*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

[toasteronfire.livejournal.com]

That's true. Someone else (not on this post) pointed out that the female characters are apparently interchangeable on Stargate. Which royally sucks, but this PTB have never been 'good with women' on the show anyway.

I know, and yet I always get in this vicious cycle where I hope that TPTB will surprise me with the women characters, they don't, I get disappointed, and then after a sufficient time I start hoping again. It's like a bad bf that always lets you down but you just can't quit.

However, I'd maintain that Elizabeth was a main cast character, but she wasn't the main lead character - if you see my distinction. The lead character role is still filled by JF as Sheppard, with secondary lead filled by DH as McKay.

Oh absolutely, I was merely using her main character status to really emphasize how situated she was in the Stargate universe compared to BB/Mitchell in s9. Weir has had three seasons, been in almost all the episodes, had some (but not nearly enough) development, and came in as leader because of her obvious qualifications. Mitchell pales in comparison, yet he got leadership over Sam and now Sam gets leadership over Weir. It doesn't really add up.

And yes, the female-character-fan-wars and the people promoting them should be sent on a one-way trip through a black hole. Why can't I like Sam and Teyla and Elizabeth all at once?

I like all three too and I'm not going to choose sides. Weir fans accuse Sam fans of doing X, Sam fans accuse Weir fans of doing Y, Teyla fans accuse Weir fans of doing Z, etc etc. When you hang around the fandom long enough you see members of every fan group doing X, Y, and Z, so I don't really see the point of singling anyone out.

I do believe that Joe M. doesn't help at best or encourages at worse this fandom infighting. I have no idea why, considering the fighting doesn't help the show at all. :(

[tielan]

I know, and yet I always get in this vicious cycle where I hope that TPTB will surprise me with the women characters, they don't, I get disappointed, and then after a sufficient time I start hoping again.

Oh, yes. Me, too. We should start up some kind of support group...