Episode of the Week: ‘Reckoning’

The Replicators begin a systematic attack of the Goa’uld, forcing Baal to come to Earth for help. Meanwhile, the Jaffa resistance risk their entire movement in an attempt to retake a holy city inside Baal’s territory.

“Reckoning” Facts:

• The great singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes guest stars in this episode as Tolok, a revered leader of the Jaffa resistance movement. Following upon the events of this two-parter, the Jaffa come out from underground and form the Free Jaffa Nation — a fixture in the show’s final two seasons. (Hayes passed away in 2008.)
• According to Stargate producer Joseph Mallozzi, “The free Jaffa world was originally called Bakara, but I didn’t like the name because it reminded me of both baccarat, the card game, and bakana, the Japanese word for stupid or silly. So I changed to it Dakara — which reminded me of daquiri. But that was okay.”
• It’s hard to under-estimate the significance of “Reckoning” to the series as a whole. The end of the Goa’uld and the Replicators drew to a close the show’s largest and longest-running storylines. With the slate mostly wiped clean, the show would have to re-invent itself with a new Big Bad in Season Nine: the Ori.
• The writers originally planned to kill off Baal along with the rest of the Goa’uld — but executive producer Michael Greenburg championed actor Cliff Simon and won the character a reprieve. Baal would continue to feature throughout the subsequent two seasons, and was at the center of the film Stargate: Continuum.

“Reckoning” on GateWorld:

• Episode Guide (Part 1 – Part 2)
• Episode Review
• Episode Transcript (Part 1 – Part 2)
• Photo Gallery (Part 1 – Part 2)
• Screencap Gallery (Part 1 – Part 2)
• Discussion Thread (Part 1 – Part 2)
• Season Eight Podcast
• Interview with Michael Shanks (2004)
• Interview with Christopher Judge (2004)
• Interview with Cliff Simon (2005)
• Interview with Brad Wright & Robert C. Cooper (2005)
• Interview with Peter DeLuise (2005)

Download “Reckoning” now from Amazon or iTunes!

Rewatch “Reckoning” (Parts 1 and 2) this week! Then post your comments below, or head over to the “Reckoning” 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!