8.18 "Threads" Episode Guide

Précis

With Anubis threatening the destruction of the galaxy, Daniel must decide whether to face death with his friends or accept Oma Desala's help in ascending. Bra'tac and Teal'c establish the new Jaffa Nation on Dakara. Carter and Jack deal with personal relationships and the loss of people important to them. Daniel and Oma are taunted by the Anubis in his ascended form.

Guide | Transcript

SciFi.com Official Summary

With the planet of Dakara and the Ancient weapon now in the hands of the Free Jaffa, Anubis plans to reconquer the planet and, thanks to Ba'al's modifications to the stargate, use the Ancient weapon to destroy all life in the galaxy at once.

At Stargate Command, Carter introduces her fiancé, Pete, to her father Jacob and his Tok'ra symbiote, Selmak. Later, Teal'c, Bra'tac, Carter, Jacob/Selmak and General O'Neill discuss the delicate situation on Dakara: The Free Jaffa Nation is now in control of the Ancient weapon. They are reluctant to destroy it, because it has become a symbol of their freedom and also ensures their safety. O'Neill argues that no one should be allowed to wield that much power: The weapon must be destroyed.

The council decides to seek out and kill Anubis (if he can be killed) and defeat the Goa'uld. Once that is done, they will reconsider destroying the weapon. Their intelligence reveals that Anubis might be marshalling his remaining forces on Tarturus. The Jaffa will strike him there.

Meanwhile, having been fatally wounded by Replicator Carter aboard her ship before it was destroyed, Dr. Daniel Jackson finds himself in a diner in which he once ate as a boy. His waitress is Oma Dasala, who once before helped Daniel to ascend. She gives Daniel the choice to ascend again or walk out the diner door, which leads to an ordinary death. The patrons at the restaurant (all ascended) watch Daniel and Oma very carefully. No one there will talk to Daniel except for Oma and a rotund businessman named Jim.

Jim tells Daniel that he and Oma operate a bit beyond the rules of the ascended. He also shows Daniel the latest headline in the Ascended Times, which reveals Anubis' "Dastardly Plot to Regain Ancient Weapon of Destruction."

On Earth, Carter receives disturbing news: Her father's Tok'ra symbiote, Selmak, is dying, and he doesn't have the strength needed to prevent Jacob from dying during the process. She also feels she might be making a big mistake with this marriage to Pete and goes to O'Neill's house to tell him "something important." Finding O'Neill in cozy repose with beautiful CIA Agent Johnson, however, stops her and she excuses herself from the awkward moment.

Agent Johnson realizes what's really going on and tells O'Neill to admit that he has feelings for Carter. Furthermore, Johnson says, because Air Force rules and regulations bar O'Neill from fraternizing with a direct subordinate, he should consider retiring.

Elsewhere, Jacob gives Carter a similar speech. O'Neill arrives and is there for Carter as Jacob/Selmak dies and tells her he will he always be with her. Carter cancels her wedding to Pete.

At the restaurant, Daniel learns from Jim that it was Oma who helped Anubis ascend. Oma explains to Daniel that she was tricked by Anubis, not realizing how evil he was. Her punishment was to watch Anubis terrorize the galaxy in half-ascended form. If not for her, Anubis would be dead and no threat to anyone.

Meanwhile, Bra'tac and Teal'c arrive at Tarturus to face minimal Goa'uld resistance. Then they realize the horrible truth: Anubis has lured the Free Jaffa here while he slaughters their people on Dakara.

In the restaurant, Jim shows Daniel the latest edition of the Ascended Times, which says that Anubis is about to acquire the Ancient weapon. He's even gloating about it. Suddenly, everything becomes clear to Daniel: Jim is Anubis.

At SGC, there is an unscheduled off-world activation. It looks like Anubis is using the weapon. O'Neill orders the self-destruct.

Daniel is powerless to stop Anubis. Oma can't destroy him, but she can still fight him—for eternity. She becomes pure energy and rushes at him. They rise toward the ceiling and vanish in a swirling stream of cosmic light.

Back at SGC, the gate shuts down. The self-destruct freezes. Bra'tac and Teal'c inform O'Neill that Anubis' forces, suddenly without a leader, became confused and were easily defeated. The victory has united the Free Jaffa at Dakara as never before, and they now agree to destroy the weapon immediately.

Then Daniel's voice is heard from another room. He has returned from the dead, again, and just as naked as he was the first time.

O'Neill, Carter, Teal'c and Daniel then do something they all feel they should have done a long time ago: They go fishing.

Cast

• Richard Dean Anderson as Brig. Gen. Jack O'Neill
• Amanda Tapping as Lt. Col. Samantha Carter
• Christopher Judge as Teal'c
• and Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson

Guest Stars

• Tony Amendola as Bra'tac
• Carmen Argenziano as Jacob Carter/Selmak
• Mel Harris as Oma Desala
• George Dzundza as Jim
• Clare Carey as Kerry Johnson
• David DeLuise as Pete Shanahan
• Isaac Hayes as Tolok
• Cliff Simon as Ba'al
• Rik Kiviaho as Anubis
• Gary Jones as Sgt. Harriman

Production

• Written by Robert C. Cooper
• Directed by Andy Mikita

Related Articles

Keywords

• Ascended Beings
• CIA
• Dakara
• Free Jaffa Nation
• Goa'uld
• Replicator Samantha Carter
• Stargate Command (SGC)
• Symbiote
• Tartarus
• Tok'ra

Other

• Season Eight Episode Guides
• Episode Guides
• Transcripts
• 8.18 "Threads" Transcript
• Previous: 8.17 "Reckoning Part 2" Episode Guide
• Next: 8.19 "Moebius Part 1" Episode Guide

Related Links

Official

• Official MGM Stargate SG-1 Website
• SciFi Channel 8.18 "Threads" Episode Guide

Fan

• Solutions On-Site Forum: Season Eight Discussion Board
• Solutions LJ Companion Site
• Stargatefan Season Eight (Episode Guides, Transcripts, Multimedia, Missing Scenes)
• SG-1Web: Nitpicker's NetGuide Season Eight
• Stargate Screencaps: Season Eight

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--DeeKayP 20:21, 10 Feb 2005 (PST)