Iconic sci-fi television series Stargate SG-1 is about to turn 20, and before you begin thinking about how old that makes you feel, consider that the original movie on which it is based was made in 1994. The TV series premiered on July 27, 1997, and ran for ten seasons with a total of 214 episodes (not to mention two follow-up movies and two spin-off series). Twenty years on, SG-1stands the test of time, even if some of the effects are a little outdated and it wasn’t filmed in HD until season eight. The episodes are just as enjoyable now as they were when they first aired.
Seeing as the 20th anniversary of SG-1has me feeling all nostalgic and reminiscing about the show, I figured I’d reflect upon some of my all-time favorite episodes. Here are ten of the best, although I’ll admit that it wasvery hard to narrow it down to just ten from my initial shortlist of about 30. I considered making this a “best episode from each season” article instead, but I had way too much trouble choosing just one favorite from certain seasons. Maybe I’ll save that for another day…
“Within the Serpent’s Grasp” (S1E22)
Everything that had been building up in the first season comes to a head in its final episode: the Stargate program has been shut down by the Government, and at the same time the evil Apophis sends two spaceships to attack Earth. SG-1 defies orders and goes through Stargate in an attempt to thwart the attack, only to find themselves trapped on one of the very ships that they need to stop. There, they discover that the ship’s leader is none other than Klorel, a Goa’uld inhabiting the body of their friend Skaara, a character from the original movie who was captured in the first episode of the TV series.
At this point in the series, it appears that SG-1 — and Earth — is hopelessly outclassed by their enemy, and that even if they do manage to defeat them, they’ll be destroyed at the same time. The episode ends with the attack ships reaching Earth, beginning a long-running trend inSG-1 ofending seasons on a cliffhanger.
“Thor’s Chariot” (S2E06)
“Thor’s Chariot” is an important episode because it properly introduces Thor and the Asgard, who go on to become key players throughout the rest of the series. In season one, Teal’c narrowly escaped from Thor’s Hammer, a defensive device designed to destroy Goa’uld symbiotes and protect the people of Cimmeria. SG-1 destroyed the device to save Teal’c, but the Goa’uld soon learn that the planet is now vulnerable and begin occupying it. SG-1 return to the planet to help and discover the true form of the Asgard. The Asgard, meanwhile, are not impressed by SG-1’s interference.
“The Fifth Race” (S2E15)
Colonel O’Neill accidentally has an entire database of Ancient information downloaded into his brain. Soon afterwards, he begins to be able to read other languages, calculate complex mathematical equations, and has knowledge of previously unknown gate addresses. However, it’s not long before O’Neill finds that he can’t control all of his actions, and he begins losing the ability to communicate in English because the human brain isn’t designed to hold so much information. Not only is the Ancient knowledge taking him over, he’s also facing death.
A recurring theme inSG-1 is the team getting into situations way over their head, often with alien technology or the Stargate itself, and it seems impossible that they will find a solution in time to save the day. This episode is no exception, even while Jack performs inexplicable feats with his new abilities.His advanced knowledge gives the team important information, including the revelation that the Stargate can dial gates in other galaxies if it has enough power. He ends up traveling to the Asgard galaxy, where the Asgard erase the Ancient information from his brain, saving his life. They tell O’Neill that they have been monitoring Earth for some time and believe that humans have great potential, which marks a turning point in Earth’s relationship with the Asgard.
“Window of Opportunity” (S4E06)
Stargate meetsGroundhog Day in this humorous episode that sees O’Neill and Teal’c trapped in a time loop, repeating a portion of the same day over and over. Their only hope of escaping it is for Daniel to translate some writing found on the planet where the loop was triggered. Unfortunately, Daniel needs more time than the loop allows, soTeal’c and O’Neill must learn the language in order to help him. As the loop continues day after day after day, they become increasingly frustrated, until they realize that their actions don’t have any consequences while the day is being constantly reset.
“Evolution” (S7E11-12)
If Anubis wasn’t already shaping up to be the scariest bad guy in the series so far, he cements his place in this episode with the creation of Kull Warriors: genetically manipulated supersoldiers with impervious armor. Daniel Jackson travels to Honduras find a hidden Ancient device that uses the same technology he believes was used to create them, but is kidnapped by rebels. O’Neill leads a team to rescue him, while Teal’c and Carter join the Tok’ra on a mission to sneak into Anubis’s base.
“Lost City” (S7E21-22)
The two-part finale to season seven was originally intended to be the final episode ever forStargate SG-1 itself, before the series was renewed. The search for the lost city of the Ancients had been heating up throughout the season, and now that Anubis knows of its existence, it’s imperative that Earth finds it before he does. A breakthrough comes when they learn of an Ancient repository that may contain its location, but when SG-1 goes to retrieve it, they are attacked by the Goa’uld. In a last-ditch effort to stop the information from falling into Goa’uld hands, O’Neill downloads the information into his brain (something that nearly killed him the last time he did it), and then the team destroys the repository before escaping.While O’Neill waits for the location of the lost city to come to him, Bra’tac arrives to warn Stargate Command that Anubis is amassing an army to attack Earth.
The episode becomes a race against time to find the lost city, stave off Anubis, and save O’Neill’s life. It’s one of the more powerful episodes in the series, with a fantastic story that leads intoSG-1‘s spin-off show,Stargate Atlantis.
“Prometheus Unbound” (S8E12)
Daniel is en route to Atlantis via thePrometheus when it stops to answer a distress call from a broken-down ship. The call for help turns out to be a hoax, and the entire crew except for Daniel is transported to the helpless ship and stranded, while its pilot beams herself to thePrometheus and commandeers it. She attempts to get thePrometheus command codes from Daniel, while Daniel tries to gain control of the ship back from her. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew is stuck trying to repair the broken ship.
This episode marked the first appearance of Vala Mal Doran, who would eventually go on to become a member of SG-1. A former Goa’uld host who turns to thievery and deception to survive, Vala brought a lot of humor and spunk to the show, which is seen in this episode as she attempts to get the command codes from Daniel by first shooting him, then trying to seduce him, before appealing to his sympathies.
“The Powers That Be” (S9E05)
After defeating the Goa’uld, it’s not long before Earth finds itself in trouble with a new, powerful enemy from another galaxy: the Ori. When Vala learns that the planet she once ruled as a Goa’uld is being visited by a Prior of the Ori, she convinces SG-1 to go there in order to prevent it from falling to Origin. Unbeknownst to the team, Vala’s maintained the pretence that she’s still Qetesh so the people continue to worship her and give her offerings. They arrive on the planet to discover that its people are divided: some are being swayed by Origin, while others remain loyal to Qetesh. And then the Prior shows up to further complicate things, unleashing a deadly plague upon the people and making SG-1 — and viewers — realize that once again, they’re up against something impossibly powerful.
“The Pegasus Project” (S10E03)
SG-1 visits Atlantis, the lost city of the Ancients, with two goals: to find a weapon to defeat the Ori, and shut down the Ori Supergate by interrupting it with a black hole. They discover an ascended Ancient masquerading as a hologram in Atlantis who’s trying to help them without breaking the rule of non-interference. She reveals thatthe ascended Ancients themselves are at risk from the Ori, although other Ascended don’t want to interfere. Meanwhile, while theOdysseyis preparing to disable the Supergate, the Wraith show up, the very enemy who defeated the Ancients.
I was a big fan ofStargate Atlantis, and I loved this episode that crossed over between the two shows.Atlantis followed a similar format toSG-1 and had a team-based structure, so it was fun to see each show’s counterparts working together and reacting to each other, while having to deal with both the Oriand the Wraith.
“200” (S10E06)
It was a very big deal whenStargate SG-1 reached its 200th episode. Not only is 200 episodes a major achievement for any TV show, at the time it was about to surpassThe X-Files as the longest-running sci-fi show in history (SG-1 would later lose that title toSmallville).
The show celebrated its 200th episode by taking the mickey out of itself, other sci-fi shows, and even popular culture. The premise behind the episode continues on from the 100th episode, “Wormhole X-Treme!” Martin Lloyd returns with grand plans to make a feature movie and visits Stargate Command to brainstorm ideas with the team. What follows is a hilarious sequence of scenes as the various ideas are visualized. There’s parodies ofStar Trek,Farscape, andThunderbirds. Sequences featuring zombies and a younger, more hip SG-1. There’s aWizard of Ozre-imagining, Teal’c as a detective, and the SCG gets completely destroyed at one point. It’s clear that the writers, cast, and crew went all out and had a blast making this episode.
Honorable Mentions
“Children of the Gods” (S1E01), “The Torment of Tantalus” (S1E11), “1969” (S2E21), “Forever in a Day” (S3E10), “Nemesis” (S3E22), “Small Victories” (S4E01), “Upgrades” (S4E03), “Wormhole X-Treme!” (S5E12), “Summit” (S5E15), “Meridian” (S5E21), “Cure” (S6E10), “Paradise Lost” (S6E15), “Orpheus” (S7E04), “Heroes” (S7E17-18), “Sacrifices” (S8E09), “Ripple Effect” (S9E13), “Bad Guys” (S10E16), “Unending” (S10E20).
Let us know what your favoriteStargate SG-1 episodes are in the comments below!
FAQs
What is the scariest episode of Stargate? ›
Stargate SG-1, S05 E08: “The Tomb”
Tension between the teams builds when the creature dogging their footsteps starts hunting them instead, possessing some team members and turning them on one another. Jump scares and unsettling imagery make this episode one of the spookiest productions of the show.
Stargate SG-1 is presented in anamorphic widescreen, at the original aspect ratio of 1.78:1.
Which Stargate series is the best? ›- 1 Stargate SG-1.
- 2 Stargate Atlantis. ...
- 3 Stargate: Children Of The Gods. ...
- 4 Stargate: Continuum. ...
- 5 Stargate: The Ark Of Truth. ...
- 6 Stargate (1994) ...
- 7 Stargate Universe. ...
- 8 Stargate Origins. ...
The most advanced of these humans were the Tollan, although they were destroyed by the Goa'uld in Season 5's Between Two Fires. The human populations of the Pegasus galaxy are the product of Ancient seeding.
Who was the most powerful System Lord in Stargate? ›Ra was the first System Lord to discover the Tau'ri. His mate was Hathor, by whom he had a son, Heru'ur, and his brother was Apophis. Ra was the most powerful of the System Lords.
Who kills Anubis in Stargate? ›When he attacked Earth with his fleet, Anubis was apparently destroyed by the Ancient super-weapon that SG-1 found in the Atlantus outpost buried under the ice of Antarctica. Anubis was presumed dead, but his formless essence survived the explosion of his mothership.
Do Stargates go both ways? ›Wormholes are only one-way, and must be entered through the dialing gate. The Stargate creates its own event horizon just in front of the wormhole and dematerializes any object attempting to pass through it so it is not damaged or killed by the deadly low temperatures.
How does Jason Momoa feel about Stargate? ›Jason Momoa went onto say that being on Stargate Atlantis wasn't necessarily the best situation in all respects, but it was a steady job that taught him a lot about the ins and outs of filming that previous roles had not.
Why is sg1 so good? ›'Stargate: SG-1' is an exhilarating watch, and explores the creative boundaries of science fiction. Science fiction thrives on premise. A simple story of two space nations fighting has been done to death, space geopolitics having been delved into deeply as an opportunity for aspiring world-builders.
What aspect ratio is most realistic? ›3:2 Aspect Ratio
First of all, this is the closest to the golden ratio, which makes it visually appealing and more balanced. Painters and artists used it long before photography was even invented. It's also the ratio of a 35mm film. Although now the 4:3 aspect ratio is gaining traction, 3:2 is still the standard one.
What are the 4 races in sg1? ›
The four races were the Ancients (who built the Stargate network), the Asgard, the Furlings, and the Nox.
Which is better SG1 and Atlantis? ›Although SG1 have higher highs Stargate Atlantis is still the slightly better show because it is more consistent and have very, very few low points. This is Scifi at its best and with compelling characters, fantastic story arch's and great action this is one of the best shows out there.
Why was Daniel Jackson written out of Stargate? ›Stargate franchise
Shanks played archaeologist Dr. Daniel Jackson throughout the first five seasons of Stargate SG-1 before leaving the show at the end of its fifth season, citing creative differences concerning the under-use of his character and the direction of the show as a whole.
Both are great shows but I prefer SG1 overall for various reasons, even though SGA is good from the beginning (SG1 took it's time here). The main reason would definitely be the overall team and their interactions. I think SG1 was way better here. Every member gets focus and their chemistry just feels natural.
What is the most powerful ship in Stargate? ›The O'Neill-class ship was the most advanced warship in the Asgard fleet, and the first series of Asgard ships designed solely to fight the Replicators.
What is the oldest race in Stargate? ›One of the alliance of four great races in the galaxy, the Furlings remain a mystery 20 years after they were first introduced to Stargate's mythology. They might just be the oldest mystery in the Stargate universe.
What is the most powerful Stargate weapon? ›The Dakara Genesis Device is arguably the most powerful weapon in the Stargate Universe. The device is capable of great destruction and creation. Its primary ability is the construction or deconstruction of matter on an atomic scale.
Who is the oldest Goa ULD? ›A powerful and intelligent Goa'uld, Yu was a leader among the System Lords, and was the oldest Goa'uld to currently hold that rank. Along with fellow System Lords Cronus and Nirrti, Yu represented the Goa'uld at an Asgard-mediated peace summit on Earth.
Who was the most powerful Goa ULD? ›A Goa'uld who was outcast by the System Lords, Sokar was one of the most powerful of the Goa'uld, and chose to take on the persona of the Devil. He has posed as the god of death on many different worlds. On Earth, is identity took the form of the Judeo-Christian fallen angel Satan.
Who created the Wraith? ›It was theorized by the scientific team back on Atlantis that the Iratus bugs fed on the humans that inhabited the planet and that a successive series of genetic mutations gradually changed the Iratus insects, with the result being a sort of hybrid species − the Wraith.
What race is Anubis? ›
Anubis was an ancient Egyptian god of the dead, represented as a jackal or a man with the head of a jackal. Anubis is sometimes also called Anpu.
Did Anubis have a son? ›...
| Anubis | |
|---|---|
| Consort | Anput, Nephthys |
| Offspring | Kebechet |
| Greek equivalent | Hades or Hermes |
Weakness: Anubis is apparently unable to harm someone who possesses an ankh, the Egyptian symbol of life. History: (Egyptian Myth) - Anubis is the son of Osiris and Nephthys.
How many Stargates did Earth have? ›Earth had at least two Stargates at one time. For centuries, they lay buried, rendering them inoperative. The primary Gate, housed for many years in the SGC, was found by archaeologist Professor Langford on a dig in Giza, Egypt, in 1928 (Stargate: The Movie).
How many Stargates are in the Milky Way? ›The galaxy is tied together by a sophisticated network of Stargates, which have the potential to number to 63 billion. These Stargates were originally positioned by the Alterans, who would later be known as the Ancients.
Who built the gates in Stargate? ›The Stargates are often considered to be the Ancients' greatest creation, and so the Ancients are often called the Gate Builders. The Ancients, the Asurans, the Tollan, and the Ori are the only known races that have managed to build Stargates.
Why did Ra look different in Stargate? ›(Stargate) The reason Ra's original form from the movie looks different to the Goa'uld from the TV series is that Ra is from a different species.
Why did Stargate get rid of Jonas Quinn? ›Corin Nemec left to make room for Michael Shanks
Nemec initially played a minor character named Jonas Quinn, who was introduced in season five.
The cast for sci-fi TV show Stargate SG-1 clearly enjoyed themselves on set most of the time — in fact, they often refer to one another as close friends and a joy to work with. Christopher Judge, who played Teal'c, was no exception to this rule.
Does SG-1 ever defeat the Replicators? ›The Replicators were defeated in the Milky Way and in the Asgard galaxies by adapted Ancient weapons technology.
Who is the father of Valas baby on SG-1? ›
Vala re-appears in the late season 9 episode "Crusade" and informs SG-1 via the communication device that she is in the Ori galaxy. The Ori have impregnated her against her will many months before, and Vala saw herself forced to marry a local villager named Tomin to make the pregnancy plausible.
Did SG-1 destroy the Ori? ›Once there the Ori themselves were annihilated. This did not stop the human followers, however, and SG-1 traveled through the Ori Supergate to Celestis to locate the Ark of Truth, and successfully exposed the Doci, his Priors, and the followers under them to the Ori's true intentions.
Is 4:3 or 16:9 better? ›The best aspect ratio to shoot videos in is 16:9 since most modern displays, such as TVs, tablets, phones, and computer displays have a 16:9 aspect ratio display. This allows you to display your entire video without cropping the sides to fit in the display, as you would have to do with a 4:3 aspect ratio video.
Is 16:9 better than 16:10? ›If you're used to using a 16:9 screen and you try a 16:10 or 3:2 display of the same size, you probably won't want to go back. You just have a lot more room, and it's a much more efficient use of screen space. But this CES showed that 16:10 and 3:2 displays are inching closer to the mainstream.
What aspect ratio is closest to human vision? ›What aspect ratio does our visual field have? The human visual field extends through an angle of about 155° wide by 120° high. That works out to 4:3.075, so 4:3.
What race is Teal C? ›Portrayed by Christopher Judge, Teal'c is a Jaffa warrior from the planet Chulak. As a Jaffa, Teal'c is a genetically modified human with an abdominal pouch that serves as an incubator for a larval Goa'uld.
Are the Asgard more advanced than the Ancients? ›The Asgard possess a level of technology rivaling that of the Ancients and the Ori, though they have clearly surpassed even them to a certain degree, which is extremely impressive, taking into account they are a much younger race.
Did the Ancients create the Wraith? ›The Ancients in the Pegasus Galaxy from the city-ship Atlantis seeded the galaxy with humanity and unwittingly created their future rival, the Wraith. The Wraith were the result of the blending of the DNA of the iratus bug and humans. This blending resulted in the Wraith's need to feed on humans for their own survival.
Why did Michael Shanks leave SG-1 for a season? ›Shanks played archaeologist Dr. Daniel Jackson throughout the first five seasons of Stargate SG-1 before leaving the show at the end of its fifth season, citing creative differences concerning the under-use of his character and the direction of the show as a whole.
Why is SG-1 so good? ›'Stargate: SG-1' is an exhilarating watch, and explores the creative boundaries of science fiction. Science fiction thrives on premise. A simple story of two space nations fighting has been done to death, space geopolitics having been delved into deeply as an opportunity for aspiring world-builders.
What was Stargate SG-1 shot on? ›
The first three seasons of Stargate SG-1 were filmed on 16 mm film, notwithstanding scenes involving visual effects that had always been shot on 35 mm film for various technical reasons.
Why did Stargate SG-1 end the way it did? ›Viewership continued to decline, and the Stargate SG: 1 was becoming increasingly costly. Ultimately, in August 2007 the Syfy Channel confirmed it was pulling the plug.
Why did General Hammond leave Stargate? ›Davis in his final appearance as George S. Hammond in the Stargate SG-1 movie, "Stargate Continuum". Don S. Davis left the regular role after the seventh season of SG-1 due to health problems, but appeared in later seasons as well as in a season 1 episode of Stargate Atlantis.
Who replaces Daniel Jackson? ›Jackson is part of SG-1 until his death at the end of the season 5, when he is replaced by Jonas Quinn.
Why did Jack o neill leave Stargate? ›Why did Richard Dean Anderson/Jack O'Neill leave the show? Anderson left the show after Season 8 wrapped to spend more time with his daughter, and O'Neill left the SGC after he was promoted the rank of Major General, and (presumably) to head "Homeworld Security" department.
Did Stargate SG-1 have an ending? ›"Unending" is the season finale of the tenth season and series finale of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1, and the show's 214th episode overall.
What type of unit is SG-1? ›Soon after SG-1 added Cameron Mitchell and, later, Vala Mal Doran to its roster. SG-1 is a multi-purpose task force whose functions include first contact, reconnaissance and combat, diplomacy, initial archaeological surveying and technological assessment.
Can you start Stargate SG-1? ›Again, start with the original feature film. Then watch the first seven seasons of Stargate SG-1, until you reach the point where two shows aired at the same time. Then watch SG-1 Season 8, followed by Atlantis Season 1. Just remember: these stories are happening at the same time.
Who built the Stargates? ›The Stargates are often considered to be the Ancients' greatest creation, and so the Ancients are often called the Gate Builders. The Ancients, the Asurans, the Tollan, and the Ori are the only known races that have managed to build Stargates.
Who owns Stargate? ›| Stargate | |
|---|---|
| Original work | Stargate (1994) |
| Owner | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (series) StudioCanal (movie) |
| Years | 1994–2018 |
| Print publications | |
Who is the girl at the end of Stargate: Atlantis? ›
| Jennifer Keller | |
|---|---|
| Last appearance | "Enemy at the Gate" (Atlantis) |
| Created by | Martin Gero |
| Portrayed by | Jewel Staite |
| In-universe information | |