Contains SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jack O’Neill
Played by Richard Dean Anderson
Jack O’Neill is arguably one of the most popular characters in Science Fiction today due to his sense of humour and sense of honour. But most avid fans of the show can tell you there’s a lot more to Jack O’Neill than meets the eye.
The Story so far...
Jack O’Neill was born in 1952 in the city of Chicago, but moved to Minnesota as a child and considers the state his home, claiming that the Goa’uld only want Earth for it. Absolutely nothing is known of O’Neill’s relatives. According to unofficial canon, Jack was a troublesome teenager who was convicted of car theft at the age of seventeen. The judge gave him a choice - Jail or the Armed Forces. Jack chose the US Air Force. It is unclear how Jack went from a reluctant recruit to a Graduate of the prestigious Air Force Academy, but he left the Academy with a degree in Military Sciences and Engineering.
Jack proved himself to be an exceptional officer and a brilliant pilot, but it was his quick thinking that drew the attention of the Special Ops. They recruited Jack, and he did a variety of classified missions for them, some taking him to both Iran and Iraq during the first Gulf War(Solitudes).
Jack met and married Sara O’Neill presumably during the eighties, and the pair had a son, Charlie. Despite being away for long periods of time on missions, Jack still made sure he spent as much time as possible with his son, no doubt being partly responsible for his son’s interest in both space and astronomy (Cold Lazarus).
Jack was devastated by Charlie’s death in late 1995, and to this day considers himself responsible for the accident involving Jack’s handgun. He became suicidal after Charlie’s death and he pushed Sara away from him, by taking the first mission offered to him. This mission turned out to be the very first Stargate mission, and Jack was chosen precisely because of his willingness to die. During the mission, Jack became acquainted with Dr Daniel Jackson, and ultimately Daniel convinced Jack that life was worth living. Jack returned to earth to try and save his marriage, but it was too late - by the time he got back, Sara had already left him.
Jack was adjusting to a solitary retirement from the military, when he was called back to Stargate Command. Once there, he was told that the Alien threat was not over, and that they had to embark on another mission. It was at this time, that he met General George Hammond and Captain Samantha Carter. Although initially not getting off on the right foot with either, both would become close friends, and in the case of Sam, perhaps something more. On the second Stargate mission, Jack once again encountered Daniel Jackson, and they became steadfast friends almost immediately. Stargate Command ‘recruited’ Teal’c to their cause after his defection from the Goa’uld, and Jack immediately became great friends with the intimidating Jaffa. To this day, they share a silent bond of understanding, as both, surprisingly have a lot in common.
Jack was given command of SG1 in 1997. The team comprised Sam Carter, Daniel Jackson and Teal’c. The Langaran Jonas Quinn was also a member for one year. Jack disliked Jonas from the moment he met him (Meridian), but after Jonas redeemed himself by ‘doing the right thing’ Jack grudgingly came to respect him. When the time came for Jonas to return to his homeworld, they had become good friends.
Jack was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 2004, and was given command of the SGC. He adjusted to his new desk job surprisingly quickly, bar a few varied crises (Zero Hour). He still however, missed being on SG1 and going offworld, doing so only once after becoming CO.
Jack once again found himself getting promoted in 2005, and was given a desk job at the Pentagon, becoming head of homeworld security. Time will tell whether or not this proves to be a good career move for him, but I have a feeling he’ll do just fine!
Smart?
A casual or one-time viewer of SG1, will undoubtedly ask he question ‘How can someone so stupid be a high ranking air force officer?’. I asked myself that question when I first tuned in. But the answer is not that simple - and neither is Jack.
Jack O’Neill seems to have an inbuilt defence mechanism that makes him behave like an idiot most of the time, such his use of ‘innaproprate sarcasm’ (one false step) his tendancy to put his foot in it (Upgrades(he was just so damn excited)) or to be downright insulting when he doesn’t like someone (too many episodes to list). Again, this is a way of insuring that he doesn’t get hurt. He uses sarcasm to shield his feelings, and we only see that shield come down on only a few fleeting occasions:
Cold Lazarus - Jack is nearly in tears upon ‘seeing’ Charlie. A rare moment of emotion for him and one we probably won’t see again.
Upgrades/Divide and Conquer - When he realises he can’t save Sam from the Goa’uld, his feelings take over his rationality. He knows he can’t save her, and despite her protests, stays with her. When she yells at him to go, he screams ‘No!’ at her, and then their eyes lock, showing a depth of emotion, conveying far more than just friendship.
Abyss - When Jack is captured by Ba’al, he is visited by the ascended Daniel Jackson. Jack begs with him to end his suffering by helping him to die after Daniel refuses to help him escape. In on scene, Jack describes what he’d do to Ba’al. When Daniel remarks that Jack’s a lot better than that, Jack shouts angrily ‘That’s where you’re wrong!’.
Daniel Jackson seems to be the only person capable of seeing through this shield. In one of Sam’s delusions in the episode ‘Grace’ a halucination of Jack tells her that he’s not that complex, telling us that that’s what Sam thinks of him. But in Abyss, Daniel tells Jack to think of things realistically, because he’s ‘a lot smarter than that’.
Proof of Jack’s hidden intellect:
Children of the Gods - Despite his season two proclamation ‘you know me and computers’, Jack has a lap top out with his telescope. How many people had home laptops in 1997? I certainly didn’t!
Singularity - ‘accretion disc’ may have been only one comment, but it was something Daniel didn’t know! It’s further proof that Jack’s holding back on what he knows.
The Fifth Race - Has enough sense not to fight the ancients’ repository, letting the vault of information lead him to the Asgard Homeworld.
1969 - Once again, Jack shows some know-how with telescopes, operating an observatory telescope to look for solar flares.
Point of View - Knows a helluva lot about electronics, successfully hooking up a completely alien piece of technology to the Stargate’s energy supply.
Window of Opportunity - C’mon...he has to have taken something from those latin lectures besides juggling...hasn’t he?
Tangent - when the chips are down, he understands enough technobabble to try and save his and Teal’c’s lives...the plan doesn’t work, but it’s the thought that counts!
Rite of Passage - Okay, he misunderstood the context of how Cassie moved the chess piece, but he explained the physics behind it perfectly...it all about MAGNETS!
Desperate Measures - How many people would buy a crate of National Geographics and not read them? Precisely. He must have learnt something from them.
Evolution part two - He knows Spanish. In fact, due to his Special Ops past, Jack must know more than just English and Spanish. He probably knows languages such as Arabic as well. And he did have all those latin lessons...
It’s good to be King - He has the ancient gene...that’s gotta count for something!
The many interests of Jack O’Neill
Fishing - Jack loves ‘sipping a cold one and casting for that ever elusive crabbie’, often taking leave at his cabin in Minnesota. He’s never caught a fish though, and SG1 don’t seem to share his passion for it. He asks Sam to go fishing on numerous occassions and for seven years, the only person to take him up on the offer is Teal’c...who immediately regrets it, wanting to go back to the SGC. In the last episode of season eight however, SG1 mark Jack’s reassignment to the Pentagon by all going fishing with him. And we find out exactly why Jack’s never caught a fish...There’s only one there! (I reckon he feels sorry for it!)
Simpsons - Jack worships the Simpsons. He sets aside time to watch them (Lost City) and brings up the subject as often as possible, even compairing Mr Burns to the Goa’uld!
Hockey - Jack loves hockey and owns his own street hockey game, much to Hammond’s chagrin (Fire and Water).
Beer and Guiness - He finds them a refreshing substitute for food!
Reading - While we’ve never seen Jack reading a novel, he loves magazines. He reads National Geographic, Mad and Cracked (the shy guy’s guide to dating?)
The Women in Jack’s life
Sara - Jack’s ex wife. He was completely devoted to her for almost all of their marriage, dragging himself over the Iraqi desert in wartime for nine days to get back to her, despite suffering from several broken bones and internal injuries. They separated after the death of Charlie, when Sara felt that Jack abandoned her.
Kynthia - A one night fling. Very out of character for Jack, and no wonder. It only happened because she drugged him.
Laira - Much to the annoyance of many Stargate fans, Laira was the first woman since Sara that Jack fell for. Despite the offer of a relationship from her, and despite his obvious interest, Jack takes three months to say yes. In the end though, his duties and friends on earth are more important to him, and he reluctantly leaves her.
Agent Kerry Johnson - Kerry is a smart young woman working for the CIA. They meet near the end of season eight, and share a short but happy relationship, until Jack’s issues causes Kerry to break off the relationship, not wanting to be second-best in Jack’s life.
Sam Carter - Jack has deep feelings for Sam and although he has never said the words, it is apparent to a lot of people that he is in love with her. He was attracted to her from the moment they first met, but it took him four years to realise how he felt for her. Another four years later, both are now single, and may finally embark on the relationship that they have denied themselves for so long.
The Vital Statistics
Age - 52
D.O.B - 20/10/52
Height - 6’2”
Eyes - Brown
Hair - was dark blond, but was dyed auburn and is now silver
Distinguishing features - Scar in his left eye brow
Race - caucasian (although actor RDA is part Native American)
:D FANTASTIC
I just wish I was given this assignment at school rather than harder stuff.
I think you really did get into the character and pulled out all the bits that were true, using episodes to back it up. I laughed out loud at some lines, for example, beer and guiness.
Great stuff
Wendy
Hugs :)
Great essay sueKay! It's really logical and well-thought out, but it's interesting & funny too!
You seem to have him really well figured out.
That's a good point that Daniel is the only one who seems to be able to see through Jack's shielding.
Thank you Shel!!!!!!
Yeah...Jack's a great character to study...I love him!!!
How are you doing btw, and thanks for joining!
Great SueKay!!! I have one point to make for Jack's intelligence: his quote when Teal'c's symbiote is dying(I can't remember the ep). "Can't we just shock it like on ER?" or something to that extent.
It's great you have all of Jack's life there, or as much as anyone knows.
It is fishing for the ellusive "Crappie" (pronounced cr"ah"ppie. It is a popular fish in Minnesota lakes.
CGTeri
and i've fished for a few of them