Stargate SG-1: The Basics (Part 1)

In preparation for the slew of reviews soon to come about Stargate SG-1, today we’re going to have a basic overview of the entire series. We’ll take a brief look at the main characters, the main enemies, a few of the allies, and the main technology and mythology of the series.

Summary

Stargate SG-1 takes place about 2 years after the events of the movie Stargate. It follows the adventures of the main team sent out from Earth to explore the Stargate network, SG-1. In addition to SG-1, there are about 2 dozen other teams that explore various planets through the Stargates, looking for allies and technology to defend against several enemies, first the Goa’uld, then the Replicators and later the Ori.

Main Characters

The main characters of Stargate SG-1 are the members of the SG-1 team, along with a few other people.

Jack O’Neill – Jack is the leader of the SG-1 team for seasons 1-7 of the series. He was on the original mission to go through the Stargate in the movie Stargate and comes out of retirement to help counter the Goa’uld threat. After being promoted to Brigadier General in Season 8, O’Neill takes command of Stargate Command (SGC) and, after a brief stint in Washington in Season 9 (and being promoted to Major General), he returns and maintains command of SGC through both Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe (where he receives his promotion to Lieutenant General).
Series: Stargate SG-1 (All Seasons), Stargate Atlantis (1 and 3), Stargate Universe (All Seasons)
Movies: Stargate: Continuum

Dr. Samantha Carter – Sam is the resident brain of the SG-1 team, with a Ph. D in theoretical astrophysics. Before the start of SGC, she had spent years at the Pentagon trying to get the Stargate working. After the discovery of the Abydos cartouche, which contained the locations of all Goa’uld known Stargates, Captain Carter was responsible for the algorithm that corrected the addresses for stellar drift. In Season 2, she is briefly taken by the Tok’ra Jolinar, after which she retains many memories and has the ability to control Goa’uld technology, a major advantage for SG-1. She is promoted to Major in Season 3, and then to Lieutenant Colonel in Season 8 when O’Neill is promoted to Brigadier General, and assumes command of SG-1. Sam briefly leaves SG-1 in Season 9, but rejoins in Episode 7 to help counter the Ori threat.
Series: Stargate SG-1 (All Seasons), Stargate Atlantis (Seasons 2-5, various episodes), Stargate Universe (Season 1, Episodes 1 and 19)
Movies: Stargate: The Ark of Truth, Stargate: Continuum

Dr. Daniel Jackson – Daniel is a great archeology who specializes in all things Egyptian. In the original movie Stargate, he is responsible for deciphering the gate address for Abydos. He stayed on Abydos after the events of Stargate, but returned to Earth at the beginning of Stargate SG-1, after Apophis attacked Earth and Abydos. He joins SG-1 to locate his wife, Sha’re, who was kidnapped by Apophis and possessed by a Goa’uld, Amonet. This is his primary goal throughout the first few seasons, followed by finding the lost city of the Ancients in seasons 6 and 7, and discovering how to dial the 9-chevron address in the last 2 season.
Series: Stargate SG-1 (All Seasons), Stargate Atlantis (Seasons 1 and 5), Stargate Universe (Season 1)
Movies: Stargate: The Ark of Truth, Stargate: Continuum

Teal’c – Teal’c is a Jaffa warrior who joins the Tau’ri (what the Goa’uld call the people of Earth) in order to free his people from Goa’uld oppression. The Jaffa are human-like, but have pouch that houses a larval Goa’uld in exchange for enhanced abilities and long life. But the Jaffa are treated as slaves, and Teal’c sees joining SG-1 as a means to eventually freeing his people. Over time, Teal’c becomes an integral part of the SG-1 team, and is present through all 10 seasons. He also appears briefly in Stargate Atlantis, once to wish Carter good luck before she assumes command of Atlantis, and again to teach Ronon Dex how to deal with IOA interviews.
Series: Stargate SG-1 (All Seasons), Stargate Atlantis
Movies: Stargate: The Ark of Truth, Stargate: Continuum

Jack, Sam, Daniel and Teal’c were the main characters throughout Stargate SG-1. There were a few characters that appear at certain places, but disappear later. There are even a few that stay for a while, but mostly stay in SGC. As we encounter these characters our watch-through, I’ll mention them and give a brief character overview.

That’s it for part 1. Tune in this weekend for part 2, where I’ll go over the three main enemies from SG-1, and then part 3, where some of the basic technology and mythology will be looked at. Right after part 3 is done, we’ll be starting our episode-by-episode review of Stargate SG-1. Make sure not to miss it!