Jan 282012
 

 

Series 3 of the Big Finish Stargate audio dramas are due for release later in the year (May 31st part 1) and is split into two parts, they can be pre-ordered from the Big Finish website now. Once again Michael Shanks and Claudia Black play their respective roles but for many it may be Cliff Simon returning as Ba’al which peeks people’s interest.

Big Finish Stargate Portal

CAST:
Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson), Claudia Black (Vala Mal Doran), Cliff Simon (Ba’al), John Schwab (Major Hunter), Andrew Collins (Keto), Stephen Hogan (Olssen), Susan Franklyn (Rix), Alex Mallinson (Airman/Robot/Jaffa), Paul Hyu (Lt Colonel Yin), Andrew Whipp (Zoder), Regina Reagan (Wellan), Anna Tolputt (La’rath), John Banks (Korek)

SYNOPSIS:
A shooting in the heart of Stargate Command is only the beginning for Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran.
Suddenly it’s friend against friend, none of their allies can be relied upon and they’re the universe’s only hope to foil the latest scheme concocted by the last System Lord, Ba’al.
Will Daniel, Vala and a few of Vala’s less than savoury friends be enough to stop a conspiracy that reaches deep into the heart of Stargate Command and threatens to destroy everything they’ve spent years building?

Thanks to Stargate Zone.

Jan 222012
 

It’s the daddy of them all, happy birthday to Richard Dean Anderson born this day Jan 23rd 1950.

He brought us McGuyver then eclipsed that with Jack O’Neill under the Stargate banner, thanks for everything RDA it’s been great and looking forward to you continuing to dip into TV now and again.

Website

Jan 222012
 

Two Stargate alumni celebrate their birthdays today (22nd).

From SG1 we have Michael Kopsa who played two roles in the show the first as a news anchor in the episode “There But For The Grace Of God” and then General Kerrigan in “Proving Ground” and “Prodigy”.

We then have Jennifer Spence who played Dr Lisa Park in 36 of the 40 episodes of Stargate Universe.

Jan 212012
 

  A delegation from Kelownan arrives to discuss the possibility of an alliance despite the events which led to the death of Daniel Jackson, Jonas Quinn stealing some Naquadria and then turning his back on his home world. The three visitors a scientist, soldier and diplomat ask the SGC for military aid in exchange for more of the Naquadria as their nation is now the target of a new alliance between the two other states on their world and war is imminent. With technology similar to our 1940’s they face overwhelming odds in terms of man power and strategic aircraft and their only ace in the hole is a Naquadria bomb whose power rivals any of the SGC’s most modern enhanced nukes. Jonas enters into discussions with his former mentor Dr Kiernan who claims an internal resistance is looking to overthrow the current government and with similar movements with the Andari and Tiranian nations with the goal of peace and prosperity.

Let the party begin.

The SGC have a big decision to make, they know that giving the Kelownan’s even some basic military technology aimed at defence  will eventually be used in an offensive manner and they show some mature restraint given our worlds oft used policy of arming societies with weapons well beyond their means and suffering the consequences.

Shadow Play is a merging of two proposals/stories aimed at given Jonas more background as well a homage to the movie “A Beautiful Mind” and it does that but falls a little flat despite a stellar guest performance from Dean Stockwell as Dr Kiernan. You could even argue it’s very much in the vein of a Trek morality tale and in many ways that would be correct, it’s a little more subtle but the message is certainly relevant when you look at the state of our world.

Love the classic Laboratory.

The episode is also interesting as Jack seems to be channelling Daniel at times, granted he has an aversion to the Kelownan’s due to their betrayal of Daniel so he’s never going to be waving the flag in support but he seems well into sync with the Tollan/Nox attitude of limited or no technical assistance beyond basic humanitarian. Overall an interesting episode with some some top notch casting but more of a drama than an action piece with some wonderfully moody lighting.

Promo…

Links…

Jan 152012
 

MC Etching

If you fancy your own custom etched glasses then this is the place for you and here is an example of their work with various Jaffa glyphs etched into some scotch glasses.

MC Etching website

 Posted by at 3:53 am
Jan 142012
 

  Jack now blended with the Tokra Kanan is innjured and captured whilst attempting to escape for a system lords secret research facility. The Tokra consider Kanan and by default Jack as being lost in action but the SGC are not prepared to give up so easily and demand access to all the mission data from Kanan’s spying. Meanwhile Jack is being systematically tortured and then murdered by Baal who uses the sarcophagus to revive him and then a miracle happens. Daniel in his ascended form visits Jack to offer comfort and solace with an offer to help him ascend as that is the only direct help he can offer as the Ascended are not allowed to interfere. The search for Jack continues but time is running out, there is only so much of Jack that can survive the multiple visits to the life giving sarcophagus.

Time to wake up Jack

Abyss is a fan favourite and easily demonstrates how well Jack and Daniel have evolved their close and rewarding friendship, it’s made more evident because we have been denied this interaction after Michael Shanks left the show and as of yet Jonas’s character  is still under development. The Tok’ra back story once again highlights the divisions between the SGC and their weakening resistance against the System Lords but it’s a nice idea to have Jack’s ethics and personality drastically effect the reasoning of Kanan who probably was a very direct and decisive operative willing to sacrifice anyone regardless of any personal feelings.

Pure evil but with style

The production of this episode is once again top notch, some clever movie making is used to create the visuals and tight writing and direction required to make the most of the intense dialogue between Jack and Daniel and Jack and Ba’al.

To put it simply Abyss is the highlight of the season so far.

Promo…

Links…

Jan 112012
 

It’s finally released, the first issue of Dark Matter is out. The scifi story created by Stargate writers/producers Paul Mullie and Joseph Mallozzi.

Dark Matter

 

Jan 072012
 

  A desperate call for help has Sam leading an investigation into the death of Dr Richard Flemming a former employee of Immunitech a concern with links to Adrian Conrad and may have had access to Goa’uld research. Finding evidence of a conspiracy a more indepth look into the town reveals some strange behaviour by the inhabitants and a startling discovery and double cross.

Studying, Jack is notably absent.

Nightwalkers is an unusal SG1 episode, it’s style is different to the bulk of the series and it’s also the first episode Richard Dean Anderson does not appear in which may have been the impetus to try something new. The direction and photography is reminiscent of the X-Files and includes homages to a number of offbeat shows and noir features and boasts some nice costuming and a strong guest cast.

This can’t be good, pretend we’re not in.

The episode does offer up a fine supporting cast and ultimately it is rewarding even though it’s not high on any viewer popularity list but it starts the ball rolling on one of the pivotal events of the series which we will be covering at the appropriate time.

Promo…

Links…

 

 

Jan 052012
 

Sharing the 5th of January as their birthdate is Paul McGillion who starred on Stargate Atlantis as Dr Carson Beckett and continued in the tradition of the franchise in bringing us well respected Doctors and in Scifi in general. His performance helped make Beckett a leading role in the show thanks to the positive fan response from the pilot.

Many happy returns Paul.

Jan 052012
 

Our best wishes to Joe Flanigan today (the 5th) on his birthday (born 1967) and our thanks for his exceptional work on Stargate Atlantis playing John Sheppard. We’ve seem him guest star on Warehouse 13 and Fringe recently as well as TV movies Ferocious Planet and Change of Plans but we want more.

Happy Birthday Joe.

 

Jan 042012
 

I own a set of these from QMX, nice little conversations pieces.

ThinkGeek :: Stargate Coasters.

Dec 312011
 

The Gatecast wishes Peter Williams a very happy Birthday for the 31st. Peter as you know played Apophis in the SG1 pilot Children of the Gods and thus became only the first Goa’uld on the TV show and only second of his species in the franchise, he went on to guest star in 20 episodes of SG1. Along with the writers Peter helped to shape the style, flamboyance and arrogance of the system lords and truly created a guy we loved to hate.

Peters Blog

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IMDB

Website