MGM Studios DVD presents

Stargate SG-1: Season 7 (2003-2004)

Daniel: Go ahead, Teal'c, tell them how deep you are! You'll be lucky if you even understand this!
Tealc: My depth is immaterial to this conversation.
Daniel: Oooh, you see!- Michael Shanks, Christopher Judge

Stars: Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Christopher Judge, Don S. Davis
Other Stars: Teryl Rothery, Corin Nemec, William Devane, Tony Amendola, Carmen Argenziano, Vince Crestejo, David Palffy, Cliff Simon, Ronny Cox, Saul Rubinek
Director: Various

MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (suitable for television audiences)
Run Time: 16h:08m:00s
Release Date: 2004-10-19
Genre: television

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
A	A	A-	A-	A

 

DVD Review

The departure of Michael Shanks as Daniel Jackson at the conclusion of Season 5 left a possible void on Stargate SG-1 that might be difficult to fill. Amazingly, Corin Nemec filled his shoes brilliantly as Jonas Quinn and won over many devoted Jackson fans. While many shows flounder by their sixth year, this series actually improved and delivered one of its most consistent and powerful runs. Yet many viewers still yearned for the return of their favorite scholar. Keeping the story understandable and fresh, the creators found a way to bring Daniel back without compromising their vision. Season 7 begins with this appearance, and he provides a jolt that keeps the interesting stories flowing throughout the season.

The seventh season begins with an excellent two-part story that brings Daniel back into the fold and sends Jonas packing for his home world of Kelowna. Unfortunately, it then sputters through most of its earlier shows and doesn’t seem to have a consistent tone. With the exception of Orpheus, the early tales are mostly throwaways that will not warrant numerous repeated viewings. Luckily, the producers were just setting viewers up for the season’s second half, which stands as one of the most effective groups of episodes in the show’s history.

Once again, this collection offers numerous memorable guest appearances, including William Devane as President Henry Hayes, Saul Rubinek as journalist Emmett Bregman, Jolene Blaylock as the Jaffa Ishta, Michael Rooker as Colonel Edwards, David DeLuise as Pete Shanahan, and many others. We also see the welcome return of such recurring characters as Anne-Louise Plowman as Sarah/Osiris, Tony Amendola as Bra’tac, Carmen Argenziano as Jacob/Selmac, David Palffy as Anubis, and the usual SGC figures.

Fan reaction was mostly positive about Season 7, largely due to Daniel’s return as a primary character. His experiences while ascended will almost certainly play a key role in the upcoming episodes of Season 8. This set’s events culminate in the wonderful two part-episodes Heroes and Lost City. Both should be used to quiet any friends who might ridicule you for watching a “science-fiction” show. They stand as great dramas and include some of the best effects in the series’ history. Here come the episode reviews!

Fallen
Written by: Robert C. Cooper
Directed by: Martin Wood
Guest Stars: Corin Nemec as Jonas Quinn, George Touliatos as Shamda, David Palffy as Anubis, Michael Adamthwaite as Herak, Gary Jones as Technician, Vince Crestejo as Yu
Commentary: Actor Michael Shanks, Director Martin Wood, and Director of Photography Jim Menard

Apparently punished by his ascended brethren for interfering during the battle with Anubis on Abydos, Daniel Jackson awakens naked on a strange planet with no knowledge of his past life. Spurred by a new finding from Jonas, SG-1 arrives on this world and is shocked to discover their former member alive and well. After returning to Earth, Daniel begins to remember his time before ascending. Realizing the threat of Anubis’ new weapon, SG-1 devises a dangerous plan to lure him into a trap and destroy it. This quick-moving episode is packed with key events that could be discussed over several pages. Daniel’s return also helps to generate some intriguing moments, as each character struggles to deal with his amnesia.

It’s great to see Daniel and Jonas working together. This excellent premiere deserves 4.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Homecoming
Written by: Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie
Directed by: Martin Wood
Guest Stars: Corin Nemec as Jonas Quinn, Cliff Simon as Baal, David Palffy as Anubis, Michael Adamthwaite as Herak, Gary Jones as Technician, Doug Abrahams as Commander Hale, Gillian Barber as Ambassador Dreylock
Commentary: Actor Michael Shanks, Director Martin Wood, and Director of Photography Jim Menard

After capturing Jonas, the evil Anubis implants a memory device in his brain and discovers the existence of naquadria at his home world of Kelowna. SG-1 attempts to provide assistance, but the situation appears dire for this world. Teal’c forges a risky alliance with the Goa’uld Baal to destroy Anubis and save his friends. Meanwhile, Daniel attempts to rescue Jonas from his cell aboard the enemy vessel. Airing originally with Fallen as a special two-hour premiere, this tale gives Jonas a fitting goodbye. He will return later in the season, but his full-time role on SG-1 is once again occupied by Daniel.

Why can’t SG-1 have five members? This impressive episode deserves 4 out of 5 Stargates.





Fragile Balance
Written by: Damian Kindler
Directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest Stars: Michael Welch as Young Jack, Carmen Argenziano as Jacob Carter, Ed Hong-Louie as Zyang Wu, Teryl Rothery as Dr. Frasier
Commentary: Director Peter DeLuise, Writer Damian Kindler

An unknown teenage boy attempts to enter the SGC using Jack’s identification card, and his knowledge of the facility is stunning. That surprise is nothing compared to the next bit of information that he supplies: the boy believes that he actually is the adult Jack O’Neill. His friends are initially skeptical, but the kid does possess information few others would know. Events become more complicated when Dr. Frasier discovers that young Jack will be dead in a short time. This interesting tale is mostly worthwhile for Michael Welch’s dead-on Richard Dean Anderson impression. He captures all the key mannerisms and deadpan sarcasm, which makes the story more believable.

How dare they make a mini-Jack! This entertaining episode earns 3 out of 5 Stargates.





Orpheus
Written and directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest Stars: Tony Amendola as Bra'tac, Obi Ndefo as Rak'nor, Neil Denis as Rya'c, David Richmond-Peck as Jaffa Commander
Commentary: Writer/director Peter DeLuise, Director of Photography Peter F. Woeste

During a nasty battle with enemy Jaffa, Teal’c is shot by a staff weapon and seriously wounded. During his rehabilitation, he doubts his fighting abilities now that his symbiote has been replaced by the tretonin. After Daniel’s vision shows Bra’tac and Rya’c in extreme danger at a Jaffa death camp, SG-1 attempts a daring rescue. When Teal’c is captured by the nasty commander, he must excise his inner demons to save the day. Christopher Judge receives a rare chance to truly shine in this emotional story. Peter DeLuise crafts one of his best scripts, which provides a gripping viewing experience.

Will Teal’c regain his mojo? If not, we may have to replace some SG-1 members. This powerful episode deserves 4.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Revisions
Written by: Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie
Directed by: Martin Wood
Guest Stars: Christopher Heyerdahl as Pallan, Peter LaCroix as Kendrick, Tiffany Knight as Evalla, Liam Ranger as Nevin, Gary Jones as Technician/Sergeant Walter Davis
Commentary: Actor Michael Shanks, Director Martin Wood, Director of Photography Jim Menard

In a one-off story more similar to early episodes of the series, SG-1 arrives on a toxic world but discovers a small group of people living under a protective bubble. The oddity is their connection to the Link, a computer which controls the safe environment. The situation becomes stranger when a citizen disappears suddenly, while the people retain no knowledge of her existence. SG-1 attempts to reprogram the computer before it is too late for all of them. This episode provides decent entertainment, but the story lacks the extra touches contained within a typical episode.

This mediocre episode rates 2 out of 5 Stargates.





Lifeboat
Written by: Brad Wright
Directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest Stars: James Parks as Pharrin, Gary Jones as Technician/Sgt. Walter Davis, Kimberly Unger as Infirmary Nurse, Teryl Rothery as Dr. Janet Fraiser
Commentary: Director Peter DeLuise, Director of Photography Peter F. Woeste

While exploring a lifeless vessel containing numerous figures held in suspended animation, each member of SG-1 is rendered unconscious. When they awaken, Daniel’s personality has changed to an unknown ruler. Upon examination by Dr. Frasier, it is discovered that he now possesses the spirits of 12 passengers. His personality switches between the beings and nearly blocks his actual consciousness completely. SG-1 meets Pharrin, who holds the key to saving Daniel, but it may destroy the beings held inside his body. This odd episode gives Michael Shanks numerous opportunities to expand his acting into new territory. The plot feels a bit too similar to past science-fiction shows, but Shanks’ work makes it all worthwhile.

Wow, that’s a lot of personalities. Even so, this story rates 3 out of 5 Stargates.





Enemy Mine
Written and Directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest Stars: Michael Rooker as Colonel Edwards, Steven Williams as General Vidrine, Alex Zahara as Iron Shirt, Kavan Smith as Major Lorne, G. Patrick Currie as Chaka, Gary Jones as Technician/Master Sergeant Walter Davis
Commentary: Writer/director Peter DeLuise, Actor Gary Jones

A mining expedition lead by Colonel Edwards makes an important discovery, but a violent death for a soldier on his team jeopardizes everything. The evidence points to the Unas, a tough species who served as hosts for the Goa’uld prior to humans. Daniel calls on his Unas friend Chaka to assist with the negotiations for peace. Unfortunately, the huge supply of naquadah on the planet and the Unas’ stern denial of the SGC mining there makes a settlement difficult. The ultimate result may be an extremely violent conflict. This episode offers an intriguing premise, but it moves very slowly and never really grabbed my interest. Michael Rooker is a familiar face to action-movie fans, and his presence helps to create a worthy foil for Daniel’s actions.

Michael Rooker often dies in movies; will it happen again this time? This solid episode receives 2.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Space Race
Written by: Damian Kindler
Directed by: Andy Mikita
Guest Stars: Scott MacDonald as Jarlath, Alex Zahara as Warrick, G. Patrick Currie as Eamon, Terence Kelly as Hagan, Allan Lysell as Del Tynan, Hillary Cooper as Receptionist
Commentary: Director Andy Mikita, Director of Photography Jim Menard, Writer Damian Kindler

Warrick from the Season 6 episode Forsaken returns with an interesting proposition for Sam. If she helps him to win his world’s big space race, the SGC will gain access to the Hebridians’ technology. However, this event can be deadly, and nasty villains will do anything possible to gain victory. When apparent sabotage may ruin Sam and Warrick’s chances for success, Teal’c joins the Hebridian Eamon to search for answers. This energetic story provides some great effects, but the script is below the usual par for the series. This is the third mediocre episode in a row, and at this point it appears that the show may be losing its creative stride.

Some impressive space effects help to save this episode and earn it 2.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Avenger 2.0
Written by: Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie
Directed by: Martin Wood
Guest Stars: Patrick McKenna as Felger, Gary Jones as Technician, Jocelyne Loewen as Chloe
Commentary: Actor Amanda Tapping, Director Martin Wood

Definitely not the returning guest character all SG-1 fans were hoping to see, Jay Felger (The Other Guys) returns to wreak more havoc with his bumbling ways. This time he crafts a virus that can disable a specific Stargate, but it ends up crippling the entire network. Baal uses this opportunity to strike at some of his fellow Goa’uld System Lords. Daniel, Jack, and Teal’c also are trapped off-world and face some tough situations. Can Carter and Felger work together to figure out a solution to this problem? This quirky episode once again includes some dream sequences for the mostly inept Felger, and they work out okay as mild entertainment. A few moments provide some laughs, but the overall result is only average.

Where is Anubis when you need him? The last dull episode of the season earns 2 out of 5 Stargates.





Birthright
Written by: Christopher Judge
Directed by: Peter F. Woeste
Guest Stars: Jolene Blalock as Ishta, Teryl Rothery as Dr. Janet Fraiser, Christine Adams as Mala, Kathleen Duborg as Neath, Kirsten Prout as Ny'sa, Kimberly Unger as Nurse
Commentary: Director Peter F. Woeste, Director of Photography Jim Menard, Set Decorators Mark and Robert Davidson

SG-1’s meeting with a rebel Jaffa quickly ends when he’s murdered by the enemy. They are saved by a clan of female Jaffa led by the attractive and fiery Ishta. Their Goa’uld lord is sacrificing the women, and they’ve rebelled against his nasty acts. Sam offers Ishta tretonin to end their need for symbiotes, but the leader is skeptical. She does spark a love connection with Teal’c, but fears that that the tretonin will not save them. A tragic death places their entire alliance in jeopardy, and may sever the connection. Jolene Blaylock (T’pol on Star Trek: Enterprise) delivers a powerhouse guest performance. She has recently reprised her role in the Season 8 episode Sacrifices.

It’s such a relief to finally view a top-notch story, which earns this one 4 out of 5 Stargates.





Evolution, Part 1
Written by: Damian Kindler, Michael Shanks (story)
Directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest Stars: Carmen Argenziano as Jacob Carter, Tony Amendola as Bra'tac, Bill Dow as Dr. Lee, Frank Roman as Rafael, Zak Santiago Alam as Rogelio
Commentary: Writer/director Peter DeLuise, Actor Gary Jones

Teal’c and Bra’tac are shocked to discover that a meeting between two Goa’uld leaders has resulted in a massacre. The deaths are the result of a single new Super Soldier, who appears impervious to all weapons. When they discover that this enemy serves Anubis, SG-1 must scramble to counteract this new destructive power. Meanwhile, Daniel and Dr. Lee travel to South America to search for a device that may be pivotal in defeating the Super Soldiers. Unfortunately, this trip could lead to a dire situation. This first entry of the big mid-season two-parter reveals a nasty villain much more dangerous than the usual Jaffa. It’s not a perfect episode, but the intense action makes it a gripping tale.

At least you don’t have to wait months to catch the conclusion. This episode rates 3.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Evolution, Part 2
Written by: Peter DeLuise, Damian Kindler (story)
Directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest Stars: Enrico Colantoni as Burke, Carmen Argenziano as Jacob Carter/Selmac, Tony Amendola as Bra'tac, David Palffy as Anubis, Bill Dow as Dr. Lee
Commentary: Actor Amanda Tapping, Director Peter DeLuise

Jack travels to South America to rescue Daniel and is joined by the strange Burke, a soldier who used to be a close buddy. Unfortunately, a troubling incident severed their friendship and damaged Burke’s career. Meanwhile, Jacob/Selmac disguises himself as a Super Soldier and sneaks into a tightly secured facility. After helping Sam and Teal’c to join him, they make a shocking discovery. This conclusion begins the season’s second half in fine fashion and includes some top-notch visual effects. Several moments stand out as some of the most-stunning shots of the entire season.

This tense thriller earns 4 out of 5 Stargates.





Grace
Written by: Damian Kindler
Directed by: Peter F. Woeste
Guest Stars: Carmen Argenziano as Jacob Carter, John Novak as Colonel William Ronson, Ingrid Kavelaars as Major Erin Gant, Sasha Pieterse as Grace
Commentary: Director Peter F. Woeste, Director of Photography Jim Menard, Camera Operator William Waring, Set Decorator Mark Davidson

Riding aboard the Prometheus to study a strange area of space, Sam finds herself alone on the ship following an attack from mysterious aliens. Trapped with few options for escape, she starts seeing visions of her fellow SG-1 members, her father, and a young girl named Grace. Each person helps Sam to understand the situation and figure out what’s happening in her personal life. This episode is talk-heavy, and the conversations might be a bit emotional for certain viewers, but Damian Kindler’s script is very well written. This is also one of the first direct discussions about the Sam/Jack relationship, even if he is an imaginary figure.

Has Sam gone crazy? Either way, this one deserves 3.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Fallout
Written by: Corin Nemec (story), Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie
Directed by: Martin Wood
Guest Stars: Corin Nemec as Jonas Quinn, Emily Holmes as Keana Sear, Gillian Barber as First Minister Dralok, Patricia Drake as Luchia Cartes, Julian Christopher as Eremal
Commentary: Director Martin Wood, Writer Paul Mullie, Visual Effects Supervisor James Tichenor

Corin Nemec finally returns as Jonas Quinn, now sporting a lesser build and new hairdo. He’s also been dating Keana Sear, a very attractive girl with plenty of scientific knowledge. Sadly, she may also be hiding some important details from her guy. Jonas returns to SG-1 asking for assistance in dealing with a possible nuclear disaster. To avert a catastrophic explosion, they must utilize a gigantic drill and encounter a very dangerous situation. It’s refreshing to see a return appearance from Jonas, who hopefully will play a significant role in future episodes.

Past experience has taught that attractive ladies are generally trouble for our heroes. This solid episode receives 3 out of 5 Stargates.





Chimera
Written by: Robert C. Cooper (story), Damian Kindler
Directed by: William Waring
Guest Stars: Anna-Louise Plowman as Sarah/Osiris, David DeLuise as Pete Shanahan
Commentary: Director William Waring, Director of Photography Peter F. Woeste, Writer Damian Kindler

Daniel just can’t seem to wake up, as somehow his dreams about working with ex-girlfriend Sarah (now the Goa’uld Osiris) are making him very tired. The truth is that Osiris is infiltrating Daniel’s dreams in hopes of finding the lost city. Can SG-1 trap her and perhaps save Sarah in the process? Meanwhile, Sam’s experiences in Grace have caused her to pursue a relationship with Pete Shanahan, a police detective. But do they really have a chance when he can’t know her true profession? This compelling tale moves quickly and provides some nice personal moments for Sam, who usually spends her time presenting scientific information.

The season really starts to take off here; this story receives 4 out of 5 Stargates.





Death Knell
Written and Directed by: Peter DeLuise
Guest Stars: Carmen Argenziano as Jacob Carter, Sebastian Spence as Delek, Mark Gibbon as M'zel, Eric Breker as Reynolds, Dan Shea as Sergeant Siler
Commentary: Director Peter DeLuise

While Sam and Jacob work diligently to prepare a weapon to combat the Super Soldiers, Anubis’ forces attack the Alpha Site. The self-destruct is initiated, but both Sam and Jacob are missing. Jack and Teal’c scour the planet to save them from a left-over Super Soldier, but they may be too late. Meanwhile, this attack creates another rift between the Tok’ra and Jaffa that may cause the end of their alliance. This episode works on multiple levels, as Sam faces possible death from the enemy, and Daniel and Hammond struggle to keep the alliance alive. Standing up very well on a second viewing, this episode is one of the season’s best.

Wow, this has been a rough year for Carter. This effective story earns 4.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Heroes, Part 1
Written by: Robert C. Cooper
Directed by: Andy Mikita
Guest Stars: Saul Rubinek as Emmett Bregman, Adam Baldwin as Colonel Dave Dixon, Ronny Cox as Senator Kinsey, Dan Shea as Sergeant Siler
Commentary: Director Andy Mikita, Director of Photography Andy Wilson

Award-winning journalist Emmett Bregman receives orders from the outgoing President to document the Stargate Program, but he receives little cooperation from Hammond and SG-1. The interviews are pretty basic and do provide some details, but they lack the action necessary to really sell the story. Meanwhile, a Goa’uld probe spots SG-13 on a remote planet and sets up a trap for our heroes. Knowing the situation is perilous, they still must journey there to save their fellow soldiers. This entry is really just a set-up for the major events of the conclusion, which stands as one of the series’ best episodes. Saul Rubinek plays his role perfectly, and all of the major cast members are at the top of their game. It is a bit slow-moving, but it combines well with the more frenetic conclusion to create an excellent two-part story.

The sense of foreboding at the end is almost unbearable. This one receives 3.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Heroes, Part 2
Written by: Robert C. Cooper
Directed by: Andy Mikita
Guest Stars: Robert Picardo as Agent Woolsey, Adam Baldwin as Colonel Dave Dixon, Saul Rubinek as Emmett Bregman, Ronny Cox as Senator Kinsey
Commentary: Director Andy Mikita, Writer Robert C. Cooper, Director of Photography Andy Wilson

In its 150th episode, Stargate SG-1 provides a remarkable episode that easily stands as one of the show’s premier stories. Unfortunately, the compelling screenplay involves the death of a prominent cast member during combat. The identity of this person is kept a secret for much of the episode, but it’s not too difficult to figure it out. Following this death, NID Agent Woolsey arrives to interrogate SG-1 about the events leading to this tragedy. This episode includes plenty of noteworthy scenes and even specific shots that will stay with you for a long time. I should also mention the chaotic battle scenes, which are much more realistic than the usual series fare.

This death will hit everyone very hard. However, it does lead to great drama and 5 out of 5 Stargates.





Resurrection
Written by: Michael Shanks
Directed by: Amanda Tapping
Guest Stars: Kristen Dalton as Anna/Sekmet, Brad Greenquist as Keffler, Peter Flemming as Agent Malcolm Barrett, Bill Dow as Dr. Lee
Commentary: Director Amanda Tapping, Camera Operator William Waring

In Amanda Tapping’s directorial debut, Sam and Daniel investigate a Rogue NID experiment by the crazed Dr. Kessler to create a Goa’uld/human hybrid. This figure is Anna/Sekmet, an apparently harmless girl who dreams of terrible actions conducted by the being inside her. Sam and Daniel work with Agent Malcom Barrett (Smoke & Mirrors) to tackle the issue, and he definitely resembles Fox Mulder from The X-Files. In fact, this entire episode feels more like an episode from that show; Richard Dean Anderson and Don S. Davis fail to appear, and they never set foot in the SGC. The different tone works well, and Michael Shanks’ script hits all the right notes.

This intriguing episode receives 3.5 out of 5 Stargates.





Inauguration
Written by: Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie
Directed by: Peter F. Woeste
Guest Stars: William Devane as The President, Robert Picardo as Agent Woolsey, James McDaniel as General Maynard, Ronny Cox as Vice President Kinsey
Commentary: Director Peter F. Woeste, Executive Producer Michael Greenburg

President Henry Hayes has finally taken office, and he seems like a good guy. It’s too bad his second-in-command is the former Senator Kinsey. That power-hungry individual has caused serious trouble for the SGC in the past, and now he pushes the new leader to make major changes to the program. This episode basically serves as a clips show and provides all the information necessary to understand the upcoming season finale. It does not include the four members of SG-1, but contains solid acting from Devane, Cox, and McDaniel in guest roles.

I’m not a big fan of clips shows, but this one does okay. It receives 3 out of 5 Stargates.





Lost City
Written by: Brad Wright, Robert C. Cooper
Directed by: Martin Wood
Guest Stars: William Devane as President Hayes, Jessica Steen as Dr. Elizabeth Weir, Tony Amendola as Bra'tac, David Palffy as Anubis, Gary Jones as Technician, Ronny Cox as Vice President Kinsey, Michael Adamthwaite as Herak, James McDaniel as Maynard
Commentary: Director Martin Wood

Daniel discovers another location for the repository of the ancients that Jack accidentally downloaded into his brain in the Season 2 classic The Fifth Race. They plan to study it closely, but Jack must do it again when Anubis’ forces arrive. His time is limited, and events become even more difficult when General Hammond is relieved from duty as the head of the SGC. The new leader is Dr. Elizabeth Weir, a civilian who will quickly show her mettle and unwillingness to be a figurehead for Kinsey. When Bra’tac arrives and announces that Anubis will attack Earth in three days, SG-1 must scramble to locate the Lost City to save their planet. While Jack’s health deteriorates and he nearly loses the ability to communicate with his friends, the Goa’uld fleet begins the attack. Will SG-1 find weapons sufficient to destroy Anubis before it’s too late?

This gigantic story was originally aired in two parts, but it has been combined into one movie for the DVD release. Many of the events were originally scheduled for inclusion in the movie Stargate 2, but the series’ continued success changed matters. This ambitious tale includes possibly the largest space battle in series history, and the ramifications of the final scenes are huge. It stands as one of the show’s most pivotal and gripping episodes.

How can Season 8 follow this great conclusion? Definitely 5 out of 5 Stargates for this story.







Rating for Style: A
Rating for Substance: A

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.78:1 - Widescreen
Original Aspect Ratio	yes
Anamorphic	yes

Image Transfer Review: Each DVD set of Stargate SG-1 seems to have a better visual transfer than its predecessor, and this release is no exception. Much of this trend relates to the fact that the television versions also show an improvement. These episodes include a clear picture and wondrous visual effects that remain some of the best on television.

Image Transfer Grade: A-
 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
Dolby Digital 5.1	English	yes

Audio Transfer Review: This disc provides an impressive 5.1-channel Dolby Digital transfer that makes viewers feel like they're traveling through the Stargate. That might be a slight exaggeration, but this track does offer plenty of powerful moments. While not used extensively, the rear speakers do provide some positive help, especially during the space battles and opening credits. The overall result is an effective experience that could not be much better for a television release.

Audio Transfer Grade: A- 

Disc Extras

Static menu
Scene Access with 110 cues and remote access
9 Featurette(s)
21 Feature/Episode commentaries by cast and crew with one for each episode
Packaging: Box Set
Picture Disc
5 Discs
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: dual

Extra Extras:

1. Photo galleries
2. Fan club commercial

Extras Review: MGM deserves considerable credit for once again providing the necessary budget for a commentary track to be included for every episode of Season 7. This inclusion really allows fans to discover comprehensive details about the series' production. Time constraints prevented me from hearing every single commentary, but I was able to listen to many of them. Highlights once again come from Martin Wood, who provides an excellent track during the Lost City finale. He also joins Michael Shanks and Jim Menard for several memorable discussions, especially those relating to the two-part season opener. It's unfortunate that once again we have no appearance from Richard Dean Anderson, and it would have been nice to hear Teryl Rothery discuss her time on the series. Luckily, Amanda Tapping makes several appearances, and her statements about directing Resurrection are especially interesting.

The other supplements actually fall short of the ones provided with the last few releases, which is a slight disappointment. The "Director's Series" featurettes have been toned down to five this time, and three of them are pointless and very brief. Luckily, the new inclusion of "Beyond the Gate" interviews with the four major stars is enjoyable. Each actor speaks briefly about the show and then presents some of their pursuits away from the set. The best one involves Richard Dean Anderson's nature expeditions, which have taken him around the world. The only additional extras are photo galleries on each disc that provide color pictures of the filmed show and the design aspects. They aren't fascinating, but it is nice to see a more extensive collection.

This boxed set still deserves a high rating due to its inclusion of the commentaries and a few unique features. However, I hope MGM and the producers will try a bit harder to offer better documentaries and interviews with the next releases.

Extras Grade: A
 

Final Comments

Whew, watching all those episodes wore me out! However, I'm still ready for the return of Season 8 in January. With each successive season, Stargate SG-1 continues to gain viewers and create more obsessed fans. This five-disc collection of Season 7 includes plenty of fun extras that will keep them busy for a extended time period.

Dan Heaton 2004-12-15