I’d like to kick off today’s entry by apologizing for a serious oversight made in yesterday’s entry. While listing my Top Ten Worst Movies of All Time, I failed to include Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes. I sincerely regret the error.
The Winter Games are just around the corner and even though I couldn’t care less, they ARE happening here in Vancouver so I thought it would be nice if I took the time to offer interested parties the occasional Olympic update. Well, here ya go. Even though the games are going to be a major pain in the ass for most Vancouverites just looking to get around town, they will, apparently, be a boon to the city’s sex trade industry as thousands of visitors descend on the city, looking to get laid: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/news/world+brings+vice+Vancouver/2505932/story.html. Olympic workers and volunteers, on the other hand, have adopted a novel approach to scoring. They’ve taken to strolling around the city with their Olympic badges in full view in the mistaken belief that this will somehow make them more alluring or interesting. I wish them luck. So ends today’s Olympic Update.
In response to PJR who asked “With us 10 eps in and you knowing the arcs, what did you think of where we’re at: 1) we’re (mostly) where you’d expected? 2) Some pleasant surprises on our take? 3) Disappointed in part?” –
To be honest, most of what the fans had to say didn’t come as a surprise – with a few notable exceptions.
Question #1: Which SGU character would you like to see more of in the back half of season one and beyond?
While I wasn’t surprised that T.J. made the list, I was surprised that she topped the list – and by a fairly wide margin as well. Many of you see a lot of potential in the character and want to see that potential exploited. As I wrote in my January 27th post, one of the things that really impressed me about Tamara in season one (and this has everything to do with Alaina Huffman’s performance) are the flashes of inner strength she displays, marvelous instances that instantly trigger: a) a desire to know more about her and, b) a desire to see her in a scenario where she can truly step up. Anyway, some interesting developments coming T.J.’s way…
Question #2: “What aspect of the show would you like to see further explored in the back half of season one and beyond?”.
No real surprises here either and I was pleased by the fact that all of the elements you’ve expressed an interest in seeing developed WILL be developed. If anything, I was impressed by the number of fans clamoring for us to peel the onion on Destiny’s mission and the Ancient’s agenda. You want answers? Sure. Some coming your way. Others may take a while – unless you enjoy piecing puzzles together.
Question #3: “What aspect of the show would you prefer to see minimized?”
The responses received on this one confirmed what I already suspected. That said, it was interesting to have many of you elaborate on the fact that your sticking point with the stones is not the technology itself but the way in which said technology is being used. You want to see less home visits and more SF complications stemming from the use of the technology – which is exactly where we’re headed.
Question #4: “What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of season one?”
As it turned out, many of your favorite moments were my favorites as well – Rush getting stranded, Destiny’s solar encounter, the lottery, the ending to Time, Eli’s confession to Chloe in Time, and the rush back to the gate in Air III. To those, I would also add Wray’s “red room” discussion with Young in Light, the Greer/Rush confrontation in Air III, T.J. informing Greer she doesn’t trust him and Greer simply accepting the fact and moving on in Water, the teams “first” last stand in Time, Wray’s quiet moments with Sharon in Life.
Questions #5: “What element would you like to see added to the show?”
A great cross-section of requests and suggestions here, but a couple really resonated with me. For instance, many of you pointed to that sequence at the end of Darkness where the crew gathers in the observation deck to witness Destiny’s encounter with the gas giant. It’s an incredible moment because of the reactions of our people. And that’s what you want to see more of: that sense of wonder. So I made a mental note: More Holy Crap!
Another element many of you stressed that I think is obvious given the roots of the franchise’s success – but bears repeating – is the need to see friendships develop over time, that sense of camaraderie and support that typified SG-1 and Atlantis.
An early entry today as I’m off to have barbecue with Carl. I’ll tell him you said hi.
Mailbag:
Jo writes: “Since Stargate has made parodies of other sci-fi shows… I wonder, do they ever caricatured their own world (or their writers or producers or…)?”
Answer: Yep. We paradied our own show in SG-1’s 100th episode “Wormhole X-treme” and then again in SG-1’s 200th episode “200”.
Dodoalda writes: “I remember, you talked about the first version of your Space´s script and it was too long. Where those scenes filmed for some possible extended version?”
Answer: The first draft was long, but the script was shortened in the revision.
Dodoalda also writes: “Any new info about Brad Wright´s long script? Will it be divided into two episodes?”
Answer: Brad’s script was long only as a result of a printer screw-up. No two-parter.
Brian M. White writes: “I’m probably going to get ripped apart for this but “Transformers” (the first one) ranks up there with “Escape from LA” as one of the worst movies ever. Personally, I liked the last Indy film. I liked the whole “Chariots of the Gods” story.”
Answer: You’re probably more likely to get ripped apart not for putting Transformers and Escape from LA on the list, but for NOT putting the last Indiana Jones movie on the list.
Jen writes: “Alas, Color of Money will never be on a “worst of” list because of the soundtrack.”
Answer: Whoops. My bad. I meant to write Color of Night, the Bruce Willis “thriller”. Heaps of badness.
Kabra writes: “Thanks for the green tea tip. Will orange juice work too?”
Answer: It should, yes.
Gilder writes: “Joe, I see the Spurs go up against the Pistons on Feb. 21 at Detroit. Seeing as that’s the last day of San Antonio’s three-week “Rodeo Road Trip”, are you up for a bet?”
Answer: Alas, Detroit is my fave NBA team only insofar as I used to root for them when they were the Bad Boys. Since then, however, my interest in the NBA has waned to the point where I’d sooner watch Bosom Buddies reruns.
David D. writes: “This is a tough one because of the division between “worst movies” and “movies I hate”.”
Answer: True. Moulin Rouge would top my list in the latter category.
Artdogspot writes: “So, I don’t keep a “worst movies” list in my head anymore but I do remember my favorite scenes in certain movies that make me laugh every time I see them. The following is a link to my all time favorite scene from Deep Blue Sea where Samuel L. Jackson dies.”
Answer: Yes! This one definitely makes my Top Ten Favorite Movie Deaths list.
PoorOldEdgarDerby writes: “So are you waiting until the DVDs come out or are you watching Lost more or less as it airs this season?”
Answer: Carl and Lawren are watching Lost. I think I’ll wait to hear their reaction to the finale before picking up the DVD’s.
Michael writes: “In theory, do those ships that are ahead of Destiny send data to Destiny through a subspace link and populate its database with the new address for the stargate they just seeded a planet with?”
Answer: We’ve yet to know for certain but a future incident will strongly suggest that Destiny does not communicate with the advance seeder ships via subspace communication.
Quade1 writes: “Joe I loved the mythology aspects of Stargate from the beginning, Egyptian, Norse, Arthurian. Will we be seeing this in one form or another in SGU?”
Answer: We won’t be seeing any of these influences in SGU. Rather than touching on Earth’s history, SGU’s off-world encounters will focus on the alien.
Tim Lade writes: “I appologize if this has been asked already…but do you have an end game in sight such as the creators of LOST? Do you have a vision of how long SGU will last for say….four seasons or whatever and then it’s all over? Or do you view this like SG-1 where in theory it can on forever with no finite end in sight.”
Answer: We always had a creative end in sight but it wasn’t until we were making preparations for the show’s second season that we finally agreed on exactly what that end would be. Now it’s just a matter of getting us all there. Coming?
Stargate fan writes: “As always you removed my questioning comment from your blog so I have decide to do some deleting of my own.”
Answer: It rarely happens, but I do delete the occasional comment if: a) it’s spam, b) it’s a repeat post, c) the poster asks me to delete it, or d) someone’s being a dick. Since it seems unlikely yours was a repeat post or that you requested the post’s removal, may I inquire as to whether or not you were attempting to sell me Viagra?
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