*sigh*

[tielan]

So, what is there to say?

Over at Gateworld, the latest edition of SciFi Magazine has kicked up a shitstorm.

According an article in the magazine, Carter will be a full-bird Colonel when she comes to Atlantis, and will take over from Elizabeth as the expedition leader.

Robert C Cooper is quoted: "I can't make people feel better who just love Torri and Dr. Weir and want to see her on the show," sighs Cooper. "Unfortunately, that's just not going to happen. All I can say is that Sam Carter is a wonderful character, and Amanda Tapping is a wonderful actress, and I think she will fill the role on Atlantis admirably. I'm excited about seeing the evolution of her character. Brad and I created the character Dr. Weir and we love the character and Torri, but the change needed to be made."

--

I'll still be watching.

Sam Carter is my favourite character on SG1, I make no bones about that. Like Teyla, she's the character that draws me into the storylines and the plot, more so than Jack, Daniel, Teal'c, Jonas, Cameron, or Vala.

I'm ambivalent about her being in Atlantis, partly because second-in-command on an outgoing stargating team is a very different situation to in-command of Atlantis, and partly because while I love Sam, I'd much rather see more about Teyla and Ronon: two characters who have received the short end of the stick from PTB and fans.

If Sam is used in the same manner as Elizabeth ended up being used: the person sending them out, occasionally assisting in the Atlantis-based episodes, then I don't think I'll have too much of a problem with her. If the show does turn out to be about Sam Carter, then, yes, I will be annoyed.

I tune in to Atlantis to watch the team. All four of them - not just John and Rodney, not just John and Teyla - all of them. I've heard things that suggest Teyla is going to get some serious episodage this season, and I'm relieved, since she's been scanted for the last two. There's at least one episode featuring Ronon, which also interests me: in truth, John, Rodney, and Elizabeth turned out too much like Jack, Sam, and Daniel were in SG1 - only pale imitations, as a friend noted.

One thing that sincerely interests me about Season Four, however, is how they're going to manage the Carter/Sheppard dynamic. Not romantic, but in terms of their roles in Atlantis and how John will deal with someone who has the military authority to rein him in, as neither Elizabeth nor Caldwell had. He's used to running wild, is John. I don't see Sam putting up with that.

I imagine they'll short-cut it. Or possibly wimp Sam out the way they tended to wimp Elizabeth out when John got the bit in his mouth and ran with it against anyone else's authority. Still, there's possibility there. John Sheppard's the golden boy character of Atlantis; Sam Carter's the golden girl character of SG1 - when they go head-to-head, who comes out the winner in TPTB's books?

I'm not happy about Elizabeth's reduction or Carson's death. I would have liked to see Elizabeth given more of a role as a negotiator with civilisations, doing what she's allegedly so good at doing. Plus, I liked the original six and the recurring characters that popped up in the show with cheerful regularity. But I'm not going to scream and yell and insult TPTB, make dire predictions, or quit watching the show.

People are angry, and heated responses are to be expected. I've been there, anguished that on another show before. I'd probably be a wreck if it was Teyla being axed. But I like to think I'd keep most of my cool, even through the disappointment.

Still...*hugs* to the people on my f-list who are angry or disappointed or saddened by the news and are reading this.

Comments

[vaberella.livejournal.com]

Actually what you have to realize is that there is a reason why it will be militarized. I notice people seem to forget this when they complain that of the change from civilian to military.

Atlantis is a threat! It is a direct threat to Earth. They want the Expedition to be successful and have an outpost in the PG, since now they have enemies who know the bloody location of Earth. It cannot be maintained by civilians.

Think about this. You live in a small country that is now under attack by enemy soldiers...are you going to send your doctors/scientists out there on the front line?! No, you won't. You'll send your soldiers.

Atlantis went from having just the Wraith (who had no idea of the location of Earth) and Genii (another group with no location of Earth)--to having the Genii (because I don't get the relationship), the Wraith, The Asurans, and Michael and his bug buddies as enemies. Michael destroyed "safe planets" and has hundreds of those bugs on various planets---feeding on people. He knows the location of Earth. He also knows the gate address of Atlantis. He's a threat. The Wraith are still around, who might know that Atlantis still exists. We have the Genii still out there, and now the Asurans are really out to get the Expedition AND most likely Earth.

When Earth is under threat there is no civilian who can hold the fort. Even the president defers levels authority to his generals and commanders in the military (even though he has executive decision in sending troops to a locale). Atlantis poses a threat to millions of people on Earth--those people are protected by national "police"--the military. Weir cannot strategize and inform them of what is the best method of attack or what to do in such situations, Carter can.

Atlantis HAD to become militarized. If Michael never occurred, maybe I'd say no. But it did and we also had the Asurans, there is no way that this wasn't supposed to happen. I'm just surprised it took so long.

Just as further clarification, who becomes in charge when Atlantis is threatened...that's right John (military). So this is the case for Earth and as Atlantis is the main base, it needed to fall into military hands. It just so happens that Sam is both military/scientist so she mediates both sections.

[blade-girl.livejournal.com]

I totally understand that there is justification for militarizing. What I'm saying is that the civilian-run aspect helped to make this show not just a clone of SG-1. Now, that's pretty much what it will be. I loved that the quest for scientific knowledge was the original point of the mission, and I loved that a civilian remained at the helm even after contact with Earth was re-established and the Wraith threat (and others) was known. It gave the show a different feel from it's predecessor, and now that aspect will be lost. I am upset because that was one of the elements that I really enjoyed, along with the way that the whole cast of regulars was shown to be growing closer and increasingly loyal to one another. Now that they've ripped two of those regulars out of the show and wrested command from the civilians, it is a completely different, more SG1-like show.

[harriet-spy.livejournal.com]

When Earth is under threat there is no civilian who can hold the fort. Even the president defers levels authority to his generals and commanders in the military

Actually, the president is the commander-in-chief of our armed forces. In practice, he doubtless delegates the authority to make most major military decisions to military leaders. But the ultimate decisions are his, and he certainly doesn't abdicate the rest of his authority to the military during wartime.