Amph Mankind's Greatest Ongoing Adventure: Stargate SG-1 (and Origins) (Spoilers Allowed)

I think it has more to do with MGM's financial problems, so they're selling off non-essential stuff- when i glanced at that auction listing awhile ago, it seemed like it was mostly stuff they wouldn't need in great quantity on a regular basis anymore (non-hero staff weapons, etc), or stuff from completed storylines (Ori soldier costumes/weapons, etc). SG-1 #3 isn't likely to be dealing with that stuff, I would assume, nor will SGU be needing them much at this point in time.

I'd expect more stuff like this from MGm untl the next Bond movie hits theaters and brings them some stability.

 

I actually enjoyed QOS on the whole, despite the bad shaky cam. It had a few clever sequences, even though it works best when seen as a CR conclusion as opposed to a stand-alone film.

And, last I read, it was believed the release of a new Bond would bring in the money needed to stabilize MGM's situation enough so far as qualifying for offers of financial assistance from certain investors/buyers.

 

It all depends on how quickly MGM's situation is bought up by someone, really. Supposedly they're still aiming for the same release window for Bond, they've just suspended production until MGM's situation is resolved, at which point they would resume (which would lead to The Hobbit and, presumably, more Stargate).


So, anyways, was thinking about those Star Trek "Fan Collective" DVD releases (you know, the ones like Borg, Klingons, Time Travel, etc) and was thinking it might be fun to put together hypothetical lists of possible sets like those for Stargate (even if it's a bit harder than with Trek since Gate is often less stand-alone given it's heavy continuity).

So I came up with 15 collection themes (sure, Trek only has about half that many actually released, but so what? ) to base a 2-4 disc set around (figure no more than 20 episodes total) and figured it'd be neat to see suggestions for them (since some of them would be difficult to include EVERY episode that touches upon them, given how expansive Gate has become).

(And, off the bat, we'll discount the theatrical film as a valid candidate, but not the DVD movies since they're effectively 2-parter episodes. Additionally, episodes can appear in multiple sets).

Here are the 15 I came up with (grouped into release themes):

-Alternate Universes
-Time Travel
-Gate Errors
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-System Lords
-Anubis
-Ori
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-Genii
-Wraith
-Replicators
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-Asgard
-The Ancients
-Jaffa
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-N.I.D.
-Stargate Command
-Atlantis


We'll start off with the first category- my bread and butter...
Alternate Universes

My list:

-SG-1: There But For The Grace Of God
-SG-1: Point of View
-SG-1: Forever in a Day
-SG-1: Absolute Power (maybe- but including it in a set labeled "AU" kinda gives away the story....)
-SG-1: The Changeling
-SGA: Home
-SG-1: Avatar (kinda counts in an "alternate reality" sorta way, but not essential)
-SG-1: Moebius, parts I & II
-SGA: Aurora (kinda)
-SG-1: Ripple Effect
-SGA: The Real World
-SGA: McKay and Mrs Miller
-SG-1: 200
-SG-1: The Road Not Taken
-SGA: The Daedalus Variations
-SGA: Vegas
-SG-1: Continuum


There's a few I felt were more time travel-based than AU-based, like Window of Opportunity, 2010 and Before I Sleep.

Any others you can think of? Any of that list that you feel shouldn't be included?

 

It doesn't need to be narrowed down too much, though- the Trek ones have just as much material- the Trek Alternate Realities one, for example, has 20 episodes, and the others range between 13-17 episodes, so that list is in the ballpark.

 

Maybe, maybe not- it has some advantages in it's favor (disc is already authored and pressed, so it's inclusion has minimal production costs). Including it won't eat into the individual or AOT double pack releases, since those will still appeal to people buying full season box sets. Plus now it might hook some casual viewers into future DVD movie releases.

So, it's a valid enough possibility that I don't see any reason to exclude it (or AOT) from potential inclusion in this excercise- especially given how Continuum is a good example of the subject (as well as how Ark of Truth would be a vital component to an Ori-themed set).

 

Well, if MGM was putting these sets out, they'd obviously hope it would help sell future product

Really, such sets would be aimed at:

1) New/Casual fans not interested in buying 15+ full-season box sets .
2) New Casual fans who might be encouraged to buy full-season box sets or future DVD movies after getting/experiencing a sampler of this nature.
3) Hardcore completists who might want any new extra features included (personally I think it'd be really awesome if each set included 1 or more new "Final Cut" editions of early season episodes ala COTG).


That said, you're right that one should consider theme and popularity/relevance to the inclusion somewhat. Looking back at my above list, I think it's safe to eliminate Avatar (as I pretty much admitted previously- though it brings a bit of variety with it's video game angle, it's not that noteworthy...and you'd probably have to include Gamekeeper in as setup too).

Depending on how one cuts the distinction between "alternate universe" and "alternate reality", the rest are either all fine (they all deal with different versions of characters or different versions of events/locations/etc) or there are some that aren't strictly alternate "universes" (stuff like Home, Changeling, Forever in a Day, Absolute Power, Aurora & 200 are more alternate realities/dreams/simulations- though for that category, I wonder if "Beneath the Surface" would count also...that'd be an interesting selection).

I think if one were to take the "hardline" definition, then the list of episodes that only deals with actual AU elements (and not simulations/dreams/etc) would be:

-SG-1: There But For The Grace Of God
-SG-1: Point of View
-SG-1: Moebius, parts I & II
-SG-1: Ripple Effect
-SGA: McKay and Mrs Miller
-SG-1: The Road Not Taken
-SGA: The Daedalus Variations
-SGA: Vegas
-SG-1: Continuum


If the set were to take that definition for it's approach, I'd imagine they might ease the definition slightly to allow 2 or 3 more SGA episodes in, to help balance out the set's contents (since you'd want the franchise as a whole represented with something like this, if you were MGM (both for promoting your product and not wanting to seem like you were slighting SGA fans (...more), and that's also what the ST FC releases that we're taking inspiration from do).

(although, looking it, if you look at it with the notion that Seasons 9 & 10 were essentially a 3rd "SGC" show, interestingly enough that SG-1 gets 2 episodes and a movie-length story (3 things all together), "SGC" gets 2 episodes and a movie-length story (Continuum) (3 things all together) and SGA gets 3 episodes all together).

 

Yeah, I figured that was almost inevitable once they rushed out Stargate: Resistance to try and get some revenue stream going.

And I don't think switching series mid-set would be bad- again, the example of the Trek discs where they go exactly that (only changing casts up to 5 times, not just once or twice), although maybe grouping them together by show (as they do for the Trek sets) instead of strict chronological order would work best.

Besides, for some of these themes, there wouldn't be enough episodes for one show by it itself to really justify a release like this.

 

Seems the two things that have been holding back the movies was MGM's troubles and the collapse of the direct-to-DVD market. And though specifics haven't been revealed, the producers have said they are pursuing Plan B.

If I had to guess, I'd say they'll look to Syfy to fund them, as they do the series, or some kind of Netflix/internet distribution model, since that's what essentially collapsed the DTDVD market.

 

Well, this is the first they've mentioned it, I'm sure we'll get details in the coming months- and certainly any resolution to the MGM situation will accelerate such possibilities.

And, your bet is an easy one- SGU Season 3 is far more likely than SG-1 DVD 3 at this point. The former is hinging on ratings, MGM's need for DVD/BRD sales and Syfy's need for reliable fanbase material (especially if Caprica doesn't go to an additional season, I can almost guarantee SGU will get renewed). The latter can't move forward at this point at all until some corporate stuff is worked out (or if Plan B pans out).

 

Though, since they are set in the "present day" 10+ years ago, can they really be dated?

(though, I suppose, technically, by having assigned a year to their events, they have actually been dated... )

 

IIRC, the original airings on Showtime always had the Ra opening for Seasons 1-5, while the other opening was for used for syndication reruns (and, later, on SFC's reruns). Then Seasons 6-8 used a new, evolving style of credits, while 9 & 10 used a different, evolving style.

The DVDs used a mix of the different intros for those firts few seasons, it seems.