"He Was a Nerd Sir ... He Sneezed a Lot." (Stargate S.G. 1)

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Product:	Stargate S.G. 1
Date:	08/03/03 (82 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great storylines that intertwine, Great characters, Nice effects too

Disadvantages: Some episodes get a little too political, like some in the first half of season 5. I don't like these as much, give me some alien world.

I saw, and enjoyed, the Stargate film when it was rented out by my family in about 1995, but was never too interested in watching the series once I heard it had begun, even though the videos were always in my face as I bought unwise quantities of Deep Space Nine and Voyager off the shelves whenever my pocket money cleared. It could have been the fact that it was shown on Channel 4 that put me off, or that the only guy who I ever heard talking about it wasn?t particularly one of my closest friends. (I later discovered that the Tok?ra Martouf bears an uncanny resemblance to this fool).

I only started watching Stargate SG-1 at my friend?s house around autumn of last year (2002), and was almost immediately hooked. Sky One seemed to anticipate this, and very soon began showing episodes daily right from the start. Episodes like ?The Nox? increased my appreciation even further, possibly due to the appearance of DS9?s Armin ?Quark? Shimerman, or just the aceness of episode. Needless to say, soon my eBaying turned towards Stargate DVDs.

Compared to other sci-fi programmes I like, notably the later Star Trek series, Stargate is certainly very original and not afraid to act a little silly for the sake of entertainment. This is also I quality I?ve always admired of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one of the reasons it?s my favourite Star Trek by a long way, as well as the ongoing plots and reappearance of a large number of guest characters. There?s also a perfect balance between characters, with the two scientists and two action men, including the token stoic, formal alien and nice young lady.
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A quick overview of the plot is that the US military send small teams through the ?Stargate? alien device, unearthed in Egypt, to other Stargates throughout the galaxy, with the intention of exploration and the possibility of recovering advanced alien technology
for humanity. (Opinions on the film would be useful in understanding the initial Stargate concept). The Stargates were built by the Ancients, who remain an unknown and mysterious race until the end of the sixth season. Only problem is? well, the major problem anyway aside from numerous malfunctions, is the Goa?uld, an alien worm-like species who take humans as hosts, taken from Earth and scattered over hundreds of worlds centuries ago. SG-1 consists of Colonel Jack O?Neill, Doctor Daniel Jackson (both of these were in the film, but played by different actors who are the only thing that cause me to watch the movie far less than I would otherwise), Captain Samantha Carter, and Teal?c. As basically explained as possible, Teal?c?s a nice Goa?uld. Over the years, the team avoid death (nearly always), thwarting the Goa?uld and making Earth seem increasingly vital and advanced, with aid from the Asgard and the Tok?ra. For more information, see my reviews on the DVD volumes. Or other peoples?, just mine are better? well, I get miles.
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I?d basically recommend Stargate (SG-1) to anyone who likes enjoyable, funny (O'Neill banter mainly), often epic sci-fi; possibly also those who are a little annoyed with countless spatial distortions and quantum singularities causing inevitably-safe catastrophes to invincible starships. Or maybe you?re tired of utopian futures and want to see a bit of contemporary machine gunning. There are also a disturbing amount of apostrophes used, which isn?t helped by the Egyptian pronunciations of all the Goa?uld enemies.

Notable episodes, all of which can probably be downloaded at rather small file size off the internet? not that anyone would want to use such programmes, one from each season, would be:


?Children of the Gods?- still one of my favourites, and the first episode so it?s a little integral to your ini
tial understanding of the plotlines. Also offers a nice distraction if you find yourself longing for the simpler days of season one, when Apophis was the bad guy and space travel was limited.

?The Serpent?s Lair?- first episode of season 2, continuing from the cliffhanger from season 1. Some great, high-budget space action that still remains in the ?simpler? days of the show. Nice visuals, and plenty of peril.

?Legacy?- won?t be anyone else?s favourite of the third series ( I don?t suppose), but I like it. Daniel?s going a bit mad and starts seeing demons and Goa?uld everywhere, and some nice Carter/ Dr. Frasier action at the end. (Not that kind of action).

?Window of Opportunity?- a great example of how the show deals with more average human beings than the well-rounded future characters soften portrayed in other shows, while also dealing with a sci-fi concept. A time loop causes O?Neill and Teal?c to live the same day again and again, and they are forced to learn Latin in order to communicate the knowledge to Daniel after every loop. Too many funny moments to mention, but I?m always cracked up by O?Neill playing golf through the Stargate, and the unbelievable bad luck of Teal?c as he is hit in the face by a door every time the loop starts again!

?Summit?- Daniel is sent undercover to investigate the Goa?uld. This is part one of a two-parter, but some nice reds and enjoyable storyline. There?s also some stuff with the others down on a Tok?ra planet.

?Redemption?- the two-part starter of season 6 sees new SG-1 member Jonas helping with the development of Earth?s first interstellar craft, while Teal?c returns to his son Rya?c after hearing of his wife?s illness. New enemy Anubis is also introduced, and he?s ace. (What? This is my opinion, I can have views).


Season seven is due to start on Sci-Fi in the US, and Sky One in the UK in a few months. Channel 4?s currently showing season 5 on it?s first terrestrial
run, and I?m not sure what Sky?s doing right now; they just reached the end of season 5 in their incredibly useful daily run. If anyone?s interested in more info on new episodes or synopses, I?ve found Gateworld.net to be the best source.

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