22 Years Later, Jason Momoa's Overlooked Sc-Fi Series Is Officially Free on YouTube

In 1994, director Roland Emmerich released Stargate, a sci-fi adventure meant to be the first in a planned trilogy. Although these plans fell through (don't worry, Emmerich followed that up with Independence Day), it wasn't the end of the story. A few years later, Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner expanded the film’s universe with Stargate SG-1, which went on to run for 10 successful seasons on the Sci-Fi Channel (now SyFy).

SG-1 follows an interstellar crew who use futuristic portals known as Stargates to travel between distant parts of the galaxy. Their aim is twofold: search for alien technology and defend Earth from potential alien attacks. SG-1 mostly stuck to an adventure-of-the-week format with the occasional big reveal. That said, the show featured a major twist with long-running implications at the end of season 7 when the crew discovered the lost city of Atlantis, a legendary realm created by an advanced alien race known as the Ancients.

This became the premise for Stargate Atlantis, a franchise spin-off sequel that follows a new crew dedicated to investigating Atlantis. You might think that enjoying a spin-off of a spin-off would require knowing a metric ton of lore, but you can enjoy all five seasons of Stargate Atlantis without having any background knowledge of the franchise — which is why we were so pleased to see it listed among the free TV streaming options on YouTube.

Here's why you should check out Stargate Atlantis, and what you might want to know before you dive in.

What is Stargate Atlantis about?

Image: SyFy

Led by Major John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan), the Atlantis team dives into the secrets of this lost civilization while fighting off vampire-like aliens known as the Wraith. The series opens with the Atlantis expedition, whose members feel at risk as soon as they encounter the Wraith. Major Sheppard steps up and puts together a team of experts — astrophysicist Dr. Rodney McKay (David Hewlett), Lt. Aiden Ford (Rainbow Sun Francks), diplomat Dr. Elizabeth Weir (Torri Higginson), and Teyla Emmagan (Rachel Luttrell).

This initial team runs into several threats across the galaxy, attempting to consolidate resources and contend with the Wraith, who harvest the life-force of humans for nourishment. As the seasons progress, the Atlantis crew gains new members like Ronon Dex (Jason Momoa), who Sheppard and co. save from the Wraith.

Image: SyFy

Although Atlantis inherited lofty expectations from SG-1 — which was deeply loved by the time its seventh season ended — the sequel achieved success on its own terms. The storyline feels more enriched with pre-existing Stargate lore, but Atlantis pulls off its self-contained drama with great flair and complexity.

While the SG-1 crew has easier access to Earth and the Stargate Command, the Atlantis crew doesn’t have that luxury, as they’re millions of light-years away inside the Pegasus Galaxy. This perpetual reality of being cut off from Earth and its resources heightens the stakes at every turn.

Stargate Atlantis is a morally complex survival story with compelling characters

Image: SyFy

Although SG-1 and Atlantis share some structural plot similarities, the two couldn’t be more different in tone. The parent series mixes up survival scenarios with interplanetary exploration, allowing for a streamlined planet-of-the-week framework that feeds into the primary plot. Atlantis, on the other hand, feels more focused on survival. Its plot lines often revolve around unchecked hubris and the cost of morally dubious scientific advancement.

Take the retrovirus in the show as an example, which can theoretically turn a Wraith into a human. The practical effects of the virus are mixed, but the ethical implications are dire. Erasing an enemy’s cultural memories on a genetic level introduces a moral dilemma for the crew, even if their efforts are guided by good intentions.

Image: SyFy

Stargate Atlantis is chock-full of similar complexity. Over the course of five seasons, we learn how advanced alien civilizations were wiped out despite their strength, and how humans run a similar risk if they take their enemies for granted. More importantly, Atlantis follows in SG-1’s footsteps and weaves an exciting adventure around interpersonal dynamics, allowing characters like Sheppard and McKay to grow into more evolved versions of themselves.

When smart, competent people band together, conflict is inevitable. Atlantis interprets this by resolving those conflicts in ways only the show’s titular crew can. While these episodes build considerable tension and anxiety, there’s ample space for humor and heart.

Stargate Atlantis was canceled after five seasons in 2009, but the series finale feels more like a natural conclusion than an abrupt ending to a grand intergalactic adventure. Almost two decades later, it is worthwhile to visit the mysterious corners of the Pegasus Galaxy, and the expedition crew courageous enough to explore it.

Stargate Atlantis can be streamed on YouTube.