Question: AUs versus ARs

[samantilles]

I think I'm getting confused on the difference between Alternate Universes and Alternate Realities. In the Stargate 'verse, what is the difference in the definitions as Sam and other characters explain?? In what episodes are AUs or ARs dealt with??

Comments

[scrollgirl]

The show calls them Alternate Realities. Fandom occasionally forgets and calls them Alternate Universes. (Fandom also uses AU to describe the "turn left instead of right" type of fic, in which our imaginations diverge from canon, or to describe "everyone works at a coffee house" fics.)

But if you're talking about the alternate Earths and alternate SGCs and alternate Samantha Carters we've met in canon, then the term is Alternate Reality, as per "There But For The Grace Of God", "Politics", "Point of View", "Ripple Effect", and for SGA, "McKay and Mrs. Miller", "The Daedalus Variations".

From "Arthur's Mantle" when Sam and Cam have been zapped by Merlin's device:

MITCHELL
"Out of phase." What does that mean?

CARTER
It means we may have shifted to an alternate dimension.

MITCHELL
(by rote)
And there are an infinite number of alternate dimensions.

CARTER
No, no, no. That's alternate realities.

MITCHELL
So when the other SG-1s showed up…

CARTER
Completely different problem. See, according to M-theory, that unites the five super-string theories, there are several spacial dimensions, eleven actually, that exist in parallel with our physical reality. Now, these higher dimensions—

MITCHELL
(interrupting)
No, I'll take your word for it. That was alternate reality. This is alternate dimension. Hell, all I need is a good time-travel adventure, and I've scored the SG-1 trifecta.

Hee! Hope that helps!

[holdouttrout]

Said much better than I could, and with a funny example to boot! :-)

[aelfgyfu_mead]

I'd forgotten that bit of dialogue! I love the last line especially!

[green_grrl]

Okay, I just came across this, and had to add it to the discussion:

Is there an evil, goateed version of you somewhere in the multiverse?

:D