Stargate
I think it was back in 1999 that I first heard of the show Stargate SG-1. I remember watching a couple of episodes but thought it was rubbish. I think the major reason was that the year before Babylon 5 had just finished airing. Babylon 5, with it’s 5 seasons, was a ground breaking Sci-Fi series because it had a plotline, created by one man, that spanned the whole series. Every episode and everything that happened was part of a Big Master Plan. The notion of a Big Master Plan brings continuity, of things evolving and changing, to a show and that really appealed to me. So I considered watching another Sci-Fi series that didn’t have this as a waste of my time.
A couple of weeks ago I finally borrowed 8 seasons from a friend and started watching. After watching the first season, I was really hooked. I loved the idea of people travelling around the galaxy with stargates, left here by an ancient race, exploring and bumping into mysteries hinting of a much larger picture yet to be uncovered.
It took me about 2.5 weeks to watch 9 seasons of the show. I’m currently watching the 10:th season, which is still under production and won’t finish until next year.
There’s this air to the show of not taking itself too seriously which I love! One of the things that comes into mind is an episode where Jack O’Neill and Teal’c are caught in a time loop and have to relive the same day over and over again, much like the movie Groundhog day. O’Neill complains about how he always comes back at a moment where Daniel Jackson is asking him a question and he doesn’t have a clue what the question is. Teal’c says that O’Neill is not alone in coming back with such bad timing, and then we see how Teal’c is hit in the face by a door!
Admittedly I’ve been fast forwarding through some tedious character developement stories with plotlines that were easily predicted or that I deemed would not add enough value to the overall story being developed. But that was just a couple episodes each season.
Stargate SG-1 is one of the longest running Science Fiction TV-series in history, with it’s 10 seasons spanning over 10 years. They started in 1997 and it seems they’re coming to an end after the 10:th season, since Sci Fi-channel hasn’t renewed the show for another season.
In 2004 there was a spin-off series created: Stargate Atlantis. I’ve been watching the first season of it. It’s not Stargate SG-1, which is good, because you can’t copy that show, but it lacks enough characters with humor to make it as much fun to watch. They take themselves too seriosly, atleast in the first season. It might ease up as they go along. It’s entertaining enough for me to watch anyhow. Stargate Atlantis is into it’s 3:rd season and has been renewed for a 4:th, and I’m looking forward to where they’re going to take the show. Hopefully to an equally fun and interesting place as Stargate SG-1.
Edward Aschan wrote,
I don’t want to fault your fact finding but in all honesty the original Doctor Who should be considered the longest running sci-fi series. It began with 25 minute episodes in 1963 and ended in 1989. That is 36 years and 694 episodes. Add to that a special in 93 and a movie in 96.
A continuing plot-line has emerged with “the new” Doctor Who series that started in 2005.
December 23rd 2006 at 14:55 (2:55 pm) — Using
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Mika Perälä wrote,
Okay, in modern time then!
And of course I’ve been watching the new Doctor Who, and am eagerly awaiting season 3!
December 23rd 2006 at 16:23 (4:23 pm) — Using
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Mari wrote,
Bwah, your just hooked because of MacGyver! Stand up, evil alien from a cartoon universe and answer the question: are you Selma or Patty!!?
December 27th 2006 at 22:49 (10:49 pm) — Using
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Mika Perälä wrote,
Hehe, he’s not as hot as Michael Shanks playing Daniel Jackson. And in season 10 Ben Browder, the hero from Farscape, also enters the series. Behold the glory of fantasies! Yummy!
Patty of course! Or might be Selma…
January 3rd 2007 at 04:42 (4:42 am) — Using
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Likeafish wrote,
he he he. My favorite part of the stargate episode with the time loop is watching Jack O’Neill and Teal’c hit golf balls into the stargate.
I began watching from season 3 (i worked my way backwards very quickly) It was quite interesting to watch how the show evolved from the movie and got better with each season. Personally i think it should of ended at the end of season 8. Seemed to tie in all remaining plot lines, except if sam and jack got together!
Consequently series nine seemed forced and repetitive to me. But series 10 seems to be back on form.
I await eagerly the two stand alone movies they are planning.
January 20th 2007 at 00:10 (12:10 am) — Using
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Mika Perälä wrote,
Hehe! I like that too, but the juggling takes the price actually
Same here! I hope the movies brings together the original cast of the series and I’m hoping the chemistry will still be there!
January 24th 2007 at 10:52 (10:52 am) — Using
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Mari wrote,
Btw, my kids play Stargate. *proud*
November 7th 2008 at 20:05 (8:05 pm) — Using
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