After I’ve bought a couple of new shows over the last months, I had to ( 😉 ) update my picture collection. Recents additions (amongst…
DVD / Blu-ray
Stargate SG-1: Season 5
Deutsche Version | Season 4 | Season 6
Disc 1
Enemies
Synopsis: Caused by the explosion of the sun and the activated Hyperdrive SG-1s Ha’tak has been catapulted into another galaxy. But Apophis is also there with his huge motherhip. But as soon as they have arrived another ship is apporaching that attacks Apophis’s ship. It is the Replicators.
My Opinion: Nothing against a good deus ex machina now and then, but this time they’ve overdone it. First they land in a remote galaxy, then the Replicators arrive, then Teal’c has been brainwashed somehow and in the end the Replicators kindly bring SG-1 back home. Honestly! At least Apophis has breathed his last breath.
Threshold
Synopsis: Teal’c is still brainwashed. According to Bra’tac, the only way to get him out of this, is to remove the larva and bring him to the brink of death.
My Opinion: Even though the events that led to this were rubbish, this was a very good compensation. It showed us how Teal’c became the man he is and how Bra’tac tought him all this. A great character drawing.
Ascension
Synopsis: SG-1 discovers a device that could be a powerful weapon. But then Sam faints and has to be brought back to the SGC. When she is put on leave and comes home, she is awaited by a non-corporeal being. It declares that it comes from the planet Sam has just been to.
My Opinion: The most important information in this episode was the fact, that Teal’c has watched Star Wars nine times while Jack has never watched it. 😉 That aside this episode was a goof examply why in Star Trek a Prime Directive exists: Because it is not predictable, what happens if one interfers with the developement of a culture. But the extinction of that entire planet was also over the top, they simply could have taken the Stargate away.
The appearance of John de Lancie (Q in Star Trek: The Next Generation) was also nice, especially because it won’t be the last.
The Fifth Man
Synopsis: Sam, Teal’c and Daniel return to the SGC under heavy fire while Jack and Lieutenant Tyler are grounded. But the real problem is: In the SGC no one knows this “Lieutenant Tyler”. Only SG-1 can remember this man.
My Opinion: I liked this episode, too. Another fact has cought my eye here: Stargate SG-1 has found a good balance regarding the number of alien races. The universe isn’t as crowded with non-humans as the Star Trek universe. But it is also not as empty as the Battlestar Galactica universe. While most of the aliens are still humanoid they aren’t simply knobbly-nose-aliens but really alien-aliens.
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Stargate SG-1: Season 4
Deutsche Version | Stargate SG-1: Season 3 | Stargate SG-1: Season 5
Disc 1
Small Victories
Synopsis: Thor’s ship has been successfully destroyed during the re-entrance into the atmosphere but one of the Replicators did survive. It manages to rescue itself to a russian submarine. There it kills the entire crew and begins to replicate. In Thor’s home galaxy things aren’t good either, the Asgard have no weapon to defeat the Replicators and they close in on one of the Asgard planets.
My Opinion: It was cool how Thor tried to explain that the Asgard are to intelligent to find a primitive way to destroy the Replicators. 🙂 I also liked the fact the russians actually spoke russian without being subtitled. It wasn’t necessary for the understanding to know what they said – I understood it nonetheless. 😉 (The one asks what is making that noise and the other one actually replies that it could be the bugs from the previous episode!)
The Other Side
Synopsis: It’s one of the rare moments when someone “calls” Earth and not the other way around. The people of the planet Euronda ask for help since there is a world war on their planet. If Earth gives them all the heavy water they need, they would give all their technology in exchange.
My Opinion: What bothered me about this was the initial behaviour of Jack’s. He behaved more like in Shades of Grey as I would expect of him. He only comes around when René Auberjonois’s (Odo in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) character turns against Teal’c. I didn’t like it much.
Upgrades
Synopsis: The Tok’ra Freya/Anise (Freya is the host) brings an ancient technology to Earth. But she only does it because it doesn’t work on Goa’uld/Tok’ra/Jaffa. After SG-1 (except for Teal’c) has put the armbands on many of their abilities enhance by several degrees: strength, speed, sight. Unfortunately the armbands can’t be removed and the human body isn’t able to cope with these changes over a longer period of time.
My Opinion: This episode and the behaviour of SG-1 was funny, especially the entire scene in the restaurant. But it also showed again that the team will be there for one another, no matter the price.
Crossroads
Synopsis: A friend of Teal’c’s, the high priestess Shan’auc, did manage to communicate with her Goa’uld larva. She convinced it that it should join the Tok’ra. But this must happen soon since the larva is fully grown and cannot remain in Shan’auc much longer.
My Opinion: It was somehow predictable that the Goa’uld would betray Shan’auc but I liked to see Peter Wingfield (Methos in Highlander) again. And I could understand Jack’s disappointment that they’ve fleeced by the Tok’ra again.
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Stargate SG-1: Season 3
Deutsche Version | Season 2 | Season 4
Disc 1
Into the Fire
Synopsis: Hathor has set up a quite good copy of the SGC. She wants that one of the three (Jack, Sam & Daniel) becomes a host to a Goa’uld. And General Hammond has no authority to send reinforcements to free SG-1.
My Opinion: This was a far better continuation than the first part could promise. As far as I know it was for the first time that we’ve seen a Gao’uld Death Glider (although a dated model) flying through a Stargate and it looked really cool. I also liked the fact that Teal’c tried to convince his brothers and sisters to join his path.
Seth
Synopsis: The biblical figure Seth is also a Goa’uld but he has disappeared for thousands of years. He is on the run from both the System Lords and the Tok’ra. As it turns out, Seth keeps himself hidden on Earth and is a leader of a cult. There have been “Cults of Seth” before and they always ended in the collective suicide of the worshippers.
My Opinion: I like the idea that a Goa’uld could be a cult leader and is using Goa’uld technology for this. But this episode had many logic holes and I don’t like them. For one, how Seth is able to build new ring transporters on Earth. Or where he got himself a personal forcefield, a technology that was new to Teal’c in the first season. Even the ear device with the electrical shock was implausible because it couldn’t possibly be as strong as a Zat Gun.
Interesting is the fact that the humans have increased their Goa’uld killing rate, first Hathor and now Seth.
Fair Game
Synopsis: Sam gets promoted to Major but in the moment Jack wants to congratulate her he gets beamed up to an Asgard mothership. Thor is in the orbit of Earth and he brings a warning: The Goa’uld see the Tau’ri now as a serious threat, after they rid themselves from three System Lords (Ra, Apophis & Hathor).
The Asgards plan to include Earth into the Protected Planets Treaty and for this three System Lords come to the SGC: Cronus, Nirrti and Yu.
My Opinion: One should neither poker with Jack nor with Thor. 😉 I again liked the fact that they took elements from former episodes and continued them: The protected planets from Thor’s Hammer, Nirrti from Singularity and the Re’tu from Show and Tell. Ironically the Re’tu will be mentioned again but we’ve never seen them again since Show and Tell.
Legacy
Synopsis: SG-1 finds nine death Goa’uld from the “minor league” but they can’t explain how they died. But then Daniel starts to hallicinate and hears voices. He has to go to a mental facility.
My Opinion: Again a great acting of Michael Shanks. I loved the trip to the nuthouse.
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Stargate SG-1: Season 2
Deutsche Version | Season 1 | Season 3
Disc 1
The Serpent’s Lair
Synopsis: The Goa’uld Klorel who has possessed Skaara’s body commands a Ha’tak that is in close proximity to Earth. His father Apophis has also arrived in the Earth system with another Ha’tak. SG-1 has mined Klorel’s ship but even if Apophis were alone, his ship could devastate Earth.
My Opinion: Good conlcusion. But I think the effect to see Daniel again would have been better if we hadn’t seen him escape through the Stargate. They oculd have told us this afterwards instead. This way they could have avoided the plot hole of how Apophis and Klorel escaped because there wasn’t simply enough time for them. I loved the dialogues between Bra’tac and O’Neill where the former always prepared to die and the latter tried to find a way out.
In the Line of Duty
Synopsis: During a rescue mission Sam gets possessed by a Goa’uld. He calls himself Jolinar of Malkshur and claims to be a Tok’ra. The Tok’ra are opposed to the System Lords. But there is another Goa’uld who managed to slip thourgh the gate to Earth: An Ashrak, an assassin in the service of the System Lords. His job is to kill Jolinar.
My Opinion: Arrogance seems to be a natural attitude among Goa’ulds, no matter if they see themselves as “good” or “bad”. This episodes sets certain things in motion but was unspectacular in itself.
Prisoners
Synopsis: Owing to unfortunate circumstances, the members of SG-1 land on a prison planet that has no DHD. Of course they try everthing to break out.
My Opinion: It was obvious that there was more to the “herbwoman” that met the eye. How else could she have gained the respect of the big blokes? But once again SG-1 did serious damage without knowing it until it was too late.
Gamekeeper
Synopsis: SG-1 comes to a planet were its few inhabitants are in some sort of stasis. SG-1 also gets caught and they find themselves in the meories of their worst moments.
My Opinion: Has Diwght Schultz ever played a completely sane character? This episode was interesting because we’ve learned something about their past again. But I had wished for a peek into Sam’s or Teal’c’s past. And Jack’s worst moment is without doubt the death of his son. At least we know now that the Goa’uld inside Carter changed something in her.
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Stargate SG-1: Season 1
Deutsche Version | “Stargate SG-1” Marathon | Season 2
Disc 1
Children of the Gods
Synopsis: A year after the events in the movie the project “Stargate” is practically shut down. But then a Ra-look-alike comes through the gate, kills several soldiers and abducts a female soldier. After that Colonol O’Neill’s bluff is called and he has to disclose that Daniel is not dead and that Abydos was not nuked. After the team around O’Neill successfully returns to Abydos they learn that there is not only the Abydos and the Earth gate but also many thousands more. But then Abydos is also attacked by this new enemy and they kidnap Daniel’s wife and Skaara, a friend of Jack’s. And so a rescue mission is set up, which will lead to strange new places and to new friends…
My Opinion: A very good pilot which takes upon the events of the movie and continues to tell the story. It simply ignores the contradictions to the movie instead of giving some cheesy excuses. Only Teal’c’s switching of sides was a bit too fast, he doesn’t know Jack at all. But I can’t come up with a better plot on how to manage this.
The Enemy Within
Synopsis: Kawalsky has more and longer headaches and phases of black outs after which he can’t remember anything. Back on Chulak he was taken over by a Goa’uld larva and now they fight for the mastery of the body. Meanwhile Teal’c is being interrogated by a men from Langley who wants to learn more about the Goa’uld.
My Opinion: I liked the fact that they didn’t accept Teal’c blindly in their team, even though Jack thought that he deserved it. It still went fast in the end but at least they mentioned their doubts and pointed out the problems. Now SG-1 is complete: Jack O’Neill, Daniel Jackson, Sam(antha) Carter & Teal’c.
Emancipation
Synopsis: SG-1 arrives on a planet where the population leads a life like in the times of Genghis Khan. It is forbidden for women to appear unconcealed in public, neither is it allowed for them to speak unless spoken to. Carter soon collides with these laws.
My Opinion: “SG-1 arrives on a planet” – I wonder how often I will write this sentence in this marathon. 😉 I didn’t like this episode much, mainly because they tried to communicate the morale with the grace of a sledgehammer. I nonetheless like the fact that they at least argued about the fact whether it is right to interfere with local customs and affairs.
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"Stargate SG-1" Marathon
Deutsche Version | Stargate SG-1: Season 1
First I thought about a re-run of Smallville but I have watched this in the middle of last year and it’s been a while since I’ve watched Stargate SG-1.
In order to watch Stargate SG-1, one has to watch Stargate first.
Stargate
Kurt Russell … Col. Jonathan ‘Jack’ O’Neil
James Spader … Dr. Daniel Jackson
Alexis Cruz … Skaara
Viveca Lindfors … Catherine
Mili Avital … Sha’uri
John Diehl … Lieutenant Kawalsky
Leon Rippy … General W.O. West
Erick Avari … Kasuf
French Stewart … Lieutenant Ferretti
Jaye Davidson … Ra
Synopsis: Dr. Jackson is not very renowned in the scientific community. But he is convinced that the great pyramids weren’t build during the fourth dynasty 5,000 years ago. He believes that they are much older. A digging back in 1928 confirms his suspicions: buried in the sands of Egypt under a great cover stone with unknown symbols – not hieroglyphs – the Door to Heaven Stargate was found. The Stargate is an ancient device to open an intergalactic connection to the planet Abydos. Dr. Jackson and Colonel Jack O’Neill (and a group of soldiers) go there. O’Neill’s job is to evaluate the danger of the situation they are facing.
My Opinion: Unfortunately I haven’t seen this movie in the theatres (I went to Star Trek: Generations instead). The idea that alien cultures have been to Earth and have had an influence isn’t new, but it was interestingly presented. I also liked that the Abydosians really spoke abydosian (a variant of ancient egyptian) and not just english. The fights were very well choreographed, too, I didn’t have the feeling that the weapons of the humans were a match to the ones of Ra’s.
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Angel: Season 5
Disc 1
Conviction
Synopsis: The gang tries to settle in with their new lives at Wolfram & Hart. Angels new assistant is Harmony who doesn’t know yet about the fate of her friend Cordelia. Gunn is being re-clothed. And then there is this client of W&H’s who threatens to kill all the people of California if he gets convicted for the crimes he has done.
My Opinion: Cordelia has left the show. 🙁 On the other hand, Spike isn’t as dead as it looked like at the end of Buffy – ok “not as dead” as a vampire can be who additionally is a ghost now. While I liked the season opener, it’s pity that they lift Angel’s restirctions more and more. The show loses its dark touch a bit. The idea to upload a lawyer’s knowledge directly into Gunn’s brain was very matrix-y but really cool.
Just Rewards
Synopsis: The gang uses the resources of W&H to find out what happend to Spike who isn’t happy with his life as a ghost at all. Despite their mutual despise, Angel and Spike work together to stop a necromancer who gets his dead bodies via W&H.
My Opinion: One can feel how they both really like each other. I liked Spike back in Buffy and I like how he badgers Angel – this season has to be good.
Unleashed
Synopsis: A young femal jogger is bitten by a werewolf and the full moon will be up for another two days. Spike on the other hand has the problem that his essence is more frequently and longer being pulled into the direction of hell. He asks Fred for her help, to return him into a body of his own.
My Opinion: Spike won’t be a ghost for the entire season, that much is certain now – in my opinion. I presume that he will return to his body within the next few episodes. The story about the werewolf was ok, but currently I am more interested in Spike. Unfortunately Angel has again abandoned a human – even if he had a werewolf bite – even though he knew that he would die. I still don’t like that.
Hell Bound
Synopsis: Suddenly Spike is not only a ghost, now he is a ghost no one can see or hear. And he starts to see dead people who are disfigured.
My Opinion: “I never told anyone this, but I liked your poems.” – “You like Barry Manilow.” Yes, Spike gives the show a new spice. This foru episodes have already made me forget the last season and even Harmony fits in. I am just a bit sad that Angel doesn’t believe in his mission anymore.
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Angel: Season 4
Deutsche Version | Season 3 | Season 5
Disc 1
Deep Down
Synopsis: Cordelia and Angel have vanished from the face of the Earth, Lorne is in Las Vegas, Wesley has a life of his own now. Three month have passed and Gunn and Fred try to keep the business running and to care for Connor. But they have never given up the search for their friends – neither has Wesley.
My Opinion: I really like the dark Wesley much more than the duffer he was back in Buffy and in the beginning of Angel. That Angel would be found was obvious. At first I thought he would need some time to recover but they’ve found a nice way to remind us that he has spend a century in a hell dimension between the Buffy seasons 2 and 3.
Ground State
Synopsis: To find Cordelia, Angel plans to steal the “Axis of Pythia”, a mystical object to find a soul no matter what dimension it is in. Gunn and Fred are of course helping. But there is another player involved who wants the Axis.
My Opinion: She looked like as if she’d belong to Magneto’s group rather than Xavier’s. 😉 I liked it.
The House Always Wins
Synopsis: Angel decides to go to Las Vegas to visit Lorne and to convince him to return to L.A.. Unfortunately Lorne has got an offer he couldn’t reject and soon Angel finds himself irresistibly attrected to the slot machines.
My Opinion: Angel is a Blues Brother! He puts the band back together! Only Wesley is missing but I have the feeling that it still may take a while before he comes back. It was an interesting list of people that Angel claimed to have met. And Andy Hallett’s (Lorne) singing was gorgeous again.
Slouching Toward Bethlehem
Synopsis: Cordelia is back, but she has amnesia. She has no idea who or what Angel is or who she is. The gang cautiously tries to re-awaken the memories without going like a bull at a gate. Wolfram & Hart also learn of her return.
My Opinion: It was a lose-lose situation. If they would have been upfront I presume she would have run screaming. Let’s see what Connor’s plans for Cordelia are. I don’t trust him and I have the suspicion that he’ll do something to hurt Angel. Wesley blew it once again but as I said I like him as an outsider.
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Angel: Season 3
Deutsche Version | Angel: Season 2 | Angel: Season 4
Disc 1
Heartthrob
Synopsis: Angel skips about the same time as Buffy did. Buffy has been dead for three months and Angel has been mourning in a monastery in Sri Lanka for about the same time. Now he’s back and on his first hunt he kills an acquainted vampire before he recognizes her. But he also knows her boyfriend James and he wants vengeance.
My Opinion: On one hand I find it a pity that they jumped over these three months, on the other hand we would have only seen a broody and solitary Angel. The episode itself wasn’t that interesting and a bit weak for a season opener.
That Vision Thing
Synopsis: Cordelia now gets visions that physically hurt her and several of it in a very short span of time. It is unclear why the “Powers That Be” would suddenly hurt Cordelia but Angel does anything in his powers to quickly finish the assignments.
My Opinion: I am quite interested in that prisoner. He could be a formidable enemy or we could never see him again, both is possible in Angel. If it was not settled until now, now it’s clear that it is a bad idea to try to blackmail Angel.
That Old Gang of Mine
Synopsis: A number of demons are arbitrarily killed and there is no pattern to be seen. Some of them are dangerous, some of them are totally harmless. As it turns out, Gunn’s old gang is somehow involved in this.
My Opinion: I think it’s historic irony that a group of black people tells other living beings that they don’t belong here, that they have no right to live. Granted, demons are indeed no humans but blacks also were told that they were less worthy. The world is grey, it’s not black/white and neither is it separable into good/evil.
Carpe Noctem
Synopsis: Angel and the gang investigate in a case were a number of men mysteriously died. Everything points to a certain gym – or to the building opposite of it.
My Opinion: I love body-switch episodes. They are always fun because the actors can behave in a way which their usual role doesn’t allow. It’s also nice to see the confusion that comes out of such switches. The best body-switch episode I’ve ever seen was a Farscape episode.
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