The Two Keys To The Stargate Formula

What makes a truly classic episode of Stargate SG-1? What do those beloved episodes have in common?

The show combines interesting characters with sci-fi adventure, some optimism, a dash of sarcasm, and of course plenty of humor. But to keep the fantastical adventures grounded and relatable, it also needs real heart.

“[There are] two elements … that make good television, or movies, or storytelling in general,” according to long-time Stargate franchise writer and executive producer Paul Mullie: “There’s humor, and there’s heart. That’s it! Everything else is bells and whistles. Yeah, you want adventure; and you want surprises and twists. But what you really want are those other two things. Because those are the things that make it relatable to people, and make them want to spend time with the characters.”

Mullie sat down with “Dial the Gate” host David Read to talk about joining the franchise along (with his writing parter Joseph Mallozzi) back in SG-1‘s fourth season. The duo’s first script was the moral conundrum “Scorched Earth,” but their first episode to air was “Window of Opportunity” — a time-loop story that mixed humor and heart, making it an instant fan favorite.

“It’s so absolutely key, to science fiction especially, to have a bit of little humor and some heart,” he said. And episodes like “Window of Opportunity” are so loved because they have those things in spades, from Jack and Teal’c’s role reversal to the Colonel’s deeply personal confession at the episode’s end.

Check out this clip from the conversation:

Mullie also talks about first getting to know the series, and why he thinks that first episode resonated so well with viewers. He also reveals one line from the show’s first episode that stuck out to him the most, convincing him that Stargate was something special and not another by-the-numbers show that took itself too seriously.

“When I saw the pilot, ‘Children of the Gods,’ you know the line that stood out to me most? All this crazy stuff is happening, but I remember when O’Neill says, ‘Come with us’ and Teal’c says, ‘I have nowhere to go.’ And O’Neill says, ‘For this you can stay at my place!’

“Right away I knew — OK, I get it. I get that kind of dialogue. … It’s a funny line, it sells the character, [and] it tells me everything I need to know about that character.”

Head over to “Dial the Gate” on YouTube to find the full interview with Paul Mullie. While you’re there, subscribe to GateWorld’s YouTube channel for more Stargate content!