Briefing: In Defense of Stargate

The first two episodes of SG-1‘s ninth season have gotten more than the usual amount (which is very little) of media attention, due in large part to the show’s new cast members and guest star Claudia Black. In addition to the higher number of casual viewers that decide to check out a show at season premiere time, throngs of Farscape fans are “crossing over” to watch two of their favorites on a very different show.

As a result, “Avalon” parts one and two have given many viewers their very first taste of what Stargate is. And I’ve read many reviews, commentaries, and letters to the editor this month that describe the show with terms like “popcorn fare” (I even used that one myself last week), “entertaining romp,” “lighthearted,” “goofy,” and the not-so-kind “pedestrian.”

Are media outlets giving Stargate SG-1 a fair shake?

Consider, for example, the words of USA Today: “More space adventure than deep drama, Stargate places no great demands on its audience — unless you’re determined to keep track of its increasingly complicated plot. While it’s not a great series, it can be an entertaining one.”

In other words, so far Stargate SG-1 is coming across to many as Science Fiction Lite, a group of explorers on a somewhat silly adventure with dramatic moments few and far between, and dialogue bordering on cheese. Campy. Many reviewers treat the show as appealing to the lowest common denominator. Positive reviews have often focused on the “But it is entertaining” factor, and left it at that.

Those viewers who stick around long enough are sure to learn, however, that this evaluation of Stargate SG-1 is what is pedestrian. The casual passer-by will watch an episode like “Avalon, Part 1” and conclude that that’s all the show is. But they may miss out on the hard-hitting drama and pure science fiction of episodes like “Abyss,” “Meridian,” “Heroes,” and “Threads.”

That’s the true beauty of Stargate, and no doubt a key ingredient in the formula that has made it such a success: Stargate is varied. There are popcorn romps, there are comedies, there are intense dramas, there are character studies, and there are pure science fiction hours.

SG-1 has been unfavorably compared to such genre series as Farscape, Babylon 5, Star Trek, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. To be sure, it is none of these. The show is its own creature, and because it is so internally varied it is unlike anything else in its class. It doesn’t take itself too seriously … but watch out: When it does take itself seriously, and when it takes its own mythology seriously, it sits with the best that television has to offer.

Now, for your late local news:

Stargate Ultimate has published an interview with Stargate puppeteer Morris Chapdelaine, one of the main men behind (and under) Thor and the new Atlantis recurring character, Hermiod. He reveals that SG-1 will be meeting a new Asgard character, Kvasir, in an upcoming episode. (Will this one finally get some pants?)

He also played the very alien Tenat in Season Eight’s “Prometheus Unbound” … a character who will return in an upcoming episode. (Knowing Vala, our guess is “The Ties That Bind.”) “I don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say that he has some ‘unfinished business’ with a certain character,” Chapdelaine said, “and he want to get revenge, and to get back what is truly his.”

Chapdelaine also said that Amanda Tapping is hosting a new documentary on Stargate called “The Science of Stargate.” No word yet on whether this will be a DVD feature, a TV special, or something else entirely.

Canada’s The Movie Network has published its Atlantis schedule for September. As expected, the episodes will fall in the order: “Conversion,” “Aurora,” and “The Lost Boys.” But there is no episode scheduled for September 5 — which indicates that The SCI FI Channel in the U.S. may not air an episode on September 2, either, due to the Labor Day holiday. (The network skipped this week last season, as well.)

Creation is now taking orders for the brand new Official Stargate SG-1 2006 Calendar, which sports the Season Nine team (plus Claudia Black’s Vala Mal Doran) on the cover. Ships in September.

Now Playing Magazine reviews “Avalon, Part 1” and “Part 2,” and
“The Siege, Part 3.”

Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis composer Joel Goldsmith has launched his official Web site, at FreeClyde.com. (Don’t ask us the significance of the name …)

Finally, Rittenhouse Archives has announced a September 28 release date for the Stargate Atlantis Season One trading cards set! Check out the site for a few images, including the shiney collector’s album.

(Thanks to Morjana, Maciej Kwiatkowski, Scott, tsaxlady, and Ron for contributing!)