Slashdot Mirror


Stargate Atlantis Coming This Summer

boog3r writes "According to this and SCIFI there is a new Stargate series on its way to your local passive viewing device this summer. Quickie for all the click-deficient types: "In the new series, a secret base left by the originators of the Stargate is discovered in the most unlikely of places -- on Earth, buried among the ruins of the legendary city of Atlantis." Sounds fun to me! I found more info here and here. Take these tidbits with a grain of salt, much misinformation about the new series is circulating right now. I just hope this great franchise does not go the way of Star Trek, post Roddenberry."

21 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. SG-1 and Jack by BigHungryJoe · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I love Stargate SG-1.

    Did anyone watch the new one last night? I missed the ending. Is Jack really dead? He was my favorite character.

  2. Atlantis by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I thought they already found Atlantis on another world? They had Poseidin's statue at the gate and Jack got married and almost died of old age. Nanotechnology and stuff...

    1. Re:Atlantis by AndroidCat · · Score: 2, Interesting
      I thought Disney now owned all story salvage rights to Atlantis? They've done that to all the other stories that they've ripped^w adapted from stories hundreds of years old. (And then they got the copyrights endlessly extended to prevent anyone from doing the same.)

      They've just bought the Muppets too. This does not bode well.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  3. I like SG-1... by Ianoo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It's much more watchable than most of the rubbish that seems to come out of Paramount's Star Trek franchise these days. I find Enterprise totally unwatchable and couldn't even be bothered to see the last film in the cinemas. I made the right decision too, cos the DVD was a major dissapointment.

    That said, I think Stargate has become too sciency/technical. Did anyone else prefer it when all the technology like the Gates themselves were much more mystical and incomprehensible? Somehow, talking about Gates and DHDs in terms of lines of software code, mathematical equations and matter dematerialisation doesn't seem quite as mystical as the original movie and the earlier episodes, where much of it was still based in Egyption mythology and the technology seemed more magical (neither human nor Goa'uld understanding how it really worked) rather than increasingly Trek-like technobabble descriptions of how things work.

    I will, of course, be watching Atlantis as Stargate and its spin-offs are still some of the most watchable sci-fi about at the moment. I just wouldn't have taken it in quite the same direction if it were left up to me.

    1. Re:I like SG-1... by Cska+Sofia · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Actually I like the technical aspects of the show. It's done in a way that grounds the storyline in reality (as far as is possible with a sci-fi show). I think it's human nature to try and reverse engineer a technology that isn't understood; the concept of having the gate hitched up to a giant bank of computers seems realistic to me.

      After all, it's not like they understand it entirely. There's often talk of unimplemented protocols in Earth's DHD, which crops up disastrously in one of the latest episodes. This, for me, highlights one of the best aspects of the show: the fallibility. Things go wrong almost as often as they go right. There is an advancement in the plot, but in a 'two steps forward, one step back' way.

      (However, lately Carter seems to have taken on Trek-like problem-solving skills: "well, we could [insert improbable but ultimately 100% accurate solution 60 seconds after being presented with problem]." That bugs me a little.)

      I liked the Egyptian aspect, and the links with other past human cultures, but I think it would have been hard to spin that out over so many episodes, so I'm glad the show has evolved.

    2. Re:I like SG-1... by cbelt3 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If my 75 year old father in law finds SG-1 his favourite show (and he's an old country kind of guy), then there is something there other than the /. fascination. Characters, storyline, a cast you 'care' about. Just like the original ST and STTNG, it's about the characters. Doesn't matter where, when, or what they are. Take 'em and stick them in a small town in the middle of nowhere, and have the situations visit them, and you get the same chemistry.

  4. Re:"go the way of Star Trek post-Roddenberry" by Jahf · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Because the poster is worried that the series may have a significant drop in quality due to bad producer decisions, much like what happened to ST after G. Roddenberry was no longer in direct creative control (which started happening shortly before he passed). Many ST fans felt that the ST franchise tried to become over-techie ("Jordions") and derivative after that.

    It has nothing to do with the death of a creator, and the poster seems to have -liked- Roddenberry's direction for ST and disliked what happened after. In this case his passing is a milestone for show quality, much like we -may- be saying in 3-4 years about "boy I hope it's like Stargate -before- Atlantis".

    Personally, I don't see why "Atlantis" would need to be another show. That's one of the things I like about SG1, it has handled the various twists and turns that other shows like to use as spinoffs -internally-. However, it seems pretty clear that the writers may be about to run out of steam based on this season. I like this season (last night being an exception) overall, but it a) HAS become more star trek-like in focus and b) I don't see where the logical conclusion of SG1 would go after this season if it wraps up the way it seems to be. In which case, all "Atlantis" would seem to me to be is a way to keep the franchise going after the first series is properly finished.

    Hey SciFi ... if you want to continue a franchise, why don't you go buy FireFly and kill off Atlantis, and anything similar to Tremors. It would be nice to have that series get their real conclusion and you might almost repair the damage done with Farscape's cancellation. Now -that- is an unrelated post.

    --
    It is more productive to voice thoughtful opinions (reply) than to judge (moderate) others.
  5. Re:Movie was an Emmerich/Devlin disaster by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    OK, you got me into my rant.

    I recently watched the movie. Now, lets not get into plot, because they are both sorta close (free enslaved people on distant planet, solve issues, bla bla blah..) But:

    1. Sand. The movie had real sand for crying out loud. Dunes even! How often did the series have that?

    2. Head Masks (the helmets of the jaffa) Eagle, Jakal, Egyptian tomb pharoah.. Where are they now? In the movie, they were a major plot device for keeping the inhabitants of Abidos alive. Now, they arent EVER used. It seems more of a Mob type bullying than Alien Domination..

    3. Umm If the Pyramids are used as landing pads for aliens, then why arent there any pyramids on any other planets? Was Ra so different from the other system lords? (Besides the stupid Micheal Jackson kid pedophilia thing..)

    4. The Music is better for the Movie than the Series. The series music coordinators couldn't make me like the music, but after watching the movie again, I'm surprised that they are so different, yet so similar.

  6. Re:And how do they get back? by Tony+Hoyle · · Score: 2, Interesting

    You can only have one stargate per coordinate, but it's possible a planet could be large enough to have two (depends on the granularity of the gate address I suppose, which isn't really specified).

    Actually thinking about it since the gould have stargates on their ships, they're not coordinates... maybe you could program two stargates with different addresses and put them next to each other???

  7. Misinformation? by Xarius · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Ummm, that is just wild speculation. As far as I know, the new series is set in another galaxy, on an offworld human base. I think the name has something to do with the new planet being the origins of the atlantis legend, several people have already been cast.

    This is relatively old news. For more info check out:

    http://www.sg1database.net/atlantis.html

    Again this is AFAIK, I could be wrong

    --
    C17H21NO4
  8. Not to mention... by Kjella · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Richard Dean Anderson's character was a complete departure from the movie, but his character is pretty funny.

    ...a complete depature from MacGyver. I must honestly say that I never thought I'd be able to accept him as anything else but that - few people were so intesively connected to not only a character - but a specific trait of that personality - as him.

    Pretty much all through the first season (at least), every time they were in a jam I somehow expected him to pull out a piece of string, some duct tape, sulfuric acid and a pocket knife to save the day. I think the role he plays is pretty much the only role he could play to make it work.

    Kjella

    --
    Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
  9. RDA by dickiedoodles · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The main reason the more recent episodes of SG-1 have been less good (but still very enjoyable in my opinion) then the previous seasons is mainly because of Richard Dean Anderson (jack) being unwilling to spend as much time on the show, every season he says he wants to quit to spend more time with his daughter and every season they negotiate a nice package for him which means less work. IIRC he works about 3 days a week now which is why there are so many episodes that he barely appears in or in some cases doesn't appear in at all. In the next season of SG1 (season 8) rumour has it that he'll be in a more Hammond like position in charge of the SGC. Atlantis is obviously a way to not only expand the series but to get away from relying on RDA signing on every year.

    If anyone cares Gateworld is a fantastic site for information on all things stargate.

    --
    In Soviet Russia Slashdot cliches use you
  10. I'm a Roddenberry fan but .. by ClosedSource · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The quality of STNG was much higher than the original and improved dramatically after Roddenberry let Rick Berman lead the way. I think the combination of Roddenberry's somewhat politically correct "rules" and Berman's attempts to bend them was what made STNG so great.

  11. A Dying Series by Emperor+Tiberius · · Score: 2, Interesting

    To be totally honest, I think Atlantis won't have the same "vibe" (for lack of a better word) that SG-1 has had. If the plot is literally going to be based on an old base, and going to another side of the universe...jeeze, this is starting to sound like a hacked up Stargate clone of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine! Something, I don't look forward to watching, much like I don't care to watch Enterprise anymore.

  12. Re:Why do SG1 fans compulsively rip Star Trek? by AnalystX · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm not sure where this blanket statement (in the form of a question) is leading? It's funny that two assumptions are made in that one question too. The first being that SG-1 fans collectively give opinions regarding Star Trek. The second being that the Star Trek you refer to is Enterprise and not some other Star Trek series.

    Personally, I am a huge SG-1 fan. I watch the episodes as they appear on television, and I own all the DVD box sets currently out. I watch Star Trek:TNG almost everyday and feel that it is one of the best science fiction shows ever produced. I really enjoyed Star Trek:Voyager when it was on and am looking forward to getting the DVD box sets. I like some of the characters on Star Trek:DSN, but as a whole, I didn't like to watch the show that often. The original Star Trek series introduced interesting plot devices, but just as the stereotype was set for William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk), he really didn't contribute much in the way of acting like a real captain. He had his moments, but largely he acted like William Shatner on screen. Star Trek:Enterprise also has good plot devices and even sometimes a good story. The characters are still somewhat new, so I expect it will take a couple more years (just like Voyager) to form into something palatable for more people.

  13. Re:OK, Bruce, just swim right here... by Richard_at_work · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I personally think that this show could pull up some suprises. SG1 is pretty much all about introducing us to the concept, and fighting the Goa`uld, which they are just about done doing. Atlantis could go in a different direction, finding out more information about the stargate network (There are 9 chevrons on the stargate, 7 are in normal use, 1 more was activated to meet the Asgard, whats the ninth for?), discovering stuff about the ancients (it was surmised in one episode that modern humanity could be descended from a pre ascended ancient species, i would like to see more on that).

    SG1 went military because thats where the film left off, Atlantis can be trememdously different.

  14. One of the directors is excited by gbulmash · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I'm in contact with David Winning (IMDb filmography, official site). He directed a lot of episodes of "Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda" (photos: 1, 2) and he's been hired on to direct at least part of the first season of "Stargate Atlantis". He's been getting a lot of recognition in the industry as one of the top directors for TV Sci-Fi in the past couple of years, so they're making some good choices for the series already. And the cool thing is that he seems really excited about the new series.

    I've known David professionally for a couple of years now and he doesn't get this excited over every job, so that's got me looking forward to checking out series. It doesn't hurt that I'm a fan of SG1 also.

    - Greg

  15. Re:"go the way of Star Trek post-Roddenberry" by voss · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The reason why the original star trek was good was more due to the work of people like Harve Bennett and DC fontana and in the movies Nicholas Meyer.

    Roddenberrys influence on TNG was more constrictive than inspirational. Wesley in the orginal character concept was supposed to be a girl...a Leslie crusher wouldnt be nearly as irritating. If you look at all the TNG and later series...Deep space 9 was the most true to the spirit of the old series with its own distinct flavor versus the blandness of the berman and braga produced series.

    Enterprise I will say is finally getting better. Enterprise should have been a great series from the start...but B&B tried to make it voyager in the 22nd century.

    The thing I liked about Stargate sg-1 is its tight writing but its refusal to take itself too seriously unlike TNG.

  16. Re:And how do they get back? by minairia · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Actually, you can have three gates on one planet. Does anyone remember the episode where the mysterious alien built his own Stargate in Major Carter's basement out of spare parts so he could get back and stop the military from turning on some kind of ancient superweapon on his dead planet? At that point, it would have been the US gate, the Russian gate and the alien's gate. I wished they'd explored that arc more, in that building one's own Stargate isn't that difficult with the right parts. (The alien was a super genius but all of the stuff he used to build his gate he ordered mail order using Major Carter's credit card. Even though his gate shorted out after one use, it didn't blow up or melt so the military should have been able to figure out how he built it.)

  17. Uh... by Cyno01 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I love SG-1, and for the most part its better than the movie IMHO, but they have tried spinoffs already, and that makes me nervous. Anybody remember Stargate: Infinity? It was a very short lived saturday morning cartoon. Just terrible.

    --
    "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
  18. OT: Sort of by fireman+sam · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Has anyone else noticed the similarities between the stargate series and the writings of Brian Lumley?

    For example:

    1. Necroscope series -
    - People can travel between worlds using "grey holes", Much like the stargate.
    - Vampires are in fact leeches that infect a host body and increase the hosts strengths, senses etc. They also increase the ability to heal. Sound familiar?

    2. The house of doors -
    - In this novel, a large white mansion appears on a hill side. Inside is an alien called Seth. Does anyone here remember the episode of stargate where there was a cult in a large white mansion that was run by a man called Seth?

    Hmmm, maybe that is why I like stargate and Brian Lumley books, as they have similar undertones.

    --
    it is only after a long journey that you know the strength of the horse.