So while Atlantis is channeling 2001, SG1 is channeling Quantum Leap?
Must really suck to be burned to death at the stake, only to be brought back to life. Apparently it makes you feel all tingly.
Apparently the Ancients didn't evolve on Earth, but came from yet another galaxy. So, I guess their MO is create life everwhere in a galaxy, stand back, watch it go all to hell, then move on so someone else has to clean up the mess? I think they need a new hobby.
B.J.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
The relatively graphic firey death was neat.
I can't get a handle on what they were doing with the origins of the gates and the Ancients and these new (old?) Ancients at all, and I'm hoping someone who paid closer attention will clear this up. What's the deal here, and was this particularly confusing or is it just me?
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Well, as I understand it, everyone thought the Ancients evolved on Earth. They built the stargates, a bunch of them flew off to Atlantis, the rest ascended, then the Atlanteans came back and mixed in with the humans who had since evolved on Earth.
Now, as it turns out, the Ancients were originally called the Altera, and hey came from another galaxy. They set out into space, stumbled across the Milky Way, named it "Avalon", and took up residence. Those are the (mostly) non-interfering Ancients we all know and love. The Altera who were left behind in the other galaxy, however, appear to have learned Ascension on their own, and have used it to become gods.
Now, as for the specifics of the episode... That test with the pots was really really stupid. All you have to do is open the right one first. You have a fifty-fifty chace of getting it right on the first try just by guessing. And, if you get it wrong, you're allowed to start over.
The test with the stones didn't make much sense, either. Do the symbols adjust themselves according to the person doing the test? If the test was set up back at the time of Ambrosius Aurelianus, those numerals, that form, hadn't been invented yet. And even the symbols they were based on would have been completely unknown in Europe. But, if the stones changed their shape because they knew what kind of numbers Mitchell would recognize, why did the pedestal's writing remain in Ancient?
And one minor issue: The couple of times we got to hear the blonde whose brain was being inhabited by Vala, why wasn't she speaking with Vala's accent?
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
I kinda felt this was like ST3...a bunch of hash to drive the characters to a new story.
I felt like the tests were a little lame. Especially for Daniel to take that type of time to figure out the pots. Did anyone notice that there seemed to be no hole in the ceiling to fit around the pedestals? Would the pedestal sink under the weight of the ceiling? Or would the ceiling stop when it hit it?
The numerals thing made me think some writer must have just gotten his Mensa Membership packet and thought "Oh COOL", this will work in a story.
The dual...OK the swords go through everything except the opponents sword. So why didn't it just go through the wall or floor when it got tossed? Magic Beans?
I hope they bring this back to some semblance of what the show has had in the past. This is starting to seem like a fantasy version of The Amazing Race.
So, what's the deal with Oneall? I don't see him moving on to another post when this has been Everything to him. His life for years has been SGC and his team. If he's out who is dealing with the Asgard? Their little grey butts seem to hold him in high esteem. Then there's his team. I don't see him abandoning SGC with all the crap going on. Then there's Carter, is he boinking Carter or not? that seemed to be where the end of last season was headed, but it doesn't seem like they are even together.
AND...I missed the opening so when the doctor came in to Landry's office... I did a double take and asked my wife "Isn't that Rommie?"... Sure enough. Now there's a character switch I am going to have trouble with. Her doing the part of Rothery instead of all leather & attitude.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Well, now she'll be all lab coat and attitude. Perhaps.
As for the sword, if it can tell who's holding it, and become physical or non-, accordingly, I'm sure it can tell when it's hitting the wall or floor.
And regarding O'Neill and Carter: That was O'Neill-who-went-to-the-past and Carter-from-the-alternate-timeline who got nasty in the puddle-jumper. The "real" O'Neill and Carter know nothing about that. And they didn't really make clear whether O'Neill is retired or not. If he's not, I doubt anything would be different than before.
[ July 25, 2005, 12:12 AM: Message edited by: TSN ]
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
I was under the impression that O'Neill took over Hammond's job. Again.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
Isn't the mandatory retirement age for military personel around 60? Hammond was definitely in his mid-50s when SG-1 started (and Don Davis certainly was), and he was originally going to retire at the end of that TOD. That he stayed on for eight years (where if you think about it, they really should have replaced him at the outset with someone who'd be more than the appointed "custodian General" at the SGC) would be quite an accomplishment.
Mark
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by WizArtist II: The numerals thing made me think some writer must have just gotten his Mensa Membership packet and thought "Oh COOL", this will work in a story.
What in the world makes you think any of the writers qualify for Mensa membership? I mean, look at the show's premise.
It sounds like Stargate is a couple of seasons overdue for ending- at this rate, ratings will drop, spinoffs will become tired and as cancellation looms, the writers will attempt to cram a solution to every loose end into one horribly rushed season a la' X-Files.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
They already wrapped up all their loose ends last season, hence the Knights of the Round Table business.
Well, except for those invisible insect people.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Re'tu?
Yeah, I think they should have ended the series with the last season. Unlike the series finale of Angel for example, I feel a sense of closure. Plus members of SG-1 could have had cameos on Atlantis.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
I just had a thought about that. Seeing as where Atlantis airs right after SG-1 (right?), they could possibly do a two-hour telemovie sort of thing with both casts. That would be neat.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
That's sorta what they did with last season. SG-1's "Moebius" aired first as the two-hour finale, setting things up for the cumulative events in "The Siege" on the following Friday for Atlantis. Using that sort of formula for a massive "miniseries" type event with a two parter each finale with a major crossover would be awesome. Or alternatively, a direct crossover with an hour each of SG-1 and Atlantis tying into each other over two weeks, with each show detailing the events in their respective Galaxies and how they affect each other. THAT would be awesome.
Mark
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
I think they should have one episode with every character ever shown from both series making a cameo. The cameos could jsut flash on screen like a strobe light....during commercials, viewers could wipe the blood out of your eyes and stop screaming.
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
And yet somehow I would bet Mark Leonard would make an appearance....along with Kevin Bacon.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
quote:I just had a thought about that. Seeing as where Atlantis airs right after SG-1 (right?), they could possibly do a two-hour telemovie sort of thing with both casts.
The problem with that is that it kills the syndication market. They used to do crossovers like that, long long ago, where two shows would effectively form one episode, but it never worked in reruns because the odds of both episodes being aired in that order ever again were very slim. Buffy and Angel had a good approach to it, where the episodes worked independently, but each one contributed to understanding the other. Again, like "Mobieus" and "Siege".
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
People don't seem to understand what my idea is... I'm not talking about an episode of SG-1 followed by and episode of SG:A that continues the story, I'm talking about a two-hour episode that is both shows. I suppose it could just be called "Stargate" something or other (so as to not infringe on the movie). In syndication it would either get split into two parts and shown whenever, or it would be shown all at once as a telemovie.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
That would highlight both show's weaknesses- the lack of fresh ideas at SGI and the still-developing chemistry on Atlantis.
Or you'd have a lot of frictin between teams followed by backslappin budy-budy nonsense.
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
Well, at least they haven't done the "Stargate creates evil duplicate" thing.....yet....
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
It's coming. They've already done the Alternate Reality thing. I say we ban Stargate alltogether when they get to the Evil Clone of O'Neil stage.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
So, evil Kurt Russell, then?
They've already passed the Adolescent Clone of O'Neill stage. Does that count?
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
It's close....they have to have the clone take over the 'Gould and try to destroy Earth to be really un-redeemable.
Also bad would be any episode that splits someone into their good and evil parts or anything that causes severe aging or de-evolving into cavemen or...
Wait, they did that last one already!
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Two out of three, in fact.
All three, if you're willing to count "look how evil Goa'uld memories/health care makes you" episodes.
I wonder if anyone considering keeping O'Neill around by bringing back that kid.
Well, hopefully not.
That episode struck me as nightmarish. Here's O'Neill, for all intents and purposes, but he has to go live a life not his own and never see any of his family or friends again.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
You mean the android duplictes episodes? That would be nightmarish- to discover that not only are you a copy, but that you're a machine copy at that.
Of course, given virtual immortality, you could concievably find a way to grow a organic body one day.
It's amazing how many lame concepts we let Stargate get away with that we'd be disguted with in a current Trek episode though. All th instances I mentioned are unwatchable to me on Trek. Particularly on TNG.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
The rejuvenated (only actually not) O'Neill episode.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
I've not seen that one- I only get to see them in the reruns played at 6pm...and I've not had cable in two months now so no TV....
(sigh.) Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Mini-O'Neill didn't so much have as wanted to live his life over again, which was fairly creepy and un-O'Neill-like (still possessing the mind of Maxi-O'Neill, etc).
Also, that episode never happened. At all. Ever. There are five lights.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
I just saw the "Mini-Me" episode the other night. I actually liked the episode, mostly because the actor they found to play young O'Neill absolutely *nailed* RDA's mannerisms.
Also, Daniel referred to Loki as an *ASS*gard.
B.J.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Stargate does ALL the sci-fi cliches, sometimes more than once, with the exception of shrinking the characters. The difference is, Stargate does them WELL. Farscape was the same way (though they actually did do the shrinking episode). The time loop episode of SG-1 was priceless.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"Farscape was the same way (though they actually did do the shrinking episode)."
Did they? Why can't I remember that?
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
I thought the same thing... Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
Well, now its just a matter of Teal'c announcing that he is FULLY functional and programmed in various techniques....
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
Re: the Farscape shrinking episode....
I couldn't remember it at first either. But a quick search came up with I Shrink Therefore I Am, a 4th season episode.
B.J.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Oh, that's why. I was trying to think of an episode where the characters actually did stuff while small. But, in that one, the shrunken characters pretty much just sat around in thermoses the whole time, didn't they?
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
DS9 pulled off the shrinking episode rather well I thought. DS9 never did a time-loop episode.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
"Children of Time" had to do with breaking a causality loop.
My question here is how they're keeping Vala around for another six episodes... But regardless, I like this premiere. The show can still have life in this format, and the wholesale re-casting has made me enjoy the ensemble in a way that hasn't been there since Dr. Frasier was killed off.
Mark
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
mmmm....Dr. Fraiser...(drools)
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
I was all "I'm pretty sure they never killed Frasier. I mean, he was the one who had the spinoff."
Vala is only in the first five episodes, according to the IMDb, though of course that comes with a grain of salt. I found this week's teaser for next week kind of odd: "She's back!" Uh, she hasn't gone anywhere.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
Hey, apparently Dr. Lam isn't in the military, yes? But being Landry's daughter, it's still a break of protocol to have someone on your staff that is family, no?
Upon re-watch, I'm more convinced now that Mitchell is a better O'Neill clone than Sheppard. Still, Browder brings a better energy to typical "Jack lines" than RDA had been doing in the past couple years - a symptom of the actor not being particularly interested in the role anymore. In any case, it's refreshing.
Mark
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Especially in his cameo in "Origin."
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
What makes you say RDA has been DISinterested in his character?
And I noticed that there was NOTHING to indicate that Dr. Lam was Landry's daughter - their repart� seemed more like an ex-lover type of thing... which knowing their relationship - is icky wrong! Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
WAit...was'nt Fraiser the brunette (woman) doctor from the first five seasons or so? She's the one I'm all droling over, after all.
What is that actress' name?
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Teryl Rothery - I met her at a convention here in Brisbane (with Don S. Davis too) they were both EXTREMELY lovely and nice people. Chatted a little with both Davis and Rothery.
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