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THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD

There But For the Grace of God

01.20 Episode 20 (#3960)
Airdate: February 20, 1998

A deserted lab on P3R-233 contains a mysterious shimmering mirror. When Daniel touches it, he finds himself transported to an alternate reality where nothing is quite the same. The Earth of this reality is under attack by the Goa'uld, and billions have already died. General O'Neill is in command of the SGA, and must confront Teal'c, still the First Prime of Apophis. Earth is unable to defend against the attack, and Daniel's only hope is to escape through the stargate and return through the mirror with a warning to prevent the same fate from happening in his own reality.

Story by: David Kemper
Teleplay by: Robert C. Cooper
Directed by: David Warry-Smith

Guest Starring: Elizabeth Hoffman as Catherine Langford, Gary Jones as Technician, Stuart O'Connell as Marine, Michael Kopsa as News Anchor, Laara Sadiq as Technician #2, Shawn Stewart as Jaffa

Reference: Alternate Reality, Alternate Reality - P3R-233, Autodestruct Sequence, Beta Site, Destroyers, Korush'nai, Catherine Langford, Multiverse Theory, P3R-233, Quantum Mirror, Staff Cannon, Technicians

DESTINATIONS & INHABITANTS

Destinations & Inhabitants

P3R-233

Destinations & Inhabitants

Quantum Mirror

Destinations & Inhabitants

Alternate Reality

NOTES OF INTEREST

  • Korush'nai: Goa'uld warning, meaning "turn back", used to indicate any planet destroyed by the Goa'uld and left contaminated by radiation.
  • The lab on P3R-233 contained tagged artifacts from diverse human cultures, including a Turkinese mask, a clay cone from Nagash with cuneiform symbols, and a mirror, possibly made of naquadah, which allows interdimensional transport to alternate realities.
  • Scientists have theorized that there are an infinite number of dimensions, each containing a different possible version of reality, some of which are very different, and some of which are almost identical.
  • Estimated death toll to Earth was 1.5 billion.
  • Refugees from the Genesis list including world leaders, scientists and doctors, were sent to the Beta Site.
  • Blasts from the Goa'uld destroyers are the equivalent of 200-megaton nuclear warheads.
  • The unique symbol on a gate is its point of origin.
  • A wormhole can be maintained for 38 minutes.
  • The deep space transmission three months earlier from P3R-233 used a derivation of ancient Egyptian for the message: "Beware the destroyers. They come from 3, 32, 16, 8, 10, 12."
  • Coordinates for the origin of the Goa'uld attack from a transmission from P3R-233 in the alternate universe correspond on their gate to 3-32-16-8-10-12. Daniel's drawings correspond on the Earth gate to 3-39-16-8-10-12.
  • Similarities in the alternate reality:
    • The stargate has an iris, and the SG-1 transmitter code was valid.
    • O'Neill's son accidentally killed himself with Jack's gun.
    • O'Neill led the suicide mission to Abydos to blow up the gate and destroy Ra.
    • Catherine and Ernest had been engaged before the stargate accident in 1945.
    • Teal'c has a wife and son Rya'c.
  • Differences in the alternate reality:
    • Stargate Command is known as SGA.
    • O'Neill is a general, Hammond is a colonel, Carter is a civilian Ph.D. in astrophysics.
    • Jack and Sam are engaged.
    • Daniel met Catherine but rudely refused to join the team translating the Giza cartouche.
    • Daniel, last known residence Egypt in 1997, was killed by the Goa'uld attack.
    • Teal'c remained First Prime of Apophis and led the attack on Earth.
    • O'Neill has a scar over his left eye, Carter has long hair, Teal'c has a pony tail.
    • There was no mission to Chulak. A bomb was sent through the gate to destroy Chulak.
    • All of SG-1 and Earth were destroyed in the Goa'uld attack.
  • Beta Site coordinates: 29-5-36-6-23-?
  • Coordinates for the origin of the attack on Earth: 3-32-16-8-10-12
  • P3R-233 point of origin: 21

MEMORABLE REMARKS

  • Loosely translated, it means "turn back." [Teal'c]
    Does it elaborate? [O'Neill]
  • Oh, I really hate it when this happens. [Daniel]
  • Big guy, gold emblem on his head, Goa'uld in his stomach, you can't miss him. [Daniel]
  • Uh oh... I think I'm dead. [Daniel]
  • Oh, I'd say we pissed the Goa'uld off just as much as you have, maybe even more. [Daniel]
  • Oh yeah. I also wish to blow us all to hell. [Carter]

FOR THE RECORD

  • Campers: 1
  • Carter calls O'Neill "Jack": 1 (alternate reality)
  • Injuries:
    • Daniel: power surge from the mirror, transported to an alternate reality, staff weapon wound to the right shoulder
  • Popular Culture References:
    • Let's Make a Deal
      • Wonder what's behind curtain number two?