Controversial Deaths in Sci-Fi TV History - Yes, Daniel Makes the List!

Richard Dean Anderson as Col. Jack O’Neill and Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson in the fifth season of “Stargate SG-1”

Slash Film have compiled a list of Sci-Fi TV character deaths that - in their eyes - rank among the most controversial. And to nobody’s surprised, Daniel Jackson’s death in the penultimate episode of Season 5 of “Stargate SG-1” makes the list!

Per Slash Film:

"Oh my God! They killed Daniel!" This South Park-inspired exclamation echoed through Stargate fandom as early as 2006, because “Stargate SG-1” couldn't get enough of rubbing out its resident archaeologist.

It began in the 1994 “Stargate” movie, where Dr. Daniel Jackson (James Spader) met his demise but regenerated using "sarcophagus" technology. The series made the cycle of killing and reviving Jackson (Michael Shanks) into a habit. Throughout the show's run, he — and replicas and alternate-timeline versions of him — returned from the brink of death or death itself numerous times. Such absurdity wasn't lost on the characters, who once quipped, "Dr. Jackson is gonna DIE when he sees this!" "What, again?"

However, Jackson's death and subsequent ascension in Season 5's penultimate episode, "Meridian," incited a backlash. The uproar led to an 11-month campaign to bring the character and actor back, complete with advertisements in Hollywood trades and publications like Salon. Whatever the catalyst, ascended Jackson made a few appearances in Season 6. Eventually, he resumed human form in Season 7 to continue his adventures and face his slippery mortality, again and again.”

Check out the full article on the Slash Film website.