Episode 16 - Death Knell
Air Date: (UK) January 27, 2004
Air Date: (US) Feburary 6, 2004

Earth's secret offworld base is discovered by the Goa'uld -- and Major Carter goes missing.

Credits | Spoilers | Teaser

I thought that this episode was pretty good, certainly better than 'Chimera' last week, but not as good as 'Fallout' the week before. The episode had quite a bit of action and some good suspense with the supersoldier story and the problems with the Jaffa and Tok'ra. I did really like how they tried to bring other unresolved stories back into this episode and answer some questions that we had.

I'm not quite sure of the motives that the writers had for splitting up the alliance, but I think that it's safe to say that you can be sure that we are going to see more from this storyline in later episodes.

I think it was quite intriguing how they didn't actually reveal how the Alpha Site was betrayed to Anubis and I think we will probably learn of this later on as another story unfolds as personally I don't think that it is something that they can leave hanging. It's nice to have some open-ended endings now and then and let the fans speculate (like who those aliens in 'Grace' were), but something like this would drive people crazy (well me at least).

This may seem kind of weird, but I thought it was good that we saw Sam finally get quite badly hurt and have to do things on her own. She once again demonstrated her ability to think on her feet and fight for her life when her team mates aren't around to help her.

I felt there was a scene that just didn't seem natural at the start. When Sam was explaining why they had to evacuate the old Alpha Site she seemed to do so in a way that was a really obvious attempt to inform the viewers but didn't fit in with how she should have spoken to Jacob... although it was just a small thing, I thought this was badly written.

After my nitpick in 'Evolution Part 1' about how the supersoldier seems to be immune to the laws of physics they actually put something in the episode saying how it's not... I found that funny Okay, so now it gets knocked over and buried by explosions but before it was still left standing and didn't even break stride? That didn't make sense to me. I can accept that the missile on that UAV might have been more powerful than the C4 charge, but the C4 should have still affected it in my opinion.

Weren't the guns that they were using basically identical in appearance to the TERs seen in previous episodes? I could have sworn they were trying to save money and use the same prop (maybe modified slightly). I guess it's possible that they just built the TERs and the new weapon using the same exterior design and shell, but this really stood out for me.

I'm sure the shippers will be all over that Sam/Jack hug at the end, but I must remind people that they are friends and he was just comforting her. I'd have done the same for any good friend if I was in his position

Oh... and it seems that the gate at the Alpha Site was hollow based on the sound that it made when Daniel stepped on it as he was climbing out of that pit

My overall for this episode is 7/10

The Plot for those who may not have seen it

At the start we see Sam and Jacob working on the new weapon and discussing its effectiveness, when the Alarm sounds and an Air Force officer enters and says that Goa'uld ships have been detected entering orbit and that a full evacuation is underway. We then skip to Earth where the news is just coming through, Sam, Jacob and 92 other people are still unaccounted for. SG-1 set off on a Search & Rescue Mission and are soon followed by many other teams. One of the other teams finds a small group of survivors and they are taken back to Earth. Shortly afterwards SG-1 find Jacob and he is carrying the prototype weapon and gives it to O'Neill but warns that it is only 50% effective and that Sam has the more powerful power module. He then returns to Earth with an injured leg.

After returning he is asked by Hammond what happened and we learn that there were strikes from Alkesh bombers and that some of Anubis' drones landed. We also discover that they can be destroyed by enough kinetic energy as several died when the base's self destruct went off. This prompts Hammond to launch a UAV with missile capabilities. The investigation begins as to how the Alpha site was discovered; Jaffa, Tok'ra and Air Force personnel are all being questioned. The old Tok'ra - Jaffa rivalry shows as each is convinced that the other is at fault. Major Carter is seen hiding from the one surviving drone. The UAV is launched and begins a search for Carter.

After O'Neill and Teal'c discover footprints heading east the UAV is deployed there. We then see Major Carter stopping for a drink at the river...when the drone attacks her from across the river. She goes and hides in the forest. On Earth it seems that the Investigation has tuned up something. The Tok'ra had a spy in the inner circle of a Goa'uld called Olokon who was under attack from Anubis and the Jaffa sent six Jaffa to assassinate him so that the Jaffa under his command would have the chance to join the rebellion. One of the six Jaffa has returned and has said that the armies were slaughtered and that many of the Olokon's commanders were taken prisoner, possibly including the Tok'ra spy. Hammond talks to Jacob to ask him if it is true that they had an operative and is told no. He then asks another Tok'ra who pretty much says that they did, but he will not say it openly. When this Tok'ra is confronted by Jacob he says that Jacob/Selmac is losing favour among the Tok'ra and that this is the reason he did not know of any operative: a meeting of the High Council was held without him because it was thought that he would inform the SGC of covert operations.

Back at the Alpha site Sam sees the UAV which was sent and tries to attract it by using her watch to reflect the sunlight. The UAV is then shot down by the drone which has now crossed the river and is only metres from Sam's covered position. Back at the SGC Jacob is explaining to Hammond why he did not know about the operative. He also asks to go to the Alpha site to look for Sam. Hammond refuses and says that he must stay here and try to fix the relations of the Jaffa and Tok'ra. Back at the Alpha Site Sam has found her way to the downed UAV and is trying to configure the missile to allow her to fire it manually when the drone walks right into the line of fire. The weapon is fired and hits the drone. Sam walks up to the place where the drone had been and sits down thinking it to be dead. Unsurprisingly the drone is not dead and gets up from under the ground and shakes itself down. It about to fire on Sam just as Teal'c fires s grenade launcher at it. It is attracted to him and does not see Colonel O'Neill sneak up next to Major Carter and get the power module from her. He puts it into the weapon and fires a shot at the drone but it does not die, another shot fixes that.

With everyone no back on Earth there is a meeting between Hammond, Daniel, the Tok'ra and the Jaffa in which all go their separate ways. The Tok'ra leave the alliance because they cannot accept the casualties that come with the open combat with the Goa'uld that results from alliance with Earth, and the Jaffa leave because they wish to build their own bases as they see themselves as slaves to Earth. Daniel objects but nothing can be done, the alliance is, for the moment anyway, dead.

My Comments

This was another good episode which gave good information about the Tok'ra, the Jaffa and the new weapon as well as about Anubis' drones. Although I have liked recent episodes the lack of action has annoyed me a little with the past episodes concentrating on tying up loose ends so this episode and the action in it come as a welcome change.

+ The action was good to see. I have been waiting for an episode to follow up on the drones since 712 and now I am happy
+ The character development was better than I would have expected in such an episode, particularly with Jacob.
+ We now know that there is a weapon capable of defeating the drones. We also know that the prototype was built in 1 month so hopefully more can be built and more quickly also.
+ We also see that Anubis is not scared to attempt an attack on a planet which he sees as a threat. This could be important for the Lost City perhaps.
+ Teal'c still standing over the drone even though he knows it is dead while Sam rests on Jack's shoulder. Very funny.
These are again more nitpicks than real problems with the episode.

- Why is it only SG-1 that have P-90's?
- Why when the casualties were coming back through were they able to move so carefully? With the gate being on its side they would have had to jump into the gate which would have resulted in them coming out feet first at the other end.
- It seems unusual and irregular to me that after missing an unaware and stationary target in Sam at the river, the drone is able to take out the UAV in mid-flight at what when it must have been flying at 200 high and also at a relatively high speed.

This was a good episode which was interesting, informative and much more exciting that previous episodes but it just lacked that special something to make it a great episode and that is why it gets 7/10 from me.

OK first i have to say i loved this episode it was a bit different to what we have seen in the last couple of eps which is always good secondly loved the acting this week it was very good ( well done) I think it was great that they showed that carter is tough like the guys and servive something as awful as that (that was just nasty poor thing) and i loved that they showed that jack and her still have that bond and he still cares for her by cuddling her in her time of need (that was so cute was'nt it) and i was sort of wondering if jack still felt something for her cause they havint shown it in a while so all together top marks for this one

The episode is fine. A bit shaky at the start, but it gets better....

Let's talk about the stupidity of the Tok'ra and the Jaffa right now.

The Tok'ra are IDIOTS! Sure, more Tokra agents have died since they met the Tauri in the past 7 years than in the past 700, but let's think for a second: In the past 700 years, they have made virtually NO progress in overthrowing the Goa'uld, and as such the Goa'uld had made virtually no progress in overthrowing them. Status quo.
But now things are speeding up. They are making progress on defeating the Goa'uld but at the same time the Goa'uld are making progress against them. But the Goa'uld aren't "winning". Osiris herself said it in Last Stand....

SPOILER ALERT



"Dissent and disbelief ***PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN IN THE RANKS OF THE JAFFA***, infiltration and subversion by the Tok'ra, and we cannot continue to ignore the threat of the Humans on Earth. How many must die? How many dominions must fall? And how can we continue to claim to be gods when we cannot act like them? ***THE TAURI CANNOT CONTINUE TO TRIUMPH AGAIN AND AGAIN***."


SPOILER ALERT


Had the Tok'ra not met the Tauri and had the Tauri not discovered thier gate, nothing would change at all. In fact...Perhaps the Tok'ra might be eliminated. Sokar would have gained control and then Anubis would have come back and ruled the Goa'uld. (Summary: The best baseball players can also be called the worst in terms of their records. Major losses like never before are being felt, yes, but major victories like never before are also being felt)
The second reason they mention is that they cannot tell the locations of their agents....The example they used is fish poor. The Tok'ra, while not being able to influence the retrofitting of Goauld ships, at least KNOW of the program. The Tauri do not, however, know of all their agents. The Tauri have saved the Tokra time and time again.
Without each other they are so much stronger, however they are not otherwise.
The reasons for the Tok'ra to cancel the alliance are stupid. They should give up their pride in order to destroy the system lords.

And the Jaffa! They need to give up their damn pride too.
"We want to rule our own bases." is such a bad reason. The Jaffa are more open to infiltration than either the Tokra or the Tauri because they are JAFFA. For them to command bases without any other assistence is foolhardy.

Bah! This episode was great in its content, but its so annoying!!!! It's like politics and any other episode where Kinsey shows his face.
Also...the use of Daniel kinda sucked. His frustration in the end, while natural, just didn't go far enough. He kind of said "No!", they replied "Shut up!" and he did.

I liked this episode because it seemed to answer a question that I have pondered many times. Did the Tok'ra only have the one queen? (Reference:See thisThread)

Jacob: When a human or jaffa die in battle more are born to take there place the same can't be said for the tok'ra

Tok'ra dude: Our queen Egeria from whom all tok'ra have spawned is dead, our numbers are dwindling.

So it seems as if there has in fact been only one tok'ra queen. Which means I was right and Seastallion was wrong! HA!

I like the continuation of the kull warrior (why are they 'drones' now?) storyline, although I am disappointed in the amount of resources devoted by Anubis. He finds out that there is a weapon that can defeat his soldiers and he sends an Alkesh and a couple of drones. Come on! He can't have so much faith in them! He knows we have a weapon to kill them! It would not have been hard to send an additional 20 warriors. Oh, I noticed that I was right about the Warrior having 2 of the awesome weapons, one over each arm. This seems like overkill. He never needs more than one at a time...unless using the rapid fire requires a "charge time" and having 2 means he can always be firing. Did anyone notice that the drone was stopped by the river? if he could go through it, he would have been able to kill Sam. is there something about water that would hurt his equipment? It was also nice that he has good enough aim to take out the UAV in the first volley.

well, considering what they have gotten up from, I don't think it strange at all. It would be foolish to pronounce him dead.

The suspense was great. The scene with the Drone following the blood was AWESOME!

I was thinking as well. My take is that they realize that they made a mistake and are covering themselves with an errata of sorts. I have to wonder if that missile would have worked if it had hit the drone in the chest, instead of just before its feet.

Yeah, that too, but on second thought, I think this was actually reasonable. Putting this weapon together has been a rush job. They would try to use as much of an old weapon as possible to speed it up. The TER's might have some special component that makes it ideal to use as a base.

I don't think they left this hanging. We know that there is a Tok'ra, and a lot of Jaffa that could be compromised, and that Anubis can get such information quickly.

The one thing that bugs me the most is that the alliance completely fell apart. I understand the Jaffa and Tok'ra thinking that it is a little detrimental, but they should negotiate a partial treaty. I HATED that Hammond thought that full disclosure is non-negotiable. Now we have almost completely destroyed the relationship with them. We could be getting lots out of this relationship without having to know every thing.

And there was a great quote:
Teal'c: do you believe this prototype weapon to be effective against it?
Jack: we'll jump off that bridge when we come to it...

There was also the chevrons getting dialed in with the primary Chevron guy in the embarkation room.

I really enjoyed the ep, I give it a 8/10

Edit: oh yeah, how did they get the stargate 'woosh' (what is the technical term?) to make them a foxhole? It doesn't vaporise the iris. also the shape of the hole is bad. the 'woosh' mostly comes out of the center, but this one carved a hole that was conicle, and extended all the way to the stagate. i don't know if this is clear, so let me try this:
___________ the way it chould be('_' part of hole, '.'part of ground)
...._______....
...._______....
...._______....
......_____......

___________ the way it was
.._________..
...._______....
......_____......
........___........


This post has been edited by andy4an: Jan 28th 2004, 2:41 AM

Okay storyline, but I was kinda dissapointed that all of the hard work that had gone into the alliance has been thrown out the window in one episode.

I was also REALLY dissapointed (and yet intrigued) when the Tok'ra began shunning Jacob. I love this character and I thought he took it rather well. Really sucks that we won't be seeing him for a while, possibly until late next season after this chat with Sam :-(

This episode is probably the start of the "breaking apart" storylines. Up until now, we've seen all of the good guys (well, almost) unify and it actually looked like they could take on Anubis. After this episode (along with the events in Hero's), it seems despiration will play a major part in the events to unfold...

-Ves

This post has been edited by Vesian: Jan 28th 2004, 2:31 AM

It's been awhile since we have had a good fox and hound type episode. Carter being the fox and the drone solider being the hound. I like the dark turn that plot has taken with the shaky alliance between the Taur'i, Tok'ra and Jaffa. You need something like that to keep things interesting and open up the possibility for twists that may occur in the future.

Overall the episode was good. Didn't have that SG-1 humor that we all know and love but given the tone of the plot, it really would not be fitting.

Best episode of the season for me i just liked everything about it.
+More Jack
+Super Soliders
+UCAV
+New Weapon to take down SS
+Alliance breaks up
+How the SS sound like the T-Rex on Jurassic Park when they walk
+New location of the Alpha/Beta site
+Teal'c's weapon
+Jacob telling Sam hes not gonna be around for a while
+Jack and Sam at the end

I liked the action and the suspense in this ep and what else can i say i'm giving this ep a 9/10.

Edit: By the way who made that weaner Jaffa head of the rebel Jaffa at the Alpha site, i thought it was Bra'tac???

This post has been edited by Jon The UK SG-1 Fan: Jan 28th 2004, 6:56 AM

I thoght it was definitely better than the previous weeks. Some good action that I believe we finally deserved and also I believe the storyline was good although it wasn't majorly about Carter or the Beta Site, it was about the Tok'ra, Jaffa, Taur'i alliance breaking down. Good weapon that we finally have over the SS and definitely are effective. Good Episode I give it 8/10!

We saw in A Hundred Days that the rock had hardened just over the event horizon, so it acted like an iris and the kawoosh couldn't vaporise it. But after digging out a little bit of the rock with the particle beam, the kawoosh was then able to vaporise the rock and make a cavern.
So im guessing on the Alphasite there was enough room for the kawoosh to form and make the hole, otherwise it would have been like an iris and the MALP would never have made it to the other side.

I agree about the formation of the hole. But to try and explain it, perhaps the rocks were very loose and fell into the hole after the kawoosh had made it, giving it a different shape.


I thought this episode was great, I think I'll give it 8/10.

I'm annoyed that we won't be seeing Jacob as much now though

I thought when Sam was explaining to Jacob about the reason why they had to leave the first site at the beginning was a bit "story telling for the viewers"- but then again we needed to know and they probably didn't have enough film time to bring it in "subtley"

I think the Tok'ra and Jaffa are making a big mistake goin their separate ways- I very much doubt they'll achieve much amongst themselves if they don't maintain the closer triple alliance they have with Earth- oh well- I hope we see Selmak/Jacob sooner rather than later in the future coz he's such a great character- stupid Tok'ra- how dare they go against Selmak?

Had I seen my 2IC in as bad a shape as Carter was yesterday- I probably would have 1. Treated that awful leg wound. 2. Then sat down and tried to comfort them as much as possible- in other words I didn't read much into the Sam/Jack hug. (But I'm sure the rest of the shippers will! )

Oooh! Before I go- I think the way the guys came through the stargate was very cleverly done. I love it when the Stargate is in a different position from its normal standing one.

Well, the jury's out on this one for me. I don't know why really. It should have been a good episode - even a classic, great episode. But something about it just didn't click. First showing I thought the direction and story combined to fail to deliver much in the way of tension at all. There were few moments I felt caught up
in the episode or had my emotions engaged to the extent that I was on the edge of my seat worrying about Sam. In fact, all the way through I was thinking writer and director needed to go watch Westworld first - now there's an example of how to do the 'fighting hopelessly against an unstoppable android' story and do it right.

However, I do have to qualify that by saying that I enjoyed it much more second time around, when I watched it again this morning, and so I suspect that this is one that will slowly grow on me to become a favourite, rather than be an instant hit. With me, this is not unusual, so any comments I have now are on the understanding I might take them all back later. <g>

I agree that the exposition scene at the start was very clumsily done and that disappointed me. Which wasn't a good starting point really. And this is also where the lack of tension began for me. The scene just seemed flat, very static, at the point where the soldier came in to tell them they were under attack and I didn't get the impression they were in much danger from their reactions, which seemed a little lacklustre under the circumstances.

I did enjoy a lot of things about this one though. Lots more Jack, as someone said already, was more than welcome. And his scenes felt more integrated into the story than in previous episodes - rather than making me feel he popped in for a few minutes, said some lines, then left and they dropped a complete scene into the episode. So that was even nicer.

There was some very nicely understated concern shown for Sam from the rest of the team - very subtle, which I liked. Especially Jack's reaction to the soldier asking who could have survived in that mess and Daniel going still and listening up intently when the news came over the radio of the survivors.

I thought the Drone following the trail of blood to soldier who wasn't Sam was very well done and that sequence provided the only real moment of tension in the episode for me.

Really enjoyed Jack searching helplessly for some words of comfort for Sam at the end, of course, and then just giving up and offering a hug instead. It was a sweet moment and, yes, this shipper will definitely agree - very comradely. I like the friendship stuff too, just as much as anything more shippy. So that was a really nice little moment there.

What else? Oh, liked Daniel's outburst in the briefing room at the end when the Jaffa and Tok'ra said they were leaving. You go, Daniel. And I liked the 'Carter I need the...thanks!'

But...but....no more Jacob? They can't do this to me! For how long?!? I'm missing him already!

And I see the Drone has been learning at the Jaffa school of firearms training. He couldn't shoot for toffee either!

All in all - one I'll warm to over time, I think. I do think that it was more like the Stargate episodes of old than recent episodes though - which was nice to see. Much as I've enjoyed the recent batch, they haven't been for me.

Albion

I don't really have much to say on this ep except that I did enjoy it very much and a whole lot more than the last 3. I did like the alliance breaking apart thought that there could be some great storylines for the future with that. Didn't like that the new weapon was nearly same as TER but never mind. Looking forward to Heroes.

I don't think that it was a good thing that the Alliance fell apart and i do think that the tok'ra are stupid for allowing their traditional way of doing things to get in the way, BUT i do understand tha jaffa reason for wanting to set up and run their own bases and operations . they need to establish themselves as an indevidual race and find out the right and wrong way to do things for themselves.

This is my Favourite episode out of the season.

I think you have to forgive the beginning as i don't think, with the time alloted, that they could of done anything much better...and i thought it was good anyhoo's.

There was two storylines in this one...Carter's chase and The Alliance.

Carter- I really liked that they didn't overload us with two much of it at first. And they were clever to leave actual footage of them until half way through- this added to the drama and tension as you really didn't know what was happening. As it has already been pointed out the emotions that were shown, by the rest of the team, were right bang on- not over the top and making it mushy but enough to give the feeling of thier 'loss' of a valued member of the team. As for the Jack/Sam hug- I am not going to say anything about that (other than what i'm writing now ) as i think it can be seen as what ever you want it to be- shippy or not- you decide.


Alliance- I think this made the episode. For thr first time, being truthful, i have been really caught up in the storyline and not wanting to miss a thing. The Tok'ra's change of attitude towards Jacob was really interesting to me but i thought he should of stayed with us and that would of allowed some interesting storylines where we could find out more about 'Selmak'- but it was not to be.......By the way- did anyone else notice that in the final scene between Jacob and Sam, in the infirmiry, that sam's facial injuries seemed to look a lot worse and bigger than when she was on the planet....?

I loved this episode and i will give it a 10/10...way to go guys- we are finally getting to the good old Stargate we know and love!

This post has been edited by ramuund: Jan 28th 2004, 7:56 AM

You know, this is a good point. Perhaps my disappointment with what I perceived as a lack of tension was more my problem than the writer/director's. Maybe I just spoiled it for myself because by the time this was aired I knew everything that was going to happen in it and there were no surprises. Not something I usually mind - reading spoilers in advance, I mean - but it is a factor that should be considered and which hadn't occurred to me. So, yeah, on reflection, I think that could have a lot to do with it. Maybe if I'd come to the episode fresh without any knowledge of it, I would have been more on the edge of my seat.

Albion

Ok, now we are getting to the good eps. There seemed to be a hell of a lot more Jack in it last night too.

The only thing i didnt like was the new weapon - it looked like a TER. Thats the third weapon that looked like a TER now. 1st there was the original TER, then there was Aris Boch's weapon and now the new 'Drone Killer'. Is monmey actually getting that tight for the crew?

Anyway, definitely a shipper moment at the end, if you ask me.

Exactly how many off world bases does the SGC have now? In that ep they talked about the Alpha and Beta site. To the best of my knowledge we have never heard of a second off world base, or have we?

I have stopped reading spoilers a while back and take each episode as they come. I knew, a little vague though, that Carter was missing and they had some sought of weapon or sheild- but that was it. And i think this episode was a good enough reason to carry on avoiding the spoilers....keep the surprise!

I think the Alpha site and the Beta site are the same thing but they just call them whatever they want.

Say what?
Did you see him shoot the UAV out of the sky on the first volley? And as far as the soldier knows, Sam cannot possibly escape, so why not hunt her down at leisure?

If you had just discovered that Anubis has 1000 soldiers that are going to die soon, so he will use them sooner, would you be worried about what the weapon looks like? They are trying to make it as fast as possible. We know that the TER is highly advanced, and it probably has many of the crucial parts required to make the new weapon.

I think you understood something wrong! The Alliance hasn?t ended.

It would really be STUPID to quit formal relations with the Tokra and the Jaffa. By sharing intelligence about the Gould they can still all help each other a lot.

It?s only about the joint operation on the Beta Site. The Tokra don?t like to give away all their operatives because someone could *possibly* compromise the Beta Site. But if they?re not part of this operation, they don?t have to reveal this kind of information because it?s not "relevant to any joint operations" since there are no joint operations. When the tokra says "when this alliance is going to continue, you would insist that we reveal all our operatives", I believe he refers to the Beta Site operation, and not the whole Alliance... I think the writers chose to be pretty vague, because that?s the spirit of this episode: The Alliance is trembling, but hasn?t ended, but the joint Beta Site operation has ended.

The Jaffa want their own camp, which is understandable. They have to "ask" when they want to attack someone. It would be much more convincing to join for any new Jaffas, when they know they will be independent (from their view).

I would be very disappointed if the writers decided that all contact will be seized. Information of common interested, and coordination of some operations should still be communicated.

Imagine the situation from 6x09 Allegiance: Tokra and Jaffa had to flee and re-coordinate themselves in a short time, and they needed our help. After more than a year together, they are strong enough to be independent again. I think the storyline is convincing (perhaps a little annoying, yes, the Joint operation was so cool...).

What wre you doing while watching the episode?? Without a seperate Beta Site, the whole talks about the "joint Beta Site Operation" would make no sense, because there can be no operation in a destroyed camp! The writers had to invent the Beta Site so that this episode makes sense at all!

This post has been edited by ted_simple: Jan 28th 2004, 9:08 AM

I think the SS shooting sucked i mean when Carter was drinking water she wasn't even a moving target and he still misses . He may be able to shoot down a UCAV but he sucks at aiming.