Stargate is full of genius characters, but which is the most intelligent of the bunch? Those like Rodney McKay, Samantha Carter, and Daniel Jackson were born with a rare sort of intelligence, allowing them to wrap their minds around the complexities of wormhole travel. Of course, not every member of Stargate Command is a brainiac. The various teams were made up of fighters as well, who contributed their strengths to Earth’s fight against the Goa’uld rather than significant intelligence. Still, many of these individuals, like Jack O’Neill, had their own type of cleverness that allowed them to save the day (and several lives) on multiple occasions—so how do they all rank?
There are dozens of main characters introduced throughout the central three Stargate TV series. Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe followed Stargate Command at different times in its fight against beings who would see to Earth’s (and other planets) destruction, and it took the work of many to keep the universe safe. The characters were often categorized as fighters, politicians, scientists, and medical doctors, each with their own important role in the Stargate franchise. Still, when it comes to traditional intelligence, they weren’t all created equal.
23 Ronon Dex
Stargate Atlantis
The Satedan played by Jason Mamoa was an excellent fighter in Stargate Atlantis, which made him a great addition to the Atlantis expedition. He differed from the other characters in the Stargate franchise in that he lacked the structure of the military or the education of the various series’ brainiacs. This means that he ranks relatively low as far as intelligence goes. He was reckless and aggressive and didn’t pay much attention to what the brainiacs of Stargate had to say, especially if he was angry. However, when he was settled down, it was clear he was far from stupid—just not the traditional definition of intelligent.
22 Ronald Greer
Stargate Universe
Ronal Greer is highly loyal, a quality that likely aided his climbing the ranks to Master Sergeant in the Marine Corps. He’s excellent at thinking calmly in a conflict, and that certainly earns him some points in the way of intelligence. Additionally, he knows when it is time to step back and let the brains take control. Still, he has an extreme distrust of anyone not in the military, leading to poor decision-making. It’s clear countless times throughout Stargate Universe that Greer is ruled by emotion rather than rational thought, and while there can be benefits to this, it doesn’t allow him to rank against some of the more intuitive fighters.
21 Everett Young
Stargate Universe
Everett Young is another Stargate character who was at least intelligent enough to climb the ranks in the military. As Colonel, he spent time leading an SG team before becoming Commander of the Icarus Base. He has a decent mind for strategy but lacks the intelligence of the Stargate brainiacs or even the intuitive intelligence of those like Jack O’Neill. Additionally, Young lacks the ability to prioritize the aspects of his life, becoming estranged from his wife after consistently choosing the military over his family and having an affair—more signs of some lousy decision-making.
20 Aiden Ford
Stargate Atlantis
Aiden Ford had been a member of the Atlantis expedition in Stargate Atlantis, but he defected after becoming addicted to the Wraith enzyme. This started with his belief that the enzyme made him stronger and “better” overall, which in itself is a conclusion lacking in wisdom. Still, the way he managed to create a new life for himself proves that he possessed a certain level of intelligence.
19 Teyla Emmagan
Stargate Atlantis
Teyla Emmagan was the leader of the Athosians before she became a member of the original Atlantis Reconnaissance 1, owing her decision to a desire to help her people. She was highly respected as a leader on Athos thanks to her wisdom, which extended to Atlantis. Even without any formal authority, Teyla was recognized as a member of Command. All of this goes to support her intelligence, though she wasn’t a genius in the same way as someone like McKay.
18 Camile Wray
Stargate Universe
Camile Wray may not have been a scientific genius, but she certainly had a way with people. She was the primary IOA representative of Icarus Base and could speak at least two languages (though likely more). She was also a talented artist, which often comes with a form of intelligence. Still, Camile’s defining characteristic is her strength, which could make her irrationally stubborn.
17 George S. Hammond
Stargate SG-1
Originally the Lieutenant General in Stargate SG-1, George Hammond is memorable for his leadership of Stargate Command. He had been on the verge of retiring when the series kicked off and selflessly continued his duty after Apophis’ attack. As a leader, Hammond always knew when to turn to those more intelligent than him to make choices, and he had fierce trust in his teams. In this way, he is intelligent, though maybe not in the traditional sense.
16 Matthew Scott
Stargate Universe
Matthew Scott, lieutenant in the United States Air Force, is the second-in-command in Stargate Universe to Colonel Everett Young. Still, several times in the series, Scott demonstrates more potential than his mentor. He is highly emotional, caring deeply for others to the point that it affects his behavior. However, this also means he is capable of great self-reflection. He may not be a genius, but emotional intelligence still counts for something.
15 Richard Woolsey
Stargate Atlantis
Richard Woolsey is a former agent of the National Intelligence Department and the IOA, and though he is initially against the idea of Stargate Command, he ultimately becomes an important ally. This in itself proves that Woolsey is intelligent enough to self-reflect and change his opinions. Additionally, he has a great sense of people and can intuitively tell when someone is up to no good.
14 Teal’c
Stargate SG-1
Teal’c the Jaffa is highly literal, thanks to his culture, which means he can often be perceived as unintelligent. However, this is far from the truth. Despite the brainwashing from the Goa’uld, Teal’c managed to identify them for what they were and made a stand for his people. He eventually became a politician, leading the Jaffa High Council to better the lives of his people, and this proves his unique intelligence. He may not have mastery of languages like Daniel Jackson, but his ability to meld with various cultures is one of his prominent characteristics.
13 John Sheppard
Stargate Atlantis
Like Jack O’Neill, John Sheppard comes across as a “shoot first, ask questions later” kind of Lieutenant Colonel, but there is so much more to him than that. He is a spectacular leader with an intuitive kind of intelligence that might not stack up to Stargate’s scientists but still gets the job done. Sheppard is a highly skilled fighter who understands virtually any type of weapon. Additionally, he is a qualified pilot, which certainly requires a decent level of intelligence.
12 Jack O’Neill
Stargate SG-1
Richard Dean Anderson’s character in Stargate SG-1, Jack O’Neill, likes to pretend that he doesn’t take much seriously, but in truth, he is a remarkably intelligent man. He can’t always keep up with Daniel Jackson or Samantha Carter when they talk about the science of linguistics, but his intuition makes him the perfect leader of SG-1 and, eventually, Stargate Command. In all, his achievements and various decisions under pressure prove that he is far smarter than he would ever claim, just not in the most traditional sense.
11 Janet Fraiser
Stargate SG-1
As the Chief Medical Officer of Stargate Command, Dr. Janet Frasier faced countless challenges throughout Stargate SG-1. Her time at medical school couldn’t have possibly prepared her for the various conditions that she would be tasked with fixing as the teams came and went from different planets. This required Dr. Fraiser to think on her feet, demonstrating how genius she truly is. She might not have been one of the scientists who uncovered the secrets of the Stargate, but she serves her role well.
10 Chloe Armstrong
Stargate Universe
Chloe Armstrong, a senator’s daughter, had a privileged upbringing, so she certainly could have skated through life without the need for intelligence. However, after studying Political Science and Earth history at Harvard, she convinced her father to get involved with the Icarus project. She has a talent for math and solved many problems that those far older and more experienced couldn’t understand, proving that she has earned her place.
9 Carson Beckett
Stargate Atlantis
Carson Beckett was the Chief Medical Officer and surgeon of the Atlantis expedition in Stargate Atlantis, a job even more demanding than the position at Stargate Command. Another thing that makes Beckett unique from Dr. Fraiser is his Ancient Technology Activation gene, which allows him to access Ancient technology. This takes some time to master, but Beckett’s intellect allowed him to gradually get the hang of it.
8 Jennifer Keller
Stargate Atlantis
Firefly actor Jewel Staite played another of Stargate‘s medical doctors, Jennifer Keller, who took over as Chief Medical Officer after Cason Beckett’s death. This position alone proves Keller’s intelligence, but throughout Stargate Atlantis, she demonstrates how her smarts go far beyond this. She fell in love with Dr. Rodney McKay, one of the greatest geniuses of Stargate, and though she isn’t quite to his level, her understanding of physics serves as an initial bonding point for their relationship.
7 Eli Wallace
Stargate Universe
Eli Wallace is nothing like the rest of the crew in Stargate Universe. Eli is a sloppy slacker rather than a sharply dressed military man who would have been easy to overlook. He is entirely lacking in confidence, which is ridiculous, considering he is an absolute genius. A wiz with computers, science, and video games, Eli wound up being a valuable member of the team trapped aboard Destiny.
6 Jonas Quinn
Stargate SG-1
Jonas Quinn was a later addition to Stargate SG-1 and joined Command from the planet Langara. Though his race is similar to that of humans, he has increased cognitive ability, demonstrating a near-perfect memory and the ability to read at speeds far quicker than his Earth counterparts. This allowed him to quickly absorb Daniel Jackson’s notes and get up to speed with all SG-1 had been up to in the previous years.
5 Elizabeth Weir
Stargate SG-1
Stargate Atlantis‘ Elizabeth Weir was originally an American diplomat specializing in international relations. Daniel Jackson was familiar with her work, having used her ideas when drafting peace treaties with other planets. This ultimately led Weir to become the first-ever civilian commander of Stargate Command. Her cleverness in this position allowed Earth to develop strong relationships with other planets, which was invaluable during the events of Stargate Atlantis.
4 Nicholas Rush
Stargate Universe
Nicolas Rush is the classic image of a genius. He is entirely erratic and unpredictable, which could sometimes be a problem in Stargate Universe. However, his expertise in Ancient technology makes him worth having around. Rush is just about on par with the likes of Samantha Carter and Rodney McKay, but he lacks the refinement and social intelligence. Still, he would be a difficult person to keep up with in an intellectual debate.
