Warning! This page contains spoilers for all seasons up to and including Season Six

By SelDear, HW Why Not?

Colonel Jack O’Neill, USAF

Jack O’Neill was the leader of the original mission through the Stargate to the planet of Abydos. There, he and his team - including Dr. Daniel Jackson - defeated the Goa’uld Ra and set the Abydonians free. Jack has known sorrow and loss in the form of the death of his son, Charlie - and the separation and subsequent divorce from his ex-wife Sara.

His initial inclusion on the team was due to his intense emotional depression following the death of his son. During his time on Abydos, he met a Abydonian boy by the name of Ska’ara who reminded him a little of his son. Through his interaction with Ska’ara, the people of Abydos, and Daniel Jackson, Jack O’Neill developed a renewed appreciation for life – and specifically for his life.

On his return to Earth, Jack discovered his wife had left him and settled down to a quiet life of retirement. Fate had other plans for him in store, requiring him to go back through the Stargate when it was discovered that the Stargate went to planets other than Abydos. He was commissioned by General George Hammond to lead the exploration team SG-1 through the Stargate and has held that position ever since.

As the leader of SG-1, Jack is the lynchpin of SG-1. His interest in astronomy does not extend to a broader interest in science, and, while he can play the joker, only the foolish would assume that he is a fool. His signature motto ‘No-one gets left behind’ has become legend, spreading not only to his team-mates, but through the SGC.

A military man to the core, Jack O’Neill looks at situations with a strategist’s eye. This can and does put him into conflict with members of his team when the situation is not as clear-cut as he might wish it to be. However, his sense of honour and justice balance out the necessary practicality of his training as an Air Force Colonel.

In the last six years, Jack has seen a lot and done more. He’s been possessed a couple of times, killed more than his fair share of Goa’uld System Lords, intrigued, strategised, led his team, and contemplated retirement several times - usually with a view to relaxing by his cabin and fishing. Whether he finally decides to take up the peace of retirement at the end of Season 7 - and whether he plans to do so with company - remains to be seen.

Major Samantha Carter, USAF

Captain Sam Carter’s initial introduction to the man who was to become her commanding officer was not auspicious. He assumed she was a guy based on her nickname, she assumed he was being sexist based on his attitude.

In the years since that first meeting, Sam Carter has shown herself to be a valuable asset to both Stargate Command and to SG-1. In spite of the rocky beginning, she has become invaluable to her commanding officer, Jack O’Neill, both professionally and personally. Her background in astrophysics, and more general scientific knowledge have gotten the team out of scrapes multiple times, and her commanding officers trust her judgement - frequently over their own.

Sam’s initially unfortunate encounter with a ‘good Goa’uld’ or ‘Tok’ra’ led to the alliance with the Tok’ra and the saving of Sam’s father Jacob from death by cancer. Jacob Carter now acts as the liaison between the Tok’ra and the Earth, but lives and works with the Tok’ra.

Hailed as the woman who made the Stargate program possible, Sam Carter earns the respect of those who work with her, male and female. However, her time on SG-1 has been stressful; in six years, she has been possessed twice, forced to kill friends, kidnapped, and had to deal with situations the Air Force rulebook never covered. In spite of all this, she’s been promoted from Captain to Major, and has been contemplated as a possible successor to the mantle of team leader of SG-1.

Lately, Sam has been given the opportunity to take the lead in SG-1’s outings when Jack is absent for some reason or another. Whether this will translate into command of her own team is not yet clear. Presently, she seems content enough following Colonel Jack O’Neill’s lead, although it is hoped that this will change in Season 7.

 

Teal’c

First Prime to the Goa’uld Apophis, Teal’c changed allegiances when Colonel Jack O’Neill showed him a way he could fight the Goa’uld. Since that day, Teal’c’s loyalty has been to the people who have earned his trust at the SGC. Colonel Jack O’Neill, his team-mates on SG-1, General George Hammond, Dr. Janet Fraiser.

There have been many issues that Teal’c has had to face while at the SGC. Responsible for the selection of Dr. Daniel Jackson’s wife Sha’re as the host of the Goa’uld Ammonet, as well as the deaths of countless innocents, Teal’c has carried a load of guilt with which he has had to deal. This has been assisted by the actions and attitudes of his team-mates on SG-1 who have made him feel welcomed and accepted among them. In the last year, Teal’c has found himself in the position of ‘mentor-in-Earth-things’ to the alien Jonas Quinn. The two of them have developed a good-natured rapport as the ‘alien conspiracy’ of SG-1 in the sixth season.

While his knowledge and understanding of the Goa’uld and the power structure under which they operate has been invaluable to the SGC from day one, Teal’c has also been a target for groups who wish to study him as the first alien to come into their hands. Initial attempts to ‘procure’ Teal’c were blocked by General Hammond and Jack O’Neill, and have not been attempted with any success since that time.

Teal’c left a great deal behind to fight against the Goa’uld whom his people consider ‘gods’; wife, son, friends, and mentor. He has been branded a traitor by his own people for betraying the Goa’uld and is hunted by Jaffa in every Goa’uld’s service. So it is heartening for him to see that his efforts have not been in vain. In the last two years, other Jaffa have seen the truth of the Goa’uld and have sworn allegiance to the cause of free Jaffa.

Most recently, Teal’c lost his Goa’uld larva in an ambush of the free Jaffa. To survive, he is now required to partake of a substance developed by the Pangarans, tretonin. The longer-term effects of the slaughter of the free Jaffa and the use of tretonin by Teal’c as as substitute for his larva’s healing powers are yet to be explored, but will hopefully be developed in Season 7.

 

Jonas Quinn

Jonas’ entry into the world of SG-1 was not auspicious. His people were testing the use of a radioactive variant of naquadah called naquadriah during SG-1’s presence on the planet. During the testing, an overload occurred resulting in a potentially explosive situation. Present at the testing was Dr. Daniel Jackson of SG-1 who understood the consequences of the situation and chose to take action to prevent it - at the cost of his own life.

At first Jonas’ government put forth the fiction that Dr. Jackson had interfered with their testing; however, after being brought to a greater understanding of the universe in which he and his people existed, Jonas Quinn defected from his home planet to the SGC, bringing with him the truth and a portion of the naquadriah his people had been using in their tests - a substance deemed valuable for further technological advancement and the use of Goa’uld weaponry against the Goa’uld themselves.

His purpose on Earth has been to continue Dr. Jackson’s work as part of the SGC, a task which he has done through his work on SG-1 as their fourth team member. Over time and gradually, Jonas has won the trust and loyalty of SG-1, General Hammond, and Dr. Fraiser in his time at the SGC. More importantly, he has found acceptance among his team-mates with Teal’c coming to act as a ‘mentor’ towards him, Sam interacting cheerfully and playfully with him, and even earning Jack’s respect and acceptance of Jonas.

A recent development has been the realisation that his genetic physiology has passed beyond that of human development, to the point where the Goa’uld Nirrti was offering him a place by her side as her consort. Jonas developed precognitive abilities for a while, but was forced to relinquish them when it became a choice between the abilities and his life.

With the return of Dr. Daniel Jackson in Season 7, it is hoped that the character of Jonas will be further developed in the storyline and that fans will get to see him in more than just the episodes which explain his disappearance from SG-1.

 

Dr. Daniel Jackson

When Dr. Daniel Jackson watched the last few attendees trickle out of his lecture on alien archaeology, he could never have imagined the kind of turn his life was about to take. Solving the mystery of the Stargate was only the beginning of an episode in his life that would be marked by adventure, excitement, heartache and joy.

Upon travelling to the planet of Abydos, Daniel helped defeat the Goa’uld Ra, and met his wife-to-be, the Abydonian Sha’re. When Colonel Jack O’Neill and his team returned through the Stargate, Daniel remained behind with Sha’re and the Abydonians.

Daniel initially joined the Stargate program in order to search for his wife Sha’re, whose kidnapping by the Goa’uld Apophis started off a new chapter in his life when he thought the matter of the Stargate was closed and finished for him. His search was ultimately to be fruitless when Sha’re died, still possessed by the Goa’uld Ammonet - Apophis’ mate, but in that time, Daniel developed deep friendships with all his team-mates.

Stubborn, headstrong, and impulsive, Daniel Jackson also possesses a strong sense of loyalty - whether to his team-mates or to pet aliens he’s picked up along the way - as well as an ability to put together apparently unrelated facts to come up with a correct conclusion. In the vernacular, it’s known as ‘gut jumping’. In this matter, he frequently worked with Sam to solve the problems in which SG-1 found themselves.

However, Sha’re’s death changed Daniel, making him prone to introspection and a harder outlook to life. His encounter with Sha’re’s son by the Goa’uld Apophis introduced him to the Ascended - a race of people who have great power, but are forbidden its use. When he suffered the radiation poisoning due to his interaction with the naquadriah from Kelowna, Daniel chose to continue the fight against the Goa’uld through ascension.

As an ascended being, Daniel still has a lot to learn; when to use his powers and when to abstain from using them. At the conclusion of Season Six, after a confrontation with the Goa’uld Anubis, Daniel Jackson faces an uncertain future as a member of the Ascended – and a possibly even less-certain future as a member of SG-1. Certainly there is much to be dealt with his return slated for Season 7 and to see how he deals with the changes in himself and in his team, who have accustomed themselves to the presence of Jonas Quinn on SG-1 in his absence.

 

Major General George Hammond

A quiet tour before retirement was the only thought in Major General George Hammond’s mind when he first took over the secret base deep in the Cheyenne Mountain complex. It didn’t work out that way.

The Goa’uld Apophis arrived through the Stargate, kidnapped one of General Hammond’s people and killed four others before retreating back through the Stargate. General Hammond sent for Jack O’Neill and found the truth out about the mission on Abydos; Daniel Jackson was still alive and living on Abydos, not dead as the initial report had said.

With the Stargate an open Pandora’s box, General Hammond found himself in command of the secret base in Cheyenne Mountain. Given the name of Stargate Command (SGC), he has led his people through conflict and chaos over the years, remaining loyal to them as they are loyal to him.

 

Dr. Janet Fraiser

Dr. Fraiser’s introduction to the SGC was a virus that was causing personnel to become neanderthal in appearance and behaviour. Since then, the fun never stops in the SGC infirmary. Between adopting an alien child whose race was destroyed, kicking ass with the other women on the base, and giving her considered opinion on the medical aspects of the latest crisis to hit the SGC, Janet Fraiser is a busy woman.

Her friendships with the members of SG-1 – has been built up over the years, with the good Doctor doing her own share of ‘saving the world’ when the occasion requires. Her friendship with Sam is particularly strong given their mutual interest in the girl she adopted – Cassie of Hanka.

Season Seven is rumoured to be a dramatic one for Janet, with some big events slated for her character.