The episode opens with a stunning revelation, Daniel (Michael Shanks) has been exposed to a lethal dose of radiation!

Meridian was written by Robert C. Cooper and first aired on 10 May, 2002. The penultimate episode of Season Five sets up Shanks’ departure from the series. He was having creative differences with the show over his characters lack of utilization and arcs (or lack there of).

Carter (Amanda Tapping), O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) and Teal’c (Christopher Judge) debrief with Hammond (Don S. Davis) while Fraiser (Teryl Rothery) tries to find a way to help Daniel, or ease his suffering.

Through flashbacks we see what happened on the mission. They met the Kelowan people who were working on a device, a bomb developed from naquadria. Daniel argues with one of the Kelowan’s Jonas Quinn (Corin Nemec) about how dangerous the device will be, but he is ignored.

Until Jonas begins to suspect that Daniel may be right, despite the fact that his people are willing to blame Daniel for all the problems that are developing. O’Neill confronts Jonas over the truth, and this may cost him his connection to his own people. Daniel saved the Kelowans and probably the entire planet by deactivating the bomb just in time, something Jonas witnessed, but something his government is willing to deny.

The team can’t find any way to get their hands on a healing sarcophagus, or get help from any of their allies, even the Tok’ra…

Daniel is going to die.

Or… he’s going to ascend? Oma Desala (Mel Harris) appears to Daniel, and invites him on the next step of his journey. But he has to accept that he is leaving his life behind and let go of everything that ties him there.

Jonas steals some naquadria from his people, knowing now how dangerous it is, and brings it to Stargate Command, positioning him to become Daniel 2.0.

There’s some wonderful work between Anderson and Shanks here, making things more poignant. There’s a real sense of loss. their scene in front of the Stargate is so intimate, and finally it’s O’Neill who tells the rest to just let him go…

…and Daniel ascends.

Revelations.

Daniel is dead.

The final episode of season five was written by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie and closed out the season on 17 May, 2002.

With Daniel gone, the team, the entire SGC is mourning. But things are still happening in the universe. The Asgard come to the SGC hoping for help in their confrontation with the Goa’uld Anubis (David Palffy).

It seems that Anubis, who now counts Osiris (Anna-Louise Plowman) among his servants, has developed new technology, including shields that can stand up to Asgard weaponry. Something Thor (voiced by Shanks) finds out, perhaps fatally.

Carter is less than ready to get back in the field as she and the rest of SG-1 deal with the loss, but O’Neill insists they help the Asgard, losing himself in is work.

Arriving at the Asgard base, Heimdall (voiced by Rothery), SG-1 has to come up with a way to save Thor, and help protect the Asgard against the Goa’uld.

They are able to save the day, and the Asgard are safe. When they return to the SGC the group decides to go for a meal together, and as they are leaving a breeze wafts over them? The future? Daniel? Hope?

I guess we’ll find out when Season Six gets underway next time.