Fanlisting: Stargates

I plan to do one of these a week, but this time, I'm combining two: Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. I have to admit that when the first episode of SG-1 aired, I watched only out of curiosity. I'd loved the movie and Kurt Russell and James Spader were fixed in my mind as Jack and Daniel. The first show was graphic in its violence, which normally doesn't bother me, but it had little to keep my attention, so the violence seemed to define it. I watched with disinterest for a few episodes, then suddenly, about a half dozen shows into season 1, I realized I was enjoying myself. The show was growing on me and I realized, too, that old fav Richard Dean Anderson and new (to me) hunk Michael Shanks, were more suited to keeping the characters around longterm to grow and change. Now, 9 years later, new characters will be coming in, but the show's rich mythos and solid writing, and a lighthearted bent that developed over the past few seasons, have made it a must-watch show for me.

Atlantis is now icing on the cake, a spinoff that quickly established itself as its own show with its own threats and solid cast of characters/actors. The SF Channel has another winner. And in Joe Flanigan, I've got a new lust object.