A new chocolate shop open it’s doors in Vancouver today. Monde Chocolat, located at 2391 Burrard Street just below West Broadway, is the latest player in a worldwide chocolate renaissance. And while Monde Chocolat won’t be giving Yaletown favorite Chocoatl a run, it’s certainly a welcome addition to the Vancouver chocolate scene. Whereas Themis Velgis boutique shop offers up delectable handmade creations and single origin drinks, Monde Chocolat serves as a showcase for some unique – and occasionally downright bizarre – chocolate bar lines. There’s Michel Cluizel and Valhrona in addition to the owner’s own line of Terra Nostra organic chocolates. There’s also an impressive selection of Zotter’s “organic and fair” bars. I picked up 11 of the latter, intent on taste-testing them alongside my colleagues this week. Flavors include: pumpkin seeds with marzipan, celery truffle and port wine, sweet chestnut, cherry brandy with marzipan, chili, butter caramel, pistachios, rum and coconut, walnuts with marzipan (Yeah, what can say. I like marzipan.), cream nougat with pistachios, and, most intriguing of all – bacon bits. The place also offers a nice selection of frozen desserts (the lady behind me in line was picking up a chocolate-dipped cheesecake on a stick), and some Vermont-imported truffles (which were fine but, alas, paled in comparison to some of the city’s more delicate handcrafted creations – again, Themis Velgis and Chocoatl come to mind). On the drive home, I sampled a couple of my purchases and was blown away by one in particular: a sublimely sweet and salty Finissimo Cioccolato al Latte con Pane Ticino that has vaulted into my Top 3 Favorite Chocolate Bars of all time. And milk chocolate no less!

Prior to hitting the chocolate shop, we had gone to Bistrot Bistro for lunch and enjoyed yet another terrific meal. Our neighbors, a family of four, were so thrilled with their first-time experience that they struck up a conversation about the wonderful meal they’d just enjoyed. “How was the chocolate mousse?”I asked the father. “If I was at home,”he confided, “I’d have licked the bowl clean.” The duck and caramelized onion tarts that Fondy and started with were plate-licking good as well – a nice compliment of sweet, smoky, and savory. My salmon cake was very good, as were our sides: buttery delicious glazed carrots with pine nuts, and a “couscous raisin”. Fondy’s “pain perdu”, Bistrot Bistro’s version of French Toast comprised of a golden baguette with maple syrup, proved as great as we’d enjoyed on our last visit. Service, as always, was homestyle and friendly.

Well, I picked up my Continuum crew gift on Friday: a cap, t-shirt for Fondy, and nifty hoody (also for Fondy). Which reminded me yet again: Paul and I have to decide on a crew gift for the end of season four. In the past, crew gifts have ranged from North Face jackets and vests to DVD players. But Paul and I want to do something unique. Alan suggested following the lead of last year’s crew gift – the Stargate watch with the closed iris that necessitates your twisting open the springloaded iris in order to check the time- by offering irised sunglasses (that will necessitate your twisting open the springloaded irised lenses to see out, making driving an altogether far more exciting experience). I was toying with the idea of getting everyone individual ice cream bowls with home made ice cream. After eating their way down to the bottom, a delightful surprise would await – a picture a Paul and I smiling back at them and giving them the thumbs up – a gift they would undoubtedly treasure forever. Marty G., being the practical fellow he is, suggests we should just give everyone cash. Needless to say, we’re still thinking about it.

Questions, queries, and quibbles –

Mackenzie’smomm writes: “Decided on a name for the pug you are ‘definantly not getting’?”

Answer: Fondy is now considering getting a boy and calling him Kobe (that’s Ko-bay like the beef and not Ke-bee like the basketball player. They look to be very well-marbled after all).

Carolina writes: “If you had to leave town for 3 months and leave your pugs at the care of one of the characters of the shows (taking out the women) who would you leave them with?”

Answer: Hi, Carolina. Nice to see you back. In answer to your question – in the event Fondy and I go away, we leave our pugs in the infinitely capable hands of our dog-sitter, Shawne.

Scifan writes: “What is the proper term for shushi without the meat? Is it maki?”

Answer: Not sure what you mean by sushi without the meat. Do you mean fishless sushi? Well, certain types of maki can be fishless, but most aren’t.

PG-15 writes: “Which episodes are you writing this season Joe?”

Answer: I wrote Reunion and This Mortal Coil, and will be writing The Rise of the Googlions Part I (although I’ve been meeting some resistance on this title so it may change before I hand in my first draft).

Anonymous #1 writes: “In your opinion, is SGA episodes more arc based or more stand alone?”

Answer: We’ve always strived to maintain a fair balance of both. However, in season four, more than any other season, there are certain arcs – some dominant, some subtle – that will run through most every episodes.

Vikitty writes: “How did you and Fondy just choose TWO of the six puppies? They’re all so cute!”

Answer: Don’t encourage her!!!

Vaberella writes: “Is there any chance that Ronon delves into the romantic waters a bit in S4?!”

Answer: It’s possible.

Judy writes: “1) Does watching commercials count as watching the show or just mainly the show it self when the ratings are in? 2)Will Rachel be in all the episodes in S4, will she be out for a few episodes like Amanda was when she was pregnate? 3) Why did you guys decide to give the atlantis expedition a whole new wardrobe in S4?”

Answers: 1) Advertisers are particularly interested in commercial viewing habits, which is why the introduction of personal video recorders has thrown a wrench into the way a show’s performance is gauged. 2) We’ll include Rachel as much as possible. But her involvement in the last few episodes will have less to do with us and more to do with how she feels. 3) At the beginning of the year, we had a sit down with the actors and talked about what they’d like to see in season four. They made two requests which we honored: hold read-throughs and change the costumes to something a little more comfortable.

Caty writes: “Did the up-trend in the ratings continue for Vengeance like you hoped it would?”

Answer: We don’t get word on Friday night’s ratings until Monday afternoon.

Jen, the cow hugger writes: “Did Rachel’s pregnancy kind of throw a monkey wrench into any previous ideas you had for Season 4? -What seafood dishes would you recommend for someone who avoids it?”

Answers: 1. To be honest, it did at first. The dark turn that Rachel refers to in her recent interview (and that I first suggested way back when I wrote that pre-season four poem) was intended to go a lot further. But mommy hood changed those plans. Nevertheless, we were able to explore Teyla’s character a little more this season and give her a season-spanning arc. 2. Seafood recommendation for someone who avoids seafood? Hmmm.

Nick writes: “Will we see more of the back story of Shepard?”

Answer: There is a story in the works that will hopefully give us the opportunity to shed some light on John’s backstory.

Anonymous #2 writes: “In the past, the seasons premiered in July, so you needed to begin planning/writing in November. With the premier pushed out 3 months to October, couldn’t the planning/writing for a potential season 5 be pushed out 3 months to February?”

Answer: On the surface, that would seem to be the case. However, actor/writer/producer deals need to be picked up by a certain date as well. If they are not, then everyone becomes free to pursue other projects rather than sitting on their hands, waiting around for a possible pick-up.

77 thoughts on “June 17, 2007

  1. I have detected a pattern with regard to your ‘tone’ in your posts and mailbag responses.

    I do believe it is directly proportional to the amount of high quality chocolate you have consumed, purchased, or fondled that same day.

    But when the snerts come out in full force again…well, I’ll be slapping that chocobar right out of your grubby paw to get you primed.

  2. Chili? Bacon Bits? Ok, I’m not super adventurous with chocolate (I only eat white…yes, you can block me from this blog forever if you want), but…seriously? Wow, that is going to be interesting.

    So…have you guys found a story for the last as-of-yet unfilled spot in Season 4?

  3. Hi Joe!

    I’ve really been enjoying your blog and all the little tidbits about Season 4 you’ve been feeding us. I can’t wait to see it! It sounds better and better all the time. 🙂

    You’re avid reading has inspired me to pick up the hobby again myself. Thanks to your recommendations, I’m about 1/3 of the way through David Brin’s ‘Kiln People’. I’m not nearly as fast a reader as you, but I’m really enjoying it. I’ll be sure to track down some Scalzi next. So, thank you, for entertaining me in more ways than one.

    -Kath

    p.s. Kobe is a cool name for a dog. Too bad you’re *cough* not getting another one.

  4. Dear Joe, I’m sorry for the confusion about the shushi. I’ve had avocado maki, cucumber, etc. Most had the seaweed on the outside, but recently I’ve had some with the rice and seasame on the outside. They had carrots, tofu and a couple of other things in the middle. They were also on a party platter, so I was just wondering if they had a proper name. No big deal.

  5. Anonymous #2 writes: “In the past, the seasons premiered in July, so you needed to begin planning/writing in November. With the premier pushed out 3 months to October, couldn’t the planning/writing for a potential season 5 be pushed out 3 months to February?”

    Answer: On the surface, that would seem to be the case. However, actor/writer/producer deals need to be picked up by a certain date as well. If they are not, then everyone becomes free to pursue other projects rather than sitting on their hands, waiting around for a possible pick-up.

    Since you didn’t deny the assumption, are we to conclude the premier is definitely pushed out to October?

  6. Dear Joe, Sorry I forgot. Since you do great shots, maybe one of your gifts can be photo albums. Most with simular pics, some maybe special one just for them, etc.

  7. Joe,

    Is the hidden Beckett clue the scene in Vengeance where Teyla suggests that Michael was a wraith scientist? I believe Rodney replies with something like “one of their best”, though I may not be remembering the dialogue correctly.

    That would lay the foundation for Michael to somehow be responsible for Beckett’s return.

    If someone does guess the clue correctly, will you tell us, as you did with N.O.A.S.?

  8. Inspired by a book, my brother-in-law attempted a bacon and chocolate cake which turned out pretty well.

    For the pug(s) you haven’t decided to get, how about either Zeus or Cyrus (both rulers) as names since the pugs seem to rule the roost.

  9. Those pug puppies are so cute! What color is the new puppy that you and Fondy aren’t getting? And you’re obviously a big fan of pugs, but have you always had pugs or have you had other breeds in the past?

  10. I have to agree with jenny robin–chocolate does seem to have a soothing effect on you. I think maybe if I stocked up on some chocolate for the coming week, my family might like me better. I’m typing my last week of dictation (woo-hoo!), AND doing extra typing for someone who’s on vacation, while getting ready to start a new career a week from tomorrow. It’s all very exciting (okay, some of it’s exciting), but a little stressful. Chocolate would be a really good idea, I think. Yep, gonna get some tomorrow.

  11. When Atlantis first started, did you have a series bible composed with the outlines of how the seasons could plan out, or are the storylines thought up as you go along? If you used a series bible, does it still have any use today?

  12. I haven’t yet seen you mention my new favorite bar chocolate Santander. My favorite is the 53% bittersweet, but the people who introduced me to the chocolate have passionate feelings about the 65% bar.

  13. Hi Joe:

    I’m very happy to hear my favorite lawyer, Socrates Poole, will be a regular on BL next year. Hopefully Brisco and Bowler will pay their pal a visit!

    Good luck with the new additions to the family. When do you make it official? 😉

    After you come back from your summer break, approximately how many episodes will be left to film?

    Have a nice week,

    Roxanne

  14. Two questions…Please tell me there will not be a six month mid-season break next season?? Would it matter if the beginning of season 4 ratings are higher than the end of season 3, to determine whether there will be a season 5, even if they already made thier decision?

    Oh, and just curious…everyone is talking about Jason’s new tattoo, that we’ll see it season 4…what is it???

  15. I was just wondering how you feel about Godiva chocolates, and if it’s negative has this question majorly offended you in the same way as if I (a pizza lover) was asked if I liked Dominoes?

  16. Would you please tell us some more about the SG1 character crossing over in the back half of season four? Thanks.

  17. Answer: We don’t get word on Friday night’s ratings until Monday afternoon.

    Well, then I’ll ask this again today.. Did the up-trend continue for Vengeance?? 🙂

  18. Joe, I like the name ‘Kobe’ for the pug you are ‘definantly not getting’ very high class and neat sounding.

    So as to the pug you are not getting will it ‘definantly not’ be a fawn or will it ‘definantly not’ be a black? Do you have a favorite pug color?

  19. Hey! Just a factoid for Scifan concerning sushi…

    Sushi doesn’t refer to the meat, it refers to the dish if vinagered rice.
    The raw meat itself is called sashimi. Without sashimi, you still have sushi.

  20. I just want to say how much I appreciate that you guys wrote Rachel’s pregnancy into the story instead of just ignoring it or (perish the thought) leaving her out of the show while she’s showing. Especially in sci-fi, this seems to produce the most interesting results. I really can’t wait to see what you guys have cooked up to explain that, but I’m really looking forward to finding out.

  21. First of all – dont take any offense to this, I dont mean to rant i’m simply expressing my opinion. I just wanted to know if a) Torri would be appearing in any of the latter half of Season 4 (if you know yet?) and b) if I, as a Weir fan, would actually enjoy season 4. I probably should also add that I did enjoy Carter on Sg-1 😛 .

  22. Joe,
    I have a suggestion for you to give to Ivon for a extra on the season 4 DVDs.
    [sarcasm]He can have a segment on how John “Tiberus” Sheppard is the new Kirk for the ’00’s in TV science fiction. You can show all the Hot, Alien women he has been with over the first 4 seasons. Throw in the couple of Wraith Queens he has dealt with and it would have to be nominated for whatever awards show gives out awards for DVD extras!!!

    Man, that would really piss off all the Sheppard fangirls, the Sheppard/whomever shippers, and the non-Kirkers in SGA’s audience!

    You really need to do that because your blog has become so bland lately aside from any comments and spoilers you give out.[/sarcasm]

    Tags put in for people who can’t seem to identify sarcasm.

  23. About chocolate… the best way for to eat chocolate it is to eat a piece of black pure chocolate with a piece of bread. But the bread it must be good pure kind of bread, not the sandwitch bread.

    Some time ago the children of my country we ate chocolate with bread.

    It is simple and very good!

  24. OOoh, dark chili chocolate is my favourite! My friend recently dragged me into a tea store and I spotted some chili and chocolate tea. Would you try it?

  25. Hello !

    Is there any chance that we could see Elizabeth Weir in the season 4 finale ?

    *fingers crossed* Thanks

  26. Sheppard mentioned the existence of a previous marriage so are we ever going to explore that?(it made ‘Neill very 3-D)
    God forbid things go south, could you see yourself working on
    Rage of Angels(if it works out.)

  27. Adam Baldwin from FireFly seems a good fit for a Setedan guy or a worthy adversary of Ronan —
    Would you ever consider him?
    He could make SGU work?

  28. I would think that Nathan Fillion from firefly would be a cool guy to have on the show for a couple of spots?

  29. Joe Flanigan has confirmed in an interview that Torri Higginson is, indeed gone.

    That makes me very sad.

    I wish you could actually see what you’re losing by losing this character and this wonderful actress.

    Then again, if you can’t see her value, maybe she’s better off working for people who can.

  30. Well, if you’re saying you don’t WANT your watch….. *pug eyes* 😉

    *sniffles* Is this cold that’s laying waste to everyone I know here in New Zealand and in the US also there with you guys? I know it’s winter here and all, but it’s getting quite ridiculous…

    I have to admit the pug puppies are cute – my flatmate had two boston terriers when I was in the US, but the cutest of them all has to be the beagle puppy my brother got – insanely cute, and a HUGE amount of work.

  31. Being half-Swiss, I have to say that I have rarely associated Ticino with finer chocolate, but you now have me intrigued. Might have to head out that direction the next time I visit the family.

    And really? You have to let us know how chocolate with bacon bits tastes. That’s one I’ve never heard of before.

    Is there a chocolate you won’t attempt?

  32. Hi Joe:

    Is Season Four of SGA going to be more character-driven or plot-driven? From what I’ve been reading it sounds like it will be a good mixture of both…

    Have a great day!
    🙂

  33. Hmmmm, chocolate! But “bacon bits”?????

    Hi! I’m new around here and shall stop by regularly. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and snapshots! 🙂

    I really hope we’ll see Daniel Jackson come over to Atlantis some time. Is Amanda Tapping likely to stay for a 5th season?

    Looking forward to the various arcs you’ve mentioned!

    On another note, can you tell when the casting process for the third series might start or who I need to ask to get a chance to audition?

    Thank you!!

  34. what about are really nice gift card to some place for the cast and crew????

  35. Will Shep be changing diapers–smelly as they are in any episodes? That humiliation should be fun to watch.

    And please if you gone through the trouble of hacking storylines so this somehow works, please show it. I’m real interest in Ronon reaction when he learns and just about everyone.

  36. Hey Joe, thanks for answering my Ronon question.

    Actually a question I haven’t seen asked or answered. There’s not much talk on Teyla’s backstory, more on development of Teyla.

    We know she’s tapping into her Warrior skill. We know we’ll find out about her wraith ability physically adn biologically and we know we’ll find out about the Athosians a bit more.

    Will we find out more about Teyla’s past history (before leadership and before the Atlantis Ex)in Season 4? Would we meet people from her past in S4? Like we saw in Letters from Pegasus.

  37. PG15 said…
    So…have you guys found a story for the last as-of-yet unfilled spot in Season 4?

    That would be the ep centred around your imminent cave to Cheeky L’il Devil’s Shirtless Shep Campaign, wouldn’t it Joe? *insert pleading looks and a cheeky grin here*

  38. Hi!

    Random sharing for today. I mistyped your blog address http://josephmallozzi.blogpsot.com/ and I ended up at a something that called itself the Mega Site for Bible studies are something like that. My first reaction was of course, what the hell, who has kidnapped Joe’s blog, then I realized I was an idiot who typed the domain wrong.

    I LOVE the darker turn of the recent episodes and can not wait for season 4!!! Mom & I will be having our traditional mother/daughter bonding time and watch the finales together this Friday. I’m making chocolate brownie cookies that uses dark chocolate has cocoa percentage of at least 60% and some slightly sweeter chocolate chunks for chips. Very yummy!!

    Happy Monday!

    Nichole

  39. Morning Joe!

    Your Louisiana Culinary Correspondent again. How are you?

    Gosh….those puppies are soooo cute! We happen at the moment to have cats here. Last week, we saw this beautiful Australian Shepard puppy though and hubby wants one again! (he had a female for 14 years and she was smart as a whip) Personally, I’d like a John Sheppard but that’s just me! *winks*

    Have you seen any of the commercials for the new fall shows yet? I’ve seen one that features Hugh Jackman quite a few times now. I’ve also seen one (can’t recall the show title) but it’s about a vampire. It’s taking “Close to Home”‘s Friday spot. Don’t you think by the time fall rolls around we might be so sick of the commercials we won’t watch the show?

    Take care!

  40. Many characters have sparred with Ronon. Will we get a chance to see Carter give it a try?

  41. How did you know this new chocolate place was opening? Did you just happen to see an ad, or do you have informants?

  42. In Joe Flanigan’s new interview, he confirmed that Torri gone. =[
    This makes me very very sad.
    It kind of upsets me because I feel that the women on SGA aren’t as developed as the men. I wish that you guys would have kept Weir and maybe had her butt heads with Carter. That would have made the character grow instead of getting rid of her all together. Anyway–hopefully you guys will consider putting Weir into more episodes.

  43. Don’t know if this has already been asked before, but will we see Ford again in season 4 and/or beyond? or did he truly die in ”The Hive”?

  44. Got some Q’s for you, Mr M!!

    1) you mentioned the Stargate merchandise, ie, caps, hoodies etc. Will they ever be available to buy here in england as i would LOVE one one those stargate hoodies?
    2) Have you seen the poll on favourite slash pairings on the official Stargate website? Any comments etc on the fact that the Mckay/Sheppard slash pairing is currently in the lead at 75%?
    3) Talking of puppies, just thought i’d mention my English Bull Terrier has just had 4 pups. They’re about 1 week old. Giv us a bell if you fancy a change from pugs! lol

  45. “Paul and I have to decide on a crew gift for the end of season four.”

    What’s wrong with Wen Chocolates?

  46. Is it premeditated for people on the cast and crew to say things that will stir up, or continue, controversy? For example what Joe Flanigan said in the interview Sci-Fi has psted today about the Carter character and finding it “impossible to find any fault with her character” when all of you are likely aware of the harsh things said about the “perfectness” of Carter’s character?

    Is this pre-mediated on the part of the studios to keep the fan-wars and divisions within fandom? If it is I would love to know the rationale behind that.

    If not I would just like to know why cast or crew would say something so blatant when they know it is a hot button, esepcially a hot-button for an albeit small, but mean, group of fans and also just adds fuel to the fires that are the SGA anti-season 4 and anti-Carter on SGA brigades.

    Guess my bottom-line question is does Bridge or MGM orchestrate this kind of stuff on purpose?

  47. *UNDERWEAR*

    O.K. Joe, now that I hopefully have your attention I have a question about two episodes that you wrote. I read that in “Ripple Effect” it was Ben’s idea along with the director to film the one scene with Mitchell in his underwear. Because you were not informed ahead of time about it you wrote the scene in “Momento Mori” and Sam’s comment….as a way of getting even. I was curious if this was true or not?

    I would also like to add that in 10 years, and correct me if I’m wrong, we have NEVER had a scene with Daniel in his underwear EVER!
    Teal’c once maybe twice in 10 years. Sorry Joe, but you know how it is equal opportunity and all….

  48. Quick question Joe, and I don’t know if you’ll get to it, but still. Do MGM or SciFi know of this blog? Basically, do your “bosses” know about what you do on here (and if so, do they care?)?

  49. I would like to see the men of SGA in their underwear. Might increase the viewing figures!

    I am sitting here grinning at the thought of this…..

    🙂

  50. Anonymous…”I would also like to add that in 10 years, and correct me if I’m wrong, we have NEVER had a scene with Daniel in his underwear EVER!
    Teal’c once maybe twice in 10 years. Sorry Joe, but you know how it is equal opportunity and all….”

    You did get Daniel naked as a baby once and in nothing but a flag…I’m sure some here would pay lots to see the same happen to Shep…

  51. Pane Ticino? Ehm… sorry never heard of it, and I live 60Km from Ticino. From the picture seems something like pane di segale, but I’m not sure. It’s a little bit disturbing. I prefer a Domori 80% or a dark Venchi with chilipepper. What about dark chocolate cream with Rum? I bought once this november at the last Ciocolandia, nice little village fête with the longest Salame di Cioccolato in the world. Do you know it?

  52. Few Questions: 1)Is the Air Force involved in Stargate Atlantis? 2)Will the Wraith ever attack Earth? 3) Even with SG-1 over, is it still possible to see O’Neill again on Atlantis?

  53. I personally like the title Rise of the Googlions just for the hiliarity factor of hearing the cast say Googlion. Stand your ground!

    Loved Vengenance with the team interaction and McKay’s P-90 wielding.

    Question: If a package is sent to a cast member at Bridge Studio and it arrives after shooting has finished is it forwarded to them or held until the hiatus is over?

  54. Hi Joe

    After weeks of straight 1.2s, it seems ‘Sunday’ scored a 1.1 in the ratings:(

    Are the ratings for ‘Submersion’ and ‘Vengeance’ rising from those of Sunday? Can you post them for us?

    thanks

  55. For example what Joe Flanigan said in the interview Sci-Fi has psted today about the Carter character and finding it “impossible to find any fault with her character” when all of you are likely aware of the harsh things said about the “perfectness” of Carter’s character?

    Or maybe it’s just JOE FLANIGAN’s opinion about the character and it doesn’t have anything to do with anyone else!

  56. Anonymous said…
    Is it premeditated for people on the cast and crew to say things that will stir up, or continue, controversy? For example what Joe Flanigan said in the interview Sci-Fi has psted today about the Carter character and finding it “impossible to find any fault with her character” when all of you are likely aware of the harsh things said about the “perfectness” of Carter’s character?

    Is this pre-mediated on the part of the studios to keep the fan-wars and divisions within fandom? If it is I would love to know the rationale behind that.

    If not I would just like to know why cast or crew would say something so blatant when they know it is a hot button, esepcially a hot-button for an albeit small, but mean, group of fans and also just adds fuel to the fires that are the SGA anti-season 4 and anti-Carter on SGA brigades.

    Guess my bottom-line question is does Bridge or MGM orchestrate this kind of stuff on purpose?

    Well of course they do! The big wigs at MGM, TPTB at Bridge and Joe Flanigan spent hours on the net together in a huddle. They sifted through thousands of posts and tried to come up with a way to annoy certain areas of the fandom… ‘Oooh, I know, Joe. why don’t you piss off some of the fans by saying Carter’s perfect. Hmmm, that’ll keep those pesky fans at each other’s throats for a day or two!’

    *Insert sarcasm as appropriate.*

    Anonymous, seriously, you really need to get out more…

  57. Hi Joe, thanks for answering my question about the location the other day… 😉 Arrr, you’re a wiley one, to be sure.. 😀

    Here’s an interesting (I hope!) question for you. We’ve heard a lot about how the focus will be on the characters and the relationships of the team in Season 4 and we obviously know some of what is to come in Teyla’s arcs etc. So – looking at Season 4 overall, so far, and the arcs and development for the characters, what one word/ajective would you choose to describe the development to come for each of McKay, Sheppard, Ronon, Teyla, Weir and Carter?

    Thanks.

    P.S. I’m totally blaming you and your blog for my decision to buy chocolate whilst stopping for gas on the way home. Yup. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it… 🙂

  58. I have a SGA related question to ask you.
    When will Season 4 promotional pictures and clips be coming out?

    PS Love your blog read it everyday, thank you for posting it.

  59. Hi Joe,
    How about naming a star after each person in the crew? Hey you could make up your own Galaxy, the Gate Crew Galaxy (GCG)?
    Or a personally signed pug puppy?
    How about a replica of the Stargate in chocolate?
    But my favourite has to be a Babushka doll (stacking Russian doll) one inside the other. You could have McKay inside a Ronon inside a Teyla inside a Sheppard and so on. Well you wanted different!!
    Best wishes Pauline

  60. Is Michael the same wraith scientist who experimented on Teyla’s ancestors years ago and because of him she has the wraith DNA?

  61. hi, joe,

    i thought i’d throw in my book recommendation. i don’t read much besides fanfiction, but before i found that lovely pastime, i used to read scifi novels. star trek: next generation novels to be exact. the first and my all-time favorite was ‘imzadi’, by peter david. as a troi/riker shipper, i was in high heaven. but it was also wonderfully written and i’d highly recommend it if you enjoy st:ng.

    i also used to read biographies, and loved barbara mandrell’s, patti duke’s, and carrie fisher’s (loosely based)- ‘postcards from the edge’.

    ~~~

    Anonymous said…
    “Is it premeditated for people on the cast and crew to say things that will stir up, or continue, controversy? For example what Joe Flanigan said in the interview Sci-Fi has psted today about the Carter character and finding it “impossible to find any fault with her character” when all of you are likely aware of the harsh things said about the “perfectness” of Carter’s character?

    Is this pre-mediated on the part of the studios to keep the fan-wars and divisions within fandom? If it is I would love to know the rationale behind that.

    If not I would just like to know why cast or crew would say something so blatant when they know it is a hot button, esepcially a hot-button for an albeit small, but mean, group of fans and also just adds fuel to the fires that are the SGA anti-season 4 and anti-Carter on SGA brigades.

    Guess my bottom-line question is does Bridge or MGM orchestrate this kind of stuff on purpose?”

    but did you know there’s a *large* section of fans that think carter’s just fine? she’s a multilayered character. not perfect, but not a mess. basically, she’s someone i VERY much identify with.

    so in my opinion, joe flanigan making those remarks about carter might be because he actually sees her that way. honestly.

    sally 🙂

  62. According to the producers, Carter’s status as Sheppard’s superior may lead to some conflict. Flanigan is all for it, though he admitted that playing out that friction has been harder than he expected.

    This is from Flanigan’s scifi.com interview.

    Sooo, is Shep going to pull a “Hot Zone” on Carter?

  63. I know it’s insanely early to ask this question, but still, is there a chance that Weir will come back for season 5, if there will be a season 5?

  64. does the choco-tasty store have cote d’or? It’s a belgium chocolate brand which is very very very delicious. They have these chocolate covered hazlenut praline cream things that are just to die for =)

  65. JMO, but I think Joe Flanigan should not be looking for conflict among the Atlantis team-mates. Subtext and depth in the dialog and interaction yes, but not conflict all the time. I hate it when John and Rodney bicker endlessly. The great thing about sci fi is you have big alien enemies to give you conflict. Am I being too simple-minded??

  66. Is Michael the same wraith scientist who experimented on Teyla’s ancestors years ago and because of him she has the wraith DNA?

    I’ve been wondering this myself, actually. If he’s not, will we ever meet that wraith?

  67. Anonymous said: “You did get Daniel naked as a baby once and in nothing but a flag…I’m sure some here would pay lots to see the same to happen to Shep…”

    You do realize that Daniel had to DIE first don’t you? Please tell me you don’t want Shep to die just so you can see him naked? The flag scene with Jack and Daniel was sooo worth it though!!!!

  68. Joe…

    What about semi-personal gift baskets with an Atlantis theme?

    Have them made and filled with mostly the same stuff (chocolate, candy, tea, wine, whatever) but then add a coffee cup and/or high quality pen or something with their names on it and the Atlantis logo.

    Would that be unique enough or are you thinking about something else?

    MB

  69. Thanks Joe, for answering my question about your suits! They look really good on you.

    I was wondering whether or not you have seen Milo & Otis because it’s a movie that was made in Japan about the friendship between a cat and a dog (a pug!). The whole thing is narrated and it isn’t animated or anything. It’s a very sweet story.

    Catherine

  70. Some fans seem to think that whenever TPTB, actors or crew say something they don’t agree with, it means there’s a conspiracy to piss them off.
    I wonder if they’re so paranoid in real life too.
    Some people need to get a life.

  71. No no no no no no no, no romance for Ronon.

    Okay, I realize it’s been like 10 years and the guy’s gotta be going cross eyed by now so you know, maybe a romp here and there would be acceptable but please no romance.
    One of the reasons I love that character so very much is because of his run and gun rage. The last thing I want to see is some mushy, googley eyed Ronon with the stupid goofy yuk (I still can’t watch “Irresistable”) and ….. ah I am gonna hurl.

    Please Joe, please no Ronon romance, please, please, please I say again, please.
    Pretty please with chocolate on top?

  72. Hi Joe, thanks for the clarification, I was a little worried about the whole “Googlions” thing, however I don’t know this novelist, Gugliani, are you sure about the spelling?
    Change subject: really Joe if you love anime you will adore manga. Always, when I watched the anime then read the manga, my preference went on manga story.
    You’d love Naoki Urusawa stories: XX century boys and Monster. Funny, dark and really tangled.

  73. Hi Joe, as I’ve said before, you are one of my daily pleasures, so I’m always reading, thanks for keeping us entertained.

    My question was more of a joke, regarding if you had to leave your pugs in the care of one of the characters of the show, McKay, Shepard, Ronon… who would it be considering how important they were for you and well, I’m not sure I would even leave my plants to any of them…

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