Seasons 1-8 or 9&10?

[Gen. Chris]

I've said it many a time before...

In terms of 'Stargate', I really do enjoy S9-AoT, I find the seasons and movie to be highly enjoyable. There was a noticable improvement in filming technique, everything became a lot sharper and well executed - it was a welcome change following a couple of years of dropping quality (imo). I had found S7 and 8 (bar Lost City and Full Alert) to be exceptionally dull. There was a nice move back towards a heavy WIDER military presence, the command structure was back, and the involvement of the IOA and other nations was refreshing.

However.

As far as SG1 SPECIFICALLY goes - hell no. 9&10 was incredibly poor SG1 with many contrivances that simply shouldn't have happened. In a lot of ways, the awesomeness of SG1 (ie present day Earth humans fighting aliens with modern day technology) was gone, things had moved on too much. I quite often watch S9-AoT almost seperatly from base SG1.

In a lot of respects, I see SGU as the proper continuation of classic SG1. Frankly.

Where as SGA and SG1 9-AoT worked quite well together imo.

I agree with what you said at the start. I noticed the filming got a lot better as well, along with many aspects of production.

I feel like I'm one of the few people who really enjoyed the Ori arc, though. For the first time in several seasons I felt as if the Earth was truly in danger, because not even the Asgard could beat them initially. Did I feel like the sudden resolution with the Asgard developing and giving new technology to the humans as sort of a cop out? Sure, as did pretty much everyone, because it essentially gave the humans a ridiculous advantage against every foe, even the Wraith (except of course the superhive). I also think the Ark of Truth being found so quickly as sort of a cop out as well. I'm sure if the creators had had a whole season given to them to wrap up the series it would have been better, perhaps wrapping with a three part finale to the Ori arc.

I enjoyed the Ori arc, as I said above, but I will always feel like they defeated them far too quickly given that the Ori were far and away more powerful than the Goa'uld.

[The Urban Spaceman]

For the first time in several seasons I felt as if the Earth was truly in danger, because not even the Asgard could beat them initially.

I can certainly understand your reasoning here, though I don't particularly agree with it. To me, it felt too much like:

Writers/producers' initial antagonists (Goa'Uld) were presenting less and less of a threat. To compensate, they brought in a half-ascended Goa'Uld, who had access to advanced knowledge and technology, and also some super-powers to go along with it. They replaced the traditional Jaffa troops with Kull warriors. Then they had SG1 save the day with Ancient weapons.

But then there was a bit of a blank. What could possibly compare to the danger posed by a half-ascended evil being? "I know!" somebody threw out at the table, "Fully ascended evil beings!". Thus the Ori were born. I didn't find them plausible at all, and they felt like yet one more addition to the 'dangerous enemy' pack of cards.

Just IMO, of course.

[Dave2]

I must have missed something. If Merlin's device destroyed the Ori on Celesta, then why do their followers continue to fight and believe in them, and why didn't SG1 just tell Arkad and others that they destroyed the Ori?? Wouldn't the Doci have informed everyone that the Ori were destroyed, even if Adria survived?

[Flyboy]

I must have missed something. If Merlin's device destroyed the Ori on Celesta, then why do their followers continue to fight and believe in them, and why didn't SG1 just tell Arkad and others that they destroyed the Ori?? Wouldn't the Doci have informed everyone that the Ori were destroyed, even if Adria survived?

How many Ori followers have EVER met an Ori? Killing a belief is not easy. Are you a Christian/Muslim/etc? How would you react if I tell you that your God is now dead, at my hands?

As far as the Doci was concerned, Adria WAS the Ori, so, heck, what does he care?

[Schmacky]

I like them both. I like that even though "classic" Stargate could have its funny moments and all, overall it was a serious show. And I liked that. But, I also like the light-hearted and funny beats of S9/10.

Although, I think it would have been better if the "classic" characters moved on from SG-1 which would probably feel more natural. Why didn't Daniel ever go to Atlantis? If the two shows are owned by the same company and all, couldn't a contract be made where he goes there instead of SG1. It just seems like it would have been a more natural progression for Daniel to leave SG-1 and move on to Atlantis where he was the foremost expert on the Ancients. And it would have made more sense if Carter left SG-1 as well and either had some other role at the SGC or Area 51 or Atlantis. And Teal'c could stay on SG 1 because.. why not? Or he could have stayed with his Jaffa peoples.

My point is.. if in S9 they were there half the season and it was a natural progression of characters and cast changing, then it wouldn't feel so abrupt like they were trying to change things up just to change it up. It would have felt normal.. characters moving on and new ones coming in and continuing the story.

Even though these two shows are not alike at all, it makes me think of ER. I mean, if they had done it like they did ER. Throughout the 10 or whatever years ER was on the air, they had characters come and go because.. well, that's life. People come in, do what they do, make a difference, and move on. But before they replace the characters, they bring in the new people. Gives the audience a chance to get used to them, and like them, and not resent them for taking the place of their favorite characters.

I wish SG1 had done it like that.

Maybe then there wouldn't be so many people comparing O'Neil and Mitchell or Sam and Vala. And if they had done it that way, they also would have done these long-standing characters justice. I just didn't see the point of Daniel staying on SG1 when he was obviously of more use elsewhere. Same with Carter. She had too much experience to stay on SG1 under a "co-command" which btw is absolutely ridiculous. Having a co-command is just dumb. They didn't know what to do with Carter's character so instead of creating a position for her, giving her a challenge, they under used her and this great character of 8 years became... nothing really. It was sad. I didn't like it.

[Gen. Chris]

How many Ori followers have EVER met an Ori? Killing a belief is not easy. Are you a Christian/Muslim/etc? How would you react if I tell you that your God is now dead, at my hands?

As far as the Doci was concerned, Adria WAS the Ori, so, heck, what does he care?

Pretty much this. Since the Ori weren't exactly physical beings, there was really no "body" to point to to prove death. Plus Adria was essentially an embodiment of the Ori, and as long as she was alive, they had someone.

[The Urban Spaceman]

Although, I think it would have been better if the "classic" characters moved on from SG-1 which would probably feel more natural. Why didn't Daniel ever go to Atlantis? If the two shows are owned by the same company and all, couldn't a contract be made where he goes there instead of SG1. It just seems like it would have been a more natural progression for Daniel to leave SG-1 and move on to Atlantis where he was the foremost expert on the Ancients. And it would have made more sense if Carter left SG-1 as well and either had some other role at the SGC or Area 51 or Atlantis. And Teal'c could stay on SG 1 because.. why not? Or he could have stayed with his Jaffa peoples.

I've read previously (or may have heard discussed in one of the DVD commentaries) that Amanda Tapping and Christoper Judge's contract stuff prevented them from appearing in any Atlantis episodes initially -- hence why only Daniel and Jack are present in Antarctica for the series pilot.

Daniel couldn't go to Atlantis because he was needed for season 9/10 of SG1 -- Jack clearly told him 'no' several times. Sure he's one of the foremost experts on Ancients, but he's also the foremost expert on pretty much everything anthropology-related. Who would have figured out all the Merlin stuff without him?

[Schmacky]

Daniel couldn't go to Atlantis because he was needed for season 9/10 of SG1 -- Jack clearly told him 'no' several times. Sure he's one of the foremost experts on Ancients, but he's also the foremost expert on pretty much everything anthropology-related. Who would have figured out all the Merlin stuff without him?

Anyone else that knew about that stuff. The thing that always bugged me the most about Stargate was that they made it appear that Daniel and Carter were absolutely irreplaceable. Yes, they are very smart people. Yes, they are experts in their field. But, really, nobody else could make a connection between the Ancients and Merlin? It's a little ridiculous IMO.

[jckfan55]

s9-10 were like a different show and not for the better, imho

[Dave2]

Was Merlin's device a one-time proposition, or could it be taken by Adria or the followers to then turn around and use it on the Ancients (wherever they were)? Unlike the Ori who were collected in one fire pit, the Ancients were all over the place, no?

Pretty much this. Since the Ori weren't exactly physical beings, there was really no "body" to point to to prove death. Plus Adria was essentially an embodiment of the Ori, and as long as she was alive, they had someone.

[Snowman37]

I'd like to think the device would have burnt itself out given it would annihilate an entire galaxy's worth of ascended beings. I wonder, what if there were benevolent ascended beings hiding from the Ori? Whoops!

[Gen. Chris]

I'm pretty sure it was burnt out, and I don't think it was intended on being used on Adria.

[maneth]

I didn't like Vala and the Ori, but I did like Mitchell so I'm a bit split on the two last seasons. It was a relief to see less of O'Neill, because by the end he had become so cynical that I had trouble tolerating him at all. I did like his appearances on SGU and SGA though!

[Zombies Rise from the Sea]

SG-1's Seasons 1-5 are arguably the classic years, SG-1's Seasons 6-8 was something that was fading but it was still good and still enjoyable... Seasons 9-10 were interesting at first but then they went almost nowhere with the premise and it somewhat bored me.

Watching Seasons 9-10 now, it feels like a totally different show; more comedy then actual Sci-Fi (kind of like Stargate Atlantis.) and a parody of itself. I can understand it would lead to this but I kind of wish it hadn't, while there is a feeling they could go on for more; they could of ended it on Season 8 and still left me satisfied. "Mobius" may be somewhat poorly recieved but it served as a wonderful series finale in my opinion.

[blueray]

between the two, seasons 1-8 hands down! but i did enjoy seasons 9 and 10, just they weren't as good.

[gatechick]

I liked seasons 1-8. I really tried to like 9 and 10 but it just didn't do it for me. One of the big reasons why I loved the show was the team itself. They had a great closeness and played off each other well. It was gone, for me at least, in seasons 9 and 10. The characters seemed changed, which would make sense given the changes in their lives, but that closeness was gone, and so it changed the team dynamic. Everything felt forced. And I just could not get into Mitchell and Vala. The Ori storyline was dull. Perhaps if O'Neill had still been part of the show I might have found it more interesting, but it might still have been a struggle for me I suspect.

[hlndncr]

S1-S8 hands down. S9-S10 don't even exist in my world.

I think the Ori storyline was dumb. I missed Jack. I hate what they did to Carter. I despise Vala. Mitchell was annoying. Daniel lost every bit of charm he ever possessed. They never should have killed Janet. (I know that was in S7, but I'm not over it.) I could go on and on.

[Stalinorgel]

I had no problems with the premise of the Ori. The idea was great but so much more could've been done with it. Whereas they sometimes worn out the possibilities with the Goauld they wasted possibilities with the Ori i.m.o.

[Neomon]

Early SG-1 was really good. Middle SG-1 got boring, but to be honest, my favorite parts are s9 on. The team feels more like friends; the characters, namely Teal'q and Vala(but with moments by Sam and Daniel) are funnier; the series becomes more serialized, which it really needed after 8 seasons of an episodic nature. Overall it's more engaging and the characters become more likeable.

[Gen. Chris]

^ I like the serialized nature of seasons 9-10 as well.