Stargate SG-1: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.0
Audio		2.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.0

Stargate SG-1: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 21, 2021

The Roland Emmerich/Dean Devlin Sci-Fi Action film Stargate was a solid performer at the box office and a pretty good movie at that. It wouldn't spawn a big-screen franchise but it did jumpstart a legacy of television longevity and breadth that few franchises can match. The film released to theaters in 1994, and only three years later the television show was launched. Starring MacGyver himself, Richard Dean Anderson, in the lead role (played by Kurt Russell in the film), the series expands on the film's limited scope literally by leaps and bounds as it's discovered that the Stargate is not just a gateway to another world, but rather to countless worlds populated by innumerable aliens, intergalactic politics, and opportunities aplenty for exploration, new friendships...and war. SG-1 would last a remarkable 10 seasons on the air and would later spawn the shorter-lived Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe. It's an impressive legacy for the 1994 film to leave behind.

It's almost impossible to fathom that Stargate made the transition to the small screen ahead of Star Wars (assuming one discounts the animated Droids and Ewoks). For as big as George Lucas' entertainment behemoth was, and remains, it was not until the Disney acquisition and 2019's stunning The Mandalorian that that franchise made its first legitimate live-action small screen debut. Meanwhile, SG-1 alone -- never mind the spinoffs -- spans ten seasons and 214 episodes, a veritable Sci-Fi sprawl all its own. And, it's a pretty great show, too.

SG-1 picks up where the movie left off, almost literally. New faces have replaced the movie’s mains, but Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks quickly become the de facto representations of the characters played by Kurt Russell and James Spader in the movie, respectively. Shanks’ Dr. Daniel Jackson is quickly reunited with the team, Anderson’s Jack O’Neill returns into the fold from retirement, and the show goes about the business of both building on the movie’s central story and its characters while opening up the possibilities for the many story arcs, aliens, and awesome locations that are to come. The gate allows for travel all over the galaxy. There are practically infinite possibilities and, after 10 seasons, the show certainly explores its fair share of them. It’s a new adventure to different places and with different races, friendly faces, and dangerous foes along the monumental journey from film’s start to TV show’s end.

The show certainly builds its own universe – quite literally – but it still holds firm to the establishing content from the film, and not just the wide berth arcs but rather the small, subtle details that more fully define characters, including, for example, O’Neill’s personal demons which served as a driving factor in the film and are of utmost character building importance here, too, though of course there’s less of the film’s more dour O’Neill and more of a fully developed persona on display through ten seasons, with Anderson capably constructing a complex man who is about far more than past hurts and prowess with a firearm. As with many longstanding shows, the character intricacies, depth, and connections are fully realized here as episodes and storylines and seasons grant ample opportunity for SG-1’s connective tissues to form tight and intricate bonds. The show is reliably paced, granting access to character- and universe-building constructs steadily but not always predictably. The writing is sharp and the performances match, building a show that delivers capable Sci-Fi entertainment on the surface but rewards faithful audiences with countless examples where the show rises above its façade to construct an epic, multi-tentacled, and in-depth narrative.

Its TV-budget visual effects don't hold up so well under scrutiny in 2021 as they did on the small screen back more than two decades ago, but SG-1 manages to hold serve today because of its focus on story and characters, ensuring that the effects compliment and support rather than define and dominate the show. They're more or less effective in sum and work well within the feel and flow of an episode or season or, indeed, the entire series arc, whether intense ship maneuverings during pitch battle scenes, Stargate effects, or basic green screen inserts. The effects improve over the show's run -- 10 years is a lot of time for computer imagery advancements -- and the series, by its end, can match anything that's been on television in its time. The practical work is excellent, too, whether pyrotechnics or alien creature builds and costume design. SG-1 is one of the most impressively produced shows of its time, or any time for that matter, and the attention to detail, even if some of the CG work is a bit rough around the edges, altogether builds one of the most visually satisfying shows of the past quarter-century.

Sg-1 may thrive on action but the show lives and dies with its characters and, just as important, the cast that portrays them. Jackson and O'Neill hold fast to some of the core characteristics from the film but evolve into more complex personas both over time and within the early series episodes, provided ample breathing room to explore beyond the movie's time limit constraints and narrative requirements. Shanks and Anderson pair well together and serve their characters well, both quickly coming into their own to the point that they, not their film counterparts, ultimately define them. They merge well with several of the series newcomers (and there is plenty of information out there, including in several of the supplements in this set, regarding the instant on- and off-screen chemistry amongst the key cast) played by Amanda Tapping and Christopher Judge, the latter of whom shapes "Teal'c" into one of the finest characters ever to appear in a Science Fiction TV show.

Stargate SG-1: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The following text appears on-screen upon initial disc insertion: "Due to the age of these original programs and the high quality resolution that Blu-ray provides, you may or may not notice technical anomalies on this Blu-ray presentation that we are unable to correct."

As the series opens on the card game (reminiscent of the final scene from Star Trek: The Next Generation; one wonders if that was the writers surreptitiously passing themselves the Sci-Fi torch), the sense of low quality and substandard resolution is obvious. Even as the season is presented at 1080p, it looks fairly…pedestrian. It's "watchable" in the crudest sense of the word but struggles to hold tight detail and could be described as bordering on DVD quality at this point. Fine detailing and high yield textures are scant at very best and essentially nonexistent. Faces and location details are flat, offering not even a hint of intricacy, intimacy, or depth. Seasons two and three see essentially the same aesthetic, but by the beginning of season four one can see at least a very mild increase in detail and sharpness. Color output is poor, too. There's very little punch or pop. Practically the entire spectrum is flat, whether Air Force blues, green military fatigues, desert terrain, or the steely gray and blue compound where the Stargate is housed. Blacks are murky and soupy and skin tones are terribly pasty.

Heavy banding is a serious problem and appears with great frequency through much of the series, improving only mildly in the final three seasons. The early seasons are particularly bad – egregious, even – rendering many backgrounds looking like digital swirls. Macroblocking is evident across numerous shots, scenes, and sequences, as is aliasing on areas like vent slats on computers or the outer hull of a submarine seen partway through the fourth season's first episode. Jagged edges are commonplace, too. None of these problems are anywhere near so destructive as the banding, though.

Season eight and onward show a moderate uptick in quality, more so than any gains in previous seasons. Overall clarity and sharpness are improved, removing the egregious softness and replacing it with a serviceable HD image that is further improved by decent color gains, improving output for vibrancy, depth, and detail. The last three seasons offer what amounts to a passable, perhaps even bordering on typical for TV HD, but the first seven seasons drag the set's score down quite a bit. Those early seasons would rank around the 1.0-1.5 mark, the mid seasons probably 2.0, the last three maybe 2.5 or generously 3.0. There's a lot of content on a lot of discs. VEI hasn't gone the extra mile, or even an extra quarter mile. Videophiles will balk and even casual audiences will spot the extreme banding and low resolution visuals, but hopefully fans will become engrossed in the show and forget about the substandard video quality on their screens.

Stargate SG-1: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

SG-1 features two audio options: lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 and 5.1 tracks. Every episode defaults to the Dolby Digital 2.0 track unless it's switched manually in-episode or at the main menu screen under the "set up" tab, which appears on the left, away from the episode lists, and under the Stargate. In the 5.1 configuration, the track doesn't often take advantage of the surround channels, particularly in the early seasons. As the series opens, the gate activates and a firefight ensues with little, if any, identifiable surround usage and not a whole lot of depth or detail for that matter. It's a fairly flat sonic signature, one that does nothing to draw the listener into the scene or inspire much confidence for anything to come. The same may be said as the opening theme plays over the opening titles. It's wide along the front but listeners would be hard- pressed to note any surround activity. Detail suffices and it's probably the best audio cue in the first several seasons. Later season theme playback offers more expression across the front and even through the back, but that comes with a price: a bit of a hard edge and a clear lack of precision detail. The back channels pick up during the sequences when the gate is activated, the same warp effect from the movie. There's little depth, though, with limited surround usage and nowhere near the same sense of power the film's Blu-ray delivers with its 7.1 lossless during a scene with the same effect.

Gunplay and other high intensity action elements are hit or miss. There are several action scenes in season three's premiere episode. It's nicely wide and delivers capable surround and low end extension, though it is unquestionably lacking the clarity and punch the scenes really need to sonically excel. Gunfire and ship battle sequences improve for dynamic range and detail over time. A dogfight over Antarctica to start season nine offers decently impressive zip and surround integration, but once again commanding clarity is obviously lacking. Light atmosphere around various locales is passably integrated, with everything else finding more definition as the series moves along, particularly to its late seasons. Dialogue is clear enough and positioned in the center for the duration.

Stargate SG-1: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

SG-1's complete series Blu-ray release includes a ton of extras. The first few seasons reserve their respective fourth discs for video-based extras but later seasons include extras all over, including commentary tracks for nearly episode from season four forward. The discs ship in a hugely oversized Amaray case (and a slipcover) and the discs are packed in plastic sleeves reminiscent of those storage units for CDs. There are two such bundles of sleeves with the first five seasons in one and the last five in the other (there's also a bonus disc included in a single sleeve all its own). The discs do ship one per sleeve so there's no stacking. They do require fingerprinting the bottom side to get out which may cause playback problems if they're not wiped clean prior to insertion.

Season One, Disc Four:

• Cast and Crew Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 4:28): A quick overview exploring the cast, the story, production design, story depth, and the series' broader arcing themes.
• Profile on General Hammond Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 6:21): Exploring Don S. Davis' General George Hammond character. Amongst clips from the series, Davis discusses the core character beats. It also looks at some episode-specific character moments, Davis' own real life military career, and more.
• Profile on Captain Carter Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 5:32): Exploring the Carter character and in praise of Amanda Tapping's performance. She discusses her perceptions of the show, the part's physicality, the part's blending of parts from O'Neill and Jackson, working with her co-stars, and more.
• Behind the Scenes with the Producers (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 4:48): Creators Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner discuss getting the project off the ground, casting and characters, the show's scope and building on the original film, and the series' potential for longevity.
• Costume Design Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 4:38): Costume Designer Christiana McQuarrie looks at the diverse range of complex costumes seen throughout the show.

Season Two, Disc Four:

• Production Design Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 7:14): Production Designer Richard Hudolin discusses the opportunity for the series to explore a number of unique sets and scenarios. He opens with the series' location heart: the military base and the Stargate. It explores other key areas in the base and some of the best of the most visually arresting designs seen in the show. He also covers restraints, budget, and the like, including both the practical and digital and building computer generated visual effects.
• Profile on Dr. Jackson Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 9:31): Examining Jackson's character arc, beginning with where he's found following the film and at the beginning of the series as well as his marriage and the character's evolution through it. Shanks discusses his acting career, cast camaraderie, preparing for the role, the character's philosophical musings, physical work and rigors on the show, and more.
• Profile on Teal'c Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 10:29): Exploring the Jaffa alien played by Christopher Judge. It looks at the character's place in and growth through the series; the balance of action, drama, and humor in the show; and more. Judge also discusses his personal life and acting history.

Season Three, Disc Four:

• Secret Files of the SGC - Colonel Jack O'Neill Documentary (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 13:44): General George Hammond and Dr. Janet Fraiser grant the viewer inside access to secret computer files which, following a lengthy open, feature Richard Dean Anderson and additional cast and crew discussing the character complexities, the show's refusal to dumb down its science, the fun Anderson has on the set, and more.
• Secret Files of the SGC - The Stargate Universe Documentary (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 16:01): Hammond and Frasier task the audience with averting a computer crisis which involves watching this documentary that explores the importance of the episode "The Torment of Tantalus," the writing process, and some of the more memorable and fun episode concepts and one-off moments from the series.
• Secret Files of the SGC - Personnel Files Documentary (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 16:51): One more time, Frasier and Hammond introduce the supplement. This piece features stories from the set and the actors' personal anecdotes, including an episode in which O'Neill and Carter are trapped on an ice world. Also: Michael Shanks' appendicitis forcing a quick rewrite, a pool hustle, Director Michael Wood's cameos, the "Technician" character, cast camaraderie, Kurt Russell's visit to the set, working with a dog in "Wolves," and more.

Season Four, Disc One:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Small Victories," "The Other Side," "Upgrades," Crossroads," "Divide and Conquer," and "Window of Opportunity."

Season Four, Disc Two:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Watergate," "The First Ones," "Scorched Earth," "Beneath the Surface," "Point of No Return," and "Tangent."

Season Four, Disc Three:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "The Curse," "Serpent's Venom," "Chain Reaction," "2010," "Absolute Power," and "The Light."

Season Four, Disc Four:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Prodigy," "Entity," "Double Jeopardy," and "Exodus."
• Secret Files of the SGC - Enhanced Visual Effects Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 16:11): After the standard Hammond and Frasier intro, audiences are treated to a series of visual effects deconstructions. There's not a lot of time allotted to each one, but the detail that's here, and the volume, make for a fun, fast-paced extra.
• Secret Files of the SGC - Alien Species: Friend and Foe Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 16:59): Hammond and Frasier set the stage for one of the best extras in the set: a rundown of many of the most famous, and narratively important, aliens who appear in the show.
• SG-1 Video Diary - Teryl Rothery (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 8:17): Rothery, who plays Janet Fraser, tours the sets and briefly introduces and interviews various cast and crew. It also features raw on-set footage and corresponding clips from the finished show.
• Timeline to the Future Part 1: Legacy of the Gate (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 25:15): This detailed supplement explores the project's origins, visual effects, production details and challenges, building a new Stargate, the high quality ensemble cast, and character foundations and evolutions.
• Timeline to the Future Part 2: Secrets of the Gate (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 20:07): Exploring sets, models, production design, visual effects, fight choreography, editing, real-world challenges, and more
• Timeline to the Future Part 3: Beyond the Gate (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 21:02): In praise of the SG-1 fandom. It also looks at expert consultants working on the show, U.S. military cooperation, and more.
• Season 5 Preview: Gateway to Adventure (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 20:54): An in-depth sneak peak for the series' fifth season.

Season Five, Disc One:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Enemies," "Threshold," "Ascension," "The Fifth Man," "Red Sky," and "Rite of Passage."

Season Five, Disc Two:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Beast of Burden," "The Tomb," "Between Two Fires," "2001," "Desperate Measures," and "Wormhole X-treme!"

Season Five, Disc Three:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Proving Ground," "48 Hours," "Summit," "Last Stand," "Fail Safe," and "The Warrior."

Season Five, Disc Four:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Menace," "The Sentinel," "Meridian," and "Revelations."
• Inside the Tomb Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 6:14): Peter DeLuise breaks down some of the production secrets behind the season five episode "The Tomb."
• SG-1 Video Diary - Amanda Tapping (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 11:43): Tapping tours the set and interviews cast and crew.
• SG-1 Video Diary - Christopher Judge (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 10:22): Judge brings his own unique vision and voice to the behind-the-scenes tour with emphasis on the episode "The Warrior."
• SG-1 Video Diary - Michael Shanks (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 10:59): A lighthearted look into the world of SG-1 as well as some insight into several key season five episodes.
• SG-1 Video Diary: Don Davis (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 8:41): Davis introduces audiences to a number of key crew, and the tasks they perform, in rapid-fire fashion.
• Dr. Daniel Jackson - A Tribute Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 6:22): Celebrating Shanks' character and his work in seasons 1-5 (he would not be a main cast member in season six). Much of the piece consists of lightning quick clips from the show, but some interview content is included.
• Stargate SG-1: 100th Episode AKA "Stairway to a Dream" (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 7:03): In celebration of 100 episodes. The episode is titled "Wormhole X-Treme!" and the supplement looks at the show's success, comprised of interviews and montage clips.

Season Six, Disc One:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Redemption (Part 1)," "Redemption (Part 2)," "Descent," "Frozen," and "Nightwalkers."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, 4x3): Focused, in-depth explorations and behind-the-scenes footage focusing on the making of various episodes from a number of different angles. Included are segments for the episodes "Redemption" (20:32), "Descent" (14:22), "Frozen" (9:55), and "Nightwalkers" (8:04).

Season Six, Disc Two:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Abyss," "Shadow Play," "The Other Guys," "Allegiance," "Cure," and "Prometheus."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, 4x3): Included are segments for the episodes "Abyss" (9:59), "Shadow Play" (8:11), "The Other Guys" (3:59), "Allegiance" (6:02), "Cure" (5:27), and "Prometheus" (4:34).

Season Six, Disc Three:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Unnatural Selection," "Sight Unseen," "Smoke and Mirrors," "Paradise Lost," "Metamorphosis," and "Disclosure."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, 4x3): Included are segments for the episodes "Smoke and Mirrors" (5:43) and "Metamorphosis" (6:36).
• SG-1 Video Diary - Richard Dean Anderson: "Paradise Lost" (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 11:13): A "fly on the wall" piece that grants intimate access to making various segments from the episode.

Season Six, Disc Four:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Forsaken," "The Changeling," "Memento," "Prophecy," and "Full Circle."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, 4x3): Included are segments for the episodes "Changeling" (13:02), "Memento" (10:11), "Prophecy" (10:31), and "Full Circle" (11:53).

Season Seven, Disc One:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Fallen," "Homecoming," "Fragile Balance," "Orpheus," "Revisions," and "Lifeboat."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, 4x3): Included are segments for the episodes "Fragile Balance" (4:21) and "Revisions" (7:47).

Season Seven, Disc Two:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Enemy Mine," "Space Race," "Avenger 2.0," "Birthright," "Evolution (Part 1)," and "Evolution (Part 2)."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, 4x3): Included are segments for the episodes "Space Race" (4:18) and "Avenger 2.0" (5:31).

Season Seven, Disc Three:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Grace," "Fallout," "Chimera," "Death Knell," and "Heroes (Part 1)."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, 4x3): Included are segments for the episodes "Death Knell" (12:30) and "Heroes" (6:49; this is the series' 150th episode).
• SG-1 Beyond the Gate: Michael Shanks (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 10:40): Shanks shares some details about the process of acting on the show. He also discusses the camaraderie between Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, and himself. He also shares his thoughts on Richard Dean Anderson. Also: hockey!
• SG-1 Beyond the Gate: Christopher Judge (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 11:12): Judge reflects on his time on the show, his relationships with the cast, life on the links, pitching his own ideas for the series, and more.

Season Seven, Disc Four:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Heroes (Part 2)," "Resurrection," "Inauguration," "Lost City (Part 1)," and "Lost City (Part 2)."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, 4x3): Included are segments for the episodes "Resurrection" (8:58) and "Lost City" (9:25).
• SG-1 Beyond the Gate: Richard Dean Anderson (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 10:26): Anderson recalls some early-run humor, his relationship with the cast, his passion for exploration (outside the show), and response to the fans.
• SG-1 Beyond the Gate: Amanda Tapping (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 6:27): Tapping covers her love of nature and hiking on the weekends, her work as director on the show, and response to the fans.
• SG-1 Bra'Tac vs Ronan: Designing the Fight (1080p upscaled, 4:15): Prepping for a key fight scene.
• The Storyboard Process (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 2:56): A too-quick glimpse into some very early prep work for an episode.
• Stargate Magic: Inside the Lab (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 7:11): Processing the negatives after a day of shooting, computer editing, and building the final look for an episode, and a season.

Season Eight, Disc One:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "New Order (Part 1)," "New Order (Part 2)," "Lockdown," "Zero Hour," "Icon," and "Avatar."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, 1.78:1): Included is a segment for the episode "Avatar" (9:09).

Season Eight, Disc Two:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Affinity," "Covenant," "Sacrifices," "Endgame," "Gemini," and "Prometheus Unbound."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, 1.78:1): Included is a segment for the episode "Covenant" (8:04).

Season Eight, Disc Three:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "It's Good to Be King," "Full Alert," "Citizen Joe," "Reckoning (Part 1)," and "Reckoning (Part 2)."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, 1.78:1): Included is a segment for the episode "Reckoning" (16:49).

Season Eight, Disc Four:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Moebius (Part 1)" and "Moebius (Part 2)."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, 1.78:1): Included are segments for the episodes "Threads" (16:40) and "Moebius" (10:12).
• An Air Force Experience with Richard Dean Anderson (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 12:43): A discussion of the Air Force's cooperation with SG-1 and Anderson's portrayal of a high ranking military officer. It also looks at a military award he won for his portrayal.
• A Convention Experience with Christopher Judge (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 13:54): Judge talks about working conventions and interacting with fans.
• A Convention Experience with Amanda Tapping (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 11:28): Similar to the supplement above, Tapping talks about working conventions and interacting with fans. It (and the previous piece) also includes plenty of footage from the convention floor.
• A Convention Experience with Amanda Tapping (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 13:29): Similar to the supplements above.
• Super Soldier: The Making of a Monster Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 14:58): A detailed exploration of the narrative construction of and physical build for one of the series' most important alien creatures.
• Profile On: Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 18:32): Interviewing the series writers and later season producers for an interesting glimpse into some of the creative processes behind the making of the show. A few fan questions are also answered.
• The Last Day of Teal'c (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 11:06): Following Christopher Judge on his "last day" on the set.
• Alliance: The Making of a Video Game (1080p upscaled, window box, 15:05): Exploring the video game based on the film, which takes place at the end of season eight.

Season Nine, Disc One:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Avalon (Part 1)," "Avalon (Part 2)," "Origin," "The Ties that Bind," and "The Powers That Be."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, window box, 1.78:1): Included are segments for the episodes "Avalon" (11:17) and "The Powers that Be" (11:23).
• It Takes a Crew to Raise a Village Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 14:05): A fascinating look into the arduous process of building a massive key set piece for season nine.

Season Nine, Disc Two:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Beachhead," "Ex Deus Machina," "Babylon," "Prototype," and "The Fourth Horseman, Part 1."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, window box and 4x3, 1.78:1): Included is a segment for the episode "Prototype" (13:56).
• Inside the Stargate Props Department Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3 and window box, 15:25): Always one of the coolest extras on any Sci-Fi release: the look around some of the most fun and iconic objects and doodads from the series. It also includes interviews with key crew from the props department.

Season Nine, Disc Three:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "The Fourth Horseman, Part 2," "Collateral Damage," "Ripple Effect," "Stronghold," and "Ethon."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, window box and 4x3, 1.78:1): Included is a segment for the episode "Ethon" (15:03).
• An Introduction to Ben Browder Featurette (1080p upscaled, 1.78:1, 21:22): Opening the lid on Ben Browder's Cameron Mitchell character, new for season nine.
• Inside the Stargate Special Effects Department (1080p upscaled, 4x3 and window box, 18:38): Practical special effects design and implementation.

Season Nine, Disc Four:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Off the Grid," "The Scourge," "Arthur's Mantle," "Crusade," and "Camelot."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, window box and 4x3, 1.78:1): Included is a segment for the episode "Crusade" (15:17).
• Profile on: Executive Producer Brad Wright (1080p upscaled, window box and 4x3, 20:47): A look at the executive producer who has been with the show from the beginning.

Season Ten, Disc One:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Flesh and Blood," "Morpheus," "The Pegasus Project," "Insiders," and "Uninvited."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, window box and 4x3, 1.78:1): Included is a segment for the episode "Insiders" (11:51).
• The Ori: A New Enemy Featurette (1080p upscaled, window box and 4x3, 18:22): Discussing the late series run's new antagonist race.

Season Ten, Disc Two:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "200," "Counterstrike," "Memento Mori," "Company of Thieves," and "The Quest (Part 1)."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, window box and 4x3, 1.78:1): Included are segments for the episodes "Memento Mori" (12:10) and "Company of Thieves" (10:09).
• Stargate SG-1: Behind the 200th Featurette (1080p upscaled, window box and 4x3, 18:09): Exploring the 200th episode's stories, style, and structure.

Season Ten, Disc Three:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "The Quest (Part 2)," "Line in the Sand," "The Road Not Taken," "The Shroud," and "Bounty."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, window box and 4x3, 1.78:1): Included is a segment for the episode "The Shroud" (11:12).

Season Ten, Disc Four:

• Audio Commentaries: Tracks for "Talion," "Family Ties," "Dominion," and "Unending."
• SG-1 Directors Series (1080p upscaled, window box and 4x3, 1.78:1): Included is a segment for the episode "Unending" (15:20).

Bonus Disc:

• Setting the Mood with Jim Menard Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3, 23:04): A fascinating look at the work performed by the series' Director of Photography.
• Life as a Tech with Gary Jones Featurette (1080p upscaled, 4x3 and window box 19:55): Actor Gary Jones breaks down the experience of portraying "Walter Harriman" on SG-1.
• Season 10 Deleted Scenes with Commentary (1080p upscaled, 4x3 and window box, 23:16): Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi provides commentary.
• From Stargate to Atlantis (1080p upscaled, window box, 51:21): After seven years of SG-1, the Stargate universe shifts part of its attention to the then-new show, Atlantis. This is the story of where the show had been, where it iwas at the time the supplement was made, and where it was then headed with SG-1, Atlantis, and beyond.
• Sci Fi Inside: Stargate SG-1 200th Episode (1080p upscaled, window box, 43:35): Looking back at the best of the previous 199 episodes and celebrating the 200 episode milestone.
• Behind the Stargate: Secrets Revealed (1080p upscaled, window box, 40:51): Humorously unraveling some of the SG-1 and Atlantis secrets.
• Behind the Mythology of Stargate SG-1 (1080p upscaled, 1.78:1, 43:12): Exploring how real world history and mythology are interwoven into the show's essential, and sprawling, fabric.
• Stargate SG-1 True Science (1080p upscaled, window box, 45:37): How realistic or plausible is the series' technology, its narrative concepts, and the far-flung ideas that make the series so much fun? This piece pits Stargate against science.
• Richard Dean Anderson - My Life as a Mime (1080p upscaled, 1:57): Concluding the exhaustive supplemental content is one of the shortest pieces in which Anderson talks up his studies in mime artistry.

Stargate SG-1: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

When Stargate SG-1 made its television debut in 1997, the small screen landscape was not quite so bananas as it is today. There are just about a gazillion shows to pick from these days but even without quite so much competition there's no denying SG-1's dominance as a force of its own during its time on television. And these were not wasted hours, either. This is a darn good Sci-Fi show, certainly looking dated today for its structure, cadence, and special effects, but it packs a wallop for action, characterization, and universe depth and breadth. Whether fans of the original film or anyone looking to sink their teeth into one of the great Sci-Fi shows of all time, SG-1 remains a quintessential Sci-Fi television experience. This 40-disc Blu-ray collection does not reach the greatest heights for video and audio qualities, to put it mildly. The set also includes a massive assortment of supplements, though, enough to keep SG-1 fans occupied for literally days on end, and that's not even counting the enormous commentary track count. Recommended for the program and the supplements.