So I've been thinking about checking out the Stargate franchise

[Yukaphile]

I have a few questions. Is watching the 1994 movie mandatory in order to start with the series? Which comes first? SG-1 or Atlantis?

[LittleRaven]

It goes Movie->SG1->Atlantis->SGU.

You don't need to see the movie but it's a good movie so why the hell not?

You don't need to watch SG-1 to enjoy Atlantis, although there are a lot of callbacks. But there's also a LOOOOOOOOTTTTTTT of SG-1, so be prepared.

Of all of them, I liked SG:Atlantis the most. That was a really fun show.

Don't bother with SGU.

[Mecha82]

While I have most fond memories from watching SG1 and I have soft spot for movie Atlantis is my personal favorite from entire franchise. I have no idea about SGU so I can't really say my opinion about it.

[Yukaphile]

... any reason why I should avoid SGU?

[ChiggyvonRichthofen]

There's a few references to the events of the film at the beginning of the series, but SG-1's pilot still gives you what you need to know to get up to speed.

SG-1 came first, lasting ten seasons. The season seven finale of SG-1 kicks off Atlantis, which lasted five seasons. The third show, Stargate Universe, is better off ignored, at least until you're through everything else. The reason being that it's not really in the spirit of the rest of the franchise, it's a pale imitation of Battlestar Galactica and other grimdark shows, it has no proper ending, and it kinda sucks (although season 2 has its moments).

SG-1 and Atlantis are both good shows. I think SG-1 hits higher heights overall, while Atlantis is more consistent. Atlantis is a bit more serialized (although I'd describe both as fundamentally episodic) and is strong right off the bat. SG-1 takes a little longer to get going (there's excellent season 1 episodes, but also some misses) and fans disagree on whether the last couple seasons are any good or not.

[LittleRaven]

SGU is....hmm...what's the word I'm looking for here?

Oh yes. Cancer. That's the word.

On a slightly more serious note, SGU had great potential, some fantastic actors, decent production values, and one of the worst writing teams ever assembled. Good lord, it was awful.

[Yukaphile]

So... Atlantis is like DS9?

[Jonathan101]

SG:U isn't bad, it's just different. It's closer in tone to the newer Battlestar: Galactica than Stargate which is the main issue.

A lot of people quite like it, and it's unfortunate that it ended so early.

[clearspira]

So... Atlantis is like DS9?

SGU shares MANY qualities with Enterprise in that they took a family friendly show and decided that it needed to be ''darker and more adult''. And Like ENT, they didn't do that with mature storylines, they did that with tits, swearing, and characters acting like assholes. Lt James for example is very much the T'Pol of the series: her introduction is her having TV sex in a storage closet and then spends a good chunk of season 1 in various skimpy vests and panties. And then we have Chloe who is the cute fanservice Hoshi. Unlike Hoshi however she is not at all intelligent and is a massive prick tease toward Nice Guy Eli. Her job between getting her kit off is to be The Load as TVTropes puts it. I would also say that Colonel Young shares some qualities with Captain Archer in that they are both terrible leaders, although in fairness, at least Young was never meant to be the commander of Destiny whereas Archer was actually chosen.

And then there are the body switching stones, which feature in most episodes and are mostly used to have sex in the bodies of complete strangers and for the ''heroes'' to commit identity fraud.

AND, like ENT, it had a final season that repaired many of the problems mentioned above to the point of it just starting to be a good show... but was too little too late.

SGU isn't all bad despite my description, but for the love of God watch SG-1 and Atlantis first.

[clearspira]

I have a few questions. Is watching the 1994 movie mandatory in order to start with the series? Which comes first? SG-1 or Atlantis?

They do retcon large parts of the film. You can get away with watching Chuck's review imo.