TV Shows: Stargate (SG-1, Atlantis)

[giggleloop]

So after watching episode 54, and the whole Wire vs. Shield discussion, it got me to thinking....

It seems to me that the feelings Dan had initially about The Wire, and really not being interested in the characters initially, is what I'm going through right now with Stargate SG-1.

Backstory - my dad has always been a fan of SG-1, and had the first 4 seasons on DVD. I entered into Stargate fandom via Stargate Atlantis, having seen the movie, and having the recommendations of internet friends who told me that I didn't need to have watched SG-1 to understand what goes on on Atlantis. And they were right - and I immediately loved Atlantis.

Cut to the present - and my husband has recently decided to borrow my dad's SG-1 boxsets and start into it from the beginning - and he's completely obsessed with it now, can't stop talking about how great it is. He's on Season Five now (he bought seasons 5-10 a couple weeks ago when they were on sale at Best Buy), and hasn't shut up about it.

I've watched the key episodes of seasons 1 and 2 so far - and I just canNOT get into it like I am with Atlantis. The characters just do NOT interest me whatsoever, the storylines are okay I guess, but I just feel very 'meh' about the series. And my husband can't understand that at all.

Do you think this might be just because I was exposed to SGA first, and therefore I'll always prefer it? Among those of you here who are Stargate fans, and have watched both series, which do you prefer and why? Let's discuss! :D

[betaflame]

You really should just watch the seasons all the way through, or else you'd miss a lot of character development. Also, if you're watching them all anyways, count how many time Teal'c says "Indeed." :D

[wideawakewesley]

I've only seen Atlantis and it was decidedly average. I ditched it after one season and unsurprisingly I hear it's now getting better. Not really my kind of show though.

Wes

[darknessgp]

I've seen both. I'm definitely a hardcore (at least as I can be) SG-1 fan. I've seen every episode, and my favorites ("Window of Opportunity") many many times. I voted that i like both equally. This is mostly true. I think I like SG-1 a bit more, but it started to suck some when they replaced RDA, and Atlantis is starting to get really good.

Oh, and as for your "problem" i would agree that you need to watch all the episodes. Not sure what you mean by "key episodes", I'm going to assume you mean ones that are following the main story... Doing that means you are missing a lot of stuff. Try to think of what it would be like to only see SGA with just the episodes that are in the main story, it takes a lot of character development out, mainly because it seems the SG writers love their little 1 episode stories. In any case, since you saw SGA first you will more than likely like it more than SG-1... but not watching every episode is just asking to not enjoy it. If one of my friends told me they were doing that with a show I'd have to ask them why they even bother as they clearly don't care enough to watch it as it was intended.

[giggleloop]

I've seen both. I'm definitely a hardcore (at least as I can be) SG-1 fan. I've seen every episode, and my favorites ("Window of Opportunity") many many times. I voted that i like both equally. This is mostly true. I think I like SG-1 a bit more, but it started to suck some when they replaced RDA, and Atlantis is starting to get really good.

Oh, and as for your "problem" i would agree that you need to watch all the episodes. Not sure what you mean by "key episodes", I'm going to assume you mean ones that are following the main story... Doing that means you are missing a lot of stuff. Try to think of what it would be like to only see SGA with just the episodes that are in the main story, it takes a lot of character development out, mainly because it seems the SG writers love their little 1 episode stories. In any case, since you saw SGA first you will more than likely like it more than SG-1... but not watching every episode is just asking to not enjoy it. If one of my friends told me they were doing that with a show I'd have to ask them why they even bother as they clearly don't care enough to watch it as it was intended.

Well, my husband has been watching all the episodes, as I said. I watched almost all of season 1, I only skipped maybe 1 or 2 episodes - mostly because he was getting impatient that I was falling behind in watching them, so he just told me which ones were important for me to watch in order to get to the season 1 finale. And I've only watched about half of season 2 so far. But out of the maybe... 20 or so episodes I've watched, I'm just really not as interested in Jack and Teal'c and Daniel as I am in John and Rodney and Ronon.

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I'm working full time as well as going to school at night, and so the few hours that I have to watch TV shows are usually put aside for the few that I record weekly to watch (Supernatural, Smallville, SGA when it's on, Doctor Who and Torchwood, and AotS nightly). So I really just don't have the energy to devote to watching 10 seasons of a show that I'm not that into to begin with.

I guess it's nothing against the show itself, I just don't find myself as being interested enough in it to continue.

[decepticon]

I've seen both...I'm currently almost done the most reason season of Atlantis...I like both a lot, but at the end of the day I think I like SG-1 better. I still dig Atlantis though.

[latx]

I've watched both SG1 and some of Atlantis, and I had the opposite issue. I started watching SG1 when it first came out and got really into the characters. The interaction between them was enjoyable to me. I haven't been watching as much since they replaced Jack. I loved Ben Browder when he was on Farscape (oh How I miss that show), but just couldn't stay interested SG1 after he joined the cast. Maybe it's just that I got so used to Richard Dean Anderson.

I tried watching Atlantis a few times, but it never grabbed me and pulled me in. It wasn't bad, but just didn't capture my attention like SG1 did the first time I saw it. However, I didn't start watching Atlantis at the first episode and what I have caught has been off and on, so it might be something I need to watch from the very beginning to get into.

[afflaf]

Before getting into the whole Stargate thing I glanced at some old episodes on tv, couldn't really decide what to jump into but I finally decided to go with Atlantis (not knowint that it was a follow-up of SG1 in a way,) so I watched the 4 seasons of Atlantis that were available, then it stopped and I had to wait a week for the next episode.

So I decided to download the first couple of seasons of SG1, and I started out really not liking it, I had a hard time getting used to the characters and lots of episodes felt like "I've seen this already in Atlantis" etc etc..

after a season or two it started feeling better watching every episode and now I've finished watching every single episode of SG1 and I really really love it! I jumped when I noticed that there was the "Arc of Truth" movie out and I watched it.

Though I agree, the show only got worse after Dean Anderson was replaced by that new guy, last two season were.. worse then the eight first :)

no after I've seen both series and all the episodes that are out I wish I would have started with SG1, just as much as I should have watched Star Wars 1-3 before 4-6,

I still think you should try to watch every episode even though that might be hard cause you got lots of other stuff to do, if you don't then stuff will just happen (or not happen in some cases) and you just sit there not knowing why..

they both rock and I can't wait for the upcoming season of Atlantis!

[chepito]

SG1 is fantastic!

I haven't really watched Atlantis beyond season 2, I really wasn't as invested with the characters like I was with SG1.

[th3-space-pope]

I was a big SG-1 nerd growing up, but honestly the last two seasons really fell flat (oh look it’s half the cast of farscape…yay…). However, I loved that show so much I would have voted “like them both equally” if not for that god awful movie, an Arc of Truth……..really?

Atlantis, however, I’m really liking, especially since they introduced Ronon, and of course McKay is a champion, I don’t know why but him getting shot in the ass with an arrow really endeared him to me.

[betaflame]

The last 2 season of SG-1 were supposed to be an entirely different show, but the rumor is that sci-fi wanted to get the record for the longest running scifi show. Like most people I feel the show really fell off after RDA left.

Make sure you watch "Window of Opportunity." It's one of the best episodes.

[darknessgp]

The last 2 season of SG-1 were supposed to be an entirely different show, but the rumor is that sci-fi wanted to get the record for the longest running scifi show. Like most people I feel the show really fell off after RDA left...

The sad thing that I've realized, is that even though the last 2 seasons weren't as good as the other 8. For me, it was still better than most of the shows sci-fi runs.

[betaflame]

Thats because they are better than 90% of the other shows on Scifi.
I watched every episode of those 2 season. But the mood of the show really shifted.

For anyone interested one of the main writers has a blog:
josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/

And for those wanting to get more familiar with the SG universe:
www.gateworld.net

[ryudo]

Seen both and prefer Atlantis in the last couple seasons it has really gotten good.
And Gotta love Jewel Straight.

[glugory]

I've been a big Stargate fan for a while. I own every season that is currently available on DVD, and I even managed to find a good quality rip of Ark of Truth the weekend before it was released. For me, SG-1 has always been the better show, but Atlantis has its moments. The Season 1 finale of Atlantis? Epic. Season 2 of Atlantis had A LOT of crap though. The season finale was like its own brand of crap too. Oh, and the most recent season finale? Wow, what a turd. It was like the writers were saying, "Hey, know how we usually get season finales right at least? Well this year we decided to go with 40 minutes of shit that's just going to get retconned anyway. Enjoy!" Oh, and the whole episode with McKay, Carter, and Jewel State stuck in a hole? Absolute garbage.

I think that ultimately Atlantis' main problem is that when it's bad, it's REALLY REALLY bad. While at least SG-1 can usually come out pretty decent. Also, the occasional re-use of ideas from SG-1 on Atlantis piss me right off.

Oh, and how many people were REALLY disappointed by Ark of Truth? Seriously, what the hell? They just removed Carter and Mitchell from the A plot for.... almost no reason. Nothing those characters did even remotely effected the overall plot. What a waste. They should have ended it at Season 8 with the fishing scene. Nice, quiet, perfect little ride into the sunset.

[iccanui]

Best shows ever. They are my shield.

SG-1, the story from the movie stargate, was awesome. I loved it all the way up till it ended. Sure every show wasnt golden, but most were really good and the ones that were awesome, were AWESOME. Plus i have a thing for how they approach gods and our ancient beliefs, just fascinating.

Atlantis i hated at first. I hated it for basically ending sg-1. i hated sci fi cause they were really going through a craptastic phase of killing good shows and just horrible programing. I mean they put wrestling on... wtf? FYI, wrestling is the sign of a tv station dying.

Fast forward, atlantis has come into its own. Cameos of sg-1 cast and just developed characters and writting now make it worth watching.

That said, since this crowd will dig it, if you havent watched farscape, go for it. Farscape has been one of the best sci fi experiences i have. Its right up there with sg-1, but in a different way to me. Both epic in my mind though.

[squeakypants]

So after watching episode 54, and the whole Wire vs. Shield discussion, it got me to thinking....

It seems to me that the feelings Dan had initially about The Wire, and really not being interested in the characters initially, is what I'm going through right now with Stargate SG-1.

Backstory - my dad has always been a fan of SG-1, and had the first 4 seasons on DVD. I entered into Stargate fandom via Stargate Atlantis, having seen the movie, and having the recommendations of internet friends who told me that I didn't need to have watched SG-1 to understand what goes on on Atlantis. And they were right - and I immediately loved Atlantis.

Cut to the present - and my husband has recently decided to borrow my dad's SG-1 boxsets and start into it from the beginning - and he's completely obsessed with it now, can't stop talking about how great it is. He's on Season Five now (he bought seasons 5-10 a couple weeks ago when they were on sale at Best Buy), and hasn't shut up about it.

I've watched the key episodes of seasons 1 and 2 so far - and I just canNOT get into it like I am with Atlantis. The characters just do NOT interest me whatsoever, the storylines are okay I guess, but I just feel very 'meh' about the series. And my husband can't understand that at all.

Do you think this might be just because I was exposed to SGA first, and therefore I'll always prefer it? Among those of you here who are Stargate fans, and have watched both series, which do you prefer and why? Let's discuss! :D

This is almost definitely because you only watched the "key episodes." SG-1 is more about individual stories rather than a large plot. At least, it is in Season 1, and it's less and less like that each season (the second half of season 8 is basically one big storyline).

In season 1, the show isn't about how they defeat the Goa'uld; the Goa'uld are just the setting for the show. In almost every episode (once again, this is mostly just season 1) there's a completely new story about a new planet they explored.

I haven't seen all of seasons 3-6, but the entire show (excluding seasons 9 and 10) is great. Season 8's finale is probably my favorite finale of any TV show, and of course they had to ruin it by continuing the series (seasons 9 and 10 are really really bad).

Ironically, I haven't been a big fan of Atlantis. Season 1 was cool, then seasons 2 and 3 were pretty subpar. Season 4 had a few ups, but it's never had the same quality as SG-1. Also, they need to bring back Ford!

[neonshadow]

Ok. For those of you who don't like the last couple seasons of SG-1, the "new guy" is Ben Browder, and the girl is Claudia Black. These are the two main characters from the show Farscape. I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I just have to say, I urge you to check it out. I'ts a little campy, but it is an amazing show (looking back at all four seasons + the movie), and I hope that it would not go overlooked.

As to the topic at hand, I absolutely love SG-1, and I love that they brought Sam back as a regular in Season 4 of Atlantis (I won't say in what capacity to avoid spoiling). It's hard to pick a favorite, but I would have to go with SG-1 if for nothing else than the sheer amount of story they have there (10 seasons!). I say definitely give SG-1 (and Farscape!) a chance.

[latx]

Ok. For those of you who don't like the last couple seasons of SG-1, the "new guy" is Ben Browder, and the girl is Claudia Black. These are the two main characters from the show Farscape. I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I just have to say, I urge you to check it out. I'ts a little campy, but it is an amazing show (looking back at all four seasons + the movie), and I hope that it would not go overlooked.


I totally agree with you on this. I mentioned that I wasn't enjoying Ben Browder in SG1, but Farscape was freakin' amazing. Farscape is probably my favorite SciFi show (Haven't seen Firefly yet so...). Even managed to get a couple of my friends who hate SciFi to watch it and enjoy it. Ben Browder fit the character of John Chricton perfectly and apparently he ad lib's a lot of his random pop culture references in the show.

[jazza]

I enjoy them both, but I feel that Claudia Black kinda ruined the end of SG1. I mean she was good as a guest star, but as a main character she wasn't great, and I know it's not completely her fault as the writers didn't seem to know what do with her most of the time.

[shadowprism]

Me personally I love both of them but am drawn towards Atlantis over SG-1.

I have always liked the concept that their in a city that is technologically advanced and whenever they touch a new machine they have to figure out turn it off before they blow up the base.

[glugory]

Me personally I love both of them but am drawn towards Atlantis over SG-1.

I have always liked the concept that their in a city that is technologically advanced and whenever they touch a new machine they have to figure out turn it off before they blow up the base.

I really liked that too... until the exploding tumors episode. Everything about that episode was really awesome, except for that terrible deus ex machina.