01-01: Children of the Gods

[Livia Sabina]

EPISODE NUMBER - 101
ORIGINAL U.S. AIR DATE - 07.27.97
WRITTEN BY - Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright
DIRECTED BY - Mario Azzopardi
GUEST STARRING - Jay Acovone (Major Charles Kawalsky), Vaitiare Bandera (Sha're), Robert Wisden (Major Samuels), Peter Williams (Apophis), Brent Stait (Major Louis Ferretti), Gary Jones (Technician), Alexis Cruz (Skaara), Rachel Hayward (Guard #3), Rick Ravanello (Guard #2), J.B. Bivens (Guard #1), Stephen Sumner (Goa'uld #1), Adam Harrington (Goa'uld #2), John Bear Curtis (Primitive), John Tierney (Monk), Colin Lawrence (Warren), Garvin Cross (Casey), Anthony Ashbee (Soldier), Eric Schneider (Doctor), Andrew McIlwaine (Medic), Santo Lombardo (Bolaa), Sean Amsing (Tobay), Monique Rusu (Dark Skinned Woman), Janette deVries (Female Serpent Guard)

When powerful aliens come through Earth's Stargate, Colonel Jack O'Neill returns to Abydos to retrieve Daniel Jackson, who has discovered that the alien transit system includes much more than the two planets.

[Livia Sabina]

What did you think of the episode as a whole? How would you rate it out of a possible ten stargates?

I thought that it was a really great episode overall. It wasn't the first I ever saw, but if it had been I could definitely see myself becoming hooked after watching it.

I give it a well deserved eight out of ten stargates.

What did you like best and least about this ep? Best and worst lines?

I liked the way they established the Goa'uld as villains and Apophis was a creepy villain. I liked the way it seemed to pick up fairly seamlessly after the movie, even though a year had passed in the Stargate timeline. Teal'c's change of heart was a bit predictable, but I loved the way it was handled.

Some of my favourite lines

Jack: Now we wait, if Daniel's still around he'll know what the message means.
Samuels: What if the aliens get it?
Jack: Well, they could be blowing their noses right now.

Sam: You know, you really will like me when you get to know me. (How right she was!)

Jack: I can save these people! Help me! Help me.
Teal'c: Many have said that. But you are the first I believe could do it!

Jack: Hey, c'mon!
Teal'c: I have nowhere to go.
Jack: For this you can stay at my place. Let's go.

What do you think about the way the characters from the movie were portrayed, and about how the new characters were introduced?

Obviously, Jack was very different to the way he was in the movie, but it made sense that he would have found some measure of peace with himself and with what happened to Charlie after Abydos. Losing his son still hurt, but he wasn't in the same place he was when he was first recruited to go through the 'gate.

Daniel had matured as a character as well, he seemed more confident and more comfortable in his own skin than he did in the movie, but again it made sense that these changes would have occured.

Kawalsky seemed a bit more approachable as a character.

As far as new characters were concerned, I think that with the exception of Apophis, and possibly Teal'c, 'Children of the Gods' was dominated by the characters from the movie, so we didn't see much of Sam and not much more of Hammond. What I saw of Hammond, I liked.

Sam's first scene is an interesting one. I got the distinct impression that there was an undercurrent of insecurity in her scene in the briefing room, and she seemed to crave approval. It makes me wonder what kind of people she had been working with during her career. Her claim that she was originally supposed to be a part of the Abydos team makes me want to know why she wasn't. The way she said it didn't sound like she had been excluded because of illness, injury or something along those lines.

For those who have seen the movie, what do you think about 'Children of the Gods' as a follow up?

I think that it worked well both as a follow up and at the same time as a beginning for the TV series.

Any other observations or comments?

None at the moment.

[Colonel Carter]

I liked everything except Sha're being shown full frontal nude. The show is family friendly but because of that scene, I wouldn't show that episode to a kid. I think Showtime did it just because they could, I just wish they hadn't. Rating it out of 10 Stargates? I'd have given it a 10 if not for that scene.

No lines really stand out to me in this episode except perhaps the best line being Sam's when she talked about MacGyvering a dial-home device back on earth to operate the Stargate.

Shanks played Daniel pretty much identical to how he was in the movie. RDA played Jack quite a bit different. Of course I can't imagine RDA playing Jack like Kurt Russell did. Still, I wish he could have played him a little more darker than he has. I thought the new characters were introduced fine. I think Sam was a little to rigid, fortunately the actress talked sense into the powers that be to soften her down.

I thought it was a pretty good follow-up.

Other comments - While I think the Snake helmets are a lot more believable in their function than the helmets worn in the movie, I think they're really stupid looking and impractical.

[Livia Sabina]

I think Sam was a little to rigid, fortunately the actress talked sense into the powers that be to soften her down.

I agree.

If Sam had continued as she began, I think that she would come across as insecure about her abilities and defensive.

As far as Sha're's nudity is concerned, I didn't see the point of it - and the first of the Season One DVDs here is rated 18 because of that scene.

[Colonel Carter]

That episode is rated R in the USA which means it's not meant for anyone under the age of 17.

[cb49747]

Good episode. I think it is one of the best. I find it funny when you watch Shanks in that episode, how hard he is trying to act like Daniel from the movie.

[Dracus]

Not too much action. Compared to now not that great.

The helmets will always be goofy.

I liked evil teal'c

But a well done episdoe in remaking the movie, introducing a solid plot, and to set things in motion.

8/10 Stargates.

[Colonel Carter]

Personally, I think the helmets make it look realistic. It's been said in commentaries and stuff on the DVD's that the military people they use to help the show be as realistic as possible complain that if there were real life, they would wear the helmets every time they went through the Stargate. I agree, it's more realistic and I think they look good, not goofy at all. Because when I see our military forces in Iraq, I see them wearing helmets.

Anyway...

Does anyone think it was strange at the very end of the episode when Daniel asks what they're going to do about Skaara and Sha're and Jack says to find them, all four of them look back to the Stargate then turn back around and walk away. After they walk away, we see Kawalsky down on the ramp by himself acting unlike himself like there's something physically wrong with him since at this point, everyone else has gotten up and moved away from the gate having overcome the effects of gate travel, yet none of SG-1 seems the least bit concerned about him. They all ignore him like he's not there and turn and walk away. I think it's weird, as close as Jack feels to this man, that he would have walked away from him at that moment unconcerned.

[colonel Mitchell]

I think it's weird, as close as Jack feels to this man, that he would have walked away from him at that moment unconcerned.[/QUOTE]

i agree that is just weird

[Anissa T]

The nudity scene didn't bother me so much, but I too didn't understand why it was there.

I did really like the episode though. One of the best.