Reckoning (Stargate SG-1)

Infobox Television episode | Title = Reckoning (Parts 1 & 2)


Colour = SGColor
Series = Stargate SG-1
Season = 8
Episode = 16 & 17
Airdate = January 25, 2005 & February 1, 2005
Production = 816 & 817
Writer = Damian Kindler
Director = Peter DeLuise
Guests = Tony Amendola as Bra'tac
Carmen Argenziano as Jacob Carter/Selmak
Cliff Simon as Ba'al
Gary Jones as Walter Harriman
Samantha Banton as Ba'al's Lieutenant
Mel Harris as Oma Desala
Isaac Hayes as Tolok
Jeff Judge as Aron
Dean Aylesworth as Old Anubis
Rik Kiviaho as New Anubis
Vince Crestejo as Yu The Great
Kevan Ohtsji as Yu's First Prime
Eric Breker as Colonel Reynolds
Dan Shea as Siler
Emy Aneke as Ba'al's Jaffa
Michael Shanks as Voice of Thor
Episode list = Episode chronology
Prev = Citizen Joe
Next = Threads

"Reckoning" is a two-part episode from Season 8 of the science fiction television series "Stargate SG-1". They resolve the long-running story arcs of the Goa'uld, the Replicators, and the Jaffa Rebellion, and are regarded as two of the most popular episodes of the series. This episode was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category "Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series" and a Leo Award in the category "Best Visual Effects".)

Plot

Part 1

The episode begins with an emissary of Ba'al demanding the surrender of Yu and the remaining Goa'uld System Lords. Unexpectedly, Samantha Carter is brought before them, revealing herself to be Replicator Carter as she stabs Yu and her Replicator ship advances on the Goa'uld space station. Elsewhere, SG-1 and Bra'tac are preparing for a rebel Jaffa mission when they come under attack by a Replicator-controlled Ha'tak. Their ship becomes infested, and Jackson is beamed away by the Replicators. At Stargate Command, Jacob Carter, host to the Tok'ra Selmak, brings grave news to General Jack O'Neill: the Replicators have begun a full-scale invasion of the Milky Way.

Thor of the Asgard arrives to assist in modifying the Replicator disruptor so that it is once again effective. Although he and Carter successfully modify the disruptor, the Replicators adapt after a only single shot and infest Thor's ship. Meanwhile, Teal'c and Bra'tac are dismayed that, in the face of this unstoppable foe, the Jaffa are re-pledging their loyalty to the Goa'uld en masse and the future of the Jaffa rebellion is in doubt. They decide on an audacious, last-ditch plan: with Ba'al's forces occupied fighting the Replicators, the entire rebel army will capture Dakara, the holiest of Jaffa planets, thus proving once and for all that the Goa'uld are not gods. The rebel Jaffa find the planet lightly guarded and quickly seize its temple. However, at the behest of a robed figure, Ba'al breaks off the battle with the Replicators and sends his entire fleet towards Dakara.

On the Replicator ship, Replicator Carter probes Daniel's mind for buried knowledge from the time he was Ascended. After a ruse in which she pretends to be Oma Desala, she finds what she wants: the location of the only weapon in the galaxy capable of stopping her, hidden in the temple on Dakara. Ba'al contacts the SGC and tells them that they must destroy the weapon on Dakara before his fleet arrives, for the weapon is capable of destroying all life in the galaxy. Ba'al would not use such a weapon, but his new master would -- Anubis.

Part 2

Sam and Jacob discover the superweapon controls hidden behind a wall in the Dakara temple, and realize that it can be calibrated to emit a Replicator disruptor wave. However, to prevent the Replicators from adapting, the wave must strike all of them throughout the galaxy at the same time. The only way this is possible is to simultaneously dial every Stargate in the Milky Way from Dakara, and to accomplish this Sam and Jacob are forced to turn to Ba'al for help. Ba'al slows the advance of his fleet to buy them more time, and appears on Dakara in hologram form to lend his assistance. Back on the Replicator ship, Replicator Carter delves deeper into Daniel's Ascended memories, but finds it too immense even for the Replicator network to handle. Contrary to her assurances, she sends Replicators to attack Earth through the Stargate. O'Neill orders the evacuation of Stargate Command and the activation of the base's self-destruct.

The fleets of Ba'al and Replicator Carter clash in a titanic battle over Dakara, with the small rebel Jaffa fleet caught in the middle. The Replicators land on the surface and charge the temple. On Earth, O'Neill and several other survivors are cut off from the surface and fight desperately to hold off the Replicators while attempting to dial the Stargate. At a crucial moment, Daniel manages to exploit his connection to Replicator Carter and freeze all the Replicators. Although Replicator Carter soon breaks free and stabs him, his actions give Sam and Jacob the few seconds needed to finish their work. The superweapon activates along with Stargates all over the galaxy; the disruptor wave disintegrates all the Replicators, including Replicator Carter. With the Replicators defeated, Ba'al suddenly finds himself surrounded by free Jaffa, and beams himself away. His cowardly escape inspires Jaffa everywhere to rebel, at last breaking Goa'uld dominon over the galaxy. Despite the good news, Jack and Sam can't help but wonder what happened to Daniel.

Production

Both Amanda Tapping and Michael Shanks play dual roles in this episode. Tapping plays both Lt. Col. Samantha Carter and the RepliCarter. Shanks plays Dr. Daniel Jackson and provides the voice of Thor. Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks do not share a scene in either episode. This episode is Michael Shanks' "150th" episode.

The images of Ba'al and Anubis' homeworld are stock footage of Delmak, Sokar's homeworld. Ne'tu is clearly visible in the sky.

Reception

Fans regarded "Reckoning" as two of the most popular episodes of the series. [http://www.geos.tv/index.php/topten/stg GEOS - Stargate SG-1 Episode Guide ] ] This episode was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category "Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series" and a Leo Award in the category "Best Visual Effects".) [http://tv.ign.com/articles/726/726165p1.html IGN: 200 Review ] ]

Notes

* This episode marks the death of the oldest Goa'uld System Lord, Yu the Great, as he was stabbed in the chest and seen collapsing. Yu was the longest running Goa'uld recurring character. He was first introduced in the Season Three episode "Fair Game" and was the last surviving major Goa'uld from that time. With the death of Yu, Anubis and Ba'al are the longest surviving major Goa'uld. Ba'al was introduced in the Season Five episode "Summit" and Anubis was first referred to by name in the same episode, but did not appear until "Revelations".
* This is the only episode of the series to feature all three of Earth's main off-world allies: Bra'tac (Tony Amendola), Jacob Carter/Selmak (Carmen Argenziano) and Thor (Voice of Michael Shanks).
* The wall/door of Ancient text on Dakara contains phrases such as "...these rules shall be obeyed at all times under penalty of the highest degree..." and "...this device must only be used for betterment of life or for self-preservation..."
* It is not explained why Anubis still needs to possess a human host instead of creating another force field like his original guise. Neither is it explained how Anubis managed to escape from the frozen plant to which he had been dispatched by Samantha Carter in the Lockdown episode.
* Jack said it was weird that he was in Siler's will, however, in Lost City he declared that, should he die as a result of the knowledge within his mind, Siler would get his collection of Simpsons video cassettes.

External links

* [http://stargatesg1.com/SeasonEight Official "Stargate SG-1" site] . MGM. Visited June 8, 2006. Most of site requires Flash.
* cite web
url = http://media.dave.tv/sites/stargatesg1/screenplays/s08e16.PDF
title = Screenplay of Part 1
date = 2004-12-01
accessdate = 2006-10-29
format = PDF
publisher = Distributed by MGM. Prepared by Line 21 Media Services Ltd
* cite web
url = http://media.dave.tv/sites/stargatesg1/screenplays/s08e17.PDF
title = Screenplay of Part 2
date = 2004-12-14
accessdate = 2006-10-29
format = PDF
publisher = Distributed by MGM. Prepared by Line 21 Media Services Ltd
* [http://www.skyone.co.uk/programmes/stargatesg1/episodeguide.aspx?eid=16 Episode guide] from Skyone. Visitd June 4, 2006.
* [http://www.skyone.co.uk/programmes/stargatesg1/episodeguide.aspx?eid=18 Episode guide of Part II] from Skyone. Visited June 4, 2006.
* [http://www.scifi.com/stargate/episodes/season8/0815/ Summary of Part I] from SciFi. Visited June 4, 2006. Requires Flash.
* [http://www.scifi.com/stargate/episodes/season8/0816/ Summary of Part II] from SciFi. Visited June 4, 2006. Requires Flash.
* [http://www.gateworld.net/sg1/s8/reviews/816.shtml Review] from GateWorld. Reviewed by Alli Snow. Visited May 7, 2006.