Well, after seeing the first seven seasons, I decided to start watching from the beginning while waiting for S8 to come out on DVD. Trying to take my time, so I'll probably post two or three of these "retrospective" reviews a week. Will also try to read past reviews later - will definitely read later ones. Hopefully this will not eat up all of my time. 
Wow. This must be the first sci-fi show I've ever seen where, after seeing seven seasons, I didn't re-watch the pilot thinking, "What is this?" Usually there's so much change in both plot and character development (but mostly character), that the pilot seems completely foreign.
It's to TPTB's credit that, for the most part, the characters and the plot have stayed so consistent over the course of the seasons. Sure, the characters - especially Daniel - have grown over seven years (as they should), and usually in the right direction (except for Sam, but we'll leave that for another review). And many aspects of Stargate's plot were introduced very well here, and most of the details were not contradicted in later episodes, which is rare for pilot episodes.
A few things especially worthy of mention:
There were a couple of things, though, that distracted me...
All in all, excellent for a pilot episode. Great intro to the plot and the main characters. 8 of 10.
Wow. This must be the first sci-fi show I've ever seen where, after seeing seven seasons, I didn't re-watch the pilot thinking, "What is this?" Usually there's so much change in both plot and character development (but mostly character), that the pilot seems completely foreign.
It's to TPTB's credit that, for the most part, the characters and the plot have stayed so consistent over the course of the seasons. Sure, the characters - especially Daniel - have grown over seven years (as they should), and usually in the right direction (except for Sam, but we'll leave that for another review). And many aspects of Stargate's plot were introduced very well here, and most of the details were not contradicted in later episodes, which is rare for pilot episodes.
A few things especially worthy of mention:
- I loved how they managed to introduce each of the four main characters, and give them roughly equal treatment. It's the "equal treatment" part that really amazes me, and I wish we'd seen more of that in later seasons (equal treatment within a single episode, that is, instead of episodes that showcase one character at a time). And we already get to see little hints of the team dynamics and relationships that would make Stargate such a great show to watch. Not just between Jack and Daniel (although that was the most obvious example), but also some hints of the future relationships between Jack and Sam, and Sam and Daniel, and Jack and Sam and Daniel, and Jack and Teal'c.
And they managed to do this, and forward an exciting plot, that would kick off the main mission for the entire first season. Top-notch writing and acting - looked like they'd already been doing it for years.
- There were a couple of blink-and-you-miss-it details that I enjoyed. There was one point where Daniel rattles off something like, "The boys have been guarding the gate in shifts, 36 hours a day, every day." And on Chulak, Kowalski says something like, "Rise and shine! The sun - suns are shining."
There were a couple of things, though, that distracted me...
- On Abydos, when the team first comes through the gate, they have a standoff with the boys guarding the gate. Daniel comes in and yells, "Chahari! Chahari. Lower your guns." Then the boys lower their guns - after Daniel has helpfully translated the instruction from their own language into English.
- "Kree" still bothers me. I know in a later episode Daniel says it means, "Listen up! Attention!" So why is it that it's never followed up with any further instruction? And how is it that when Apophis says it to Teal'c, Teal'c interprets it to mean, "get rid of the gun?"
- Apophis himself is kind of... is he supposed to look impotent when he's actually going for "furious?" Because that's how he looks. The actor plays the host well in that ep where he's dying, so it's probably not the fault of the acting... And what's with the death-grip he has on Amaunet's hand while they're approaching the DHD on Chulak?
All in all, excellent for a pilot episode. Great intro to the plot and the main characters. 8 of 10.
Not superconductors. but other than that... yeah you basically got the qoute right... 
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