Stargate SG-1 & Atlantis

[Nico]

shaun said:

Or you could find someone like Beck who owns them all and borrow them Its a good show. I picked up the first season of Atlantis today so when I get time I'll see how that one is.

Shaun I'd be interested to hear what you think of Atlantis. Me not having watched much SG1 yet, I think Atlantis is great.

My Brother bought the Whole 10 season of SG1 in the fancy Box thing, which is really awesome!, only thing is the DVDs dont have cases , they are all in a big foldy out thing.

[Shaun]

Yeah I thought about replacing mine with the boxset until I was told the CDs don't have cases I'll let you know what I think when I get around to watching it Nico

[Allan]

Does Atlantis stand on its own okay when you haven't seen SG-1?

[Beck]

Erm well Nico hasn't seen most of SG1 and she loves Atlantis so I'm going with yes My box set is in 2 fold out thingies... box looks pretty but that is a little annoying yep. But individually each season costs between 50-90 OUCH.

[Nico]

That was a good move Shaun, They are very easily scratched!.

Sounds the same as my brothers Beck, Pretty to look at but not Practical at all!.

and yep, I think Atlantis is Fantastic, they do include references from SG1 though which some of the characters will say "I read the reports, blah blah" to save explaining it all to the characters

I watched Atlantis first because it was delivered first, and after I finished 3 seasons it made me want to watch SG1, so yep like Beck said it is easy enough to follow!

[Beck]

We're halfway through season 4 now (Or 5? Forget ) The more I watch the more I kinda wish Sam and Jack ended up together at the end of season 10 Not that I have seen that far yet

Nico what Allies does Earth have in Atlantis?? Tok'ra, Asgard, are they still in it?

[Beck]

Teal'C has seen Star Wars nine times and loves it

We're watching season 5 now and we haven't seen most of the episodes. Its nice having new ones!

[Nico]

I have finally began watching Stargate properly or continuing where I left off, I am a few episodes away from season 4!

I am really enjoying it, I think Daniel is great probably my favourite character. SG1 also has alot more powerful races , the Nox being one of my favourites , I also quite like the Tokra (not sure what their future is) .

One of my favourite episodes was '1969' Tealc was awesome!, and a lovely twist with Carters dad I didn't see coming!.

In Atlantis Earth doesnt really have many allies, no where near as powerfull as SG1's allies, there is one asgard who is on the earths daedalus ship, the civilisations in Atlantis arent allowed to expand their culture, and technologies or they are harvested to be eaten by the wraith.

Though the Ancients make appearances!.

SGA has less politics, since they are in a different galaxy their is no diplomacy, and the President is rarely involved with them

[Allan]

So I've gotten through season one of Atlantis, and I'm a little bummed by it ending on a cliffhanger - not so much because I have to wait, since I have seasons 2 and 3 sitting here, too, but because it's another episode (at least) to see how the story gets wrapped up.

I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am looking forward to the rest of it. So far, I'm not regretting buying them all in one hit. Of the season one episodes, "Letters from Pegasus" was the highlight for me. Even though about a quarter of the episode was spent with clips from previous episodes, it worked. Zelenka was hilarious, as was McKay, and it had some really touching moments. Hell, it ven makes you care about all the little bit characters they'd killed through the season.

[Nico]

Zalenka & Mckay are great , especially together.

What do you think of the Wraith?

I think Carson is just great, and his video he sent home to his mother was fantastic

[Allan]

Zalenka and McKay are great together, and it seems like the producers have realised that after season one. So far, season two (I'm now five episodes through, after a bit of a marathon yesterday ) seems to have more of them playing off each other, which is great.

Carson's video was fantastic. It's also good to see him as a regular in season two. I liked his early attempt, and avoiding any emotion, followed by his overly emotional attempt. His final version was great, too.

As for the Wraith, I'm not sure. From what I've seen of season two so far, it looks like they're expanding on them a little bit and giving them some individuality, so they may make for more than one-note monsters at it progresses. They're creepy as hell, though.

Also, I'm not sure what I think of Ronon yet. In some instances he seems cool, and in others, he bugs me a bit. Hopefully he'll grow on me a bit.

[Nico]

You've already been intorduced to Major lorne then right? Although he isn't a main character he is one of my favourites.

The wraith freak me out, especially the Queens but the Hive ships are awesome, especially the first one you see in season one when they wake up the Wraith, Ronan Dex takes a while to Gel properly I think, I didnt really like him in the beginning either, but you start learning more about him.

I especially enjoyed the episode 'Duets' some great Beckett/McKay stuff .

The episode in the second half of season 2 called 'Michael' is one of my absolute favourites.

[Allan]

Yeah, Major Lorne's been in a few episodes now. I'm guessing we see more of him, though? Because his parts so far have been very minimal, and he hasn't had much to do. 'm a big fan of Colonel Caldwell, though (but I am a big Mitch Pileggi fan). I'd love to see a Stargate: Daedalus spin-off.

The Hive ships are awesome, but so are the Atlantis ones. I was blown away by the battles in the season one finale, especially the one at night, with the ships and lasers. There are points where I think George Lucas should have made the Star Wars prequels more like Atlantis.

In the couple of episodes I've watched of season two since my last post (I've finished up to episode eight), Ronon is growing on me a little. He's still not my favourite character, but the scene where he killed his old boss and his conversation with Teyla afterward had him growing on me a bit.

"Duet" had probably the most disturbing McKay/Beckett stuff I've seen, and think I ever will see. David Hewlett really showed what a great comedian he can be in that episode. I'll look out for "Michael" and will definitely post my thoughts on it.

And doesn't Jewel Staite look freaky as a Wraith? If it wasn't for the voice (and credit) you'd have no way of recognising her.

And did you see David Hewlett has made his directorial debut? A Dog's Breakfast - and check out who he has in the movie. Very few people not from Stargate. I'll have to check it out.

[Nico]

Thats one of the things I loved about Atlantis, the big battles, (that probably cause millions of dollars alone ) .

Aww god, dont get me started on Jewel as a Wraith, Knowing the actress behind the scary mask !, crazy transformation .

I have been trying to get my hands on 'A dogs Breakfast' for a while , David Hewlett has that kind of humour everybody can relate to!.

I love the puddle jumpers they do some very interesting things with them! .

What did you think of the episode '38' on season 1? when they got stuck in the stargate, that was pretty crazy lol.

Sheppards character is very close to Oneills from SG1, which I think is great.

[Allan]

I've ordered A Dog's Breakfast and will hopefully have it in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know what it's like.

I really found Jewel as a Wraith interesting. I'd assumed that all the Wraith actors and actresses had a "freaky" look to them under the make-up, that lend themselves to the Wraith. Seeing Jewel under the make-up kind of dispelled that for me.

I really liked "38 Minutes". It was different, not to mention kind of creepy, but it's something that I've liked with the show. While it does have some awesome big battles, it also has some quieter episodes, where they aren't threatened by a villain, but ultimately something else (resulting from their own actions).

I've only seen about half of season one of SG-1 (back when it aired here originally), but I do see where you're coming from with the comparison between Sheppard and O'Neil. And they really seemed pretty similar in the pilot episode.

I've finished disc 4 of season 2, and "Michael" is the second episode on disc five. Hopefully I'll get to it this evening.

[Nico]

You will definetly enjoy it Allan, Michael is ground breaking in the terms of what Atlantis has gone threw so far.

I'm guessing alot of the same actors and actresses play a variety of Wraith, good thing about that kind of enemy I guess, you dont have to pay a tonne of actors & actresses .

The aratus bug that attached itself to sheppherd makes me feel sick ,

[Allan]

I watched "Michael" tonight, and it was great. I agree that it's groundbreaking for the show, and really liked the question of morality about what they're doing to the Wraith. I loved the mystery it built up through the first half of the episode, even if I did half-get (I was expecting it to be another season or two before they managed to perfect it ) that Michael was a Wraith infected with the retrovirus before its reveal.

It does look like many of the same actors and actresses play the Wraith - they'd still have to pay them for each episode, but it would save a lot of time auditioning (kind of like how every ubervamp was played by the same guy in Buffy ).

Do we see any more of the Aratus Bug (if you can answer with minimal spoilers ?

[Nico]

You hear more about it, I'm not sure how much you know about them yet, but yes I'm sure there is an episode where they come across some more.

Have you seen grace under pressure yet? it shows us Rodneys arrogance and ego , its another fine episode .

[Allan]

I thought "Grace Under Pressure" was great. It was a brilliant Rodney episode. I'm guessing he's appeared in a few episodes of SG-1, though, given he was imagining Sam Carter (and it also explains an earlier reference he made to liking blondes with short hair ). I'm looking forward to seeing those episodes if I do decide to jump into SG-1.

I've started season three now, and have seen up to "Misbegotten". I like that they're continuing with the retrovirus, regardless of what happened in "Michael". It really brings them into a grey area. "Allies" wasn't a bad finale, but I really think that "No Man's Land" and "Misbegotten" were stronger episodes. Thatm and NML had some brilliant battle scenes again.

Ronon's starting to grow on me now, too - though I really thought it was kind of stupid to trust him around the Wraith in "Allies" - on multiple occasions - when every time he decides he wants to kill them.

And I see where you're coming from with Lorne, now, too. I couldn't help but laugh at the following exchange between him and Sheppard in "Coup D'etat" when they're locked up:
Lorne: So, have you come to rescue us?
Sheppard: Well, until about a moment ago I thought you were dead, but now that I see you speaking and breathing...yeah, I'm thinking about it.
Lorne: Well, good. Let me know if there's anything we can do to help.

[Nico]

Rodney was in 2 SG1 episodes, but his character was pompous and ignorant (I know he is still like that in Atlantis, but it works for him there!) .

Season 3 delves into the wraiths history, and chracters, it is great my favourite season .

Lorne is great, they develope his character to, I'm hoping the show alot more of him!