After thinking about this, I wanted to get a screen capture of Sam in front of a board filled with equations...but it turns out that they shot those scenes so that you can't get much of a look at the board when they also have Sam in the frame.

Ah well... just have to make do with these other *cool* shots from that episode!

In the first image, Sam checks out the new gravity field at the event horizon.
In the second image, Sam orders the iris closed... the incoming wormhole is pulling things through the wrong way!
In the third image, Sam gives 'The Donut Explanation' to Hammond (just how does an astrophysicist explain black hole quantum physics to her superior officer?)... oh..and, blowing up the mountain is not going to solve the problem...
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Here's to the promise of a Season 9 with scenes showing Carter competently in command.
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FIELD WORK

Photos are screen captures from the episode 'Nemesis'
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Competency Under Fire

Photos are screen captures from the episode 'Nemesis'
Thor's biopod has already been sent through the Gate and Carter, O'Neill and Teal'c are holding the replicators off while waiting until they can blow Thor's ship as it enters Earth's atmosphere.
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It was difficult to get clear, sharp stills of this sequence as AT kept moving and the scenes were not brightly lit.


Sam: "I have to close the door."
Cassie nods. With that Sam gets up and leaves the room.
Sam is still crying, they take one last look at each other,
and Sam shuts the heavy door, and spins the wheel to lock it.
Cassie: "Sam? Sam?"

Sam is sobbing now.
She steps into the elevator and makes it go up.
She starts slamming her fists against the walls and kicking it.
She finally sits down in a corner, still sobbing.
Suddenly it looks like she has realized something
and she stands back up and hits the stop bottom on the elevator.
One of my favorite moments was when AT shows that look on her face when 'she just knew'
- when she decides to go back down (second photo from the right in the strip above).

SCENE CHANGE:TOP OF FACILITY
We see the elevator lights stop at 26 then goes to back down.
Daniel: "Jack, she's going back down."
Jack: "The hell she is." Jack goes over to the speaker. "Captain Carter?" Sam doesn't answer. "Captain Carter."

SCENE CHANGE: Cassie's room in the facility
Sam walks in. We here Jack's voice thought the speaker in the room.
Jack: "Sam, do you read me?"
Sam walks over to the speaker.
Sam: "Colonel, I'm staying."

SCENE CHANGE: Top of Facility
Jack: "Negative."
Sam: "Colonel, she's awake."
Daniel: "Oh god!"

SCENE CHANGE: Cassie's room
Sam shuts the heavy door, and locks it.

Jack: "Captain, Carter. I am ordering you to get back up here, right now." Sam finishes locking it and ignores the speaker. "Right now!"

Sam goes to Cassie and they hug.
Cassie: "Are we going to die?"
Sam: "No, we are not going to die."
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All photos are screen captures from the episode 'Singularity'
The transcript excerpts are from the Stargate SG-1 Transcript website
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Here's a few episode snapshots of Sam's natural 'softer side'

The first photo is Sam and Merrin in the 3rd season episode 'Learning Curve'
and the second and third photos are Sam and Cassie from the 1st season episode 'Singularity'

In 'Learning Curve' the interaction between Sam and Merrin is wonderful as Sam figures out how the reactor works and then explains to Merrin how rewarding it is to figure something out for yourself. This scene interwove Sam's interaction with the young Merrin and Sam's own child-like sparkle and delight when solving mental challenges on the frontiers of science... interpolating between ideas and then extrapolating beyond them.

In 'Singularity' the penultimate scenes are when Carter first tries to leave Cassie, but then just can't do it and she goes back down. AT's acting in these scenes should have garnered awards. The scenes later in the park, with Sam and Cassie on the bench, show a softer, gentler side of Sam Carter that rarely gets to show. But it's scenes like these that flesh out the character of Sam Carter and make her multi-dimensional beyond the proper military subordinate and/or simple science geek.
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I remember this scene so vividly -- AT played it so exceptionally well, that it has stuck with me over the past six years. Once others on this thread commented on it so positively, I decided to go and make a few screen capture panels... of note, I'm not a Sam/Martouf shipper (no offense to anyone who is) - but this scene is still fantastic!

MARTOUF: Jolinar's host, Rosha, was very beautiful. She had eyes like the oceans of Marloon, hair was the colour of Abydos, and her smile was, was as infectious as laughter. In fact, Rosha looked very much like you Captain Carter. You are very beautiful. You'd make a lovely new host for Selmak.
Sam turns away.
MARTOUF: I'm sorry, I've said something to upset you.
SAM: No. Yes! It's difficult enough with just the remnants of Jolinar in here. The last thing I need is another person - symbiote - whatever.
Sam sits down on the edge of the ridge. Martouf stands a little way away.

MARTOUF: I didn't mean to upset you so.
Martouf walks over to Sam and crouches down next to her.
SAM: It's just the thought of going through that again.
MARTOUF: Don't give it another moment's thought. It was an inappropriate suggestion. Please understand that it came from a deep desire to have Jolinar back in my life in some form.
SAM: This must be what it feels like to be schizophrenic.
MARTOUF: What is schizophrenic?
SAM: It's a mental illness humans have. It's like a split personality. Two people in one brain. I mean, there's me, Samantha Carter, and then there's this leftover part of Jolinar that feels things like...

MARTOUF: Like...?
SAM: Like some pretty deep feelings for you.
MARTOUF: Jolinar left this imprint on your mind?
SAM: Yes.
MARTOUF: I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable, but...
SAM: No! It's just... what you had, you and Jolinar, you were in love longer than I've been alive! Hell, longer than I will be alive!
MARTOUF: She left this feeling with you? You can feel how she felt for me?
SAM: Yes. And it's confusing the hell outta me.
MARTOUF: Why?
SAM: Because it's not just in my mind like a memory, I feel it. Like I've had this relationship with you for 100 years. I don't know if I can describe it with words. What Jolinar felt for you, I don't even think I'm capable of comprehending.
MARTOUF: Maybe there's another way you can communicate it. Perhaps in a way other than words.
They interlock their hands and then Daniel and some Tok'ra guys rush up.
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This scene developed and showed important facets of Sam Carter's character and personality.

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The transcript above is from The Stargate SG-1 Transcript Website episode 211 The Tokra Pt 1.
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One of the best Sam Carter moments – that hooked me on Stargate – was at the beginning of the Season 3 episode ‘Forever in a Day’. SGC personnel are fighting all-out against advancing Jaffa. In the midst of the pitched battle Sam capably handles an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade launcher, if I have that correctly).
What astounded me when I saw these fleeting intro scenes was how the writers and directors allowed Carter to simply function as one of the soldiers. No comment on the fact that she was a woman… or that RPGs are usually associated with macho men… More typically an RPG is something that they would have had Teal’c or O’Neill wielding. But Carter got to do it… and they simply moved on without fanfare. I was so impressed at how they handled the female soldier, that I became an avid fan from thereon after.


First two photos are screen captures from the StargateFan website
Rightmost photo is a screen capture from the Abydos Gate Website

After that I ordered the Season 1, 2 and 3 DVDs and watched them in order. What a treat! So many great Carter moments (see earlier posts).

Being a female scientist myself, I love seeing Carter organically solve techno-science problems. AT has created an intelligent female character who isn’t arrogant or b----y.

I also like seeing the ‘softer side of Sam’… the moments when they let her cry…. or simply dress in jeans or a skirt and a simple shirt.

But when each new episode begins, I have to admit, I am always hoping that they will show more of the oh-so-competent kick-ass ‘Soldier Sam’.
 

My vote overwhelmingly goes to giving Sam lots of screen time as the Hand Signal Person In Charge!
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The following is from the Stargate SG-1 Transcripts website

MCKAY: (To, it looks like Siler who's measuring the distance with a tapemeasure) Right here. (Walks down the ramp, to Sam) You just want to be able to take credit for it when it works.

SAM: (Pointed, just for him ) For the record, I *HATE* you. (Lovely smile on her face)

MCKAY: Well, can't get any worse, then,can it?

SAM: Oh, no. I'm rapidly working up to "Despise".

MCKAY: You know, we're obviously gonna have to get over this physical attraction thing if we're going to work together.

SAM: (Whispers) I think I can act as though it never existed.

MCKAY: Shall we save the world?

SAM: (Sarcastically) Before I take the credit for this ... shouldn't the EM pulse generator be pointed *AT* the gate??

MCKAY: (Points at her) You're good! (Sam points back at him smiling) VERY good! (The SF's turn the EM pulse generator around)



Photos are screen captures from the episode Redemption pt 2
 
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Clearing the table... of the money too...
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How cool is that?
 

Photos are screen captures from the episode 'Entity'

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