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Stargate SG-1 season 9

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Stargate SG-1 (season 9)
Season 9
DVD cover
No. of episodes20
Release
Original networkSyfy
Original releaseJuly 15, 2005 –
March 10, 2006
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 8
Next →
Season 10
List of episodes

Season nine of Stargate SG-1, an American-Canadian television series, began airing on July 15, 2005 on SCI FI. The ninth season concluded on March 10, 2006, after 20 episodes on the same channel. The series was originally developed by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, and Brad Wright, Robert C. Cooper, Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie served as executive producers. The season arc centers on the new threat of the Ori, a race who Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) and Vala Mal Doran (Claudia Black) unleash in an unknown galaxy, and who are threatening to prepare for a crusade into the Milky Way galaxy to convert the beings to their religion called Origin.

Season nine regular cast members included Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Beau Bridges, and Michael Shanks. Claudia Black appeared in a recurring role for eight episodes. The ninth season begins with General Hank Landry (Beau Bridges) having assumed command of Stargate Command, and newcomer Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell (Ben Browder) trying to regroup the SG-1 team after the events of the eighth season.

Production

Development

The burning of Vala in "Avalon (Part 2)" was a challenging sequence for safety reasons and for still making it believable. Stunt people stood in for the fire scenes that Claudia Black couldn't film. Locked-off cameras and different "plates" were later combined to so-called VisFX compshots.[1] The episode "Crusade" was Robert C. Cooper's first time directing on the show. All of Vala's voiceovers in that episode were filmed beforehand so that the director could pick which parts would be voiceover and which parts would be shown.

Since the environment of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where SG-1 and Atlantis were primarily filmed, was being developed, shooting locations were getting rarer for new offworld stories. The producers countered this with a new reusable village set, with almost 280 feet (85m) in length and 12000 sqfoot (1100 m²) in area, the biggest they ever built. It was an interior and exterior practical set on an effects stage. Three weeks passed between initial conception until building began, although portions had already been built the previous year. Two further weeks passed before filming began. The inspiration for the set were medieval villages, Japanese homes, and Italian structures and buildings.[1][2] "The Ties That Bind" marks the first appearance of the Atlantis-style wormhole effect on the actual series, rather than in just the opening credits.

Cast

Ben Browder and Beau Bridges joined the main cast in Season 9, as Cameron Mitchell and Hank Landry, respectively. Richard Dean Anderson had left the main cast after Season 8 due to the personal wish to spend more time with his young daughter in Los Angeles.[3] Despite being listed in the cast credits for the whole season and short scenes in Avalon (Part 1), Amanda Tapping as Samantha Carter is absent during the first five episodes as she was in the last stages of pregnancy at that time. Her empty spot was filled by guest star Claudia Black, who would leave in "Beachhead" and return for the last two episodes of Season 9, which involved her real-life pregnancy. Another new recurring actor was Lexa Doig as Carolyn Lam, Landry's daughter and the new doctor at Stargate Command.

Writing

After writing the end of Season 8 as the third series finale in a row and having a positive creative experience with the first season of Stargate Atlantis, the producers considered starting a new spin-off show called Stargate Command, but the Sci Fi Channel chose to renew the series into a ninth season.[4][5] With the departure of Richard Dean Anderson, the producers then decided to start a new chapter and introduced new elements into the series. A major change was the departure from Egyptian mythology and the Goa'uld Empire which had found its climax in the season 8 episode "Threads", and the introduction of Arthurian mythology.[1] "Avalon" was treated like a pilot film, consisting of originally two episodes, but a long script resulted in the extension of the story into the episode "Origin", in which the Ori make their first appearance as new antagonistic race.[4]

The title of the episode "Ex Deus Machina" is a hyperbaton of "deus ex machina" (literally "God out of a Machine", meaning "God appearing on a crane", a literary device for a kind of turn of events) after he jokingly suggested to his writing partners a plot about Ba'al working undercover as a mechanic on Earth. The title also makes a reference to Ba'al as an ex-deus (a former god).[6]

The episode "Ripple Effect" was overly long and had many scenes edited and cut for time. Writer Joseph Mallozzi later posted script sections of all cut scenes online.[7] Asked what the cryptic remark by Black Mitchell meant when he left through the gate at the end of the episode,[8] Mallozzi answered the meaning of this remark will not be revealed in the series but might come up in the Stargate SG-1 sequels, Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum.[9] "Camelot" was the first Stargate SG-1 season finale since "Revelations" that was not intended to be the SG-1 series finale, and the first one since "Exodus" that was a cliffhanger. The episode was written without the knowledge that Stargate SG-1 would be picked up for a tenth season.

Release and reception

Promotional image for season nine. From left to right: Amanda Tapping as Samantha Carter, Michael Shanks as Daniel Jackson, Christopher Judge as Teal'c and Ben Browder as Cameron Mitchell

The Sci Fi Channel cut the opening sequences of the first ten episodes of the season from sixty to ten seconds for the original broadcast. The sequence only displayed the "Stargate SG-1" logo and a "Created by" credit, main cast credits were displayed during the teaser. Fans had been very negative about this move.[10] British Sky One only aired the first part of "Avalon" with the short opening sequence.

The highest rated Season 9 episode was the season premier two-parter "Avalon" with a household rating of 2.1 each,[11] and held steady between 1.8 and 2.0 until the midseason finale "The Fourth Horseman", which finished with 1.8.[11] The second part of the season oscillated between 1.6 and 1.9 and finished with a household rating of 1.9.[11] The season rating average was 1.8. A review in TV Guide Special #67 considered Mitchell's introduction in "Avalon" still too reminiscent of the production team's own efforts to turn around the Season Eight finale. Although the review embraced Black's "sparky, sarky characterization of Vala" during Amanda Tapping's absence, the renewed encounter between former Farscape cast members Ben Browder and Claudia Black was "oddly ... underplayed". The review found a strong similarity of the last ten minutes of "Avalon" (Part 1) to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and the set of the beginning of Part 2 as a "god-awful Merrie Olde England pastiche straight out of Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Plotting and technobabble were mentioned as other detrimental facets of Part 2.[12]

The ninth season of Stargate SG-1 was nominated for several awards in 2006, but won none. "Origin" was nomininated for a Gemini Award in the category "Best Achievement in Make-Up", while both "Beachhead" and "Camelot" were nominated for "Best Visual Effects". "Camelot" was also nominated for a Gemini for "Best Sound in a Dramatic Series". Director of Photography Jim Menard was nominated for a Leo Award in the category "Best Cinematography in a Dramatic Series". Ben Browder and Claudia Black were nominated for a Saturn Award in the categories "Best Actor on Television" and "Best Supporting Actress on Television", respectively. Stargate SG-1 was also nominated in the Saturn category "Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series", but lost to Battlestar Galactica, then in its second season.[13]

Main cast

Episodes

Episodes in bold are continuous episodes, where the story spans over 2 or more episodes.

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUS viewers
(millions)
1751"Avalon: Part 1"Andy MikitaTeleplay by : Robert C. Cooper
Excerpts written by : Robert C. Cooper & Brad Wright
July 15, 2005 (2005-07-15)2.1[14]
1762"Avalon: Part 2"Andy MikitaRobert C. CooperJuly 22, 2005 (2005-07-22)2.1[15]
1773"Origin"Brad TurnerRobert C. CooperJuly 29, 2005 (2005-07-29)2.0[16]
1784"The Ties That Bind"William WaringJoseph Mallozzi & Paul MullieAugust 5, 2005 (2005-08-05)2.0[17]
1795"The Powers That Be"William WaringMartin GeroAugust 12, 2005 (2005-08-12)2.0[18]
1806"Beachhead"Brad TurnerBrad WrightAugust 19, 2005 (2005-08-19)1.9[19]
1817"Ex Deus Machina"Martin WoodJoseph Mallozzi & Paul MullieAugust 26, 2005 (2005-08-26)1.9[20]
1828"Babylon"Peter DeLuiseDamian KindlerSeptember 9, 2005 (2005-09-09)2.0[21]
1839"Prototype"Peter DeLuiseAlan McCulloughSeptember 16, 2005 (2005-09-16)1.8[22]
18410"The Fourth Horseman: Part 1"Andy MikitaDamian KindlerSeptember 16, 2005 (2005-09-16)1.8[22]
18511"The Fourth Horseman: Part 2"Andy MikitaJoseph Mallozzi & Paul MullieJanuary 6, 2006 (2006-01-06)1.9[23]
18612"Collateral Damage"William WaringJoseph Mallozzi & Paul MullieJanuary 13, 2006 (2006-01-13)1.7[24]
18713"Ripple Effect"Peter DeLuiseStory by : Brad Wright, Joseph Mallozzi & Paul Mullie
Teleplay by : Joseph Mallozzi & Paul Mullie
January 20, 2006 (2006-01-20)1.8[25]
18814"Stronghold"Peter DeLuiseTeleplay by : Alan McCullough
Excerpts written by : Robert C. Cooper, Martin Gero and Brad Wright
January 27, 2006 (2006-01-27)1.8[26]
18915"Ethon"Ken GirottiStory by : Damian Kindler & Robert C. Cooper
Teleplay by : Damian Kindler
February 3, 2006 (2006-02-03)1.6[27]
19016"Off the Grid"Peter DeLuiseAlan McCulloughFebruary 10, 2006 (2006-02-10)1.6[27]
19117"The Scourge"Ken GirottiJoseph Mallozzi & Paul MullieFebruary 17, 2006 (2006-02-17)1.6[28]
19218"Arthur's Mantle"Peter DeLuiseAlan McCulloughFebruary 24, 2006 (2006-02-24)1.7[29]
19319"Crusade"Robert C. CooperRobert C. CooperMarch 3, 2006 (2006-03-03)1.8[30]
19420"Camelot"Martin WoodJoseph Mallozzi & Paul MullieMarch 10, 2006 (2006-03-10)1.9[31]

Home releases

DVD Name Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
Stargate SG-1 Season 9 October 3, 2006 February 5, 2007 August 16, 2006
Volume 44 (901–904) March 27, 2006
Volume 45 (905–908) April 24, 2006
Volume 46 (909–911) May 22, 2006
Volume 47 (912–914) June 19, 2006
Volume 48 (915–917) July 17, 2006
Volume 49 (918–920) August 14, 2006

References

  1. ^ a b c SG-1: Directors Series – ep 901 & 902 "Avalon" feat. Andy Mikita
  2. ^ DVD featurette: "It takes a crew to build a village – The building of Stargate's new standing set". Season 9.
  3. ^ Spelling, Ian (April 28, 2006). "SG-1's Anderson Like Old Times". SCI FI Wire. Sci Fi Channel. Archived from the original on March 12, 2008. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  4. ^ a b Audio Commentary 901
  5. ^ TV Zone Special #64. July 2005.
  6. ^ GateWorld – Stargate SG-1 'In the Making': "Ex Deus Machina" Archived 2007-11-12 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ GateWorld – Stargate SG-1 'In the Making': "Ripple Effect" Archived 2007-12-23 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Black Mitchell in "Ripple Effect": "When the time comes, cut the green one."
  9. ^ Thoughts and Tirades, Rants and Ruminations: January 13, 2007
  10. ^ "SCI FI to reinstate full-length openings". gateworld.net. September 1, 2005. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved 2007-07-20. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ a b c GateWorld – Stargate SG-1 Season Two: Ratings Archived 2007-12-27 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Graves, Stephen (December 2005). "Reviews – TV Zone's reviews of the first part of the season". TV Zone. No. Special #67. pp. 20–21.
  13. ^ "Stargate SG-1" (1997) – Awards
  14. ^ Sumner, Darren (July 18, 2005). "Season premiere ratings fail to impress". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Sumner, Darren (July 27, 2005). "SG-1 ratings steady with 'Avalon, Part 2". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Sumner, Darren (August 2, 2005). "SCI FI Friday ratings a dead heat". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Sumner, Darren (August 8, 2005). "'Ties' ties previous week's ratings". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Sumner, Darren (August 15, 2005). "'Condemned' nudges ratings win for Atlantis". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ Sumner, Darren (August 22, 2005). "Galactica retakes SCI FI ratings lead". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Sumner, Darren (August 29, 2005). "Atlantis leads August 26 ratings". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Sumner, Darren (September 14, 2005). "Close ratings for September 9 SCI FI Friday". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ a b Sumner, Darren (September 21, 2005). "SG-1 finale falls to season low ratings". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Sumner, Darren (January 11, 2006). "Ratings steady for SCI FI Friday premieres". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ Sumner, Darren (January 19, 2006). "SG-1, Atlantis fall to season lows". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ Sumner, Darren (January 25, 2006). "Ratings level off for January 20 episodes". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Sumner, Darren (February 1, 2006). "Atlantis leads January 27 ratings". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ a b Sumner, Darren (February 27, 2006). "SG-1 ratings rebound slightly". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Sumner, Darren (March 6, 2006). "'Coup D'etat' turns in series-low rating". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Sumner, Darren (March 13, 2006). "Ratings for 'Arthur's Mantle' and 'Michael'". GateWorld. Retrieved May 28, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  30. ^ Sumner, Darren (March 20, 2006). "Ratings back up for 'Crusade,' 'Inferno'". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ Sumner, Darren (March 28, 2006). "Ratings rise for SCI FI Friday season finales". GateWorld. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)