Review of Stargate SG1: Volume 20

Introduction

Spawned from the feature film, Stargate SG1 has enjoyed a great deal of success. I watch this all the time of Sky so was keen to get my hands on one of the DVDs to see how the 2 fair side by side.

This disc contains the first 4 episodes of the shows 5th season :-

Enemies - picking up from season 4`s cliff-hanger SG1 must fight to escape death not only at the hands of Apophis but those pesky Replicators too.

Threshold - Teal`c undergoes a potentially fatal ritual to try and undo the brainwashing of Apophis.

Ascension - Carter has to try and convince the rest of the SGC that she isn`t going mad, which of course everyone believes when she insists she`s seeing an invisible person.

The Fifth Man - SG1 has a new addition to the team, a little odd that no one back at SGC has a clue who he is.

Video

What can I say? This is an anamorphic 16:9 transfer that is easily on a par with the best motion picture DVDs I`ve seen to date, and putting many to shame. Everything about the picture oozes quality from the razor sharp detail to the natural lighting and colours. The effects shots look suitably dazzling as well.

I`m a big serial sci-fi fan and to date the best example of such a series on DVD has been Farscape however the video quality on this disc puts even that to shame.

Outstanding! Makes you realise just how poor TV broadcasts are, this DVD is like watching a different show.

Audio

Again top marks here. This discs treats us to a lively Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack that compliments the picture perfectly quality-wise and widens the gap even further between this DVD and TV broadcast to the point where the 2 are worlds apart.

The only negative point would be that it`s not quite as lively as the excellent soundtracks on the Farscape series of DVDs but the difference is only slight and both are outstanding examples of how to present audio from a TV series.

Features

The superlative video and cracking audio is enough to sell me on the merits of this DVD but when you add the extras you can`t help but be amazed. Not only do you get a short behind the scenes video diary and some trailers for the next disc but you also get 4, yes 4!, audio commentaries. Each episode features a commentary with the Director and various members of the production staff.

There`s little more you could ask for really.

Conclusion

Stargate SG1, like most serial sci-fi, is one of those shows that you have to invest some time into. I`ll be honest in that I only started watching SG1 on Sky from the start of Season 4 and never really rated it, that was until I managed to catch the repeats of season 1 through to 3.

Not surprisingly it`s a case of the more you watch the better it gets so going straight into Stargate SG1 with this DVD would probably be a bit of a mistake. There`s allot of SG1 lore on this disc so you`d be scratching your head in more than a few spots. It`s not the fault of Stargate SG1 at all, every serial sci-fi show suffers from this to some degree.

That aside Stargate SG1 works not because of the premise but because of the character dynamics. The 4 main leads of Jack O`Niel, Teal`c, Daniel Jackson and Samantha Carter make the show beyond any shadow of a doubt. They play off of each other beautifully and you are always guaranteed a smile from one of Jack O`Niel`s wisecracks.

Unfortunately for Stargate SG1 the scripts started running out of steam a bit from mid-way through season 4 and this carries on into season 5. The disc opens strongly enough with the effects packed Enemies however the other 3 episodes aren`t particularly strong.

So a superlative DVD and an example to all of how a TV series should be presented on DVD. It`s a pity the episodes aren`t great but if you`re a fan that won`t matter too much . . . you`ll already have bought this disc anyway :)