Sundays through the Stargate is a weekly series that I am doing on Stargate SG1 which you can learn more about in The Beginning post. It is mostly for my own dorky edification but if there are any other fans out there I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Eight seasons of cracking science fiction adventure. That's how I would describe Stargate SG1. My other descriptor: Indiana Jones in space if Indiana had a "team" and a P-90 instead of a bull whip. It had plenty of explosions, running and jumping and gun porn for folks that enjoy that type of action while also having interesting enough characters and relationships for the folks who prefer the operatic side of sci fi. For people like me who really like both of those things, it was heaven.
Seasons 9 and 10
I feel bad not considering the entirety of SG1's run by stopping at the end of season 8. I did try to start re-watching season 9 but was, well, bored. I do hope to get to it some day and do it justice as I'm sure I am being too hard on it. Ironically, I think what pushed me to watch SG1 in the first place was my love for Farscape and excitement over seeing Ben Browder and Claudia Black together again. I just needed to get through the first 8 seasons to get to them. Unfortunately, my heart was snagged by the original team and by the time Ben and Claudia made their appearance, I was hopeful but too sad over Jack's departure to get into it. Ben Browder who I find mesmerizing and hilarious as John Crichton (Farscape) just seems bland and unfunny to me as Cameron Mitchell. Claudia Black as Vala is initially funnier than I remembered from my first watch of season 9 but her shtick quickly feels forced to me. The fact is I had gotten way too attached to the characters and Jack was my favorite followed closely by Sam. Jack's departure and Sam's somewhat diminished role meant I had a hard time engaging with the new configuration.
As with The X-files I wonder how it would have worked for them to have completely gotten rid of the original cast (except for occasional guest appearances)? I think the writers still had some decent stories to tell and with all new characters and relationships it may have avoided the "things not quite clicking" with the mix of old and new. I mean it doesn't even make a lot of sense that Teal'c would be fighting with the Taur'i anymore now that his lifelong dream for the Jaffa has been realized - they try to explain it but it doesn't really work. It probably wouldn't have worked either and in fact I feel like there are a good core of fans that enjoy season 9 and 10. In fact I just red an online article that called the finale of season 10 the best episode in Stargate history. If you are one of the fans that enjoys these two seasons, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
The Best of... Lists
Enough of seasons 9 and 10. There is PLENTY to tackle with the first 8 seasons and here are some of my "best of" lists though they should more properly be called "my favorites" as I am, sadly, not the sole arbiter of what is best.
Seasons Ranked from Worst to Best
8. Season 1
7. Season 5
6. Season 7
5. Season 8
4. Season 2
3. Season 6
2. Season 3
1. Season 4 - Of course it's my favorite. Not only does the 'ship make its most appearances but it's the peak of the Tok'ra-Earth alliance and I love me some Tok'ra machinations. Plus there are 7 out of the 22 episodes that are some of my favorites of the entire show and it ends with Carter blowing up a sun!
This was very hard and if you ask me again tomorrow I may change the order. To rank them I was trying to balance the number and quality of my favorite episodes per season plus an indefinable overall vibe of the season. Seasons 7 and 8 have a large number of some of my favorite episodes but the team dynamic is all wacky in both these seasons and they are overall a little disappointing. I have fond feelings for season 6 but it only has a couple of episodes that I really love. Season 4 is definitely the best, Season 1 is definitely last - the rest I'm not so sure.
Favorite Episodes (in season not rank order because ranking is too hard)
1. Episode 2.2 In the Line of Duty - The Tok'ra Jolinar invades Sam's body against her will and SG1 is introduced to a new kind of Goa'uld.
2. Episode 3.12 and 3.13 Jolinar's Memories and The Devil You Know - SG1 and Martouf mount a rescue of Jacob/Selmak on Sokar's planet which emulates Hell.
3. Episode 3.22 Nemesis - Season 3 finale where Jack, Sam and Teal'c face off against the replicators for the first time.
4. Episode 4.3 Upgrades - A sexy Tok'ra scientist equips SG1 with armbands that increase their physical and mental abilities 100 fold - hilarity and drama ensue.
5. Episode 4.6 Window of Opportunity - SG1's most fun episode dealing with timey wimey stuff - the Earth is caught in a time loop and only Jack and Teal'c are aware of it.
6. Episode 4.10 Beneath the Surface - SG1 have their identities and personalities overwritten and are forced to work in an underground energy plant on a corrupt alien planet.
7. Episode 6.6 Abyss - Jack, having been betrayed by a Tok'ra symbiote, is captured and tortured by Ba'al.
8. Episode 6.12 Unnatural Selection - The replicators have evolved into human like forms and they are creepy as hell.
9. Episode 7.13 Grace - Sam is trapped alone on the Prometheus in space and must come to terms with some things in order to save herself and her shipmates.
10. Episode 7.21 and 7.22 Lost City Parts 1 and 2 - Jack has once again downloaded the ancient database into his mind and SG1 is in a race against time to track down the Lost City and a weapon they can use against the attacking Goa'uld.
11. Episode 8.11 Gemini - Sam faces off against her most diabolical opponent - a replicator version of herself.
12. Episode 8.16 and 8.17 Reckoning Part 1 and 2 - The Replicators led by RepliCarter, Anubis/Ba'al, the Jaffa and Earth all clash as all 8 seasons of the show are brought to a head.
13. Episode 8.19 and 8.20 Moebius Parts 1 and 2 - A fun and loving send off for the show and tied with WOO for timey wimey good times.
And with that I think I'll wrap this up. There are probably lots of other lists I could make - favorite all time moments, favorite Jack/Daniel moments, and of course favorite Sam/Jack moments or just Jack moments period. However, I think it's better if you just watch the show and see for yourself all the great moments. So get your butt through the Stargate and experience the adventure, romance and snark. Oh and let me know about your favorite episodes, seasons, moments, anything about the show because I am tired of babbling and want to hear what y'all have to say for a change. Lay it on me!
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