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Episode:Children of the Gods

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"Children of the Gods"
An episode from Stargate SG-1
Apophis and Amaunet on the verge to pass through the Stargate
Episode Nb Season 1
Episode 01/02
Directed by Mario Azzopardi
Written by Jonathan Glassner
Brad Wright
Produced by Ron French
Director of photography Peter F. Woeste
Edited by Allan Lee
Production code 3950
Original air date (1997-07-27)  USA: July 27, 1997
(1997-12-03)  AUS: December 3, 1997
(1998-04-08)  UK: April 8, 1998
Length 90 min
Guest starring
Episode chronology
Précédent Stargate "The Enemy Within" Suivant
Episode title card
As powerful aliens come through the Earth's Stargate, Colonel Jack O'Neill returns on Abydos to retrieve Daniel Jackson, who has discovered that the alien transit system includes much more than the two planets.
"Children of the Gods" is the 1st and 2nd episodes of Stargate SG-1 Season 1. This episode is also the series pilot.

Synopsis

  • More than a year after Ra's defeat, the Stargate unexpectedly activates, revealing that powerful enemies still exist beyond Earth.
  • In response, Jack O'Neill returns to Abydos to retrieve Daniel Jackson and investigate the growing threat.
  • There, a discovery concerning the Stargate network fundamentally changes humanity's understanding of the galaxy.
  • To defend Earth and explore the worlds connected by the Stargate, the Stargate Program is expanded with the creation of nine dedicated SG teams.
  • During a rescue mission to Chulak, the newly formed SG-1 gains an unlikely ally.

Story development

Planets: Abydos • Chulak • Earth
Races: Abydonians • Goa'uld • Kangaroo
Technology: Dial Home Device • Dialing computer • Goa'uld scanning device • Stargate • Stargate network
Spaceships: Death glider • Ra's mothership
Locations: Abydos Stargate room • Abydos cartouche chamber • Abydos pyramid • Stargate Command embarkation room • Jack O'Neill's house • The Pentagon • Prison of Chulak • Sub-level 28 • United States of America
Events: First Abydos mission
Miscellaneous: Address • Archeologist • Astrophysicist • Beer • Senior Airman • Kleenex box • MacGyver • O'Neill's lighter • Captain • Major General • Poker • Scientist • Skaara's moonshine • Tarp • Titanium • Yaphetta flour

Plot

Teaser

  • In the Stargate Command embarkation room, five U.S. Air Force airmen pass the time with a game of poker. The Stargate, inactive for several weeks, is covered by a protective tarp. As their conversation turns to the prolonged absence of senior officers, Senior Airman Weterings notices a slight movement beneath the covering. Her companions dismiss it as a trick of the eye, but after spotting a second movement, she decides to investigate.
  • As she makes her way up the ramp, the ground begins to tremble. The tarp is suddenly thrown aside as the ring starts to rotate. Moments later, a vortex erupts from the gate. Curious, Weterings approaches the event horizon, but a small Goa'uld probe the size of an orange emerges and lands at her feet before scanning her. As she bends down to inspect it, several Serpent guards step through the horizon. Leading them are Apophis and Teal'c. After immobilizing Weterings with a paralyzing device, the intruders engage the personnel in the embarkation room. Two Serpent guards are killed, but all four Tau'ri soldiers are cut down in the exchange. Before being fatally struck by a staff weapon, Fryatt manages to activate the base alarm.
  • As security teams rush toward the embarkation room, Apophis orders the Stargate to be reactivated. Just as the Goa'uld prepare to depart, General Hammond bursts into the room and orders his men to hold their fire when he sees Weterings being held captive. He watches as Apophis' eyes flash with the telltale glow of a Goa'uld before the System Lord closes his helmet. Apophis then steps through the event horizon, followed by Teal'c, who takes the young woman with him. Once the gate shuts down, Hammond slowly ascends the ramp and stares at the silent installation, visibly stunned by what he has just witnessed.

Act 1

  • A U.S. Air Force sedan arrives outside the home of Jack O'Neill. While observing the night sky through his telescope from the rooftop, O'Neill is approached by Major Samuels, who informs him that General Hammond has requested his presence at Stargate Command. The mention of the Stargate is enough to capture the retired colonel's attention, and he agrees to accompany him.
  • Upon arriving at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, O'Neill is escorted deep underground to Level 28, where he is introduced to Hammond in the SGC commander's office. Though officially retired, he quickly realizes that recent events are connected to his previous mission on Abydos.
  • To explain the situation, Hammond takes him to the Stargate Command infirmary, where the bodies of two attackers killed during the recent incursion are being examined. Initial findings suggest that the intruders were not entirely human. O'Neill also recognizes a staff weapon, similar to those he encountered on Abydos, although the beings responsible appear unlike any he remembers.
  • During their discussion, Hammond revisits the events of the original Stargate mission and the true nature of Ra. When the general reveals that another individual displaying the same glowing eyes was seen escaping through the Stargate, O'Neill begins to suspect that the threat he believed destroyed may still exist.
  • As they make their way through Stargate Command, Hammond questions O'Neill about the Abydos mission, paying particular attention to Daniel Jackson. Initially reluctant to elaborate, O'Neill eventually acknowledges the crucial role Jackson played in the success of the expedition and the survival of his team.
  • Hammond then reminds him of the original mission objectives: to determine whether Earth faced a threat from the other side of the Stargate and, if necessary, destroy the gate on Abydos with a nuclear weapon. However, several inconsistencies in the official report lead Hammond to question whether he has been told the whole story.
  • In the Stargate embarkation room, O'Neill discovers that a Mark V bomb is being prepared for deployment to Abydos. Faced with Hammond's suspicions, he finally admits that his mission report omitted a crucial detail: Daniel Jackson and the Abydonians survived. Furious at being deceived, Hammond orders O'Neill's arrest while allowing preparations for the mission to continue.

Act 2

  • When Colonel Jack O'Neill is placed in a holding cell, he is joined by Major Kawalsky, who reveals that neither he nor Ferretti disclosed the truth about Abydos. Their silence was motivated in part by their attachment to the Abydonians, particularly Skaara, whose admiration for O'Neill reminds the colonel of his late son, Charlie.
  • Shortly afterward, General Hammond questions O'Neill about the population of Abydos and the circumstances surrounding his original mission. Convinced that the people of Abydos may still be alive, O'Neill volunteers to return through the Stargate, arguing that he, Kawalsky, and Ferretti are the most familiar with the destination. Hammond remains skeptical and instead considers using a prototype probe to verify the situation.
  • Determined to prove his claim, O'Neill proposes a simpler alternative. As the dialing sequence begins, he sends a box of tissues through the Stargate, explaining that Daniel Jackson will recognize the gesture because of his well-known allergies and understand who sent it. Despite concerns raised by Major Samuels, O'Neill remains confident that a response will arrive.
  • Some time later, the Stargate activates once more. A sand-covered tissue box emerges from the returning wormhole, bearing a message that confirms contact has been established with the other side. Encouraged by the result, O'Neill requests permission to lead a team to Abydos. Although Hammond must first obtain authorization from the President, he reinstates O'Neill to active duty with the rank of colonel.
  • During a briefing held the following morning, Hammond assembles the personnel selected for the mission, including Captain Samantha Carter, a theoretical astrophysicist assigned from the Pentagon. As discussions begin, Samuels recommends isolating the threat by permanently burying the Stargate, much as the Ancient Egyptians once did. O'Neill dismisses the idea, pointing out that any enemy capable of crossing the galaxy would likely possess other means of travel. Instead, he advocates a reconnaissance mission through the gate, a proposal Hammond ultimately approves. However, the general warns that if the team fails to report back within twenty-four hours, a nuclear device will be sent through the Stargate.
  • In the Stargate embarkation room, the reconnaissance team prepares for departure as the gate establishes a connection to Abydos. Before the mission begins, Hammond reminds O'Neill that his primary objective is to bring Daniel Jackson back to Earth. After the rest of the team enters the event horizon, Carter briefly discusses the immense energy required to maintain a stable wormhole, prompting O'Neill to jokingly send her through first before following behind.
  • On the other side, the team emerges in the Abydos Stargate room and begins securing the area. While Carter recovers from the effects of Stargate travel, the others observe signs that the chamber was occupied only recently. Their search is abruptly interrupted when a group of armed Abydonians appears and takes aim at the newcomers using weapons left behind during the previous mission.

Act 3

  • Moments after the confrontation, Daniel Jackson emerges and orders the armed Abydonians to lower their weapons. Reunited with his former companions, he greets Jack O'Neill, who immediately turns his attention to Skaara. The two share an emotional reunion before O'Neill is introduced once again to the people of Abydos. Although surprised by the team's arrival, Daniel explains that the local militia was formed as a precaution against possible threats.
  • While the reunion continues, Carter examines the Abydos Dial Home Device, fascinated by the technology that had been missing from Earth's Stargate for years. Her interest quickly catches Daniel's attention, leading to a formal introduction between the two scientists.
  • As the discussion turns to the recent attack on Earth, Daniel becomes concerned. O'Neill and Kawalsky explain the events that took place at Stargate Command, but Daniel insists that the intruders could not have originated from Abydos, as the gate is monitored around the clock by the local population. Eager to help uncover the truth, he offers his assistance, though any search must wait until a raging sandstorm has passed. In the meantime, he invites the team to join the Abydonians for an evening meal.
  • During the gathering, the reunion takes on a more celebratory atmosphere. Skaara introduces O'Neill to a potent local beverage, while Daniel reveals that O'Neill's lighter has remained one of Skaara's most treasured possessions since the previous mission. Eventually, the conversation returns to the mysterious visitor who resembled Ra, prompting Daniel to suggest that he may have arrived through another Stargate. Before the matter can be discussed further, news arrives that the sandstorm has ended.
  • Accompanied by several Abydonians, Daniel, O'Neill, Carter, and Kawalsky travel beyond the Abydos pyramid to a vast chamber discovered by Daniel during his explorations of the planet. The room is covered with hundreds of symbols arranged in carefully organized groups. After months of study, Daniel concluded that the markings do not form a written language but instead represent a map of a vast Stargate network.
  • The discovery leads to a significant breakthrough. Carter realizes that the coordinates recorded on Abydos correspond to worlds whose positions have shifted over time due to the movement of celestial bodies. Because Earth's dialing computer failed to account for this stellar drift, most destinations within the network had become inaccessible. Using the Abydos map as a reference, she determines that the calculations can be corrected.
  • For O'Neill and Kawalsky, the implications are immediately clear: the attackers who infiltrated Earth could have originated from any world connected to the network. The scope of the threat facing humanity is suddenly far greater than anyone at Stargate Command had anticipated.

Act 4

  • Meanwhile, back in the Abydos Stargate room, the celebrations are cut short when the Stargate suddenly activates. As the wormhole forms, everyone takes cover. Within moments, several Serpent guards emerge and immediately open fire with their staff weapons. The Abydonians and SG personnel return fire, but the attackers quickly gain the upper hand. During the assault, Ferretti is wounded, while Sha're and Skaara are captured. After briefly examining Sha're, Apophis appears to take a particular interest in her. Teal'c seizes Skaara and attempts to question him, but receives only defiance in return. Convinced that both prisoners are suitable candidates, Apophis orders them taken. Before departing, he uses the Dial Home Device to activate another Stargate address. Though badly injured, Ferretti manages to observe part of the sequence before collapsing. Moments later, the raiders depart with their captives.
  • Returning to the Stargate chamber, O'Neill and the others discover the aftermath of the attack. The room is littered with wounded and dead Abydonians. Daniel Jackson rushes to the side of Bolaa, who lives just long enough to reveal that the assailant resembled Ra and that Sha're and Skaara have been taken. Before Daniel can learn anything more, Bolaa succumbs to his injuries. As Carter points out that Ferretti requires immediate medical attention, Daniel offers to help send the wounded back to Earth. O'Neill, however, insists that Daniel accompany them, arguing that Ferretti may have seen enough of the dialing sequence to provide a lead. Before leaving, Daniel bids farewell to the Abydonians and instructs them to seal the Stargate after their departure. He promises to return within a year, with or without Sha're, and warns them that if he does not come back, the gate must remain sealed forever.
  • Daniel activates the Stargate and leads the survivors back to Earth. Upon their arrival at Stargate Command, Major Samuels orders personnel in the control room to close the newly installed iris, a security measure designed to prevent further unauthorized incursions. Medical teams quickly move in to care for the wounded while O'Neill reports the attack to General Hammond. After hearing that Sha're and Skaara were abducted, Hammond concludes that the same hostile force responsible for the attack on Earth was behind the raid on Abydos. Determined to recover the captives, Daniel requests permission to join the mission. Hammond, however, makes it clear that Daniel is in no position to make demands.

Act 5

  • Inside the prison of Chulak, Sha're and Skaara are there among other prisoners. Teal'c comes inside with some guards and chooses Sha're. The guards seize her and take her away. Skaara tries to fight, but some staff weapons are hold to his head. Teal'c warns him that his death cannot help her, then leaves with the guards. Skaara rushes to the prison's grid but it's locked before him.
  • In the Stargate Command infirmary, Kawalsky is sitting near Ferretti's bed. O'Neill, in civilian clothes, comes in and tells Kawalsky that Ferretti will make it, then asks him if will stay here all the night. Kawalsky says he will.
  • In the corridor, O'Neill finds Daniel a little bit lost and confused, who states that neither him or they don't know what to do with him. O'Neill asks Daniel to follow him outside the facility.
  • At home, O'Neill brings to Daniel a beer in the living room. Daniel is sneezing, "catching" nicely with his handkerchief just in time. According to Daniel, gate travels still cause him allergies. Then Daniel tells O'Neill all the story after the departure from Abydos; a big, big party, the fact that the Abydonians treated him like their savior. Thanks to Sha're, he remained "so normal". According to him, Sha're was the opposite of the others. O'Neill explains that his wife already left him before he came back from the first mission. He thinks she forgave him for what happened to their son, but she couldn't forget. O'Neill is the opposite; he cannot forgive himself, but sometimes, he can forget.
  • In the Chulak palace harem, Weterings is here, among other women, without her military fatigues, wearing a long thin white robe. Tea'lc and some guards comes into the room. Sha're is here too. All women stare at Teal'c, yet he finally chooses Weterings. She is taken by the servents, trying to defend herself without success. Teal'c leaves the room.
  • Weterings is brought to another room and stands before Apophis who wants to check her. He subdues her with the Goa'uld hand device, finds her very nice. May be she will become the "vessel" for his queen, yet it is not him who will decide. Teal'c is watching the processing. Wetering is layed down on the central altar, unable to move or speak. Behind a curtain, Apophis orders a female Jaffa to come. She's approaching Weterings, and her belly reveals a fully mature snake-like creature. The symbiote starts to get out the pouch but when Apophis asks if she pleases the symbiote, the latter comes back into the pouch. The female serpent guard leaves the place. Apophis, disappointed, kills Weterings with the hand device before the very eyes of Teal'c. Then Apophis orders Teal'c to send another one.

Act 6

  • In the Stargate Command briefing room, a SCI top-secret meeting is occurring, led by General Hammond. According the Abydos kids, it was Ra, yet Ra has been been killed by the bomb (Stargate). Daniel Jackson states that the new threat are gods, at least, they pretend to be gods, and Ra isn't the last of his race. According to Jackson, Ra's race was about to extinct, yet he took the body of an Egyptian boy and others like Ra may have done likewise. Colonel O'Neill is quite optimistic in defeating the enemy as they have done it already once. According to Captain Carter, all new data have been downloaded in the dialing computer and it will be able to determine two or three destinations a month. Even if Hammond is skeptical and afraid about what the Stargate could bring, he declares that the President of the United States gave green lit for the formation of nine top secret exploration teams operating to determine threats and if possible make peaceful contacts with the aliens. The first team, SG-1, will be led by Colonel O'Neill and will have Captain Carter. Daniel Jackson claims to be part of the team as his wife has been kidnapped, yet Hammond has other plans for him. The second team, SG-2 will be led by Major Kawalsky, a "moment of weakness" according to O'Neill who recommended Kawalsky for a command. An airman brings a note to Samuels, who announces that Ferretti has awaken. O'Neill rushes to him.
  • In the SGC infirmary, Ferretti is sat on a bed, working on a computer laptop, with one eye banded. O'Neill asks him to help them, yet Carter notices that Ferretti has already begun to determine seven symbols, representing a Stargate address.
  • Soon later, SG-1 and SG-2 are geared up, ready to go. Major Samuels reminds Colonel O'Neill that rescuing Jackson's wife is not the primary mission. He gives them warning about the use of transmitter codes. If they don't come back in 24 hours, there will be no coming back.
  • In the embarkation room, General Hammond gives last recommendations. O'Neill orders the teams to move out with a F.R.E.D. fully geared-up. They pass through the wormhole and are propelled on the other side. This planet is cold, yet O'Neill orders to gather the material and move out.
  • Meanwhile, Teal'c comes back in the harem and chooses Sha're. The guards are taking her.
  • O'Neill asks Jackson if the latter is able to bring them back home, and does not take care about the things he noticed. Warren as noticed some recent footsteps on the hills and Carter has deployed a full defense line of Claymores. Kawalsky states that they have to move elsewhere to set up the base camp.
  • In the implantation room, Apophis seems happy to see a woman full of life who has spirit. He subdues her and orders the guard to lay her on the altar. The female Jaffa comes in and restarts the processing. But this time, the symbiote seems satisfied and gets out of the pouch completely. Soon after, the symbiote opens a way through the neck and comes inside Sha're's body. Having a great pain, Sha're is screaming before Teal'c.

Act 7

  • SG-1 and SG-2 move forward on the planet with the FRED. Then they stop, thinking that the base camp should be set up here. Colonel O'Neill gives straight orders to Kawalsky, telling to come back to the Stargate before the iris is locked. Then SG-1 leave the camp.
  • While walking, Captain Carter asks Daniel Jackson about Sha're. Embarrassed, he tries to answer when O'Neill abruptly says that she was a gift from the Abydos' elders. Carter is scandalized when O'Neill hears some noise and order the team to hide. A group of monks is walking. O'Neill gives orders to Carter when Jackson gets out of the bushes, much to O'Neill's disappointment.
  • Jackson tries to communicate with a monk, speaking of the Stargate. When he uses the word "Chapaa'ai" to define the Stargate, all the monks kneel before Jackson. Jackson asks the monks to stand up. Then the leading monk asks something to Jackson in his own language. Jackson eventually understands that the monk asked him if they are there to choose. O'Neill is only interested by a village, and Jackson manages to let the monks lead them the nearest town, Chulak.
  • They arrive in a huge room where the monk introduce them to the people who are celebrating there. SG-1 are invited to sit down at a table.
  • Suddenly, a man is blowing in an deep sound instrument, and all the attendees bow down. Then Jackson bows down himself, asking Carter and O'Neill to do this as well. Heavy footsteps are heard, then a group of Serpent guards, followed by Apophis, a veiled Sha're and Teal'c, enter the room. Apophis introduce their queen, and unveils Sha're. Jackson recognizes his wife and stands up.

Act 8

  • Daniel Jackson tries to let Sha're recognizing him, but she glares at him, her eyes glowing. Apophis orders Jackson to kneel before his queen, and when Jackson continues to go to them, he uses his hand device to throw Jackson against the wall, falling unconscious. O'Neill raises his machine gun to shoot Apophis but Sha're stands before in order to protect him. Then a guard knocks out O'Neill.
  • In the SGC briefing room, General George Hammond is sat when Major Samuels comes in. Hammond wants to be sure that transmissions can occur when the iris is sealed. Samuels answers that it will work, but isn't sure about the source; it may be the aliens or one of their own people being tortured. They have less than two hours to come back.
  • About 30 minutes later, in the prison of Chulak, Jackson awakes, telling that he saw Sha're. Carter asks him to slow down as they all saw her. O'Neill comes back telling that he hasn't find an exit yet, but he found Skaara.
  • Suddenly, Teal'c grabs O'Neill's arm, asking for the device on his wrist (a watch) that is not Goa'uld technology. Then Teal'c asks where they come from. O'Neill uses earthling terms that have no meaning for Teal'c, yet Jackson understands and draws the Earth symbol on the sand (the one from the Earth Stargate). Teal'c erases the draw with his Goa'uld staff weapon and leaves the place.
  • Meanwhile, in the base camp, Major Kawalsky orders Warren to gear up. When Warren asks about the Major's decision regarding SG-1, Kawalsky says that they will not return without the Colonel.

Act 9

  • In the prison, O'Neill checks an embrasure's grid, and Carter notices that Ra isn't dead. Jackson replies that it's not Ra but Apophis, like what's written in the Book of the Dead except they're living it. Skaara urges O'Neill to save Sha're, but O'Neill is more skeptical about the situation they are. When Skaara insists, O'Neill reluctantly replies that they will try.
  • Then the grid opens, many serpent guards come in the prison, then a sedan chair with Apophis and Sha're inside.

Analysis

Questions

Answered questions

For answers to the questions in this section, click here.

Non-answered questions

Character appearances

Notes

Goofs

Position Goof type Description
0:08:10 Factual error The officer who is with Major Samuels carries Master Sergeant rank insigna ont the sleeves' uniform and Major rank insigna on his shoulders.
0:17:00/0:22:00 Factual error/continuity When Jack O'Neill is in the Stargate Command holding room, Major Charles Kawalsky is carrying Captain rank insigna on his neck. Later, he's carrying Major rank insigna on his Class-A uniform's shoulder, and later again, he's carrying Captain rank insigna again.
0:30:04 Continuity O'Neill explains to Daniel Jackson that "six hostile aliens came through the Stargate". However, in the teaser, they are actually eight; Apophis, Teal'c, and six Serpent Guards.
Factual error When Weterings is picked up by Teal'c's guards, she claims to be a Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force. However, at the beginning of the pilot, she's wearing Senior Airman rank insigna on her jacket's sleeves.
0:56:31 Continuity When the Stargate activates before the mission to Chulak, all stuff in the Stargate Command embarkation room are covered by tarps. In the next global embarkation room view (0:57:21) there is no tarp anymore and no equipment whatsoever except two airmen and machine guns.
When Currin and Swope are killed by Staff Weapon, they made same scream. This was however repaired in the final cut.
1:02:00 Factual error According to sound editing of the episode, The F.R.E.D. vehicle is supposed to be electricaly-powered. However, when SG-1 and SG-2 are looking for a set to build the base camp, we can clearly see a lot of blue smoke around the vehicle showing that this vehicle is actually powered by a thermic engine. In the Final Cut audio commentaries, Brad Wright and Richard Dean Anderson say that this stuff was so noisy that they had to post-synchronise. In the Recut version of CotG, the "thermic" sound is back.
1:09:24 Factual error When Warren exits the tent and addresses Major Kawalsky, he calls him "Captain" instead of Major.
1:29:15 Audio/visual unsynchronised When Carter ask to close the iris immediatly after O'Neill, Kawalsky and Casey arrival, you can clearly hear MSgt. Harriman yelling "Closing Iris!". However, on screen, his lips don't move first, but, when at last they move, mouth's opening is much lesser than the voice tune. This yelling disappears in the recut movie as well as Harriman's shot.

See Also

References

  1. ↑ This DHD isn't visible, nor mentionned in the original movie.
  2. ↑ Audio commentary for "Rising" by Martin Wood (director) and Joe Flanigan (main cast) (DVD). MGM Home Entertainement. 
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