Affinity
Sometimes, it’s difficult to watch Stargate SG-1. Not because it’s a bad show. My biggest criticism of it is that it so often feels bland — but it’s not bad. No, it’s difficult to watch because it’s in its eighth season, and I’ve seen so many shows that were even less bad than Stargate die before even the faintest glimmer of a thought of an eighth season popped into their heads. Luckily, my favourite show is about to charge on into its twenty-seventh season, so this doesn’t get to me too much.
Nevertheless, Stargate is one of the longest running genre shows I can think of, especially if you count all of the separate Star Treks as separate entities. Which I do. Watching some of the poorer episodes, I’ve been puzzled by how the writers can possibly have anything less for seasons eight and nine. Watching this season, though, I’m getting some hope for the future.
It must have become clear to the Stargate folks pretty early on that not every story could be set off-world. Hence the long succession of “closer-to-home” baddies, such as the NID, and most recently, the Trust.[ftn] In more recent times, the show has even been exploring the — gasp — personal lives of our heroes. In a rather dull episode last season, Sam found herself a boyfriend, having finally given up on Colonel O’Neill. He’s back in this episode, but it’s not nearly as bad, because he’s not in it as much. I’d be concerned that Sam was marrying such a bland loser if I cared about her at all. I don’t.[ftn]
I do care about Teal’c, however, and this episode is pretty much a Teal’c episode, so that works quite well. After a highly amusing and unsettlingly vigilantish[ftn] opening, our alien friend continues to try to fit into society while being a minor superhero. It’s tricky, given that every time he does something cool with a can of beans, or even just his fists, the government comes down on him for not keeping a low profile. It’s even trickier when the latest output from Shady Villains ‘R’ Us decide to take advantage of this tension.
Daniel gets a nice scene as he tries to explain to Teal’c why he shouldn’t go around getting involved with other people all the time. Unfortunately, just as he’s finishing, the exception to the rule pops up in the guise of his cute next door neighbour.[ftn] With Daniel’s blessing, Teal’c seduces her with his insane muscles and l33t Tai Chi. Hasn’t he got a girlfriend offworld? Ah well, it’s not cheating if it’s on a different planet.
An episode exploring the issues Teal’c has adjusting to living in the world is worthwhile, and I enjoyed this one a lot. Irritatingly, at the end of the episode the door is closed on any further ones, as Teal’c is sent back to the SGC to live. You could argue that this makes the episode a bit of a tragedy, but really, given the reset-button feel of it, it makes the whole thing seem kind of crap. Especially if Teal’c never gets out again. For the most part, this is a real-world Stargate episode that actually managed to be entertaining and not very boring.[ftn] If they keep improving like this, maybe one day they’ll actually manage a really good one.
If they don’t, they should stick to the space travel and galaxy-saving.
Footnotes
- To be fair to them, as an Executive Producer points out, every good name for secret organisations has been used on Alias. Even The Trust, as it turns out.
- Especially having seen episode 11 from this season, ‘Gemini’. Here’s a one-word review: “STUPID!”
- Not a word.
- Also known as Lois Lane from Smallville.
- Damning with faint praise? Well, yep.
Andy
February 9th, 2005 at 12:09 pm
Vigilanty is the word you’re thinking of.
I’m not sure if bland is what I would call it. Stargate SG-1 relies on the characters to carry the show with their interactions and quirks but doesn’t let the characters get out of control, like on Friends or Ally McBaal. The characters held up the show during the first few seasons. Carter is a weak point but it not all her fault. She is given most of the crap plots and is forced to play the straight character while the others goof off. She only looks bad in comparison. Just be thankful she’s no Jonas. You’d be ecstatic to get Sam on Atlantis. That show’s failing because they’re all such hopeless characters.
The ‘blandness’, as you put it, is in my opinion what allowed it to get to nine seasons. Can you see Alias making it to nine seasons? At the rate they use up plot twists and evil organisation names, I can’t see it lasting more than one more season. Stargate has solid storylines and likeable characters making it easy to watch. The lack of romantic tension is refreshing. Still it does have some crap episodes but they’re not altogether in one season unlike other shows.
The reset button was unfortunate. I wanted to see an ongoing story about Teal’c in the real world.
And finally before this turns into a review itself, many of the real world episodes look like they’re trying to save money by staying on Earth and not using any outdoor scenes or special effects. Sometimes this can pay off just as no Jack can result in Fragile Balance. Sometimes.
Tom
February 9th, 2005 at 6:09 pm
You’re right about the characters carrying the show, but I suppose that’s where my blandness claim comes from. Sam of course is ultra-bland, but even the others occasionally suffer from being a bit… dull compared to characters on Farscape, Firefly, Angel, etc.
Daniel sometimes gets to be fun and noble and academic and cool (especially cool in ‘Prometheus Unbound’), but just as often just seems to be wandering around aimlessly. Teal’c often slides into the quiet alien stereotype, though he’s fantastic when written well. Jack walks a fine line too, though his one-liners are usually excellent.
My feeling is that the writers say “Right, this is a Daniel/Sam/Teal’c/Jack episode. Let’s focus on him/her and yeah, basic dialogue for the rest of them.” It’s rare that I watch an episode of Stargate where they’ve managed to give everyone something good (character-wise) to do. Character developments only happen in character-devoted episodes, and often are ignored afterwards.
So bland, not perhaps the right word. But if things start taking the turn for the crazy as seen in ‘Prometheus Unbound’, then perhaps there’s hope for a more dynamic show after all.
Shannon
February 9th, 2005 at 6:32 pm
But Prometheus Unbound was just silly!I mean yes, yay Claudia Black and all, and it will be interesting when she and Ben Browder have scenes together next season but.. it was just silly! In the same way the episode in Season 7 that had Sam all alone on an empty Prometheus was also silly. Extreme on the money/cast/set saving scale and relatively pointless.
Jack
February 9th, 2005 at 6:54 pm
Some American murder shows use their characters merely as vehicles to drive a story about other people. It must suck – not only do you not get any character based scenes ever, the main plot isn’t even about you.
People love these shows. I don’t know why. But that is what they watch the show for.
I don’t think generally people want science fiction to be some big character drama. In the way Andy finds the lack of romantic tension refreshing, I find the lack of any type of prolonged tension amongst the group refreshing. I used to watch Angel every week mostly just because I wanted certain characters to finally reconcile and not stuff it up. Damn it was draining to watch sometimes. I don’t have to worry about it with this show. I watch Stargate for the plotting elements, and a bunch of stable characters being thrown into ridiculous situations and doing cool stuff (like Daniel is Reckoning Pt 2, Andy. Damn he is cool sometimes).
A show can’t expected to be everything.
Of course you aren’t saying that, and I’m not saying you are. If you do want character plots however – have a look at the first few seasons when they flesh out the characters back stories. I remember the episodes concerning Jack’s ex-wife and his son being really good.
It’s not so much a new thing, obviously they just ran out of ideas for what to do with them.
P.S I also watch Stargate in the hope we will get a Daniel – Anubis confrontation. One day I’m sure.
Jack
February 9th, 2005 at 7:00 pm
I wrote the above post after Andy’s one. Remind me to click refresh in my browser more often and not have coffees in the middle.
Tom – in Firely and Farscape the characters are just thrown together on a ship. It’s where they live. It’s almost too easy to have interesting character interaction.
On Stargate, the show is set where they work, and they are all highly paid professionals. It’s not an excuse, but you could argue in that respect Stargate is hamstrung by it’s setting.
The base is also extremely isolated, so any episode focussing on a personal life of a character would probably have to be away from the stargate, which I think is a difficult direction for the show to take. People wouldn’t like it.
Tom
February 9th, 2005 at 9:01 pm
Shannon: You say ‘silly’ like it’s a bad thing. I’ve never had so much fun watching Stargate. I enjoyed it far more than any of the previous comedy episodes. You can’t compare it to that Sam one, where nothing happened. Heaps happened in ‘Prometheus Unbound’.
Jackson: I see your point about the refreshingness of little inter-character tension. Though personally I like just a smattering of it more than none. While it may be draining, it makes me desperate to see the next episode all the time. I’m enjoying Stargate, but I’m rarely desperate to see the next episode.
Well, I wasn’t until you mentioned Daniel being cool in ‘Reckoning’. Now I’ll have to watch them all really quickly.
By this stage, I agree, they’re highly paid professionals in a sturdy organisation. No show is forced to stay in the one setting though. Frankly, after 8 years, I reckon any show should consider shaking something up completely if possible. It doesn’t look like they want to do that, which is a shame, as I really enjoy that kind of topsy-turvy change. Others don’t, though.
Mattt
February 10th, 2005 at 12:31 am
i agree with shannon. Prometheus Unbound was silly. in the way it felt very contrite.
And i think people like those criminal/mystery shows because theres no character development. if you miss an ep. you miss anything important. each show is Completely contained, abosolutly no spill over from one ep. to the other and the networks can also put them on in any order they like.
Oh, one more point, in the TV show about us i woould have to say that we have less character development than we used to. the first few seasons were so indepth. these days its all a bit samey. not that im blaming the writers, its just what happens when everybody knows each other. this point isnt fleshed out properly but im sure you smart cookies in tv land understand what i mean. so no deliberate misinterpreting.
Tom
February 10th, 2005 at 12:47 am
Good point about the no development shows. As people grow up and get busier I suppose it’s harder to keep track. Although in the future I predict TV that works more like bittorrent…
Jack
February 10th, 2005 at 1:29 am
What are you talking about Matt? Of course we should blame the stupid writers?
Any other TV show would have at least one of us lose our memory by now. That would have kept things interesting. I vote you should, and maybe whoever did it gets you to try and kill us and then we make you remember by showing you something like a dice, or a 40k model or something.
It isn’t up to us of course is it?
Shannon
February 10th, 2005 at 6:07 am
Oh my freaking god! THREADS!! THREADS!!! EVERYBODY GO WATCH THREADS RIGHT BLOODY NOW!!! You too Tom, I don’t care if you are skipping ahead ITS WORTH IT!!
I… I.. I…
I dont even know where to begin.
But I won’t spoil.
Hurry up and watch it people!!
Shannon
February 10th, 2005 at 6:11 am
As for your writers, I say you hire new staff. They could give Andy to accomplish this year, and let Matt breeze through his third year maths subjects. I don’t really know what they could do for jack. Maybe they could get you a really cool ibook. Just depends how much to promise to pay them I guess. That is actually where you are going wrong, in my opinion. You haven’t been paying your writers enough these last two seasons or so, and they are getting lax.
Shannon
February 10th, 2005 at 6:14 am
Oh blast it I made it go over the page. The important comment is back there on page 1.
Now, can I talk about Threads yet??
Jack
February 10th, 2005 at 6:53 am
You should at least see reckoning first, since it you know, kind of follows on.
Tom
February 10th, 2005 at 8:20 am
Will people please, if they do talk of Stargate episodes, warn me of spoilers as I’m only up to “Good to be the King”.
Our writers have been moving slower, but then it’s possible they decided to have more than one year in a season. That’d explain the lower density of incident.
I still reckon this year might turn out to be interesting.
hayko
February 10th, 2005 at 10:57 am
I can’t believe there really was a decent commentary on the episode, well at least until someone mentioned “threads”… ;)
This year dows show a few interesting episodes. Even Atlantis has managed to come up with some nice twists, nothing compared to that SG1 one, though.
My vote goes for silly, too, on Prometheus Unbound. I did like her character, but the wrapping was silly. For crying out loud, at least give us something. A ton of naquada, or contact to a new race, or a really cool fight where Prometheus doesn’t get smashed within twenty seconds. But no, lose everything is the concept.
Question, can a show survive if it leaves out any conspiracy (eg NID, Trust, etc) completely? Personally, I dislike those episodes. Always so boring to find out it’s just humans who are annoying again.
Tom
February 10th, 2005 at 4:04 pm
I don’t get your problem with “PU”, Hayko. Why were you expecting/needing those things you list?
The conspiracy things are kind of dull in Stargate, I agree. I liked them in things like The X-Files, but the Stargate conspiracy people just aren’t as threatening as the Cigarette Smoking Man.
Shannon
February 10th, 2005 at 5:05 pm
Hayko the conspiracies are necessary because those cheaply made episodes leaves money left in the pile to make cooler episodes where things blow up and such.
I won’t talk about Threads here, Tom, don’t worry. I realise that would just be silly, and mean. But its intersting. And something happens that… not talking about it
Even if you’re writers have gone with the old ‘not a year to a season’ trick (not forgetting that they skip the whole summer too – so you are wondering aimless currently until, what, the start of March? I think thats when the writers return) they haven’t come up with very many plot turns recently. That whole bit in Canada was great, lots of new material, but they must have blown their budget way out with the location shooting (and the set for that kitchy diner! nothing like that exists in real life) because since then it has slowed down somewhat.
Shannon
February 10th, 2005 at 5:08 pm
I just made one of my very own pet peeve typos. There are several errors but prizes for the one that makes me feel like the biggest dope. I was wondering…cough edit function cough
Andy
February 10th, 2005 at 11:18 pm
your not you’re
interesting not intersting
it’s not its
wandering not wondering
that’s not thats
several capital letters and full stops
Next up I’ll correct Matt’s post.
Andy
February 10th, 2005 at 11:32 pm
Hayko’s comment about PU was that there should have been some trace of the episode after it ended. They didn’t have to reset the situation completely.
Shannon
February 11th, 2005 at 3:19 am
The fact that I look at the keyboard rather than the screen when I type and that I dont read over before I impatiently hit this post button does make them an adventure to decipher for others, I can imagine. I’m really only expecting Hayko to read my comments anyway, having not met me he hasn’t yet learnt the delicate art of ignoring me in full
ps punctaution is for losers
yeah
word.
Tom
February 15th, 2005 at 10:11 pm
Hayko’s now in the country, and thus can learn the delicate art of ignoring you in full whenever you like!