US Airdate : 17 October 1997
UK Airdate : 24 June 1998
Summary
On a Volatile planet the team see Daniel killed, back at the SGC the team mourn the
loss of their friend.
Synopsis by Kim
An alarm goes off in the SGC, indicating a Gate activation. As no SG units are due
back, the base goes on full alert. An SG1 remote GDO code is received and SG1 return
through the Gate - wet, shocked and without Daniel Jackson. They collapse on the ramp.
General Hammond asks where Daniel is.
Jack replies that he is dead.
During the post-mission briefing, each remaining member of SG1 take turns explaining
what happened. There were a number of volcanic gas holes, one of which exploded, engulfing
Daniel in flames. The others survived by submerging themselves in a nearby body of water.
Jack ordered a retreat from the planet.
Hammond decides that Daniel deserves a full military send-off, despite him not being
USAF personnel. After a heart-warming speech from Jack, a wreath is sent through the
Stargate, in Daniel's name.
Sam and Teal'c arrive at Jacks house for Daniel's wake. Trying to be optimistic, Jack
offers some drinks. While pouring a beer for Sam, he gets some kind of a flashback of
Daniel's death. Hammond asks a very angry and frustrated Jack whether SG1 could close up
Daniel's apartment. Jack agrees.
In the apartment, Sam suffers from a flashback memory of Daniel's death. Jack and
Teal'c mention that they have had the same experience. Jack startles the others by saying
that he does not believe that Daniel is dead. Determined to discover the truth, they head
back to the SGC.
Meanwhile, Daniel is still alive. He has just awakened and is standing in the middle of
what looks like an aquarium. He is dripping wet, and calls out for his team mates. No-one
is there. As he turns around, he notices an amphibious looking creature coming towards
him. The creature indicates a panel, on which Daniel sees a form of writing. Daniel
identifies it as Cuneiform, the most ancient for of writing known to man. He translates it
as 'Reveal fate Omaroca'. His questions anger the creature, causing him to attack Daniel
with a blast similar to the one from a Goa'uld ribbon device.
Daniel spends some time translating more and more of this text for the creature, who
keeps asking 'What fate Omaroca?'. Daniel does not know and tries to explain that. The
creature threatens him and leaves the room, though a wall of water. A while later, the
creature returns. When Daniel asks about Jack, Sam and Teal'c, the creature tells him that
he implanted false memories, making SG1 believe that Daniel died in the fire. He thinks
that Daniel can tell him what happened to his mate, Omaroca, in Babylon.
Both Daniel and the creature get frustrated and angry, the creature because he thinks
Daniel is hiding information from him, and Daniel because he is afraid.
Back at the SGC, Dr. Janet Frasier discovers that all three remaining members of SG1
have extremely low levels of Seratomin - the body's 'feel-good' chemical. All three also
have a similar dark spot on their brains in exactly the same place. Suddenly, as SG6
return from a mission, Jack, Sam and Teal'c believe that Daniel has returned. They are
very confused, not knowing whether Daniel is dead or alive, unable to believe their own
memories.
Sam volunteers for hypnosis, to try and discover the truth. She is taken back to their
arrival on the planet. Her memories reveal that they met a strange creature, the same one
who has taken Daniel. He probed them all, looking into their minds. The creature decided
that Daniel knew more about Babylon than the others, and released them. He kept Daniel.
Sam is very upset about having left Daniel behind, and is comforted by Jack, who promises
that they will go back and get him.
Meanwhile, the creature has strapped Daniel to a table and is trying to extract the
memories from Daniel's mind. This causes Daniel an immense amount of pain, but he
eventually reveals enough about Omaroca's fate that the creature is contented.
Jack, Sam and Teal'c returned to the planet. They see the creature emerge from the
ocean, followed by Daniel. Daniel introduces the creature as Nem and explains what
happened. SG1, reunited, take Daniel home
Review
A very emotionally charged episode, with some very powerful acting, both from Michael
Shanks and also from Amanda Tapping. This episode was really the first "Daniel
Episode", and was a wonderful introduction to his character. We realise that he is
still in a lot of pain from the loss of Sha're, and we also learn how much SG1 mean to
each other. Plus we get to see Daniel in a wet T-shirt <g>!! Definitely one of my
favourite episodes. |
