainly didn’t work out too well for Earth in that reality.
There are some secret weapons in development, but it’s all going to be down to SG-1 – and a friend who has returned.