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2 Alien Races 3 Actors 4 Spin-Offs 5 External links |
Stargate SG-1 is a television series based upon the 1994 science fiction movie Stargate. The show is owned and licensed by MGM. The first episode was broadcast on July 27, 1997 on SHOWTIME, which aired the series' first five seasons. Seasons six and seven were awarded to the SciFi Channel. During 2003, the show completed airing the first run episodes of Season Six on March 21 and began Season Seven's first run episodes on June 13. In the July 26, 2003 edition of TV Guide, MGM and the SciFi Channel announced their commitment to continue the series through an 8th Season. It is possible that the show may continue beyond eight seasons, as millions of loyal fans world wide have already made Stargate SG-1 "the SciFi Channel's biggest hit" according to the TV Guide article mentioned above. The article also made note that the show's popularity may be surpassing that of "Star Trek" (previously considered the most popular sci-fi series of all time).
It follows the adventures of a group of four explorers designated as SG-1, they use a 'Stargate' to travel the vast distances between planets under the aegis of the United States Government. The Stargate's very existence and all of its activities are operated as "SCI" classified utilizing a covert top secret cover.
In the Stargate universe, most earth mythologies are based upon real aliens that had visited earth. In this way, their characters closely correspond to the gods recorded in Egyptian, Norse,...etc, mythologies.
Led by Major General George Hammond, Stargate Command is based out of Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado. The Air Force is in direct charge of the Stargate program, although there is at least one SG team comprised of Marines. The other races refer to Earth's humans as the "Tau'ri", meaning those of the first world. It was from the abundant life found on pre-historic Earth that the Goa'uld harvested humans to seed unknown thousands of other planets. At least initially, all humans that traveled through the Stargate were as slaves to do the Goa'uld's bidding. One of the most endearing qualities of the Stargate SG-1 series is that it takes place in the present day. Whereas, we as humans depicted in the series may be technologically behind some of the other races the Stargate team have met by several centuries, we are rapidly gaining the ability to fight, defend and make benefit of the advances we have been exposed to in both significant and material ways.
There are several alien races in Stargate SG-1.
The primary villians are the Goa'uld. They are snake-like aliens who burrow into the upper spinal cords of humans or humanoids and take control of the "host's" body and mind. The "Egyptian gods" are really the System Lords, who lead huge armies of Jaffas and vast fleets of space ships (that look like pyramids). Major Goa'uld System Lords include Hathor, Osiris, and Anubis. The most powerful System Lord was Ra until the Tau'ri ended up killing him in the 1994 movie Stargate. There is still debate as to whether the Goa'uld assumed the roles already in existence or whether Egyptian mythology stems from the Goa'uld's one time domination of (ancient) Earth. The Goa'uld's term for the Stargate is "Chaapa'ai".
A Goa'uld-occupied host speaks in an eerie, bass-augmented register (except when allowing the host to act freely); extreme emotions in the Goa'uld cause the host's eyes to briefly glow. Goa'ulds instill increased strength in their hosts, and remarkable healing abilities; the host shrugs off injuries that would incapacitate or kill most humans, and experiences a lifespan of centuries (which System Lords commonly extend indefinitely through technological means).
Jaffa constitute the majority of the military strength of the System Lords. They are humanoids who have been surgically altered to carry an immature Goa'uld larva; they share the strength and regeneration of the Goa'uld, but are not under its control. The larva completely supplants their immune system; if it is removed, the Jaffa rapidly weakens and soon dies.
Opposing the Goa'uld are the Tok'ra (literally "Against Ra") a rogue race of Goa'uld who have come to ally with the Tau'ri against the System Lords. They provide much valuable intelligence and technical assistance. The Tok'ra do not possess unwilling human hosts, unlike the Goa'uld they oppose. The Tok'ra make use of a voluntary "blending" with a human host. Within each single host both personalities are free to speak and do what each desires in a truly symbiotic relationship. The benefit to a human who agrees to become a host is long life and perfect health. The very first Goa'uld who decided to oppose the System Lords and become the founder of the Tok'ra race was Egeria (Season 6, Episode 10). Many Millennia ago there was a battle between Ra and Egeria on a planet known as Pangar. Ra prevailed and it was generally thought that Ra had killed Egeria. However, Ra simply imprisoned Egeria for thousands of years until she was discovered by the Pangarans. What was to unfold thereafter is told in the episode "Cure" referenced above.
An ancient alliance of four great races who, at one time, would come to a particular planet (unknown to the Goa'uld) and interact as "a sharing of klans to share a common interest". The SG-1 team discovered this planet in the first season episode "The Torment of Tantalus". Dr. Daniel Jackson was viewing Pentagon archival films of the Stargate Program vintage 1945 when he saw an American scientist named Ernest Littlefield walk through an active Stargate. In a large castle like structure each race had scribed a wall of text in their own unique language. At least initially, each race unable to communicate to the other used the only language basic to all inhabitants of the universe (i.e. the 146 elements known as the atomic table). Each time the "tablet" was touched a new "page" would appear in the form of a combination of floating molecules made up of specific elements (e.g. hydrogen, sodium, silver, iron, etc.) which itself was the method each race used to first communicate with the other. As Dr. Jackson proclaimed the four races broke everything down to basics and created "a truly universal language". In the 2nd Season episode "The Fifth Race", we learn that the four races were the Ancients, who built the Stargates, the Asgard, the Nox and the Furlings. Avid viewers have met and become familiar with all but the Furlings as of the near mid point of Season 7.
The Asgard, a benevolent, highly advanced and evolved race who have visited earth on many occasions from another galaxy (Ida), who also gave rise to the Norse legends, and fortunately for earth they also oppose the Goa'uld. The Asgard are far more advanced than the Goa'uld. Also, it is interesting to note that they appear to be the "Roswell" aliens. The series reveals that a rogue Asgard (Loki) has been responsible for many "non-sanctioned" alien abductions. The most important Asgard characters include Thor and Freyr. Thor, is the supreme commander of the Asgard fleet and is often very helpful to the SGC. Thor has helped SG-1, the SGC and Earth out of trouble more than a few times. The humans have also helped the Asgard many times, so it has become a very beneficial alliance for them both.
Of particular significance, the Asgard came to earth's assistance (early in Season 3) in the episode "Fair Game" where the Asgard learned that the Goa'uld collective had decided to destroy earth. The Asgard called a meeting between a delegation representing the Goa'uld System Lords, Earth and the Asgard. Its purpose was to attempt to place Earth under the protection of the "Protected Planet(s) Treaty". This treaty has apparently been in place for several millennia between the Goa'uld and the Asgard and has served to maintain a very fragile peace between their two races. Attending on behalf of the Goa'uld were the System Lords Yu, Nurti and Cronus. Thor represented the Asgard and chose Colonel Jack O'Neill to represent planet Earth. Thor commenced the proceeding by offering the Goa'uld access to a particular corridor of a heretofore restricted region of space. The Goa'uld accepted along with the contingency that Earth give up the Stargate. This is but one of many instances where the Asgard have come to the aid and assistance of SG-1, the SGC and Earth. Needless to say, the friendship and respect between our two races is one of the major cornerstones to the progression and future of both.
The Ancients are the race credited with building the system of Stargates. Dr. Daniel Jackson translated many and various writings where the Ancients were referred to as the road builders and thoughout SG-1's travels they subsequently confirmed that to be fact. All discoveries relative to the early Ancients race indicate that they were also humanoid in form. However, there came a time that many of the Ancients "ascended" to a higher plane of existence (spacial) to escape a plague that was decimating their population. Their ascended form can allow themselves to be seen and heard by ordinary humans and then disappear at will. Near the end of Season Five, Daniel Jackson became exposed to a lethal amount of radiation and was approached just prior to his death by an ascended Ancient whom he met on the planet Kheb named Oma Desala. With her assistance Daniel ascended and joined the Ancients, but in an early Season Seven episode Daniel was cast back out of his ascended state for over-stretching his authority in an attempt to help SG-1 and save Abydos.
Summary
Alien Races
Goa'uld
The Jaffa
Tok'ra
The Alliance of Four
Asgard
Ancients
Actors
Spin-Offs
External links