Camelot (episode)

Camelot is the twentieth episode of the ninth season of Stargate SG-1, as well as the season finale.

Plot
SG-1 has traveled to the planet believed to be the hiding place of Merlin's weapon, despite not knowing what precisely it looks like or does. There, they find a village, complete with a sword in a stone similar to the one found in the Avalon cave on Earth. Soon they are greeted by the village leader, Meurik, and welcomed to Camelot &mdash; the once and future home of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

After some inquiries, during which they learn that Merlin is not remembered fondly in the town, SG-1 discovers that Merlin built a library in Camelot, but that it is protected by a powerful curse: the Black Knight, which SG-1 assumes is a holographic guardian similar to the one located in the Avalon cave. Still persistent on finding the weapon, Dr. Jackson convinces the village historian, Antonius, to help them enter the library. Once inside, they spend some time going through the collected books without result. When Colonel Mitchell finds a secret passage, which leads to a chamber containing an Ancient control panel, Antonius decides to leave, saying they have tempted fate enough for one night. When he arrives in his home, he is attacked and killed by the black knight.

The village leader, Meurik, discovers that the five of them had entered the library, demands that SG-1 leave the village. The team protests, but is then beamed aboard by the Odyssey. Once aboard, they are told by Colonel Emerson that the Free Jaffa Nation has discovered a fully formed Supergate at P3Y-229. Nonetheless, Daniel and Mitchell return to Camelot, in the hopes of finding a way to defeat the Black Knight (Merlin's Curse) and find the weapon before being picked up by Russia's new Daedalus-class vessel, the Korolev.

Since the villagers remain unhappy with SG-1, the Odyssey beams them directly into Merlin's library, where Daniel searches for the means to deactivate the knight hologram. His first attempts are unsuccessful, and the knight again appears in the village. Mitchell attempts to fight it, but does not fare well &mdash; even after a local villager, Valencia, manages to draw the sword from the stone and gives it to him. Eventually, though Daniel does manage to make a room full of treasure appear along with a hologram of Merlin, he has to shoot the device's control crystal in order to stop the knight.

A large Jaffa fleet has already assembled at the Supergate by the time the Odyssey arrives; Teal'c immediately transfers to the nearest Jaffa vessel, saying only that he intends to enlist "some much-needed allies." Soon afterward, an Asgard ship drops out of hyperspace, delivering Kvasir to the Odyssey. There, he and Carter search to find a way to activate the Supergate, and prevent the Ori from dialling in.

Meanwhile, Teal'c flies an unmarked cargo ship into Lucian Alliance territory, where he is captured and brought before Netan. Teal'c implores Netan for assistance, but Netan would rather have Teal'c killed. After Teal'c overpowers his guards, takes one of their weapons and makes a point of not killing Netan, however, the Lucian leader is brought to reconsider.

In Camelot, Daniel and Mitchell search through the treasure for a stone pendant that Daniel believes to be Merlin's weapon, eventually being greeted by the villagers. Meurik identifies the pendant they seek as the Sangraal &mdash; the Holy Grail, in search of which Arthur departed the world long ago. He says there is no need to worry, however: since Valencia's pulling the sword from the stone, in his view, is a sign that Arthur will soon return. Daniel attempts to convince the villagers that nothing supernatural is at work here, but is beamed up by the Korolev in the midst of his argument.

Despite the failure to find the weapon, Carter convinces Colonel Emerson that dialling out from the Supergate is still worthwhile, as it would at least prevent the Ori from sending any ships through. Therefore, she undertakes a spacewalk to replace the Supergate's dialling crystal with one she and Kvasir have modified. Before the new crystal can initialize, however, the Supergate activates.

The Korolev arrives just in time to see four Ori motherships come through the Supergate. The standoff quickly degenerates into violence, and the Ori vessels just as quickly prove themselves far superior to anything the allied fleet possesses. Even Teal'c's arrival with three Lucian Alliance vessels proves of little help; the Ori ships quickly overwhelm the allied forces, destroying one of the 304s and countless other ships.

Carter, trapped in space near the Supergate, can only watch the carnage unfold. And on board one of the Ori warships, Vala Mal Doran is similarly helpless as she witnesses the battle through a large observation window and contemplates her soon-to-be-born child.

Notable Quotes
Daniel Jackson: This is interesting. This is a reference to Merlin's prophetic abilities. There's a similar myth on Earth &mdash; Merlin could see the future because he actually aged backwards in time. It's not meant to be taken literally, but we have seen that a lot of legends in folklore have a strong basis in fact: Avalon, Atlantis.... Teal'c: The Easter Bunny. Daniel: ...I guess there's a few exceptions.

Samantha Carter: We've managed to locate the dialling control crystals on one particular section of the gate. Now Kvasir's already programmed a replacement crystal, so it's just a matter of somebody getting out there and installing it. Paul Emerson: And I suppose you'd like to volunteer. Carter: Yes, sir. Kvasir: I would go, but you do not have a spacesuit that would fit me.