Episode of the Week: ‘Evolution’

While the S.G.C. investigates a seemingly unstoppable new enemy soldier engineered by Anubis, Daniel leads a team in search of an alien device in Central America. While O’Neill seeks help from a former comrade to rescue Daniel and Dr. Lee, Carter, Teal’c, and Jacob infiltrate Anubis’s super-soldier facility.

“Evolution” Facts:

• After six and a half years the SG-1 writers saw that the Jaffa — their bad guys’ primary foot soldiers — had been weakened to the point of becoming the punchline to many, many jokes. With the debut of the Kull warriors they sought to overturn that with a new kind of foot soldier, totally impervious to bullets and energy weapons.
• Two problems with that plan would soon arise: A few episodes later, Sam and Jacob would develop a weapon capable of putting down a Kull warrior (“Death Knell”). Practically speaking, behind the camera, the fact that production only made a couple of the complex suits would make it difficult to put many of them on screen (apart from the computer-generated army seen briefly in this two-parter).
• Actor Zak Santiago played the role of Rogelio Duran, Daniel’s jungle tour guide. He would return to the franchise years later as Corporal Rivers on Stargate Universe.
• Although SG-1 never revisited Daniel’s grandfather Nicholas Ballard (featured in Season Three’s “Crystal Skull”), this episode at least picks up on his research in South America.

“Evolution” on GateWorld:

• Episode Guide (Part 1 – Part 2)
• Episode Reviews (Part 1 – Part 2)
• Episode Transcript (Part 1 – Part 2)
• Photo Gallery (Part 1 – Part 2)
• Screencap Gallery (Part 1 – Part 2)
• Discussion Thread (Part 1 – Part 2)
• Interview with Carmen Argenziano (Jacob Carter)
• Season Seven Podcast

Download “Evolution” now from Amazon (Part 1 – Part 2) or iTunes!

Rewatch “Evolution” (Parts 1 and 2) this week! Then post your comments below, or head over to the “Evolution” discussion threads and see what people were saying back in the day. What are your favorite moments?

Each week we’re highlighting a favorite episode from Stargate’s 17 seasons. Watch the episode with us this week and join in the fun!