Foray into Science Fiction Fandom (5)


One of the most popular science fiction shows of the last twenty years is Stargate SG1. It sprang as a spinnoff of the movie Stargate, but ended up with a fandom all its own and ran for ten strong seasons plus two movies.

The first six seasons star Richard Dean Anderson (of MacGuyver fame) as the broody and violent Colonel Jack O'Neil. As the seasons progress, though, he loosens up and becomes one of the most endearing characters. Daniel Jackson backs off from his intense role as romantic lead, and becomes more of the moral compass/spiritual leader. Major Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) remains a fairly static personality, but as she was not a character included in the original movie, she did not have any previous actor portrayals to fight against. She gets bits and pieces of personal life throughout the seasons.
Teal'C, a lovely character introduced in the first episodes of season 1, didn't impress me. The actor had little skill or diction, which I found frustrating. I generally skip episodes that feature his planet or family too intensely. They verge too closely on melodrama. He did have some funny lines, though.

The final four seasons saw a large switch in cast and conflict. The two major antagonists of the first six seasons (the Goa'ould and the Replicators) had been well vanquished, and Richard Dean Anderson needed to rest his knees, so they pulled in two of the cast from Farscape and invented an even worse enemy (the Ori - Ascended beings with the ideology of the Goa'ould). Although I adore both Claudia Black and her male counterpart (did they EVER have the funniest episodes!) I couldn't get back into the show. I intend to, one of these days.

Once again, I find myself remembering above all, the humor. So many episodes made jabs at the writers, at the show itself, and they were always the favorites. I like a show that can laugh, and I like more than anything a show that can laugh at itself.

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