Sci-Fi Showdown GATE-TO-GATE - Season Awards

Welcome to the final post in the Sci-Fi Showdown Gate-to-Gate edition for the year 2006. For the past 10 weeks, I have been reviewing each new episode of Stargate Sg-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Though for those keeping track (as opposed to last year's Sci-Fi showdown), there really hasn't been much competition this time around. With Battlestar Galactica having been removed from the usual Sci Fi Friday lineup, I didn't much see the point in pitting 2 Stargate shows against each other.

That said, it is now time for the 'Showdown' part of this column. With the first half their seasons now completed, I shall proceed to name those actors and episodes I feel stood out...

Award: Best Single Episode
Winner: Progeny (Stargate Atlantis)

Stargate Atlantis has certainly come a long way in its short 3 season run. Although I've always been a fan of the show, it's really starting to come into its own. In fact, I think that at just about every turn, Atlantis outperformed Sg-1 in terms of writing, acting, and entertainment.

This particular episode was exceptionally great. With an "oh shi-" moment on par with anything in Sg-1's 10-season run, I consider this the turning point in which the torch was passed from original to spin-off. It is because of episodes like this one that I'm not terribly upset that Sg-1 will soon be going off the air. The 'Gate is still in good hands.

Runner-up: 200 (Stargate Sg-1)

Award: Best Leading Role
Winner: Joe Flanigan as John Sheppard (Stargate Atlantis)

Joe Flanigan has always been one of Atlantis' most appealing aspects. He plays the role of the team leader with an energy and style that Ben Browder on Sg-1 simply can't match. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Ben Browder, but there's something about Flanigan that just makes him fun to watch.

They key episode that influenced my choice was 'Phantoms.' In it, Sheppard suffers from a dramatic flashback to his Gulf War experience. It was a brief bit of gritty reality in the usually light-hearted Stargate Atlantis that brought greater appreciation to Joe's range as an actor. Good stuff.

Runner-up: Ben Browder (Stargate Sg-1)

Award: Best Bad Guy
Winner: Cliff Simon as Ba'al (Stargate Sg-1)

A fan-favorite (and rightfully so), Cliff Simon plays the ultimate bad guy. With a cruel smile, razor-sharp wit and mandatory accent, the necessarily over-played role of Ba'al is a bigger than life enemy with depth rivaling that of some show's main characters.

Runner-up: No one, really...Cliff Simon won this by a landslide.

Award: Best Single Line
Winner: Stargate Sg-1

"Damn you, Cam Mitchell!"

Award: Worst Single Episode
Winner (Loser?): Uninvited (Stargate Sg-1)

The more I think about this episode, the less I like it. A filler episode of the worst variety, it was one of the few that started to show Sg-1's age. Oh well. Can't win 'em all.

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for...

Award: Best Show Overall
Winner: Stargate Atlantis

With a combination of great scripts, a fun cast, and quality entertainment, I feel Atlantis out did its predecessor this season. Sg-1's record-setting 10th season was still a good one (with the quality 200th episode), but the darker, religious undertones of the current plot line doesn't compete with the stylized look and feel of Atlantis.

Because it needs to be said at least one more time, the Stargate is in good hands with Atlantis. Sg-1 going off the air will be a sad day, indeed...but with Atlantis going strong, fans can rest assured that the gate will stay open for many years to come.

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Thus concludes this season of the Sci-Fi Showdown. I hope you enjoyed my weekly reviews as much as I enjoyed reading them. It's the support and kind words from readers like you that keep me going.

Now, moving right along, get ready for next week as KHYRON.NET hails the return of the best show on television. Yup...that's right. Starting Friday, October 6th, the destined to be a classic 3rd season of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA begins. Stay tuned for all kinds of coverage right here, at KHYRON.NET.

"So say we all."
~Khyron, 2006