After eight seasons and two spin-offs (Infinity and Atlantis), you could be forgiven for thinking that Stargate was well past its prime. This is especially after a lacklustre season eight which finished off all the major plotlines and the departure of two series regulars in the form of Richard Dean Anderson and Don Davis. However, Season 9 is a reinvention; new characters galore, the old standby villains are gone (for the most part) replace by a much deadlier and more insidious threat. However, with Ben Browder taking over as the main star and Claudia Black guest starring for the first few episodes, it was open to accusations of becoming ‘Fargate 1’. Thankfully, despite how much I love Farscape, Stargate SG-1 retains its own individual flavour.
SG-1 as we know it no longer exists; Colonel Carter is now assigned to Area 51, Teal’c is helping set up the Free Jaffa Council, Daniel Jackson is preparing to head to Atlantis and General O’Neill has been promoted and reassigned. Colonel Cameron Mitchell (Ben Browder) arrives at the SGC expecting to be joining SG-1 and is surprised to find himself, not only in charge, but having to create an entirely new team.
With the Goa’uld defeated and in hiding and the Replicators destroyed, the SGC is no longer so important and emphasis has been shifted to Atlantis and the threat of the Wraith. Unfortunately the return of Vala (Claudia Black) is the herald of greater woe as she leads them to reveal their existence to the Ori; a race of ‘Ancient’ type beings who require all to follow ‘The Path of Origin’ or be destroyed as unbelievers. Unlike the Goa’uld, the Ori actually are godlike beings and possess a fervent desire to gain dominion over our galaxy and destroy the Ancients who used to be members of the same species as them.
The first few episodes whilst introducing the main new villains, also provide an opportunity to reintroduce the SG-1 and its mission statement as Mitchell reassembles the team. The use of Egyptology has fallen by the wayside, having been replaced by Arthurian legends with the revelation that Merlin was an ‘Ancient.’ This then goes on the backburner until the final few episodes. Furthermore, we discover the ‘true’ origin of the Ancients, which will hopefully be the last time they change it.
Ben Browder takes over as the star of SG-1, proving able to handle the role of leader and occasional comic relief. Thankfully, he does not try to emulate Richard Dean Anderson, but creates his own style of leadership. A legitimate reason is provided for him being on SG-1 so he does not feel like an interloper. He slips into the team effortlessly as he rebuilds SG-1 in the wake of the threat of the Ori. A few Mitchell centric episodes give Browder the chance to shine notably when he is accused of murder and when later dealing with a friend who is dying. Browder even gets the chance to perform a homage to the film ‘The Last Samurai’ when captured by the mysterious Sodan, a group of elite and reclusive Jaffa. Michael Shanks strike up an immediate repartee with him and he brings new life and energy to the team.
Amanda Tapping’s pregnancy and enforced absence for the first five episodes leads to the return of Claudia Black as Vala to act a temporary substitute. In complete contrast to her role as Farscape’s Aeryn Sun and to Colonel Carter, she brings a different dynamic to the team. Vala is frivolous, flirty, financially motivated and always looking after number one. It is her search for riches which leads them to Merlin’s cave and later to the Ori before she makes a sacrifice to prevent the Ori’s imminent invasion.
The regulars Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping and Christopher Judge are allowed out of Richard Dean Anderson’s shadow this season. The characters have a greater level of interplay between them Teal’c’s role has been beefed up as he is placed at the centre of the political machinations in the Jaffa Council allowing Christopher Judge to show his range in a different environment. Shanks shares a great repartee with Black and Browder, but Tapping is still mostly relegated to the background, no doubt to hide her recent pregnancy.
Beau Bridges and Lexa Doig fill out the new base cast members as General Landry and Dr Lam. You are left wondering as to the exact nature of their relationship for the first few episodes, with various hints and some good interplay between them suggesting they previously were in a relationship. Landry is certainly far more devious than General Hammond ever was, evident by his dealings with the Goa’uld Nerus and the Russian representative on the International Monetary Committee.
You don’t even miss the presence O’Neill or Hammond, though both have brief cameos to signify the hand over to the new people. One episode even takes the opportunity to bring back some much-loved (and very dead) characters from Stargate’s long history, Dr Frasier and Martouf.
Special guest stars have always been part of Stargate from actors such as Ronny Cox as Senator Kinsey, Saul Rubinek, William Devane as the President of the United States and even to appearances by members of the US Military Joint Chiefs of Staff. Season 9 is no different, with the return of Robert Picardo as Richard Woolsey. Academy Award winner Louis Gossett Jr (An Officer and a Gentleman) appears as Gerak, an influential militant Jaffa who is both power hungry and torn between his people and the ‘Path of Origin’. Other guest stars include Michael Ironside (V The Final Battle, Total Recall) as a rebel against the Ori, Tony Todd (Candyman, The Rock) leader of the elite Jaffa The Sodan and John Noble (Lord of the Rings) as a town elder.
Political machinations have always been a part of the show, but have now graduated to a global and intergalactic level. With the discovery of Atlantis, the war with the Wraith and the defeat of the Goa’uld, the Stargate programme is no longer at the forefront of military spending. With the Ori not providing an immediate threat, they are forced to turn to the International Monetary Committee for their budget requirements. However, this comes with a price as they enforce stringent bureaucracy and site inspections on the SGC. This however leads to tension after the deaths of several men because of IMC’s decisions.
The fate of the Jaffa Free Nation and the political struggle for control of the ruling council is a focal point for the first half of the series, picking up the previous series threads. Teal’c and Bra’tac support a democratic form of government, whilst more conservative elements led by Gerak envision a militaristic based system. The arrival of the Ori priors threatens to spark a civil war amongst the Jaffa; with some Jaffa all too happy to believe in these gods and others willing to fight for their freedom. This comes to head mid-season with the council split over the ‘Path of Origin’ and Teal’c struggling to prevent all-out war.
Baal is the only major Goa’uld character to reappear, but this time, he is now set up on Earth. He has learnt to use Earth’s culture, media and economy to prosper and now comes across as a greater threat as he attempts to rebuild his empire. The idea of a Goa’uld in the corporate world is quite scary especially considering how easily he fits in.
Vala’s arrival also involves SG-1 with another threat, a criminal organisation known as the Lucian Alliance that was briefly seen last season. The Alliance has taken advantage of the collapse of the Goa’uld and provides a very different challenge to the Ori.
The new villains the Ori are what the Goa’uld should have been in the first place; powerful, enigmatic and not defeated by a hail of bullets. The Ori are the diametric opposites of the Ancients; they play the role of gods, interfering with the lives of mortals and enforcing their religion on their subjects with no differing view allowed. A single Prior (their emissaries) proves to be more than a match for the SGC, using the ‘Path of Origin’ to convert new followers, with no easy answers for them to solve the situation. The origins, intent and plans of the Ori are slowly revealed as the season progresses. The danger is such that even the Ancients are forced to involve themselves with Orlin returning mid-season to cure the Prior plagues. The stakes are raised with the destruction of the Prometheus and the season finale ups the ante even further with the long awaited invasion by the Ori. The season cliffhanger does not disappoint. You are left with the fear that our heroes are up against odds far more insurmountable than they have ever seen.
In this season, Stargate reinvents itself and the changes are for the better. As a series, it is far more daring and dangerous than before. The series benefits from losing Richard Dean Anderson as the star as the focus expands to all the characters. The Ori are far more worthy villains than the Goa’uld ever were and a far greater threat. The season premiere is a little slow, but things pick up pace as the season progresses. Stargate has grown up and long may it continue.
Written by: Alex Peyton