It is very noticeable that the world, or rather the Stargate universe, is slowly but surely growing larger. This is not only due to the fact that more and more authorities are forming outside the Stargate Centre and want to interfere in the affairs at Cheyenne Mountain, but also because many of the themes touched upon in the first season are now being explored in greater depth.
One example of this are the Ancients. They are no longer just a name or a vague idea, but it has now been mentioned in several places that they used to live on Earth, that they are the builders of the Stargate network, and that they belong to the four great races, two of which we have already encountered.
But on Earth, we also had to find out that O’Neill’s resentment towards certain other officers is more than justified. Of course, I’m talking about Maybourne! He and his secret operations with the second Stargate are causing quite a bit of trouble, but so far this has only been mentioned in one episode. If I remember correctly, this will take on much greater proportions.
This includes the NID, which is partly responsible for these secret operations. But I believe that there will also be a pro-Goa’uld faction that will cause quite a bit of trouble.
I really like this development because it shows that all these events not only have far-reaching consequences for the worlds visited, but also that a lot has changed and will continue to change on our own doorstep.
What I also really like, and which is further emphasised by Sylvester Siler’s increased presence, is that in Stargate, the stunt performers receive extra attention in the form of their own roles. Sylvester Siler is played by Dan Shea, who is not just anyone, but Richard Dean Anderson’s stunt double.
Once you know this little detail, you can spot it very clearly in some scenes. I think that’s great, because I believe stunt performers still get far too little attention in Hollywood, especially when you look at the action scenes or the latest Indiana Jones film. I mean, come on, Harrison Ford was over 80 when the film was shot, so it’s obvious that a stunt double was often, if not very often, needed.
That’s why I think it’s good that the stunt performers are given some screen time outside of their actual roles, and in Dan Shea’s case, this is not insignificant in some episodes, nor is it as unimportant as one might think.
DVDs and Blu-rays are now everyday media, or rather, they have almost been replaced by streaming services. But Stargate SG-1 is actually so old that various recordings were still transported from point A to point B on VHS tapes. I noticed this in episode 15 when a VHS cassette was inserted, and I remembered that DVDs had only just been released at that time. I found it a funny detail, even if it was certainly insignificant for most people!
The Tok’ra play a crucial role in the second season and become even more important later on, because they are no longer just mentioned by name, but are given faces and also, how can I best describe it, a setting.
One style might even be more fitting, because the Goa’uld always have their gilded ships and almost ancient palaces. The Tok’ra, on the other hand, have these tunnel structures with a honeycomb-like structure. I always find that quite interesting, because then you immediately recognise it and perhaps look forward even more to what is yet to come.
There is another minor slip-up in episode 16. Although, let’s be honest, “slip-up” sounds a bit harsh. In any case, I found it highly amusing, because in one scene Teal’c is standing on the ramp and wants to jump off himself before it all goes boom. But Christopher Judge doesn’t actually jump off the ramp; he’s standing in front of a green/blue screen and was added later. They probably forgot to make sure he was actually standing on the platform. So he floats slightly before he jumps, which looked kind of funny, even if you could easily overlook it because of all the action.
In the second season, little is concluded, but all the more is opened up and begun, which will only develop accordingly in later episodes and seasons.
Disclaimer
I am well aware that stunt performers also have their own awards and are appearing more and more often, as well as having their own social media profiles. But when you consider that we are talking about the early 2000s here, that is quite something.
Yes, I’m not revealing too much of the story at the moment, but that’s not really intentional; I’m just writing about the things that catch my eye and the things I like. Of course, I’m following the story too, but to be honest, if I were to recount it, I’d just be doing what countless other sites are already doing, most notably the Stargate Wiki, which I’ve linked to below.
For this reason, I will continue to do so, because that is exactly how I did it with all the other series.
Stargate Wiki
https://stargatewiki.de/wiki/Hauptseite
I even have a small entry in this wiki, in an episode of Stargate Atlantis. I noticed a mistake, created an account and added the entry. I should check if it still exists.
Long story short, if you’re a Stargate fan, then you should definitely take a closer look at this wiki. It’s packed with information about the series, its content and storylines, as well as behind-the-scenes details and why some actors unexpectedly left the show.
Leave a Reply