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First Aired On: October 17, 1997
Written By: Katharyn Powers
Directed By: Allan Eastman
Guest Stars: Gerard Plunkett (Nem), Teryl Rothery (Dr. Janet Fraiser), Gary Jones (Technician)
Synopsis: SG-1 returns to Earth only three hours after departing...without Daniel Jackson. While they try to cope with their loss, Daniel is actually a prisoner of a water creature named Nem, who is searching for the fate of "Omaroca," his mate. Eventually SG-1 realizes that they were tricked into believing Daniel was dead and they return to the planet, hoping it isn't too late for Daniel....
Review: 9/10
Plot: Probably not the world's best plot, but enjoyable. It's pretty predictable that SG-1 would recognize that Daniel wasn't really dead and go after him...and you know Nem is going to let Daniel go eventually anyway.Realism: Very realistic. SG-1's reaction to Daniel's death is as I'd expect--they're shocked, they mourn, they go through denial, they say some really nice things about him. And Daniel's reaction to Nem's imprisoning him is very realistic. He's frustrated, he's angry, all he wants to do is get home... but a part of him understands what Nem is feeling due to his own loss of Sha're. Of course, I do have a little problem with them sending out that memorial wreath through the Stargate. Where did they send it to? The planet where Daniel "died"? Abydos? P3Y 549 or some other randomly selected address? And just what would happen if an alien found it, hmm? And did they do this when Kawalsky died?
Action: Not much. Sorry. Go check out "Within the Serpent's Grasp" if you really want action.
Angst Level: Whoa, baby. Yup, there's angst. If SG-1's reaction to Daniel's "death" at the beginning of the episode isn't angst, I don't know what is. And that memorial scene...Jack really meant all those nice things he said about Daniel.
Special Effects: The wreath hanging in the Stargate before slowly being pulled in was neat. Daniel in the middle of a really hot fire is interesting, although not a pretty picture. In addition, I'm partial to clear blue rippling water, so all those cool water effects were great (e.g. Nem walking through the water). Of course, Daniel in a wet t-shirt wasn't half bad either...oops, that's not a special effect. Tee hee...
Set and Costumes: Loved Nem and his lair. Webbed feed, webbed hands, long tendrils growing out of his face, cool wardrobe. The blue tint to the room Daniel's imprisoned in gives and eerie yet somewhat comforting ambiance. Not to mention Michael Shanks always looks good when they place him in blue light...it really makes his blue eyes stand out. The water-standing-as-walls was cool too. But then again I just love underwater scenes. So don't take my word for it. But my personal favorite set was Daniel's apartment. Lots of artifacts and pictures, a cool fish tank, lots of books...can I move in now? :)
O'Neill factor: We see that, although he tends to pick a lot on Daniel, Daniel really truly does mean a lot to O'Neill. That memorial scene where he called Daniel simply, but very effectively, a "friend," and O'Neill's nonverbal reactions as Carter reads Daniel's diary, are amazing. This guy is going through some major pain and guilt in this episode. Of course, he also gets to play a bit of hockey. Is anyone really surprised?
Daniel factor: Oh my. This is a Daniel episode. What else need I say? Ok, I'll expound on that thought a bit. This is the episode that made me realize that Daniel was quickly becoming my favorite character. He can stand up for himself after all! He can handle being on a mission by himself! He's not a geek! And, if you notice, during and after this episode he seems to lose a lot of the "geekiness" which still plagued him in earlier episodes. In other words, this episode seems to be a turning point for his character. He's not afraid to put his life on the line to see his friends, and wife, again, nor is he afraid to stand up to Nem and defend himself and his people. I probably would've been scared of Nem because he had that nice little hand weapon which blasted Daniel back against the wall early on, but he wasn't. And yet there's a hint of compassion at the end, where Daniel fully empathizes with Nem about not seeing his "mate" for so long. We see angry Daniel, frustrated Daniel, brave Daniel, compassionate Daniel, and determined Daniel...all in the matter of 45 minutes! Of course, then there's the drool factor for all the Michael Shanks fan out there. He just looked pretty darn good in this episode (what with gorgeous blue eyes, wet t-shirts, no glasses, etc. etc.)...and he's a great actor, too!
Carter factor: Like O'Neill, she feels tremendous sadness at Daniel's loss. We also see her go into some panic moments as she realizes, due to the hypnosis, that they left Daniel behind.
Teal'c factor: Not the most emotional guy in the world (at least not yet...we get a lot more of it in Season 2), and therefore he doesn't get as worked up over Daniel's "death.". But he learns what a wake is, and gets to spout out some cool Jaffa words (which I have no clue what they are) after his flashback to Daniel's death. We also learn that he once played a game called "The Jackal and the Hound" (which has some kind of connection to Aphero's daughter...not sure what it is, though) with Daniel, indicating that they have more bonding moments which we, as the viewers, don't know about.
Overall Team factor: Well, seeing as the team was only completely together in a grand total of two scenes, the team factor slips a bit. But it shows just what would happen to the team if one of them would, heaven forbid, die during a mission. They'd lose it. They're a group of people who are very devoted to each other. And, of course, Daniel's line that he'd rather die than know he'd never see his wife or friends again also says a lot for his character.
My Thoughts: I loved the episode, for a lot of reasons I've already mentioned above. Not only did I really begin to appreciate the depth to Daniel's character and Michael Shanks' acting, but I also started to understand the deep bond these people have for each other. If one of them were to vanish or die, they'd really feel the loss. A great "acting" episode for just about everyone involved. One of my all-time favorites.
Related Episodes: Nope. None. Although we get a reference to the disappearance of Sha're and that Sha're/Daniel kiss ("Children of the Gods") and to the Egyptian rebellion mentioned in the Stargate movie.
Daniel Jackson's History/Linguistic/Mythology Lesson: There are two versions of cuneiform, Akkadian and Sumerian. (The one Nem was using was Akkadian.) The Babylonians existed about 4,000 years ago and wrote lots of law codes (hence Hammurabi's Code). Also, I'm not sure how accurate this information is, but Bellas, who I've never heard of before and is probably a made up character for this episode, was supposed to be a really mean guy, a conqueror.
Sam Carter's Physics Lesson: Nope, for once she doesn't lecture us about Gate travel or the molecular structure of the universe.
Important Stargate Information: Is there any in this episode? Nope, don't think so. Just a repeat that the Egyptians revolted against the Goa'uld thousands of years ago and that's why Earth is free of Goa'uld influence.
Alien Species/Background: Nem's race once had contact with the ancient Babylonians, and Omaroca, Nem's mate, actually came to Earth in a "heavenly egg" to try to lead a revolt against the Goa'uld. Unfortunately, a really nasty guy, probably a Goa'uld, named Bellas killed her, but her efforts might have influenced the revolt in Egypt.
Important everyday life stuff we learn from Stargate: Don't believe everything you see or hear. A wake is supposed to give the departed a "jolly sendoff." Seratonin is a neurotransmitter that affects moods. It's possible to actually see a person even though they're not there (i.e. thinking they see Daniel coming out of the Stargate even though it's actually a bald guy from another SG team). Crashing waves can be used as "mood music." 4,000 years will make a person (or creature, whatever Nem was) desperate to solve a mystery. People who've just been stuck underwater for a few days think sushi is "funny." Oh yeah, can't forget this one. Fire is hot. Very hot.
Quotes:
Teal'c: "I do not want this done!"
O'Neill: "Relax, Teal'c, they're just trying to take your blood pressure."Fraiser: "Ok, Colonel, any pain, headache?"
O'Neill: "No."
Fraiser: "Can I get you to look straight ahead, please."
O'Neill, flinching as a light is shined in his eyes: "What...what is that?"
Fraiser: "It's a pen light. I'm sorry, you must be photosensitive."
O'Neill: "Ya think?"O'Neill: "Daniel Jackson made this place...happen. As a member of SG-1, he was our voice, our conscience. He was a very courageous man. He was a good man. For those of us lucky enough to know him, he was also a friend."
Hammond: "We commend Daniel Jackson's spirit to the universe he opened up to us. We pledge to continue our journey of discovery in his memory. May he rest in peace."
O'Neill: "So we're sitting around eating some kind of gourmet, Abydonian cuisine. Daniel tells Sha're he's going to show us this cartouche thing but before we leave she stands up, plants a kiss on him that makes his face disappear for a day."
Teal'c: "I do not understand this ritual."
Carter: "It's called a wake."
Teal'c: "On Chu'lac, when someone dies it is a custom to not eat for three days and nights."
Carter: "Yeah, well a wake is like a big party, supposed to give the departed a jolly send-off."O'Neill: "Can we get this damn car out of here?!" He smashes the window with his hockey stick.
Hammond: "What's on your mind, Colonel?"
O'Neill: "Retirement, actually."
Hammond: "You don't mean that."
O'Neill: "I think I do."
Hammond: "Well, I can't let you do that at the moment. I've got an assignment for SG-1. Dr. Jackson's apartment needs to be closed by Stargate personnel. National Security issues aside, you're probably the closest thing he had to a family. It's not an order, it's a request."
O'Neill: "Yes, Sir."
Hammond: "Why don't you come join the others in the back."
O'Neill: "Yes, Sir."
Hammond: "You know that's my car, don't you?"
O'Neill: "You should get that window fixed."Daniel: "Ok, that's interesting. Now what the hell does it mean?"
Daniel: "I can't tell you what I don't know."
Nem: "You will, or you will die."Carter, reading Daniel's diary: "'Colonel O'Neill thinks I'm a geek. I have no idea how to get us back. I'll never get paid.'" (Take a look at O'Neill's expression as she's reading this...talk about some angst!) "Oh wow, he must've written this right after we got back. 'Sha're is gone. Jack says we'll find her. If anyone can, he can.'"
O'Neill: "Oh come on, that's his diary. I mean, what's he going to think if...." Cuts himself off.
Carter: "I wonder what they're going to do with all this stuff."
O'Neill: "Maybe give it to a museum. Or start one."Daniel: "Where are my friends? Are they alive? Are they here somewhere? I demand that I be allowed to speak with them."
Nem: "They are gone."
Daniel: "No. They wouldn't leave without me."
Nem: "You are no more."
Daniel: "They think that I'm...?"
Nem: "This memory I gave them so they would not return."
Daniel: "Why? Why are you doing this?"
Nem: "You are oldest. You know of Babylon. What fate Omaroca?"
Daniel: 'Ok. Ok. If my life is on the line here, I need to know more. What is Omaroca? Who is Omaroca?"
Nem: "My mate!"
Daniel: "What? On Earth? In Babylon?"
Nem: "Yes."
Daniel: "And...you don't know what's happened to her? That was 4,000 years ago!"
Nem: "Knowledge. You have knowledge."
Daniel: "Of Babylon, yes! But only a small amount of knowledge has survived all that time!"
Nem: "The knowledge is there," he puts his hand to Daniel's head, "in your mind."
Daniel: "Hey, you are asking me to remember something that happened thousands and thousands of years before I was born. To tell you something that I couldn't possibly know."
Nem: "You deceive!"
Daniel: "WHY? God, why, why, why would I do that?!"
Nem: "You serve the Goa'uld!"
Daniel: "No! No! Now I lost my wife, my, my mate because of the Goa'uld. They took her from me and I despise them for that."
Nem: "Then tell me what fate!"
Daniel: "I don't know! I don't know!"O'Neill: "I know he's gone. But I know he's still alive."
Nem: "You cannot leave this place." Daniel rests his forehead against the wall. "You will tell me all you know of Babylon."
Daniel: "Do you know how much has been lost? Great libraries burned to the ground, cities destroyed by wars.... Most of our history is buried in time."
Nem: "You are afraid."
Daniel: "Yes, I'm afraid. I'm afraid that you're asking the impossible of me and you will not allow me to return home."
Nem: "Omaroca was afraid."
Daniel: "On Earth?"
Nem: "Yes."
Daniel: "Of what? Of who? Give me something to work with here! A time frame."
Nem: "Babylon."
Daniel, hitting his head against the wall in frustration: "A name. A name of someone she spoke of." Nem: "Ballas."
Daniel: "Ballas. Ballas....Ballas something. Yes. Yes, um, Bellas something. Yes in the writings of Barosis, a contemporary of Alexander the Great he studied some very old Babylonian texts, pre-Flood....Unh. Tell me more."
Nem: "Omaroca feared Ballas."
Daniel: "Yes, yes he was a conqueror. Tell me more, I need more. Come on, come on! You cannot expect me to remember every book, every text I studied ten or twelve years ago. Look, come back to Earth with me. My books, my library, they're all there."
Nem: "You serve the Goa'uld."
Daniel: "No! God, no! How many times do I have to tell you, NO!"
Nem: "It is the fate of humans. That Omaroca could not prevent."
Daniel: "...? Omaroca came to Earth to fight the Goa'uld? That is why she came to Earth?"
Nem: "Yes."
Daniel: "Then my people owe her a great debt."
Nem: "She failed."
Daniel: "No, no. There was an uprising, a rebellion in ancient Egypt. I mean, maybe she helped plant the seed."
Nem: "Goa'uld are among you, within you."
Daniel: "Teal'c. You think because Teal'c carries around a larval Goa'uld.... No, you see, he joined us in the fight against the Goa'uld. You see, in the years, in the thousands of years since Omaroca was there we've become a civilization that rivals the Goa'uld. That's how far we have come, we are free! If you'd just come back with me, I can show you!"
Nem, placing both of his hands on Daniel's head: "Knowledge is here."O'Neill, about the sound of waves being played: "Catchy tune. You want to explain to me what this mood music is about?"
Daniel: "My friends, the others who came here with me. You made them think that I was...?"
Nem: "Lost to them."
Daniel: "Dead?"
Nem: "Yes."
Daniel: "How?"
Nem: "I gave them the memory of your death."
Daniel: "If you can influence memory like that, why don't you search my mind? I mean, you say the memory is in there. That I must've come across it years ago and I just don't remember."
Nem: "Yes."
Daniel: "Then take it. I mean, if you have the power, if you have the technology, use it!"
Nem: "It would damage!"
Daniel: "Well, given my options I am willing to take the risk."
Nem: "I am not!"
Daniel: "Look, I don't have 4,000 years. Maybe you can afford to search all that time but I can't."
Nem: "There will be much pain. You may die."
Daniel: "Well, I would rather die than stay here in the knowledge that I will never be able to see my wife and friends again."Doctor: "I've had a great deal of success with hypnosis."
O'Neill: "Hypnosis. You know, I'm not a big fan of that bark like a chicken, cluck like a dog stuff." (Yes, this is exactly how it's said in the show--is this a glitch or intentional? Hmmmm...)Daniel: "Nem, you have your answer. Now let us go."
Nem: "You may go."
Daniel: "I'm sorry I couldn't give you the answer you wanted."
Nem: "I am sorry also."
Daniel: "We could still become friends, your people and mine."
Carter: "That's why we were here. We meant no harm."
Nem: "Perhaps in time."
Daniel: "Right."
Nem: "And in time, Daniel, you will find what fate Sha're." He leaves.
Daniel: "Ah, this, this is a long story."
Carter: "Yeah, I'll bet."
O'Neill: "Tell us about it over sushi."
Daniel: "That's funny. I will, after I go get some sleep."
O'Neill: "Ah, home. Yeah, about that apartment."
Daniel: "Oh, you didn't!"
Carter: "The day after the memorial service."
Daniel: "Memorial service?"
Carter: "Colonel said some really nice things."
Daniel: "He did." (long pause) "He did?"
Bloodlines Hathor
