Title:
Stargate: SG-1: “200” - The 200th Episode
Stars: Ben
Browder, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Christopher Judge, Claudia Black, and
Beau Bridges
Guest
Stars: Richard Dean Anderson, Willie Garson, and Pierre Bernard
Writer:
Brad Wright, Robert C. Cooper, Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie, Carl Binder, Martin
Gero, and Alan McCullough
Director:
Martin Wood
Executive
Producers: Robert C. Cooper, Brad Wright, Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie, and N.
John Smith
Running
Time: 44 minutes without commercials
Media:
SCI FI Channel Original Series (NTSC DVD Screener)
Premiere
Friday, August 18, 2006, at 9pm (ET/PT)
Network:
SCI FI Channel (Check your local cable/satellite listings for channel)
TV
Rating: Not Available At The Time Of Review
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
After the
first five seasons on Showtime, SCI FI Channel picked up “Stargate: SG-1”
for a sixth season. This was not the first Showtime series to be picked up for
additional seasons on SCI FI directly or indirectly. “LEXX”, “Poltergeist:
The Legacy”, and “The Outer Limits: The New Series” all premiered on
Showtime and all got at least one additional season on SCI FI, however no sci-fi
franchise to air as a first-run original series on SCI FI has been as successful
as “Stargate: SG-1.” In addition to beating “The X-Files” nine year
record as the single longest running sci-fi show on television, “Stargate:
SG-1” is also the longest running dramatic series in cable history and while
the series and it’s spin-off “Stargate: Atlantis” have filled in the void
left by “Star Trek,” I have to note that technically the claim to being the
longest-running sci-fi series in television history is not entirely correct.
“Doctor Who” ran with new episodes in the U.K. from 1963 to 1989 with a
total of 22 classic seasons or series as they call them in England and there was
a 1996 TV movie and now the ongoing new series that continues where the classic
TV series and 1996 TV movie left off as it goes into production on series three.
The first series has already aired in the States on SCI FI. Much like “Star
Trek” and “Stargate,” fans of “Doctor Who” are very loyal and while in
no way, shape, or form is this intended to rain on the “Stargate: SG-1”
parade, as a reviewer of genre films and television, I would be remiss not to
point out that there are still new frontiers ahead for the gate to cross. Yet
there is no denying that it is the single longest running American sci-fi series
and it will have a place in television history for generations to come.
The 200th episode appropriately entitled “200” is in many ways an acknowledgement of the rich history of sci-fi in general as well as the pioneers of television science fiction and more. Thus there are little satirical nods to Gene Roddenberry and Gerry Anderson as well as HG Wells and even horror auteur George A. Romero. Note that these are at times indirect nods that are often only as obvious to the fans they would recognize it, but none of it takes away from enjoying the episode regardless. There are in fact so many jokes and so forth that I cannot go into any more direct detail because of spoilers. As it is I think the little teasers on SCI FI might be giving away too much, but they know what they are doing and I’m not a network executive so I’ll just stick with what I know and trust that while I am sure the 200th episode will be something many fans of the series will appreciate, some might be disappointed it is not a more pivotal episode in terms of the ongoing conflict with the Ori.
“Stargate:
SG-1” like much of television has always had some sense of self conscious
humor about it and this episode is as much a thank you note to the fans that I
think says we love what we do and while we take it all seriously, we are not
beyond seeing the humor within our own work. Yes Richard Dean Anderson is in it
and it is great to see him on the show again. I hope we don’t have to wait
long before he makes another guest appearance because he truly adds a lot of
charisma and straight-faced humor to boot. Overall I think the final act of
“200” says the most about the show and I think in many ways, this is up
there with the best episodes in the series. They should release it publicly on
DVD as a stand-alone single disc volume along with the original series pilot and
perhaps a few fan chosen favorite episodes to further celebrate the show and
give fans something extra to buy this holiday season.
May the
gate always remain open! “Stargate: SG-1: 200” will premiere on Friday,
August 18, 2006, at 9pm (ET/PT) on SCI FI.
©
Copyright 2006 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.