Stargate: Atlantis - Season 1 (DVD, 2006, 5-Disc Set)

When Stargate Atlantis was first announced, the buzz surrounded how the new show would be a departure from the heavy military structure of SG-1. This show would be the civilians turn to play. Although that sounded interesting, it also worried me, because the military flavor is one of the factors making SG-1 so great. So going in, I wasn't sure what I would think of Atlantis.

Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, the show does have more of a civilian flavor than SG-1, but in no way does it do away with the elements fans have been used to for years. This is more of an evolution than a replacement. They didn't fix anything, because nothing was broken on SG-1. In fact, Atlantis creates new tensions and relationships by making the balance between the military and the scientific interests a key plot element, something that is only occasionally featured on SG-1. But there is no real antagonism in this relationship. Shepherd and Weir get along well even if they disagree sometimes. That's a fairly refreshing way to approach things. A lesser show would have built up nonsensical attitudes of soldiers hating the scientists and the scientists hating the military. Here, it's all about respect.

Joe Flanigan is an effective leading man as Major Sheppard, and Higginson's Dr. Elizabeth Weir is every bit his equal, and then some. Throw in David Hewlett resurrecting the guy fans love to hate, Rodney McKay, and you have the start of a great cast (though Hewlett has wisely toned down McKay and made him much more relatable than on SG-1). They are surrounded by an eclectic and interesting ensemble cast of characters, continuing the Stargate tradition of flushing out the supporting players.

The Wraith are the last big topic of consideration. Though not quite as shiver-inducing as the Goa'uld could be at times, these vampiric creatures make effective villains. They certainly seem to be more intelligent than the Goa'uld, and equally as vicious. The key is that they are good enough at being bad that I want to watch the series long enough to see them taken down! That means they are doing their jobs!