10 Saddest Deaths In Stargate’s Shows, Ranked

Summary

• Deaths in Stargate were emotionally impactful, even if characters sometimes returned or ascended.
• Each death had a significant impact on the remaining characters, adding layers to the storyline.
• Moments like Dr. Fraiser’s surprise ending were tearjerkers, making the franchise unforgettable.

There have been several tragic deaths throughout the Stargate franchise, but a select few were especially devastating to see play out on screen. The sci-fi franchise saw its characters risk their lives to protect the planet and their loved ones, and more often than not, they managed with only a few scrapes and bruises (and some instances of alien possession). However, on a few occasions in Stargate SG-1 and its spinoffs, the ongoing battle with the Goa’uld and other alien races meant the end of some beloved characters’ time on screen.

Of course, not all Stargate characters stayed dead once they kicked the bucket. As is the flavor of science fiction, there were times when people like Daniel Jackson (especially Daniel Jackson) came back to life or ascended to a greater form of being. Still, this did nothing to diminish the emotional impact of their death scenes. Stargate could be funny, exciting, and cheesy, but when it came time for a character to lay down their life, the beloved franchise could really bring on the waterworks. All these years later, and we are still feeling it.

10 Frank Cromwell’s Redemption

Stargate SG-1, Season 2

Frank Cromwell was only featured in one Stargate SG-1 season 2 episode, so there wasn’t much time to get attached to his character. It’s revealed that Cromwell had been a member of Jack O’Neill’s team in the Gulf War and was the reason that the SG-1 Colonel was held captive in Iraq for several months. This event resulted in Jack holding a significant grudge against Cromwell and determining that he would never leave a member of his team behind.

Since Frank Cromwell wasn’t a regular character in Stargate, his death can’t rank above those audiences came to know and love. However, it was the impact the man’s death had on Jack that made it a memorable and sad moment. Knowing that Jack hadn’t forgiven him for leaving him behind in Iraq, Cromwell sacrificed his life to save his old war buddy. This one action made up for all of Cromwell’s past mistakes, and seeing this realization settle in for Jack was difficult to forget.

9 Skaara’s Ascension

Stargate SG-1, Season 6

Skaara was one of the few characters in Stargate that we met all the way back in the 1994 movie, and his story had quite a few ups and downs. In the first season of Stargate SG-1, he was captured by the Gua’uld and made into a host for Apophis’s son, Klorel. Skaara was always lovable, but he proved himself resilient and strong when he regained control over his body and eventually reclaimed his freedom.

Despite surviving his time as one of Stargate‘s Goa’uld hosts, Skaara didn’t get a perfectly happy ending. In Stargate SG-1 season 6, Anubis set his eyes on Abydos and Skaara, and the rest of his people were obliterated by Jaffa. It was horribly bitter that the boy would survive such a fate only to be killed later, but thankfully, the citizens of Abydos were granted ascension by Oma Desala. Though this means he technically survived, it was a sad moment.

8 Sha’re’s Tragic End

Stargate SG-1, Season 3

In a way, Sha’re was the start of everything in Stargate SG-1. Her capture was the entire reason Daniel Jackson joined the SGC, which led to the creation of team SG-1. The goal was to find a way to free her from being Goa’uld Amaunet’s host, and as determined as Daniel was, it was assumed that he would eventually be successful. Unfortuantely, her story didn’t get a happy ending.

In Stargate SG-1 season 3, Daniel confronted Amaunet, who was possessing Sha’re’s body, hoping to reach his wife. However, the Goa’uld attacked Daniel, forcing Teal’c to shoot her. The wound was fatal to both Amaunet and her host, but since the Goa’uld died first, Daniel was able to share a final, heartbreaking moment with Sha’re in which she told him that she loved him. It was a devastating scene and not the ending we had expected for the Stargate character.

7 Hunter Riley’s Brutal Death

Stargate Universe, Season 2

Hunter Riley was a character in the spinoff show Stargate Universe, and his death is memorable because of the tragic brutality of it. The horrible moment played out in season 2 when Riley and a team, including Colonel Everett Young, were sent to a planet in a shuttle to restock supplies. Upon entering the planet’s atmosphere, the team’s shuttle crashed, and the lower half of Riley’s body was pinned beneath some debris.

It quickly became apparent in Stargate Universe that Riley wouldn’t survive being pulled from the rubble, so he convinced Everett Young to end his suffering. The reluctant Colonel smothered Riley with his own hands, and though he knew this was done out of mercy, the action had a great impact on Young. This was among the Stargate franchise’s darkest scenes and has been difficult to forget even after all these years.

6 Jacob Carter & Selmak’s Deaths

Stargate SG-1, Season 8

Jacob Carter, Samantha Carter’s father, is another character whose death was even more bitter since he had already cheated death before. Jacob was introduced in Stargate SG-1 season 2 when he told Samantha that he was dying from lymphoma. However, after meeting the Tok’ra, it was discovered that Jacob could live if he became a host and shared a body with Selmak.

After joining the Tok’ra, Jacob and Sam became even closer, and the character was a frequent visitor in Stargate SG-1. However, in season 8, Selmak and Jacob helped the SGC fight the Replicators, and the symbiote fell into a coma as a result. Jacob had enough time to have a heartfelt goodbye with his daughter before he passed away, and subtle comments about Sam’s still-hidden feelings for Jack O’Neill made the moment even more emotional.

5 Daniel Jackson’s Radiation Poisoning & Ascension

Stargate SG-1, Season 5

Daniel Jackson died a few times throughout Stargate SG-1, which diminished the emotional impact a little. However, his death from radiation poisoning in season 5 was still difficult to shake off. The clever scientist had been trying to fix a naquadria reactor when he was exposed to a lethal dose or radiation, and, despite the help of Janet Fraiser and various alien technologies, there was nothing that could be done.

The saddest part of Daniel’s death in Stargate SG-1 season 5 was his final goodbye to Jack O’Neill. The pair had a pretty loaded relationship up to that point, full of banter and, at some points, a great deal of frustration. However, Jack’s confession that he had developed a deep respect for Daniel brought all of this to a heartbreaking resolution. Of course, Daniel technically ascended and was later brought back to life, but this was still a pretty memorable Stargate death.

Stargate SG-1
is available to stream for free on Pluto TV.

4 Charlie O’Neill’s Accidental Death

Prior To Stargate (1994)

Charlie O’Neill wasn’t technically a regular character in Stargate SG-1, but his death was still at the foundation of the entire series. The young boy had been Jack O’Neill’s son, who was killed shortly before the events of the 1994 Stargate movie. The tragedy contradicted Jack’s sarcastic and joking personality, adding several layers of complexity to his character. This was carried into Stargate SG-1, where Charlie’s death was eventually brought to the screen.

In Stargate SG-1 season 3, Jack was forced to relive his son’s death. Charlie had accidentally shot himself with his father’s personal gun, and while being tortured by Apophis, Jack had to again experience the moment he heard the gun go off from outside the house. Though the accident itself is never seen on screen, seeing Jack’s fear and realization was among the most devastating and heartbreaking moments in Stargate SG-1.

3 Thor & The Asgard’s Deaths

Stargate SG-1, Season 10

Thor was another Stargate character who was always a joy to see appear in various episodes. He and the rest of the Asgard were first introduced in Stargate SG-1 season 2 when the SGC began searching for galaxy allies to help them against the Gua’uld. Over time, Thor grew to be very fond of SG-1, especially Jack and Samantha, and he assisted them on several occasions, including in the moments leading to his death.

In Stargate SG-1 season 10, Thor and the rest of Asgard sacrificed their lives to do significant damage to the Ori and save Earth. Just before this, Thor had managed to convince his fellows that humanity deserved to become the Fifth Race, and they were given the Odyssey as Asgard’s legacy. Though some death scenes in Stargate were more brutal or devastating, the death of Asgard was sad because of its unimaginable scale.

2 Dr. Carson Beckett’s Unexpected Sacrifice

Stargate Atlantis, Season 3

Dr. Carson Beckett was a primary character in Stargate Atlantis, and his death in season 3 was one of the greater surprises of the series. Beckett performed surgery on Teyla Emmagan, who had a tumor that was doomed to explode, killing anyone in the vicinity. Though he was successful in saving Teyla, the tumor exploded while he was taking it to the demolition unit. It was a tragic sacrifice and one that Rodney McKay just couldn’t forget.

What made Beckett’s death so terrible was that, earlier in the Stargate Atlantis season 3 episode, he had been trying to find someone to go on a fishing trip with since McKay had canceled on him.

What made Beckett’s death so terrible was that, earlier in the Stargate Atlantis season 3 episode, he had been trying to find someone to go on a fishing trip with since McKay had canceled on him. Every person he asked said no, leading Beckett to work rather than take his “day of rest.” This detail was like salt in the wound that was the Stargate character’s death, making the moment one that is impossible to forget.

1 Dr. Janet Fraiser’s Surprise Ending

Stargate SG-1, Season 7

Dr. Janet Fraiser was another frequent presence in Stargate SG-1. Whenever someone was injured or an inch away from death, she was always there to give everything she had to save them. She adapted to the sorts of alien illnesses and injuries that were common at the SGC rather quickly and became a steadfast support for the members of all the Stargate teams. Ultimately, this made Dr. Fraiser’s death even more horrible.

In the final episodes of Stargate SG-1 season 7 (which was also one of the best episodes in Stargate), it was revealed that someone had died, but it was unclear who it had been. The episodes were told in a documentary style, so events unraveled out of order. Since Dr. Fraiser wasn’t typically in harm’s way, no one expected her to be the one to have been killed by a staff weapon. However, it’s ultimately revealed that she had traveled through the Stargate to save an injured airman. She was shot and killed instantly while providing comfort to the dying man, and her subsequent funeral scene was easily the greatest tearjerker of the Stargate franchise.