One feature film, two television series, two straight-to-DVD movies (possibly a third) and a cartoon show … is this too much Stargate?
While ratings received from the recent season premiere of “Stargate: Atlantis” may suggest otherwise, the television market is becoming over saturated with the Stargate brand. As MGM’s second biggest franchise (bested only by the legendary 007), it’s not hard to imagine why this may be the case. The franchise is a lucrative goldmine and holds the potential for more.
Then again, the same was probably being said about Star Trek about ten years ago as “Voyager” -- and later “Enterprise” -- took up the Roddenberry mantle, sending the franchise out with a whimper. Now, Trek find itself in the position of relying on J.J. Abrams to re-invent and resurrect the franchise. And if anyone is capable of doing it, Abrams is the very man.
Now Stargate finds itself heading in the same direction. Creatively, Stargate is in a state of decline and disrepair with “Stargate: Atlantis” -- which is essentially carrying the torch -- relying more and more heavily on recycled “SG-1” stories or dumbed-down adventures with Wraith hybrids and clones. And in its first two episodes, the fifth season of the series has done very little to prove otherwise.
And that is a genuine shame, because in its debut and sophomore seasons, “Atlantis” proved how originally, witty and thrilling it could be, and didn’t shy away from the tough stories. Sure, there were lighthearted moments of comedy genius (such as throwing a shield-wearing Rodney from a balcony), but in its darker hours (“The Storm”, “Siege” and “Allies,” for example) the series displayed a knack for weaving a delicate and gripping tale of deceit, loss and real adventure.
Interestingly, in those years the lost city itself was as much a character as anyone else. The camera’s had wider shots to include more of the surrounding majesty of the city, characters were always moving and the isolation of the expedition from Earth only heightened the sense of danger and intrigue. Now though, with a slowly growing fleet of cruisers and beaming technologies even the most deathly encounters are resolved by the flip of a switch … presumably only because the Daedalus doesn’t have a main deflector to re-polarize. Somewhere in the more recent seasons the Atlantis character died, leaving behind just an old city.
ts parent series isn’t exactly bullet proof either -- without the Goa’uld, “Stargare SG-1” floundered and the series went out with the lowest of whinges. “The Ark Of Truth” at least provided a satisfying conclusion and justified the Ori story. “Continuum” on the other hand spends all its time focused on the shows weak spots and quite honestly doesn’t do any better than the series did.
“SG-1”was at its prime during the fourth and fifth seasons, with turmoil in the galaxy and a whole host of Goa’uld taking control. The fourth season in particular was made up of a vast assortment of tones and attitudes. “Window Of Opportunity” is by far the most original take on the “Groundhog Day” story, and “Divide And Conquer” offered a touching farewell to a much loved and interesting character.
But where is this originality and innovation now? Maybe its time Stargate took a bow and made way for another series to step up and have its day. And then 10 years from now, tomorrow’s J.J. Abrams can have his way with this franchise.
This has been an on going talk now for some time,I hate to see it go.However if it drops down with weired story line, constant time travel crap
,they have reach there limit with this.
Go out with a Blaze of Glory,galactic war and it ends there.With a possibility for a DVD sequel. GTO
