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Stargate SG-1 Season Four

BENEATH THE SURFACE
 
RATINGS SCORECARD
GATEWORLD - * *
FAN POLL - 7.01
SYNDICATION RATING - 2.3 / 2.5 (+10)

Season Ratings
EPISODE NUMBER - 410
DVD DISC - Season 4, Disc 3
ORIGINAL U.S. AIR DATE - 09.01.00
SYNDICATION AIR DATE - 09.17.01
WRITTEN BY - Heather E. Ash
DIRECTED BY - Peter DeLuise
GUEST STARRING - Alison Matthews (Brenna), Kim Hawthorne (Kegan), Laurie Murdoch (Administrator Caulder), Gary Jones (Technician), Russell Ferrier (Griff), Brian Drummond (Attendant), Jason Griffith (Worker), Bruce Campbell (Worker)
The members of SG-1 are used as forced labor in an underground alien facility after their memories are erased by the ruling elite.

An advanced alien city sits in the middle of a planetary ice age. The elements rage aroundit, but the city remains protected by a giant dome. Deep underground, the working classmaintains the systems that power the great city -- though they do not even know it exists.

Four of these workers are familiar: it is SG-1. Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter and Dr. Jackson line up for the afternoon meal. Kegan, the young woman who dishes out their food,is not too happy to see Carter. She refuses to give her bread, and a scuffle ensues. Danieland Jack end up in a fight, but Teal'c grabs the colonel and tries to stop him. He tries toconvince them that they are friends -- that all four of them are part of something called"SG-1." Teal'c is dragged away shouting, "We do not belong here!"

The memories of SG-1 have been wiped out -- or at least covered by false memories. They knowof O'Neill as "Jonah," Carter as "Thera," and Jackson as "Karlan." Teal'c, they believe, iscalled "Tor."

And while O'Neill and Carter seem to know each other well, Jackson is estranged to them. Hespends his time with Kegan, his friend. Living conditions for the workers are rough, and their days are hard -- but they believe it is an honor to serve, that they are helping theirpeople survive an ice age (not altogether untrue).

On Earth, General Hammond is in contact with Administrator Caulder -- one of the aliencity's local leaders. SG-1 has been missing for many days. Caulder explains that the grouphad gone out to explore the nearby glacier region, and never returned. Hammond sends an SGteam, led by Major Griff, to look for them.

Beneath the surface of the planet, Jackson begins to dream about the Stargate and aboutO'Neill -- but cannot figure out what the shimmering circle of water is. Slowly, hismemories start to resurface. He believes that Jonah and Thera -- and even Tor -- may haveonce been his friends, and that they are suppose to be doing something bigger, somethingmore important. His friend Kegan tries to dissuade him, believing that Carter and O'Neillare only trying to win special treatment from Brenna, the workers' foreman.

But Jackson continues his search for the truth. He realizes that he cannot remember veryfar into his own past, and finds that strange. He speaks to Teal'c when he returns -- butthe Jaffa tells him he was nightsick and does not know him.

Later, while moving to release the pressure from one of the machines, Teal'c passes out.The pressure rises dramatically, threatening to explode and take out the entire section.Daniel, Jack and Sam work together to save the facility.

Daniel takes the opportunity to try and get to know the two better, and learns that Sam hashad the same dream -- a dream about the Stargate. They agree to meet after lights out.

In Administrator Caulder's office, Brenna has brought some of Sam's ideas to share with hersupervisor. Carter has many good ideas for improving efficiency at the plant. But Caulderisn't interested; he worries that one day, she might make things so efficient that thesystem does not require workers at all. He is interested only in maintaining power -- bothliterally and figuratively -- and keeping the working class subjugated to the people abovewhom they serve. Sam's ideas are rejected.

Major Griff's team returns to Earth, reporting that no sign of SG-1 was found on the glacier. Beyond that, though, Griff doubts that O'Neill would have ever let his team goout there. If Administrator Caulder said that was the case, he must be lying.

Carter, Jackson and O'Neill continue to slowly remember more and more of their pasts. Samrecalls details about the SGC -- names like "SG-1," "DHD," "GDO." Jack begins to rememberhis feelings for Carter, and the two grow closer. Personalities begin to resurface as theycontinue to dig deeper -- expressions, like Jack's "for cryin' out loud," escape. Saminadvertantly refers to O'Neill as "sir."

In a dream, O'Neill remembers seeing the city and speaking with Caulder. He confronted himabout the slave labor underground, and refused to recommend trade with this world. Caulderhad taken SG-1 and stamped them with new personalities for passing judgment on their way oflife.

Brenna is dissatisfied with Caulder's treatment of the workers. Some days later, shereports back again: SG-1 has been seen meeting together late at night, and there isevidence that they are beginning to remember. The memory stamp ordered by Caulder is notkeeping its hold. In addition, Teal'c is now dying. He cannot remember Kelnorim, the Jaffameditation process that allows his symbiote to cure him of illness ("Holiday"). Caulder orders O'Neill, Carter and Jacksonexpelled to the surface, to die in the cold.

General Hammond has very few choices other than breaking off diplomatic relations with theplanet. Instead, he orders Griff to draw up plans for a covert search and rescueoperation.

Fortunately, the mission is not needed. Brenna, herself a worker, decides to act againstCaulder rather than expelling SG-1 to die on the surface. She brings all four of them intoher office and tells them that their suspicions about false memories are true. Brennaexplains who they really are -- but before she can help them to escape the facility, Caulderarrives with two armed guards. He shoots Brenna in the shoulder for her disloyalty, andturns his weapon to SG-1.

Teal'c awakens suddenly and overpowers the guards, and O'Neill grabs Caulder's weapon.Teal'c explains that he undid his bandages (covering his symbiote pouch) in the night. Whenhe realized he was different from everyone else, he began to remember who he really was. Heput himself into a deep state of Kelnorim through the night, and woke up healed.

Before they escape, O'Neill drags Caulder in front of the workers and tells them the truth -that they are slaves to the city above. To prove it, Jack shoots out a skylight overhead.Instead of ice and snow burying the people, they feel the warm rays of the sun.

Brenna tells SG-1 that their memories will return in time, especially once they are home.They will take her with them to receive treatment for her wound, and promise to relocatethe workers to a tropical world they have recently found. Caulder and his people will haveto work for themselves for a change.


ANALYSIS
  • Caulder's people seem to be at approximately the same technological level as Earth, inspite of enduring an ice age. Their weapons, for example, are chemical propellant firearms,just like Earth's.

  • The alien civilization is highly advanced in the areas of metalurgy and chemical technology, and offered to trade this knowledge for Stargate technology: namely, workinggate addresses.

  • The memory stamp did little to affect personalities, knowledge or natural abilities.O'Neill remained courageous and wise-cracking, and a leader. Carter retained her scientificand engineering abilities, suggesting improvements to the plant to Brenna. And Jackson continued to be cautious, skeptical and persistant.

  • Griff has been promoted in just the last few weeks. He was a captain in "The First Ones".

  • O'Neill and Carter were obviously close during their time on this world. They were atleast good friends, and seem to have just begun to explore the possibility of a more romantic relationship. When memories of their true relationship (and ranks) resurfaced,though, the two felt a loss at having to give that up.


  • CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
    Jack O'NeillJack O'Neill - Jack expressed his disappointment when his memories resurfaced, and he realized that a romantic relationship with Carter was not possible. Not only does he have feelings for Sam, but he is not afraid to acknowledge them to her.

    O'Neill seems to be a fan of "The Simpsons," as one might have guessed by his frequent useof the expression "D'oh." When trying to remember General Hammond, Jack referred to a baldman with short sleeves who is very important to him. "I think his name is Homer," hesaid.

    Samantha CarterSamantha Carter - With no military relationship between them, Sam let her romantic feelings for Colonel O'Neill begin to show.The two began to grow close before finally remembering who they really are.

    Teal'cTeal'c - Teal'c must practice Kelnorim meditation daily to avoid contracting life-threatening illnesses. Teal'c has alsolost the facial hair he's been wearing since the season began.

    Dr. FraiserDr. Fraiser - Dr. Fraiser seems to betrained in some level of covert operations, since she volunteered to join Major Griff'smission. She is an officer (probably a major at present, based on the oak leaves worn on heruniform), and would have at least the basic training that goes along with that.



    UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
  • How long have the workers served the city without knowing about it?

  • What (or who) has O'Neill been dreaming about since becoming a worker? Sam?

  • What SG team does Major Griff lead?

  • Has Brenna also been memory-stamped? Although she knew of the city and the truth ofthe workers' situation, she does seem to be a worker herself.

  • How extensive was Sam and Jack's relationship during their time on this world?

  • How long will it take for SG-1 to fully regain their memories?


  • PRODUCTION
  • "I think the script lacked an emotional core -- it could have used a Sam/Jack focus. They love one another. It would only make sense for them to be together if they had no recollection of their former lives. The feeling was we had played that particular emotional beat in 'Divide and Conquer,' and there was a concern if we went that way in 'Beneath the Surface,' we would be over playing the angle." (Writer / producer Joseph Mallozzi)


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    The Stargate OmnipediaThe Stargate Omnipedia
    PLANETS
    P3R-118
    TECHNOLOGY
    bio-dome
    memory stamp
    MISCELLANY
    kelnorim
    night sickness
    SG-2
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