"Parallel Universe" Episodes

[Snowman37]

I don't believe in the existence of parallel universes, but I do admit the concept makes for some fun stories. Out of the whole franchise, Stargate has only touched on this subject a few times. Note, I'm not including episodes that featured a time-travel created alternate timeline. SG's always depicted alternate timelines as something that overwrite reality rather than coexisting with.

SG-1
1-19 "There But for the Grace of God"
3-6 "Point of View"
6-13 "Sight Unseen"
9-13 "Ripple Effect"
10-13 "The Road Not Taken"

"There But for the Grace of God" was great, because it was foreshadowing the season finale. We got a glimpse at what might very well happen. "Point of View" also another great episode, a sort of sequel to the other episode. It's a glimpse at what might have happened had key people not been killed and the SGC not self destructed. I don't know if you'd count "Sight Unseen," but people were seeing alien creatures from a parallel world, so might as well. I like how the Air Force swept this under the rug by passing the sightings as hallucinations. haha Next up: "Ripple Effect." I think we all loved this one. SG-1 returns to the SGC from a parallel world... again and again and again. haha Did anyone have trouble figuring out which SG-1 was the real SG-1? Last, we come to "The Road Not Taken." It was interesting to see what might have happened had the SGC gone public after the events of "Lost City." It seemed to imply that O'Neill was left in stasis at the outpost, Atlantis was never found, and Daniel and Vala still accidentally contracted the Ori.

Anyone notice that the last three "parallel universe" episodes were all the 13th episode of the season?

Atlantis
3-8 "McKay and Mrs. Miller"
5-4 "The Daedalus Variations"
5-19 "Vegas"

I loved "McKay and Mrs. Miller." Two McKays, that was just fantastic. I often get frustrated with the writers favoring McKay, but the concept of this episode called for McKay to be the central character. I love how McKay became insecure about himself when Rod showed up. haha Notice McKay donned a leather jacket the following season? It seemed like he was trying to be a bit like Rod, no? haha I don't remember "The Daedalus Variations" well, I was surfing the web when it aired, and the plot didn't really keep my attention. I'll be seeing it on DVD soon enough, though. Finally, "Vegas." I didn't care for this. What was the point?

Universe
Do you think the show would have put out a parallel universe episode had it stuck around?

[LT. COL. John Sheppard]

Universe
Do you think the show would have put out a parallel universe episode had it stuck around?

Universe
Twin Destinys
Any ep including Novus

[LT. COL. John Sheppard]

Finally, "Vegas." I didn't care for this. What was the point?

Spoiler:

lead up to the final

[Snowman37]

Universe
Twin Destinys
Any ep including Novus

Note, I'm not including episodes that featured a time-travel created alternate timeline. SG's always depicted alternate timelines as something that overwrite reality rather than coexisting with.

Spoiler:

lead up to the final

What lead up? There was no lead up, just ambiguous talk of Earth's location broadcast to parallel worlds, one of which happened to be the prime world. That was a very poor lead up. It felt like the show was trying to be CSI for an episode. I don't like CSI. Nothing wrong with the concept, it's just that I don't care for it.

[LT. COL. John Sheppard]

Spoiler:

the wraith blast

[Snowman37]

Eh? Care to expand on that? I haven't seen "Vegas" since January, 2009.

[LT. COL. John Sheppard]

watch it then the final

[Snowman37]

I've seen both episodes. I know about Earth's location broadcast to parallel worlds, one of which being the prime world, as I had mentioned in an earlier post. Again, as I said, it was a pitiful way to connect two otherwise unrelated episodes.

[LT. COL. John Sheppard]

i'll get back to you i have work to do

[Dazzle foot]

Universe
Twin Destinys
Any ep including Novus

Any episodes including novus are 'alternate timelines' not parallel universe.

[escyos]

What lead up? There was no lead up, just ambiguous talk of Earth's location broadcast to parallel worlds, one of which happened to be the prime world. That was a very poor lead up. It felt like the show was trying to be CSI for an episode. I don't like CSI. Nothing wrong with the concept, it's just that I don't care for it.

It was to allow for the Wraith in our reality to get the location of Earth. And it was meant to be a CSI-like episode, THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT!

[LT. COL. John Sheppard]

thank you!

[Hyndara71]

What lead up? There was no lead up, just ambiguous talk of Earth's location broadcast to parallel worlds, one of which happened to be the prime world. That was a very poor lead up. It felt like the show was trying to be CSI for an episode. I don't like CSI. Nothing wrong with the concept, it's just that I don't care for it.

Vegas is also the sign that TPTW did look into the fandom. I remember huge talks about some kind of crossover including both shows (SGA and CSI). It was funny to see that at least one of band seemed to be inspired by what the fans wished and wanted. I only wish they had took a look much earlier - and had kept this look on, especially in season 5

[KEK]

Any episodes including novus are 'alternate timelines' not parallel universe.

The only difference between the two is that an alternate timeline is created by someone going back in time and an alternative reality is created by a quantum event. For all intents and purposes they're the same thing, especially in a storytelling context.

[maneth]

I thought the Vegas story was pretty cool as well. Otherwise my preference is for the quantum mirror episodes.

[Dazzle foot]

Well, there the same, or different when it suites what the writer has in mind for the story! Lol

[Snowman37]

It was to allow for the Wraith in our reality to get the location of Earth. And it was meant to be a CSI-like episode, THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT!

I'll give you that they were trying to do CSI meets Stargate. However, the coordinates of Earth jumping realities by sheer accident, well... that was just too much for me to take seriously in any capacity.

Vegas is also the sign that TPTW did look into the fandom.

I thought "Midway" was the sign?

I remember huge talks about some kind of crossover including both shows (SGA and CSI). It was funny to see that at least one of band seemed to be inspired by what the fans wished and wanted. I only wish they had took a look much earlier - and had kept this look on, especially in season 5

It wasn't really a crossover, I didn't recognize anyone from CSI crossing over. I guess you could call it CSI-inspired...

The only difference between the two is that an alternate timeline is created by someone going back in time and an alternative reality is created by a quantum event. For all intents and purposes they're the same thing, especially in a storytelling context.

An alternate timeline only results when a time traveler screws around with the past. In Stargate, the alternate timeline is depicted as replacing the prime timeline. Consequently, the heroes have to go back in time to set time right. Parallel universes have been depicted as having always existed. That's a big whopping difference, no?

Did anyone favor "The Road Not Taken?" I liked how she faced being stranded in a parallel world. That's a scary thought, no?

[escyos]

I'll give you that they were trying to do CSI meets Stargate. However, the coordinates of Earth jumping realities by sheer accident, well... that was just too much for me to take seriously in any capacity.

It didn't so much jump realities as spread into the void between galaxies and was detected on our end (possibly other realities as well). How exactly would they Wraith have gotten to Earth otherwise?

[Snowman37]

Are we forgetting "Midway" and Todd's underlings betraying him and stealing information he stole from Atlantis? Who's to say he didn't also have Earth's coordinates? When his underling steals the ZPM hive, he guns it for Earth. Much simpler than a message from a parallel reality, no?

[LT. COL. John Sheppard]

no, no, no