The Top Three Sci-Fi TV Series Have One Thing In Common

What can Star Trek and Stargate have in common with this motley crew?

That's right folks, and if you haven't already guessed it, there is one thing that Star Trek, Stargate & Battlestar Galactica all have in common...

That being rather directly or indirectly all of them in some way have to do with ancient pagan religions!

I doubt you would have thought that you would have heard these prolific science fiction shows used in that way... But it is quite true!

One of things that Star Trek, Stargate & Battlestar Galactica have in common is in the shows some of the characters worship pagan gods like, 'Ares' God Of War!

Lets take the most obvious one first, let's talk about Stargate...

Apophis (Played by: Peter Williams), is an example of one of the more famous ancient gods that played a prominent role in Stargate SG1

Stargate was a series that more so than the rest of the shows that I am about to mention, heavily utilized the ancient gods, but in this case the ancient gods were actually a parasitic race that forced human hosts to enslave ancient humans, and in the beginning of the series are the race that modern mankind fights against!

A scene from the remake of Battlestar Galactica that had to do with religious significance during their search for, 'Earth.'

And now Battlestar Galactica... In this show they may not actually show the deities... But Battlestar Galactica has to do with an ancient but technologically advanced race that was the predecessor of mankind on Earth.

Now this race followed the Greek Gods.

Commander Sisko confronting a Bajoran spiritual leader... The Bajoran religions having similar attributes to ancient Roman worship.

And finally with Star Trek... Now this one is a little bit different... You see, this series does not actually have characters that do follow the ancient human deities...

But with the series following certain elements of mankind through out time (I,e... The Romulan Star Empire, being modeled off of the, 'Roman Empire',) A lot of Star Trek's alien races religions follow elements of the ancient deities on Earth.

Ancient Gods On TV... A Great Concept In Sci-fi TV

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] 'Hercules: The Legendary Journey' & 'Xena: Warrior Princes' two great Fantasy shows that had to do a lot with the Greek Gods![/caption]

I am sure that we have all seen the shows like, 'Hercules: The Legendary Journey' & 'Xena: Warrior Princess', and their use of the, 'Greek' gods in the TV show... The truth is though, is that the show takes place, not in the real ancient world, but in the mythologized ancient world where that could happen.

Two great shows, but in all truth, definitely shows that would be considered to be, 'Fantasy' shows... What I wanted to talk about today is their use in writing Sci-fi TV... And I will say this, it truly is a great writing concept!

What do I mean by this? Well lets first take a look at some of the ways that they have been used on TV...

One of the earliest examples of this that I can think of, and it is one of the more famous episodes of Star Trek, and that is the episode, 'Who Mourns For Adonais?"

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="422"] The original series episode of, 'Star Trek' called, 'Who Mourns For Adonais' is a great example of the use of the Greek gods in a Science Fiction TV series![/caption]

In this episode, Captain Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise are in orbit around the planet, 'Pollux' when they are taken captive by an Alien that as it turns out is the Greek God, 'Apollo'... And will ultimately have to fight their way out of his clutches!

Another great example of this, Battlestar Galactica (Both original and remake series...)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="565"] The Battlestar Galactica with it's refugee fleet, is another fun show that has utilized the concept of the ancient Greek Gods![/caption]

Now this show ultimately ended up using the, 'Greek Gods' in their show... But they are A: more a part of the series then an episode, and B: a secondary part of what makes up the series... But this is done in such a way that it is... You could almost say like what the ancient Greek society might have been like if they had been given the opportunity to survive and colonize the universe!

And the last last example that I wanted to give here before I go on to the next part is, 'Stargate.'

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Stargate... A great example of a kick ass series that has man versus the old gods...[/caption]

Now this franchise took a distinctly different turn when it came to how they perceived the, 'Gods' (and I do mean gods, as just about all of them are mentioned in this franchise.)

Well in the case of the Stargate franchise, the story is, is that the United States Government ends up initiating a program that would allow mankind to travel to other planets, when in the 1920s, an Archaeologist uncovers a giant ring (that would eventually be called, 'Stargate',) that in the modern time they would end up discovering how to use it!

After a mission is sent through the gate to discover what lies ahead, the team ends up coming face to face with an Alien race that has subjugated a portion of the ancient human race and has made themselves in to the, 'Gods' of the Ancient world... After destroying one of them, they come back through the Gate and the program is shut down.

Well after an attack by another of the Ancient gods, mankind is thrust in to a war that will ultimately decide the fate of either god or man!

Sounds great right?

Well the concept is there folks, and the one things that, that I have found in the examples that I have given is this... Using the Ancient gods in a new and innovative way in your TV series or in your web series is a something that will almost certainly always catapult what you are writing in to something (that if done right, and done smart) will catapult your episode or show in to the more popular bracket...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Apophis, maybe the embodiment of pure evil, but his appearance and the rest of the ancient gods appearance on TV over the years has definitely made for some great TV![/caption]

Now you might be wondering what I am talking about... Well lets take a look at the examples I mentioned above shall we?

The Star Trek episode, 'Who mourns for Adonais' is one of the more famous episodes to have been produced for that series, Battlestar Galactica... Besides the first series, has seen one reboot, one remake, a spin off, and several movies and mini-series, and, 'Stargate' has so far had a TV series, a couple of spinoff series, and almost half a dozen movies!

In the end, is it profitable? Sure, but one of the things that I have learned as a writer, is that if you can do it right, you will find that the Ancient Gods are a great concept to add to Sci-fi TV!

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5 Great Crews Of 5 Great Starships On The Small Screen

[caption id="attachment_2885" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The bridge crew for the U.S.S. Enterprise (the rebooted version.)[/caption]

I have noticed to some extent a trend in the sci-fi world of TV shows being brought to the big screen... Most of the time after the show has gone off the aire and their fans have complained about it so much that it was brought to the big screen after awhile.

A great example of this is the show 'Firefly' (2002)... Now Firefly was a show that had been created by Joss Whedon (The Avengers) and told the story of the crew of a small vessel and the adventures that they would have...

Well this show, which aired in 2002, was taken off the air way to early, and with enough pressure from fans ended up getting it's own movie, in the form of, Serenity (2005)!

[caption id="attachment_2886" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Nathan Fillion (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Gina Torres (Angel) & Alan Tudyk (I, Robot) in a scene from, 'Serenity' (2005)[/caption]

With the crew of the Firefly getting their chances on the big screen, I thought that I would mention 5 other bridge crews that went on to greatness.
At number 5: The crew of the original, 'Battlestar Galactica':

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] 'Boxey' (Noah Hathaway) as he comes to talk to 'Adama' (Lorne Greene) who is hard at work on the bridge of the, 'Battlestar Galactica'![/caption]

At number 4: The crew of the, 'Prometheus' from Stargate SG1:

[caption id="attachment_2887" align="aligncenter" width="320"] The bridge crew of the, 'Prometheus' the earth ship from, 'Stargate SG1'![/caption]

At number 3: The crew of the, 'Tardis' from, 'Doctor Who':

[caption id="attachment_2888" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Not quite a bridge... Or a crew... but the same concepts apply![/caption]

At number 2: The crew from the remake, 'Battlestar Galactica':

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="330"] The bridge of the, 'Battlestar Galactica' hard at work in the 2004 Syfy channel remake![/caption]

At number 1: The crew from the first, 'U.S.S. Enterprise; from Star Trek:

[caption id="attachment_2889" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The bridge crew for the original U.S.S. Enterprise from the original series![/caption]

One Vs. The Other: Stargate Vs. Star Trek

Now you might not think because I am a huge fan of Star Trek, that I can't be objective in this, but the truth is, is that because I am a huge fan of both shows that I think I maybe the ultimate objective observer in all of this!

So here we are, for another round of, 'One Vs. The Other', a continuing series that hopefully helps people in their decisions in their process for finding the right piece of horror or science fiction entertainment to enjoy!

And so with out further adieu: One Vs. The Other: Stargate Vs. Star Trek.

[caption id="attachment_2566" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Star Trek Vs. Stargate,..[/caption]

Now before I go on, let me say that in my opinion Star Trek Vs. Stargate in a show down (short of maybe one of these pairing with Star Wars in all that,) that this pairing is probably one of the more logically that we have had so far... And here is the reasons why:
As individual shows. Both have had long time massive followings that have allowed both shows to go in to multiple spin offs, as well as the fact that both of these shows have had movies turned in to them... (although, in the case of Stargate, it was a movie that was turned in to a TV Show, and then back in to a movie with the cast from the TV show!)

Now on with the show:

As for plus points with Stargate:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The gate, from Stargate SG1![/caption]

1. Great story line about how Earth kind of gets adopted in to the interstellar community.

2. A great cast that have worked well together for the entire time they worked on the show and on the movies... As well as those that are actually carry overs from, 'MacGuyver' (A show in the late 80s early 90s that had Richard Dean Anderson (who also starred in Stargate SG1) star in this show.)

3. Great special effects, I mean the melding over modern military technology along with Alien Technology was truly a lot of fun.

4. I also have to say it again, I think the idea of how Earth of the modern day gets inducted in to the interstellar community is just an interesting concept!

Now for the negative aspects.

1. Despite the fact that Stargate SG1 went for so many seasons, the story got convoluted after about the 6th season, with the movies more or less being useless to the whole of the franchise.

2. Atlantis was a great spin off that really in my opinion did some good for the Franchise... SGU was essentially useless.

3. Essentially loosing Richard Dean Anderson from SG 1 was pointless and in my opinion, harmful to the series.

Now for Star Trek's Plus points:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="496"] U.S.S. Enterprise as seen in the original series movies.[/caption]

1. Star Trek has been entertaining audiences on a generational level.

2. The message that Star Trek has tried to convey is one of peace, and that mankind, if he works hard enough, can expand beyond their petty differences.

3. All the casts I thought did an amazing job (with the exception of Voyager... Which did alright.)

4. The ships are cool.

5. The imagery of where mankind could very realistically be in the future is freaking amazing!

6. I also liked how Star Trek: The Next Generation really did help a lot of the mid 80s - 90s young stars and starlets their chance!

Negative points:

1. Paramount puts an un-necessary moratorium on the TV series.

2. Both Kate Mulgrew & Robert Beltran just in my opinion did not work for their series.

3. Season 1 of Star Trek The Next Generation sucked.

4. Brannon Braga & Rick Berman really did a lot of damage to the series.

In the end, it was close, but I would say that, 'Star Trek' is the winner, I think that if given the opportunity, the shows could continue to live on forever, and the same goes with the movies... While Stargate seems to be passing in to time...

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Stargate (1994) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_385" align="alignright" width="353"] Official Score = 2 Devils[/caption]

When I was a kid I was like a lot of Science Fiction geeks, I liked just about everything that the Science Fiction genre had to offer, including: Star Trek, Star Wars, Planet Of The Apes, Dune, and even Stargate!

Of course at this point I am sure that with the exception of the truly diehard fans that are out there, most people think that I am talking about, 'Stargate SG1' and it's subsequent spinoffs, in this case I am not... I am talking about the original movie!

I will be honest with you guys and say that probably comparatively speaking that, 'Stargate' is a pretty tame compared to the subsequent TV show adventures that were based on this movie...

Well this movie which was written by: Dean Devlin (Godzilla), Roland Emmerich (The Noah's Ark Principle) & also Directed by: Roland Emmerich, and which stars, Kurt Russell (Escape From LA), James Spader (Lincoln), Jaye Davidson (The Crying Game), Viveca Lindfors (Creepshow), Alexis Cruz (Drag Me To Hell) & Mili Avital (Dead Man) told the story of a secret government project that has been going on for decades and the ramifications of what this object that they have been studying really does!

What I mean by this is that a round circular device is discovered in Egypt, an object that goes all the way back to the ancient Pharoahs, and it had been buried... Well when archaeologists dig it up, it will remain dormant for decades... That is until decades later when the government finally gets the device work...

[caption id="attachment_1917" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Colonel Jack O'Neil (Kurt Russell), and Dr. Daniel Jackson (James Spader), when they make it to the new planet.[/caption]

With the help of an Egyptologist by the name of Dr. Daniel Jackson (James Spader), they finally get this device open once and for all... Once done they send Daniel, and a military team lead by Colonel Jack O'Neil (Kurt Russell), a decorated soldier who is a little bit of a loose cannon do to the fact that he just recently lost his son, has been called up and a long with Daniel the military team go tot he new planet.

[caption id="attachment_1919" align="aligncenter" width="480"] The soldiers and the planets inhabitants as they are fighting for their lives![/caption]

But when the assembled team does finally make it to the other planet, they are absolutely amazed at the wonder of the whole experience of being on another planet, and the fact that the inhabitants of this planet happen to be ancient humans that had been transplanted to this new planet, but there is another darker side to this new planet, and when it arrives for it's tribute, Colonel O'Neil, his team and the rest of the planet will literally have to fight for their lives against this evil before it goes for more tribute!

In the end this movie is truly a fun one, I mean it has a great story line, great cast, great special effects and music... The only problem is that the bad guys seemed to be intentionally dressed scantily, and act in a weird way... Also in the end, really the only other problem that I had with the movie is the fact that the way it was filmed was just not as good as any of the TV shows!

Never the less, if you get a chance, check it out, it is a fun one and well worth your time:

http://youtu.be/kiJtZUPvJxY