Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Death Knell (Stargate SG-1)" in English language version.
We also had to further diminish our relations with the Tok'ra and the Asgard, so that they wouldn't come speeding to our help so easily, so that we would look a little more helpless.
A great deal of Grace was shot using the second unit, so it took over a month to finish because I was going back and forth between it, Death Knell and Chimera. Talk about a bit of a head-trip for yours truly. It was really funny because on Death Knell we shot two days where Sam is running from a super soldier and she's covered with blood and is just dirty and filthy.
It was art director James Robbins who designed the look for the new prototype energy weapon that is being developed for use against Anubis' super soldier in Death Knell. ··we actually came up with a prototype piece that fits onto the TER [Transphase Eradication Rod] gun, which is a weapon that has already been seen on the series... explains Robbins. "The model shop built the piece in such a way that it lights up when snapped onto the TER gun. It's this type of attention to detail that really helps sell a prop like this. There's a scene where our heroes are talking about the development of the prototype, so I had to draw a set of blueprints for the weapon showing what it does and how to use it. Basically, the technology is based on the 'little box' that's inside each of the super soldiers. This box is what reanimates the creatures' dead flesh. SG-1 is trying to match the weapon's signature to that being emitted by the box. I don't know if any of this information will come out in the actual story but it's all up there on the screen for anyone who's interested. I should add, too. that the prototype technology has been updated since this episode. The piece has now been adapted for use with the team's standard-issue projectile guns. However, being an energy weapon its charge can't be fired through the same barrel as a bullet, so the model shop added a second nozzle. It all goes back to the attention to detail I spoke of earlier. "Something else I designed for Death Knell are the little missiles on board the small remote reconnaissance airplanes you see in the episode. One of these planes crashes and Carter finds it. She fires its missiles into a hillside in an effort to bring down one of the super soldiers.
To find the answer to the last question, General Hammond starts an investigation, which involves him having chats with various people/aliens, all of whom seem disinclined to say anything. Although he seems determined to find out what happened he seems unable to do much. Meanwhile, clomp... clomp... clomp! The super-drone relentlessly stomps after the wounded Carter, who, like Kirk in the classic Trek episode Arena, uses nearby facilities to attack the drone. OK, the SGC actually unwittingly provided the means, but the plot principle is the same. And, yes, Carter's in O'Neill's arms at the end of it all. What would Pete say...? We don't find out who betrayed the Alpha Site, but the suspicions between the Tok'ra and Jaffa finally come to a head and both parties also stomp off, making their own plans to defeat the Goa'uld. This is probably a credible conclusion, but, well, I didn't really care. Neither group has been doing much for a while apart from glare at one other, and on each side it's only been a few characters who have been of any interest. Frankly, I won't miss either of them; not something I'd have thought a few seasons back. The episode has been full of references to events elsewhere, and I couldn't help thinking of Frankie Howerd, who, describing a battle seen through a cell window in Up Pompeii, turns to the camera and says, "You don't think you're going to see it, do you?" I detect some money saving going on here, but that means we're going to see it elsewhere, and pretty soon... 5
Want a Jaffa/Tok'ra episode? Then go to peter DeLuise. Determinedly ploughing one of his favourite furrows, the writer/director/producer disguises a story that's been done to death as something new and almost gets away with it. After interminable tales showing the lack of trust between the Jaffa and Tok'ra, an issue that makes you wish someone would just bash their heads together to make them see the bigger picture - Hell? Anubis invading! - the groups finally end their fragile truce. It shouldn't need an entire episode to do this, and although it gives Carmen Argenziano's Jacob some of the best material he's had in a long while as he tries to mend bridges, this one event is relatively unimportant. It would help if the Carter plotline added something to the mix, but sadly we're merely treated to a limping and battered Amanda Tapping and lots of shots of Richard Dean Anderson and Christopher Judge nodding, pointing and wandering about in quarries and woods following the slow-moving Kull Warrior. Aside from proving it's a pretty tough cookie to beat, something we already know, it's hard to see the point. 2/5.
I always make notes whilst watching shows for Spoiler Zone, and it's often an indication of the episode's quality to see how many little doodles litter the page once it's over. After weeks of episodes that didn't produce a single scribble, "Death Knell" created half a page of squiggles, stars, curls and a big coloured in word that said "Boring!". Which is rather odd, when you consider that "Death Knell" is action-packed and stuffed with big-stakes drama and conflict. It's got battles, explosions, life-and-death situations and intrigue. Shame none of it comes together into an episode you really enjoy watching; it's actually rather a chore to sit through, despite some brilliant acting (from Carmen Argenziano in particular). There are some good points, though. The supersolider (or "drone", as Anubis's fellas seem to be called now) chasing Carter is actually scary, although it's a bloody rotten shot, missing her several times - so much for his amazing super powers! The ending, which has Carter collapsing into the arms of O'Neill after her ordeal, show her as a real human being for once and is a lovely touch. She's really getting pummelled this season, come to think of it (makes a change from Daniel, though, we have to admit). However, the rest of the episode is far too talky, with some totally impenetrable Tok'ra/Jaffa political machinations that will make your eyes roll back up into your head with boredom. Viewers new to Stargate really don't stand a chance with episodes like this; Hell, I've been watching every single episode and I still get bogged down in the dialogue! Characters we've never met before arguing about politics? Tedious twaddle about a Tok'ra spy who's been captured by Anubis? Please, no more... We just can't take it... We love continuity and all, but sometimes it's just too much to handle!
