Stargate Complex’s TOP 10 Time-Travel, Alternate Timeline / Universe Storylines

*note: This is a repost of the article originally posted on July 30, 2008.  So “Time” wasn’t even aired yet.

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With the recent release of Stargate Continuum - I just bought my copy earlier today, how does it match up against other Stargate episodes dealing with Time-Travel or Alternate Timeline or even Alternate Universes?

To this end, we bring you the

Stargate Complex’s TOP 10 Time-Travel, Alternate Timeline / Universe Storylines

10. Moebius Part 1 & 2

SG-1 Season 8 / Ep. 19 - 20 One of the many potential “Series Ender” that Stargate SG-1 had in it’s long 10 year run. In Moebius, SG-1 travels back in time to when Ra was still on Earth. We see alternate versions of our favorite characters doing what they would be doing had the Stargate Program not been created. Dr. Jackson is an ESL teacher while Carter is a bumbling mess of a character - pretty funny and entertaining - our number 10.

9. Point Of View

SG-1 Season 3 / Ep. 6 Major Kawalsky returns from the dead and another Samantha Carter pop up in Area 51. They come from an alternate universe through the mirror they found back in season 1’s “There But For The Grace Of God” where their Earth has been overrun by the Jaffa loyal to Apophis. Two Samantha Carters, 1 episode. ‘Nuff Said.

8. The Last Man

Atlantis Season 4 / Ep. 20 Col. Sheppard is sent 48,000 years into the future where the seas around Atlantis have dried up and the star is turning red. The only person who can help him is Dr. McKay who has created a hologram of himself to help bring Sheppard back to the present. Along the way, we find out a possible future for the Pegasus Galaxy where the hybrids led by Michael has slowly taken over galaxy. A future where Ronon Dex and Col. Carter dies in battle, Teyla is murdered after Michael takes her child and Dr. McKay and Dr. Jennifer Keller wind up together, only to have her die less than a year later. How sad.

7. Before I Sleep

Atlantis Season 1 / Ep. 15 When the Atlantis team finds an old woman in a stasis chamber somewhere in Atlantis, they are shocked to discover that it is an older version of Dr. Weir. In this episode we learn how the Atlantis expedition actually failed the first time around, and that the current team we have been following every week - is alive thanks to the actions of the Older Dr. Weir. Probably the best “Weir-centric” episode.

6. 2010

SG-1 Season 4 / Ep. 16 In the year 2010, Kinsey is President, Earth is allied with the Aschen and Stargate Program is a public knowledge. Everything is well… or is it? Our heroes discover an underlying agenda by the Aschen and lay out a plan to change history. Of course they all die in the end, sacrificing their lives to save all of humanity. But it’s ok right? I mean, this is an alternate version of SG-1. Our heroes are safe and sound back in 2001.

5. Window of Opportunity

SG-1 Season 4 / Ep. 06 The whole world is stuck in a time-loop but only Jack and Teal’c are the only ones who remember what happens and it’s up to them to stop the cycle. In this episode, Jack and Teal’c learn to juggle, Jack hits golf balls off through the Stargate and Jack quits the military just in time to give Carter a big fat kiss. A very fun episode to watch.

4. Unending

SG-1 Season 10 / Ep. 20 The series ender - of sorts. The series doesn’t actually end with this episode, but it is the episode that ends SG-1 10-year run on cable television. SG-1, aboard the Odyssey, gets trapped in a time-dilation field that they themselves activated to save themselves from an Orii battle cruiser. They spend the next 50 years together, alone, along with Gen. Hank Landry trying to figure a way out of their predicament. When Carter finally does, they are able to move back time, just right before they get destroyed where Teal’c saves the day, staying 50 years older! Thus the cool white strip of hair he sports now.

3. 1969

SG-1 Season 2 / Ep. 21 The 1st SG-1 time-travel story and the episode where we find out how solar flares can affect wormhole trajectories to shoot people through time. SG-1 is sent back to 1969 where they meet a young George Hammond, early in his military career. But don’t fret, SG-1 finds their way back to the present.:) Seeing the team in a groovy time with groovy clothes. Fun Fun FUN!

2. Continuum

2nd SG-1 Movie Stargate SG-1’s 2nd straight to DVD movie and the reason this whole list was created. So here we are, at number 2! I’ve always loved time-travel stories and how little changes affect a whole bunch of things in the present. This film delivers. Even with all the action and special effects in this movie, I feel the Martin Wood (the Director) was able to bring out great character stories from each of our protagonists. It would have been cool though if Dr. Jackson really lost his leg. The film has guest appearances galore! Old friends and enemies make appearances from Lord Yu to Major Davis. Even Maj. Davis makes a 5 second apperance! The most significant appearance though, is by Don S. Davis, A.k.a. Gen. George Hammond, who sadly dies a month or so before this films official release. R.I.P. Don. So if Continuum isn’t number one… what is?

1. There But For the Grace of God

SG-1 Season 1 / Ep. 19 When Dr. Jackson is transported to an alternate universe through a mirror they find while on a mission, he mistakenly thinks that it is his Earth he’s going back to. Only this Earth is being attacked by the Apophis, Major Carter never joins the military and the people at the SGC has never heard of Dr. Jackson! In this world, Daniel did not accept Catherine Langford’s proposal to join the Stargate Program (way back in the original Stargate movie). Events unfold and Daniel learns that he may possibly have time to save his universe from being attacked as well. An excellent episode that may actually be one of the series best. So that is it folks! I’m pretty sure you have your own opinions on how these, or maybe even some that I have not listed, rank.