Prometheus plays Titanic
In TV Zone #67, episode writer Damien Kindler said, “Ethon is a sequel of sorts to Icon. Icon is a script that I’m very proud of. It was a bit of a dark, kind of apocalyptic tale, but Rob Cooper had a great appreciation for the story and that planet, so I pitched an idea about returning to that world with the Prometheus and reuniting Daniel and Jared Kane. As I developed the story further we actually play a bit of the Titanic with the Prometheus because it comes up against a weapon that is far more powerful than it’s crew realises.”
This weapon is being built by the Ori in their effort to gain control of the billions of human lives in the Milky Way — their effort to gain enough power to destroy the Ascended Ancients, or Alterans, who had dared to keep humanity’s existence in this galaxy a secret from them. The war between the Alterans and the Ori started millions of years ago in a far galaxy, and now, it has been refueled in the corporeal plane as humanity in several galaxies attempt to survive the incredible powers of the ascended. If the war escalates into the ascended planes, it could be very bad for everyone in every plane of existence.
This new weapon is in orbit near Jared Kane’s planet and he’s called on the SGC to help stop the Ori. Daniel’s presence on the planet may do more harm than good, since it appears that the Ori also have plans to turn him against his teammates (according to TV Guide: “Following their failure to subdue Earth with a plague, the Ori come up with a fiendish new plan to destroy Stargate SG-1, one that involves turning Daniel against Teal’c, Cameron and Sam.”).
The title “Ethon” is taken from Greek mythology, just as the name “Prometheus”. When Prometheus gave man fire from the gods, he was punished by being chained to Mount Caucasus and a large bird gnawed on his liver. His liver regrew and the bird gnawed on it again. This punishment continued until Prometheus was rescued. The name of the bird? Ethon.
Hints about the probable demise of the Prometheus started in TV Zone #67. According to Joseph Mallozzi, writer of “Ripple Effect”, “There are so many scenes that were shot but didn’t make it into the final cut. There’s a walk and talk aboard the Prometheus with Daniel and the alternate Teal’c, who remarks how weird it feels to be on the Prometheus because in his reality it was destroyed. Remember that as the season continues.”
Mallozzi also reminds us to remember the destruction of the Prometheus in that alternate reality and warns us it might happen in ours in his “In the Making” series for the episode “Ripple Effect”. In this article he stated, “Hated to lose these scenes as they contained a bit of foreshadowing re: a later Season Nine episode.” A portion of this scene included this:
INT. CORRIDOR – PROMETHEUS
Green Daniel and Black Teal’c head down the corridor.
BLACK TEAL’C: In truth, the familiar aspects of this world have proven more disquieting than comforting. This ship in particular.
GREEN #DANIEL: How’s that?
BLACK TEAL’C: In our reality, the Prometheus was recently lost in battle.
And, if all of these hints as to the end of the Prometheus don’t send the message, then SciFi Channel’s preview for the episode certainly does. Opening the teaser are scenes where Earth’s first intergalactic spaceship appears to go out with a big bang.
Tune in Friday, February 3, at 8pm Eastern, to find out if the Prometheus truly does get destroyed and what becomes of her crew.
[Thanks to SueSV, Sandra, and luvtwtid for interview and magazine quotes. — DeeKayP]