Avalon (Stargate SG-1)

"Avalon" is the parts one and two of the season nine primiere episode of Stargate SG-1.

"Avalon (Stargate SG-1)"

Notes

• Parts One & Two of Three.
• Avalon (Part 1) is the 175th episode of Stargate SG-1.
• This episode introduces Ben Browder as Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell, Beau Bridges as General Hank Landry, and Lexa Doig as Dr. Carolyn Lam.
• On top of the new cast, SCI FI Channel chose to cut the opening sequences of both Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis to 10-second, rather than the usual 60-second.
• Many Stargate SG-1 fans were dubious of how this Season 9 premiere would continue the series after the total climax of Season 8, which effectively closed all storylines.
• Brigadier General Jack O'Neill is promoted once again, to major general. O'Neill, presumably, now has General Hammond's position as the head of the Department of Homeworld Security. Hammond's fate is currently unknown.
• Ben Browder (Cameron Mitchell) and Claudia Black (Vala) are well known for playing John Crichton and Aeryn Sun, respectively, on Farscape.
• Carter is testing hyperdrive engines on a ship -- possibly a new, third ship.
• Stargate Command has at some point recovered an android body from PX3-989 -- Altair, home of Harlan (Tin Man). S.G.C. scientists have modified the android, and hope to one day program it with the knowledge and memories of all S.G.C. personnel. They are currently in need of funding for the ambitious project. It is unknown whether the android body is one of the SG-1 duplicates who were killed saving the planet Juna from Cronus (Double Jeopardy), or if Harlan has otherwise provided them with access to Altairan android technology.
• The Goa'uld have lost their dynasties since the war with the Replicators in Reckoning, and are trying to rebuild their forces or are in hiding. Without the service of the Jaffa they are having trouble maintaining the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed over the last 10,000 years or so.
• Both Christopher Judge and Michael Shanks guest starred alongside Lexa Doig on Andromeda. Shanks in Season One and Season Three, and Judge in Season Three (with Shanks). JR Bourne was also in the Season Three episode.
• This episode therefore takes place several weeks after the Atlantis season premiere despite the fact that they originally aired back-to-back. Avalon is set at least one month after the previous year's season finale (Teal'c is said to have left the program over a month ago), while The Siege (Part 3) picks up from the Atlantis Season One finale on the same day. A brief timeline may illustrate:
  • The Z.P.M. is discovered in Egypt (Moebius (Part 2)).
  • Using the Z.P.M., Colonel Everett's team gates to Atlantis (The Siege (Part 2)).
  • The Daedalus is immediately dispatched, and with the Z.P.M. will arrive in four days.
  • Sometime after the Z.P.M.'s discovery, Teal'c leaves Earth.
  • Daedalus arrives at Atlantis (The Siege (Part 3).
  • Sometime soon after the defeat of the Wraith, Atlantis's senior command staff gate home to Earth (The Intruder).
  • Daedalus arrives at Earth and, after maintenance, prepares to ferry the team back to Atlantis.
  • More than one month after Teal'c's departure, Cameron Mitchell arrives at Stargate Command.
  • Daedalus departs for Atlantis (second trip), and Daniel misses it.
• The opening credits now feature a Pegasus Galaxy wormhole, rather than a Milky Way Galaxy one.
• Among the data brought back to Earth by the Atlantis expedition was a list of names of those Ancients who fled Atlantis when it was under seige and returned to Earth through the Stargate (Stargate Atlantis: Before I Sleep). One of them was Merlin (Myrddin).
• Avalon (Part 2) is the first episode of the series to feature only two members of the original cast: Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson) and Christopher Judge (Teal'c).
• As of Avalon (Part 2), Christopher Judge (Teal'c) has appeared in more episodes than any other cast member. The only episode that he was absent in was Prometheus Unbound. Prior to this, he was tied with Amanda Tapping (Carter).
• The hologram of Merlin is played by Matthew Walker who previously portrayed another Ancient named Moros in the Stargate Atlantis episode Before I Sleep. It is possible that they were intended to be the same character. He also played King Roham in the Season Two episode Touchstone.
• Colonel Mitchell (Ben Browder) led the squadron of F-302s in defence of SG-1 against Anubis' forces during the Battle of Antarctica in Lost City (Part 2).
• Teal'c is now sporting a Greco-Roman haircut.
• When Vala says to Mitchell "I know we haven't met. That I'm sure I would have remembered.", this is a subtle allusion to the fact that both actors starred together on Farscape.