Samantha Carter
Played by Amanda Tapping
Sam Carter is the brains behind SG1 and the entire Stargate Program. She’s been described as one of Earth’s national treasures. Yet for some reason, Sam can seem unsure of herself, and has a sizeable chip in her shoulder. We take a look at her past.
The Story so far...
Sam was born in the state of Colorado in the mid-sixties to Jacob Carter and his wife. She was one of two children, having a brother named Mark. Sam’s mother died in a road accident while she was in her early teens. Sam and Mark blamed their father for the accident, as he was meant to pick her up from the Airport but never. She got a taxi and there was an accident. Eventually, Sam and Jacob talked and she forgave him. The same could not be said for Mark, who grew estranged from his sister and father.
Sam grew to admire her father’s sense of honour and duty and signed up for the Air Force to follow in his footsteps. She gained entry to the Air Force Academy, graduating with a Doctorate in Theoretical Astrophysics. This wasn’t the end of Sam’s academic education, as she gained a further two degrees in Physics while being a serving officer in the USAF. Sam was also trained in warfare and an expert pilot, logging over a hundred flight hours in enemy air space during the Gulf war.
Sam became involved with the Stargate Project in the early nineties and was one of the first Air Force Officers to be involved with the project run by Catherine Langford. She devised a way to interface the Stargate to a computer, and eventually managed to create the dialing computer, letting Earth use their DHD-less Stargate for the first time in ten thousand years.
It was probably round about this time that Sam met Jonas Hanson, a USAF Captain. Little is known about their relationship other than that it went as far as an engagement, before Sam called it off. realizing that Jonas was more than just a control freak.
Sam was not able to go through the Stargate during the first mission lead by Jack O’Neill, but was called back to the SGC when the program was reinitialized over a year later. She was immediately given a spot on the premiere team - SG1, and while Jack initially had misgivings about having a scientist on the team, she fit right in. Sam sometimes found it difficult being ‘one of the guys’ and often felt that she had to prove herself an able officer and fighter, challenging Jack to arm wrestle at their first meeting. She proved her abilities to everyone in ‘Emancipation’ winning a lethal fight against a Mongol warlord.
Two years after joining SG1, Sam gained a promotion to the rank of Major, but never let it go to her head. She remained a steadfast member of the team for a further six years, before gaining another promotion, to Lieutenant Colonel, and leader of SG1. She remained leader for a year, before the SGC was downsized and she took a position at area 51. She will return to the SGC and SG1 in the future, but for now, she is enjoying working at area 51, and has started a relationship with Jack O’Neill.
Happy?
Sam has a massive soft spot for children, and grew particular close to the Hankan girl Cassie when they found her alone on another planet. Sam considered adopting Cassie, but Janet Frasier took her in instead. It was through Cassie that Sam and Janet formed a close friendship going from the use of ranks to a first name basis in a very quick time.
Sam met Denver Cop Pete Shanahan on a blind date in 2004. The two were together for little over a year, and it seems that Sam fell in love with the idea of being in love with someone, rather that falling in love with the person. She met Pete during a mid-life crisis of sorts, after meeting the bizzare alien Grace who forced her to face up to a lot of harsh truths in her life. Her career isn’t going to keep her happy forever. No-one is certain about who Grace represents. Sam’s inner child...or a longing for children. When Pete proposes to her in ‘Affinity’, this is certainly one of the main things on her mind, proclaiming ‘ do I drop the kids off at school on the way to some distant planet?’. It seems pretty certain that children are one of the things missing in Sam’s life.
Fun?
Sam also has an inability to just have fun. In the episode learning curve, Sam meets Merrin who, at the age of eleven, is already an expert on Naquadah reactors. Rather than teaching Merrin to have fun like other children, she prefers to sit and tinker with the reactor. This happens again when Jack invites her fishing and she declines. In ‘Grace’, Grace tries to get Sam to blow bubbles, but Sam sits and explains how a bubble retains it’s form. Sam analyses everything and is not a fun of spontaneity or the unexpected.
Sam’s Interests
Physics - Theoretical Astrophysics is something Sam pioneered, and it remains to be a big hobby for her although she now prefers to be out in the thick of the action to sitting in a lab.
Doohickeys - as Jack calls them. Sam loves pulling things apart to see how they work...then trying to put them back together.
Vintage Cars - especially Volvos. Sam regularly does her vintage car u, as we’ve seen it painted blue and red!
Motorbikes - Sam’s old Indian motorbike is one of her prize possessions. We’ve only ever seen it once, when she and Siler were working on it, but we’ve seen her in her leather twice. (Space Race and Covenant)
Speed - one thing Sam loves...She seems positively giddy when she’s invited to participate in a race (Space Race)
Working out - Although she doesn’t need to, Sam works out on her days off (Desperate Measures)
The Men in Sam’s life
Jonas- Sam’s late ex-fiance. Sam’s always reckoned she’s had a soft spot for the ‘lunatic fringe’. She left Jonas as she though he was too controlling. He also proved to have delusions of grandeur, believing that he was the God of a primitive of an alien race. He was eventually killed when his ‘people’ rebelled against him.
Narim - Sam always had a soft spot for the Tollan, and the two shared a kiss a few days after they first met. That was as far as their attraction went, though he also exhibited some of those lunatic qualities that Sam seems to like, giving his home computer Sam’s voice. Sadly, Narim was to fall to the deadly Black Widow curse that Sam seems to have, dying after a Goa’uld attack on Tollana.
Martouf - Sam was briefly blended with the Tok’ra Jolinar, Martouf’s mate. Sam reminded Martouf of Jolinar to such a great extent that in ‘The Devil you know’, he imagines her to be Jolinar. Martouf sadly died in the episode ‘ Divide and Conquer’, but he lived on in the symbiote Lantash. Lantash was implanted into Lieutenant Elliot, and admitted his love for her.
Orlin - Again from the ‘lunatic fringe’, Orlin is an ancient who develops feelings for Sam, ultimately following her home to Colorado Springs. The two shared a special bond and friendship, before Orlin had to return to his own people.
Agent Barrett - Sam and Malcolm Barrett have an odd relationship, laced with sexual tension. The two are polar opposites. Barrett is untrusting of everyone, while Sam tries to see the good in everyone. They have learnt a lot from each other, and appear to enjoy their rather odd non-relationship.
Pete Shanahan - Sam’s first real relationship since Jonas. The pair were together for over a year, and made it to just before their wedding, before Sam realised that she was making a mistake. Pete again showed some of the ‘clingy’ behaviour of Jonas and Narim before him, in that he follows her to a stakeout, and walks out on her after their first night together after she refuses to tell him any details about her work.
Jack O’Neill - Sam has been attracted to Jack since she first met him. But nearly three years after SG1 was formed, it becomes apparent that there’s more there than just an attraction (A Hundred Days). By ‘Divide and Conquer’, both she and Jack have admitted their feelings for each other. Four years after that confession, both are finally edging towards a relationship.
The Vital Statistics
Age - mid to late 30s
D.O.B - ?
Height - 5’9”
Eyes - Blue
Hair - light blonde with highlights and lowlights.
Distinguishing features - None
Race - caucasian
It's great SueKay!!! Where do you find the time for all this essay writing and gathering all the details together? You rock!
I don't actually do research for them...it's all the useless info floating around in my brain!
Glad you likey!