Stargate SG-1 - Season 1 (1997)

My viewing of Stargate SG-1 was purely the result of a blind buy due to an extraordinary deal that just could not be passed up. The complete series (10 seasons, over 200 episodes) for $99.99! For a science fiction fan like myself that deal could not be waived, even if it was the series I had shunned for so many years. Well shunned no more!

Stargate SG-1 is the television followup to the highly entertaining science fiction classic film also entitled Stargate. Resuming the story following the films conclusion this series reunites familiar characters Colonel Jack O'neil (Richard Dean Anderson "aka" MacGyver) and Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) as they are joined by newcomers Major Samantha Carter and the alien known as Teal'c. The team, known as SG-1, embark on countless journeys through the Stargate which they have discovered leads to thousands, maybe millions of different planets and civilizations. It appears many of the planets they visit are inhabited by humans who have been brought through the Stargate from Earth's varying eras in history by the evil race known as the Goa'uld. The Goa'uld are bent on universal domination as they capture the civilians from these alien planets and inhabit their bodies. SG-1 must use their missions of exploration and discovery in order to find a way to protect themselves against an eminent Goa'uld attack on Earth, as the race seeks revenge for the death of their former leader Ra.

While I have always been a fan of the film, prior to watching season 1 I have never watched an episode of the series. When the show began it's run on the Sci-Fi Channel, I chalked it up to a mediocre Star Trek clone. Since the Sci-Fi Channel is notorious for poorly written Sci-Fi original features I never gave Stargate a shot, until now. While season 1 is no match for the likes of most of the series in the Star Trek franchise, it's got enough going for it that preceding seasons have the possibility of becoming something quite special. Season 1 starts off a little slow with an entertaining pilot episode followed by a handful of episodes that are very corny, ridiculous, and mediocre in terms of the writing. But halfway through the season, the series really begins to hit a consistent stride as the actors seem to become more comfortable with their characters and the writers churn out more interesting and entertaining story lines. My main complaint about the first season is there are lot of inconsistencies in the story lines where the writers appear to gloss over simple solutions and the character's seem too naive to figure things out. At times it's a little frustrating because it seems the writers are always trying to make a solution to predicament more complicated than it really needs to be. Overall, I'm interested in seeing how far the show can progress and hopefully see a level of production and writing that is on par with that of some of the better seasons in the Star Trek franchise.

Favorite Episodes:

 Aired 9/12/1997

SG-1 travels to a planet in search of a creature that has the ability to become invisible, hoping to learn it's secret, instead the group discovers a clan of Goa'uld lead by Apophis. SG-1 decides to initiate a sneak attack on the Goa'uld but the results end up being disastrous and puts the lives of the inhabitants of the planet at risk.

Aired 10/10/1997

SG-1 returns to Teal'cs home planet of Chulak in order to prevent his son Rya'c from becoming enslaved by the Goa'uld with the ceremonious placement of a Goa'uld larva in his body. But it turns out Rya'c will need a larva to survive, now Teal'c must give his own life to save his son.

Aired 2/20/1998

Daniel Jackson is transported to an alternate reality by an alien mirror and discovers that Earth is about to be destroyed by the Goa'uld. He obtains some useful information about the location of the Goa'uld army base that may assist in protecting Earth in his realty, if only he can find a way to return.

Aired 2/13/1998

In a trip to the planet PX3 989, SG-1 discovers that their consciousness has been transferred to android bodies powered by the planet's power source. Now they'll be forced to stay on the planet forever.

Aired 2/6/1998

The Stargate incurs some technical difficulty during SG-1's return trip, causing Carter and O'Neill to be hurled into an icy wasteland with a broken Stargate and no hope of survival.

8/10