Children of the Gods
The Pilot episode Children of the Gods provides a great introduction to the storyline that takes us through the first season and into future seasons. During the first episode we are introduced, through Major Samuels to Colonel Jack O’ Neill, who in the film is played by Kurt Douglas, and here is played by Richard Dean Anderson. We are also introduced to the characters of Feretti and Kawalsky, who will be familiar to viewers of the film, as both Feretti and Kawalsky initially went through the gate alongside Colonel O’Neill and Daniel Jackson. At the moment then it is a primarily male team.
The characters of O’Neill, Feretti and Kawalsky alongside the intrusion of the as yet unknown enemy, introduce both character and threat into the show Stargate SG1 and moves the plot forward from the original film. We see the Stargate being “guarded” by several relaxed airmen, one of whom is taken as hostage when intruders appear through the Stargate. Jack is called for because of his previous experience in going though the gate as it ids thought that the gate will only go to one destination – Abydos, where they killed the threat in the film Ra. Thus far it seems, the Stargate has been unused since the last mission, one year ago. This time it seems, the threat is all the more pervasive as the enemy thought to be dead has come to Earth.
The character of Sam Carter however, I believe, is used for a different agenda altogether than the men as she is new to the mission and the impending threat , as are the audience. Her character is introduced a little way into the episode, after the threat to Earth has been established, and after the authorities have begun to formulate a plan.
The introduction of her character in the briefing room scene has been discussed at length by critics and fans alike, mainly due to the power-play and sexual tension between O’Neill and Carter that the scene brings to the fore. Whilst these are important and worth discussion, this will be looked at in more detail in another chapter.
Firstly Carter is shown here as extremely knowledgeable about the Stargate programme already. We are told that she has been working on the “Stargate Project” for 2 years prior to the Abydos mission and should have been part of this mission, though we are not given the reasons why. This time she is determined not to be left out. This explanation of her background works on tow different levels. It serves as a way to show the nature of her character as she already stands up to her new Commanding Officer and telling him despite any doubts or misgivings he may have, that she will be going through this time. This interaction is a challenge for O’Neill. This woman seems to be no pushover. She demonstrates both confidence and enthusiasm.
It is this enthusiasm which shows us another level. The character of Carter is used as a connection between the show and the audience. She has “practically memorised” the mission reports and cannot wait to explore the potential of the Stargate technology, just as the audience excitement and anticipation is heightened. Whilst Jack and his men provide the potential for action and danger, Carter provides excitement and wonder.
As we can see from the Gateroom scene as the team are preparing to go through the gate, Carter is the only one who has not been through before. Whilst for the rest it is something to brag about for a few minutes before being “business as usual”, for Carter, it is the culmination of years of work, dedication, academic study and a major scientific discovery. She is, after all, a ‘theoretical astrophysicist’ as well as a Captain in the US Airforce who has flown in the Gulf War. \she also has the potential for action alongside O’Neill:
“I logged over one hundred hours in enemy airspace during the Gulf War.”
This action will come later however, along with deeper character development and relationships. For now, her use is to let the audience marvel in the wonder of the CG technology of the programme, and importantly to further suspend disbelief.
There is a short interaction between Carter and O’Neill on the ramp:
Carter: “You’ll like me once you get to know me.”
O’Neill: “Oh I adore you already Captain.”
This is followed by him initially waiting for her to explore and see the event horizon up close, giving her (and the audience) a moment to fully appreciate the phenomenon before ending her wonder at the wormhole by pushing her through.
In this extended episode then, we connect with her as a character straight away as she is the eyes and voice for the audience. She marvels at the wonder of the Stargate and allows the viewer the time to do so, they guys having already ‘been there, done that.’ On Abydos upon leaving the building after the sandstorm, the camera pans out, taking in the desert around the building and it is Cart’s voice we hear exclaiming “This is incredible”, allowing or inviting the viewer to suspend our disbelief and think the same; to explore the alien planet and all its threats and possibilities with her. We are therefore already linked with her character as we go through it for the first time with her, the newest member of the team.
During the episode, Daniel Jackson shows the team the cartouches and symbols that he has seen and has attempted to translate. He wants to explain his findings and does so, not to O’Neill, the leader, the Commanding Officer, the military man, but to Carter, whose potential for military strength and action and for intelligence is shown in Jackson’s enthusiastic usage of both her rank and salutation:
Daniel: “Captain Doctor you’re going to love this!”
His confusion over the use of both her military rank of Captain and her academic title of Doctor serves to provide a catch all for the audience. She is an officer in the Airforce and thus must be used to its rules and regulations and actions, and yet she is also academic, appealing to those who want intelligent science fiction. After the fast paced scientific dialogue between Carter and Daniel, Carter launches into an explanation of why, so far, the Stargate has only worked between Earth and Abydos and explains her ability to compensate for the years of stellar drift and get the gate working again for the thousands of possible destinations they may have just discovered. She, importantly, now provides the impetus for the show to move on past the pilot and provides the possibility for many plots and storylines, as well as this one we are now watching unfold. It is now another member of the team who is needed for the audience as a translator, as we need a simpler explanation:
“So what did we just figure out?”
It is clear from this that as with Daniel, Carter is also enthusiastic about her work and highly intelligent. This part of her character has been firmly introduced and cemented into the minds of the audience. That thus far in the programme here is a woman who respects authority, but is still forceful and has her own opinions. She is very intelligent and is able to figure out and explain important details easily. Her military prowess has yet to be determined. The first time that this is referred to other than her flight experience in the Gulf, is on Chulak having just arrived on the planet. She returns from a group of trees to O’Neill and Kawalsky who seem to be discussing tactics:
Carter: “I set up a line of Claymores along that ridge at 10 meter intervals.”
O’Neill: “Sound about right Kawalsky?”
Kawalsky: “Yeah that’ll work.”
Her initiative and her use of the amount of explosives here proving tactical field experience and she is beginning to gain approval from both Kawalsky and O’Neill.
Throughout the pilot Children of the Gods, Carter, despite the planting of explosives does not use any other weapon. She has her weapon taken from her as they are all taken prisoner on Chulak, just as the others in the team do. Whilst O’Neill is given a Goa’uld staff weapon by Teal’c, Carter’s role here is just as important however, as she with the help of Daniel, guides the Chulak refugees to safety through the Stargate back to Earth. Daniel and Carter remain together as Carter is supposed to blow the Claymores, however this order is changed and overruled by O’Neill as he has this ultimate responsibility to be the last person there and to protect the team. He gives a different order which is to dial Earth and activate the Stargate sending their IDC code through, and ensuring the safety of the refugees.
Therefore here in this section of the episode we can see the characters beginning to develop through the initial roles taken in this episode. Jack O’Neill and Teal’c (along with Feretti and Kawalsky) provide action and weapons fire. Daniel is used primarily for explanation and as a go-between between us and the ‘aliens’. He provides the possibility for other worlds and other interactions through his translations of the cartouches as well as giving important background information on the Egyptian Gods and by extension the background of the Goauld (along with Teal’c). Finally we have Samantha Carter. So far we have seen her demonstrate courage, both in standing up for herself and in the field, tactical field training, and a great intellect.
Though there is a sexual edge to the storyline through the stripping of Sha’re and the sergeant of their white dresses and inviting the Goa’uld parasite to survey the potential new hosts, there is non-sexual penetration through the back of the neck, and the programme goes no further to explore this angle. Nor does it attempt to sexualise Carter in any way here, preferring the audience to connect with her on an intellectual level rather than physically being made to gaze upon her body. Her uniform remains the same as the men, her tactical weapons the same and she significantly is never in any danger of Goa’uld penetration. She is never taken as Sha’re and Skaara are, and she remains instrumental to the success of the mission. She and Daniel ensuring the safe return of SG teams 1 and 2, and the people of Chulak. Her importance within the team structure regardless of gender is reinforced right at the end of the episode as Teal’c emphasises that he is no longer working for the Goa’uld enemy by submitting his staff weapon not to Colonel O’Neill or to General Hammond, but to Carter. This wordless act means she is no different to any other members of the team and Teal’c as outsider and of different culture accepts her importance without questions.
Throughout the episode then many facets of the character of Samantha Carter have been formulated and shown to the audience. Much of her military skills are yet to be seen, yet the episode, through several hints shows that she does have these skills and other abilities and we can see that they may be explored through future episodes. In addition, as we have connected with her already and have gone through this first experience with her, though it is not shot from a first person viewpoint we are still connected through her comments on what is happening around her, we can look forward to doing so throughout the coming episodes.
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