Stargate SG1, season 10

FOUR STAR
-200
A 200th episode that is both tribute and spoof...a self-spoof and spoof of the entire sci fi genre. And it works. Great googily, it works. An unabashed fan of SG1 might need tissues (for laughter's tears or ejaculate, could go either way). The Hollywood producer (Willie Garson, SEX AND THE CITY) of "Wormhole X-Treme", an action TV series designed to get the public used to the idea of a stargate's existence, is turning the show into a movie. He is allowed to interview the members of SG1 for creative input. Their input is mostly awful or egotistic, but pretty hysterical (particularly the segments based on STAR TREK and TEAM AMERICA). For one moment in time, SG1 goes where no other sci fi had (or could) go. If that's not enough, how about some Richard Dean Anderson! He always tended toward humor, so he fits right in. Don Davis lends his voice to a puppet, and Isaac Hayes voices the puppet Teal'c. Veteran sci fi director/producer/actor/writer Peter Deluise does a fantastically filthy turn in front of the camera. Then, after virtually everyone gathers to go through the gate, the episode ends perfectly, as one of the spoof supporting actors rattles off some words which seem pompous at first, but are a quote from Isaac Asimov. After all the laughs, you might get a little lump in your throat. Brilliant.
NOTEWORTHY
-The Pegasus Project ***
SG1 travels to the Pegasus galaxy, for a combined op with Atlantis personnel. A packed, tightly-written script, plus the coattail effect of the superior chemistry of SGA, make for a dandy little ride. The entire Atlantis cast is present, as Rodney goes with SG1 on the Odyssey to sabotage the ori supergate back in the Milky Way (don't even try to make sense of the logistics). Daniel stays on Atlantis, to track down Merlin's anti-ori weapon.
-Uninvited ***
Extra-dimensional worms unintentionally freed by use of personal alien cloaking devices cause mammals to mutate into into super-predatory beasts (it's getting harder and harder to tell SG1 from "Keeping Up With the Kardashians", i know). This one's just fun, mostly because it takes Beau Bridges out of SGC and into a cabin in the woods, with antsy subordinates. Beau is a fantastically gifted actor, but anyone gets boring playing the same note over and over. Never mind the plot holes, and just enjoy.
-Counterstrike ***
A huge shot of juice arrives, courtesy of Vala's grown daughter Adria, a genetically-engineered recipient of ori knowledge and power, played by Morena Baccarin (FIREFLY, V). These costumers know their bidness.
-The Quest **
We're left to wonder whether this could have been four stars under the right hands. A breezily likeable adventure, as the team (with Rod Loomis of BEASTMASTER and BILL AND TED, plus Ba'al and Adria, in uneasy alliances) must pass a series of tests to survive an ancient maze. The visuals and sense of fun are almost palpable...but there's just a bit too much loosey gooseyness, and it teeters on the edge of the unforgivable sin of "showing their underwear", dropping us out of the illusion they're creating and making us remember that this is just a group of actors playing. Plus, they had gold in Adria as the final season villain, but they're pissing it away...in large part because they've taken out the contact lenses that made her so spooky. I have no doubt this came as a direct request from Morena...and i have sympathy, i'm sure those things must be staggeringly uncomfortable. But she's suddenly no longer fire and ice. Great to look at, fine acting, but...lukewarm water.
-The Shroud ***
Daniel, having been turned into a prior by Adria, is captured by SG1. He claims to have resisted her brainwashing, because Merlin's spirit cohabits in him. He has a plan to destroy the ori, but it will involve huge risk. Do they trust him? Richard Dean Anderson guests, and the chemistry is very nice. The writers have some sharp moments.
-Family Ties **
Comedic force of nature Fred Willard (WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, D.C. FOLLIES) comes thisssss close to brilliance, but the writing can't quite rise to his level.
-Dominion ***
Even without the spooky eyes, Morena bares impressive teeth. The smooth Cliff Simon gives us Ba'al's only ominous moment of the season. This tale of possession and dueling kidnappery is a beaut.
-Unending ***
The series finale to the longest-running american sci fi show ever. Is that SG1's only claim to fame? Perhaps....but this swan song simmers. Many diehard fans were disappointed, but being largely free of expectation allows me to see the good qualities more clearly. The dying asgard leave all their technology to humanity, but it comes with a price - automatic trackability. Onboard the Odyssey, hunted relentlessly by ori ships, only slipping into a time dilation (a bubble wherein everything moves exponentially slower) saves them. Sam needs time to come up with an escape...and instead of the usual "voila!" typical of second-rate (and occasionally first-rate) sci fi, months, years, then decades of failure go by. As a result, we're given what SG1 almost always lacked: in-depth character study. They all react to the frustration and isolation in believable ways. Landry dies of old age. Daniel delivers a searing rebuke to a romantic overture by Vala, a stunning performance that NO ONE in their right mind would have thought Shanks capable of when the series began. The producers also popped for a CCR song, and it fits in righteously.
POST-SERIES CABLE FILMS
-The Ark of Truth ***
Epic series finale delivered. It's a firecracker (though it teeters on the edge of testosterone-overdose). SG1 searches for an ancient device that will enable humans to see the lies of the ori. They are captured by Tomin, who switches sides when they demonstrate that the priors are fallible (ending a charming character arc by Tim Guinee). They're all off to the ori galaxy on the Odyssey. Julian Sands (A ROOM WITH A VIEW, BOXING HELENA) returns as the demonic high prior. Adria has ascended and taken all the ori power. A misguided bureaucrat unleashes the replicators. Hell breaks loose, with cookies at the end. Happy now, fans?
-Continuum ****
The second cable movie, and final installment of the saga. You'll scratch your head, imagining it to have better writers and a more expansive budget than "Ark of Truth" (you'll be wrong on both accounts). Ark feels like episodic TV, but Continuum feels like a silver screen gem. Ba'al, facing execution, executes a plan that sends him back to 1939. Jackson, Carter, and Mitchell end up in a current timeline where the Stargate program never existed. They try in vain to convince Earth that a goa'uld invasion is coming. The Antarctica cinematography is awesome. Alternate timeline Teal'c and Vala are given juicy realities. Beau Bridges is brilliant. William Devane and Don Davis reprise their series roles. The redoubtable Richard Dean Anderson is back, in both timelines. Stunningly good.