Stargate SG-1 (Characters)
Mind, body, and spirit are usually very clear in science fiction
and fantasy. The TV series "Stargate SG-1" is no exception. As with most
series, the characters maintain their mind, body, or spirit traits,
even as they develop depth over the seasons. Col. Jack O'Neill is a body
character when the series begins and he is still a body character in
the movies produced after the series' 10-season run.
What I found interesting is that this continuity extends to replacement characters, as well. When a spirit character leaves the show, another spirit character is written in to take his place. The same holds true with the body character.
For this analysis, I will be looking at the entire 10 seasons, which I recently finished re-watching. For the military ranks, I am using the rank in which the character started the series.
Amanda Tapping is one of the few actors to have been with the series for its entire run, and she consistently played the mind character throughout. She is an Air Force officer with specialized combat training, which means she can handle herself in a fight when necessary, but her scientific knowledge is the primary foundation for her character. She has a PhD in Astrophysics and is the premier mind on the topic of wormhole physics. Stargate Command's cover story, the study of deep space radar telemetry, is much more believable when represented by Sam than by any other member of the team.
When anyone has a question about how the Stargate works, they ask Sam. Many times, though, when people ask her questions about the Stargate, they immediately regret their decision. Characters often interrupt her verbose explanations in order to get a more simplified explanation. In one episode, Jack knows something is bothering Sam because she hasn't tried to confuse him with some scientific theory for a couple of days. He says it's a red flag for him. In another episode, Sam says she's been thinking, and Jack replies he'd be shocked if she ever stopped.
The depth of Sam's mind character attributes is seen clearly in her relationship with Jack O'Neill. He is her commanding officer, and under military rules, they could never entertain a romantic relationship. She ultimately accepts this and maintains a professional relationship with Jack, despite her obvious feelings for him.
As long as there is cake involved, Jack O'Neill is happy. He refers to the need or the desire for cake many times throughout the series. When he's off duty, especially when he is in his own house, he is often depicted drinking a beer. In one episode, Teal'c asks about a "scientific experiment" in Jack's refrigerator, to which Jack replies, "Hey, c'mon, that salsa's still good."
Jack is also a warrior. He is trained in special operations and has extensive real-world experience. He knows weapons and explosives intimately and is not afraid to use them. Other characters often have to stop him when he is reaching for a grenade or pack of C-4 to solve whatever problem they are facing. When the team finds a strange piece of alien technology, Jack's first consideration is that it may be a "big honkin' space gun."
Jack has a reputation for insubordination, but it is limited in scope. He's only insubordinate when someone gets in the way of him doing his job. In those circumstances, he does things like asking for permission to "beat the crap out of this man." In several episodes, Col. Harry Maybourne creates difficulties for Jack, so Jack repeatedly threatens to shoot him. In one particular episode, Jack gets the opportunity to follow through on the repeated threats.
When Richard Dean Anderson leaves the show after season eight, Ben Browder, as Cam Williams, takes his place as the commander of SG-1 and as the primary body character. Claudia Black also joined the cast as a permanent fixture at that time, playing a different type of body character - scam-artist Vala Mal Doran.
Daniel's Jackson's character is driven by the desire to save others. In the early seasons, his wife is taken by Apophis, the central antagonist at that point. His driving influence is his desire to find her and save her. In those early episodes, he often talks about new discoveries in the context of how they might help his wife when they find her. After her death, he becomes determined to find and save her son, but soon learns the boy does not need to be saved because he was already being protected by more powerful alien beings. After that, he reconnects with an old flame who becomes a host to a Goa'uld. Rather than kill her, he tries to save her when they meet again.
This desire to save others comes out in other ways, as well. When an alien civilization is on the brink of destroying itself with weapons of mass destruction, he tries to convince them not to continue their research. When an experiment goes wrong on the same planet, he sacrifices himself to prevent an explosion that would eradicate an entire population.
When the radiation from that accident finally kills him, he "ascends" and becomes a spirit-being, dwelling on a higher plane of existence, but that does not change his character. In separate episodes, he comes to both Jack and Teal'c when they are suffering and dying. He acts as a spiritual guide to help them get through their respective ordeals. Ultimately, his desire to save his friends and the rest of humanity gets him in trouble with his fellow ascended beings and he is forced to return to human form.
When Michael Shanks leaves the cast, Corin Nemec, as Jonas Quinn, takes his place as the primary spirit character.
Teal'c is an alien character who must learn about humanity. He is the all the mind, body, and spirit of his society - an honor-bound warrior and independent thinker - but he is also continually learning new things about the mind, body, and spirit characteristics of his new friends and allies.
What I found interesting is that this continuity extends to replacement characters, as well. When a spirit character leaves the show, another spirit character is written in to take his place. The same holds true with the body character.
For this analysis, I will be looking at the entire 10 seasons, which I recently finished re-watching. For the military ranks, I am using the rank in which the character started the series.
The Mind Character: Dr./Capt. Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping)
Amanda Tapping is one of the few actors to have been with the series for its entire run, and she consistently played the mind character throughout. She is an Air Force officer with specialized combat training, which means she can handle herself in a fight when necessary, but her scientific knowledge is the primary foundation for her character. She has a PhD in Astrophysics and is the premier mind on the topic of wormhole physics. Stargate Command's cover story, the study of deep space radar telemetry, is much more believable when represented by Sam than by any other member of the team.
When anyone has a question about how the Stargate works, they ask Sam. Many times, though, when people ask her questions about the Stargate, they immediately regret their decision. Characters often interrupt her verbose explanations in order to get a more simplified explanation. In one episode, Jack knows something is bothering Sam because she hasn't tried to confuse him with some scientific theory for a couple of days. He says it's a red flag for him. In another episode, Sam says she's been thinking, and Jack replies he'd be shocked if she ever stopped.
The depth of Sam's mind character attributes is seen clearly in her relationship with Jack O'Neill. He is her commanding officer, and under military rules, they could never entertain a romantic relationship. She ultimately accepts this and maintains a professional relationship with Jack, despite her obvious feelings for him.
The Body Character: Col. Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson)
As long as there is cake involved, Jack O'Neill is happy. He refers to the need or the desire for cake many times throughout the series. When he's off duty, especially when he is in his own house, he is often depicted drinking a beer. In one episode, Teal'c asks about a "scientific experiment" in Jack's refrigerator, to which Jack replies, "Hey, c'mon, that salsa's still good."
Jack is also a warrior. He is trained in special operations and has extensive real-world experience. He knows weapons and explosives intimately and is not afraid to use them. Other characters often have to stop him when he is reaching for a grenade or pack of C-4 to solve whatever problem they are facing. When the team finds a strange piece of alien technology, Jack's first consideration is that it may be a "big honkin' space gun."
Jack has a reputation for insubordination, but it is limited in scope. He's only insubordinate when someone gets in the way of him doing his job. In those circumstances, he does things like asking for permission to "beat the crap out of this man." In several episodes, Col. Harry Maybourne creates difficulties for Jack, so Jack repeatedly threatens to shoot him. In one particular episode, Jack gets the opportunity to follow through on the repeated threats.
When Richard Dean Anderson leaves the show after season eight, Ben Browder, as Cam Williams, takes his place as the commander of SG-1 and as the primary body character. Claudia Black also joined the cast as a permanent fixture at that time, playing a different type of body character - scam-artist Vala Mal Doran.
The Spirit Character: Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks)
Daniel's Jackson's character is driven by the desire to save others. In the early seasons, his wife is taken by Apophis, the central antagonist at that point. His driving influence is his desire to find her and save her. In those early episodes, he often talks about new discoveries in the context of how they might help his wife when they find her. After her death, he becomes determined to find and save her son, but soon learns the boy does not need to be saved because he was already being protected by more powerful alien beings. After that, he reconnects with an old flame who becomes a host to a Goa'uld. Rather than kill her, he tries to save her when they meet again.
This desire to save others comes out in other ways, as well. When an alien civilization is on the brink of destroying itself with weapons of mass destruction, he tries to convince them not to continue their research. When an experiment goes wrong on the same planet, he sacrifices himself to prevent an explosion that would eradicate an entire population.
When the radiation from that accident finally kills him, he "ascends" and becomes a spirit-being, dwelling on a higher plane of existence, but that does not change his character. In separate episodes, he comes to both Jack and Teal'c when they are suffering and dying. He acts as a spiritual guide to help them get through their respective ordeals. Ultimately, his desire to save his friends and the rest of humanity gets him in trouble with his fellow ascended beings and he is forced to return to human form.
When Michael Shanks leaves the cast, Corin Nemec, as Jonas Quinn, takes his place as the primary spirit character.
The Fourth Character: Teal'c (Christopher Judge)
Teal'c is an alien character who must learn about humanity. He is the all the mind, body, and spirit of his society - an honor-bound warrior and independent thinker - but he is also continually learning new things about the mind, body, and spirit characteristics of his new friends and allies.
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