Avalon, Part 2

In the Making

Summary | Analysis | Notes | Characters | Questions | Production | In the Making | Review

An Ancient communications device renders Daniel and Vala unconscious, sending their minds to another galaxy – where they inhabit the bodies of two people persecuted by the followers of an evil religion.

EPISODE #902
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 07.22.2005
SYNDICATION AIR DATE: 09.25.2006
DVD DISC: Season 9, Disc 1
WRITTEN BY: Robert C. Cooper
DIRECTED BY: Andy Mikita
EXCERPTS WRITTEN BY: Robert C. Cooper
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By Joseph Mallozzi
Writer and Executive Producer, Stargate SG-1

I was in the furniture section of a department store, shopping for a new couch when my cell phone played the Jubei-Chan wandering samurai theme from Ninja Scroll. Rob Cooper's personalized tune (although I have since considered switching it to the South Park opening theme). "Hey," I answered.

"So," started Rob. "How do you feel about a three-parter?"

"Avalon" I and II, our opening two-parter, was intended to introduce some major new characters, a major new villain, a major Jaffa story arc, and re-introduce the Vala character -- clearly, a heck of a lot of material to cover in two episodes. And it wasn't until Robert started writing the scripts that he realized the only way to do it right was by opening things up.

And so, after some creative reconsideration, restructuring, and re-writing, our opening two-parter became an opening three-parter.

  • The horrific Vala-burning sequence that aired was, in fact, a significantly toned-down version of the one that appeared in an early cut.
  • The part of Sallis is played by multi-talented April Amber Telek, who began her professional modeling career at the ripe old age of 10. Many may remember her as Dr. Sara Beckman from the television series The Immortal.
  • The village scenes were not shot on location but right here at the Bridge Studios. The buildings, the forest, the sky and sand all went up at the beginning of this season and will, in all likelihood, come down at the end of it. In the meantime, the art department, set decorators, and various directors have worked to ensure this standing set achieve a different look for future episodes in which it must pass for totally different places. Watch for a couple of these totally different looks in episodes like: "Instinct," "The Ties That Bind," and "Runner."