Meridian (10 May 2002)

As Jackson suffers from a fatal dose of radiation, he struggles with the value of his life while his friends deal with the emotional and diplomatic repercussions.

Director:

William Waring

Writers:

Brad Wright (developed for television by), Jonathan Glassner (developed for television by),

Stars:

Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Richard Dean Anderson	...	Colonel Jack O'Neill
Michael Shanks	...	Dr. Daniel Jackson
Amanda Tapping	...	Major Samantha Carter
Christopher Judge	...	Teal'c
Don S. Davis	...	Major General George Hammond
Corin Nemec	...	Jonas Quinn
Carmen Argenziano	...	Jacob Carter / Selmak
Gary Jones	...	Sgt. Walter Harriman
Mel Harris	...	Oma Desala
Teryl Rothery	...	Dr. Janet Fraiser
David Hurtubise	...	Tomis
Kevin McCrae	...	Kelownan Scientist

Storyline

SG-1 arrives on P9Y-4C3 in the country of Kelowna, one of three countries in an uneasy state of cold war. Sg-1 investigates the country and discovers that Kelowna's technological level is similar to that of the United States in the 1940s, and that several Goa'uld artifacts were found near the planet's stargate. From the artifacts they find a powerful Naquadah variant called Naquadria, which they are turning into a weapon. An accident leads to the Naquadria nearly exploding and Daniel Jackson saving millions from certain death, but he exposes himself to dangerous levels of radiation. Back at the SGC, Daniel lays dying until Oma Desala, an ascended being the team met on the planet Kheb, appears to him and offers him the chance to ascend.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Release Date:

10 May 2002 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

MGM Worldwide Television Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kelowna is actually a real city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Most of the SG-1 series was filmed in and around British Columbia.

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Goofs

In some of the shots of Kelowna, smoke can be seen going down the chimneys instead of out.

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Quotes

Oma Desala: The Universe is vast and we are so small. There is really only one thing we can ever truly control.
Dr. Daniel Jackson: What's that?
Oma Desala: Whether we are good or evil.

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Connections

Featured in Stargate SG-1: Inauguration (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Main Title"
Composed by David Arnold and Joel Goldsmith

User Reviews

Not even as a joke

Right. So I ended up crying. Thanks for nothing, and don't laugh at me.

Once again, we begin with a dire situation, and the episode is divided into two parts: finding out what really happened, and trying to solve it. And sad to say, only one of these two plots will succeed.

I guess nobody feels really afraid when we learn that Daniel is dying of radioactive exposure. He's been dying countless times, dead a few times, after all. Besides, dying from radioactive burns is just too slow, too awful and not heroic enough, right?

Wrong.

As we follow Daniel's horrible agony and his spiritual "trial" with Oma Tessala (very nice use of continuity here, even though it is annoying to have a new actress for that part), it becomes clear that he won't get a reprieve this time. And when Teal'c all but breaks down and cries, things start to look seriously hopeless.

However, that storyline is punctuated with flashback sequences that show exactly what Daniel is dying for: a world to save, a new technology that might tip the scales in the fight against the Goa'uld, and even a very likable new character, Jonas Quinn. So even as we realise that Daniel won't make it, we also have to admit that it was worth it.

I guess that for a hero, this is a good way to go. Everybody gets a touching goodbye, especially Jack, whose special bond with Daniel (despite all their differences) is acknowledged. The whole episode is an homage to Daniel, who dies heroically, but turns out to be special enough that he doesn't "really" die. Still, right now I am too busy being upset to care.