The Movie

It all began in 1994 when James Spader was still hot and especially cute playing a good boy geek for the first time in his life, and Kurt Russell was still one of the go-to men for action flicks (other than being absolutely amazing in Tarantino’s Death Proof not too long ago). It was the first look we had at the universe of possibilities that would be Stargate. The movie was phenomenal, a unique sci fi story with enough possibilities to create over a decade of follow-ups.

A strange device discovered in Egypt in the 1920s is a puzzle finally solved when the scientific group working on it brings in Daniel Jackson (played then by Spader). The device is a wormhole gateway across galaxies to another planet that is controlled by an alien thought of as the Egyptian god Ra, who also once ruled over Earth. Taking on the task of overthrowing this ‘god’ and saving the people of the other planet, Daniel and the soldiers sent along with him, led by Colonel Jack O’Neil (Russell), must save the day and find their way back home through the stargate.

The possibility of reaching other worlds and galaxies by simply stepping through a gate is alone alluring and makes for an exciting premise. The movie remains one of my favorites. Then the television series, Stargate SG-1, began on Showtime in 1997, eventually finding its home on the Sci Fi channel. None of the main actors were the same but the new cast was just as inspiring as the original, and for some they became a more lovable group from mission one.

SG-1

Jack, now played by Richard Dean Anderson—that’s right, folks, MacGyver himself—is called back into the stargate program for an exciting new premise. There are more gates out there, more possible worlds to explore, and other alien races to encounter, both friendly and hostile.

Jack reunites with Daniel (now played by the adorably sexy Michael Shanks), who are then joined by Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and the alien Teal’c (Christopher Judge). Teal’c is a Jaffa, a race that protects and carries the young of the Goa’uld, the believed extinct race of the villain from the movie. That’s right, there are more ‘gods’ out there with great power, technology, and hordes of slaves to fight and die for them.

There are some worlds untouched by the Goa’uld, but every experience through the gate is a memorable one that the SG-1 team undertakes proudly. There are other teams formed, but the series follows most closely Jack, Daniel, Sam, and Teal’c. Throughout the many storylines of the series, there were a few character changes, Daniel even left and came back, and Jack was promoted (Anderson switched to Producer) but he still always managed to make appearances.

Atlantis

Halfway through SG-1’s success Sci-Fi began the spinoff series Stargate: Atlantis. I have a confession to make. I have only ever watched maybe a handful of Atlantis episodes. I just never got into it despite the pull SG-1 always had over me, so my knowledge of Atlantis is completely second-hand. I do recognize, however, that Atlantis’ fans are just as rabid as SG-1’s and it deserves its due attention.

Atlantis began in 2004 with a new team led by John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) who had already appeared in SG-1 and who quickly became one of the most beloved Stargate characters.

Wikipedia:

The Stargate Atlantis plot follows the adventures of the “Atlantis expedition”, a combination of military forces and civilian scientists that travel to the Pegasus galaxy in search of the Lost City of Atlantis, left behind by the most powerful race known to ever have lived, referred to as the Ancients, also known as Lanteans and Alterrans. The finding of the city had been a plot arc for most of SG-1′s Season 7, and the Ancients themselves had been a long-running facet of the SG-1 setting. Arriving at the City, the expedition discover that the Pegasus galaxy is dominated by a terrible enemy known as the “Wraith”, against whom they must defend themselves, despite being vastly outnumbered.

With an also ever-changing team throughout its run, including some crossing over of characters from SG-1, such as Samantha Carter, Atlantis ended its last season this past January.

Extras

There were two movies that tied off some loose ends for SG-1 after it was taken off the air, The Ark of Truth and Continuum. I have yet to get my hands on the movies so that wonderful catharsis I so crave of SG-1 is on hiatus for the time being. It haunts me, rest assured.

On a smaller scale, there was an animated Stargate series that is not considered part of the other Stargate canon. Stargate: Infinity came and went in one season in 2002.

There have been several comics, the initial ones having been based off of the movie and all following comics published by Avatar Press based around SG-1 and Atlantis.

There have also been several books tying into the series, capping off all those possible worlds we didn’t have time to get to on the large or small screen.

What works so well for a series like this and being able to bleed into other mediums is its premise of encountering new worlds and beings on a regular basis, much like Sliders, X-Files, the new series Fringe, and many other successful sci-fi endeavors. There is no end to how much story might not have been told in those hour episodes or in the movies, so it can be told in accompanying books, comics, and whatever else they come up with in the future.

SGU

The current future prepares us for Stargate: Universe, the new series slated to begin tonight on the SyFy channel at 9/8 Central. With initial guest appearances by Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, and Amanda Tapping, the franchise’s beloved Jack, Daniel, and Sam, and an ace cast including veteran actors like Ming Na, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Robert Carlyle (I can’t help thinking Ravenous and 28 Weeks Later).

Promising to be a Stargate for everyone else, SyFy says you do not need to have seen the former series to enjoy the new one, but SGU is still set in the same universe (haha) and will hold true to what we loved about the original. SGU is already highly anticipated, and may just be the next long-running series we’ve been waiting for from SyFy.
 

SGU follows a band of soldiers, scientists and civilians, who must fend for themselves as they are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. The desperate survivors emerge aboard an ancient ship, which is locked on an unknown course and unable to return to Earth. Faced with meeting the most basic needs of food, water and air, the group must unlock the secrets of the ship’s Stargate to survive. The danger, adventure and hope they find on board the Destiny will reveal the heroes and villains among them.

While I remember this plotline when it was Star Trek: Voyager, I have been assured that SGU will still offer us something unique and memorable as its crew goes about their search for home.

Conclusion

Off the airwaves, Stargate has a presence at many conventions, including official SG-1 conventions in Chicago, LA, and Vancouver. I know I wouldn’t mind having my own SG-1 uniform at some point to complete my cosplay collection, or better yet, a Vala costume (if you didn’t check out my blog about cosplay, you can find it here).

Besides being one of the Sci-Fi (now SyFy) channel’s most successful franchises along with BattleStar Galactica, the various Stargate series have had a lasting impact on the science fiction world. It formed a tight-knit community like the dedicated Trekkies of the past (and present), along with great love for so many characters, and being able to remain engaging for over ten years after a movie that might have simply passed into memory like so many others.

Now, we are primed for a return with something new and exciting on the way, but hopefully with the same heart that the previous series always had.

Good luck tonight, SGU. I’ll be watching.

~G³

On Monday I’ll be covering one of my favorite topics and past-times, fanfiction. Join me for an overview of “The Geek Retreat”.

Thanks for tuning in.

Images taken from:
http://triptrapbook.blogspot.com/2007/01/stargate-review.html
http://www.avatarpress.net/v/stargate/sg1/sg1s07wrap.jpg.html
http://tengossip.com/2009/07/24/stargate-universe-sneak-peek/
http://stargatesgc.us/joomla_sgc/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=0&Itemid=3
http://www.psp-themes.net/film-tv-themes/stargate-3827-psp-theme.htm
http://evapotter.blogspot.com/
http://blog.cleveland.com/top_entertainment/2007/10/fan_fiction_sites_take_beloved.html
http://media.photobucket.com/image/sg-1/macho_neo/STAR%20GATE%20SG-1/SG-1.jpg

17 Responses to “Fifteen Years of Stargate”