"Lost City" is the two-part finale to the seventh season of the science fiction television show StargateSG-1. It was originally intended to be a second Stargate film, and was then to be the show's absolute finale, and finally ended up being the seventh season finale after the series was renewed. "Lost City" served as an introduction to Stargate Atlantis and the events portrayed were followed up in the Atlantis premiere "Rising" as well as in SG-1's own "New Order". "Lost City" also featured special guest starChief of Staff of the Air Force John P. Jumper as himself. This episode was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series and for a Gemini Award in the category Best Visual Effects.
Plot
Part 1
discovers a Repository of the Ancients on P3X-439. However, Anubis has also discovered its location, and SG-1 must destroy the Repository to keep it out of his hands. Knowing the information contained inside might be Earth's only defense against Anubis, Jack O'Neill interfaces with the device, knowing the Ancient knowledge will eventually kill him. In Washington, D.C., new President Henry Hayes calls upon Dr. Elizabeth Weir, an expert in international politics, to replace General George Hammond for a three-month review. Vice President Robert Kinsey approaches Weir, expressing in no uncertain terms the undesirability of interfering with his agenda. Teal'c's mentor Bra'tac brings news that Anubis' fleet will arrive at Earth in three days. Kinsey believes this to be a ploy to keep the SGC running, but Weir hears out SG-1's proposal to find the Lost City of the Ancients, and with it the means to defend Earth. Bra'tac and Teal'c depart for Chulak, to find ships and warriors to aid in Earth's defense.
Part 2
O'Neill, under the influence of Ancient knowledge, writes down what Daniel believes is the location of the Lost City: Praclarush Taonas. Daniel realizes that there is a syllable in the Ancient language for each Stargate symbol, and thus "Praclarush Taonas" is a Stargate address. Sam plots the planet's location and SG-1 sets off in a Goa'uld cargo ship along with Bra'tac and a young Jaffa pilot named Ronan. Jack's condition is worsening; his actions are becoming more and more subconscious, and he is losing the ability to communicate. He gives command of the mission to Carter. They arrive at a molten planet and discover Taonas, an Ancient outpost, buried under hardened lava. O'Neill activates a hologram showing Terra Atlantus—Earth and the Lost City of Atlantis, buried in Antarctica. O'Neill removes an advanced power source from the outpost. In orbit, Bra'tac fights and successfully kills Ronan who was not a Rebel Jaffa but actually an agent working for Anubis. During the fight, Bra'tac is wounded; O'Neill heals him using the healing powers of the Ancients, then enhances the cargo ship's hyperdrive and modifies its ring transporter to be able to melt through ice upon reaching their destination at Antarctica. Anubis' scouts reach Earth, but General Hammond and President Hayes believe he is attempting to probe Earth's status and hold back the Prometheus. The Goa'uld begin attacking, wiping out the Nimitz carrier group. Anubis' fleet then appears above Earth and targets its communications network; Anubis appears as a hologram inside the Oval Office and demands Earth's surrender. Kinsey attempts to escape to the Alpha Site, but Anubis dials the Stargate first. SG-1's cargo ship arrives above Antarctica and starts drilling; it is protected from a group of death gliders and Al'kesh by the Prometheus, commanded by General Hammond, and its F-302s. Once inside the Ancient facility, O'Neill installs the power source while Daniel, Sam and Teal'c fend off Anubis' Kull Warriors. As Hammond orders a kamikaze run on Anubis' flagship, O'Neill activates Ancient weapons that obliterates the Goa'uld fleet. A drained O'Neill indicates an Ancient stasis chamber; as it activates, he says "ave, amicis". Sam is determined to save him, while Daniel realizes they are in another outpost, not the Lost City. Teal'c wonders where Atlantis is as the three of them look at the frozen O'Neill.
Production
Writing and development
When originally televised, "Lost City " and "Lost City " were aired as separate episodes, the second part airing the week after the first. Each episode had its own opening and closing credits, guest stars listed, writers and title. When placed on the DVD, these episodes were edited into one episode 85 minutes in length, under the sole title "Lost City". According to the DVD audio commentary, the teleplay was adapted from a screenplay for Stargate II when it was thought the series would be cancelled after the fifth season. In the original screenplay, O'Neill and Carter were supposed to kiss after he resigns in the engine room of the Tel'tak. The relationship between the two characters had been a running theme throughout the course of the series, and spawned much speculation and debate as to what the ultimate result would be, but the kiss was edited out when an eighth season was confirmed.
Casting
This episode features the only appearance of Jessica Steen as Dr. Elizabeth Weir. Torri Higginson plays the role in the eighth season opener, "New Order" and in Stargate Atlantis. Herak, portrayed by Michael Adamthwaite, has his final appearance in this episode, after being introduced in the sixth season. Ron Blecker, one of the SG-3 marines, was the show's military consultant/advisor — this was his first credited appearance in front of the camera. Among the officials gathered in President Hayes' office is General John P. Jumper, at the time the current real Air Force Chief of Staff. The President's visitor, Bonnie, is Bonnie Arbuthnot, a development director in Chicago who won the SciFi Channel's "Get in the 'Gate'" contest for a walk-on role as a White House staffer.
Reception
This episode was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series and for a Gemini Award in the category Best Visual Effects.
