"Have you ever known any political body to act solely without concern for its own needs?"
— Chancellor Travell
SG-1 visits Tollana to attend the funeral of Omoc, and are surprised when Chancellor Travell indicates that the Tollan may be willing to revise their policy on sharing technologies with Earth. However, Narim confesses his suspicions that Omoc was murdered, and the team find themselves investigating a conspiracy that goes right the top of the Tollan government.
Last appearance of the Tollan.
"Between Two Fires" provides examples of the following tropes:
- Badass Longcoat: The team all wear these during Omoc's funeral.
- Bus Crash: The episode opens with Omoc's funeral, while Omoc himself has not been seen since the first Tollan episode, all the way back in season one.
- Can't Argue with Elves: Deconstructed. This trope was played straight when the Tollans were introduced in "Enigma". But once their technological advantage is gone, the Tollans' supposed superior morality is out the window. By the end of this episode, the shoe is on the other foot and it's SG-1 who are lecturing the Tollans on morality.
- Continuity Nod: Daniel mentions that the Russians might not be too happy if they found out America had gotten its hands on an ion cannon, possibly a reference to his dream in "Absolute Power" where he invoked the wrath of the Russian military by launching Kill Sats into space.
- Deal with the Devil: It's revealed that Travell and the rest of the Tollan curia struck a deal with Tanith to supply his mysterious boss with advanced weapons in exchange for his leaving Tollana alone.
- Do I Really Sound Like That?: Averted with the voice of Narim's house computer, which Carter immediately recognizes as her own. Narim was hoping she wouldn't notice.
- Do with Him as You Will: Tanith tells Travell to do what she wishes with Carter and Daniel, though he stipulates that he would like to deal with Teal'c himself.
- Dogged Nice Guy: Narim towards Carter, bordering on Stalker with a Crush territory when it's turns out that his home security system uses a recording of her voice.
- Downer Ending: The episode ends with Narim's last transmission cutting out and Tollana presumably destroyed by the Goa'uld.
- Foreshadowing: Tanith mentions that he is now working for another more powerful Goa'uld following Apophis's demise.
- Tanith's secret boss also has the means of neutralizing Tollan weaponry — something that has long eluded the System Lords and their top scientists. Where this new adversary's technological knowledge came from will be very important.
- Government Conspiracy: The Tollan higher-ups have been secretly working with the Goa'uld after it emerged that their ion cannons were no longer effective, with the implication being that they had Omoc killed when he threatened to expose them.
- Hologram: Narim sends Carter back to Earth following Omoc's funeral with a hologram recording explaining his fears that Earth might be in danger.
- I Did What I Had to Do: Travell insists that in building Tanith's weapons she was only doing what was necessary to protect Tollana.
- Killed Off for Real: Implied to be the case for Narim, Travell and the rest of the Tollan.
- Killed to Uphold the Masquerade: Omoc.
- Lensman Arms Race: The Goa'uld, or at least Tanith and his employers, now have shields that are impervious to the Tollan ion cannons, leaving Tollana completely vulnerable to attack after years of peace caused them to grow complacent.
- Les Collaborateurs: Travell and the Tollan curia, ultimately. Some fans have noted a parallel between the Tollan ion cannons and France's Maginot Line.
- Lonely Funeral: O'Neill comments on the lack of mourners at Omoc's funeral, to which Narim replies that Omoc had few friends as a result of his attitude and would have only wanted people he respected at his funeral anyway.
- Loophole Abuse: Tanith orders Travell to send the bomb through to Earth, as the Goa'uld still cannot attack directly without violating their treaty with the Asgard.
- Lost in Transmission: Narim's last transmission to Earth is filled with static and abruptly cuts out as Tollana comes under attack.
- Nothing Is the Same Anymore: The Tollan, having been part of the series since Season One, are completely wiped out.
- Off the Record: Travell switches off the recording equipment in the curia headquarters in order to speak with O'Neill and Daniel off the record about supplying Earth with ion cannons.
- Orbital Bombardment: Tanith starts an orbital bombardment of Tollana after Narim destroys the weapons.
- Publicly Discussing the Secret: There are several scenes which show Narim and SG-1 casually discussing their concerns about a government conspiracy in the middle of public places.
- Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated: Tanith was presumed dead after Apophis's fleet was destroyed, but he reveals that he escaped in a glider long before the sun exploded.
- Sadistic Choice: Travell — and later Narim — are forced to choose between building weapons of mass destruction for the Goa'uld to use on other planets or allowing their own planet to be destroyed by refusing.
- Spanner in the Works: The Tollan were confident that the Goa'uld would never be able to defeat their ion cannons. However, they never anticipated a Goa'uld like Anubis — someone who, with Ancient knowledge and technology, could easily neutralize the Tollans' own technological advantages.
- Too Good to Be True: The team suspects that this is the case when Travell agrees to provide them with as many ion cannons as they need in exchange for a supply of trinium, after years of refusing to share technology. Sadly this turns out to be correct, as not only are the ion cannons useless against the new Goa'uld shields, but the trinium is being used to develop bombs for Tanith, one of which is to be sent to Earth.
- Weapon of Mass Destruction: Narim explicitly describes the Tollan bombs as "weapons of mass destruction". They appear to be a kind of nuke, but equipped with Tollan technology that allows them to phase through solid matter such as the iris.
- Wham Episode: The Tollan are wiped out, depriving the SGC of one of their oldest (if most frustrating) allies. The Anubis arc also officially kicks off with the opening salvos of his 'comeback tour' (though the characters and audience alike don't know at this point in the Season who Tanith's serving).
- Wham Shot: The one at the top of the Tollan conspiracy turns out to be someone totally unexpected. Even the recap maintains the surprise by sticking to the Tollan and not mentioning Tanith at all.O'Neill: (to a clearly agitated Teal'c) Easy there, big fella.
- The Worf Effect: The Tollan are wiped out to demonstrate how dangerous Anubis will be to Earth and the other System Lords alike once he emerges from the shadows.
