Stargate SG-1

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Stargate SG-1
The original Stargate SG-1 characters. From left to right: Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter, Teal'c, George Hammond and Jack O'Neill.
Created byJonathan Glassner
Brad Wright
StarringRichard Dean Anderson
Michael Shanks
Amanda Tapping
Christopher Judge
Ben Browder
Corin Nemec
Don S. Davis
Beau Bridges
Claudia Black
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes202 (12 yet to be aired)
Production
Running time42 minutes, occasionally extended to 63 minutes
Original release
NetworkShowtime
(Seasons 1-5)
Sci Fi
(Seasons 6-10)
ReleaseJuly 27, 1997 –
present (final Sci Fi season currently being aired)

Stargate SG-1 (often abbreviated as SG-1) is an American television series based upon the 1994 science fiction film Stargate. Both posit the existence of devices called "Stargates" that use wormholes to allow travellers on foot to cross vast distances of space in an instant. The show focuses on a team called SG-1, who operate from a top-secret U.S. military base called the SGC (Stargate Command), use a Stargate found on Earth to explore other worlds, and defend Earth against alien threats instigated in the original film. Thus unlike many other science-fiction franchises with an interplanetary-exploration theme, SG-1 is set in the present day, is based on Earth, and primarily involves humans.

The series is produced by MGM and filmed at Bridge Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The first episode was broadcast on July 27, 1997 on Showtime in the US and December 3, 1997 on the Seven Network in Australia. Showtime produced and aired the series' first five seasons. Since season six, it has been produced and aired by the Sci Fi Channel. SG-1 recently became the longest-running science fiction series on American television, surpassing The X-Files' 9 seasons and 202 episodes. A spin-off series, Stargate Atlantis, began airing in 2004. The two shows now run in tandem, with plots that are occasionally interconnected, and story timelines that are simultaneous.

Developed for television by Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright, SG-1 originally starred Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge and Don S. Davis. The cast would change in later seasons. Corin Nemec had a regular role as Jonas Quinn during the Season 6, replacing Shanks until his return in Season 7. Davis left as a regular during the eighth season, and Anderson in the ninth; the latter season added new regulars Ben Browder and Beau Bridges. In Season 10, Claudia Black was added as a new regular, reprising her recurring role as Vala Mal Doran which began in Season 8.

On August 21, 2006 the Sci-Fi channel announced that it would not be renewing the show for an eleventh season; however, executive producer Robert C. Cooper has said that SG-1's story will continue in a yet to be announced form.[1] Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has announced that they are very keen to carry on the Stargate SG-1 story, and that they "intend to vigorously find a way to extend the franchise."

Show summary

The original members of SG-1 were Col. Jack O'Neill (Anderson), Dr. Daniel Jackson (Shanks), Capt. Samantha Carter (Tapping) and Teal'c (Judge). For 8 Seasons the primary antagonists would be the galactically-dominant and evil, human-parasitic race, the Goa'uld. The original arch-enemy from this race was the System Lord Apophis (Peter Williams).

In the pilot episode of SG-1, the primary goal of the SG teams is established: to travel to other worlds through the Stargate and procure alien technology to help defend Earth against the Goa'uld. This forms the basis of nearly every episode after that point. It is common for episodes to begin already on another planet, where the viewer is meant to infer that the team is there, as usual, reconnoitering for potentially useful allies or technology. Aside from this, the archeologist and historian character Daniel Jackson often takes further interest in anthropology, alien society and culture, and even moral issues encountered whilst offworld, allowing for more philosophical or thoughtful episodes. Nearly all alien planets are depicted as populated by humans that were displaced from ancient Earth, allowing the show to explore real-life ancient cultures such as those of the Aztecs, Mayans, Britons, the Norse, Mongols, Greeks, Romans and most prominently, Ancient Egyptians. Many famous mythical locations, such as Avalon, Camelot and Atlantis, have been found throughout the show. In addition, the show often gives fictional origins for real religions and mythologies.

The show remains popular despite having run for a decade. TV Guide proposed in 2004 that its popularity may be exceeding that of the Star Trek franchise. Stargate SG-1 broke records in terms of Nielsen Ratings for the US Sci-Fi Channel throughout its eighth season, while the eighth season two-part episode "Reckoning" was widely regarded by fans as one of the five best episodes in the show's history,[2] a testament to how the show has maintained its vigour. Although Richard Dean Anderson, playing the show's effective main character, departed as a regular in Season 9, he left the door open for future guest appearances and appears in several episodes of Season 10.

Plot summary

Main article: Timeline of Stargate
File:Stargatesg1season1title.jpg
Plot episode's opening title

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When Apophis attacks Earth at the beginning of the series, one year after the events of the original film, the SGC military base is brought back into action, and SG teams are created, the prime of which is SG-1, to help defend Earth from the new threat. It is quickly revealed that Apophis is but one of many Goa'uld System Lords who battle for power of the galaxy. It is also discovered that the Stargate is part of a large system of gates that leads to numerous planets.

The Goa'uld are portrayed as parasitic beings that take control of other bodies (usually humans, whom they transported across the galaxy in the distant past). System Lords are shown having vast armies of footsoldiers, the bulk of these forces consisting of modified humans known as Jaffa. Throughout the course of the show, some Jaffa – and then an increasing number – form a Jaffa Rebellion led by main character Teal'c, a high-ranking Jaffa who defected to SG-1's cause in the first episode.

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SG-1 and the SGC make several alliances with other races in the galaxy, such as the Tok'ra. The Tok'ra are the same species as the Goa'uld, but they are opposed to the System Lords, and their hosts willingly share their bodies. Other races depicted include the Tollan and other advanced human civilizations. They also meet races that have been surviving in the galaxy for millennia, such as the Nox, the Asgard, and the remnants of an extinct race that come to be known as the Ancients. It is later discovered that the Ancients were the most advanced race ever, and were the builders of the Stargates.

In the background of the show, there is a constant attempt by forces on Earth to take control of the Stargate. In particular, rogue NID agents, which eventually become the elite syndicate known as The Trust, are constantly trying to steal the Stargate or use alien technology for their own ends. The political powers on Earth are often at loggerheads over the Stargate, particularly after the program is revealed to ambassadors from the other main powers of Earth.

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Besides the Goa'uld, another threat arises in Season 3, namely a race of non-sentient machines called Replicators. These Replicators rarely posed a direct threat to the Milky Way galaxy, but were on the verge of wiping out the Asgard.

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Engaging with Replicators in the premiere, the show begins to spread away from its Goa'uld-orientated roots in Season 4, focussing on stand-alone episodes and alternative bases for episodes. Throughout the season, they encounter everything from genocidal civilizations, to advanced strength-enhancing gauntlets, to a newly recurring species, the Unas. The season ends with a large battle against the Goa'uld System Lord Apophis.

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After Apophis is conquered in Season 5, another Goa'uld System Lord takes his place as the show's main villain, Anubis. Anubis is considerably more evil than Apophis, and has much of the knowledge of the Ancients. The theme of Ascension is introduced fully, explaining that the Ancients survived extinction by Ascending to a higher plane of existence. Anubis tried to do this as well, to harvest the vast knowledge and power in that plane, but was cast down again, leaving him in a dangerous half-Ascended state. Anubis gains great power by using Ancient technology and stealing Asgard technology.

File:Stargate SG-1 Season 8 Title.jpg
Season 6's opening title

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Near the end of Season 5, Daniel Jackson dies, but Ascends with help from Oma Desala. In Season 6, his position is filled by Jonas Quinn; Jackson is now engaged in cosmic affairs on a higher plane. Occasionally, he appears to his friends to help them out, but is only visible to them alone, often causing them to think that they are hallucinating. However, in the Season 6 finale, Anubis threatens to destroy Abydos, the planet most dear to Daniel apart from Earth, and Daniel promises to stop Anubis.

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However, Daniel is ultimately unable to keep Anubis from destroying Abydos as the other Ascended beings have a rule against interfering in the affairs of mortal beings. His transgression causes him to be cast down by the Ancients to the human plane of existence allowing him to re-join SG-1 again. Soon after Daniel's return, Jonas Quinn is finally accepted back on his home world and leaves the SGC. Throughout Season 7, Anubis consolidates his power by wiping out other System Lords, whilst Daniel and the SGC search for the Lost City of the Ancients, where powerful technology will be found that can defeat Anubis. In the Season 7 finale, an Ancient Outpost is located in Antarctica, and Jack O'Neill is able to use the weapon there to annihilate Anubis's entire fleet.

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In Season 8, the System Lord Ba'al subsumes much of Anubis's power, but Anubis is discovered not to be dead due to his half-Ascended state. He eventually comes to rule secretly over Ba'al as well. Alongside this, the Replicators escape and begin to conquer even the System Lords. A human-form Replicator ("RepliCarter") is created in the image of Samantha Carter, and this Replicator becomes the most powerful force in the galaxy.

Towards the end of Season 8, Anubis seeks to destroy all life in the galaxy so he can remake it as he sees fit, and he seeks to do this using the Dakara Superweapon. However SG-1 reaches the weapon first and realigns it to destroy only the Replicators across the galaxy. They achieve this end, but not before Daniel is killed by RepliCarter. However he finds himself in the Ascended plane once more (again Oma has helped him), where Anubis is finally stopped in his plans by Oma. Daniel Jackson then is de-Ascended once more and arrives at the SGC. Ba'al has to flee under the total success of the Jaffa Rebellion, as the System Lords were severely weakened in their battle against the Replicators and now that the Replicators are gone the Jaffa gain much of their lost strength.

File:Stargate SG-1 Season 9 Short Title.jpg
Season 9's 10-second opening title
File:Stargate SG-1 Season 9 Title.jpg
Season 9's extended opening title

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In Season 9, Jack O'Neill leaves the SGC and SG-1 to be replaced by Cameron Mitchell (Ben Browder), with Hank Landry (Beau Bridges) taking control of the SGC itself. It is discovered that Ba'al fled to Earth and is rebuilding his power from there, whilst many Goa'uld have infected The Trust.

Due to an accidental visit to a distant galaxy, Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran draw the attention of a cosmic group of evil Ascended beings, the Ori, to the Milky Way. The Ori influence the mortal world through commanding mortals that they evolve and enhance. These mortals are called Priors, and uphold a religion that worships the Ori, called Origin. Followers of this religion are falsely promised Ascension, and unknowingly enforce the power of the Ori, who begin to make incursions into the Milky Way, with the ultimate goal of converting all humans and destroying the Ancients.

When SG-1 learns that Merlin, a formerly Ascended Ancient and founder of the Arthurian legends, had been working on a weapon to incapacitate Ascended beings as a means of defense against the Ori, they head to the planet where he was said to have left it. There they find a village with a sword in a stone – the true Camelot – where they discover that the "weapon" is no less than the origin of the Holy Grail myth, and is long lost. Meanwhile the Ori manage to open a Supergate into the Milky Way and send a fleet of Ori battlecruisers on an evangelical crusade; they effortlessly wipe out the ships that had been waiting on the other side to defend the Milky Way.

File:Sg1 cast1-1-.jpg
Season 10 cast of SG-1

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In Season 10, Vala joins SG-1 after it is revealed that her daughter, Adria, has been rapidly aged by the Ori and made the leader of their forces in the Milky Way. As the Ori continue to invade, SG-1 continues its search for Merlin's anti-ascended being weapon, the Sangraal (Holy Grail). However, they must now contend with Ba'al and his clones, who are attempting to steal the weapon for their own purposes.

Following a visit to Atlantis, Daniel has been told of two planets that may contain the weapon. The information came to him via an ascended ancient known throughout history as Morgan Le Fay. But before she could help Daniel further, she was taken back by the Ancients, presumably to be punished for interfering in mortal affairs (It should also be pointed out that episode 3 of this season marks the first visit of SG-1 to the Pegasus galaxy and Atlantis... although Teal'c didn't make this trip. It also features the first joint adventures between both shows). The 200th episode was aired during this season.

Impending cancellation

On August 21, 2006, the Sci Fi Channel confirmed that Stargate SG-1 has been canceled after ten seasons.[3] However, Executive producer Robert C. Cooper told GateWorld that they are hard at work looking for a new outlet for the story to continue.

"As far as the future, I can't comment yet because nothing has been confirmed," Cooper said. "What we want to emphasize is that the franchise is not dying. SG-1 will go on in some way. We're just not ready to announce how." Cooper also emphasizes that, though emotions are running high among Stargate fans who have just learned the news, it is important to keep the show's ratings strong throughout the remainder of its run on SciFi. "What's most important is that fans don't take out their frustration with SciFi by not watching," he said. "In fact, what they need to do is watch both SG-1 and Atlantis LIVE and make sure the ratings stay strong. That helps prove to other outlets that might be interested in SG-1 that the show is still as strong as we think it is."[1]

Mark Stern, executive VP of original programming for the Sci Fi Channel stated that the cancellation "was not a ratings-based decision", adding that the production staff have been given enough time to tie up all the loose ends and to create a good ending for the show. Stern has also said that SciFi plans to use some SG-1 members on the still-continuing spin-off Stargate Atlantis.[4] However, the term "cancellation", as applied by Sci Fi Channel, are orders for SG-1 episodes from MGM/Sony. They have merely cancelled their order for new episodes. MGM/Sony, the rights holder, has expressed a desire to continue SG-1 through another outlet, suggesting that another network may pick up the series. This means that the series is not actually cancelled, but simply on hold. MGM announced that they wish to continue the SG-1 series, either as a Movie, mini-series or season 11 on some other network, suggesting that G4 and Showtime have presented interest in such an option. However, the Sci Fi Channel is attempting to block the action, citing their contract with MGM.[5] Almost immediately after news that Sci Fi would not renew for another season, fans rallied support to try to save the show.[6][7][8]

Fictional universe

SG-1 has a rich backdrop of aliens, planets and technology. For more information, see the relevant articles:

Cast

Main article: List of Stargate SG-1 cast

Regular characters

Character Actor Length of time
Col./Brig. Gen./Maj. Gen. Jack O'Neill Richard Dean Anderson 1997 – 2005 (recurring afterwards)
Dr. Daniel Jackson Michael Shanks 1997 – 2002, 2003 – present
Capt./Major/Lt. Col. Samantha Carter Amanda Tapping 1997 – present
Teal'c Christopher Judge 1997 – present
Maj. Gen./Lt. Gen. George Hammond Don S. Davis 1997 – 2004 (recurring afterwards)
Jonas Quinn Corin Nemec 2002 – 2003
Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell Ben Browder 2005 – present
Maj. Gen. Hank Landry Beau Bridges 2005 – present
Vala Mal Doran Claudia Black 2006 – present (recurring previously)

Other characters

Main article: Characters in Stargate

Episodes

Main article: List of Stargate SG-1 episodes

Stargate SG-1's first episode was titled "Children of the Gods". As of 2006, SG-1 is in its 10th Season, with 202 aired episodes. The producers feel that the 200th episode was a big milestone; airing mid-10th-season and titled "200", it was written in collaboration by most of the staff-members in production, filled with in-jokes and references in the style of the show's 100th episode, Template:Sgcite.

Broadcasters

Spin-offs

The Stargate SG-1 story and surrounding mythos has spawned many subsidiary productions which are often considered canon, with the occasional obvious exceptions.

Television shows

Games

Literature

Main article: Stargate literature § Stargate SG-1

Several novels has been published based in Stargate SG-1. From 1999 to 2001, ROC published four novels written by Ashley McConnell. In 2004, UK-based Fandemonium Press started a new series of licensed tie-in novels based on Stargate SG-1. Due to the conflict with ROC's license, these books were available in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK, but not in the US. Fandemonium books became available in the US in 2006.

The official Stargate Magazine, produced by Titan Publishing, began publishing short stories written by Fandemonium authors in their 8th issue. The stories alternate between both SG-1 and Atlantis.

Comics

Main article: Stargate Comics

A series of comics has also been published by Avatar Press.

Trivia

Main article: Stargate SG-1 Trivia

Film/series continuity

The original film did not develop as much of the setting's depth as would be needed in a television series. MGM, which owned the rights, took Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin's product and handed the reins to a new team of creators (Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner). This new team introduced many new concepts to make the Stargate universe into a workable weekly science fiction show. Also, certain details were changed.

For example, in the film:

  • A Goa'uld shown briefly in the movie as humanoid instead of snakelike, though this may only have been how the characters imagined a Goa'uld to look. In the directers cut, a scene on Earth showing fossilised Jaffa is seen however.
  • Ra was the last of a dying race rather than just one of many Goa'uld. However, this may not be an actual contradiction since it would be rather easy for the Goa'uld to have repopulated in the 10,000 years since Ra discovered humanity.
  • Abydos was located in the Kaliem galaxy, "on the far side of the known universe," rather than one of the closest Stargates to Earth.
  • The Air Force base was under Creek Mountain, rather than Cheyenne Mountain.
  • The first time Daniel Jackson sees the Stargate is after he figures out the seven-coordinate address system, but in the TV episode "Lost City", he tells Elizabeth Weir that "I remember when we were first trying to get the Stargate to work, I would just come here, and stare at it for hours." It is possible that he's referring to the cover-stones that the seven-symbols were printed upon, which he did stare at for hours on end. Another possibility is that he was simplifying his experience, so that he could impress upon her how long he had been at the SGC... something which Weir catches and responds with, "Is that a gentle reminder that you've been an important part of this since the very beginning?".
  • In the episode "The Torment of Tantalus", it was clearly stated Catherine Langford was twenty-one in 1945, which would make her about four years old in 1928. However, she is much older in the opening sequence of the film, which is set in that year.

Because of these differences, some fans of the film consider the television series as its own separate entity, rather than a proper sequel to the film. Using some of Emmerich's notes, Bill McCay wrote a series of five novels continuing the story the original creators had envisioned.

Series trivia

  • As of Season 9, Teal'c (Christopher Judge) is the character to appear in the most episodes, having only been absent in the episode "Prometheus Unbound" in Season 8. Prior to Season 9 he held this title with Amanda Tapping's character, Samantha Carter, who was also only absent in "Prometheus Unbound", up until Amanda's maternity leave which left her absent for the first five episodes of Season 9.
  • There are only three episodes of the series in which Teal'c (Christopher Judge) refers to Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) as "Daniel" as opposed to "Daniel Jackson": "The Broca Divide", "The First Commandment", and "Forever in a Day". All other instances he refers to Daniel Jackson by his full name or, occasionally, as "Dr. Jackson".
  • The battlefield UAV used in the series was a Mastiff UAV.
  • Many of the extras portraying US Air Force personnel are in fact real US Air Force personnel, including two real US Air Force Chiefs of Staff in cameo roles.[9]
  • In Children of the Gods, the pilot episode for the series, when Samantha Carter sees a DHD for the first time, she comments on how it took "fifteen years and three supercomputers to MacGyver a system for the gate on Earth." This is a reference to Anderson's well-known portrayal of the TV character MacGyver.
  • David Arnold is listed in the end credits for writing the musical themes from the movie, but Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, who wrote the original film, are not credited. This is because Emmerich and Devlin refused an on-screen credit.[citation needed]
  • There are many references to The Simpsons as Jack O'Neill's favorite television series -- it is, in fact, Richard Dean Anderson's as well. In Citizen Joe, Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer Simpson, made a guest appearance as Joe Spencer. In turn, Richard Dean Anderson later made a guest appearance on The Simpsons in the seventeenth season episode Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore as himself.
  • Beginning with the Season 10 episode, Company of Thieves, Vala Mal Doran, the newest offical member of SG-1 (as of Memento Mori) is seen at the end of the main titles catching up to the rest of the team as they embark through the Stargate. They turn and smile at her and then while Sam, Mitchell, and Teal'c walk through, Daniel waits a moment so he and Vala can go through together. This is the first time the credits have changed mid-season.
Main article: Stargate SG-1 DVD

Stargate SG-1 DVD/Boxset Dates

DVD Box Art

  • The Complete First Season
    The Complete First Season
  • The Complete Second Season
    The Complete Second Season
  • The Complete Third Season
    The Complete Third Season
  • The Complete Fourth Season
    The Complete Fourth Season
  • The Complete Fifth Season
    The Complete Fifth Season
  • The Complete Sixth Season
    The Complete Sixth Season
  • The Complete Seventh Season
    The Complete Seventh Season
  • The Complete Eighth Season
    The Complete Eighth Season
  • The Complete Ninth Season
    The Complete Ninth Season

References

  1. ^ a b Darren Sumner (2006-08-21). "Cooper: SG-1 will go on". GateWorld. Retrieved 2006-08-21.
  2. ^ "Stargate SG-1 Top 10 episodes". Global Episode Opinion Survey (GEOS). Retrieved 2006-07-30.
  3. ^ "SG-1 Ends Run; Atlantis Back". GateWorld. 2006-08-22. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
  4. ^ John Dempsey, Ben Fritz (2006-08-21). "Sci Fi's 'Stargate' swinging closed". Variety News. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
  5. ^ Darren Sumner (2006-08-26). "MGM considers SG-1's future". GateWorld. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
  6. ^ "Save Stargate SG-1 - Campaign News & Updates". savestargatesg1.com. Retrieved 2006-09-01.
  7. ^ "Bring Back SG-1 - Online Petition". iPetitions. Retrieved 2006-09-01.
  8. ^ "Save Stargate SG-1 - Online Petition". Artifice, Inc. PetitionOnline. Retrieved 2006-09-01.
  9. ^ Doug Thar (2004-09-09). "Air Force to honor actor, producer". Air Force Link. Retrieved 2006-08-27.

External links

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