A magnificent program which shows just how imaginative and professional TV can be when the director, cast, crew and screenwriters all work to the best of their considerable ability. The simple fact that it doesn't play like the film over and over again (Something which has plagued many film-cum-TV-shows of late) shows how original it really is and though yes, I admit, the first series was very 'Star Trek' in its recycling of the same story types it always remained somehow different.
Congratulations must primarily go to the cast as they are all incredibly believable and easy to relate to. Richard Dean Anderson is excellent as the hard-bitten, cynical soldier, Michael Shanks plays the James Spader role to perfection, Christopher Judge is fantastic as the Moses-like Teal'c (His range of facial expressions is unparalleled) and Amanda Tapping is possibly the best of the bunch simply because she makes her character so believable as the tough female soldier/scientist (Denise Crosby in Star Trek:TNG is a good example of how NOT to do it).
The show looks fantastic, the special effects are great and look exceedingly expensive but no show can survive on sfx alone and fortunately a masterful screenwriting crew keep the stories exciting and thought-provoking (You don't get much of that these days) and the blending of so many different story arcs is a great achievement. All in all a brilliant show and long may it continue.
