Stargate S.G. 1 - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

...a massive fan of the Stargate franchise since my older brother brought home the first season box set a couple of years ago and we sat down to watch it nearly every day.

Ok, so first I’ll begin with an explanation of the Stargate SG1 universe. Here goes. Humans are a the next step in the evolutionary path of a race of aliens known as the ‘Ancients’. They were a massively advanced race both in technoligy and mentaly who existed millions ...
...a device known as the Stargate that is capable of near instantanious travel between two of the devices usually situated on different planets though sometimes appear in space. So when the Ancients ascended they left behind stargates on thousands of worlds. Next we have a parasitic race known as the goa’uld which are symbiotes that burrow into a host body and take control of it usually enhanncing its abilities. But these symbiotes are all egomaniacs ... more

I’ve been a massive fan of the Stargate franchise since my older brother brought home the first season box set a couple of years ago and we sat down to watch it nearly every day.

Ok, so first I’ll begin with an explanation of the Stargate SG1 universe. Here goes. Humans are a the next step in the evolutionary path of a race of aliens known as the ‘Ancients’. They were a massively advanced race both in technoligy and mentaly who existed millions of years ago. But they eventually reached a point in their evolution when they became beings of pure energy known as ‘ascendedd being’ who live on a different plane of existance. But this information isn’t realised for a few seaons. I tell you this because of a few common misconceptions that are sometimes spawned early on in the series.

The Ancients created a device known as the Stargate that is capable of near instantanious travel between two of the devices usually situated on different planets though sometimes appear in space. So when the Ancients ascended they left behind stargates on thousands of worlds. Next we have a parasitic race known as the goa’uld which are symbiotes that burrow into a host body and take control of it usually enhanncing its abilities. But these symbiotes are all egomaniacs hell bent on control and capable only of evil (quite cool really). The Goa’uld have enslaved humans for thousands of years and acted like Gods. They took humans from Earth and scattered them around the galaxy but eventually forgot about earth, it’s location lost.
The Film that came before the TV show shows how a stargate is discovered in Egypt in the 1920’s if I remember correctly and activated in the early 90’s. An expedition team goes through consisting of soldiers and an archiologist (Daniel Jackson). They discover a world populated by primative humans who have been enslaved for centuries by an alien race. Certain significant facts are picked up like the fact that the God that controls the planet, Ra’ah is an egyption God as are all of the Goa’uld which shows us that most religions on Earth came from these aliens. Gods like Anubis, Horas and Seth appear later amongst others but what makes the series good is the fact it inncorportaes many religions into the plot and uses many myths and legends.
That about sums up the basics. SG1 begins with a return trip to the planet where more gate adresses are found and Jacksons wife is taken as a host for the Goa’uld.
Now a few facts aye? – The show was created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner and is based on the film ‘Stargate’ released 1994. Since it began it has had over 200 episodes, 10 seasons, a 5 season spin off, and animated spin off and two extended episodes after season 10. Oh yeah, its an action sci-fi but something that makes it great is that it is a sci-fi set in our time so nothing futuristic which in my eyes just makes it easier to get into a believe.

The Cast: Richard Dean Anderson, Don S Davis, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Crhistopher Judge, Teryl Rothery and a lot of guest stars later on.

Children of the Gods – The Next Mission: When a team goes back through the Stargate they discover a whole new gate network and also reveal themselves to the Goa’uld. They attempt a rescue of Daniel Jackson’s wife and a young boy who are being held on a different planet ruled by the Goa’uld Apothes. Whilst there they discover a race of people calle the Jaffa who carry symbiote inside of them until they are matured enough for implantation and they serve their ‘Gods’ to the death. Whilst on the mission the soldiers are captured but escape with the help of the high ranking Jaffa Teal’c. For a first episode the plot unfolds really well and is truly gripping. The characters are introduced brilliantly and the way to many many story lines opens up. Also considering its time the graphics aren’t bad but doesn’t really compare with the acting.

After this opening episode we now have a proper team to watch in action known as SG1 which consists of Colonel Jack O’Neill (two L’s), Captain Samantha Carter, Dr Daniel Jackson and Teal’c. O’Neill is the iconic figure from the show that every one loves, he’s heroic, a great leader, an expert tactician and spends his life ‘sticking it to the man’ untill he becomes ‘the man’. Its this type of humour that makes the character, he’s rarely serious and acts dumberr than he really is. He really makes the show worth wathcing. Carter is an astrophysicist and is the lead scientist on the team who pounds out so much techno babble in every episode it makes me laugh and I think this is what defines Carter. As well as the smartest person one could ever meet she is also a great fighter an there is many a scene in which she leaves warriors on there arses. Then theres Daniel Jackson, the archiologist and humanist of the team. The one that puts absolutely everyones lives before his own but I think he seems a bit too wimpy in this season though he grows and changes massively later on, I mean it doesn’t take long for him to go from a side arm as he’s main weapon to wielding two P90’s simultaneously. Finally we have Teal’c. Not much to say, he’s an expert fighter and can take huge amounts of punishment. But though he’s tough on the outside he’s also a loving husband and father and oh yeah, he’s an alien. From season one to ten you learn to love each character and what really entertains me is the humour, I’v sometimes fell out of bed laughing at parts, nearly every episode has one of those incredibly funny moments with the exception of the first few.

The Nox – This episode introduces one of the ‘four races’ who are the ancients, the nox, the asgard and the furlings. Though the Nox are only ever seen once after this episode and the furlings are never seen though the other two play massive parts. The Nox are pacifsts and have the ability to bring the dead back as we find out when SG1 ambushes a Jaffa patrol and are all killed. Quite a cool episode really cause the Nox look really funny.

Blood Lines – This episode introduces Teal’s family and really shows how much Teal’c cares for his family when he takes out he’s own symbiote which is fatal to help his son, quite touching really. But another symbiote is found in time and Teal’c survives.

The Broca Divide – Here we see the team travel to a planet infested by cave men who attack on sight but soon find a civilisation of people who claim that the cave men were once like them but have been cursed. This is obviously a disease but these people are to primitive to know of such science and it just so happens that SG1 becomes infected. We also see O’Neill willing to give his own kife for every on base but this happens a lot through out the series so isn’t too special, but it does give an indication of O’Neill’s character.

The First Commandment – We get a small insight into the life of Carter here. It starts with two SG men running for their lives and though one is killed the other survives. When SG1 is sent to investigate SG9’s disappearance they discover that SG9’s leader arrived on the planet and was treated like a God, of course for the sake of the plot he allows this treatment and it soon gets to his head.

The Enemy Within – Another touching episode here as we see a Goa’uld infiltrate the SGC (Stargate Command) and O’Neill’s best friend subsequently loses his life.

Emancipation – Another Carter episode now where we watch how SG1 goes to a new planet where women are second class citizens and are sold as slaves to be married and mis-treated. This reflects Amanda Tapping belief about Feminism as she fights for their rights and ends up going one on one against a Hun type fellow and opens a nice ol’ can o’ wupass on him.

Now I wont go through the next 15 episodes cause then there would be no point in you investigating at all but I will say that the next episodes include things such as Dopplegangers, parralell universes, android clones and succubuses.
Ok so now for the box set it self. Its all held together a cardboard sleeve which has a nice design so doesn’t look ugly on your shelf as with the rest of the seasons, they all go together nicely. Every four episode has its own disc in its own plastic case which makes it pretty bulky which is fine but unnessacery. Each Disc also contains rather a lot of bonus features giving a documentary on most characters and commentary on a lot of episodes as well as other bits and bobs put I only personally enjoyed the character profiles and interviews. But there is probably as much bonus material as there is show time so plenty to occupy yourself.
Now I think onto the disadvantages which I can only think of one except that which I spoke of above in it being rather bulky. The other is the price as I have seen it going for up £60 but I’v also seen it for half that. Still if your aiming to get all the seasons it is incredibly expensive and only worth it if your going to watch it more than one (you probably will) and will watch the bonus features.

So I absolutely love this show and the spin offs and is something that you can reaally get into, great characters and plots, the right amount of action and talking, lots of humour and massively creative, there just isn’t anything to hate).
 

...less