9.12 "Collateral Damage" Episode Guide
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Précis
On an alien planet, Col. Mitchell experiences the power of a memory altering technology the SGC wants to secure, gets involved with the leading scientist, and is accused of her brutal murder. His own memories confirm that he committed the crime. SG-1 must protect Mitchell while they prove his innocence, and find the real killer.
Guide | Transcript
SciFi.com Official Summary
The official summary is not yet available as this episode has yet to air in the United States.
Episode Spoilers
Note: Latest updates are in color.
SG-1 meets an advanced civilization on a planet that was once occupied by the Goa'uld but that has been under the protection of the Asgard for many generations. Scientists on the planet, led by Dr. Reya Varrick, have converted a memory recall device left behind by the Goa'uld into an instant teaching device: memories and knowledge from one person can be instantly ‘spliced’ into another person for use as if they were their own experiences.
Reya learns that the Emissary of their planet has moved forward testing of the device and is bringing in the military to participate in the project. She is incensed by the idea that the project will not remain under civilian control in spite of the Emissary’s assurances to the contrary. Angry, she leaves the meeting. Col. Mitchell sympathizes with her and offers to help her, and she asks him to escort her home. She serves him a drink and kisses him. He is interested but knows it is not appropriate and stops things from going any further.
The next morning, Mitchell is found unconscious on the floor of her home with blood on his hands, and Reya is found murdered. Mitchell has memories of having killed her by bludgeoning her with a statue. Mitchell is charged with her murder based on those memories.
Colleagues of Reya, Drs. Amuro and Marell, believe Mitchell is innocent and sets out to prove that his memories of killing Reya were spliced into him from someone else who wanted to silence her protests against military involvement. However the splice was done very expertly and evidence of it is difficult to find. Amuro and Marell, with Carter looking on, instrument Mitchell and have him relive the memory over and over looking for signs of the splice, which they eventually find. Along the way he also remembers key moments from his own past.
The Emissary wants nothing but for Mitchell to return to Earth, in the interest of continued diplomatic relations, but Mitchell does not want to live with the memory, and Daniel insists they have a responsibility to find the real murderer.
Guest Characters: Dr. Lam, Dr. Reya Varrick, Emissary Varta, Dr. Marell, Dr. Amuro
Note: we have purposely not spoiled the ending of the episode nor revealed the identity of the murderer :-)
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"Given the production demands of the past couple of years, Paul [Mullie] and I have taken to writing scripts separately. In the case of Collateral Damage, I wrote the outline and he went on to write a terrific script in which, besides the cool SF premise, we are treated to a glimpse into Mitchell's childhood." — Joseph Mallozzi in his GateWorld Blog.
"And Remembrance of Things Past became Collateral Damage." — Joseph Mallozzi in his Q&A thread at GateWorld, concerning the renaming of "Collateral Damage" from the a previously-publicized working title.
"Well, we closed the deal on the F-16's for Collateral Damage." — Joseph Mallozzi in his GateWorld Blog.
"Tomorrow, Paul and I are going in to watch the day one mix of Collateral Damage (a great Mitchell episode that is not only an off-world adventure, but focuses on Cameron's relationship with his father). To all of you complaining that we hardly know Mitchell - wait 'til the second half of the season. We're just getting started." — Joseph Mallozzi in his GateWorld Blog, October 12.
When asked to name an episode which highlighted the acting talents of Ben Browder, executive producer Joseph Mallozzi picked this episode as his personal favorite. (October 21)
Note that all spoilers are subject to change before the finished episode is produced.
Cast
- Ben Browder as Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell
- Amanda Tapping as Lt. Col. Samantha Carter
- Christopher Judge as Teal'c
- With Beau Bridges as Maj. Gen. Hank Landry
- And Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson
Guest Stars
Production
- Written by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie
- Directed by William Waring
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- Season Nine Episode Guides
- Episode Guides
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- 9.12 "Collateral Damage" Transcript
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--DeeKayP 07:45, 24 Jun 2005 (PDT)