What makes stargate unique?

[thor4713]

Hi all:wave:
I was asking myself today what makes stargate so unique. Most probably because travelling to planets but not in a space ship. Or there's so many different brilliant stories.
I'd like to see your views on what makes it such a great show.

 

[Giorgio]

Well, it combines mythology with science-fiction stuff.
There's also much science.
Great characters ! Lovely aliens ! Cool villains !
Nice dialog ! Witty humor !

 

[kelsi]

Mythology is a unique trait, but the team, space travel, aliens, humour etc isn't really.

 

[beckmen]

-The use of mythology in ths story and Taking place in the real world, present-day Earth is the main differances between other scifi stuff.

 

[HeyLynny]

I like that it is set in present day so there is not a "futuristic" feel to the show. Its cool to think that it could actually be real (you never know).

 

[SilverCaladan]

indeed, you never do know. I like how they try so hard to base it in reality. There really is a Cheyenne Mountain Complex which houses Norad. And the science... ah the science. I love that. I mean barely an episode goes by without some sort of scientific explanation often on plausible but not proven.

And the anthropology and archeology. I love dissecting how cultures work or how people will interact, and I like watching that humanitarian aspect of the show.

The mythology is interesting too, I mean how often do you see the theme of aliens pretending to be our long-lost gods dominate? I mean, one theory could be the cause of monotheism becoming dominant. With no gods there to reinforce their religions... it could have faded away into the monotheistic religions like Christians, Muslims, and so on and so forth.

 

[Sindri]

For the first few seasons SG1 was different because its setting was almost recognisable as our world. Earth was faced with a seemingly omnipotent adversary whose demise was within the capabilities of neither SG1 nor the Tau'ri. In the Stargate universe, Earth was a backwater in galactic events and the only thing preserving it was its own insignificance. This was different from most other sci-fi shows that made the universe revolve around Earth. It was presented to be almost believable because its present day setting was easy to relate to.
Unfortunately, this concept was effectively abandoned after season 3 when the show began to emulate other sci-fi. SG1 turned into white knights; selfless champions of freedom and justice. The Goa'uld were reduced to a laughing stock. Instead of acknowledging our frailties and limitations they became glossed over and sometimes blatantly denied. Increasingly this show has just become another far-fetched happy juice dispenser when it had the potential to be something nearly unique.

 

[SilverCaladan]

hmm I would agree with that... I think you have it right on.

 

[libelula]

Hmmm I still can't get over technical details like why all the aliens can speak english. You know at least other series make an attempt to explain this and why do all the alien planets look like a huge backyard in north america. The military aspect of it gives a unique feel and is currently being ripped off by Enterprise. The dialoge and chracters are great and funny too. Firefly did a better job at that though. As far as originality the ultimate prize would have to go to lexx, but since that show was a little too wack. So I would give the prize to Farscape instead. Any show that has an entire episode centered around a cartoon theme like Bugs Bunny is original.

 

[PTeppic]

Originally posted by libelula
why do all the alien planets look like a huge backyard in north america

They hint at explaining this in "The Tok'ra 2" when Sam tells Jacob (going through the gate for the first time) that she believes the original gate builders were of a physiology similar to humans and therefore most planets that have gates on them have physical properties similar to Earth. On another episode (forget which) Daniel tells one of the others that trees will always be present in oxygen bearing atmospheres. In my own thinking, to get certain planetary properties e.g. gravity, this will require certain properties of the planet itself like density/mass/diameter, which in turn will determine which gasses will remain in the atmosphere...

 

[Royal One]

Teal'c and Jack O'Neil have become such good friends, and Jack's humor and Teal'c's serious nature make for fun dialogue. I think the Stargate itself is what makes it so unique. Most sci-fi films or shows use wormholes to travel through space-time, not other worlds. Stargate and Sliders are the only sci-fi shows I know of that take a unique perspective to wormhole theory, traveling to other worlds with a simple skip and a jump.

 

[beckmen]

I still say it's the realistic aspect. The military, the secretive nature of it. The SGC and the people are all very realistic, but the situations are VERY fantasic, it's a great contrast. Star Trek meets X-Files in a way.

 

[xaviersxmen]

I think the cast is what makes Stargate unique. Everyone on there plays a GREAT part. If you was to take away anyone it would hurt the show. But someone looks like they might be leaving in this season. But thats just what I picked up from the previews but Stargate has done stuff like that and brought them back STRONG.