Introduced as an essential military mind to complement that of Colonel Jack O'Neill's, Captain Carter has systematically worn down the officer's defenses whilst bringing his deference up to such a level that thousands of SG-1 fans wonder if their tight working relationship is confined to purely professional quarters. Whilst they began by being almost constantly at odds with one another, Carter and O'Neill do spark a certain frisson of excitement, particularly when forced into close physical proximity. It's happened a few times in the first two seasons but we'll have to wait until midway through season three to see just how closely the pair becomes entangled. O'Neill still throws the odd jibe in Carter's direction and mistakenly assumes her superior technical knowledge means she can co-ordinate any complicated mathematical calculations and so bail them out of trouble but he is mellowing towards the lady as the years progress--as the clever girl always knew he would.

Far simpler is Carter's relationship with anthropologist Dr. Daniel Jackson, another who has gradually fallen under our heroine's spell. Meeting for the first time when our intrepid troops burst through the stargate in order to roust out the bad guys in Children of the Gods, Jackson immediately recognized a kindred spirit. Although it's evident the scientists share an easy affection for each other the nature of their friendship is more along brother-sister lines. It's a friendship which gets tested many times during the series, most notably in an episode entitled In the Line of Duty when Jackson has to overcome a number of personal issues in order to support Carter through a particularly difficult time in her life. True to form though, the girl gets by with a little help from her friends.

Resident alien and all round mega-strong person, Teal'c, the erstwhile baddie, is most definitely the strong silent type, who has gradually come to accept that the diminutive Captain Carter--well anyone would look tiny next to Teal'c--is as big in terms of loyalty and valour as any soldier he has ever fought. Slowly warming to this most confusing of beings--the females don't fight like Carter on his planet--Teal'c has on occasion put his own life on the line for the courageous Captain as she, in the spirit of battle, has done the same for him.

Not that she loses any of her femininity in the process, you understand. No sir, er... ma'am! This is one woman who understands that the way to a man's heart isn't always via the obvious route but that a short, sharp smack in the tonsils will often sort out the men from the boys. Take season one's Emancipation episode as a case in point. Transported to a forested planet the SG-1 team find a world inhabited by several tribes whose ideas of wimmins rights is more Saddam Hussein then Emily Pankhurst.

Forbidden to dress like a man nor be seen in public without a veil over her face (a scurrilous plot by Men to save themselves from the sight of ugly women) the ever resourceful Carter volunteers' to clothe herself like the other females and be segregated with them as long as it helps the ever enthusiastic culture vulture Jackson in his quest to discover more about the society's medical capabilities. Traded as a possible sex slave to a neighboring chief, Sam soon puts any of those ideas to flight when she gets into hand to hand combat with the black-guard, not only saving her own honor, but that of all the other girls in the band. "The women are now free from seclusion and permitted to show their faces. It is how you will be remembered..." promises the battered bloke. Just as well her fought her on a good day. There's not telling how many bits he'd have been in had she been suffering from PMT.

All this beating up misguided males does not mean that Carter has anything against them per se. In fact, she's had more that a few dalliances with friendly natives since venturing through stargates. When the episode entitled Enigma sees the gang rescuing, a less than enthusiastic group from being barbecued on their home world, Carter finds herself the object of desire of one decidedly bright individual and is given official permission to exercise both her physical and intellectual charms on the visitor. Sadly the gorgeous Narim's brain and all sorts of extra powers vastly exceed that of most Earth males, so he has to go live on another planet where his skills won't stand out so much. Reluctant to let him leave without a token of her esteem to remember her by, Carter reciprocates the alien's gift of a personal mechanical device by giving him her cat Schroedinger, so that he might recall their shared affection and deep philosophical conversations about quantum physics. A selfless and considerate gesture that. Typical of a woman whose intuitiveness and generosity means she can put that needs of others before her own private desires.

A genuinely compassionate person, Carter regularly shows that when the going gets tough, the tough can sometimes just sit down and have a bit of a snuggle. In Singularity, Carter becomes involved with a young girl whose apparent immunity to a deadly virus turns out to be a Trojan horse device set to destroy the Stargate facility. Faced with the choice of "staying detached" and living, or comforting a distraught child and dying, the heroine of the piece makes the right decision, affirming her qualifications as a soldier who also relies on her intuition as well as her military skills.

As gentle as she can be when needs must, our woman Carter has often shown she can raise a bit of a strop if and when necessary to accomplish her task. Possessed by a Goa'uld as she's administering mouth to mouth resuscitation to the ungrateful wretch on the battlefield, Cater gets a lot more that just a sore throat as a result. Storming about like, well, like a thing possessed, the other members of the usually close-knit team come in for some serious verbal abuse until it's discovered that the parasite invaded Carter believing her to be a willing host. After revealing that it is in fact a Goa'uld resistance fighter using Carter's body in an effort to get home the soldier is eventually freed when the alien dies. Captain shows an incredible amount of physical and emotional strength as she fights to gain her equilibrium and her place within the SG-1 fold. In the Line of Duty is just one part of a story arc that gives Carter the oppurtunity to unfold the myriad layers of her personality and psyche. A complex woman who manages to fulfil her military and academic commitments while at the same time betraying none of her more feminine attributes, Carter's development has been a joy to watch throughout season two.

The progression of the arc which sees Carter deal with her father's admission that he has cancer, her loyalty to the Stargate program and its ideals, and her unstinting support for the other members of the SG-1 family, makes her a force to be reckoned with in any galaxy. No soppy staying at home in tears for this gal. No way! She's off through that portal, capturing hearts and finding a cure (albeit an extreme one) for her father's disease before you can shout "initiate Stargate cycle". The Tok'Ra sees the indomitable Carter stuggle with the possiblity of losing not only her father but yet another interested male. Fortunately the former turns out most satisfactorily but the poor girl ends up missing out on that lurve thang once again. Of course, loyalty to her homeland may have nothing to do with the woman's inability to hang on to a hunk. It could have something to do with that grey potato sack she insists on stomping about in. It's no wonder its voluminous folds keep her focussed one derring-do rather than any other pursuits. A fine figure of a woman beneath the soldier's equivalent of a shell suit, it's anybody's guess just how much more disposed she would be to giving in to the girlie side of her nature if she flaunted a few frills. They may seem impractical to General Hammond's eyes, but hey, have you seen what some people wear on the other side of the stargate?

And long skirts and tight tops have never stopped Gabrielle fighting her way to Xena's side. Still, sartorial elegance aside, it's the person that counts and Carter can be tottered as one of the best. An obvious favorite with the too-nice-to-be-a-general Hammond, she regularly lives up to all his expectations as a fighter and protectress of the troops as well as all-round wonderful human being. Such is his regard for Carter's capabilities that he entrusts her rather than anyone else to carry a message to his former self in 1969, thus ensuring the team fulfil a prophecy and come back to the future intact. The episode also graphically displays Carter's gift for dry humor and keeping a stiff upper lip in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Despite the near hysterical sight of Teal'c with curly hair and bandanna, Carter maintains an ice-like cool--not a hint of a giggle in earshot. There's a lot to be said for a woman who can hold her laughs.

Now all this courage, bravery and serious behavior, whilst being subjected to some of the most terrifyingly ridiculous sights ever to flash through any universe, may have the odd disadvantage or two, but there is some recompense for the hardships this woman has to endure. Whilst Colonel O'Neill may still be 'officially' in charge of the SG-1 team, it's a tribute to Carter's excellence on and off the field that the boss supports the powers that be in their wish to advance her professional career. She gets promoted to Major in season three (gasp!). Not only that, but she gets married as well--floaty frock and all. Fortunately all is not as it seems so you can put your hankies away boys--Carter is not leaving us just yet. She does have some pretty serious issues to address regarding her personal life through, but rest assured Major Carter will deal with them with the strength, efficiency and dignified demeanor we've come to love and respect.