You gotta love it when the DVD you’re reviewing features three previews of various spin-offs of the very product you’re checking out. Case in point: this selection of fan favorite episodes from Stargate Atlantis. You’ll enjoy previews of Stargate: The Ark of Truth, Stargate Continuum, and Stargate Universe. This series is nothing if not prolific. Matter of fact, Stargate’s longevity is proof of its quality, at least in the eyes of one of my friends at work. Many a lunchtime have been spent debating his opinion of Stargate’s greatness vs. his lack of appreciation for The Matrix. It’s always a guaranteed laugh.

Notwithstanding my coworker’s passion for Stargate, I tried coming to this DVD with my own prejudices in check. Maybe it doesn’t suck. Maybe Stargate really is as awesome he says it is.

Turns out the truth is somewhere in the middle. While not being the crapfest that I expected, Stargate Atlantis (at least these selected episodes) is definitely not on the same level as stellar TV sci-fi shows like Firefly or Battlestar Galactica. These episodes had a higher production value than I imagined, yet the general look, feel and storylines left me wishing for more. It’s not a terrible show, just not one that I’ll be interested in following.

QUALITY:

Given that this is Blu-Ray, the sharpness and clarity is both a blessing and a curse. Some of the effects look phenomenal and topnotch, while others look cheap and fake. Most of the color palate looks good, but in some of the shots the deep blues and blacks disappear into each other.

BONUS FEATURES:

None. Which is a shame. Surely they could have included some behind-the-scenes stuff or at least some interviews. Nothing.

Not a horrible release, but definitely something for the fans and not the casual viewer. You get the two-part series pilot and then the series finale, with a ton of material in-between that’s missed (if you’re a newbie).