Addendum to Canon vs. Fanon, part 14: How old is Sam, really?

[fignewton]

There was considerable discussion in the comments section of the Sam Carter edition regarding Sam's actual age. If you're interested in reading the details that lead to the final conclusion (the screencap from Entity doesn't work, but Sam is still younger than Daniel), this link will take you directly to the new analysis.

And thanks, Codger. :)

Comments

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Yep, understood that.

Would she have had the time?

Sam? Co-head of Overachievers Anonymous (together with Daniel)? Oh, come now. Of course she could've managed it. :)

I've always imagined Sam as being born in the early 60s, just like you. But canon does seem to say otherwise. Cramming huge amounts of life into a small amount of years isn't exclusive to Sam, don't forget; Jack turns out to be not only Special Forces, but also a test pilot (don't try and tell me those two normally go hand in hand). And our dear Daniel, of course, managed twenty-three languages and three degrees by thirty.

None of these people are going to take the typical, normal, or easy route. We have to remember that. :)

[ali888.livejournal.com]

"I've always imagined Sam as being born in the early 60s, just like you. But canon does seem to say otherwise."

Now, I don't really remember any canon about Sam's age. She mentioned that she flew planes during the First Gulf War and she's mentioned all those things she's done over the years. I think that any sort of time-line of her life is based on fans' interpretations of Sam's achievements. Jack said he was forty in S1, Daniel said he was four and a half in August 1969 in S2 (contradicted by his date of birth given as July 8th in S3) and Teal'c gave his age in S4. The writers have been much more coy about Sam's age for some reason.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

I think they're coy about Sam's age just to be annoying. Can you think of another reason? :)

For the record, though, "forty" might be a general rather than exact number. I tend to be suspicious of nice clean zeroes and fives. It's why I absolutely accept Daniel's 23 languages in S2, even if others find it hard to believe; it's such a specific number. Prime, even. :)

[6beforelunch.livejournal.com]

It's why I absolutely accept Daniel's 23 languages in S2

Hey, it's not unprecedented (http://www.mezzofanti.org/mezzofanti.html). *g*

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

That's just... wow. The mind boggles.

Although "Biblical" and "Rabbinic" Hebrew are identical, in my experience. But whew!

So, yeah. 23 by late S2, and several more canonically by S10... that's our boy. :)