Death Knell (Stargate SG-1)

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"Death Knell"
Stargate SG-1 episode
Episode no.Season 7
Episode 16
Directed byPeter DeLuise
Written byPeter DeLuise
Featured musicJoel Goldsmith
Cinematography byAndrew D. Wilson
Editing byRick Martin
Original air dateJanuary 27, 2004 (2004-01-27)
Running time
  • 44 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Chimera" 		Next →
"Heroes"
Stargate SG-1 (season 7)
List of episodes

"Death Knell" is the 16th episode from the seventh season of military science fiction adventure television show Stargate SG-1 and is the 148th overall. It was first broadcast on January 27, 2004, on Sky One in the United Kingdom. The episode was written and directed by Peter DeLuise.

In the episode, Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and Jacob Carter / Selmak (Carmen Argenziano) are developing a prototype weapon to fight Anubis's Super Soldiers at the Alpha Site when they are attacked. After the base is destroyed, Carter is relentlessly pursued by one of the Super Soldiers. Meanwhile, the fragile alliance between the Tok'ra, Rebel Jaffa and Earth hangs in the balance.

The episode continues on from the events of the season six episode "Allegiance" and season seven episode "Evolution".

Plot

Major Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and Jacob Carter / Selmak (Carmen Argenziano) are at Stargate Command's offworld base, the Alpha Site, working on a prototype of a weapon designed to kill Anubis's Super Soldiers. Soon, the base is attacked by Anubis' forces and Stargate Command personnel begin to evacuate to the Beta Site. At Stargate Command General George Hammond (Don S. Davis) informs Colonel Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), Dr. Daniel Jackson (Stargate) (Michael Shanks) and Teal'c (Christopher Judge) of the attack and the fact that many personnel, including Carter are still missing. O'Neill, Daniel, Teal'c & Colonel Reynolds team head to the Alpha Site and begin their search. They soon locate a number of survivors including rebel Jaffa, Tok'ra and Stargate Command personnel, and not long after that they find Jacob who gives O'Neill the prototype weapon.

Daniel and Jacob head back to Stargate Command with the other survivors where Hammond has begun an investigation to find out who leaked the location of their secret offworld base. Jacob tells Daniel that he believes Anubis knew they were creating a weapon that could neutralise his Super Soldiers and that the soldier was likely now hunting Sam as she has the designs. Stargate Command launch a unmanned aerial vehicle armed with missiles, however it is soon shot down by the Super Soldier who is hunting Sam through a forest. Sam locates the downed UAV and manually fires its missile at the soldier, however it survives and continues its attack. Teal'c arrives and draws its attention, whilst Jack is able to retrieve the power source for the weapon from Sam, who uses it to successfully kill the Super Soldier.

At Stargate Command, having learnt that a Tok'ra spy unwillingly gave away details of the Alpha Site after being captured by Anubis, the Tok'ra and Jaffa inform Hammond that they will not be moving to the Beta Site and that both parties wish to go their own way. The tripart alliance seems to be breaking up.

Production

Development and writing

The episode was written by Peter DeLuise. One of his main inspirations came from the logging which was taking place around the Mount Seymour Provincial Park, which had previously served as the filming location of the Alpha Site in the season six episode "Allegiance".[1][2] According to DeLuise, he "half kidding" suggested to showrunner Robert C. Cooper that they "do an episode where the thing is blown up, and all the trees have gone down". Cooper approved the idea and they subsequently developed it into an episode.[1] DeLuise wrote the episode "very fast"In order to take advantage of the location.[1]

Filming took place around the Mount Seymour Provincial Park and Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve (pictured) in North Vancouver.

For his story, DeLuise continued on from events established in his episode "Allegiance", dealing with the alliance between Earth, the Tok'ra and Rebel Jaffa.[1] In preparation for the season finale which would see Anubis attack Earth, DeLuise wanted the episode to further isolate Earth from its allies "so that they wouldn't come speeding to our help so easily, so that we would look a little more helpless", and therefore used the destruction of the Alpha Site to "disintegrate the alliance" between the three factions.[3][1] The question of who was responsible for allowing the location of the Alpha Site to fall into the hands of Anubis would play a key role in the episode and DeLuise quickly realised that Anubis could have learnt the location from his probing of Jonas Quinn in the episode "Fallen", therefore it would be established in the story that this was an entirely new base.[1]

Cast and filming

Carmen Argenziano reprises his role as Jacob Carter / Selmak and Dan Payne returns as the Super Soldier. The episode introduces the Rebel Jaffa M'zel, portrayed by Mark Gibbon. Gibbon previously portrayed a human version of Thor in the episode "Thor's Chariot".[4][5] Sebastian Spence guest stars as Delek, a Tok'ra.[4] The character was named after Derek Lowe who worked on the show as a behind the scenes video producer.[6] Dan Shea, Gary Jones and Eric Breker reprise their roles as Siler, Technician and Colonel Renyolds. Nels Lennarson and Sam MacMillan portray Lt. Glenn and Major Green.[7]

The episode was directed by Peter DeLuise, whilst Andrew Wilson served as cinematographer.[4] Filming took place in late July 2003, the episodes "Chimera" and "Grace" were also shooting at the same time.[4] As Amanda Tapping was being heavily featured in both "Grace" and "Chimera", the episode's story and filming was structured so that Tapping would be able to complete all her scenes in just two days of photography.[1][4][8] The exterior scenes were filmed around Mount Seymour Provincial Park and Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve in North Vancouver.[1][2] For the prototype weapon that would kill the Super Soldier, art director James Robbins designed a piece that attached to an existing weapon from the show, the Transphase Eradication Rod gun. The new piece would light up when snapped onto the T.E.R..[9]

Reception

Broadcast and ratings

"Death Knell" first aired on January 27, 2004, on Sky One in the United Kingdom.[10] It was watched by approximately 759,000 households and was the channels 9th most popular broadcast that week.[11][12] In the United States, the episode first aired on February 6, 2004, on the Sci-Fi Channel. Stargate SG-1 continued to be the Sci-Fi Channel's highest rated show to air that week, reportedly earning a 1.9 household rating, equating to approximately 2.3 million viewers.[13] "Death Knell" was first shown in Canada on December 23, 2004, on SPACE.[14][15]

Reception

Response to the episode was mixed. Jan Vincent-Rudzki for TV Zone awarded the episode 5 out of 10, comparing it to the Star Trek episode "Arena". Vincent-Rudzki felt that whilst it was "probably a credible conclusion" to the Earth, Jaffa & Tok'ra Alliance, he "didn't really care", believing that it was possibly a "money saving" episode.[16] Paul Spragg for Starburst awarded the episode 2 out 5, believing that writer & director Peter DeLuise "disguises a story that's been done to death as something new and almost gets away with it". Spragg was of the opinion that after "interminable tales showing the lack of trust between the Jaffa and Tok'ra" resulting in the alliance's dissolution "shouldn't need an entire episode", although felt that the episode gave "Argenziano's Jacob some of the best material he's had in a long while as he tries to mend bridges".[17] Jayne Dearsley for SFX was also critical, calling the episode "action-packed and stuffed with big-stakes drama and conflict. It's got battles, explosions, life-and-death situations and intrigue. Shame none of it comes together into an episode you really enjoy watching". Dearsley did however highlight the "brilliant acting", singling out Carmen Argenziano's performance.[18]

James Hoare for The Companion positively received the episode for how it made Carter "real", writing "This is a Sam Carter we rarely see. With no toys to tinker with and no team to inspire, what remains? Is this wounded and weary woman in battered battledress more than the sum of her parts?". Hoare praised seeing the character in a situation "like nothing we had seen before" going on to write "We’re often shown glimpses of Jack’s special forces training, but this is our first sustained encounter with Sam’s own fieldcraft".[19] Writing for Tor.com Keith R.A. DeCandido was critical of "not enough time" being spent on "Carter's plight". DeCandido believing Jacob Carter being marginalized by his fellow Tok'ra was an "interesting plot point" but felt that "neither Sebastian Spence’s Tok’ra nor Mark Gibbon’s Jaffa is anyone we give a damn about", instead suggesting that the presence of Bra'tac and an established Tok'ra character would have made the plotline "much more convincing".[20] Reviewing for fansite Gateworld, Alli Snow praised the episode, believing it had "terrific balance" between "political intrigue and action". Snow called Carmen Argenziano "the star of the show" as well as praising the "wonderful" character additions, such as Delek and M'Zel.[21]

Samantha Carter resting her head on Jack O'Neill's shoulder was commented upon by both reviewers as well as the cast and crew. Snow for Gateworld appreciated the character moment, calling it a "a rare scene of one character comforting another after a harrowing experience" and asking "Who doesn't love that?".[21] Dearsley felt the moment "shows her as a real human being for once and is a lovely touch".[18] Hoare meanwhile wrote "it's tempting to view it through the giddy glee of ‘shipping, but this moment of rare physical affection between the two is deeper and more nuanced than that. It's a comradeship honed through experience, battle, trauma, and love".[19] Tapping commented that she originally "balked" at the scene as she felt it made Carter "look weak" and believed that O'Neill would not comfort Teal'c or Daniel in that way.[22] DeLuise justification was that "she's been through hell, she deserves to be comforted for a second", also acknowledging the relationship & chemistry between the two characters.[1]

Home media

"Death Knell" along with the episodes "Grace", "Fallout" and "Chimera" were first released on Region 2 DVD on May 3, 2004, as part of the "Volume 35" standalone disc, before being released as part of the Season 7 boxset on October 19, 2004.[23][24] The episodes audio commentary is provided by director Peter DeLuise and actor Amanda Tapping. "Death Knell" along with the rest of season 7 was first made available digitally in January 2008 through iTunes and Amazon Unbox.[25] The episode, along with every other episode of the series, were made available to stream for the first time through Netflix in the USA on August 15, 2010.[26] The episode, along with the rest of the series has been upscaled for releases on various streaming platforms and the 2020 Blu-ray release.[27]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i DeLuise, Peter (25 July 2003). "In a Word: Passion". rdanderson.com (Interview). Interviewed by Kate Ritter.
  2. ^ a b Tapping, Amanda (19 February 2017). "Sci-Fi Blast From The Past - Amanda Tapping (Stargate SG-1)". Scifi and TV Talk (Interview). Interviewed by Steve Eramo.
  3. ^ DeLuise, Peter (November 2003). "Golden Gate". Dreamwatch (Interview). No. 110. Interviewed by Sharon Gosling. Titan Magazines. p. 48. ISSN 1356-482X. We also had to further diminish our relations with the Tok'ra and the Asgard, so that they wouldn't come speeding to our help so easily, so that we would look a little more helpless.
  4. ^ a b c d e DeLuise, Peter; Tapping, Amanda (3 May 2004). Stargate SG-1 "Death Knell" (DVD commentary). Vol. 35. MGM Home Entertainment.
  5. ^ "Episode of the Week: 'Endgame'". Gateworld. 6 October 2014.
  6. ^ Derek Lowe (director) (3 May 2004). Stargate SG-1 Director's Series "Death Knell" (DVD Special Featurette). Vol. 35. MGM Home Entertainment.
  7. ^ "Death Knell". scifi.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2004.
  8. ^ Tapping, Amanda (February 2004). "Major Player". TV Zone (Interview). No. 172. Interviewed by Steven Eramo. Visual Imagination. p. 15. ISSN 0960-8230. A great deal of Grace was shot using the second unit, so it took over a month to finish because I was going back and forth between it, Death Knell and Chimera. Talk about a bit of a head-trip for yours truly. It was really funny because on Death Knell we shot two days where Sam is running from a super soldier and she's covered with blood and is just dirty and filthy.
  9. ^ Robbins, James (June 2003). "Episode: Death Knell". TV Zone. No. Special 55. Visual Imagination. p. 58. ISSN 0960-8230. It was art director James Robbins who designed the look for the new prototype energy weapon that is being developed for use against Anubis' super soldier in Death Knell. ··we actually came up with a prototype piece that fits onto the TER [Transphase Eradication Rod] gun, which is a weapon that has already been seen on the series... explains Robbins. "The model shop built the piece in such a way that it lights up when snapped onto the TER gun. It's this type of attention to detail that really helps sell a prop like this. There's a scene where our heroes are talking about the development of the prototype, so I had to draw a set of blueprints for the weapon showing what it does and how to use it. Basically, the technology is based on the 'little box' that's inside each of the super soldiers. This box is what reanimates the creatures' dead flesh. SG-1 is trying to match the weapon's signature to that being emitted by the box. I don't know if any of this information will come out in the actual story but it's all up there on the screen for anyone who's interested. I should add, too. that the prototype technology has been updated since this episode. The piece has now been adapted for use with the team's standard-issue projectile guns. However, being an energy weapon its charge can't be fired through the same barrel as a bullet, so the model shop added a second nozzle. It all goes back to the attention to detail I spoke of earlier. "Something else I designed for Death Knell are the little missiles on board the small remote reconnaissance airplanes you see in the episode. One of these planes crashes and Carter finds it. She fires its missiles into a hillside in an effort to bring down one of the super soldiers.
  10. ^ "TV Focus". TV Zone. No. 172. Visual Imagination. February 2004. p. 79. ISSN 0960-8230.
  11. ^ "Weekly top 10 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018)". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. 26 January 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  12. ^ "STARGATE SG-1 RATINGS: SEASON SEVEN". Stargate SG-1 Solutions. 2004.
  13. ^ "RATINGS: 'Death Knell'". Gateworld. 26 February 2004. Archived from the original on 15 December 2004.
  14. ^ "Stargate SG-1 Current Episodes". spacecast. 2004. Archived from the original on 18 December 2004. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  15. ^ "Canada's SPACE will air new SG-1". Gateworld. 17 August 2004. Archived from the original on 13 October 2004. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  16. ^ Vincent-Rudzki, Jan (February 2004). "Stargate SG-1 - Season 7 - G16 - Death Knell". Reviews. TV Zone. No. 173. Visual Imagination. p. 68. ISSN 0960-8230. To find the answer to the last question, General Hammond starts an investigation, which involves him having chats with various people/aliens, all of whom seem disinclined to say anything. Although he seems determined to find out what happened he seems unable to do much. Meanwhile, clomp... clomp... clomp! The super-drone relentlessly stomps after the wounded Carter, who, like Kirk in the classic Trek episode Arena, uses nearby facilities to attack the drone. OK, the SGC actually unwittingly provided the means, but the plot principle is the same. And, yes, Carter's in O'Neill's arms at the end of it all. What would Pete say...? We don't find out who betrayed the Alpha Site, but the suspicions between the Tok'ra and Jaffa finally come to a head and both parties also stomp off, making their own plans to defeat the Goa'uld. This is probably a credible conclusion, but, well, I didn't really care. Neither group has been doing much for a while apart from glare at one other, and on each side it's only been a few characters who have been of any interest. Frankly, I won't miss either of them; not something I'd have thought a few seasons back. The episode has been full of references to events elsewhere, and I couldn't help thinking of Frankie Howerd, who, describing a battle seen through a cell window in Up Pompeii, turns to the camera and says, "You don't think you're going to see it, do you?" I detect some money saving going on here, but that means we're going to see it elsewhere, and pretty soon... 5
  17. ^ Spragg, Paul (March 2004). "Stargate SG-1 - Death Knell". TV View. Starburst. No. 308. Visual Imagination. p. 78. ISSN 0955-114X. Want a Jaffa/Tok'ra episode? Then go to peter DeLuise. Determinedly ploughing one of his favourite furrows, the writer/director/producer disguises a story that's been done to death as something new and almost gets away with it. After interminable tales showing the lack of trust between the Jaffa and Tok'ra, an issue that makes you wish someone would just bash their heads together to make them see the bigger picture - Hell? Anubis invading! - the groups finally end their fragile truce. It shouldn't need an entire episode to do this, and although it gives Carmen Argenziano's Jacob some of the best material he's had in a long while as he tries to mend bridges, this one event is relatively unimportant. It would help if the Carter plotline added something to the mix, but sadly we're merely treated to a limping and battered Amanda Tapping and lots of shots of Richard Dean Anderson and Christopher Judge nodding, pointing and wandering about in quarries and woods following the slow-moving Kull Warrior. Aside from proving it's a pretty tough cookie to beat, something we already know, it's hard to see the point. 2/5.
  18. ^ a b Dearsley, Jayne (February 2004). "Stargate SG-1 - "Death Knell"". The Spoiler Zone. SFX. No. 116. Future plc. p. 102. ISSN 1749-6969. I always make notes whilst watching shows for Spoiler Zone, and it's often an indication of the episode's quality to see how many little doodles litter the page once it's over. After weeks of episodes that didn't produce a single scribble, "Death Knell" created half a page of squiggles, stars, curls and a big coloured in word that said "Boring!". Which is rather odd, when you consider that "Death Knell" is action-packed and stuffed with big-stakes drama and conflict. It's got battles, explosions, life-and-death situations and intrigue. Shame none of it comes together into an episode you really enjoy watching; it's actually rather a chore to sit through, despite some brilliant acting (from Carmen Argenziano in particular). There are some good points, though. The supersolider (or "drone", as Anubis's fellas seem to be called now) chasing Carter is actually scary, although it's a bloody rotten shot, missing her several times - so much for his amazing super powers! The ending, which has Carter collapsing into the arms of O'Neill after her ordeal, show her as a real human being for once and is a lovely touch. She's really getting pummelled this season, come to think of it (makes a change from Daniel, though, we have to admit). However, the rest of the episode is far too talky, with some totally impenetrable Tok'ra/Jaffa political machinations that will make your eyes roll back up into your head with boredom. Viewers new to Stargate really don't stand a chance with episodes like this; Hell, I've been watching every single episode and I still get bogged down in the dialogue! Characters we've never met before arguing about politics? Tedious twaddle about a Tok'ra spy who's been captured by Anubis? Please, no more... We just can't take it... We love continuity and all, but sometimes it's just too much to handle!
  19. ^ a b Hoare, James (2 March 2023). "Stargate - How 'Death Knell' Made Sam Carter Real". The Companion.
  20. ^ DeCandido, Keith R.A. (15 May 2015). "The Stargate Rewatch: SG-1 Season Seven". Tor.com. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  21. ^ a b Snow, Ali; Lex (2004). ""Death Knell" Review". Gateworld.
  22. ^ Tapping, Amanda (2005). "Death Knell". "Stargate SG-1: The Illustrated Companion: Seasons 7 and 8" (Interview). Interviewed by Thomasina Gibson. London: Titan Publishing Group. p. 45. ISBN 1840239344. There was an interesting moment at the end where Carter lays her head on O'Neill's shoulder, and I balked at that because I said it made her look weak. I thought, 'She's come through this entire ordeal. Let's just leave it at that, shall we?' Peter DeLuise was directing and he said, 'it's just a soldierly thing,' but I said that Daniel wouldn't lay his head on O'Neill's shoulder, and neither would Teal'c. I wanted to play that I had just been through the wringer and am so freaking relived to be alive, and be around people that I wasn't sure I was ever going to see again. People will perceive it how they want to perceive it, but that's how it was meant from my point of view.
  23. ^ Spragg, Paul (May 2004). "May". In the Ships. TV Zone. No. 175. Visual Imagination. p. 10. ISSN 0960-8230.
  24. ^ "Season Seven gates to DVD!". Gateworld. 19 October 2004. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  25. ^ "Stargate expands iTunes, Amazon presence". Gateworld. 11 January 2008. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  26. ^ "Entire Stargate television library now streaming on Netflix". Gateworld. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  27. ^ "Stargate's HD Blu-ray Picture: Better Than The DVDs?". GateWorld. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
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