Stargate for the Uninitiated
If you are a sci-fi fan you likely are aware of Stargate, on the other hand, if you are a sci-fi fan and have never watched Stargate, then you need to read on. The TV show Stargate SG-1 hit the small screen in 1997, based on the stylish and most excellent feature film released in 1994 starring Kurt Russell and James Spader. The television show adopted many of the concepts introduced in the film. The ability to travel to other planets instantaneously through a giant ring - the Stargate. The evil antagonists the Goa'uld from the film become a multi-star system menace in the new television show, a foe which the intrepid cast battled on a weekly basis.
SG1 is Sam Carter (Amanda Tapping), Teal'c (Christopher Judge), Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks), and Colonel Jack O'Neil (Richard Dean Anderson). These are the original cast and considered SG1 which simply means Stargate Team 1. Throughout the series we see other teams known as for example SG-12 or SG-3.
Over the record-breaking 10 year span of the SG1 series the story remained fresh and interesting. New baddies were introduced and subsequently destroyed, alliances were made, new technology aquired. The stargate program developed into a full blown alien tech testing ring. Secrets revealed about the original gate-builders lead to the discovery of the gate's ability to 'gate' outside our own galaxy to an abandoned ancient city called Atlantis. This story arc seamlessly lead to the uber-popular spinoff series Stargate: Atlantis. When the decision was made to end SG1 in season 10, the adventure continued with feature films released directly to DVD. The excellent "the Ark of Truth" which tied up a lot of loose story ends, and the truly remarkable "Continuum" which was an action packed nod to essentially every cool plot idea and space battle present in the entire SG1 series!.
Later in the series Richard Dean Anderson withdrawls from being leader of SG1 becomes General O'Neil to replace General Hammond played by the late Don S. Davis, and though Anderson continued to have a major input on the show's direction he likely wanted more time to spend in his glorious pool with his many spacey awards. Farscape lead Ben Browder enters as Colonel Cameron Mitchell in 2005 in attempt to fill the Anderson-sized hole, without the Jack O'Neil character at the helm Browder's job was to lead the now fragmented SG1 - the nod to Blues Brothers is palpable 'I'm getting the BAND back together!'.
Another Farscape refugee Claudia Black - who has to be the most entertaining and adorable onscreen presence I've seen in a long while - comes in as the bad girl / comic relief character Vala Mal Doran – the second alien SG1 member after Teal'c and also like “T” she was formerly involved with evil baddies the Goa'uld - often she accidentally on purpose throws a giant monkey wrench into the team's efforts a la C3P0. It takes only a few episodes before you realize Stargate is much richer and MUCH funnier with these new characters.
By the time SG1 ended in 2007 a new spinoff series was already in production, based on story ideas developed in SG1, Stargate Atlantis takes place on and around a floating 'ancient' city located in the 'pegasus' galaxy. Abandoned by it's builders tens of thousands of years ago, our new SG heroes must battle both new and dangerous external opponents and their own place of residence as they continue to 'activate' new technology and cope with the eventual mayhem which ensues. The interplay between SG1 and Atlantis continues after the ending of the SG1 series. Many popular SG1 characters appear in Atlantis, including former Voyager EMH doctor now working for an irritating bureaucratic oversight committee designed to control and/or limit SG1 in it's propensity to expose earth to invasion by baddies.
The Stargate builders, known as the 'Ancients' left strewn about the galaxies many edifice illustrating their technological prowess, this same race was eventually defeated by the organic and very creepy new baddie the Wraith. A good lesson that technology doesn't always win against determination and sheer force of numbers. Oh, where have we heard that idea lately?
Upon arriving in the Pegasus galaxy we humans waste no time awakening the Wraith and get them all riled up and ready for feeding, interestingly humans are the only item on the their menu. Stargate Atlantis premiered in 2004 to rave reviews. Many fans I've talked to actually prefer Atlantis over SG1. Sadly though, the fifth season will be the last, the producers feel a shift to films - like done with SG1 - is in order, likely since the third Stargate series premiers this fall and they want to “go out while the horse is strong”. I mean who wants to ride a tired stargate horse. ME ME!
In 2009 the third major series based on the Stargate mould will premier. Stargate: Universe follows the 'ancient' theme. This time, a team has 'gated' to a huge starship exploring the universe only to find no way home. A Lost in Space come Star Trek Voyager concept which could actually be quite interesting!
Overall there is approximately 13,866 minutes of Stargate to watch. A good part of this consists of delicious character moments and irreverent and light-hearted humour. You will find obscure cultural references, nods to Vancouver where the series was filmed, and much more. Add to this many impressive sfx moments where the team must battle star-ships, baddies, alien diseases, giant bugs, inter-dimensional creatures, eachother, and much more. Watched back to back, 24 hours a day, you could be Stargating for 9.63 days! Though I wouldn't want to be around you afterwards.
As a long time fan of the genre I would highly recommend trying on Stargate SG1 for size. The early seasons can now be bought for about $25 each at places like Walmart. Highly recommended.
TERMS
Ancients: (also known as the Alterans) are a humanoid race in the fictional Stargate universe. They are the most advanced race known to have existed. They evolved millions of years ago and developed a space-faring society, long before human life evolved on Earth. They claim to be responsible for the existence of human life in the Milky Way and Pegasus Galaxy. They have Ascended to a higher plane of existence.
Wraith: are a hostile alien species from the TV series Stargate Atlantis. They are native to the Pegasus Galaxy. A vampire-like, hive-based humanoid species, the Wraith survive and thrive by using suckers in their palms to extract and consume the life force of humans. The Wraith are extremely long-lived, possibly immortal as long as they are able to feed. A recently fed Wraith is superior in strength to humans and very difficult to kill. Let's just say being fed upon by a wraith will leave you rather dead and much older.
Atlantis: In the fictional Stargate universe, Atlantis is an Ancient city ship built several million years ago, possibly on Earth. It was abandoned in the Pegasus Galaxy for over 10,000 years until it was rediscovered by the Atlantis Expedition in the pilot episode of the series Stargate Atlantis. The legend of the lost city spread through Earth cultures via the Greeks who likely had contact with the Ancients several thousand years ago.
On Stargate Atlantis, the city is the base of operations for the Atlantis expedition. They have occupied the city and the main goal of the expedition is to learn more about Atlantis, the people who built it, and any technology that may help defend Earth. Although the team has been living and working on Atlantis for over two years, there are many mysteries yet to be uncovered in the city.
Pegasus Galaxy: is a fictional location in the Stargate Atlantis universe. Its location is based on a real galaxy called Pegasus Dwarf Irregular Galaxy. It is significantly smaller than the Milky Way. The Galaxy is 3 million light-years from Earth.
Interviews:
SG1:
Christopher Judge | Ben Browder | Michael Shanks
Beau Bridges | Amanda Tapping | Brad Wright
Atlantis:
Amanda Tapping - Q&A - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
David Hewlett - Q&A - Part 1 | Part 2
Jewel Staite - Q&A - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Jason Momoa - Q&A - Part 1 | Part 2
Joe Flanigan - Q&A - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Promo - Episode 507 | Whispers
Stargate : Feature Film – 1994
Stargate: SG1 - 1997-2007
Stargate: Atlantis 2004 - 2009
geeksofdoom.com - Stargate Atlantis TV series cancelled
www.gateworld.net - Atlantis is going out on top
www.gateworld.net - Actor's reaction to cancellation
Stargate: Universe
www.gateworld.net - Stargate Unverse has a GO
sci-fi and MGM reach for the stars with Stargate Universe
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