Streaming Sci Fi TV: Tracking down sci fi and fantasy shows of interest on the streaming services. Note that streaming availability can change with little to no notice.
What Is It?
Stargate: SG-1 picked up where the 1994 movie ended and kicked off what would be a fifteen-year run for the franchise on television. That show follows an elite team that travels through the Stargate exploring different planets and also assessing the threat posed to Earth by the Goa’uld and other hostile alien races. It premiered in 1997 and ran for ten seasons, first on Showtime and then shifting to The Sci Fi Channel. In 2004, the spin-off series Stargate: Atlantis follows a group that journeys through a Stargate to explore the legendary city of Atlantis which is located in the Pegasus Galaxy. But they find themselves cut off from Earth and facing dangerous enemies far from home. That show ran for five seasons on The Sci Fi Channel. Stargate: Universe follows a group that is forced to flee through a Stargate to a starship on the farside of the universe that they cannot control. They must learn how to survive with very little help from Earth as the ship takes them on a perilous journey through deep space. This show aired on The Sci Fi Channel/Syfy and was sadly cut short after two seasons.
Why Watch It?
Stargate: SG-1 has become a sci fi TV classic and it is also one of the longest-running genre shows. That series took the premise of a mildly successful feature film and expanded it into a well-developed universe populated by a myriad of interesting characters. And the show’s leads have since become iconic for their portrayals of the central characters. Stargate: Atlantis ventured off into a different galaxy and introduced new aliens along with a cast that has since become quite memorable for their roles in the show. And even though that one did not last as long as the parent show, it still had a successful run with the chance to wrap up most of its storylines in its final season. Stargate: Universe took the franchise in a different direction, exploring the far side of the universe and offering a darker, more gritty entry in the franchise. It brought in elements similar to what we had seen Sci Fi Channel’s successful Battlestar: Galactica series, but still populated the show with characters very much in the Stargate mold. That one did not prove as popular, though, and it was cut short after two seasons, ending on a cliffhanger.
Where Is It Streaming?
The Stargate shows were widely available on the streaming services for quite a while, but they disappeared while MGM was going through a sale. Amazon ended up buying the studio (and they may buy you or me soon if Google or Disney doesn’t beat them to it), and now the live-action Stargate shows are available for streaming on Prime Video. The 1994 film is not streaming there at this time, and you have to pay to watch the two SG-1 direct-to-video movies that came out after the series ended. (The animated series Stargate: Infinity is not on Prime Video, but not many people are looking for that one.) There is hope that since Amazon owns the franchise a new series will be in the works soon. And there have been some rumblings to that effect, but nothing solid at this point. In the meantime, there are seventeen seasons of Stargate shows to watch which should keep you plenty busy. Note that outside the U.S., you have to pay for the MGM+ add-on channel to watch these shows.
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Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.
