What did you think of Stargate: Atlantis (S1)?

ixoy

You know I always meant to ask this but kept forgetting. Hopefully you've not forgotten the show just yet...

So what did you all make of Stargate: Atlantis - Season 1? Was it a success do ya think or just a poor spinoff? Has it made itself sufficiently different, got an interesting enough setting, or is it too similiar to its parent series? Do you like the characters or are they cheap copies/cliches of others?

Characters
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Personally, for a first season, I think they did remarkably well. Admittedly they were helped by having a team who spent many years on SG1, but I think the show picked up pretty quickly. This was helped by defining the characters quite well from the start. Sheppard initially came across as a slightly younger, sexier, smarter-ass version of O'Neill but gradually developed into his own later in the season, showing a far more military-style mindset and a snappy intelligence.

McKay was a treasure. I loved his appearances in SG-1 even though there were a fair few who disliked him. They (cleverly) toned down his self-involvement but kept his sarky nature and impatience. They also injected him with a degree of compassion that made him quite unique and SGA's most original character. It greatly helped that he had wonderful chemistry with Sheppard leading to some great comic moments.

Weir, I think, was initially a bit unsuccessful. She seemed a bit distant from her command, something I'm not blaming on Torri Higginson. She didn't seem capable of always balancing the role. I think though that episodes like "Letters from Pegasus" were a much better way of showing her more compassionate side and I began to warm to her towards the end.

Teyla I feel still has a bit too much of the alien-tribal-leader about her, a sort of Teal'c Lite. I don't quite get a feel for her character other than she represents her people. "The Gift"'s plotline is a step in the right direction to distinguishing her, so I'll see how it pans out.

Aidan Ford, as much as I love his name, was a weak new character. He was smiley, happy, efficient - and that was it. Again "Letters From Pegasus" fleshed him out a little, as did occasional moments like in "The Eye" but it just didn't work. He was outshone by supporting characters and I certainly wouldn't miss him if his role was toned down (no comments on that ).

There were some good supporting characters, the most obviously one being Dr. Carson Beckett. I felt his character, from the episodes he was in, was a good match for SG1's Dr. Frasier (I still miss you Janet!) and I liked his little mixture of nervousness and brains. Other characters, such as Zelenka, were generally well thought out and I'd like to see more of them in the future.


STORIES
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Generally Season 1 had a very successful run of stories, with no real clunkers (IMO). Initially I wasn't a fan of the Wraith. For the first half of the season they seemed a bit too much like a sort of silly Marlin Manson alien (Marlin as in the fish and as in Marilyn - geddit?) but the second half of the season gave them more of an edge due to their gradual approach to Atlantis, giving a sense of impending doom. Their little darting ships also had that neat whine and I liked their raiding runs. What was also neat was how the cultures began to adapt to the threat of the Wraith: the Goa'uld left worlds behind or still subservient. The Wraith, OTOH, left cultures not in a state of worship or awe, but constant fear and stymied their growth or mutated it, as we saw quite well in "Childhood's End". It was an interesting difference. What I would like to see more of though is their vampiric abilities - the abductions, as they stand, aren't dissimilar enough to the Goa'uld plucking people for hosts. The difference is more in the nature of the attacks and their modus operandi. I'd also like to get a clearer picture of how the Wraith defeated the Ancients beyond the "barbarian horde" point made so far and a look at how the Wraith evolved (which has been hinted at).

Outside the Wraith, we had a lot of stories generated by the setting of Atlantis itself. I do think the city hasn't been explored to the extent it could be - although it's been broached and is an obvious ground for Season 2. Stuff like "Hot Zone" shows the interesting ways you can remain set bound (i.e. within budget constraints) but still do something a little different.

The stories have also had a bit of a darker tone than SG1 adopts, giving it a different flavour. Sure the humour is still there, but I don't think SG1 would've handled the end of "The Defiant One" in the same way as SGA. "The Seige" had some quite cold calculated moments of military action too, which I welcomed. The different non-earth settings plus use of differing uniforms also helps, stylistically, to distinguish the show.


CONCLUSION
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I think they've done very well for a first season. If it weren't for SG1's final 5 episodes, I'd have said it easily surpassed SG1's Season 8. As a whole though I think this, on average, fares better. Thankfully this has been reflected in its success on US Sci-Fi where it, and Battlestar Galactica, regularly vie for the #1 position in its ratings. Season 2 promises a lot - some of which you can already read about - and I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with it. But now tell me what ye all think, now that my fingers are but bloody stubs

Nukem

Ah 'twas ok. Not a big fan but it's not offended me particularly.

I enjoyed it but it will never replace SG-1. Very slow starting i thought but it just got better and the last few eps were excellent. Watched it more than SG-1 sometimes caus i felt the writers had lost there way slightly(except for the final battle) Hope to god they try and join the two of them back in somehow.

Looking forward to next year with the new SG-1/A............. and of course the SG game.

Boro

Thats a nice summation Ixoy.

I would agree with much of what you said, but the poll could do with another option, along the lines of "SG:A is just as good as SG:1 and I love watching them both"

Characters:
Didnt like Shepperd at first but he is growing on me. Originally thought of him as a cheap spin off of O'Neill but he is developing his own personality now.
McKay is great. Love that sarky bastard.
Ford is good filler for the team but doesnt stand out like each member of SG1 team does.
Tayla - the only character i dont like. I would prefer it if they just got rid of her. She has her moments but most of the time she annoys me. Very plasticy and reminds me of a cheap 'alien' from TNG or something like that.
Beckett - very funny character, i would like to see him even more involved.
Zalenka is very funny and works well with McKay.
Weir is ok but i would prefer someone more dynamic.

Storylines
Generally good. A few fluff/filler episodes but nothing i couldnt handle. Some very good episodes too.

On the whole, an excellent Debut season.

Bodan

Quite promising. Has a few bumps to iron out but I'll definetely keep watching.

Excellent , really enjoyed Atlantis more then Sg1 this season .
I was expecting a cheap rip off when i first heard about it , sortta a way of keeping the franchise going after sg1 , just not nearly as good . How wrong i was . The first season really blew my expectations apart . Most of its good points has already been said so i dont need to go into detail.

Really looking forward to season 2 this summer .

User45701

Ah 'twas ok. Not a big fan but it's not offended me particularly.

i liked it allot not as good as SG1 but still very nice to watch

DingChavez

Ah 'twas ok. Not a big fan but it's not offended me particularly.

The second one.

rasherboy

Quite promising. Has a few bumps to iron out but I'll definetely keep watching.

personally prefered atlantis to season 8! i think sg1 is going down hill(i loved all the series but 8) and atlantis is the future! it is good! i look forward to series 2!!

bizmark

Ah 'twas ok. Not a big fan but it's not offended me particularly.

I like every thing about Sg -A apart from Tayla shes just the token unrealistic uber women that modren tv likes to show these days

User45701

Ah 'twas ok. Not a big fan but it's not offended me particularly.

bizmark wrote:

I like every thing about Sg -A apart from Tayla shes just the token unrealistic uber women that modren tv likes to show these days

damm straight she should be cooking Sheaperds dinner and making shure athlantis is clean and tidy

emm ye so anyway SGA is very good i dont know what 1 om waiting for more season 2 SGA will will let us know what happened damm clifhanger but season 9 of SG1 is SG1 so u know its kinda hard call to say what 1 i want more.....

bizmark

Ah 'twas ok. Not a big fan but it's not offended me particularly.

User45701 wrote:

damm straight she should be cooking Sheaperds dinner and making shure athlantis is clean and tidy

Sounds like a plan !

cregser

Quite promising. Has a few bumps to iron out but I'll definetely keep watching.

I wasn't a fan of sg1 when sgA started. But now I like both. Preferred sgA.

I'm not expecting much from the two next season (intentionally, so that I'll hopefully be pleasantly surprised). What can the wraith do except swarm all over Atlantis like they did before? Are we gonna have another season building up to a siege?

Who's the bad guy in sg1 now? If they use the time travel thing (there's fish in Jack's pond now so anything's possible kinda thing) to justify any silly new ideas I won't be happy.

So the writers need to get creative to please me next season. But yeah, sgA is good

ixoy

Ah 'twas ok. Not a big fan but it's not offended me particularly.

cregser wrote:

Who's the bad guy in sg1 now? If they use the time travel thing (there's fish in Jack's pond now so anything's possible kinda thing) to justify any silly new ideas I won't be happy.

It ain't time travel. Gateworld has some details about it although I ain't read it myself...