The members of SG-1 have moved on to new assignments – Carter is now working at Stargate R&D full time. Teal’c has his hands full with the internal politics of the new Jaffa nation. Daniel Jackson is preparing to join the Daedalus on its trip to Atlantis. The SGC itself has a new leader, General Hank Landry. Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell arrives to join SG-1, eager to work with “the best of the best.” Critically injured leading the fighter squadron that protected SG-1 during Anubis’s assault in Antarctica, Mitchell was promised his choice of assignments by General O’Neill. But it falls to Landry to provide the details that O’Neill left out: Mitchell isn’t at SGC to join the existing team. He’s there to form and lead the new SG-1.
A disappointed Mitchell tries to convince the original team to reunite. Despite their gratitude and respect for Mitchell, he is unsuccessful – at least until Daniel’s old acquaintance Vala returns, claiming to have stolen a tablet that leads to an Ancient treasure. In order to ensure that she profits from the venture, Vala uses Goa’uld bracelets to link Daniel and her – neither can go very far from the other without falling ill. Having missed his trip on the Daedalus, Daniel turns his attention to the tablet. It suggests that the legend of Merlin and King Arthur has some link to the Ancients. The Prometheus‘ scanners find a large underground network of tunnels in England, hidden from Earth surveys by Ancient technology. Mitchell, Daniel, Vala and a visiting Teal’c ring into the complex and soon face a sword in a stone and a holographic message that their knowledge and character will be tested. And the consequence for failure is grave indeed.
Season 9 Regular Cast: Ben Browder (Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell), Amanda Tapping (Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter), Christopher Judge (Teal’c), Beau Bridges (General Hank Landry), Michael Shanks (Dr. Daniel Jackson)
written by Robert C. Cooper
directed by Andy Mikita
music by Joel Goldsmith
excerpts written by Robert C. Cooper & Brad Wright
main theme adapted from music by David ArnoldGuest Cast: Claudia Black (Vala), Richard Dean Anderson (General Jack O’Neill), Obi Ndefo (Rak’nor), Gary Jones (Sgt. Walter Harriman), Bill Dow (Dr. Lee), Matthew Walker (Merlin), Tyler McClendon (Lt. Banks), Mar Andersons (Air Force Official), Claude Knowlton (Doctor), Wendy Russell (Nurse), Donna White (Crying Mother), Penelope Corrin, Alistair Abell, Robert Clarke (Science Candidates), Jason Benson, Sean Arnfinson (Military Candidates), Scott Owen (Technician), Michael Jonsson (F-302 Pilot)
Appearing in footage from “Lost City, Part 2”: Tony Amendola (Bra’tac), Don S. Davis (General Hammond)
Notes: Mitchell was injured in the seventh-season finale Lost City, Part 2; his flashbacks are a combination of excerpts from that episode and new footage. Jackson first encountered Vala in the eighth season episode Prometheus Unbound. Sam Carter’s reduced role in this episode is due to Amanda Tapping taking some time off after the birth of her daughter. Beginning with this episode, the opening title sequence was cut to a brief 10-second clip with the actor credits over the episode itself during Sci Fi’s broadcasts. The series’ producers prepared a full one-minute title sequence for syndication and other uses.
LogBook entry by Dave Thomer