Season 1 has embarrassing moments. They even poke fun at certain parts of it in later seasons (specifically, Carter's introduction).

Farscape is definitely the better show. But Stargate is a fun series, too.

Why? I never found it to be all that great but I only watched a season or so of it. I may add it to my netflix queue (after that clears up a bit ) and give it a "fair try" but the muppets just always made it seem more like a kids show/Andromeda (read "cheesy") level Sci-Fi to me.

Looking at the episode synopsis for the first half of this season it seems that Claudia Black leaves after the 5th episode(8/12) and Amanda Tapping returns on 8/26. It does seem that there is a sorta fresh start to the storyline. These new aliens called the Ori seem to be the predominate villians now.

Around the 3rd season Farscape really hits its stride.

As for the muppets and cheesy factor, I felt the same way about the wooden acting, crazy bong noises, and piss poor cgi but eventually I was able to overlook all of that and really get into Babylon 5.

How about the fact that it is Sci-fi's flagship show and brings in the viewers? That couldn't have anything to do with it, could it?

It is quite hypocritical of Farscape fans posting how superior the show is to Stargate, saying it doesn't kick in until season 3, yet the only frame of reference for Stargate is watching the first season. SG-1 doesn't kick in until about the 3rd season either. So check yourself!

Myself? I could care less which is a "superior" show. If it is entertaining and holds my interest, great! There is room for both on my dvd shelf.

Weird, I don't recall saying Farscape was superior.

Agreed. Not that I think SG-1 is high art or anything, but I always thought it was enjoyable.

Ok,so i have just begun watching the first season of SG-1 (am currently onlike the 5th episode) and i have a question.Every time the last person steps through the other side of the Stargate,it quickly closes.How does the Stargate know to close?How does it know there is no one else lagging behind about to come through?

The same way the doors on Star Trek know to open when people start to walk across the room toward them.... because the script says so...

...or at least in the case of gating out from earth, they shut down the gate after the last person travels through.... Now when they come back, who knows?

It was a general statement not directed at anyone in particular. It just seems that when this show is brought up so are the comments that Farscape and Babylon 5 are superior. Almost like Lucas and how "he raped my childhood" comments. It is inevitable.

I've seen the entire run of both.

And look! They're right next to BEN BROWDER!

I think Angel's numbers were up from the previous season but the WB had different plans (which later backfired).
I've always been surprised at Stargates success. Its a pretty good show but never anything that has wanted to keep me watching. Of course the two people pictured above have made me start watching.
Farscape, by all means is not puppet show and gets (really) good in the middle of season 1. It get's progressively darker as the show goes on.

I look at the shows like this.

I equate SG-1 to shows like Highlander, Xena, Hercules, Sliders, and other quality syndicated shows. That's not a knock as I really love those shows (well I don't love Herc, but it was fun). Those shows have their moments and a bunch of great episodes, but for the most part it's just a fun lapse of action and adventure for 44 mins.

I place Farscape next to shows like B5, The Wire (I know it isn't scifi, but it fits), and Battlestar Galactica(new series) which seem to push the conventions of television just a bit further than they were before those shows got here. These are a step up from the rest. I know BSG is new, but I'm fine saying it's nearly as good as FS and B5 after the one season assuming they keep up the quality.

Shows like SG-1 are infinitely easier to get into than shows like Farscape though, and thats why I think it is still here and going strong, while Farscape is no more (not to mention costs). I can watch one stand alone ep of sg-1 in any season and totally follow the story and enjoy it, but try jumping in in the middle of Farscape. Can you say headache? That's why Farscape ultimately is a more rewarding viewing experience than SG-1 is IMHO. They really take you somewhere...I'm not making any sense so let me shut up.

And what is up with people shitting on the earlier seasons of SG-1? Seasons 1-5 is where it's at. I found seasons 6-8 to be pretty unwatchable.

Good to hear. I've watched the first 4 eps. on the Starburst set, and my opinion so far would be Muppets in Space.

Yes, except I buy them on DVD because Sci-Fi on my local Comcast looks like crap.

Stargate has a big story arc as well but it still had a lot of stand alone stuff early on. Later though it seemed like almost everything is part of the arc and for this show I like more of a balance. You can just watch a single episode of SG-1 like you say..SOME episodes, but there are some where you wouldn't have a clue as to what is going on if you hadn't seen the rest of the series.

But the way everything has turned out has been great. Most of the first 3 seasons were stand-alone adventure shows. Nothing wrong with that. Some great, some really bad. Then they get heavy into the arc about season 4, which is also good, change of pace. But even with that they still manage to sprinkle in some stand alone episodes. The best part about the arc is that a lot of what happened in the first 3 seasons comes back or is referenced to in some way. A way of rewarding the fans.

I think they were still finding it's way during the first year. It turns into an adult show with Great story arcs, wonderful characters, Amazing villians, sex, torture, war. Pretty Damn amazing.

I think Farscape was a bit too out there for everyday viewers and I think that's why a lot more people didn't watch it. Stargate never seemed as compelling to me.

Can you imagine a viewer tuning in to see Crichton and Scorpius having a little chat while dressed in bunny suits? By the later seasons, Farscape wouldn't make any sense to a casual viewer.