A question about comparison

[Islander]

I obviously haven't read through all threads but I certainly have seen a few. I noticed that we often use comparison with other shows / film series. The most common is Star Wars but I've seen BSG a lot and B5 when comparing DS9.

What I have not seen, however, is ANY comparison what-so-ever with Stargate and I was wondering why? Stargate SG1 lasted for 10 season and spawned a 5 season spinoff and an animated serie. For me, that looks like the kind of success of Star Trek a lot more than anything else. Are we jealous of that success? What do you think?

 

[KimMH]

the Stargate movie was great but the series - while a fun indulgence lacks the social commentary aspect that attracts me to Trek. It does have great alien species action and thrills and people you'd love to work/live/love and camp - but just maybe a little too much camp.

 

[Jono]

Probably because at the moment there is no Stargate on TV, when it was on we had more "Who is more powerful, Q or an Ancient?/Galaxy class vs Daedalus" threads popping up. When the new series gets up and if it is successful and gets a few seasons it will be more in the forefront of people's minds.

They are also different shows, one is a futuristic romp on advanced starships and the other is a contempory sci-fi show about a small group of special forces exploring the galaxy and defending Earth...all in secret.

Stargate is a tad camp (though not as camp as TOS is now) and it has made humour a core value of its series (not saying Trek can't be funny), which gives it a lighter feel as well.

Then again maybe Stargate fans are secure in themselves and their show that they don't feel the need to wage the vast and pointless franchise wars as a small (but vocal) minority of Trek and Wars fans have. Or all the comparison threads are hiding in the dedicated Stargate forum we have here.

 

[USS Kongo]

Speaking as a die-hard fan of Stargate: SG-1, trust me when I say that we have our geeky debates, where we compare SG-1 to Trek, among other things.

Sean

 

[Islander]

Speaking as a die-hard fan of Stargate: SG-1, trust me when I say that we have our geeky debates, where we compare SG-1 to Trek, among other things.

Sean

Yes but I was referring to the hardcore Trek fans here comparing with Stargate as they would BSG, B5 or Star Wars, not the other way around. I am a Stargate fan too but to be honest I must say it probably because there isn't any Trek on TV anymore. I didn't really start following SG religiously until season 7.

 

[borgfan8of5]

Stargate is a good series, and I am a fan of it, (although not as much as trek). The reason I don't think that it gets compared to ST as much though is, as rofeta said, there is no stargate show on right now. Although when fall comes around there should be a lot more comparison to SG.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Stargate doesn't merit comparisons because ultimately it's not much more than just a Star Trek ripoff, and not a very interesting one at that. BSG has some Star Trek elements but also aspects that go beyond the formula. Ditto for B5, Farscape and Firefly. Star Wars is categorically different from Star Trek.

 

[Islander]

Stargate doesn't merit comparisons because ultimately it's not much more than just a Star Trek ripoff, and not a very interesting one at that. BSG has some Star Trek elements but also aspects that go beyond the formula. Ditto for B5, Farscape and Firefly. Star Wars is categorically different from Star Trek.

Are you saying that any science-fiction airing in Space is a Star Trek ripoff? There was such setup long before Star Trek, you know.

Firefly is EXTREMELY different from Star Trek in almost every aspect. In fact, other than space itself, they have absolutely nothing in common.

Farscape is actually a fantasy like Star Wars, not sci-fi. The only tie to reality is Crichton himself begin human but it has no real impact in the story.

B5 and DS9 aired at the exact same time. Who ripped off who? The fact to both are set on a space station doesn't mean that they convey the same purpose. It was in fact very different.

And, finally, I think Stargate is also very different. Its in fact more different than any other as it actually used elements of our history to strenghten the plot and even provide "explanations" of the many mysteries of our evolution. Its overall main theme is adressing our very concerns regarding our own existence, no just our future. I don't think any other show ever did that.

 

[Tentacle]

B5 and DS9 aired at the exact same time. Who ripped off who? The fact to both are set on a space station doesn't mean that they convey the same purpose. It was in fact very different.

I believe B5 aired couple of weeks after DS9 came out. I remember after watching the first episode thinking to myself that's another DS9 especially that hyper gate acted like the wormhole.

And, finally, I think Stargate is also very different. Its in fact more different than any other as it actually used elements of our history to strenghten the plot and even provide "explanations" of the many mysteries of our evolution. Its overall main theme is adressing our very concerns regarding our own existence, no just our future. I don't think any other show ever did that.

Yes stargate did try to do that, with the whole ascendancy story although very rarely. The main thing about stargate is, it never took itself seriously, maybe that's the secret behind its success.

The other piece of scifi that dealt with human evolution, off the top of my head, maybe dune. Especially with that whole God Emperor bit.

 

[sbk1234]

Actually, IIRC, Joe Strazynski had been trying to sell Babylon 5 for a numbe of years to all the studios, including Paramount. No takers. Then Paramount somehow came up with an idea of a show on a space station at a galactic crossroads. Then B5 got sold and produced.

It's not so cut and dry as to which show aired first. Of course, in actuall execution, the two shows were extremely different and unique. Neither show, IMHO, seemed remotely like the other. Personally, I think a little healthy competition worked well for each show.

 

[Islander]

Yes stargate did try to do that, with the whole ascendancy story although very rarely. The main thing about stargate is, it never took itself seriously, maybe that's the secret behind its success.

Trek was like that originally. It was just a show, nothing too serious. And humor was always a big part of it. And not just the actors but the writers too. Even TNG had that feel. I think everything changed starting with DS9. Maybe that's why rating started going down and never stopped. The harsher the ratings were, the more serious business became.

 

[SummerDream]

Yes stargate did try to do that, with the whole ascendancy story although very rarely. The main thing about stargate is, it never took itself seriously, maybe that's the secret behind its success.

Trek was like that originally. It was just a show, nothing too serious. And humor was always a big part of it. And not just the actors but the writers too. Even TNG had that feel. I think everything changed starting with DS9. Maybe that's why rating started going down and never stopped. The harsher the ratings were, the more serious business became.

Things are getting more serious and uptight everywhere. Alas. Innovation dies with uptightness. Maybe we are heading to dark ages (at least socially).

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/05/14/ent.jay.leno/
"When I was a kid, there was comedy all over TV, and it was fun to watch, whether it was Carol Burnett or any of the sitcoms," he said. "You'd have a whole night of comedy, and now everything is very serious and it's all murder."