While the rest of the world suffers through another long summer of reruns, fans of cult space opera Stargate SG-1 are in for a treat -- new episodes have begun.

How do they solve this one? Let's just say they blow a lot of things up.

What's in store for the new season? Series creator Brad Wright has promised that the SG-1 force would get involved in a major war with the alien parasites called the Goa'uld. As seen in the original 1994 Stargate film, the Goa'uld consider humans property, to be used as livestock or pets.

Unfortunately, since their technology is vastly better than anything we have, a fight with them would likely be short and suicidal without the wild card of help from other aliens.

Over the years, the Stargate team has made contact with several ultra-advanced species that could be the Goa'uld's peers or even superiors. Until recently, we have been beneath these aliens' notice -- amusing at best, a nuisance at worst.

However, the new season promises to raise the stakes as the masters of the universe come to appreciate our "less sophisticated approach." In other words, they like us because we're better than they are at blowing things up.

That conclusion -- humans are special not because we're particularly noble or altruistic (as Star Trek preaches), but because we're aggressive and really not all that important -- is typical of SG-1's trademark brand of absurd optimism.

Unlike characters on other shows, the Stargate team can't help but be conscious of humanity's underdog status. After all, if humans from earth can't even get to other planets, how can we be special in the grand scheme of things?

SG-1 is constantly answering this question with humor. While the show's main thrust is serious science fiction, fans love it for its undercurrent of comedy.

Even though the heroes are almost always outnumbered and outgunned, they're always quick with a sarcastic comment. Humanity may be the ragamuffins of the Stargate universe, but the SG-1 good guys aren't going to let the older kids push them around.

It's an attitude the show's creators would likely echo. "We may not be as big as star trek," they seem to be saying, "but let's make the most of what we have. Let's make some science fiction."

"Let's have some fun."