Character studies: Daniel Jackson

For those of you who don't know, Daniel Jackson is the character created by James Spader in the Stargate movie and elaborated a bit by Michael Shanks in the TV series Stargate SG-1.

I'm a big fan of the show--the movie's cool, too, but I love the show, for a variety of reasons (besides just being able to stare at Amanda Tapping). One reason is the character of Daniel, who I find fascinating.

Daniel, as Shanks portrayed him, was the moral voice of the show. He believed the right thing to do remained the right thing to do even if it became expensive, troublesome, or inconvenient. And he never stopped expressing his convictions, even when everyone disagreed, and even when doing so put his life in danger. Granted, this sometimes made him a real pain-in-the-ass, but a necessary one, because he was usually right.

It would have been different if he insisted on one strict point-of-view--if he were, for example, Christian, and insisted that those ideals be enforced and embraced. That wasn't it, though--Daniel felt like people should be given a chance, even if doing so meant he or those he represents would be inconvenienced.

He was so stubborn and so outspoken that even the Goa'uld, who respected no-one and were just out for themselves, respected Daniel.

It's a terribly interesting character and I'm sort of riffing on that idea now, with some changes, of course. But check out Stargate SG-1--especially seasons 3-7 (even though he was out for most of season 5, I think it was). You'll really enjoy yourself, and you'll see how interesting characters can carry a show.