I heard...

[tielan]

I heard that there are plans to ask Torri Higginsen back to Stargate Atlantis in Season Five - assuming that there is a Season Five.

Which suggests to me that the decision to bring Sam Carter into Atlantis had one foot firmly in the mire of contractual obligations and business decisions. Amanda Tapping is contracted to SciFi for one more year - in the same way that Ben Browder had two years of contract options after Farscape finished. He's "done his time" in SG-1, Amanda's doing hers in SGA. I doubt the show could afford six credited cast members, plus a semi-regular guest - either in finances or in script time - and someone had to go. Torri is the most easily replaceable in terms of role - since, in the Stargates, the team is functionally God. Without the team, the show does not exist.

Admittedly, RDA was looking for an out, and TH is not, but the business principle still stands: one actress in exchange for another. I've even heard rumours of a clause in Torri's contract that if Amanda came free for Atlantis, TH was to step down. No idea if that's truth.

Still, the perspectives make it quite firmly business-oriented, even if it appears that a lot of people are taking this situation awfully personally.

I'd be mad if they'd cut Teyla, but even me and my ego would recognise it wasn't done solely to piss me off. And sure, I'd be annoyed on Rachel's behalf, but not this much.

I know. Earth logic isn't welcome in fandom.

I'll just be over here, writing teamfic.

Comments

[ubiquitous-girl.livejournal.com]

I think it's kinda obvious that it was business, considering the Amanda situation, but I think it'd probably have been better to just not excercise the option of using Amanda, especially if she ends up going after season 4, once her contract runs out, like you said, to be replaced by Torri. They're displacing fans atm with semi-ditching Torri, if the ratings are any indication, and then they'll displace more fans if Amanda if her contract isn't renewed.

I think they sorta tried to fix what ain't broke with the thought that picking Amanda would gain them former SG1 fans and boost ratings, compared to Torri, who's character isn't part of the 'team' and thus not that major. So far though, it seems to have had the opposite effect. I also think they missed that TRW, which is pretty much a Weir-based ep, was the highest rated for the first half of season 3. :p

[tielan]

It probably would have been better not to exercise that option, but they did. We have to live with it - and kicking and screaming about it doesn't seem like exactly the most mature option.

Well, one of the factors that probably assisted with the high ratings of TRW was the screening of the much-vaunted and advertised 200 - the 200th episode of SG-1 - just before it. As I understand, quite a few people who'd drifted from the show flipped it on just for 200 and I imagine that quite a few stayed on when Atlantis came on. So they may have discounted the ratings on that account.

[ubiquitous-girl.livejournal.com]

Maybe not, but it does let them know we don't like it. :p

It's possible. But I do think that the character driven episodes like Sateda and Progeny and Common Ground were a lot better and thus rated better than some of the 'McKay and Sheppard show' eps that they sorta reverted to in the last half of the season.

[pixiesio.livejournal.com]

It probably would have been better not to exercise that option, but they did. We have to live with it - and kicking and screaming about it doesn't seem like exactly the most mature option.

Maturity in fandom? *blinks* Silly girl, when did that ever happen? ;)

[tielan]

Yes. I know. Hanging around with the wrong people, going over this again. :-/

*cries*

[tielan]

See, by now, I'd say they know fans don't like it. Given the repetition that seems to occur over at GW and on Mallozzi's blog and on the various LJs of Elizabeth fen, I'd say that it's maybe just a wee smidge clear that certain fans aren't happy.

However, just because some fans aren't happy doesn't necessarily mean that TPTB have to change things just to please those fans.

I doubt this applies specifically to you, hon, but some of the behaviour and campaigning I've seen seems to be less about "letting TPTB know that we're not happy" and more about "forcing TPTB to do what we want". At which point, fan reaction ("I don't like where this is going") becomes fannish entitlement ("I and those who think like me are the only ones entitled to get what we like"), and it all breaks down.

[ubiquitous-girl.livejournal.com]

Just a wee smidge? :p

Of course not, but I think precedent, especially after the whole Carson thing (which I reckon was totally planned, btw) makes fans think that campaigning and such will change their minds. I personally think that it's not gonna necessarily do anything, at the end of the day, it's their decision. And Paul was a bit more vocal about it not being his choice, while Torri sorta indicated she knew it was possible from the end of the season, and that she was cool with it. And if they want to write Elizabeth out, it's their loss.

But personally, I watch SGA mostly cos of Elizabeth, so take out Elizabeth, and SGA loses a lot of it's appeal. Not that TPTB should care, after all, they don't even air here. :p


On a side note, I was wondering if maybe you would want put up a link to the Prompt Battle Masterlist on the info page or something, just so it's easier to find in future. :)

[ryf.livejournal.com]

Definetely agreed on all counts. Also, if it weren't for Sam being on the show, I don't know whether I'd continue watching. The show has become so much of 'The McKay and Sheppard show' that it was almost painful for me to watch in the end. I hope Sam beaks that habit where Elizabeth (because the writers did not know what to do with her) couldn't.

Otherwise, I'll just have to rewatch every episode of SG1 again :)

[tielan]

See, personally, I think that Sam is the only character that could break the Sheppard-and-McKay dog-and-pony show.

Which is probably why the McSheps are up in arms about her presence.

She has 10 years of history, is both soldier and scientist, Rodney knew her from the SGC, and she and John may have known of each other - if not actually knowing each other - since they're approximately of the same age.

I don't want it to become the Sam Carter show. And I wish they hadn't brought her in the way they did. However, I do want to see characters other than Rodney McKay and John Sheppard get lines and history, development and story. There is a modicum of hope that Sam might be able to break things up a little, giving other characters (Teyla and Ronon for sure) a chance to shine through.

We can hope, anyway.

[pixiesio.livejournal.com]

{{Hugs}}

[jeyla4ever.livejournal.com]

Sam is a very strong character with presence and a big fan crowd from what I've seen and heard in the Atlantis fandom.

I think Sam will certainly bring that "leader" that I was hoping for in Weir. But this concerns me to some degree. If TPTB continue to change things back and forth between their characters, it will only hurt the show in the end, in my opinion. I like the idea that has been hinted at for this coming season, to focus on the team. And I hope that's what the writers do this season. If that is the case, then Sam's presence should be fine and not jeopardize the other characters.

I'm still skeptical about just how much Sam's role is going to play a part in here. I think she could even hurt Sheppard's role because of her role. One thing I disliked about the infamouse Common Ground, and please don't shoot me for stating my opinion..and I mean that in general not to you personally Tie, is that CG showed me that Sheppard was dispensible. The team did absolutely nothing for him, and yet if it wasn't for the Wraith, he'd be dead. The team didn't go all out for him and the leader, didn't do enough to rescue him like he's done with the others.

If Sam's role is used as she was in SG-1, she will hurt Ronon and Teyla. I"m still cringing waiting to see what they are going to do with Teyla's character this season. So, I guess time will tell. But this idea of bringing Sam and then possibly leaving the door open to have Weir come back, I don't like it. Sam's presence will bring about a dynamic change not only in the leadership of Atlantis but of the team's as well, and then to switch it back can really discourage fans and viewers in general because at least to me it would seem like these writers have no clue as to what they want for the show.

[tielan]

Well, Sam's only in 14 episodes, compared with the full 20. She's a guest star, not a regular cast member, and so far it seems that TPTB are aware that Sam Carter in SG1 is not going to be the same as Sam Carter in SGA.

I doubt they'll use Sam Carter in SGA as they did in SG1. For starters, she's not on the team, and Rodney is already cast in the role of 'technological genius' for the show. That's not likely to change.

Then, too, she's in Elizabeth's role as administrator of Atlantis - which is a secondary role when the focus is on the team.

I don't know that the chopping and changing is such a great idea, either. But they're doing what they're doing, and mistakes will inevitably be made along the way.