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Stargate: Atlantis - 1x1/2 - Rising
Writer: Brad Wright & Robert C. Cooper
Director: Martin Wood
Rising is the double-episode pilot for Stargate: Atlantis, the new spin-off from the Stargate universe. For anyone who hasn't seen the film, or SG-1, the Stargate premise is that there are no gods, there are aliens that pretend to be them. A race of 'Ancients' constructed a series of 'stargates' throughout the universe which transport people and objects instantly from one side of the universe to another, enabling modern humans, who have discovered them, to explore the galaxy and get into all sorts of mischief.
Having only seen the odd episode of SG-1, i was slightly reluctant to watch the first two episodes of this new show without having seen all the background material in the previous show. However, I reasoned that a new show, spin-off or no, should stand on it's own two feet. If it is too bogged down in previous mythology to attract new viewers then it is doomed anyway. So i watched it. Fortunately, the show is not bogged down in mythology. There is a healthy amount, to be sure, but at no point did it prohibit my enjoyment of the ensuing action.
The show jumps straight into the introductions, and we quickly meet Major Shephard, the stalwart soldier, Elizabeth Wier, the commanding civilian authority, Rodney McKay, the geeky, and cowardly scientist, Lieutenant Aiden Ford, another soldier and Dr Beckett, the resident medical doctor. Later on we're introduced to Teyla Emmagan, the token alien character. All the characters have their own unique quirks, however, they are very much stock characters. Major Shephard is such a 'young O'Niel' that it is unbelievable at first. Luckily as the episode progresses the writing is good enough for the characters to distinguish themselves as individuals and they soon become likable.
As expected of a show this high-profile and with the relevant budget, the set pieces and special effects in the episode are simply fantastic. They are, in many cases, as good or better than the effects in some mainstream films. This is a testament both to special effects technology and the people that use it. The set design is very definitely 'Stargate', however they have taken great care to distinguish the Pegasus galaxy to the world we see in SG-1, and that is a good thing. Spin-offs can work, but if these shows remain too similar they blur and then having multiple ones becomes pointless. Hopefully that won't happen here.
The villains in Atlantis are the Wraith. These are aliens that we discover are vastly old and amazingly powerful, physically and technologically. Design wise they are very interesting, sufficiently different than anything else. They have a vampire-like trait whereby they feed by sucking the life out of their victims, through their hand. It's similar, but different. Familiar, yet new.
That sums up Stargate: Atlantis fairly well so far. It is definitely very similar to what has come before, but it distinguishes itself sufficiently to be both entertaining and provide promise for a series full of even more entertainment. Long may it last.
Director: Martin Wood
Rising is the double-episode pilot for Stargate: Atlantis, the new spin-off from the Stargate universe. For anyone who hasn't seen the film, or SG-1, the Stargate premise is that there are no gods, there are aliens that pretend to be them. A race of 'Ancients' constructed a series of 'stargates' throughout the universe which transport people and objects instantly from one side of the universe to another, enabling modern humans, who have discovered them, to explore the galaxy and get into all sorts of mischief.
Having only seen the odd episode of SG-1, i was slightly reluctant to watch the first two episodes of this new show without having seen all the background material in the previous show. However, I reasoned that a new show, spin-off or no, should stand on it's own two feet. If it is too bogged down in previous mythology to attract new viewers then it is doomed anyway. So i watched it. Fortunately, the show is not bogged down in mythology. There is a healthy amount, to be sure, but at no point did it prohibit my enjoyment of the ensuing action.
The show jumps straight into the introductions, and we quickly meet Major Shephard, the stalwart soldier, Elizabeth Wier, the commanding civilian authority, Rodney McKay, the geeky, and cowardly scientist, Lieutenant Aiden Ford, another soldier and Dr Beckett, the resident medical doctor. Later on we're introduced to Teyla Emmagan, the token alien character. All the characters have their own unique quirks, however, they are very much stock characters. Major Shephard is such a 'young O'Niel' that it is unbelievable at first. Luckily as the episode progresses the writing is good enough for the characters to distinguish themselves as individuals and they soon become likable.
As expected of a show this high-profile and with the relevant budget, the set pieces and special effects in the episode are simply fantastic. They are, in many cases, as good or better than the effects in some mainstream films. This is a testament both to special effects technology and the people that use it. The set design is very definitely 'Stargate', however they have taken great care to distinguish the Pegasus galaxy to the world we see in SG-1, and that is a good thing. Spin-offs can work, but if these shows remain too similar they blur and then having multiple ones becomes pointless. Hopefully that won't happen here.
The villains in Atlantis are the Wraith. These are aliens that we discover are vastly old and amazingly powerful, physically and technologically. Design wise they are very interesting, sufficiently different than anything else. They have a vampire-like trait whereby they feed by sucking the life out of their victims, through their hand. It's similar, but different. Familiar, yet new.
That sums up Stargate: Atlantis fairly well so far. It is definitely very similar to what has come before, but it distinguishes itself sufficiently to be both entertaining and provide promise for a series full of even more entertainment. Long may it last.
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