Customer Reviews

Stargate SG-1 Season 1, Vol. 2: Episodes 4-8

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I think it is useful to remember that when you are looking at the first season of any series that the writing staff spends a lot of time getting everything set up in the pilot and then off of the various premises they have established they start spinning off stories. This means that everybody is writing episodes without having seen any, which explains why it takes a show a while to get going after a strong pilot. You will see that this is the case in the five episodes from Season 1 of "Stargate SG-1" that are collected here on Volume 2. The results are certainly not bad as they explore some ideas basic to the premise of the series, but this series really hits stride in the second half of this first season and finishes very strongly. The biggest common denominator for this set is that most of the episodes showcase the acting ability of Richard Dean Anderson, who gets to do a lot more than crack jokes in a sardonic manner. So just keep in mind that the pilot was good, that the best is yet to come, and that these are still enjoyable episodes and one of them is very good:

Episode 4, "Broco Divide" (Written by Jonathan Glassner, Aired August 15, 1997) has SG-1 visiting a planet when the people are divided into the "Touched" and the "Untouched." When the team returns home they discover that they have contracted the disease of the "Touched," which has General Hammond (Don S. Davis) and Doctor Frasier (Teryl Rothery) in a state of near panic. Although the problem of contagion is rarely as "real" consideration in these shows, this episode does deal with the problem and gives Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) an opporunity to get primitive. 4 Stargates.

Episode 5, "The First Commandment" (Written by Robert C. Cooper, Aired August 22, 19977) has SG-1 going off on a rescue mission for a pair of members from SG-9. The planet has sunlight that is practically lethal and has caused Captain Jonas Hanson (William Russ) to go insane. Hanson has declared himself a god and is working the natives to death in a quest for something he insists will save them all. This is one of those episodes where the idea is something that "Stargate SG-1" wants to get around to, but the fifth episode is a bit early to play this card. 3 Stargates.

Episode 6, "Brief Candle" (Story by Steven Barnes, Teleplay by Katharyn Powers, Aired September 19, 1997) is one of those episodes when our heroes show up in a paradise and discover the place is more of a hell. On this planet people live at an accelerated rate and live their lives in terms of days and not years. O'Neill becomes afflicted by the nanocytic virus that afflicts the local populace and begins to age rapidly. The question of why some aliens would think this was an ideal way for people to live becomes secondary to Anderson's performance. 4 Stargates.

Episode 7, "Cold Lazarus" (Written by Jeffery F. King, Aired August 29, 1977) is the best episode on this set. After O'Neill is injured touchign a blue crystal on a mission an alien comes through the Stargate impesonating the Colonel and goes to see his ex-wife (Harley Jane Kozak). This is one of those episodes where you wonder what is going on and the payoff to the mystery is worth the wait. 5 Stargates.

Episode 8, "Thor's Hammer" (Written by Katharyn Powers, Aired September 26, 1997) takes SG-1 to the planet Cimmeria (where Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian hailed) where they encoutner a Viking-like culutre that worships Thor, god of thunder, and his big hammer. Meanwhile they meet a woman who once had a Goa'uld but it now free of the parasite, which might have some significance for Teal'c (Christopher Judge), who has an encounter with Unas, the first Goa'uld. This is an episode where the stuff about the Goa'uld is interesting but the Viking stuff is rather unnecessary. But, again, remember this is the first season and the idea that the people on the planets you can reach through the Stargate originally came from Earth thousands of years ago has all the writers picking their favorite ancient cultures. 4 Stargates.

You will notice that the airdates are out of order. I have no explanation for why this does not jive with the episode numbers presented here, but I will offer the observation that the obvious result is to put three solid acting performances by Richard Dean Anderson on this one DVD. Of course, this makes it seem like the whole point of "Stargate SG-1" is to see what they new makeup job they can make their star endure each week, but I can assure you that is not the dominant theme of the first season. I would rate this disc 4.5 stars if they would let me.

This DVD does not include the episoide THE NOX, the chronological order of the DVD is based on the Syndication release, not on Showtime. Therefore, THE NOX is in Volume 3, which is in the Season One boxed set.

As a fan of the series it is great to have these episodes out on DVD. My one complaint is that only Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 are available individually. If you want Volumes 3-5 to complete the first season episodes, you need to purchase the entire Season One Boxed Set (I have the same problem with the "X-Files" and a couple other shows). Looking forward to Season Two whenever that comes out on DVD.

Although I highly recommend any purchase of Stargate SG-1 episodes on DVD - and this release includes one of my favorites: The Nox (it also includes on of my least favorite : Brief Candle), I would strongly recommend opting for the season 1 boxed set instead. Currently on Disc 1 and 2 are available seperately, but the boxed set spans the entirety of the first season. Also, the video quality suffers some on this release because 5 episodes are included, but the degradation does not make it any less worthwhile to own. The complete listing of episodes are: 4) The Broca Divide 5) The First Commandment 6) Cold Lazarus 7) The Nox 8) Brief Candle.
Highly Recommended - But STRONGLY recommend the Boxed set instead.

StarGate SG-1 is the best, the only problem I have is that several other reviews show that the episode The NOX is on the disc, but the disc I revieved only has episodes 4-8 on it. So if you purchase this title, take a close look at it and check to see what is on it, if some have the extra episode and some do not, you might be getting a bonus!!!

Stargate SG1 is a great Science Fiction Adventure series featuring a great cast led by Richard Dean Anderson. Michael Shanks is actually better in the role of Daniel Jackson than James Spader was in the original movie. The special effects in the series are all top notch, and the scripts are well written. Stargate SG1 is closer in spirit to the original Star Trek series of the 60's than any of the recent Star Trek shows (that's not comparing quality, just style - although SG1 holds up very well to them quality wise). That sense of adventure from the original Star Trek series is present in SG1, but SG1 just has more modern sensibilities. The episodes on the DVD Vol 2 are all good, with Brief Candle and Thor's Hammer as standouts. This DVD is well worth buying, and I highly recommend it, but you may also want to consider the Box Set of season 1. That's a great package. But you get great value with Vol 2 on its own as well (5 episodes on this disc). Either way - BUY IT! You will not regret it.

The episodes on this DVD reflect the still developing story lines & characters typical of the series' first season. While some are better done (Cold Lazarus) than others (Brief Candle), all are worth watching. And one episode, Thor's Hammer, shows a glimpse of the greatness that is to come.
4)Broco Divide - primative aliens & a mysterious illness. Need I say more?
5)The First Commandment - mutiny & a SG team leader with a God complex. Great interaction between Carter & O'Neill in the closing dialogue.
6)Brief Candle - beautiful, naive humans in a sheltered environment being corrupted by SG1. This episode is so like something Capt. Kirk would run into in the original series it was deja vue all over again. Star Trek anyone?
7)Cold Lazarus - a frindly alien impersonates O'Neill in an attempt to bring back O'Neill's son. This episode shows a rarely seen tender side of Col. O'Neill. Enjoy it girls, you won't see it again.
8)Thor's Hammer - the begining of the in-depth story developement and crucial to understanding some of the later episodes. This one is for everyone.

I have notice that since May 2001 no new shows have been release. I won't buy season 1 until I see season 2 being ready for release

great show, great special effects, great stories, great actors!
my only GRIPE, being hearing impared is that there are no english subtitles for the hearing impared!!!This is a real bummer of an oversight as most dvd's have this feature and that is the reason most hearing impared people buy dvd's. please correct this deficency promply and if possible exchange the deficient sets for us. thanks for listening.

Really deserves the money and it deserves even more than 5 stars.

Just read my comments on part one

I tell you the Stargate series is outstanding