Stargate SG-1: Season 6

What may be the finest science-fiction television series ever produced was at its best, in many ways, during its sixth season, hitting new high notes of comedy, satire, interpersonal drama, political intrigue, and sci-fi speculation in a perfectly pitched mix, not only across the season but often within individual episodes. "The Other Guys," about a bumbling duo of scientists working in the shadows of SG-1 (where a team of scientists and soldiers, led by series star Richard Dean Anderson as Col. Jack O'Neill, explore a multitude of planets via the Stargate, a portal to an intergalactic wormhole), is one of the funniest and most delightful fan homages to geekdom I've ever seen. The dyad of "Paradise Lost," in which O'Neill is stranded on an alien world, and "Metamorphosis," in which Major Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) is the subject of a potentially fatal mad-science experiment, highlighted the are-they-two-crazy-kids-in-love-or-aren't-they relationship between commander and subordinate, teasing the audience with romantic tension that's been building for years. Unfortunately, in retrospect--with the seventh season now wrapped up--the potential of these episodes would later go unrealized, and the series' unwillingness to fully embrace the new character of Jonas Quinn (Corin Nemec)--replacement for the beloved-by-fans Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks)--can be seen here as a clear symptom of larger problems behind the scenes that would come to a head in season seven. Still: Best SF series ever. DVD extras include audio commentaries on all episodes and “director's series” featurettes on over half. Highly recommended. (M. Johanson)