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| Point Blank Review: Stargate SG-1 |
| Prior to starting in on the 10 season epic that is Stargate SG-1 courtesy of Netflix, I was a bit curious as to the 8.5 rating as seen on IMDB. I had never really put much thought into getting into this sci-fi series, but now that I am 8 seasons in, that rating no longer needs to be justified. I made the mistake after I was 6 seasons into the series and read about the series on Wikipedia. That ruined some of the surprises that were yet comes. In fact I was trying to see where Stargate Atlantis fit into the picture, which is at the start of Stargate SG-1, season 8. Regardless of what I read, the series has been amazing! The television series was built off the movie, Stargate, which came out in 1994 starting Kurt Russell as Colonel Jack O'Neil and James Spader as Dr. Daniel Jackson. In the movie, on the Giza Plateau a cover stone is found, underneath it holds what comes to be known as the "stargate." This is a "ancient" transport device that allows travelers to gate to other worlds. The movie while not highly popular did spawn the television series, which stars Richard Dean Anderson as Colonel Jack O'Neill, and Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson. The show also introduces Amanda Tapping as Major Samantha Carter and Christopher Judge as the Jaffa, Teal'c. The characters are very well developed, which helps you identify with them. O'Neill is a driven military leader trying to make up for a failed marriage and a family tragedy, which could have been prevented. Samantha Carter is much her like her O'Neill, in that she is a very driven individual who is married to the military and the stargate project, which is hidden under the guise of deep space telemetry. As part of SG-1, shi is the science expert and theoretical astrophysicist. Again, like O'Neill, she has some family skeletons in her closet as well, driven by her father, Jacob, a general in the Air Force. Carter also bonds amazing well with Dr. Daniel Jackson, a civilian archaeologist responsible for translating the ancient symbols, which allowed activation of the stargate. Prior to the series, Jackson was a failed lecturer who was no longer taken serious about his theories on the pyramids. Much like O'Neill and Carter, he too was witness to great family tragedy when his parents were killed establishing a new museum exhibit. The only "alien" presence on the team is Teal'c who comes to SG-1 as a Jaffa, with extensive knowledge of the Goa'uld as he defected from the ranks as the First Prime to Apophis. Many of the Gou'ald know of his exploits and is considered a Shol'va or traitor by those he fought next to. His knowledge of the Gou'ald and System Lords plays an important role in providing timely information to SG-1 and those he now vows allegiance to. Much like the other members of SG-1 He too is wrought with tragedy in his past. He abandoned his wife and son, for their protection after wanting "freedom" from the Gou'ald and the "false Gods" as the System Lords refer to themselves. The storyline and plot is excellent throughout the series (remember I'm on Season 8 here). Many episodes play off previous missions or story lines that were set up earlier in the show. The introduction of the System Lords and their desires to rule the universe by acting as Gods and enslaving the people on a wide variety of planets, most of which end up being human based. This goes back to the Ancients who spread their civilizations through many different worlds. The Stargate is housed in the Cheyenne Mountain Complex in Wyoming and overseen by Major General George Hammond. He controls the activity of the gate, sending SG (Star gate) teams on missions to other worlds. SG-1 is the main team, thus the show centers on their missions and exploits. The shows main protagonist early on is the System Lord, Apophis, as he searches the galaxy for new Gou'ald hosts. After Teal'c defects a Jaffa Rebeillion begins, in which a small group search for their freedom from the Gou'ald. Even after 8 seasons the show continues to fascinate and surprise even as I am now two seasons away from the end of SG-1. With all the interest generate by this show, I have started to explore the Pegasus Universe, which is home to Stargate Atlantis, which ran in parallel with SG-1 for a few years. I have watched some good sci-fi shows in the past, Space: Above and Beyond comes to mind, but that series was short lived. The new Battlestar Galactica also comes to mind, from what I have heard from others. But Stargate SG-1 has something special that makes it an excellent sci-fi series as you explore the universe. I recommend you become a "Gater" and watch the series. It truly is an amazing series. |
| W6ONV on Sunday 27 December 2009 - 18:32:56 | Read/Post Comment: 3 |
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