Children of the Gods

"Children of the Gods" is the first and second episodes of the first season and the series premiere of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis
A year after the first mission to Abydos, Earth's Stargate activates on its own. An enemy named Apophis and his loyal Jaffa kidnap a member of the personnel from Cheyenne Mountain. While a team led by Colonel Jack O'Neill investigates, they reunite with Dr. Daniel Jackson on Abydos, where soon Apophis returns and kidnaps Skaara and Sha're (Jackson's wife). The team track Apophis to Chulak to rescue their missing comrades.

Part 1
"Get re-assed to NASA, that's where all the action's gonna be."

- Jack O'Neill

One year previously, Colonel Jack O'Neill led a team through the Stargate to the planet Abydos. After killing the System Lord Ra by ringing a nuclear warhead onto his ship as it left Abydos, O'Neill returned to Earth with two survivors of his team, leaving behind Dr. Daniel Jackson, who remained with his new love Sha're and her brother Skaara.

In the present, Apophis and his Jaffa come through the Stargate, attacking a group of military personnel who are playing poker. Several men are killed while Senior Airman Carol Weterings is kidnapped. Soon after this event, Jack O'Neill is recalled to Cheyenne Mountain by Major General George S. Hammond. He is questioned, along with his former teammates Major Louis Ferretti and Major Charles Kawalsky, about the events leading up to their return to Earth from Abydos. When they refuse to reveal anything other than what is in their reports, Hammond chooses to send a nuclear bomb through the Stargate to Abydos, believing that the aliens could only have come from Abydos and hoping to destroy whoever came through.

With this threat hanging over his head, O'Neill reveals that he had lied about using the bomb to destroy Abydos. He admits that while the alien Ra was destroyed, the Abydonians are still alive and living in freedom, with Dr. Daniel Jackson living among them. After talking to his superiors, Hammond allows O'Neill to send a tissue box through the Stargate. When the box is returned by Daniel with "Thanks. Send More," scribbled on it, O'Neill is recalled to active duty, regains his rank of Colonel and is given permission to take a team through the Stargate to Abydos to investigate the alien invaders.

A team is assembled and includes O'Neill, Kawalsky, Ferretti, and, much to O'Neill's reluctance, the astrophysicist Captain Samantha Carter, along with several others. When the team arrives, they find a group of Earth weaponry-armed Abydonians waiting for them. They are reunited with Daniel, Sha're, and Skaara.

Daniel leads O'Neill, Kawalsky, and Carter to a large cavernous room that has innumerable hieroglyphs on the walls. The archaeologist reveals that he believes that the hieroglyphs of the cartouche match the various symbols on the Stargate, leading him to believe that the walls are actually a map of the coordinates of a vast network of Stargates across the galaxy.

While O'Neill and the others are gone, the Abydos Stargate opens and the camp is attacked by the same invaders that attacked Earth earlier in the episode. The leader's eyes glow, leading many of the survivors to believe that he is Ra. The invaders take Sha're and Skaara with them.

Daniel instructs Tobay to bury the Abydos Stargate after SG-1 leaves and tell Kasuf to reopen it exactly one year later. Determined to save his wife and brother-in-law, Daniel accompanies O'Neill and his team back to Earth.

Part 2
"You may be the one!"

- Apophis

Turbaned guards drag away one of a dozen gaudily dressed young women to be stripped and inspected.

Protesting that she's a US Air Force Sergeant, Weterings fails and is killed.

When the injured Ferretti is able to reveal the symbols that the invaders used to leave Abydos, Hammond is given permission by the President to form nine teams who will use the Stargate to gather information about threats to Earth. O'Neill is given command of SG-1, with Carter as his second-in-command and Daniel accompanying him, due to his determination to find his kidnapped wife. Kawalsky is given command of SG-2.

The goons return to the seraglio and grab Sha're. The guards take her to Apophis, struggling to break free. "This one has spirit!" boasts Apophis. The Goa'uld ruler subdues her by hypnotizing her. The mesmerized Sha're is stripped naked and like the others she is inspected. She passes and her mind and body become host to Amaunet, Apophis's queen although Sha're screams upon the Goa'uld entering to take control while Teal'c watches, obviously displeased with what is happening.

Meanwhile, both SG teams leave Earth for the planet where the invaders went. As SG-1 forges ahead, they meet a group of monks who escort them to the nearby town of Chulak (a name which, incidentally, soon begins to apply to the entire planet). During a meal they find out that Sha're has been taken, and when Daniel runs to her they are taken prisoner.

In the dungeon, the team discovers Skaara and Daniel explains that it was not Ra who kidnapped Skaara and Sha're, but Apophis, named for the Egyptian serpent god of night. Before Skaara and the team can escape, Apophis and the possessed Sha're enter with several guards, including the leader of the guards, the First Prime Teal'c. Several other Goa'uld come forth and begin to pick people out of the crowd of prisoners who will become hosts to the children of the Goa'uld. Skaara is among the few to be chosen and is dragged away, screaming frantically for O'Neill. Also Daniel wants to be picked to be with his wife but he isn't chosen.

Apophis orders that the rest of the prisoners be killed and departs which causes panic among the prisoners.

As the Serpent Guards prepare to execute his orders, O'Neill shouts desperately to Teal'c that he can save the people. Teal'c comments that many have made such promises in the past, but then proceeds to turn on his fellow guards, clarifying that O'Neill is the first person he has met who he believes can achieve what he claims, subsequently helping the prisoners escape. Although he is shocked about what he has done, he decides to go with SG-1.

O'Neill, Carter, Daniel, and Teal'c lead the prisoners away from Chulak back towards the Stargate, with serpent guards pursuing. While escaping the town, Teal'c shows O'Neill that he has a Goa'uld in his stomach, much to the shock of the others. He is Jaffa, a servant of the Gods. The larva gives him long life and perfect health. If he were to remove it, he would eventually die.

Near the gate, SG-1 is pinned down by a Death Glider. Kawalsky and SG-2 rescue them by bringing the ship down with an FIM-92 Stinger missile. At the gate they find Apophis leaving with his wife and the other Goa'uld families - Skaara is among them. O'Neill calls out to him, causing him to hesitate and wait for O'Neill to come closer. However, a Goa'uld had already possessed him. Skaara uses a Kara kesh to throw O'Neill back and then leaves through the gate.

Meanwhile more Jaffa arrive. While O'Neill, Teal'c, Kawalsky, and the rest of SG-2 provide cover, Carter and Daniel lead the prisoners through the Stargate and back to Earth.

Just before Kawalsky goes back through the Gate, he is infected with an infant Goa'uld who left a Jaffa strangled to death by one of the refugees.

After everyone has made it safely through the Gate, Daniel and O'Neill reaffirm their determination to find Sha're and Skaara and rescue them before reporting to their debriefing. O'Neill also asks Hammond that Teal'c become a member of their team, but the General says that it is not his decision.

As everyone leaves the gate room, Kawalsky stares at the Stargate and soon walks down the ramp with his eyes glowing seconds later, implying that the Goa'uld has completely taken control of his body.

Notable Quotes
(O'Neill has tossed a Kleenex box through the Stargate to Abydos as a message to Jackson)

Samuels: What if the aliens get it?

O'Neill: Well, they could be blowing their noses right about now.

O'Neill: Oh, here we go. Another scientist. General, please.

Carter: Theoretical astrophysicist.

O'Neill: Which means?

Hammond: Which means she's smarter than you are, Colonel.

Carter: I'm an Air Force officer just like you are, Colonel. And just because my reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside, doesn't mean I can't handle whatever you can handle.

O'Neill: Oh, my problem is not with you being a woman. I like women. I just have a little problem with scientists.

Carter: So you're saying...Ra's not the last of his race after all?

Kawalsky: Maybe he's got a brother Ray.

(officers at the table chuckle)

Carter: Amazing! This is what was missing from the dig in Giza. (laughs) This is how they'd control it ! It took us fifteen years and three super-computers to Macgyver a system for the gate on Earth.

(O'Neill lifts his eyebrows when Carter says the word Macgyver.)

Jackson: I don't pretend to know anything about astrophysics, but couldn't the planets change, I mean uh, drift apart or something like that to throw this map off.

Carter: I knew I'd like you.

Jackson: You mean I'm right?

O'Neill: I can save these people!! Help me! Help me.

Teal'c: Many have said that. (He turns and shoots another Jaffa, then tosses O'Neill his staff weapon) But you are the first I believe could do it!

O'Neill: Hey, come on!

Teal'c: I have nowhere to go.

O'Neill: For this you can stay at my place, let's go!

Carter: Hold your fire, they are refugees!

Hammond: I hope you know what you're doing, Captain.

Children of the Gods – Final Cut
A new version of the episode (Stargate SG-1: Children of the Gods - Final Cut) has been released on DVD (July 21, 2009), re-edited using footage shot in 1997 as well as updated visual effects. The beginning has been slightly altered, a new scene has been added, and the nude scenes in the original Director's Cut have been cut out. The final cut is roughly 7 minutes shorter than the original episode. Joel Goldsmith has re-scored the music. It has been released on DVD in 16:9 widescreen format, and may also be aired on television. In addition, many of the actors were asked to re-record their dialog (e.g. Teal'c's dialog was re-recorded to make the character sound more Jaffa than in the original). Michael Shanks' character, Dr. Daniel Jackson, voice and dialog was completely redone to allow some character continuity with the character's growth throughout the series (i.e., seasons 4-10); this was done to attempt to move away from the original persona that Daniel Jackson was depicted in from the original film, when he was portrayed by James Spader (the director and the actor wanted to steer away from Michael Shanks imitating Spader's version). Amanda Tapping re-recorded most of her dialog as well for the recut.

Goofs

 * Teal'c's supposedly permanent gold serpent marking is upside-down in a scene where he is talking with Colonel Jack O'Neill. There are also some episodes where it is slightly crooked.
 * When Major General George S. Hammond and related staff reveal the body of the dead Jaffa to O'Neill, a golden serpent mark can be seen on the forehead of the corpse. These marks are only present on the foreheads of First Primes, yet Teal'c survived the fight in the gate room. This was probably an early production shot before the significance and lore of the forehead markings was fully established.
 * In the first scene of Part 1, the Air Force guards use automatic weapons to kill two armored Jaffa at close range. Later on Abydos, automatic weapons have no effect on armored Jaffa at close range. In Part 2, during the final battle near the Chulak Stargate, the SG teams use automatic weapons to kill armored Jaffa at long range. In later episodes, automatic weapons are generally used effectively against armored Jaffa. This may be explained by a change of ammunition, that earlier ammunition was regular ball ammo and didn't penetrate the armor worn by Jaffa, so later expeditions loaded armor penetrating rounds. This is backed up by the change to FN P90 Personal Defense Weapons later in the series, which are designed around 5.7x28-mm light armor-piercing rounds. On the other hand, since Apophis was participating in these attacks, the Jaffa could have worn better armor than usual.
 * In early firefights the more powerful Colt M16A3 rifle (firing a medium-powered 5.56x45-mm rifle round) is barely effective against Jaffa armor (possibly requiring to hit a gap in the armor). In later episodes when H&K MP5A3 submachine guns are used, their low powered 9mm pistol round somehow manages to have no problem penetrating armor. Even an ammunition change does not explain this.
 * When Hammond explains how the Iris works, the incoming team is not there. It reappears several shots later.
 * When Dr. Daniel Jackson bumps into the Dial Home Device the first time SG-1 arrives on Chulak, it wobbles.
 * The scenes looking down at the descending lift are actually shots looking up at an ascending lift. There is a looping cable visibly defying gravity 'above' the lift
 * When SG-1 is fleeing the prison, Teal'c uses the word "Stargate" in place of "Chappa'ai".
 * The abducted Sgt. Carol Weterings holds an unlikely rank in 1997. The last Air Force promotions to "Buck" Sergeant, a lower pay grade of E-4 compared to the Army's and Marines' at E-5, were on May 1, 1991, after which the rank was phased-out. In 1997 virtually all airmen in that pay grade held the rank of Senior Airman (SrA). She also had the top button of her Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) coat fastened. That is against the uniform regulation regarding wear of that utility uniform, a fact that carries over to the present Airman Battle Dress Uniform (ABU).
 * On the first time he appears, Hammond in his Service Dress Uniform is wearing his Service Cap inside the facility. All personnel who are not "Under Arms", or otherwise serving in a special ceremonial function, would be "uncovered" (not wearing their uniform's hats) while indoors. The fact that he's ostensibly leading the armed Security Forces teams does not also make him Under Arms.
 * The Major who escorts O'Neill to the lower levels of Cheyenne Mountain is also wearing Staff Sergeant's stripes on the sleeves of his dress uniform. This does not appear to be a new character (the same man who picked up O'Neill at his home) and one can see that he is clearly wearing officer's rank on his shoulder epaulets. Enlisted airmen's Service Uniforms from the time do not even have shoulder epaulets.
 * The initial Mission Briefing includes a Staff Sergeant (E-5) among the Field-Grade Officers around the table. This is entirely inappropriate since such enlisted airmen are first-line supervisors, and therefore not privy to the proceedings of strategic or senior-level meetings. At the very least, it should have been a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor between the General and the nascent Mission Teams.
 * In both parts of this episode, Charles Kawalsky is referred to as Major, but he is wearing the rank insignia of a Captain, which was used for the character's credit in the Final Cut of the episode.
 * As the Mission Briefing is convened, Kawalsky (now wearing the correct rank insignia) has his feet apart while rendering a salute to Hammond. Even without that mistake, everyone's salutes were nevertheless unnecessary as they were neither individually or collectively reporting to the General's office. They were all both indoors and not in formation, and so the room should have been called to "Attention!" as the General entered.
 * When Captain Samantha Carter first reports for duty, she salutes and reports to O'Neill, who then returns her salute. Although she would be serving under the Colonel's command, she would have been doing so under Hammond's orders and so should have reported to him.
 * When O'Neill is telling Jackson about the encounter with Apophis, he mentions that six hostile aliens came through the gate, but in reality there were eight: Teal'c, Apophis, and six Serpent Guards.
 * When showing O'Neill and Carter the chamber full of gate addresses, Jackson mentions that they are separated into groups of 7 glyphs. This seems unlikely as the seventh symbol is the point of origin, and it would be redundant to add Abydos' point of origin into every single gate address. (It is also possible, however, that the seventh symbol in the addresses is not necessarily for Abydos, but an assortment of different points of origin from many different planets.)
 * Further, the glyphs shown on the chamber wall appear to be Egyptian hieroglyphs rather than the constellation-based stargate symbols. It is possible that Daniel was theorizing that the hieroglyphs corresponded to gate address symbols, but the conversation between him and "Captain Doctor" Samantha Carter seems to suggest these are simply the actual gate symbols. Oddly enough, this error seems to extend to all of the SG-1 "complete # season" DVD box set designs, which show pictures of the stargate itself bearing these hieroglyph symbols, never seen on any gate in the series.

Nominations

 * Nominated Golden Reel Award for "Best Sound Editing - Television Movies of the Week - Music"
 * Nominated Primetime Emmy for "Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series" (Robert Habros, Ted Rae, John Gajdecki, Michelle Comens, Pete Mastalyr and David Alexander)

Characters

 * Captain Samantha Carter
 * Teal'c
 * Major General George S. Hammond
 * MSgt. Walter Harriman
 * Major Bert Samuels
 * Apophis
 * Amaunet
 * Klorel
 * Dr. James MacKenzie
 * Major Carl Warren
 * Tobay

Planet

 * Chulak

In other languages

 * Czech: Děti bohů
 * Hungarian: Istenek gyermekei
 * Italian: I figli degli dei
 * German: Das Tor zum Universum (The Gate to the Universe)
 * Finnish: Jumalten Lapset
 * French: Enfants des dieux
 * Spanish: Los Hijos de los Dioses
 * Portuguese: Os Filhos Dos Deuses
 * Russian: Дети Богов (Deti Bogov)
 * Slovene: Otroci bogov
 * Romanian: Copiii Zeilor
 * Polish: Dzieci Bogów
 * Hebrew: ילדי האלים
 * Dutch: Kinderen van de Goden
 * Slovak: Deti bohov