Stargate Atlantis
Aug. 12th, 2009 12:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
erastesI have been enjoying Stargate Atlantis - a LOT. I really like a lot of the scriptwriting, it's fast, funny and furious, doesn't dumb down as much as some shows do, and doesn't homogenise the characters. I really like Ronon, Todd, Rodney, Radek, Kaylee (sorry, can't remember her SGA name) Jessica? I'm nearly finished with series five.
But I'm glad that, as they've decided not to do a series six that I spent a couple of weeks invested in it rather than several years. All Hail the Internetz.
But I can see that the storylines are getting tired, I see stories that I've seen time and time again in other shows, and now I'm watching a clip show disguised as a court room drama which was done, what? 20 years ago with ST:TNG when Picard had to defend the humans against the Q? I do hate the whole sci-fi incestuous thing too. The first thing I thought when "Tripp" from Enterprise turned up on Atlantis with a memory loss was : "No wonder he can't remember anything, he's on the wrong show!!!" Firefly, Voyager, ST:TNG, DS9, Stargate, Enterprise...
Plus - GOD - surely they could film in somewhere else but that same damned forest. That must have been a standing joke every bit as bad as the Stargate Clearing or the Doctor Who Quarry. Characterisation though, I did like. I will miss Rodney, hugely.
As the lovely Robert Carlyle is doing Stargate Universe I'll be interested in that - plus the fact they have a lesbian couple, of course. It seems it's almost mandatory that we have a gay character or two these days. Not complaining! But I do still think we are mired in Buffydom where LESBIANS ARE HOT and GAY MEN ARE EW and still something amusing.
WHAT will I watch next? Is Moonlight worth watching? Any other suggestions?
ETA: OH - and I entirely agree that the way that the SGA behaved (other than accidentally waking the wraith) has been appalling, and that they should answer for war crimes. What they did to Michael was dreadful, for one thing.
But I'm glad that, as they've decided not to do a series six that I spent a couple of weeks invested in it rather than several years. All Hail the Internetz.
But I can see that the storylines are getting tired, I see stories that I've seen time and time again in other shows, and now I'm watching a clip show disguised as a court room drama which was done, what? 20 years ago with ST:TNG when Picard had to defend the humans against the Q? I do hate the whole sci-fi incestuous thing too. The first thing I thought when "Tripp" from Enterprise turned up on Atlantis with a memory loss was : "No wonder he can't remember anything, he's on the wrong show!!!" Firefly, Voyager, ST:TNG, DS9, Stargate, Enterprise...
Plus - GOD - surely they could film in somewhere else but that same damned forest. That must have been a standing joke every bit as bad as the Stargate Clearing or the Doctor Who Quarry. Characterisation though, I did like. I will miss Rodney, hugely.
As the lovely Robert Carlyle is doing Stargate Universe I'll be interested in that - plus the fact they have a lesbian couple, of course. It seems it's almost mandatory that we have a gay character or two these days. Not complaining! But I do still think we are mired in Buffydom where LESBIANS ARE HOT and GAY MEN ARE EW and still something amusing.
WHAT will I watch next? Is Moonlight worth watching? Any other suggestions?
ETA: OH - and I entirely agree that the way that the SGA behaved (other than accidentally waking the wraith) has been appalling, and that they should answer for war crimes. What they did to Michael was dreadful, for one thing.
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no subject
Date: 2009-08-12 12:49 am (UTC)Rodney made the show. Totally. I think I would have stopped watching if it weren't for him. The two shows that had the least Rodney were my least favourite (Michael and Missing? (the one with Teyla and Jennifer boring the shit out the world on that planet)
no subject
Date: 2009-08-12 02:50 am (UTC)I disagree about homogenization, though. I thought the cool pilot, nerdy scientis who is bad with women, tall silent alien warrior, beautiful naked alien warrior, etc. were all straight from central casting.
As for gay men, my understanding was that so long as the SG world is based on the US Air Force, the shows get cooperation from the Air Force so long as the characters abide by the Military Code of Conduct. Can't have Out Officers in the US now, can we? (Hello, Obama?)
I got into SGA first, and have only recently started watching SG-1 if nothing else is on. I'm distressed by the number of episode storylines that mimic each other. Turns out several storylines I liked on SGA had been done on SG-1 a few seasons earlier.
Jennifer Keller is a fairly universally disliked character. She's pretty stupid for a doctor, let alone one so qualified. (See season 5 episode "The Seed" where she sticks her hand in the stuff....)
I personally don't like the character because she's the one who yelled Rodney into treating Elizabeth with the nanites, and then remained absolutely silent when Sheppard criticized that decision.
Also, writing in a character that TWO of the male characters are fighting over? Fans don't appreciate having romance shoved down their throat.
Which is really my problem with the entire SG franchise: they work so far ahead, and so rarely allow outside writers, that they end up a) ripping themselves off, b) forcing relationships among characters/actors with no chemistry, and c) pat themselves on the back for being Masters of the Universe.
Okay, so my main problem is with Joseph Mallozzi, who "teases" fans on his blog with really stupid hints of what's to come, begs fans to watch the show so he can still have a job, then spends his blog writing about all the meals he eats out at high-end places and all the fancy trips he takes. Do NOT get me started on this asshat....
Clip show: I think you'd have to go back to The Menagerie from Classic Trek, no?
Which is my problem with the forthcoming SGUniverse: it's Voyager. SGA was DS9, only without interesting aliens (Richard Kind's character, twice? Really?) And now Universe is Voyager, not ending up where they thought they'd be and trying to get home.
SGA Season 5 episode that generated the most positive fan response: "Vegas." I even downloaded "Solitary Man" from iTunes to hear the whole song! Have you gotten to that one yet?
And major points to them for making Wollsey so kick-ass throughout the season.
War Crimes: Michael, yes. Waking the Wraith--not so much; the Wraith would've woken eventually (50 years) and all those planets would not have a superior military force like the SGC to help rescue and defend them. Rodney gets crucified for blowing up Doranda, but when Carson helps eradicate half of the Hoffan population? Oh, poor dearie lost his girlfriend of seven minutes so we give him a pass.
Lord. I have spent way too much time thinking about this! ;-)
no subject
Date: 2009-08-12 04:00 am (UTC)Word. Also, anyone with that sorta genius is going to make the same level mistakes. Rodney really can't fuck up anything but on a grand scale. (I think fandom makes more of Doranda than canon, anyhow.)
no subject
Date: 2009-08-12 04:47 pm (UTC)YES! Which is why he's my favourite villain on the show. Really, it's hard not to empathize with the dude.
Even David Hewlett has said he will miss Rodney. ;_; Initially I watched the show for him (GO CANADA!) but eventually I liked a couple other characters as well. As a show the writing wasn't stellar but the characters were engaging and there was PLENTY of fodder for fanfiction. =p
no subject
Date: 2009-08-12 09:45 pm (UTC)I'm working thru the DVD set now - I hope this Teyla/baby thing isn't too prevalent.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-13 08:09 am (UTC)