The Stargate Franchise - A First Timer's Watchthrough

[The Wormhole]

Spoiler

Did they move the stargate? I don't remember that. I'm doing a rewatch of SGU now in preparation for tomalak's rewatch. We see the stargate on Icarus base. And the crew of Destiny communicate via the stone with the Pentagon. But I don't think we see the Earth stargate at least not in S1, I don't think. I could be wrong.

Spoiler

Although SGU never states definitively the Earth Stargate has been moved, it's certainly heavily implied to be. The communication stones are set up and monitored at the Pentagon, in the second season when Colonel Telford returns to Earth via Stargate, he instantly goes directly to the stones. And many SGC staples such as Daniel, Walter and Dr. Lee are now assigned to the Pentagon in SGU.

It was a decent episode, but I don't remember the Ancient Device actually switching bodies. When it was first used, Daniel and Vala just entered the bodies of the two villagers. On the second time, Vala used the device to enter into Daniel, but Daniel wasn't in Vala. It seemed like a continuity error in this episode that Keller and Casol actually switched.

It's actually setting up an important plot element for SGU.

 

[JD]

Which I remember lead to at least one rather controversial storyline.

 

[David cgc]

Right. Thanks. I forgot about that.

I don't see how, I just made it up to fanwank away the inconsistency. Glad it sounded legit, though.

 

[bigdaddy]

Which I remember lead to at least one rather controversial storyline.

It was? I thought everyone agreed it was garbage and should have NEVER been written.

 

[Farscape One]

Regarding SGU...

I will say that except for a couple episodes, I didn't care for season 1 much, primarily the first half. But I promised myself I'd give it the full season, and it DID improve in the back half. Better enough for me to stick around for the next half season.

Season 2 was better in almost every way. I loved season 2, and was very sad it got cancelled.

Once you go in with the understanding that the humor is very bare, especially in season 1, SGU is a better pill to swallow, for lack of a better term.

 

[Skywalker]

I have much the same feelings about SGU. Really wasn't feeling it at first, felt like they were trying to ape BSG but didn't really understand what made BSG great. But they dialed it back a bit as it went on and I was enjoying it by the end of season 1. By the end of season 2 I was absolutely loving it, so of course it got canceled.

 

[Romulan_spy]

I will say that except for a couple episodes, I didn't care for season 1 much, primarily the first half.

Spoiler: first half of season 1

Yeah, the first 6 episodes are literally just survival. I get why they did it but the episodes are really slow and dreary. And then there are the "earth-based" episodes where they use the stones and we get the personal drama with the loves ones on Earth like Young's wife cheating on him with Telford, Scott's girlfriend that has become a "dancer" and hid that she has a son with him that he never knew, and Chloe upset over her best friend cheating with her ex boyfriend or something. it's a real drag. It reminds me of the scene in SG1's "200" episode where they make fun of Stargate reimagined as a young adult drama. They actually did it with SGU. LOL.

However, the second half of S1 is a lot better when they start encountering aliens. The episode "Time" is really good. The episode "Faith" is also pretty interesting in the concepts it raises.

And yeah, S2 was better.

 

[Jayson1]

Identity

It was a decent episode, but I don't remember the Ancient Device actually switching bodies. When it was first used, Daniel and Vala just entered the bodies of the two villagers. On the second time, Vala used the device to enter into Daniel, but Daniel wasn't in Vala. It seemed like a continuity error in this episode that Keller and Casol actually switched. Other than that, I enjoyed it for being a Keller episode. The stabbing of Zalenka was pretty shocking. Considering it is the end of the series I was expecting him to die. Glad that didn't happen. Honestly though, there have been a few episodes in the back half that have just been ok and I don't really have much to add. It sounds like the next two episodes will be exciting (One being the finale) so hopefully Atlantis ends with a bang.

Don't forget the device. It's important for later.

Jason

 

[tomalak301]

Vegas

Well, that was...Unique

I liked it but I'm going to get what I didn't like out of the way first. It feels like these writers have told Luttrell and Momoa their services are no longer required. I really wanted to see both of them in this alternate reality and it bugged me that we didn't.

Other than that, I really liked this episode. It was like CSI meets a little NCIS (With the flashing to black and white during the poker game) meets Atlantis. I loved the use of Solitary Man (Johnny Cash), Beautiful People (Marilyn Manson), and Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) and it tied into McKay and Mrs. Miller in that we got to see what alternate McKay's reality was like. I also think they might have set up the finale with the transmission not going to Pegasus but having it create a hole in Space Time, and the plot for the finale is the Wraith have finally made it to earth. This episode was different, it was unique, but unlike Brain Storm which didn't feel like an Atlantis episode, I was really enthralled by this one. Looking forward to the finale.

 

[Jayson1]

Vegas

Well, that was...Unique

I liked it but I'm going to get what I didn't like out of the way first. It feels like these writers have told Luttrell and Momoa their services are no longer required. I really wanted to see both of them in this alternate reality and it bugged me that we didn't.

Other than that, I really liked this episode. It was like CSI meets a little NCIS (With the flashing to black and white during the poker game) meets Atlantis. I loved the use of Solitary Man (Johnny Cash), Beautiful People (Marilyn Manson), and Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) and it tied into McKay and Mrs. Miller in that we got to see what alternate McKay's reality was like. I also think they might have set up the finale with the transmission not going to Pegasus but having it create a hole in Space Time, and the plot for the finale is the Wraith have finally made it to earth. This episode was different, it was unique, but unlike Brain Storm which didn't feel like an Atlantis episode, I was really enthralled by this one. Looking forward to the finale.

Actually this was a different Rodney. Remember he said his Atlantis also had a Shepard who was part of Mensa. That of course couldn't be here where he ended up being a cop instead.

Jason

 

[tomalak301]

Actually this was a different Rodney. Remember he said his Atlantis also had a Shepard who was part of Mensa. That of course couldn't be here where he ended up being a cop instead.

Jason

Was it? He said he had met the Atlantis team and John was the leader of it. The only time I can think that actually happened was M & MM. If it was a different Rodney, that kinda confused me.

 

[Jayson1]

Was it? He said he had met the Atlantis team and John was the leader of it. The only time I can think that actually happened with M & MM.

Yep. I thought at first he might have been the same as well until I recalled him talking about having a Shepard as well. This was basically a new world were they happened to encountered yet another Atlantis team.

Jason

 

[bigdaddy]

My mind is finally starting to remember things from Atlantis season 5 and Universe....

I'm glad I stopped watching it 'live'.

Spoiler

Universe sucks because the characters do, you can't have a character driven drama where the characters suck. Not just bad people but some truly terrible acting on top of the horrible writing.

Also the fucking Gould. Why not just bring back the replicators again, or that fucking dragon. Yes Tomalak I'm still bitching about the damn dragon.

Tomalak, you will enjoy my spoilers which you can read after season 1 of Universe.

 

[tomalak301]

Enemy at the Gate

Well, it did go out with a bang, and a perfect splash down. That was one hell of an exciting finale. It had everything I've come to like about Atlantis, solid emotion, great space battle, Todd, and they actually used the Stargate quite a bit. I actually came close to choking up a few times, namely when Sam said the name of the new ship was the General Hammond (RIP Don S. Davis ), and the final shot with the crew looking out towards the Golden Gate Bridge. I was kind of hoping they would drop the cloak and officially make the Stargate Program (And Atlantis) known to the public. I mean now was the perfect time. The lost city returned to earth, and there doesn't seem to be any threats on the horizon.

Other things I liked about this episode and then General Atlantis thoughts:

1) Awesome to see Sam again. So glad she was a part of this finale.

2) The sky scenes with the Darts on Earth just continue Atlantis's incredible run of amazing flying action scenes. That kamikaze run to take out the chair actually reminded me of when we first meet the Dominion and they took out the Odessey. They show how far they are willing to go.

3) I really do wonder if they should have kept Ronon dead. I know this series is not a dark as today's sensibilities where you never know who will get killed off, but I almost think it would have been more impactful had Ronon sacrificed his life on a Hive ship as it is destroyed. It would have made his story feel even more complete.

4) Todd was as great as ever. I wonder what happened to him (Feel free to spoil the books. I'm not going to read them anytime soon)

5) I remember reading (Maybe it was here) about if this ending was appropriate for Atlantis, considering the series was cancelled. Honestly I think it was. Is this the best finale I have ever seen? Probably not, but it worked as a Series finale all the same.

Instead of talking about season 5, I will conclude with a few thoughts on the overall series. I really enjoyed Atlantis, but not as much as SG-1. I think the character work on SG-1 was a lot better and I was starting to get annoyed at how characters were used in Atlantis in the final couple of seasons. This series basically became the McKay and Sheppard show, and I found that a little distressing. Still, I really enjoyed the stories this series told, and looking back it was a worthy spin off to SG-1. Also, I've been mentioning it a lot, they really had some of the best action sequences I've seen in any sci fi series. In fact, I was thinking today, if I miss the fireworks show this year for the 4th of July because of Coronavirus, I will just watch the Siege Arc again (End of Season 1, beginning of Season 2) because that's a firework show in and of itself. I mean they dim the lights, and the first shot is just the drones coming out of the city. Still an incredible moment in this franchise.

So that's Atlantis. I'm looking forward to Universe and I decided if I do Origins it won't be for a while. Reading the reviews and just the animosity towards it, it's not worth it at this time.

So I will wrap up with my Season rankings and favorite episodes from Season 5. In terms of favorite episodes from the series, I have to think about that.

Favorite to Least Favorite Season

Season 4
Season 1
Season 3
Season 5
Season 2

Favorite Season 5 Episodes

The Daedelus Variations
The Shrine
The Queen (Favorite episode of the season)
The Prodigal
Enemy at the Gate

 

[Samurai8472]

I did have to laugh at the progression of Rodney. He started out in his self absorbed attitude and then evolved like Daniel Jackson and starts using the P90 more in combat rather than hiding.

 

[tomalak301]

I did have to laugh at the progression of Rodney. He started out in his self absorbed attitude and then evolved like Daniel Jackson and starts using the P90 more in combat rather than hiding.

they did what I hope would have happened. They toned him down in season 4 and he became tolerable, which coming from me is a compliment.

 

[David cgc]

4) Todd was as great as ever. I wonder what happened to him (Feel free to spoil the books. I'm not going to read them anytime soon)

As I said, I'm not interested in the books, and only have picked up the broad strokes because the Stargate wiki decided they "count" (and the comics, which have their own post-finale continuation, don't), but Joseph Mallozzi has, over the years, released several tidbits about the abortive Atlantis DVD movie, "Extinction." Unlike "The Ark of Truth," it wouldn't have tried to end the series, and would've been a more stand-alone season-premiere-type adventures.

Gateworld has a page that sums up what's been said about it, but the high points were that we'd open about a month later, Atlantis having been hidden on the moon. The IOA decides to mothball the SGC and move Earth's Stargate missions to Atlantis except, whoops, it turns out the Ancients installed Lojack on Atlantis, and it'll self-destruct if not returned to the Pegasus galaxy. The gang gets back together, they fire up the wormhole drive... and it craps out, stranding them in the middle of an uncontacted galaxy, where they get embroiled in some local mess. At some point Todd from the future shows up and pretends to be a friend, turns on them, and is fought by present-Todd.

There have also been a few random script pages released as teases.
https://www.gateworld.net/news/2019/04/stargate-extinction-movie-script-pages/
https://www.gateworld.net/news/2019/05/stargate-extinction-more-movie-script-pages/

 

[Farscape One]

Your favorite list of season 5 is exactly what mine is, except adds the midseason two-parter.

 

[bigdaddy]

Oh good, you liked the ending. I was a big fan of the ending too but a lot of fans feel like it doesn't give the series (and in a way franchise) enough closure. I loved the ending. My main problem with later seasons of SG-1 were how quickly they went from nothing but a space shuttle in the beginning of season 2 to defeating false gods 7 years later and real god two years after that. So Atlantis still not defeating all the Wraith and tying everything up in a nice little bow I like a lot.

But as David said the show never got a 6th season because they figured they could make several DVD movies and make even more money... opps!

I can't find the full screen video but this is a fun thing about John Flanigan wanting to lease the franchise to make a Stargate Command / Atlantis type show.

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It would have filmed in Europe and not Canada!

 

[tomalak301]

What Joe Flanigan said in that clip kind of strikes me as what happened with Star Trek, and the comment about Spyglass reminded me of it. Hollywood goes for glitz and glamour but through all of that they forget what made a franchise successful in the first place. This is also the first time I've heard an actor actually wanting to lease the show away from a company to continue it. I can't think of many other actors who do that. Also it's interesting recently there was a thread in Reddit about whatever happened to Joe Flanigan. After Stargate he pretty much disappeared. I really shouldn't be surprised by all this behind the scenes turmoil though because (And I mentioned this before) what was happening behind the scenes at Sci-Fi was probably just as evident as what was happening on the series itself. There was a lot of strife back when these Stargates were airing and I think the animosity towards the network was palpable at the time. Also MGM going bankrupt probably happened at the worst possible time.

@David cgc

Interesting summary for the movie. They really struck Gold with Todd and the more he was in it the better the series. Also, the Wraith really did need a "voice" and Todd was great for that role.