Analysis by Jenny, HW Satire

The teaser begins, the opening credits roll and Stargate SG1 has a new kid on the block. Being the new guy has never been easy, especially within an already established group, as anyone who has ever changed schools or started a new job will tell you. But add to this a new planet and a dead… errr, sorry… ascended ex team member to the mix and you’ll find yourself in the shoes of one Jonas Quinn.

Charged with replacing one of the shows main characters in what was thought to be its final season, Corin Nemec certainly was facing a challenge – one he seemed to readily accept and relish.

Though to be fair, he was filling a vacancy rather than replacing an actor.

Both Jonas and Corin himself had a relatively unobtrusive introduction in Season six, following the dramatic events that closed season five. A million light years from home we saw him trying to fit in with both Earth’s culture and its people - the former being easier than the latter!

He faced a wariness and lack of trust from those closest to Daniel Jackson, and as the characters struggled with their new addition, the audience faced a similar path to acceptance. It was clear on both counts that trust and respect was something that had to be earned, so for the 22 episodes of Season six, he set about doing just that.

Just the Solution

Redemption Parts 1 and 2 were the first steps in Jonas proving his worth. At the beginning of the episode Major Carter, obviously still grieving for Dr Jackson, is reluctant to befriend him, and although civil she makes it clear that her attempts to include him (with the X303 plans) are based on orders from General Hammond and not on friendship. However, after subtly helping her to come up with the idea of how to save the world - literally - he initiates those first stages of earning her trust and respect. So much so that near the end of the second episode she feels comfortable enough to put a word in for him with Colonel O’Neill.

Teal’c, although mainly silent (as is consistent with his character) seems the most open to Jonas’ presence. At the start of the episode he shows neither acceptance nor hostility, but after a boxing match between the two he feels Jonas worthy enough (an episode earlier than Sam) to suggest him as the new member of SG1 to Colonel O’Neill.

Colonel O’Neill is more opposed to Jonas and the idea of him joining SG1 than anyone else at the SGC. He takes a long time to forge relationships (both professional and personal) and trust doesn’t come easy to him. Therefore, just as Dr Jackson, Major Carter and Teal’c had to, Jonas sets about earning the Colonel’s trust just as he initially earned his place on SG1.

Once Jonas becomes a member of SG1 at the end of Redemption, the story doesn’t conclude with and they all lived happily ever after… it is in fact the start of a whole new story.

Team is a Four Letter Word

With the opening of episode three (Descent) and the team’s first mission together, Jonas still feels he has a lot to prove to his team mates, and as a scientist first and foremost rather than a soldier, he also has to get used to the military regime. Descent has perhaps the most pivotal moment in Jonas’ integration into the team. Still somewhat of an outsider at the beginning of the episode, he demonstrates his ability to think quickly, act both independently and as part of a team and put himself on the line for both Earth and his team mates. Following this, O’Neill acknowledges Jonas’ acceptance with the words “All members of SG1 present and accounted for’.

Whilst Descent demonstrates Jonas’s physical effect on the team, the opening scene of Metamorphosis reveals how his presence relates to the other characters. Sam and Jonas’s relationship in particular has come on enormously since last seasons hostile beginnings. Now referring to her as Sam rather than Major Carter, we see her teasing him and them joking together. Jonas and Sam’s friendship seems to be beneficial to both of them and they seem more relaxed and content than ever. In this aspect Jonas is also successful in forging relationships as well as becoming an efficient and competent soldier.

On the theme of being an efficient soldier, Unnatural Selection shows how he is dealing with this new role. The episode opens with him practising how to use a weapon and shows that he’s not a perfect ‘super guy’ but has to work hard for the things he wants and that he’s prepared to put in the time, effort and dedication to get them. Unnatural Selection also highlights Jonas’s morality as, like Major Carter, he questions Colonel O’Neill’s decision to leave Fifth behind – effectively using his “humanity against him”. In this respect he, although loyal to the Colonel, struggles with the hard nosed military mindset and as a consequence aptly fills the gap in the team once occupied by Dr Jackson, in providing the non-military point of view.

Perfect Fit

Throughout the season Jonas justifies his presence by striking the right balance between defining himself through his own characteristics and filling his predecessor’s shoes. There obviously had to be a consistency between Daniel Jackson and himself in the expertise and experience he brings to the team, as they effectively fulfil the same role on the show. That is not to say that he is just a ‘Daniel clone’, however. Whilst it was important to the continuity of the show that he was able to pick up where Daniel left off, he was also a new character in his own right with his own individual way of doing things and his own personal motivations.

By the penultimate episode, (Prophecy) everything seems to have finally come together. Jonas is a fully fledged, fully accepted member of SG1 – the only one who still thinks he has to prove himself is Jonas himself. In a particularly moving scene with Janet, she tells him that he doesn't have to keep proving himself and that he's worth having on the team as he is. Colonel O’Neill (who has traditionally been the most resilient to the idea of Jonas on SG1) also seems to extend the hand of friendship to him at the end of the episode and acknowledges his worth – he and the rest of the team “need him out there”.

Throughout the season Jonas has gone from strength to strength, as has the show, which seems to have struck upon a winning format. Although not returning as a regular cast member next year, Corin and Jonas have certainly proved their value to the majority of fans, and thanks to the seasons success we can look forward to seeing him and the rest of the cast in season 7.