Today’s blog entry may be offensive to sensitive Scotsmen and/or Scotswomen. Reader discretion is strongly advised – especially if you’ve ever worn a kilt.
Yesterday, on my way to dinner with Marty and co., I stopped by my local butcher shop and picked up a fresh haggis, determined to finally sample the Scotland’s national dish (I thought it was the deep-fried chocolate bar. That shows you how much I know). For those of you not in the know, haggis is comprised of various minced sheep’s innards (ie. lungs, liver, and heart), beef and/or mutton fat, oatmeal, onion, and spices stuffed into a sheep’s stomach, served steamed or boiled with a side of turnips and rutabagas.
While no doubt the traditional way to go, steaming or boiling my haggis seemed like, well, adding insult to injury, so I searched the internet and discovered several interesting recipes for roast haggis. I got the idea, by the way, from an episode of the F Word in which Ramsay takes on a Scottish celebrity in the recipe challenge – so it can’t be that much an affront to Scottish sensibilities. Can it?
I preheated the oven to 350 degrees celsius, wrapped my haggis in foil after piercing it several times to avoid an explosion similar to the one that claimed the haggis of a fellow butcher shop customer, and popped it in the oven. While it roasted, I made my whisky cream sauce – sweating some shallots in a pan of melted butter until translucent, then adding a few shots of 15 year old Scotch, reducing, adding chicken stock with chopped parsley and thyme, reducing that, then adding some honey, heavy cream, and another dollop of butter which I also reduced.
The recipe I was following instructed me to roast my haggis for 30 to 40 minutes. 35 minutes in, the A.I. built into my oven informed me that my haggis was done.
I wasn’t totally convinced it WAS done, however, given that another recipe had suggested a cooking time of an hour and a half. So, just to be on the safe side, I pan-fried my haggis to a golden brown finish and served with the whisky cream sauce and a side of sweet potatoes.
And the verdict? Delicious! I loved its oatmealy texture and nutty flavor. I think next year, I might try the traditional version. Maybe I can swing an invite to Robert Carlyle’s place for a Robbie Burns Day feast.
I’ll bring the rutabagas.
Well, I started work on my rewrite of Awakenings today. While I’ve compared writing a first draft to giving birth, I’d say doing a rewrite is more like being worked over by a thug for information you were once privy to but have long forgotten. Today, the muse worked my mid-section. Tomorrow, she’s moving onto the rib area.
So, as we prep for the show’s second season – and keeping in mind you haven’t seen the more action-oriented back half of season one – I’d like to know:
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Today’s blog entry is dedicated to Chev. Thanks for the calendar! Paul put it up in my office today.
How did it smell while cooking?
Why do I ask? My Dad (the Scoot) says it’s the smell while cooking that makes him like it, while Mum, (no idea what nationality she is seeing as we found out the day after her Mum died that her Mum had been adopted – and yes, the Birth Certificate looks legitimate, but we’re talking 1917 here where you could just walk into a hospital and say, “Lookit what I gots” and bingo-bango you have a Birth Certificate. She never said a thing to us! Anyhoo…) almost goes into fits of convulsive vomiting at the smell of it, hence, the children of this unlikely couple have never eaten haggis and I’d like to get an unbiased 3rd opinion as I’m equally fond of my parents and don’t want to start a haggis related argument.
I think that was my best run-on sentence in the 2 years I’ve been hanging out here.
1. Definitely Tamara. She seems like a very interesting character that could be opened up more, the bit of her that we saw in Time really showed potential in her backstory.
2. The Destiny. I like the idea that the Destiny is at some level intelligent and aware of the needs of its crew. I’d like to to see it direct the crew to certain interesting places on the ship, as well as protect it from harm and intrusion.
3. The looming sense of hopelessness. The thing that had always separated Stargate from BSG was that Stargate was never cynical, the show and it’s universe never felt hopeless. Stargate Universe however, seems to be going in the wrong direction. I don’t mind a darker theme given the nature of the events on the show, but so far in the first 10 episode, I’ve just been given the feeling that the show is much too cynical and tries too hard to highlight all the flaws in these characters and not enough to highlight the good.
4. My favorite story moment was the ‘what if’ moment in Time. I loved how it lets us a little peek into what these characters would be like in a worst case scenario.
5. This isn’t something that needs to be added fresh per se, as it already exists, but could use more of, and that is humour. The best part of Stargate as a whole is the humour and SGU unfortunately, is lacking in that department. Of course I’m aware that because of the situation on board, the initial episodes would be understandably lean in that department, but hopefully the latter half and the furthers will inject more of the hilarious antics we learned to know and love from SG-1 and SGA. As long as we continue getting hilarious little quips from Riley, then I believe SGU will do just fine.
PS: The veins on the sheep’s stomach makes it look rather, um, unsettling.
Wow its been forever since i posted last, must have gotten lost somehow.
In my opinion, the technology of the ship is a very interesting aspect which merits further exploration. Of course, not knowing what his in the back half of season one it may very well be explored more.
On the Atlantis front, I have been watching a thread over at Scifi Meshes of an incredibly talented 3D artist who has recreated Atlantis. I have seen many over the years but I think this one is on the level of the production model. And on that note, is there any kind of copyright on the design of atlantis because there sure are a lot of different versions out there. I hope there isn’t because this guy’s is incredible.
http://www.scifi-meshes.com/forums/3d-wips/51175-atlantis-v6-0-a-13.html#post471820
Thanks always,
-ZPB
1. I’d like to see the politician’s daughter do something more useful.
2. I’d like to see the people on the ship getting to know each other more.
3. Definitely minimize the earth stones. All the stories resulting from those are too melodramatic.
4. When O’Neill tells the captain guy to shape up and take charge of his situation.
5. I’d like to see some optimism. I don’t care if it’s fake optimism. I just think those people will never accomplish anything if they don’t brighten their attitudes. It’s human nature to try to make the best of a bad situation. I don’t believe that people who were selected for off-world duty would react as poorly as we’ve seen these characters react.
btw,
I hope you can see the images, I can’t remember if you need a login or not.
I have never tried Haggis. I may try in the future, but for now I’m sticking with traditional Swedish cuisine like meatballs, potatoes, etc…. And now I’m hungry.
1. I’d be intersted in learning more about Chloe, Rush and Camile.
2. More gate travel episodes. It doesn’t have to be an action packed episode complete with Batman soundeffects, but I’d just like to see some more alien planets.
3. The stones. While I do not want the stones to dissappear completely, I think that the use of the stones should be slightly reduced.
4. Can’t pick a favorite because there so many great ones!
5. I’m not sure about this one. But things I’d like to see is that some of the crewmembers are not who they say they are. And maybe some sinister Earth organization like the Trust, but not the Trust.
EDIT: I’d also like to know more about TJ.
Awesome, thanks for giving us a chance to contribute 🙂
1) Tamara Jon!! Alaina Huffman is easily one of the stronger actors, and so far feels underused.
2) I would like to see mythology exploited a bit more. The focus seems to be centered a bit too much on angst and less about what the characters are discovering.
3) While I agree sex needs to be studied during any exploration of the human condition, it has so far felt like your run-of-the-mill titties/ass to attract young, hormonal viewers.
4) My favorite story moment of the first half of season 1 of SGU has got to be the surprise finale at the end of “Justice”. It was definitely drama, but not annoying, angsty drama, and in addition to drama, was relevant to the plot at large.
5) I’d like to see a much stronger shift toward moving the mythology forward, not just the characters inhabiting it. Both are important, but I feel like the OVERALL story hasn’t gone anywhere, whereas each character is gone MUCH farther than seems reasonable without a shift forward in the series’ overall, overreaching, mythology.
Thanks again for the opportunity!! While my criticisms are strong, I’m still loving SGU. 🙂
haha way to go Joe! I’m glad you liked the Haggis.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? Camille Wray
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? Aliens technology, Gate travel, and crew dynamics. (by the way I miss Siler)
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Telford and Young acting like teenage boys instead of trained military Cononels.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? When Rush had everyone believing that they were going to die when they collide with the sun. You see in the background excepting their death in the ways that best fit their inner hearts.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? Aliens! bad guys that could rival the wrath and a good guy or two to make The Destiny their home.
Thanks for the opportunity to share.
1. I think it would be interesting to see more of Lisa Park, either her or Volker!
2. I want Eli to get a girlfriend! I know Chloe has Scott, and am not suggesting split them two up (yet) but at least get him a girlfriend, maybe Vanessa James or Park?
3. I’d like to see two things played down a little. LEAVE THE STONES ALONE! and the relationship between Chloe and Scott, if it keeps going on like it is at the moment, I think Eli is going to end up killing himself or something.
4. I like ‘Life’, but I don’t want to see loads of episodes like that!
5. I want a proper alien encounter! Something to fill the Wraith or Goa’uld gap, but in a change instead of them being baddies, have them attempt to help the Destiny, but then one of the Destiny crew do something to one of the aliens and this drives a stake between the alliance, and I don’t want this to happen in a single episode, an arc over half of series 2. I think you could do this because we don’t know where or when Destiny is going to stop, so that you can have stories that don’t keep showing this alien species!
As for the haggis, I’ve been studying at university in Carlisle in UK since September 2008. I’m about ten minutes away from Scotland and I’ve never had Haggis. I have a slice of it in my fridge, but I don’t know what to do with it yet. My flat mate, who is scottish, says I can shallow fry it, so I might try that and seve with some chips.
Joe, have you ever had a deep fried mars bar? I find them a bit sickly, but my Scottish flat mate has since got the entire flat, which is seven lads in student halls – no girls – into deep fried pizza! Have you ever tried it?
Wow, you’re really asking us? How nice. 😀 But don’t listen to the fans too much.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I’d say Rush, but if I remember correctly, “Human” will be his episode. Definitely Tamara. We haven’t seen enough of her.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Of course, the stargate itself. Have something happen to it. Robert Carlyle has said in an early interview that it’s gonna start to show its age. Maybe he was talking about the malfunction in “Time”, but sounds a cool idea nevertheless.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Sorry to have to say – but the stones. They add (mostly) good drama, we get to see Jack, and whatever happens on Earth, affects what happens on the Destiny, but sometimes those scenes take away too much from what’s happening aboard the ship. Maybe what Scott experienced with Telford’s flashbacks could become a bigger issue, or somebody misuses another person’s body and the use of stones becomes very limited.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
All the unexpected twists and actions of the characters. Especially when Young left Rush on that planet in “Justice”. I couldn’t believe he actually did it.
5. What element would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
That’s a tough one. More everyday life on Destiny, like the end and beginning of “Life”. Let someone get stranded on a planet because they didn’t make it back on time. That would make the ticking clock factor more dangerous.
That’s all I have for now.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Jack O’Neil
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Oooh, ooh, there were moments in Light where the extended crew didn’t feel like just a peanut gallery there to be put in peril to up the ante for the main characters. I really felt empathy spread out across all the characters. I’ve never seen a show accomplish that before and I’ve watched a LOT of TV.
I don’t know what was done differently that gave such unique results. The camera angles? The music? The lighting? Whatever it was, there was something SGU accomplished there that is truly unique to SGU. It could be SGU’s something special if you could figure out how to do it repeatedly.
Also, not even the military signed up for an unending tour of duty so the military-style heirarchy that permeates so many science fiction shows can be fragged more.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I assume random strangers discover something crappy about their personal life all the time. I’m feeling detached from the personal issues the characters are having right now and I think the problem is that they are strangers to me. That doesn’t mean I want to see way more character moments. It means I want to see the characters triumph or fail first with more immediate problems, then I might be more curious about them.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
That Young knew Rush’s role in Justice, but played it through.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Very different aliens, maybe even boarders aboard the Destiny, but so different, they can’t necessarily roam the same halls as the crew. Fine, cuttlefish, I want to see cuttlefish. I’m not complaining. The squids were awesome, but chromatophore communication is awesome, too.
The reason I’d like to see boarders on the Destiny is to give more chances for tie-ins between episodes outside of character issues. Remember how that sand creature showed up again, then got people sick, then the next planet had the cure? The connections there were a bit of a stretch. Let the next sand creature bunk with the giant metal-sucking leeches who are stuck in corridor H and you have a place to revisit when the need rolls around again. Also, I’m a huge fan of the pace of standalone episodes, but it’s nice to see familiar faces (if the boarders have faces) now and again.
I’d like to see Destiny’s history become relevant sometimes. Maybe other explorers who lived in another part of the ship for a while could show up to get their futon – or maybe they left some clues or traps for later Destiny inhabitants.
All kinds of weird stuff has probably happened on the Destiny and there’s lots of space for more weird stuff to happen. The Destiny has been floating around for long enough to support its own race of gremlins – complete with Destiny-specific adaptations. The gremlins don’t have to live on the ship, but they’d have some dependence on it. They could have built their own spaceship by now or spend their time hang-gliding in Destiny’s wake.
Also, the Destiny is big enough to be hiding all sorts of stowaways. Remember the cat from Red Dwarf? That was imagination.
1. Chloe
2. More about the history of Destiny and the stargates
3. Sex
4. The “sweet potato”
5. Aliens!!!
Roasting the haggis may well be the way to go, but still – I don’t eat offal. All it took to reach that decision was the look and smell of my mother’s attempts at liver & onions when I still lived at home. The decision has served me well so far….
Toques off to your friend taking the Le Cordon Bleu program in Japan – they keep you busy no matter where, but to take it in a foreign language? Wow. English was bad enough!
SGU questions:
1) I would like to see some more backstory on Greer, and his past dustup with Telford. Actually, more background on just about everybody would be nice… 😉
2) I’d like to see more organized exploration of both the ship and planets – I miss the science and cultural aspects.
3) I could stand to see less of the stones used for personal relationships, and more use for problem-solving. Let Carter & McKay switch with somebody and have a crack at the tech issues! Would love to see McKay argue with Rush!
4) Favorite story moment? Well, I really liked when Eli got to go home to see his mom, but chickened out at telling her that it was him. And, when Young knocked Rush’s block off – I was pretty sure he’d drag Rush back through the gate by an ankle or something, but he didn’t!!
5) Element to add? Hmmm. Maybe some more cool alien tech that the Destiny inhabitants can use that become part of the overall “language” of the show… zat guns, GDO’s, life sign detectors, etc etc.
Thanks for the opportunity for input, I feel like I’m making a wish list for Santa.
Speaking of Santa, which made me think of Felix, I’m glad to see the rehab facility allowed him to visit your Mom. Hope she’s doing well (waves to Mom Mallozzi).
Lisa
Aww, you’re welcome….glad it arrived safely. Now you can see why I spent some time creating it. Lots of great memories for you in the coming year and a bit.
To explain to everyone:
I “borrowed” photos from Joe’s blog (Chocolate parties, Tokyo trip, the dogs and his friends) imported them into iPhoto & created a calendar that Apple printed for me. Each month featured a Tokyo memory with captions from Joe’s reviews of that dish. It turned out even better than I imagined (well apart from a slightly blurry pic of you & Kerry). I tried to include as many people as I could (some may feature more frequently than others *wink*) & added pics for people’s birthdays (if I knew them). Apologies to anyone whose birthday wasn’t on the calendar.
Cheers and thanks for the blog dedication!
Chev
@ Rose
1. I’d like to see the politician’s daughter do something more useful.
Me? I would like to see a politician do something more useful.
😉
Haggis – I am so surprised that you like it. I don’t hate it but I don’t love it either. I avoid it. Deep fried chocolate I have yet to try.
Haggis are such unusual animals – I often see them when I go to the Highlands. 🙂
It just does not look appealing. I’m glad you enjoyed it, though!
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
TJ and Rush. Both have great potential and knowing more about their backgrounds and their motivations would be wonderful.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship itself. I was always sad more of Atlantis itself wasn’t explored. I think you mentioned this would show up in the second half of this season, but I’d definitely love to see more, be it booby traps or experiments or weapons.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Gotta go with the stones here. I love the back stories, I do. I just find it can detract from the story at hand. Life was an excellent use of them. But when it’s just one or two characters on Earth inserted into the ep, it feels more clunky.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Tough! I loved absolutely every aspect of Time. My favorite episode by far. For a more specific moment, though…the fact that Young left Rush on the planet. I know he’ll be back, but damn! that was cold. And a fascinating personality twist to see in our “hero”. (Always my favorite kind of twist!)
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I realize this isn’t most people’s favorite thing, but I miss the technobabble. I feel like Eli’s math genius should be shown more in practice rather than just by him sitting at the computer. I’d like to see some new Ancient tech (going along with the exploration of the ship) that the geeks on board go crazy over. I’d also love to see the friendship between Matt and Eli and Chloe develop. I love the strong younger characters. And I think it’s friendships that will really get this crew through.
Thanks, Joe! You’re very nice to allow us a few words of contribution.
I wasn’t going to answer right away, but I’m with DP. I’d like to see more of the older, wiser, graver Jack O’Neil.
The rest can wait for the wait times during tomorr…*ahem* today’s four-hour medical test. Should have been asleep three hours ago. G’nite.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? Eli or Rush. Or maybe the lady doctor (whose name I can’t remember at the moment) — would be nice to see more of her that doesn’t revolve around whatever may have happened with her and Young. There was something about the way she watched/talked to Eli when that annoying chick was dying in that episode that never happened that kinda grabbed me.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? Aliens, time-travel, AU, that sort of thing. I actually think the body-swapping stones could be pretty interesting if used for something other than sex/romance drama/debriefing. I was excited at first, but so far it seems like they’ve mostly been used as an excuse to turn a space show into a soap opera. Among other things, it would be neat to see what would happen if someone who wasn’t supposed to have access to the stones got them (an enemy? an alien? a civilian with no knowledge of the stargate?).
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? Everyone’s love lives. Seriously. So over that.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? I loved the reactions of the crew when they discovered the video of them dying, and also them when they were on the planet and trying to figure out how to save themselves.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? More humor and teamwork/friendship. There’s a lot of sexiness and anger; I’d like to see more of that great friendship dynamic like we had in SG-1 and SGU. And it would be nice if you could show a strong friendship between a male and female develop, as well (one that is clearly platonic, yet still strong).
OOH, an opinion poll. Goodie:)
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Rush – I want to know what makes him tick
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Destiny – we’ve seen precious little of her considering the size and scope.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Those bloody awful yet too convenient “stones” I tend to go and make a cup of tea when they come into play as it makes the whole thing too “soapy”
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Definitely the end of Justice!!!!
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I’d like to see some of the crew actually accepting the situation and trying to make the best of it with dignity and humour. I’ve found that some of the most desperate times in my life have yielded some very dark but hysterically funny observations and moments. For instance I remember ringing my friend and saying I had to cancel something cus I had to go to my Gran’s funeral and my friend said sympathetically” oh has she died?” and in my tearful hysteria I was struck by the absurdity of the question and replied “No, but we’re burying her anyway”
You’re a brave man, Joe Mallozzi. Good to know that you enjoyed the Haggis, even though you defiled it before devouring it. 😛
A busy couple of days again, so didn’t have time to comment on yesterday’s entry. Woohoo!! I knew it wasn’t Crossroads, haha.
A big thank you to Joe and my fellow blog commenters for the congrats!
So, Cloverdale. Well, there’s a Cloverdale not far from here; my family and I use its US border crossing all the time when we go on our road trips. As I wrote in my original guess, it’s not new for Stargate to name an episode after the town it’s set in. Is something going to happen in Cloverdale that will somehow connect to the crew on Destiny? Is one of the characters from Cloverdale, and now we get to see their backstory? Or, as g.o.d pointed out, is this an allusion to a story from another show where similar things happened?
With Brad writing it, I’m fairly certain it’s going to be Awesome. 😀
So hey guess what? It looks like all my schoolwork has paid off! I just got accepted into the Calfornia Institute of Technology as a Graduate Student!! Woohoo!! If everything goes well, I will be commenting on this blog from my cosy dorm room in Pasadena, California 7 months from now. Of course, that also means I won’t be in the same city as the Stargate productions…*sigh*. It’d be great if I can just have one chance to visit the studios and tour it or something before I leave the city.
Yes, that’d be nice.
Very nice.
Like, very really nice.
Anyways, a survey!! Cool! See, this is why I love this blog; it’s really not very often that an Executive Producer of a show would be so open to interacting with the fans like this. Awesome.
I’ll put my answers in another comment, as it’s pretty long.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I’d like to see the Destiny explored more. And maybe see if the Destiny has tech that allows for the repair of Stargates. Spare parts etc for Stargates would be cool to see (and yes I understand it would be somewhat difficult to gate to a planet with a broken Stargate)
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The Ancients, the Destiny and the Stargate.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The quick zooms into the characters faces and things. I totally get that it’s part of the new look for the show, but if you didn’t use it on a lot of shots i’m sure the emotion the audience is feeling when it’s there would still be felt even if it wasn’t there.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
If you count the first time the Destiny lowered its solar collectors to gather the sun’s energy then that one. It’s to date my most favourite part of the “first ten”. It was so emotional that I teared up to its awesomeness.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I’m unsure if this is the way you guys were going with this but in the future i’d like to see you rescuing the crew from the Destiny and having the “proper trained people” continuing with its mission. Some of our favourite characters would also be asked to leave. And maybe they don’t want to. Or maybe they start experiencing a kind of Stockholm’s syndrome that makes them prefer their lives on the Destiny. Or maybe there is something that only they know and need to be there to help out on the Destiny (btw the stones would have since been destroyed so they can’t just communicate) And they need to urgently and desperately get their way back on the ship.
You did say it was left wide open. 🙂
@ Narelle: this is RE: the mental institution beside your house comment that you posted 2 days ago. Anyways…wow. That is incredibly unsettling. I don’t think I can handle being so close to some place so creepy and dangerous!
So yeah, post a pic! Do it do it do it do it do it do it do it! 😛
1. Tamara
2. Destiny’s mysteries overwhelming Rush’s limited knowledge, it’s always fun to watch him pouting.:D
3. Sex in every second episode, that should be limited perhaps to an every four episodes ratio.:)
4. The suicide triggered by the claustrophobia of the Destiny.
5. Strange scientific phenomenons, i.e. I read in a journal that something is pulling a dozen of galaxies away from the “general path” of the other galaxies, which is like WTF?
But in that aspect, Time excelled itself.
The recipe really wanted 350°C? Dang, that is one hot oven! My compliments though, I’d be way too chicken to try haggis, but I’m glad you liked it. I’ll admit, it did look good. Anyway, in response to your questions:
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I don’t know if there’s a specific character I’d like to see explored more, but there are certainly some relationships I’d like to see explored more. Eli and Chloe, Eli and Scott, and any involving Wray.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Honestly—and I don’t know if this will be a common response, but I doubt it—but one of the things I’ve loved so far was the exploration of, for lack of a better term, the larger Stargate universe. Not in terms of outer space, but some of the political machinations going on back on Earth. The stuff with Strom and the IOA, for example. I can certainly see how it might detract from some of the action on the Destiny, and that’s a valid argument, and maybe this isn’t even the right show to explore that arena in, especially in the detail I might like, but I’ve certainly enjoyed it. I don’t know if it should be exploited more or not, given the premise of the show, but I have heard that some of the Earth stuff might get de-emphasized in the second half of season 1; I just hope we still get to see some of that stuff.
And more going through the gate, too. That’s what it’s there for, right?
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Everyone’s saying the stones, and they might be right. As I said, some of the bigger Earth issues I’m enjoying, but some of the more personal Earth-based stories are a different story. But that might happen naturally, anyway. I mean, how many times can Eli go visit his mother while pretending to be someone else? So, I guess, it’s not that I necessarily want that minimized, I more don’t want those stories to lose their power by being used so frequently.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Last ten minutes of “Justice,” without a doubt. “Justice” was, without question, a completely brilliant episode and absolutely well placed. It didn’t have the “big story” feel of a season finale (because things didn’t really heat up until the end), but it had a helluva cliffhanger that wouldn’t have felt right on any ol’ episode. And the best part was that it wasn’t something Stargate wouldn’t done on Atlantis or SG-1. It’s gonna have a massive effect on things, and it’s gonna lead to a great journey for Young, who had always seemed to be too good of a guy to do something like that. It was a character risk, something that I’m not sure Stargate’s ever done before, and that’s exciting.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Ancients. Their history has more holes in it than an oil field. I’m sure some of that is intentional, but I’m all for making them more mysterious by solving some of the already existing mysteries. But I feel we honestly haven’t learned much about them in recent years. Aside from finding Destiny, I feel like the last time Ancient history was touched on was in “The Pegasus Project” or possibly “The Quest, Part 2.” Basically, I guess I feel that there hasn’t been much in the way of the greater Stargate mythology actually explored in SGU. Sure, it set the groundwork, but I can’t really recall learning much of anything about them (again, besides the fact that they built the Destiny.
Answers from SG Univer website!
UltimateRyukendo said…
Eli. Full Back story with all the nerd perks and stuff.
27 January, 2010
Anonymous said…
Nicholas Rush 🙂
And Tamara Johansen, Chloe Armstrong and Camille Wray.
I like to see more characters like Ripley, or Sarah Connor. 🙂
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Either Greer or Rush.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Humor.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Drama.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Rush talking about Ascension in episode “Time”. It makes me want to see him achieve Ascension at some point in the future.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Exploring more planets & meeting more aliens.
P.S.- …I’d also like to see them using the stargate more often… much more often. 🙂
I would like to know more about Tamara and Ronald. I think they’re great characters.
I’m interested to see what’s going to happen science wise, now that Rush is m.i.a
Minimize the stones or rethink how to use the stones. I understand the relations between but I have trouble accepting that someone would have sex with their friend just because they say it’s really they’re husband.
When Col. Young left Rush. That was amazing, I also like Ronald Greer a lot. I love the attitude of the character.
I would like to see more flaws in the “perfect” characters. I think the longer they are trapped more human and surivial traits would emerge. “Fight or Flight” if you will.
Hi, Joe.
Thank you for the info on the haggis…I remember we ate something similar to that back in the ’50’s…not something I’d care to try again though.
Also thank you for your questions on SGU’s season two:
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
MSgt. Ronald Greer
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
MORE exploration of the ship. We never really had a great opportunity to explore Atlantis, which was a shame, beautiful city that it was. The Destiny appears to be equally enticing.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The bickering and one-upmanship.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The sacrifices everyone made in ‘Time.’ They worked as a team to survive. They have it in them, they need to show that side more. Lt. Scott was awesome! Even Rush contributed.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More romance to the sexual liaisons. More displays of friendship, of caring, self respect, respect towards others, compassion, concern, and honor of self.
And please, please, PLEASE, give the female characters something better to do than kvetch, be the love interest, whine, and plot.
Thank you!
Q.1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
A.1. Greer (but I guess an episode in the second half of SGU S1 will take care of that?) Otherwise, TJ and Chloe.
Q.2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
A.2. Exploring the Destiny. Using technology on board the Destiny. How much have they explored?
Q.3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
A.3. Ancient Long Range Communication Stones usage. Couldn’t we get rid of them? OR have more serious downsides, negative effects linked to them. I’d like to see a more solitary/secluded crew of the Destiny, away from Earth. I like the dark aspect that is contained in that.
Q.4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
A.4. So much to choose from. In the end I’d have to go with the Destiny flying through a sun to power itself. That was awesome, albeit maybe a bit predictable for the viewers, but the turn with the shuttle was great. The dark shooting style, Kino-vision in Time was awesome too. I liked the more subtle special effects in that one, combined with a good underlying story. I’m looking forward to the episodes (in the second half) (that) you wrote.
Q.5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
A.5. I’d prefer a more cut-off from Earth feel, combined with some new alien interaction, like we saw with the Dust Alien from Water and Air. I’d also like to see more of the Destiny. And TBH, I always like a good story like Doppelganger, Sunday etc. where there’s really a grave sense of danger, possibly combined with a character’s death. Speaking of characters, and to end with, I’d like to see more of the other characters explored as well. I like the Kino-vision little fragments we saw in Light and Darkness, exploring the minor characters. It gives a great sense of diversity. The Kino-webisodes on MGM are also great in that aspect! I’m looking forward to the return of those Kino-sodes as well. 🙂
Here’s my answers to your wonderful questions:
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Tamara. She’s amazing, i think she could be just like Carson in Atlantis. who knows?
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The Destiny itself. Like the Atlantis, they slowly reveal the secrets of the place, maybe you could do something like that. And maybe some crossover from SG-1 and Atlantis. sometimes, it gave me this great feeling to watch and point, “hey, that’s xxx from yyy!”
a bit like Tsubasa Chronicle and xxxHolic style. d’ya know this 2 manga/anime?
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The communication stone. it’s kinda ruins the whole dependent part thing. let’s just say the stone smash or something. maybe it’ll be great. i mean, do you show everytime Atlantis contact the SGC for report? i dont think so, cuz it’s kinda boring.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Mm…the opening. when the camera slowly went across Destiny, then the gate start dialing in, i was like, “Oh, a new gate! A new arc!” *maybe not that dramatic, but a bit like that.* maybe because i always find a dialing gate is amazing, perhaps?
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Maybe more mythology. no mythology added so far right? except for the stargate mythology. i’m not sure about the 2nd half, but it might be a good thing to have an arc running. maybe there is one running, i’m too dumb to realize; a bit more obvious, perhaps?
just an example, from revived Doctor Who:
Season 1: the series slowly seed the words “Bad Wolf”, and at the end, it reveals who is Bad Wolf, why does the word scatters across the time and space, all the way to Season 4 ending.
Season 4: The Seer said to Donna in Eps 2 – “there’s something on your back” and to the Doctor “she’s returning!”. they only resolve this words later in Eps 11 until 13.
you get it? it’s like when you watch it, you get these, “oh, this words, that’s what it meant!” or incase of event; “oh, this is what really happen back then!”.
well, i’m just saying. it’s still up to you, rite?
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
TJ, no quesion.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I’d like to see an episode when the ship’s countdown malfunctions while a team is actually OFF-WORLD.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Definitely the stones. While I do see the need for character development, can’t the development itself carry on without the use of the stones?
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The Rush/Young fight at the end of ”Justice”
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More episodes like ”Time”
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
The secondary characters as a whole, but if we’re talking main cast, then TJ and Greer.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship. Can’t be on a runaway train forever. Gotto take control at some point.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Everyone’s going to say either “The Stones”, “The Sex” or “The Chloe”, so I’ll be different (and none of those three things bother me).
I’ll say that jeopardy that doesn’t feel real should be minimised. Timmy down the well… sorry, Scott down the crevasse didn’t feel real as it was the third or fourth episode and we /know/ he’s not going to die.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
At the end of Light, where Young suddenly started wondering if Rush knew they were going to be heading into the sun.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
A little more humour, specifically humour that isn’t being added just by Eli. He can’t always be the source or the butt of the joke.
Hi
I suppose you know MGM put in auctions some probs from Sg1 and Atlantis. This give me some worries about the SGA movie.
Is this means there will not be the movie promised after the cancellation…..?
I must add I gave the chance to SGU but I gave up by now. It’s really not stargate show IMO.
I hope you’d take your time to answer me at my worries and I know I’m not alone thinking the same.
If this means there will not the movie I will think it will be another deception after all said since the cancellation from you or BW.
PS I hope too Your relation between you and SGA cast is going better especially with Joe F.
Thanks for you answer
Dom
Hi Mr M!
Greetings from sleep-deprived, though joyous baby-land. Taking a break from washing bottles and baby-grows to drop into the blog!
Ya see! That’s why I love this blog so much! I’m betting there will be a comment total of 256 by the end of the day!!
Yet once more, I (for one) truly appreciate this opportunity to weigh-in, knowing just the first half of Season 1.
In response to your feed-back request:
(1) Character Explored More: TJ. Hands down. In the pilot I was gripped by a particular beat where Rush, in an effort to sympathise on the loss of Chloe’s Dad, talks about the great mystery of the Destiny, rather than commiserating on the loss of her father. The Head-shake and Look away of TJ spoke hugely of her character and her thoughts on Rush! More please! Huge room for development.
(2) Aspect Exploited More: Using the Destiny (even more)as a separate character. I know others may say this, but like Atlantis, I for one hope that Destiny allows us to explore and find out more, and indeed throw us a few curve balls every so often. The discovery of lost corridors leading to ?, out of date ancient tech. causing devastation, rudimentary stargate-beaming hybrid are just some of the ideas I have pondered in my own Walter Mitty PTB pitch meeting…if I were a writer…any good at it…living in Vancouver etc etc
(3) Aspect Minimized: This may sting….can we tone down the teen-esque/nightclub social relations a tad? I for one was a bit at sea with the Chloe in the nightclub/The Hills-esque scenes. I fully appreciate the other character development/drama led story-lines, just that one group of scenes kinda left me cold. Too much Earth-based/body swopping can be a bit distracting. (And I fully admit I am no longer 20, and probably a grump!)
(4) Favourite Story Moment: The whole concept of “Time”, with the non-crayon ending = pure class.
(5) Element Added to the Series as A Whole: “What this show needs is damn sexy female aliens!”….ok only joking. (SG1 fans will get the reference). Can we (gently) re-introduce the humour as seen in SG1 and SGA? I fully appreciate that this is an edgier/darker fight-for-your-life situation but a little levity (eg Eli and the Hof system) would be cool. C’mon you guys are fab at this!!
Will probably think of others as soon as I log off. But that’s what I got for now.
Best to all!
S’n’T
If Haggis smells anything like chitlins when it’s cooking, I’ll have to pass. Though I suppose if I get a chance to try it where someone else has done the olfactory suffering for me, I’ll give it a go. Technically I think you can count this as a weird food. After all, the Scots are a sufficient minority that even if it’s a national dish, there aren’t enough of them to make haggis mainstream. (ducking for cover from tossed cabers and swinging claymores).
1) All of the background characters. I don’t mean major fleshing out. More like “bacon” moments for those faces for whom we’ve not had names attached. Something to humanize them, to make us feel something if and when they bite the dust. I’m trusting you’ve already brought out more about the major characters in the back half of the season. or plan to do so in the current batch of scripts in production.
2) Destiny. I’d like to see the ship “prettied up” a bit. At least lit up and explored enough for us to enjoy comparing the early Ancient design vs. the later Atlantis look. I’d also love to see an exploration of Destiny’s computer. I have been wondering if it has a Liberator-like AI or not, and how that AI might manifest if allowed to.
3) The stones, and communications with Earth. While I realize that this opens up more story lines, I think it is also allowing you writers to cheat a bit. From bringing in crossover characters, to doing soap opera-ish plot lines, it detracts from the isolation the stranded crew are supposed to be experiencing. While I’d miss Telford is this angle is cut back, I think it would improve the show overall.
4) Hmm, story moment. I’ve not re-watched all the episodes, so there are several moments that might qualify. But I’ll go with the “you knew all along the ship would recharge” moment during Light. It sets up the situation between Rush and Everett, without conceeding Rush actually was thinking that diabolically. I enjoy the fact that Rush really doesn’t give a damn what people think, even when it makes him look bad. Most people worry so much about appearances that they go out of their way to counter such negative views.
5) Others have answered this very well. I’d like to see the Stargate mythology expanded, and I’d like just a wee bit of optimism among the reluctant crew. I’d settle for something that would also tie in to my answer to number 1. More “aha!” moments as the crew makes baby steps towards survival. From finding new food sources, to learning some skill that improves their overall odds(where are the Ancient classes so that more people can read the “Do Not Enter”, or “WC” signs? Just 1-2 minute scenes that give us a glimpse into daily life, and possibly set up a future story.
Thanks for asking for imput. Don’t know if any of the responses inspire the writers’ muses, but it’s nice to think that our feelings and thoughts make at least a small difference.
I must add one thing. I gave this chance coz you asked us cos I follow the franchise since the beginning and hoping this will get the SGA movie. but till now no news from you.
I know you wrote the script. so where is the movie promised?
Dom
Hello =) ça va ? moi oui mais un peu malade..
Du haggis ? je ne connais pas, mais ça resemble à une gros boudin…
Alors pour répondre à vos questions:
1…..Rush,Matt,Tamara,Everett, Eli, Chloé
2….Des aventures, avec pleins de nouveaux monde et de nouvelles espèce.
3….Le fait de trop se pencher sur les personnages et leurs sentiments….trop de blabla* pour rien.
4….je ne me souviens pas .?
5….Des extraterrestres qui font peurs, et d’autre espéce incroyable….donc nous faire voyager grâçe à tout cela au lieu de nous confronter au probléme des différentes personnages….qui est très lassant.
Voila =) gros bisou!
blabla* = parler pour ne rien dire d’intéressant.
Haggis?? Ick. I have no intentions of eating sheeps intestines. Yuck.
On to SGU….
1. Tamara
2. More space stuff. I would like to see them meeting aliens. I would like to see more space exploration. And….more exploration through the Stargate.
3. I think you ought to get rid of the those comm stones. I feel they are too much of a cheat. And…I don’t like the whole body swapping thing. I feel it’s immoral.
4. When they go off-world and explore other worlds.
5. They need alien allies and/or alien enemies.
1. Colonel David Telford
2. Aliens, Enemies, Mythology, space action
3. The constant issues with the ship falling part
4. Poor old Rush finding the alien ship, and then subsequently abandoned
5. I want a central enemy, a mega villain, and attached to the central enemy and over arching mythology.
1. I’m with a few other people here and would like to see more of Tamara….and Eli. I love Eli and while I know every episode can’t be about him…he (David Blue) is a joy to watch.
2. Granted the 1/2 half of the season might give us further insight into the inner working of Destiny but at this point I would like see more of the ship.
3. I know the show is about the human condition but the constant despair is really making it hard for me to watch. Even people in the worst circumstance manage to find a way to laugh about something.
4. This is hard…I would say when Eli visits his mother and talks her into making him cookies. The love for his mother is palatable and a little heart breaking but he managed to keep it light.
5. Humor – there is no humor. Stargate separated it’s self from everything else with its humor. Universe is almost humorless and makes for a tough hour of television at a time when television is a way to escape the tough realities of this world.
Thanks Joe! I love that you actually welcome our comments.
To add with my previous comment. So I said I’d like to see the stones go out of the window. I prefer that. 🙂 I do like the flashback story-line telling. Like for example Scott and the priest in Air. (Sort of flashback.) I’d take that over the stones any day. However I fear you (the writers/producers) will be reluctant to get rid of the stones. :S That’s why I suggested a downplay with logical reasoning behind it, ’cause I feel sometimes the stones get shoved away while they should have been mentioned.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I’d love to see Eli or Rush explored more
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The way Destiny is powered
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Communitcation Stones
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? Rush being expelled and stranded on an island with the ship
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Eli’s optimism and almost child like awe – I want to see this rub off on others – after all, laughter is the best medicine.
I admit that I’ve decided to stop watching so perhaps my input isn’t what you are looking for. If, big IF I hear positive things about the show I may change my mind. For the record I agree with a lot of the other posters that the stones need to go. I find that they distract from the story on board the ship and create situations that seem false and unnecessary on Earth.
The show needs to be less dark. I am not talking in terms of tone, but literally add some set lights. Its ridiculous how dark the set is. I realize it hides a lot of imperfections but to me it just seems like that is what it is doing, not making it dramatic. Find the light switch.
Make me care about at least one of the characters. Right now I don’t and that was why I decided to stop watching. When you have actors of the high caliber that SGU has and I still don’t give a crap something is wrong.
Joe,
Mmm Haggis, it’s whats for dinner! Although I haven’t tried it yet(gawd I want to). I didnt know it came like that Inside. I could deffinatle see panfrying that like the breakfast meat getta or as some know it as spackle also. What do you think Joe? Would it be a good option to do that since you’ve now tried it? Kind of what I do with spam.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? Volker or Greer. Id think it would be intersting to see more of a backstory of these two if its not already explored in the 2nd half of S1
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?Someting more interesting finds w/ Destiny- the sun thing was the best we have seen. But At least I do want more than sand for the Oxy scrubbers or water needed, or an Inoperal shuttle.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? None really ecept mabe the teasing of a relationship Eli gets from Chloe. Poor guy has got to have bluballs by now. Or you can let it happen just once.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? Anything with Rush Faking out the crew and Eli just being Eli
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? A door to what the Ancients were doing, Rush has kept most of what Destiny can do to Himself. We all are in the dark still on Destinys capabilities or its functions.
Haggis! Yum!!
I think the sex scenes could be skipped without any loss.
If you are going to keep using the stones, use them to bring someone useful over to Destiny (eg. McKay).
Let’s see the crew act more professionally. Granted, they were ‘the wrong crew for this mission’, but they were selected to be on Icarus so they really should be the cream of the crop.
Joe,
No pics of the finished haggis plate? Come on! That’s like…your cable going out during the last 5 minutes of a season finale.
1. I’d like to see more back story or Rush. I love to hate that guy, so I’d like to know what got him there.
2. I’d definitely like to see more exploration of Destiny. It after all, is the most mysterious character on the show.
3. I’m a bit torn here. I know where you guys are going with the character driven angle. But sometimes I miss the old “sci-fi-alien-dilemma” if you know what I mean.
4. Favorite story moment? There were a few. Those that stand out are definitely when Young stranded Rush on the planet, and when Rush (see a theme here?) was ready to sacrifice anyone (but himself) to unlock the secrets of the chair.
5. Teletubbies. They’re terrifying.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
At the moment Rush, but seeing as his past will be revealed in ‘Human’ I’d say either Telford or TJ. Telford because he is a complete asshole of which he is aware, but he just doesn’t give a shit because he’s above it. His past with Young is also rather interesting, and it would be nice to see that explored. TJ because we don’t know that much about her, other than a hinted affair with Young and that she’s a drop-out from medical school.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The past of the characters. One of the things I didn’t like about Atlantis was the lack of a past life of the characters (or rather, that it wasn’t explored except for a couple of references). Take Sheppard for example, in the first episode it was clear something happened to him in the Gulf War and that had him shipped to Antarctica, but that interesting aspect of him wasn’t explored until much later in the third season, at which point most of the people had forgotten about it. A rather missed opportunity, because a rich backstory brings a character more to life and helps the viewer relate to them, because you see how the characters ended up the way they are now. It seems that the characters in SGU are getting developed that way though (with Rush in ‘Human’ and Greer in ‘Lost’), but I wouldn’t mind taking it another step further like with an episode that takes place before Air: seeing how Greer ended up in jail, why Telford and Young hate eachother so much, how Eli ended up from mathematical genius to game-addict in his mother’s basement, etc. Which is also an opportunity to include some familiar (perhaps dead) faces for long-time fans.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Less melodramatic stuff from the stones would be nice. I don’t mind the stones at all, but if each and every time they are used for melodramatic purposes I can see why some people are starting to hate them. ‘Life’ for example: having Scott discover he has a son which didn’t know of is okay, but having his son raised by a stripper mom who can’t afford the bills is a bit too melodramatic.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I really enjoyed the episode ‘Earth’, in particular the end where Rush pulled of his plan, and of course the moment where the stones glitched in the middle of the ‘action’. Telford’s look was simply priceless.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I’d like to see some ongoing arc on Earth, but not through the stones per se. It could be completely seperate from the Destiny arc, something to do with the Trust (come on, they’ve too much interesting story potential for not to use them) or the Clava Thessara Infinitas (which could end up being worthwile for the Destiny, something like a seeder ship). Also gives a chance to salvage these unfinished arcs from the heap, and to explore the current situation in the Milkyway.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? – Eli, just to watch him grow up more. TJ because she has potential. Chloe because she needs to find a purpose and that would be an interesting character arc.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I want more ship exploration. I think there’s all sorts of interesting potential from looking around there.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The undercurrent of discontent. I have enough of that in my real life. I’d like to see them pulling together.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I can’t remember a specific one, but I always appreciated the times when we got to see the “real person” instead of the persona the character was giving off in the stress of their position or situation.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Snark. It needs way more snark. Pithy one-liners that make you snort. You’ve danced around it with Eli, but can we loosen up everyone else? And just some humor. Gallows humor would even be sufficient.
Oh sweet fan input!!!!!!!
1. My favs are Young and Greer but they’re already both explored or going to be explored. I’d like to see some more on James and Becker. I love how your using James but Becker is underused for sure.
2. Action for sure. However, since I know you have a limited number of people to kill off, so it’s hard to have shooting every episode. 🙂 I would love to see more offworld adventures and alien encounters.
3. I have to say the stones really. Not the fact that they are there, they just consume the storyline. I love the personal stories like the one with Young, I just think they need to be a bit shorter.
4. I liked the insane plot and action from time, I liked the twist in life about Rush lying, and I like the twisting plotline of justice!
5. I would like the feeling of adventure and hope. I wanna see aliens, action, exploration and discoveies. There has to come a point where the people realize they will be stuck there for a while and they will just have to work together to try to make something good out of the bad. Visit new worlds, meet new aliens, try to make new discoveries that will benefit humanity so when the arrive home they can say they can have discovered new worlds and races and that they did more than twiddle their thumbs and to find a way home.
I would also like to see minor characters like cpl. Rivers or Marsden or Dr. Boone or airmen rennie to be a bigger part of the cast. I’d like to see the one liner characters to do more.
Thanks again Joe for letting us give feedback!!!
Thanks so much,
Major D. Davis
I would really like to see some sort of a time-line of the existance of the Ancients, and the invention of different Ancient tehnology. I think this show should pick up where Atlantis should have explored more, the history of all things Ancient. I know Atlantis has the bad guys ruining exploration, and those damned filler episodes didn’t help things along. SGU has time for exploration. I think in every episode, there could be a little time for someone to stumble upon new information on the History of things. “Hey look here, I found this, and this may be the most imporatant discovery of all time! Or at least until we discover something else next week!” I’m rambling, I know. Gateworld has a little bit of a time-line up, but I don’t think it’s all that accurate. You guys write this stuff, so you guys should be able to know for sure.
Haggis is one of those foods found in every culture, that people within the culture appreciate and people outside generally can’t understand. (In my background, that food is kishke.)
Omg Joe! I totally forgot. For number 1. Certainly I forgot about seargent Riley. Haven’t seen hm so I forgot. But definately I would love to see more of him!!!!!
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I’ll never get enough of Nicholas Rush – he’s absolutely fascinating, however I’d also like to see more of Tamara Johansen. I loved her in Water and I’d like to see more of her taking charge. And more of her acting as a medic. I’d love to see her tell Young off for the way he treated her – I’d be pissed if a guy used me and dumped me like he did. She should stand up to him.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
More explorations of the worlds they find. More of those on-planet adventures like in Time.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Far, far less of the Earth trips. I tend to fastforward past those when I’m watching my recorded episodes. Totally uninteresting and dull. BORING – get rid of them.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The scene I rewatch the most is Rush’s collapse scene from ‘Darkness’ simply because Robert Carlyle is absolutely stunning. I’m also very fond of Rush and TJ’s interactions in Water and Rush and Greer’s interactions in Time.
Darkness, Water, and Time are my favorite episodes. All I tend to watch of ‘Earth’ is the scene at the end where Rush saves the day and embarrasses Telford – that was excellent.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I’m mostly interested in learning more about Destiny; I keep wondering if that ship is sentient in some way.
I’m also looking for is for Young to pay for what he did to Rush at the end of Justice. I wanted to do Young some serious physical harm. And BTW – the hiatus until April is bollocks.
Would like to see Rush develop some deeper relationships with the people on board, esp. TJ, Greer, and Brodie.
Too bad we can’t get rid of Eli. Every time I see him, I want to slap him silly. Maybe TJ can do it – she looked like she wanted to in Water.
Oh, and can something be done to save Chloe? Right now she’s utterly useless and I can’t see a reason for her character to even exist.
Counting down to April,
-J
Joe – I’ve been very busy lately, but I want to share my thoughts on your questions – hopefully tonight.
Also, I’m proud of you! Congrats on your first bag o’ haggis! Now…how about that 100-year old egg. 😉
das
As a Scot, personally I can’t stand haggis, and I’ve never tried a deep fried mars bar, lol! My mum’s a fan of haggis though, as was my dad 🙂
1. I don’t have much of a preference for character exploration, but if pushed it would be Rush, Tamara or Greer
2. Don’t know
3. The stones
4. Uhm…probably Young leaving Rush on the planet in ‘Justice’
5. Aliens and humour!
I love a well prepared haggis!
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
More Col. Telford… There has to be more than what we as viewers have seen of him. I have difficulty believing his motivation for getting on board is just because he has been trained for the mission- perhaps someone on board is a loved one?
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Again, Telford. He seems to be a secondary character trying to be a primary.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? The stones- while we as viewers can relate to the transportation aspect of the stones- that’s all they appear to be able to do.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Col. Young smacking the hell out of Telford!
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Perhaps more interaction with Interplanetary beings or phenomena that influences characters
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Greer. He takes his job so seriously. He has serious issues with Camille and Telford. I want to know more about his life back on Earth.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I like to know more about what is going on back on Earth (no using of the stones). A parallel story to what is going on THE DESTINY. What is Telford getting up to? More Jack O’Neil would be nice.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The Stones. I like how they gave the audience a chance to learn about the character’s lives back on Earth.
I think as time goes on this constant communication is doing going to do more harm then good. I would like to see the crew realize this and stop using the stones to visit Earth and just used them as a way to send regular updates to Earth.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Young punching out Telford. Just what is up between Telford and Young’s wife.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I believe Rob and Brad said that they don’t want a regular bad guy like the Wraith or the Goauld but that is what I would like to see.
1. Tamara, as she is the most interesting (as therefore favourite) character in my opinion.
2. More stargate action! Gating to other worlds, soemtimes for longer periods of time (removal of the time limit would be nice sometimes 🙂 ).
3. I’m liking the increased romance and character development, but it wouldn’t hurt to slow it down slightly to allow for a bit more action.
4. I loved Time, the plot was brilliant, the acting amazing and there was some action sequences. The rest of SGU, in my humble opinion, didn’t match it, mainly because the plot was fast in Time, and some episodes (I’m looking at you Earth!) were alittle bit too slow for my liking.
5. Oooooooooh, brilliant question. My thoughts? We’re in a brand new freakin galaxy and we nothing, and i mean nothing, about who lives there! I know alot of people will want to disagree with me, but some knowledge of the races out there and mabye even a recurring enemy/friendly race would help alot. Because all we know at the moment is that theres a little dust/sand creature out there. I loved it, and the CG was amazing – but seeing some aliens in our Sci Fi would help 🙁 . I have heard rumours that there is some kind alien coming up in the last episode (?), a milky way alien who we know from SG1/Atlantis. However, what about a completely alien race which is really difficult to communicate with (think District 9 aliens), would add heaps to the show, in my opinion.
Hope you can comment/critique the ideas that have been expressed in the comments section.
Thanks for reading 🙂
Hey Joe,
1. Character explored more: Dale Volker
2. I realize that exploring the ship means new sets, but I love knowing more about the ship. The Kino has been great!!! Love it.
3. Minimized: I honestly have loved the stories & all the characters. Does that make my feelings count less if I don’ criticize the show?
4. Story Moment: So many! When Lt. Scott is in the desert. The combination of flashbacks, aliens & life and death moment equals AWESOME!!!
5. Element Addition: I love the science! I want a star room with a team of astro-phys members trying to fiigure out where they are and where they are going.
I love SGU! I love the magic that Mark Savela and his team creates, the adventures that I get to have a peek into. Sci-Finis is my favorite genre and Stargate is some kind of wonderful!
Best to you Joe,
Cheryl. 🙂
Joe – your haggis sounds tasty. I had it once in Scotland but didn’t care for it (no offense to the Scots). But I’m game to try it again after finding out where it is done very well.
Thanks for asking us for our thoughts on the show. Hope our input helps a little.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Aside from Rush – the Destiny. There are so many things we don’t know about the ship that can be dangerous or helpful to the crew.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Basic scifi elements plus ACTION, i.e. solving life threatening situations with technology / quantum theory, Alien encounters, etc.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Body swapping with the stones for anything personal. The stones could be much more effective if they were used to bring people from Earth on board to solve problems. Bringing Carter, McKay, Daniel Jackson or O’Neil on board could be used for drama and/or comic relief. Maybe Jack can change bodies with Young or Rush to assess the situation. Or, maybe he could trade with Eli – that would be amusing. It would be a riot watching RDA do Eli and David Blue doing Jack O’Neil. Or, McKay trading with anyone would be funny – and helpful.
And, minimize the personal drama. This sometimes spills over the line to soap opera. Not what I want to see.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
When Young deserted Rush on the planet after figuring out he was the one behind the frame job. Good drama, action, and suspense.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Quicker pacing. It is taking too long for the back stories of the main characters to emerge. Aside from Scott, I feel we should know much more about them by now and should have more info on the secondary characters at this point.
I know it’s a big cast, but knowing more about all the lead characters early on would have helped me as an audience member become attached to them.
And another element – Less is More. Most times it is more intriguing to see sex or melodramatic scenes implied rather than see them directly. I suspect that a good portion of the audience would prefer this.
First of all, congratulations on doing so well with the Haggis. I am Hungarian but we have food similar to this and since I’m such a mad Scots fan, I have already tried Haggis but …erm…I still have to work on those skills, I guess.
As to the SGU part, the answers would be the following:
1. Rush. And if Rush is already being worked upon, than Eli and Volker.
2. Oh, I’m so into this question. a, Find someone who can actually sit on that chair. b, More about the daily routine like how to get new clothes, if possible, food, cooking, things that normally seem so evident but here…oh, and no razors please, I don’t want anyone to touch Rush’ stubble, it’s so…erm…authentic (wanted to say ‘sexy’ but trying not to be too naughty). c, definitely would like to see more on Destiny’s working process, what is it capable of, defense system, etc. The ship in its entirety.
3. Stones, probably…but I don’t really have anything against the show that should be minimized…bad enough that it won’t return until April or so.
4. Story moment: I had two, I cannot choose between them. a, When they all think they are about to fall into the sun and die sudden death and it was good to see how they reacted. Especially Rush, with his mediocre book…b, ‘We’ll never be done!’ Aaah, that hatred. The two went so far that I am seriously interested how you are going to fix that, not to the level of friendship of course but at least to an extent to not to make them vomit whenever they see each other.
5. Give them some hope, please. Hope on a regular level would be nice.
And thank you for making such a great show! 🙂
I wasn’t sure about SGU in the beginning but became more interested as the stories became more involving, especially loved the last few episodes, but there are also things that pull me out of the story and become tedious, and that’s the personal issues and over done angst and melodrama. And that’s compounded with the ‘in your face’ sex and soap opera elements. Relationships are fine and would be natural enough if not done with such a a heavy hand.
I’ve enjoyed the little bit of interaction between the characters and would like to see a bit more friendliness as they get to know each other and the resulting humor that can develop in human interaction.
Would love to see more exploration of the Destiny and maybe some unknown mysteries aboard the ship or even the planets to mystify us and make us wonder.
Would like to see Rush just a little less isolated, maybe he could actually like or trust someone, probably Eli. Always keep him conniving and untrustworthy but surprise us occasionally and have him do something good or admirable just so we never know what he’s actually up to.
I like Eli’s viewpoint to the reality he’s been thrust into, that’s been the most ‘fun’ elements but doesn’t take away from the story to add a bit of humor in any given situation.
I’ve been annoyed by the character of Chloe as being so useless but liked her in “Justice’ when she was given a task and she performed it well, would like to see her become more involved that way instead of just as a romantic interest or whining about her situation.
Looking forward to some action in the latter half and an encounter with an alien race, and would like to see more development with Eli, Rush, and some of the recurring characters and their working together and developing trust in each other and the military aspect with Young, Greer and Scott, but not as much emphasis on their flaws all the time but things to admire occasionally, too.
Time and Justice were my two of my favorite episodes, so more in that vein please and also liked the ones going through the gate to planets like in ‘Water’ and Air III”. Would love to be shocked again like at the end of ‘Justice’, loved not seeing that coming. Can’t wait to see how that’s resolved.Any episode that leaves me wondering is great writing.
More story and less personal drama is my wish. Character development is good, but there was too much of it at the beginning before we even knew or cared about the characters. That type of thing should be developed slower and over the course of a series, as we get to know the characters and become interested in their personal stories.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Tamara. I like what little I’ve seen of her to date, but it really has been too little. I am hoping like mad she gets more focus in the second half of season one.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Travel through the stargate because of a sense of wonder or natural human curiosity, and because these people have the opportunity to see things nobody else could or did.
So far, rightly, everything has been about survival. The ship is breaking down, it has no supplies, and the situation is kind of dire.
But once the needs of the crew have been largely met, I’d love to see trips through the stargate being about more than finding food or water or carbon dioxide filters. What about a natural sense of curiosity? These people must have joined stargate for a reason, and for some of them (beyond Rush), that must have been about a sense of adventure. I’d love to see some of those stories starting to come to the foreground.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The LRC stones.
I would have said the ‘ships — who’s sleeping with who this week? — but really, it’s the “sex while in someone else’s body” thing I find repugnant.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Eli’s visit with his mom back on Earth, and the reveal of why he signed up.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
A sense of family, or team. These people are in a desperate situation, and yet there is no sense of working together to try to help one another. Instead, there’s lots of backstabbing and petty infighting and shagging. We’re getting to see the worst of everyone involved, and as much as I think SG-1 and SGA may have overplayed the sense of heroism and camraderie, I think SGU is dwelling too much on people’s flaws.
And I’d like to see the characters start to grow and change, so that by the end of season two, it is possible to look back at who these people were in season one, and see how everything that has happened has changed them.
What I think is going to be an amazing story at the end of this series? Is watching what happens when these people do get home (I’m an optimist; they’ll find a way home 😀 ). Because in many cases, I think the people they’ve left behind now will meet strangers on the crew’s return to Earth.
Hi Joe
1. I would like to see Msgt. Ronald Greer explored more. His background and the way his character adapts to several situations is really good and I would like to see more of this.
2. I would like to see more of the Destiny and what its capable off. Its a big ship and I can feel upto now season 1 has only just touched the tip of the iceberg of what the Destiny can unleash.
3. I would like to see less character profiling in season 2. It started off great but I found its gone on way too long especially going to and from earth. Their stuck on a ship and it would be good if the focus became mainly on that.
4. My best story moment had to be the evacuation of the Icarus base.
5. I would like to see a long term enemy introduced somehow. like the wraith or go’uld. I mean who attacked the Icarus base and why? could it be something to do with destiny?
Either way i’m loving the show. After watching SG for well over a decade i’m still addicted.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Rusch and Eli…I have a feeling Rusch has a really cool and interesting backstory. Okay, I will tell you my take on what I though his backstory was originally. I kinda feel like he had a wife and/or child that got very sick and he has been watching them die. This was AFTER he descended to Earth from being an Ancient. There is something out there that will help them, that is why he wanted to go on this journey. Wether he actually remembers being an Ancient I don’t know. I would like to think that he does not remember- like Daniel did, just remembers bits and pieces.
For Eli I definetly want more backstory. Let’s just say I would peg him as a Drew from Taylor Swift’s song “Teardrop’s On My Guitar”. Even though he says he never had a best friend- and I think we all have to assume limited if any girlfriends….I think there was someone back on Earth that cared for him as he does for Chloe.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Sci-fi aspects. “Time” was (in my opinion) one of the best of the first half of the season. It had the sci-fi/Stargate feeling to it, because without the stargate the story doesn’t work. For almost all the other shows you could do ANY of those stories without the gate there, because you are in a ship. That was one of the things I loved hearing Michael Shanks say about Stargate several years ago. “I know I’m going to get roasted for saying this, but it’s so not really our show [traveling in a ship]”. Which is the one aspect that I think sets the Stargate franchise apart from all the other sci-fi shows out there.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
This is actually the question I answered last. That is hard to say, especially since we haven’t seen the second half of the season yet. But as a general idea NO CLIFF HANGERS! The season brake or end of both a SG-1 and Atlantis that had them both is make space ship battles almost killed me!
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
In “Time” after the teaser is over and you cut back to hear Eli say “what the hell” (or something close to that). That was such a Stargate moment, the realization that nothing you just saw happened but now you have to figure out why it didn’t happen and how to keep it from happening this time.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
FURLINGS!!! Hehe…yes I know we are never going to actually see them. But (again my opinion) is that they are tall and slinky creatures (like the Kaminoans from Star Wars). I think their name does not have to do with warm and fuzzy but it has to do with their traveling in ships. I borrowed this from wikipedia.com
“Furling refers to stowing or dousing a boat’s sail by flaking (folding), packing (like stuffing a spinnaker into a turtle), roller furling or just lowering it onto the deck. Nowadays, it is becoming more common to use the term “furling” to refer to reefing a sail that is part of a roller furling system.”
Sorry i was so long winded but that is my opinion on the situation.
1. I would like to see Rush’s character explored more.
2. I would like to see more exploration through the stargate.
3. The stones should be used less.
4. I quiet liked “Time” good story.
5. I loved Stargate Atlantis so I would to more stories on advanced technology.
@ Thornyrose
>>There may not be many of us Scots – but we are everywhere.
Deep fried pizza sounds like a recipe for indigestion.
Hello Mr Mallozzi,
I read your blog on a daily basis, but I never mix up in the discussion. I just wanted to let you know I really appreciate today’s blog. Asking the fans these questions really shows you care about what they think. Ultimately, the big decisions will be up to you and the very capable writing staff… but I still wish to thank you for giving us this opportunity.
1.
T.J.
2.
I’d love to see the crew explore the Destiny, and find out more about the Ancients.
3.
Love troubles, affairs… I’m all for romance on Stargate, but it’s like this show is catching up on the lack of romance on the first two shows.
4.
I was intrigued when the mysterious entity helped out Matthew in Air III.
5.
I’d like to see some team forming among the crew. I get that there won’t be a SGU-1, what with all the tension and distrust among the team members, but I’d love for some of them to get along well.
The Haggis looked horrible. You’re a brave man.
Mirjam
Remember, you asked…;-):
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Greer (not backstory, just parts of his current personality dealing with things. He just seems one of the most complex of the characters right now rather than “angry black man from troubled circumstance” trope hinted at). And Wray, I want to see more of her life and her thought processes.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
It’s a very minor thing, but in my mind an essential one. Follow through on some of the build up/set ups of things. I’m not talking about hints necessarily, like that ship that took off from Destiny (I’m assuming that’s going to come up later). Several character aspects of the arced story are seemingly dropped by the next episode. Rush ordered Greer to shoot Volker. Except for Volker being a bit (understandably) grumpier at certain points, we never saw any reaction from the higher ups or even the rest of the crew about this incident. What about what happened to Riley after he was badly hurt in “Earth”? Did he survive? How are Brody and the others coping with this accident? Rush claimed “he” heroically saved the stones in the pilot instead of it being a point that the colonel did and that O’Neill ordered him to be in charge. Did anyone find out the truth? It established Rush’s character in some respects to the audience, but how did the other characters react to it or are they still oblivious (and if so, why?) Is Eli still spying on the crew for Young’s benefit overall (that was kinda vaguey in “Earth”, it seemed like it was a different secret job). Even passing references or reactions if/when the situations come up again can do a lot to build the continuity.
It’s a very fluid situation on the Destiny, and humans are fickle creatures, but I’ve been disconnected from the disjointed handling of dropping one climactic moment to go on to the next moment. For example the scientists at times are all “lets stick together against the military” one moment and then distrustful and hating of Rush the next. Sure they can have both feelings, I’m happy for them to, but we care about these characters by their actions and reactions to each other and without some kind of transition or exposure to their thought process aside from “this is now Situation A or Situation B”, it comes across as inconsistent characterization rather than complicated relationships amongst desperate people.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The Ancient stones. Their use has minimized the stranded/desperate feel of the crew and made it harder to get the dynamics of the crew because we’re all seeing them dealing with other people. (Can show Lou and the rest on Earth working on things, worried, jealous, etc, but not interacting with Destiny crew–that ends always turning into a clumsy us v them Snidely Whiplash or something.) There are other issues as to why I hate the stones, but I think this is the one most important: it weakens the characters and is a distraction from the storyline rather than the strength and added complex facet it was envisioned to be.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
One of the best “moments” I recall is the section of “Light” where it went through the whole human dynamic at the actual lottery, the protest cut off, the expressions on the faces of the people who “got lucky” and the resignation of those left–as well as those moments: some praying, some gambling, some being off solo, while the crew of the shuttle came together (ex: “Happy Birthday”). The characters were allowed to just be in the moment and show what they were by how they related in this situation. No backstory or Earth drama or stone tricks, just be. A great example of getting the “show not tell” right, in my opinion.
I guess it’s also telling that my favorite episode of the season to date is “Time”.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More exploration and explanation of the ship as a whole and Destiny’s purpose with these seeder Stargates. The timeline is rocky for how long the crew have been on the ship by this point, but a bit of a routine must’ve settled in, and except for Chloe (who came up with the vid game idea that shanghaied Eli), they’ve all been stationed/worked offworld. A bit of curiosity, checking out this strange place and taking a more *active* role in their situation, even if it’s complain/cope/freak out some more, rather than *reactive* to the crisis du jour or Earth angst.
While there were a few stories about exploring Atlantis, so much happened on offworld missions the city seemed familiar and established before more could be done plausibly. The setup is already there for Destiny with the kino moments and more getting open as their lifesupport systems are stabilized.
P.S. Glad to hear/see your mom’s doing better!
I’d like to add that in my opinion SGU has enough humor. They’re in a serious situation and can’t be joking around. Not always, anyway.
I miss Riley and his sarcasm, tho’.
From what I have seen of the comments, many would like SGU to be turned back into SG1 or SGA.
Why not just bring them back then?
SGU is just fine as it is.
But I’d love to see the other shows back too.
1- Tamara or Greer
2- More alien tech; get Eli discovering and using more of it. He’s got to be good for more than just kino floating and recording.
3- Less stone body swapping sex. Less stones in general. Why are we focusing so much on earth politics? One back to earth episode was enough. Let’s explore!
4- Favorite story moment was the cliffhanger clash of Rush and Young. Did not see that head crack coming.
5- So far the show has focused on survival, with is the most basic fear. I understand the show so far in terms of this motivation. However, it’s a real bummer to watch episode after episode of dark muckiness as people turn to sex, escapism and violence as their way to deal with that fear. I feel like for the first 9 episodes I was plodding through the characters thick emotional sludge waiting for some kind of light at the end of the tunnel to reassure me the show was really worth it. Every one of us deal with those same fears in everyday life and our entire lives are spent working through them. Thus, we can identify with characters having the same struggles without being beaten over the head with it every episode. Instead, think of Dr. Ernest from “The Torment of Tantalus.” He’s been stranded alone for decades but we’re not beaten over the head with how crazy and depressing that is. We identify with it the moment we see his small withered frame hugging Daniel, then, we move on.
Which character would you like to see explored more? Scott. It’s a big jump between altar boy/priest in the making to humping a colleague in the closet. There’s something missing that cannot be explained by one baby out of wedlock. His character is smart, balanced, take charge, but fair and with humor. No clue what he sees in Chloe. She’s scratchable to pare the offering of leads down to a reasonable number. As far as I’m concerned, she offers zero to the show.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? Because there are so many lead characters, we’re never given the chance to get to know any. There’s really not a lot of ‘relationship’ going on because we’re only getting small glimpses of folks. Doesn’t have to be a team like SG-1, but it would be helpful to stay on one subset of characters for more lengthy periods for a chance to get to know them. Definitely want more information about the ancients and the ship.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? Surprise revelations late in the show. The Kino show “Time” still has me confused. It was really interesting, my fav, but for the life of me, I could not figure out what happened in the end. I was expecting a part 2 to explain Chloe’s miraculous return from the dead until I read on GateWorld that the explanation was Scott’s final transmission. And that it was an alternate timeline thing. I’m not a tech, so this type of ‘surprise’ at the very end that is not soon thereafter explained…even in another episode, is a little annoying. Between the dark sets and dark storylines, listening intently for these gems of knowledge becomes more work than fun.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? The Daniel bits, naturally. I’m looking forward to Stargate 101 in DVD. The above Kino alternate universe show was good, but I have to say Jack’s chat in “Earth” showed how strong an actor he really is. I think if the lead characters were trimmed to Scott, Greer, Young, Eli, and Camille…guess Rush has to be in there too cause he’s paid so much to take up space…you’d have the opportunity for much tighter chemistry from the cast. Right now, there’s not much chemistry apparent and that’s why I’m not feeling the ‘it’s about relationships’ vibe.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? More interaction with or from the ancients. Rush telling us what he perceives stuff means given his obvious self-interest, just doesn’t make it believable. Especially not after the water debacle. The ancients would not have sent them to their doom like that.
Hi Joe:
Wow! Just, Wow! Than you so much for giving us a chance to share our opinions about what we would like to see done with the show.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
– In order of interest: Greer, TJ, Eli.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
– More aliens, but sentient ones. And external villains would bring the crew together. It would be nice to see them working together instead of at each others throats.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
– As others have said, the hormonal behaviour of the younger members of the destiny. Chloe, if just irritating. She’s too needy and far too soap opera-esk in her behaviour toward the others. She must have some redeeming traits somewhere. Her character is the one that is often killed off in movies because no one can stand her.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
– The abandonment of Rush on the planet by Young. Rush will likely now need to get even. I’m interested to see what he comes up with as revenge.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
– Sentient aliens and some alien bad guys. More trips through the star gate.
Patricia
Hi Joe,
Glad to see your mom is on the mend and seemingly in good spirits.
What a great chance you offer for SG fans to offer feedback to the people that matter. I love SGU, its
a great show, albeit quite darker and broodier than SG1 and SGA. I get that its a “different kind of
show” from previous incarnations, but the previous incarnations is what built the fan base. That said,
in response to your inquiries…..
1). YOu got to give us more of Brody and Volker, and/or other background science experts. I know that
they were not “military” and not the ones suited for the trip thought the puddle, however, they must be
smart enough to have been picked by the SGC to tell the world greatest seceret too. I mean I love Eli
(my fave charater) and Rush (my #2 fave), but they seem to be the only ones that are doing anything on
the Destiny. I’m sure the others can contribute in a mojor way.
2). Well, I get that in the first 10 episodes every thing is kind of new, and they are still doing the “What the f##K?” feeling about the situation. However, what are they doing about getting home? Or finding our where they are and what can they do. They seem to content so far to “be along for the ride”. These are presumably the smartest people on earth. They need to start working the problem without Young having to get up thier asses to do so. A second thread I’d lke to see expanded is the mythology that runs in SG1 and SGA. It would help tie in the series and hook the core base fan.
3). I would like to see the pettieness minimized in season two. So far it is great for builing tension and drama, but with every family there begins to be acceptance. The crew should start working together on the issues of getting home.
4). My favorite moment from the first 10 eps so far is hard to pick…. It’s great to see O’Niell and HWS and Carter in the Hammond, but the Rush/Young thing is great. The absolute best moment so far was in “Time”, when we learn about the time loop and what Scott did to save everyone. It was a mind twist and classic Sci-Fi timeline trickery ala SG-1. Loved IT!
5). What would be cool to see in season 2 is more of the elements to tie into the pre-runners SG1 and SGA, I’d keep the mood and plots but add more of the quirckieness and hummor Eli displays (as O’Niell is famous and loved for). It owuld be cool to see more characters loosen up and accept the ‘family’ and have more fun, much the way Teal’c did over the seasons. Everybody’s got to goof off every now and then.
It could also be cool to find an alien race that were friends (a sci-fi twist, usually they are the enemy). That may lead to find out that over time, they have enemies and are now our enemies. Just a thought.
Thanks again for the feedback opportunity, keep us the good work.
Shawn Cassidy
With the big sell off of Atlantis props and costumes on Ebay, I have one question, Joe. Is the SGA set still standing?
Wow, you like to live dangerously, don’t you, asking for fan in put on SGU? 😉
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I’d like to see all of them explored, but in a better manner. They’ve got to learn to live together, that, or else have someone murder someone. I’m not looking for the Brady Bunch but there’s so much backstabbing… and when someone dies (like those two redshirts who went through the gate), can’t they be acknowledged? I mean, out of sight out of mind?? But what really needs to be explored more? See below.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The Destiny itself. Atlantis barely got explored, so now it’s time to at least correct that on this show (as in exploring the city/ship you’re living in). I’d like to see more of the rest of the faceless nameless scientists, etc. who are also on the Destiny.
And the Stargate. It’s in the title of show. Let’s use it!
And the universe they find themselves in. Surely there’s some intelligent life out there…
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
No question: the accursed stones. They’re the holodeck of Stargate. Toss ‘em, put them in an aquarium, something! Stop using it for people to go back home for sex and getting drunk. Instead, send trained personnel to Destiny more often. And maybe an honest to gosh doctor when disaster strikes. When Riley got the head injury, there was no sign of anyone but TJ (a medic, NOT a doctor) having looked at him. It would be nice if the show got a medical consultant or at least used Google cuz Spencer being unconscious for six minutes is a bad head injury …and hey, whatever happened to Riley anyway??
And yes, minimize the sex. Sex doesn’t equal character development. Sometimes it makes a point but it doesn’t seem to be done (so far) than just to attract viewers. The viewers who, apparently, are more hormone driven…
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Hmm, nothing comes to mind. I’d rewatch, but the DVR died and took SGU with it. But, yes, Rush getting left on planet was fun to watch. Ah, but he’ll find his way back like a bad penny.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Lightbulbs. No joke. The ship is pretty dismal, and realistically there should be more depression due to lack of light (SAD, for one thing). I’m not asking for blinding shopping mall light, but surely if they can conveniently find a way to charge up Eli’s iPhone, they can figure out a way to get lights going. And if not, there sure isn’t much chance of them growing any plants for food.
Aliens. As we’ve seen in previous shows, there are aliens out there. I’m hoping that the Destiny crew can run across some – but please, NO MORE REPLICATORS! Done. To. Death. And it would be nice to have alien aliens, not the same ones we’ve seen in SGA and SG1.
Please, no Trust operatives on the ship. Unless they’re eaten by a totally alien alien. Quickly. Then, no problem 😉
And that’s about it. While I am watching SGU, it’s not grabbing me like SG1 and SGA did. I’d like it to do that, because for one thing, if it tanks, that means the franchise could go with it. I really like all the actors, but the characters, not so much. When I watch a show, I’d like to see at least a couple characters whom I like, but not so much in this show. At least not yet. Hoping that will be corrected in the second half of the season…
Another question 2 or 5 suggestion:
Here’s an element that happens in stories that I just love – when something is revealed that forces you to reassess everything else that just happened with an entirely different paradigm.
The Ring did this awesomely. The story was gripping in its own right – if you’re into that sort of thing – but, at the end, an assumption that had been playing through the whole film was blown out of the water and, suddenly, everything that happened had a different meaning. It took my assessment of the film from good, but not my genre, to super awesome.
Justice did this some, too. Once we knew Young knew Rush’s role, we had to race back through the story and try to figure out when Young knew it and which of his plays were two-faced.
Remember in Lost when they suddenly realized one of them hadn’t been on the plane? Was that cool or what?
Another: “Luke, I’m your father.” That line raced you back through multiple MOVIES, not just recent plot elements.
This element magnifies the fun factor of a story in an instant. It’s about packing as much fun into a single moment as possible, not slow reveals. That’s an important distinction between the element I’m describing and the usual mystery solved.
I don’t post very often but I do read your blog with some regularity.
I have to admit I found it incredibly difficult to answer the below questions but, since you asked, I decided to sit here until I could come up with suitably appropriate and not too insulting answers.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I really don’t care enough about any of them at this point to want to see more.
If I was forced to choose, I suppose it would be Rush, since he seems to have the most complex layers waiting to be pealed away.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Gate travel. Exploring. Learning more about Ancient Tech and the Ancients themselves.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Can I choose two?
As much as I’d love, love, love to keep seeing what those familiar characters back on Earth (O’Neill, Carter ) are doing to get the crew of the Destiny back, I don’t like the use of the Ancient Communication Stones. They just seem like a plot device used to force uninteresting character drama.
The constant character infighting/backstabbing and manipulating is tiresome. I have to care about the characters to care about what’s happening to them. At this point, I don’t. I hope at some point, I will.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of *SGU*’s first season?
What defines a ‘story moment’? What came first to my mind when I read this question is: O’Neill’s conversations with Young.
Another was the exciting desperation (and kick ass musical score ) in Air part 3 when they were trying to get back to the gate and Eli sticks his hand in the event horizon to keep it open.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
What element would I like to see added . . . hmmm. Water! Lots of water! Not just rain. A water planet!
Oh, you didn’t mean that kind of element?
Well, then, my answer here would have to be the same as #2.
Oh and one thing to keep for sure is the filming style. I love the zoom in on the character reactions just like 24. I love shaky cam and the handheld style. Please please keep it!!!!!!!
Thanks so much,
Major D. Davis
OK I haven’t commented but my friend here is telling me that this is a good opportunity to share thoughts on SGU…
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Tamara “TJ” Johansen.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The adventure of exploring worlds through the stargate. We need a lot more of that.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The depressing aspects of the drama (not all of the drama, just the overdone depressing aspects of it).
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
“Justice” when Young leaves Rush stranded on the alien planet with that crash-landed alien spaceship.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More of that famous Stargate humor. Also, give the show more of a positive and optimistic feeling. It can be different from SG1 & SGA but that doesn’t mean it has to have so much of the dark, gloomy, depressing, angsty, emo, or whatever aspects. Lighten it up a bit. Insert more Stargate humor.
I’m with Das and a few others on this. Get rid of the stones. Bring back Jack as we knew him, and give us lots more of him. Daniel too (I know…big surprise there 🙂 More humour would be lovely. Get rid of the stones. More of Tamara. Get rid of the stones. Less jumpy camera. Get rid of the stones. Morjana said it, we never really got to explore Atlantis, lovely city that it was. Hey, if they movie ever comes to fruition, could that be a part of it somehow? Atlantis really captured our imaginations, and I think we’d all love to see more of it. Get rid of the stones. If my daughter acted like the women on this show, I’d slap her silly. Get rid of the stones. xoxo
Today is absolutely crazy…just have a brief lull. Will be quick with these, maybe elaborate later, if I can find the time:
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Darren Becker, if he survives the season.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I have trouble expressing my thoughts with things like this – I just don’t feel like I say things well, and prefer using examples, or else I’ll just ramble without making a point. So, here goes…
I like the intrigue – not knowing the good guys from the bad – and all the litte twists and turns that come from it (End of Justice, and just about anything involving Rush 😀 ). I’d like more pure sci fi (Time). I would also love to see more ‘brother-in-arms’ moments (Greer & Scott in Air 3 & Time). I wouldn’t mind seeing more ‘all hands on deck’ kind of moments, where all must pull together to save the ship during a crisis, although we did have a bit of that already…so maybe I’m just being greedy here. 🙂 Also, see answer to #4.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Sex and stones. Especially, as iamza said, ‘the “sex while in someone else’s body” thing’ REALLY needs to go.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Yeah…this is gonna be hard…
The only time (I think) that I actually got goosebumps was when the ship scooped up the sun’s energy (or whatever it did in Light). More ‘goosebump’ moments like that would be GREAT!
Other favorite moments were: Eli & his mom (the only stone moment I really liked), Young leaving Rush behind, and Greer alone in his room, waiting to die.
HOWEVER…my absolute favorite moment was Greer/Rush/Eli at the gate in Air 3. That’s when I really sat up and took notice of Greer. 🙂
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I guess ‘Wraith’ is just out of the question?? 😉 I’ll have to think on this one a bit…
das
PG15 — Congrats on Caltech! Wow. As someone who knows just how incredibly difficult it is to get accepted to that prestigious institution, you should be very, very proud. A remarkable achievement indeed!
I’ve resisted commenting so far because I’m new to this, but I couldn’t resist this time.
I’m so glad for the opportunity to write in my thoughts on the direction of the show — which I love, but let’s face it – not everyday is Sunday. At worst, the shows are good… at best, they’re exciting watching. I like the show and the Stargate concept. That said, I miss SG1 and SGA. The characters in both shows were a great match – I don’t see the same match in SGU yet.
1. Character:
Rush: his background & history
Johansen: visits to earth to gain more medical knowledge and developing alternative medical equipment when needed
Wallace: I want to see him mature (storyline to match)
2. Show aspect maximized: I’d like to see all of them (or most) discover their missing loyalty, humour, respect and professionalism. THAT is the main difference between SG!, SGA and SGU, and I think that is why the other shows lasted as long as they did. I think that Carter could be employed via the stones, to give Wallace some lessons – he’s a fast learner and quite astute, isn’t he?
3. Show aspect minimized: Using the stones for melodramatic use. A little is okay, but I think that we know the characters and what they are capable of. If you focus on the melodrama, than you have to balance it out with using the stones for legitimate research/emergency/medical/technical help.
4. Favourite story moment: I haven’t stopped thinking about how Rush is going to return to the ship. I truly hope that he gets the crashed ship going somehow, or gets inside and uses the stargate inside (I hope there’s one…)
5. Show element added: respect, humour, camaraderie, loyalty… build it up.
– Johansen: I would like to see her become somewhat of a Carter on Destiny with a strong character… not that she should know everything.
– Wallace: Needs a companion. He should start to learn to think out of the box, somewhat like Daniel Jackson the archeologist who ended up carrying weapons and was able to defend himself and protect others.
– Rush: Needs a rational thinking person on his side
– Young: Needs to account for leaving Rush on the planet; not exactly a role model yet, but probably building up to it and I expect we’ll see more proper leadership.
– Scott: Needs to gain a little professionalism and stop acting like a boy with a gun(s). Once you hop into bed with someone, there’s no more mystery or wonder…. again, this is why SG1 was so good. Between Carter and O’Neill, there was sexual mystery and tension amidst the chaos. The best shows were poignant with unspoken love.
– Armstrong: I would like to see her discover something about herself that would put her in a better standing with the people on Destiny. She should discover something that she’s very good at besides hopping into bed.
– Greer: Why is he always so angry – you have to balance that out with some humour/cameraderie…
– Wray: She needs to discover something that she’s good at also, that will be for the good of Destiny that is not HR related. Perhaps when aliens appear, she can be a good negotiator – something along those lines…
– Telford: I’m sure they’re there (somewhere) but I don’t see too many redeeming qualities in this guy. They’re probably all military centred and may come in really handy during the future battles.
– Destiny: One thing I liked about the other SG shows is the colour – in Atlantis and on alien ships. The Destiny is devoid of colour and drags down the psyche of the people on the ship (and watching)… need some colour in the picture – I’m not saying “over night” and “spectacular”, but something on the ship has to be discovered to brighten things up… maybe coincide with the positive, personal and professional discoveries that the characters make.
*I would like to see the other SG teams show up* – including Mitchell and Vala Maldoran (much as I liked how she evolved in SG1, I don’t think that she [Claudia] wants to come back… too bad – I like her)…. and TEAL’C – how can we use Teal’c??? Oh, I guess I really miss SG1 and SGA… can you blame me? I wasn’t ready to say goodbye…
My 5 cents…
This was easy – I’ll have to do it again…
Hello and get well to Mama Mallozzi – your humour will get you through this.
Forgot to mention it, but I also enjoy the more cynical, darker style the show has. I hope that tone remains the same (or better yet, becomes even darker) for season 2. For the lighter, more humorous Stargate I’ve already got 15 seasons 😉
I remember back in High School Home Ex class, we did a ethnic week. Including one day where we did a Scottish theme. We made Haggis and boiled potatos.
Needless to say the haggis ended up in the trash and the potatos were the only part of the meal that was eaten.
As for the “What do I want to see”. Give a little time to think about that one.
As it is I have loved all that I have seen on SGU .
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I would love to see more on The Tamara and Rush characters. The looks she always gives him seem like there is more going on between the two of them…maybe she knows his history or she is looking out for his safety or something.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The Destiny itself and more of what might be lurking on some of the planets they visit.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Like others have said “the stones”. While it makes for good storylines at times it just seems too easily available to go back to earth and live out their normal lives…or try too. However it would be great to see RDA use Eli’s body to give Rush and Young a heavy “Grow up you two” talk.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
That’s a hard one as I have enjoyed quite a few of them. But I would have to say “Time” and “Justice”.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
When the stones are used it is for an emergency situation, such as; someone get seriously hurt and needs surgery and a doctor from the SG has to take over Tamara’s body. And more stories of them finding ancient technology in different areas of the ship.
I’ve never seen a picture of Haggis before, so thanks for posting. It looks somewhat like meatloaf in a big dumpling.
Everyone seems to have covered what I like/dislike already. Eli/Rush/TJ, Destiny/Ancients, good. Communication stones, bad. Sex in someone else’s body, bad. I guess one thing I’d like to see more of is life on the ship. Getting stuck on KP duty. Playing chair ball in the hallway, setting up a book swap, etc. I guess these are best handled in KINO segments. So, more KINO!
Thanks, Joe.
@ pg15 – I’ve been rather busy lately, and must have missed your news. Congrats! 😀
das
So, do I go with “Haggis and blog reader input? BraveHeart Joe is your new nickname” or “Mmm, you can butter me haggis enny ole time, laddie-o”?
1. So many fine choices. TJ, Greer, and of course Rush, as well as spotlighting the extras.
2. The Destiny backrooms and deathtraps. Do we get space vermin? And twisty endings. Definitely more twisty endings. And madness. The cracks in the collective psyche should widen.
3. The stones. Too easy. Oh, they shouldn’t all be disabled, but perhaps someone should go a little mad and try to destroy them, toss them in the vortex or some such. The one remaining stone can then flake out a lot in interesting ways.
4. Leaving Rush behind on the planet. Totally out of the blue. I adore WTF? moments. (If Destiny is a smart ship, it will go back for him.) And Time’s slippery versions of the truth, excellent.
5. Not the Ancients, I’ve hated them since the first appearance on SG-1. Aliens would be good, but make them unpredictable and … alien. Perhaps if the scientists meddle too much with Destiny, it has self-awareness which has been in hibernation. And not in the cute Andromeda hot avatar way, although that would be popular with the fanboys. No, the ship would emulate those who were having the most contact with it…. buwahahaha….
Sorry, got a little fanficky there……
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?- I’d really like to see more of Eli’s character explored and maybe an update on how his mom is doing. Maybe how being away from his sick mom is taking a toll or something.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?-
Deffinately look deeper into the Eli and Chloe friendship but please no weird love triangles between Matt, Chloe and Eli, this isn’t twilight haha
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?-
col. Young’s relationship on earth. I really love the TJ and Young relationship though.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?-
I’d have to give it to eli throughout all of the episode “time” his little speech to chloe made me cry and i love how real he makes the whole thing feel cause he shows us he’s scared and he shows the vulnerablity. It really was a brilliant episode
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Hmmmmmmmm….well…lemme see here, tehe, personally what i’d love to see is a little more comedy. I know being stuck on a space ship in the middle of no where is angsty and what not but it’d be nice just to have a funny episode.
AND maybe a christmas special? maybe save it for season two? lol
Also it’d be pretty cool to have david hewlett guest star as rodney cause i’d LOVE to see how Eli and Rodney would get along, like maybe there is a problem on the ship and they need to call rodney to help or something.
So yeah that’s all i can think of at the moment, hope i helped.
OH and when are more of the kino mini’s coming out cause i miss watching them ^_^
~Danielle
This is my first time commenting on the blog, and I really appreciate the chance to offer input about SGU as I’m really enjoying it so far.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Tamara (maybe how she got together with Young)
Greer
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? exploring different planets and meeting alien races
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
the communication stones–The feeling of being stranded across the universe is not helped by using these.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? the end of Justice–can’t wait to see how all that turns out
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? maybe having the group become more cohesive and able to work together. One of the early episodes had Camille making a file on each of the people??
Thanks again for the chance to comment.
First off, I haven’t had time to read all of the above suggestions, so sorry if I’m repeating anything here and/or IF it any of this has already been written or considered.
Okay, so, how about an entire episode without Destiny or any of the crew? I’m thinking a-day-in-the-life of those family/friends of the Crew that have been left behind. And not just the main characters – throw some of the secondary people in there. Follow along on how the spouses, the kids, the parents, etc. are doing – whether they know the truth or not. How are THEY coping? Is Eli’s mom getting her medical help? Is Young’s wife pregnant from her encounter with Telford? And the guy who’s the cook on Destiny, what’s his family [if he has any] up to? Chloe’s mom… Throw in some therapy session with somebody’s kid who doesn’t quite get why their parent isn’t home and would probably “get” the whole stuck on a spaceship thing if they were told the truth. Hey, maybe even throw in a nosy neighbour who’s always wondering about all the military people showing up over at So&So’s place nextdoor… And what ever did happen to the cute nerdy guy in 411? He never did return that casserole dish…
Whatever, it would all add in a different POV of the various characters’ back stories. And, give your actors [and SFX crews] a week or so off, a chance for new blood to come in and strut their stuff…
I forgot to comment on a couple things. I’ll keep this within the format of the questions asked for easier reading.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Brody.
He has an interesting bond with the others aboard Destiny, including a more private one with Rush, which is awesome. Explore that more.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
This has been addressed by others, I totally agree:
We need to see the Ascended Ancients, including Ascended beings in general (even if not Ancient), and the Ancients in the flesh.
Have an Ancient descend back to human form and join the team – full-time – aboard Destiny.
That’ll give us the perfect opportunity to learn more about the Ancients and the history of the Stargate “universe”, even if that person hesitates to share (or has a wiped memory that gradually returns).
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The mostly-human-only aspect of the show needs to be minimized, balance it out a little with full-time aliens, not just a couple or few “token alien” episodes.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
In addition to the Young & Rush dilemma in the “Justice” episode, I really enjoyed the episodes and scenes that took place on the planet Earth. It helps maintain an association with our everyday present-day world.
Stargate wouldn’t be Stargate without stories occurring on the planet Earth.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I’m worried that as a result of the handful of people complaining about the communication stones that the SGU writers might end up removing Earth stories entirely. Please don’t do that. We need more stories that occur on Earth.
I would like to see scenes and perhaps entire episodes that take place on Earth regardless of if the stones are used.
There are effective and enjoyable ways to tell the stories on both Earth and Destiny without requiring the stones. The stones help but they aren’t a crutch or some prerequisite to allow for Earth-based storytelling.
Other stories can still occur – aboard Destiny, or as a result of planets visited from shuttles or stargate, or alien spaceships, or anything like that – just please don’t be exclusive to “that side of the universe”. Please maintain an active involvement with Earth.
A direct association between Destiny and Earth doesn’t have to always be present. The stones don’t always have to be the means of connecting the two.
Perhaps the Ascended beings can help out.
Either way, give us more Earth-based stories. 🙂
Thank you for reading!
I said I wanted to see “boarders” on the Destiny. I meant that as in “room and board”, permanent residents occupying their own corner, not just folks coming “on board”.
I forgot, regarding the more-Earth stories:
Just lighten up on the depressing stuff on Earth (as well as on Destiny and everywhere else.)
Thanks! 🙂
1. Lisa Park.
2. I’d like more signs of friendships developing. Not necessarily center-of-show friendships, but much character development so far has been conflict-based.
3. The stones are problematic, and the whole Young/Emily/Telford thing just annoys me. I’m also really hoping that Rush hasn’t become an evil supervillain of evil topped with evil sauce, despite having just been given an origin story that would do any bad guy proud.
4. The way Eli’s mom’s illness was revealed to the rest of Destiny in “Time.” It was so clear that this was his Big Secret, and that the others realized it. Of course, it was a terminating universe version of the crew, sigh. I’ve also liked how Chloe has been working so hard to create a social structure that works for her out of Found Objects (well, Matt and Eli).
5. Really, I’ve been enjoying the ride, and how much SGU isn’t SG-1 or SGA.
Wallace and McKay??? – now there’s an interesting match…:D
I’ve read a few responses, but decided to go ahead and add mine before reading anymore, so I won’t be influenced. I answered the questions for me before I read anyone else’s, but I am definitely seeing a lot of pattern.
1. Character I would like to see explored more?
Def Greer and TJ; there have been interesting hints of their backgrounds. The minor characters — they have always made the Stargate world well-seasoned.
2. What aspect would I like to see expoited more?
More action and interaction with stargate and aliens.
In character exploration, the ways characters are coping with their situation in a realistic way, not just moaning and groaning, Woe Is me.
And let them learn/explore/control more about Destiny.
3. What aspect would I like to see minimized?
Stones, sex and soap.
I understand the stones are the only way to communicate with Earth, but they are becoming crutches.
My kids love Stargate SG1 and Atlantis, and wanted to see SGU. But they don’t wanna see sex in the closet.
I find a lot of the stories too soapy and I am actually a fan of a couple of soap operas.
4. Favorite story moment?
Well, I narrowed it down to 3. I think there have been a lot of great moments, but only a few great eps.
Kino messages from the crew in Darkness
Young leaving Rush on the planet (best moment of all)
Light, Time and Justice have been my favorite eps.
And of course, any scene with Robert Carlyle.. 😉
5. What element would I like to see added?
The smart, snarky humor that has become a mainstay of the Stargate world.
Even in the worst of circumstances, there are people who face life with humor.
Ummm… the show is called Stargate…. more going through please.
People in circumstances beyond their control will find others to bond/commiserate with, not just having casual sex bonding. They all should be starting to get to know each other by now.. The only ones I have really seen that with are with Eli and Chloe, and Lt. Scott still ended up with the girl.
Thank you, Joe, for listening to and valuing the opinions (and quirkiness) of us fans.
1.
Greer deserves more background. Also for us to see what is so dark about him.
2.
More Ancients history, why the built the ship, how they ascended, and why the 9th Chevron?
Also I would love to see more daily life on the Destiny. In non crisis, end of the world mode.
3.
Military!
4.
Scott almost dying. Please?
5.
More Doctor Rush and Eli, moments, solving the mysteries of the Destiny.
Been a while since I’ve commented, but your questions intrigued me.
1) After seeing most of the command-level characters getting at least one major story in an episode I’d like to see a more literal exploration/character study of secondary characters with no particular preference on which characters to dive into first.
2)After seeing a technological and anthropological exploration of ancient culture on SG1/SGA, I’d like to see a more post-modern look at ancient society in the same vein of the current characters examining “how did we get to where we are now?” with less emphasis on recent events and more emphasis on the broader concept of pre-determination vs. destiny (after all, even the ship’s name is destiny).
It would be really awesome to see a philosophical examination of the character’s own destinies dove-tail with the broader destiny of the ancients and the current human race.
So far the characters have been so survival-oriented that only Rush has taken the time to look at the “big picture” and embrace “a destiny” even if it might not be his true destiny.
3) The only aspect of the show that really takes me out of the story is the young characters behaving with no sense of agency. They seem to take gate-travel, alien planets, and technological wonders for granted in the milky way but on the Destiny their maturation has regressed to a junior-high-school level. All of their decisions and behavior seem to be reactionary as if they can’t act without someone else to react to. As opposed to say other young-ish character Lt. Scott.
Plus it would be nice if the characters were a little more self-aware about sexuality. It would be funny to see the characters deal with sex in a very SG1 way, but more explicitly (jokingly, irreverently, not taking it so seriously, becoming a little more casual about it).
4) Favorite moment is easy: the final scene from the mid-season cliffhanger, when Col. Young draws the line in the sand with Rush and drops him cold leaving him on the planet, then leaving him stranded as they leave orbit. This great moment really defines the series’ potential to pull no punches. And that one was a game-changing upper-cut. Bravo, more please.
5) Without doubling up I’d say the self-actualization/agency/sexuality components I addressed in my answer to question 3 earlier.
Overall I’m really excited to see what’s in store for our intrepid heroes/anti-heroes this spring! Excellent job so far.
Now, you want our feedback?
Here’s mine.
Get rid of the sex. Completely.
Light the sets more so we can see what’s going on.
Get rid of the stones.
Get rid of the main characters — I don’t care about any of them.
And please, PLEASE bring back SGA.
That’s my feedback.
PG15 – Here’s a link to the asylum.
http://www.freewebs.com/melbourne/larundel.htm
It’s now been turned into a very expensive housing estate. Old buildings have been turned into coffee shops, units and a country club. Wonder if the inhabitants know of its history?
Sometimes when there was an escape we’d have our parents tell us what they looked like, what they’d done to be in there (shudder) and if we see them to get home or into the house of any neighbour. Never really thought that much of it at the time. But when we’d go through the place after it was closed and you’d see straight jackets, medical instruments and just the general feel of the place it made us realise the level of suffering and general horror that must have happened in there.
And Congratulations on the Caltech news. I must have missed you saying it as well. When do you start? Does this mean a big move?
Joe – While SGU isn’t really grabbing me at the moment, neither did SGA or SG1 in their first season. However, I enjoyed the journey you all ended up taking me on so I’m sitting back and seeing what you come up with. Come ooooon, expecting us to do the work for you? 😉
1 – All, they are a great bunch.
2 – Aliens – that you can see
3 – the on board politics can become tiresome after a while
4 – Fave moment has to be the action parts of each show, there hasnt been a stand out moment yet for me.
5 – I find myself craving for steady/clear shot of what is going on. I can’t get use to the shaky cam style of filming. I would also like to see more off-world missions with aliens and a bit of action. More space battles, I miss seeing the fantastic effects.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? T.J. Besides the fact that she has great hair, I’m sure there is a lot more to her story than what we have seen so far. Seriously, I love her hair.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? Not really sure what you’re asking but I’d like to see more of the Ship. Seems like no matter how big it is, they should be able to see it all in a few days. All except for parts that have no life support. Seems to me that they should have mapped out most of the ship on week one. How do they know there’s not cargo bay full of food somewhere. They’re hungry and yet haven’t explored the whole ship yet…hum… Gee what were the ancients going to do for food when they arrived?
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? The Sex scenes. Can’t let my nephews get into the show, they’re a little too young for what I’ve been seeing. I’m not crazy about it myself. I’m more of a believer that what you don’t see is generally sexier than what you do see. Leave it to our imaginations. We can imagine way MORE than you would ever be able to show.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? Probably the Lt finding out he had a son. Heartbraking that he couldn’t admit who he was. Of course he had to go back to Chloe and I’m not a big fan of them together. That whole relationship moved way to fast. I know you’re sensative about her bing called a slut but….. she certainly has tendancies.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? I’d like an explanation as to how some of these folks passed a psych test to get posted off world. Let’s find out that the person administring the tests was on the take and let all a few crazies pass their evalutaion in an attempt to bring the SGC down. I’m sure you can come up with something better than that but an explation seems needed to me and friends who watch the show. You’re figuring that only the best of the best would make it to thier positions off world and yet they can’t set up a decent base of opperations on Destiny, something they had to be trained for. Don’t get me wrong, I love the show. I just wish I could wrap my brain around a good reason how they reacted the way they did whey they first arrived. Don’t say, “they’re scientists, they werent’ trained that way” I seem to recall Daniel Jackson getting some training in guns and stuff so I’m sure they rest of them should have had more training than Daniel.
Haggis? I’m so impressed! Are you going to try Kishke next? Michael A. Burstein is right. I don’t understand these traditional dishes unless starvation was a factor in their creation! (apologies if I insulted anyone’s native dish) BUT I mean who thinks of stuffing animal organs into intestines? It must take forever to build these dishes.
On a good food note, your friend’s food from the Cordon Bleu school looks fantastic!
Which character should be explored more? Alaina Huffman’s character is intriguing to me.
Exploited? I would like to see more understanding of the ship and some ability to control it.
Minimized? The bitching. It’s like being with my family. AND that is why I left home.
Favorite Story moment? When the crew becomes a team trying to find an answer to the alien/water problem.
New element? More cohesion as a group. More alien encounters.
Das: That Louis L’amour books does sound pretty good. If you hubby tries James Rollins’ start with “Map of Bones”. The preceding books are good but he matured more as a writer in “Map of Bones” . Plus, it’s the start of a few serial characters.
Okay – I’ll play
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? Destiny
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? Planetary exploration
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? All the angsty emotional stuff
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? Rush stranded on the planet
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? More action. I realize that the character driven stuff is in vogue, but how about some more action. When the story drags with character stuff I watch something else and just read the transcript later to see if I missed anything important.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
> Not sure.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
> Exploration of the Destiny, and not just hallways, engineering, and bed rooms. The tease of the assembly hall and other features on the outside of the ship leaves us with much to see. Atlantis had this possibility too, but we really didn’t get to see much of the city. Just don’t randomly start adding things to the ship to fit the story, like the instant take-over control button from Atlantis – that couldn’t have really gone unnoticed.
> I like the small continuity things, like the sunburn not fading away completely in the next episode and the limited supply of clothing.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
> Earth-based story elements which only give us background and don’t add much to the present. For example, the club scene.
> Love triangles and other such shapes. Some relationship development is good, but too much and it gets focused too much on drama (this is not a daytime soap!).
> Luxury items on Destiny, like matching workout outfits. Try to be more practical about what would have been in the containers grabbed in the last minute for the trip.
> NO REPLICATORS! They are overplayed. The sand creature was getting kind of close to the concept. Watch it there!
> More short arcs (2-3 episodes) for major plot points, like the ship detaching from Destiny.. I feel like that answer should have come a bit earlier.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
> Destiny recharging itself, and scaring the crew in the process. Episode 10 also had a fun story.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
> More on the Stargate tech and new limitations. Like, how are off-world Stargates powered? There must be some major power source in those PSPs… i mean Ancient remote computers.
> I would like to eventually see a seeding ship, maybe broken down along its route. Then we’d have two ships to travel in and explore, maybe separating on a few occasions for fun stories.
> More of a galatic community, when civilizations are encountered.
1. TJ, I love her character but sometimes I feel she is always put in the background. I would love to know more about her past and maybe some episodes centered around her.
2. The Science/impossible aspect of things, drama can be great but i’m missing the hard-to-wrap-your-head-around episodes filled with almost impossible scenarios such as parallel universes, psychic powers(?), and well….pretty much anything that would be impossible in real life.
3. The communication stones, I actually love the Earth-based episodes because I love seeing O’Neill and can’t wait to see more old faces from SG1 (and I hope to see some SGA faces as well…please?!) but I feel that stones are being utilized too much.
4. The time travel/ alternate selves saving the day scenario. In fact, the entire episode (“Time”) was a favorite story moment. It just blew me away.
5. Having the SGC involved much more. Homeworld Command is interesting, but I don’t like the Pentagon….and I miss the SGC. It would be great to see the SGC (still under Landry hopefully) trying to figure out a way to bring the crew of the Destiny home.
_______
Oh, and I know you get this alot and I’m sorry but, bring SGA back?
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
T.J., I think. She is the most likable character of the show.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Gate travel, definitely gate travel. It is called Stargate for a reason, right? We already have Battlestar Galactica. And Lost for that matter.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Relationships between the characters, Earth moments, sex.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I’d say seeing Jack, Sam and Daniel again but that wouldn’t be very fair so I’m gonna say the moment Destiny flew into the star and it was realised it gained energy that way, that was very cool.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Well, what made SG-1 and SGA so good – exploring planets, discovering different cultures (floating sand doesn’t count), less personal drama and a lot more humor.
Best wishes
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Camille, TJ and Rush. I have the feeling Rush is going to get quite a bit more backstory in the second half, whereas I don’t get that impression for Camille and TJ. More time for the women! And not just as extensions of the men, thank you.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship itself. In the tradition of ships like the Galactica, Serenity and the Enterprise, the ship should be as much of a character as any person on the show. And it has so much potential!
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The body swapping stones. Especially body swapping sex. It’s creepy. Contact with Earth should be far more rare and more difficult. It enhances the sense of isolation.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
My favorite episode was “Light”. Especially the bit where Eli had the kino do a flyby of the Destiny and they finally got to see her from the outside. And the flying into the star to refuel was outstanding!
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I’d love to see people who are happy to be there and have this opportunity. We’ve gotten that attitude a bit from Eli and Riley (who I really like and want to see again!), Including clashes between people who are desperate to get home and people who are enjoying the opportunity.
I’d also like to see Jack O’Neil tell Telford to shove it.
Hey, thanks for asking these questions. I found I had opinions. Fun. Here they are.
1. I would like to see Chloe and/or Eli expanded a bit. Right now, I get the feeling that we’ve only touched the surface with them, and we don’t know what lies beneath. Everyone is complex, and I’m curious about their complexities.
2 & 3. I really do enjoy the focus on interpersonal interactions and angst in the middle of a tense no-win situation. It’s dark and psychologically complex, and I like that. That said, I’d like to know more about the interpersonal interactions and what led to them. The blatant sex scenes bother me, but only because they’ve seemed to just happen (for ratings, though I know that was not the only intent). I wouldn’t mind it so much as long as the psychological and emotional issues that led to it, as well as the consequences of it, became more important than the act itself. (Still, I like the “raw” feeling of the show, and I realize that the blatant sex was also meant to intensify that feeling…so I get it.)
4. I really enjoyed Life and the use of “Worst Day Since Yesterday.” That was an effective use of popular music for narrative (and not solely commercial) means. A collage accompanied by popular music can sometimes seem transparent and elementary (since lyrics tend to make the intended affect obvious), but in this particular situation, it was a moving and complex device that worked on several different levels. Nice job to the person or persons who put that idea together.
5. A little more comedy…but not so much that it undermines the serious, raw dimension of the show. (Tall order? Yep. )
All that said–while I’ll always miss SG-1 and SGA, I’m very much enjoying this new direction. Shows that deal so honestly with all of which human beings are capable (heroics alongside depravity…and the middle-ground, too) really make my day. Awesome and thanks!
Damn, you got a lot of feedback o this one. I wanted to ask, how much did you do each reduction, by half I assume? and your stock, home made or was it in a box?
1. I would like to see an obscure character explored. someone who would not appear as an important person aboard the destiny, or who goes under appreciated.
2. I would like to see more of what the ancients left in those crates. there have to be some things, they have to look inside them just simply because there could be something useful.
3. The fact that is pointed out thy are hopelessly lost in The Universe with no way back home. and the angst… potter puppet pals comes to mind
4 my favorite story line is okay I am ot sure what my favorite plot is, but honestly chloe and the lt banging, I have no clue were that all came from other than he was the first attractive male around when her father died.
5. someone gets preggers… I want to see that, with all the sex going on someone has to bust a nut at the wrong time.
The Haggis looks half cooked in the picture. so it was a good call to fry it. 🙂 Treat it like a Sunday roast.. 30 to 45 mins per 500g plus 30 minutes… always works for me.
As for your “universe” questions
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Individually I don’t really mind, the series has explored most of the lead character’s lives quite well up to now.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship. definitely Destiny.. we have seen so little of it’s inner workings yet so much of its outside.. Like Atlantis. The Destiny is the immediate “world” for the crew/characters. to not explore and get to know it better is unrealistic. Surely with the advances in virtual sets you can do this fairly convincingly and at a fairly low budgetary requirement.. Even Red Dwarf had the guys wandering around it once in a while and having adventures on the ship.
otherwise could we have a bit more of the other survivors in the show. There should be room for secondary characters to be coming forward by now, you have a selection of people who escaped Icarus base but they all seem to just lurk somewhere in the ship and not contribute much towards what is going on and rarely interact with the lead characters beyond walking past them, or sitting behind them or padding out a scene. You have a lot of scope in this series to create and run with characters that people can get to know and get used too and like. This then improves the over all impact of their fate , which will then improve the reaction to them by the audience if and when they get involved in hazardous situations. You have a comparatively small number of survivors.. which means the loss of any one person should have a significant effect on the group as a whole. As they will all know each other. When it all hits the fan then you want the audience to care and worry about what happens to them rather than just having the whole “redshirt” effect of “oh here is an insignificant member of the crew.. ” Because in this series then unless you open up a gate back home like in Atlantis then every crew member is significant even if it is they they are there to stand between the main cast and a gribbly monster or a projectile weapon.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Those memory stones..
they are significantly Story breaking because their most obvious potential is being ignored for random stories of popping back to earth for a night out and some rumpy pumpy. The whole issue of the ethical and moral issue of using the donor body to go out on a night binge or have carnal relations with your partner/spouse aside. It is actually quite distracting to flip from jeopardy on a space ship that’s part falling apart in the middle of god knows where to a random mini adventure back on earth.. especially as at the moment the Destiny and what is happening on it IS the driving theme of the series.
From a story balance point of view though, those stones are seriously a storyline breaker because they are not being used as you would expect them to be used. The main point being that one thing both myself and my other half have wondered is. Why.. if you have these stones have the IOA and/or SGC or even Gen O’Neill not just grabbed hold of the various established Canon “smart people” not been linked in to go and fix stuff?. You have the likes of Daniel Jackson, Lee, Zelenka, McKay, Carter (to name a few) and many more who are available and more importantly know their stuff when it comes to ancient tech. Why haven’t they been swapped in to translate everything. decipher the computers and make them work? Hell run training 101 for the survivors to bring them up to speed and help them help themselves. They can run classes in ancient language, run engineering classes, get more detailed medical training for TJ etc etc… Those stones may have seemed like a great plot device at the beginning but really are not helping the over all plot. Because even though the survivors are not all Genius’s they have potential access to genius’s to help.
Those stones need nerfing
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
simple, the look on Rush’s face at the end of the last ep before the break. when he realises his predicament:D.. classic and a fantastic character building moment for Young.. up until this point you think he’s just a bit of a push over.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Destiny getting a personality and being more than just a bunch of sets that people wander around and argue in…. this does not have to be an AI perse but something that makes it part of what is going on.. sort of like the TARDIS in classic Dr Who, or Serenity in firefly. At the moment it is pretty much a background thing. Which is not right given that it is the characters “World base” so should be more central to them.
Of course a crotchety arrogant Ancient AI (written with decent dialogue) might work too but might not fit with the series as a whole. I don’t know what the over all plan is for the series so can’t make a definite judgement.
1. Riley (the only one that isn’t whining all the time)
2. Exploration (no, not exploring the human nature but exploring planets, universes…) and discovery
3. Drama (You have to ask? 🙂 ) also get rid of the communication stones. All they create is more drama, drama, drama… very annoying. besides, it’s not interesting to see what is going on on earth when you have entire universes at your disposal.
4. I still maintain that there is only drama but no real story… so, none.
5. Aliens, alien-tech (It’s not very interesting to see things we already know) and “outside of the box” solutions to problems (again, not problems between two characters but something threatening their survival) as well as inventions which they need to survive.
Ah, glad you liked Haggis.
How spicy was it? it should have a good peppery bite to it.
Unfortunately mine wasn’t very spicy this year (should have gone for the Award winning MacSweens one). I usually have mine with mashed potato, turnip/swede (with nutneg plenty of butter)and baked beans.
Alternative serving, if you take your haggis and mix it with the whiskey cream sauce and stuff it into a chicken breast and bake it in the oven. It’s called Chicken Balmoral after the Queens residence in Scotland.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Greer. I already enjoy Young, Rush, and Eli, but they’re central characters. Greer is really a stand-out among the rest.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Off-world explorations; meeting aliens. Exploring the ship. Problem solving. Dealing with shortages. (Seriously, how many different outfits and how much makeup did Chloe bring? She’s unfortunately starting to remind me of Ginger on Gilligan’s Island – dozens of different outfits, always perfectly made up.)
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Lee romance; less Chloe in general; less Earth-based stories.
The communication stones when the story focuses on (again) romance. I’d prefer ‘stones’ stories when it impacts what’s happening on the ship itself, solving or creating problems on the ship. I’m really done, already, with the Young and his wife thread.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
There’ve been several, but the most didn’t-see-that-one-coming, holy eff momemt was the cliffhanger – Young stranding Rush on the planet. I’m dying to find out how this gets resolved.
There’ve been others too – the dustdevil aliens in Air; the character insights in “Time”; the lottery scenes in Light (i think it was);.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Humor; even in the direst of situations, humans find humor. In fact the worse the situation, oftentimes the funnier the humor. In general, lighten things up just a bit. Not too much, just a little. Also more light (e.g., as in illumination on set.)
Next, stronger inter-personal bonds not based on lust between charaters. Stargate SG1 and Atlantis always excelled in depicting ‘friendship’ relationships between characters, where people cared about each other and would stand by, support and protect each other. I’m not seeing much bonding between charaters that’s not based on human biology and the urge to procreate.
Thanks for asking these questions!
**
Regarding the Haggis: you’re much braver than me. Even cooked. that looked distrubing at best. But one question: 350 degrees *celcius*? Really? That’s like 662 degrees Farenheit.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? TJ
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? The Destiny
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? Less angst
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? Learning about Eli’s motives to join the SGC.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? Forward Momentum to the plot less backsliding and angst.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Eli, I know he’s the comic relief but id to see his character develop and grow into something darker and more mature whilst still keeping his humorous edge.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
More ship exploration, it feels like we see the same areas over and over again which would be ok if they werent so poorly lit and bland.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The communication stones, the show loses that feeling of being lost and isolated in space as a result of them
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The building conflict between young and rush and then to have it end in such a dramatic conclusion was fantastic I never saw that fight coming not to mention how violent and realistic it was (loved it). Totally unexpected events that can have numerous consequences in the future keep me watching.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Id like to see the crew rally together against one common enemy instead of fighting amongst themselves.
First off that haggas looks gross yuck.
secondly i would like to thank u for letting us put our 2 cents in on the show . I would like to see a pregnancy play a part in the show.
skye
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I’d like to see Vanessa James and Dale Volker as main cast members. Both could really opened up more.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I’d like to see the characters exploring planets and more history of the ship. And as far as the planets go it doesn’t have to be “done in one” like the old SG shows. Maybe you could explore the same planet for 3 to 5 episodes. And there has been surprisingly little exploration of the ship.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The incessant in fighting, bickering and one-upmanship of the Destiny crew, all the angst about their love lifes, and the melodrama for the sake of melodrama. I’d like to believe that these people could actually function as members of the SGC.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The Destiny crew coming together to stare at the supergiant. It was nice to let go of the ever present sense of hopelessness and see the characters stand in awe of something truly amazing. It was also nice to just see them come together as a group for just a little bit.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole.
Aliens and strange scientific space phenomenon. Oh, and more use of the Stargate itslef would be nice.
Haggis: Honestly, I don’t know why the fuss about haggis. Just tastes like slightly spicy mince meat. It’s supposed to be drunk (so I was told at a Celtic festival) with a shot of nice whisky. Sixteen-year-old Lagavulin would do nicely but I suppose any whisky would do in a pinch. A side dish of neeps and tatties. Very nice.
But onto your questions:
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Well, given that I utterly adore Rush, him, but that’s too obvious, I suppose. Besides mystery is nice. More shots of Carlyle’s tragic eyes. You fangirl, Ellie, you.
Of the main characters, TJ certainly. I think there’s more to her than meets the eye. As a medic who may be required to do triage, she would have to be able to say who gets treatment in an emergency and who doesn’t. The greater good, shall we say. And I think Greer would see it that way as well as he seems to be a far more practical person than Young and Scott. Oh, and do something with Lt James instead of her being a glorified security guard; she is an officer and is actually in the chain of command, is she not?
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Given we haven’t seen the back half of the season and am unsure what is going to happen (other than spoilers, of course), it’s a little difficult to say because you might have already done it (thanking you in advance). Of the relationships, I’d like to see more of a mix (and I don’t mean sex) between the military and civilians because it’s a bit ner the twain at the moment and the more time they’re on Destiny, the more that divide would break down. Things generally aren’t that black and white. What if, for example, various of the military folks didn’t agree with Young’s paranoiac stance on Rush and thought it unjustified? Plus, there are people who are neither military nor scientist. What about them? Of what use exactly is a HR manager? Does Camille just sit in her quarters drawing? And honestly, aside from nearly full-time spy for Young, Eli’s not done a great deal. In terms of plot, more exploration of the ship and the science. Honestly, I’m not that fussed on exploration and aliens. You don’t need those to make Stargate interesting. I’ve always preferred character driven episodes in previous Stargate incarnations.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Well, I’ll go out on a limb here and say that I don’t mind the stones that much, although I am well over Young’s boring traumas with the irritating Emily. It completely irritated me in Darkness when he went to see her instead of hanging around the Pentagon to ask for a bunch of helpful scientists. Oh, we’re all going to die: I’ll just pop out to see the wife, nevermind trying to do something. Smack. Oh, something another fan mentioned: how about those with clearance visit Destiny?
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Too many to mention but needless to say the majority have Robert Carlyle in them. Ellie shrugs at just how obvious she is. Given how much I liked it when it aired, I find that I have less interest in Time than I do the personal aspects of other episodes. In Time, I liked the character exploration of Eli and Rush and TJ. I find myself going back to those sorts of moments.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
What the writers have tended to do in the past is have a A story with a B story, yes? Why not just have the A story? e.g. In Outcast, the Atlantis story, we had the very interesting story of Sheppard’s estrangement with his father and the not-as-interesting story of the replicator mixed in. That was two separate episodes to my mind. Time was a great example of one story throughout the whole, to my mind, though you separate the elements in parts. I don’t know that I’m that fond of the whole ‘We have to do an episode on Greer cos it’s his turn’ type of method. Integration, that’s what I’d like to see. Snippets not chunks.
En attendant le retour des Nordiques , here are my answers to your questions, and by the way, thanks for asking, it’s an amazing opportunity.
1. Rush, Eli,
2. More about the ship, more mythology.
3. The stones
4. Space and off world stuff
5. More Aliens sometimes even some already known. More explorations, more action, more team spirit
Good evening
Nathalie
(I really hope to see Stargate Extinction before the new Quebec Nordiques…)
OK, take this for what it’s worth, since I haven’t actually seen the show as of yet (so exactly nothing???), but I read your blog every day, follow the SGU forums on Syfy and Gateworld and here is what might possibly get me to tune in next year:
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
So far Greer seems like the most interesting character to me. I would like to see him step up and take charge since there is not much leadership evident amongst the other military folk.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? Traveling through the Stargate and having adventures with a Team. Also using the Ship Destiny to explore the Ancients and their history.
I would also like a same-sex relationship between two of the men, not just a lesbian relationship.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? From what I have read, definitely the Stones. I would not like to see the sex and people commiting crimes (beat downs) in other’s bodies. It makes them all seem very vile and morally destitute.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
OK, I did see the potato scene with Greer, that was funny.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I would definitely like to see inclusion of the SGA folk, not just the SG1 guys. Part of what makes me turn away from this incarnation of SG is the feeling I get that SGA is being swept under the rug, like lint or dust bunnies.
Also I like shows where there is comraderie, team work, optimism and humor, and I have not heard that this is much evident in SGA.
Hi, Joe.
1) I know I’ll be in the minority over this, but I’d like to see Chloe explored more. Episodes like “Air”, “Justice” and “Earth” have shown that she’s more than a 1-note character (her grief over her dad’s sacrifice, defending Young from Wray, and wanting to punch her ex in the face being the examples that spring to mind), but while we have seen plenty of her past, I hope we can see a lot more of the person she can become without the expectations and restraints of her “normal” life. Indeed, even more than Eli, Chloe is the perfect commentator on the “military vs scientists” power struggle brewing in the first 10 episodes.
2) I would like to see more off-world exploration, possibly with Destiny allowing longer stops so there is more variation to the current “dial in, race to find the essential supply, race back” episodes. Also, more about why the Ancients planted Stargates on particular worlds; if they were exploring the universe, why so many gates on hospitable (more or less) planets, when they could use the space suits to explore planets without an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere? Were they exploring… or colonising? Conquering, even? While the Destiny is a nice plot device to get the characters from one crisis to the next, more about the ship’s mission would be good, especially if the ship’s agenda starts to clash with the crew’s.
3) Less contact with Earth, in my opinion. For a show about people trapped away from home, giving them so many chances to see their families wears thin, and undercuts the drama of the characters being cut off from their support base, their friends, the people they rely on. If you want a Stargate series set on Earth, then brush off the “Stargate Command” idea and pitch it to Syfy as a new spin-off (hey, SGU’s gotten end sometime or other), but for SGU, the focus should be on what these characters have lost, not just “I now have a different body when I shag my partner” (hilarious though Telford’s face was!).
4) Oooh… toughie. I’ve already mentioned a few favourites, but overall… the scene of Rush waking up on the alien planet, looking up at the sky, realising he’s been left behind… completely silent, a perfect partnership of acting and special effects to create my favourite cliffhanger in years. That had me jumping with excitement for days… much to the amusement of my non-SG fan friends (yes, I’ve tried to convert them… it’s an ongoing process).
5) I’d like to see a connection between the Ancients who built the Destiny, and the ancient wise gods of Earth. Unless you’re familiar with SG-1 and Atlantis, viewers have no idea who the Ancients actually are, and given the wide variations in how the Ancients have been depicted over the years (long-lost Asgard allies, Mother Nature with attitude, all-powerful all-knowing Powers That sit on their Be-hinds in a cosmic cafe, arrogant humans with slightly better tech who lost the war to the Wraith), it is difficult to understand the beings who built the Destiny, and WHY they built it. Early SG-1 episodes benefitted from the mystery of not knowing who actually built the Stargates (before you’re time, Joe, I know, but many good episodes nonetheless), and that mystery allowed seeds to be planted (the second gate found in Antarctica being the best example), hints that could be built up for future stories, teasing and growing the mythology of the show bit by bit. What I think SGU needs right now is a MYSTERY, something to make people wonder what the Ancients were actually up to, clues and hints that challenge the fundamental preconceptions about the SG universe.
Well, thanks for reading my rant. I hope you’re not regretting asking for readers opinions!
Jonathan
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Well i think that Lt. Vanessa James, not just because she is hot and need more screen time but because i personally would like to see more army womens being useful in the sg universe, i know some people would point out samantha carter or even weir and teyla tho they aren’t exactly from the army, but the show hardly focus out on all of them, i really liked how by the end of atlantis there were this few episodes were there were this interesting female characters, like in “The Prodigal”, or in “Search and Rescue” when captain vegas shoot down a dart, i though back then “hey a new female character” but nothing was followed down by that line… so yeah i would like to know more about here.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I will go with Ancient technologies, like, this people have no supplies so they will have to learn to use the ships technologies at one point and stop relying in earth tech, so i would like to see they using more and more ancient tech.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
All the drama stuff, i mean if i want real life problem i would go and look through the window, dont take me wrong, i mean ok make some drama, but this is not days of our lives or something, nor it should be.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
That would be when they falled into the sun, we had a peak on their psique and we learn a lot about the ancients, and the way they did stuff.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
as someone said before, some humor wouldn’t hurt.
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE… *inhales* …WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
(My sister says I’m a ‘happy drunk’. 😀 )
Anyhoo…
Regards question nombre OOOOOn. Un. Une. Whatever.
I thought you were referring to an secondary character, and for that I suggested Becker. I just like him. However, if you’re talking about a primary character, then most certainly Greer. Hawt, sexy Greer. 🙂 Erm…I mean…edgy, unpredictable Greer. You know what would make Greer near-perfect. A LONG WHITE WIG!!! 😀
Of course, then someone might mistake him for Storm from the X-Men…
I love Greer. I wanna see him punch Telford right in the mouth. Or worse…give Telford an atomic WEDGIE!!! Woo! 😀
Yeah…
I know…
Settle down and behave (who’s ‘have’?).
Anyway…
I was gonna say something else, but right now I’m just excited that 1. a new Psych is on tonight, 2. I just found out I might not have to work tomorrow, but instead my dad/boss wants me to go shopping at Sams Wholesale, and 3. …. I don’t have a three, actually…
BUT, I did just eat a wonderful piece of dark Godiva chocolate….mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Have a good night, everybody! (Or day, if you’re on the other side of the world…)
Ciao!
das
I don’t really like any of the characters except Eli. You need a new, likeable character to partner with Eli and exchange snark like Sheppard and McKay.
More gate travel would be good
Get rid of the stones, or at least use them for reasonable exchanges, rather than for visits to bars.
Rush being left stranded, of course. If only he would stay there.
The things that I would like added to the show would be more humor, likeable characters, and some references to Atlantis and McKay.
Hey Joe,
You should now try Blood Sausage – a traditional Irish breakfast DELIGHT! Black or White pudding are your options, and I have to admit, if you don’t think about what you’re eating (much like Haggis), it’s a pretty great part of a Sunday fry. Alan makes his friends from home stock him up when they come to visit because the good stuff is hard to find in Vancouver.
With St. Paddy’s day just around the corner, you might as well try it!
Oh, one more thing, Joe…on a serious note…
Mark Harmon was on Jay Leno the other night, and he talked about NCIS and the show’s success. He said that they’ve been very lucky to 1. have the same writers on the project, and 2. that everyone (I was under the impression that he meant the cast) likes each other.
I think this shows. You can tell that the actors enjoy their work, enjoy creating their characters. You just don’t feel like you’re watching a show where egos are getting in the way behind the scenes. But I was wondering about the writing team – what’s really better? A team of the same writers, or mixing things up a bit by bringing in new blood? Personally I think having a consistent team of writers is good, since they really get a feel for the characters. Sure, outside writers can bring in new ideas, but what if those ideas are at the expense of the characters? Just wonder what you think of regular writers v guest writers…if you have a sec or two to share.
das
1. Tamara and Greer.
2. Off world exploration – more action, aliens, etc. I’d like to see more of the relationships between the people on the ship…not romantic or dramatic though, but something more lighthearted that explores friendships and such (the moment with McKay and Sheppard playing with toy cars come to mind).
3. I’d prefer less romance and less personal drama (meaning, the wife/girlfriend/baby thing at home). I’d rather have the story focused on their problems on the ship, their problems with the people on the ship, and exploring the unknown.
4. Rush getting left behind was shocking.
5. Humor please! I don’t need quips here, there and everywhere – I just think it’s natural for people to have a sense of humor and let one or two funny comments slip from time to time.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Eli. He has the potential to become the ‘heart and conscious’ of the show, much as Daniel was in SG-1 – but he’s not quite there yet. I think it important that we have that kind of character to balance some of the darker flaws we are getting in our ‘heros’ like Young and Rush. We need to have a good guy who is also an ‘everyman’ that people can relate to – that ability to relate (via the fact that it was happening in our time on our world) is part of the dynamic that made SG-1 work so well. Right now, I’m not feeling that connection with the characters despite the fact that I really want to.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship itself, as so many others have said before me; an incredibly advanced piece of technology that is so very old built by aliens that were not *quite!* human. The fact that the Ancients/Alterans weren’t human could also be explored more and have interesting consequences for the current crew.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I think the interpersonal relationships are being over emphasized. I’m not the type who wants full on action/fighting/explosions all the time – definitely want some strong character moments to drive the show forward, but those moments so far have been largely tied to romantic pairings. I’m not saying to do away with them, but they need to be more in the background of what is happening and not so much in the foreground of everything.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The ‘Sweet Potato’ because it said so much about Greer – and I thought it was one of the first realistic looks as a military mind set. Of all the military personnel depicted so far, he is the most believable.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Hmmm…. a limited ally of some sort; be it an AI interface with the ship that only works periodically or a very strange alien they rescue. Grin – Maybe they thought it would make a good protein source only to discover it is sentient. It would be interesting to explore preconceived notions of what is and isn’t life/intelligence/communication.
Ooo! And it might be interesting if one of those seeder ships that are ahead of the destiny were found… You know, it’s quite possible an alien race might not want a Stargate to be planted on their world and see these advance ships as an invasion force…
Janice
I’m short on time – yoga class tonight. But since you ask, I’ll throw in my two cents worth (more like a ha’penny):
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Rush.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Destiny. Please let them start figuring out more about how the ship works.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The stones. The angsty back-home stories are not my favorites. They may be more “realistic” and reflect how real people would actually behave, but in my opinion, they just drag down the show and make it the space equivalent of Grey’s Anatomy.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Rush making Telford and gang believe that the Destiny’s gate was about to explode. That devious li’l devil!
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Not sure how to reply to this one. I guess I would like a bit of interaction with “local” life forms.
And in my heart, I would like to see Rush get into that ship on the planet where that slimy, underhanded Col. Young marooned him, figure out how to fly it and take it back to the Destiny, where he will invite anyone who really has an interest in space exploration to join him. Then he and his new crew can leave Col. Young and the whiny people who are blind to the wonders around them just whine about going home behind and explore the galaxy in peace. But then there would be no season two…
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
TJ ;definitley underused so far.James seems ‘real’ and very interesting and one of the few strong ‘real’ women as characters.Rush needs more exploration more Im bored of the constant second guessing of him.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Number one priority should be the ship exploration/tech and a lot more positveness about the whole ‘ball game’ At the moment i feel depressed after watching it.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Chloe is a weak,total whining nightmare.The nightclub scene was just ‘what show am i watching?’
No more sex.Please.Just stop with the close up sweating bodies. why do we need to see this?
SG1 and SGA never about watching people bone jumping.Suggested ,yes,hinted at ,yes.Never the slap in the face close ups on SGU.And having sex while ‘in other peoples bodies?’ Am i the only one that finds this really really icky?
Humour – Eli wise cracking every scene is annoying (doesnt he have another teeshirt?) I watched SG1 and SGA because everyone had their quirky humour to add.Eli is the only one in SGU with ‘funny’ lines and it shows.
Get rid of the soap opera moping miserable angsty-ness,its incredibly irritating.
Telford /Young/ Scott ALL acting like sex crazed idiots and not like ANY of the military men we have seen in SGA and SG1 before them.Give them some dignity!
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Collecting the suns energy was truly awesome and well told.We had science ficiton,new planets,fab effects a story! no relationship angst.MORE!
‘time’ It incorparated everything -the stargate,travel to a planet,aliens,time travel and a mystery to solve.And! yet again no angst!
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Aliens! Technology,ship exploration,Stargate travel?what ever happened to the civilain and soldier that went throu the gate in the first few eps and got left behind? but most of all Humour!
its desperatly needed to enjoy the program rather than endure it .
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Rush!!
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The aspects of Exploration, and discoveries.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The Soap opera elements like with “Life”
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The moment in Air part 3 when Scott and Greer are running to the gate with the mineral lyme to save the ship’s crew and to restore the life support system. The music and the suspense of the gate timer counting down was one of the best moments to me.
2nd would be the episode “Light” with the ship going through the Sun to recharge.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More action, alien encounters. Make the show more like past Stargates but still keep that character focus going which has been great. But we need a big payoff.
Take Season 4 of SGA for an example the first half was very dramatic with the whole Weir arc. It was also very dark and brought up a lot of moral questions, sorta like SGU is doing. The big payoff was BAMSR, and the 2nd half of Season 4 which was amazing.
The show also needs direction. It was lost after “Water”. There needs to be a strong plot element and story to go with these developed and introduced character elements.
1. T.J. has so much potential, but you only ever see her when someone is sick! lame.
2. More exploited? As if the angry black man, lesbian and handicapped rapist weren’t enough?
3. Everybody picking on Rush, we get it, nobody likes him.
4. Icarus Base.
5. Space Zombies!! I got a great idea for one.
Like you said it’s tough to make calls about a show when we have seen so little. But I think you guys are on the right path.
I’ve completely loved everything you guys have done with SGU to date, so basically would just like to see everything taken to the next level. — Oh, that’s really helpful. But my preference would be carte blanche for the creative team.
Characters: I would really love to see Chloe come into her own. I know there’s a reason she’s onboard the Destiny, and I think she has a lot of potential. Truly, though, all the main characters impress and intrigue me, maybe the younger people just a bit more. — As well, Greer is a fascinating wildcard.
Would also love to see continued regular use of the Kino to show us things we wouldn’t normally get to see — the whole spectrum of characters’ interactions with each other, and with their own minds and emotions as well. I see this and the stones both as strong storytelling devices, with the Kino being readily believable, while the stones obviously require suspension of disbelief.
— Really, there’s such a solid base for building on, everyone and everything has a lot of potential. It’s no great leap to guess that more development of the ship’s capabilities is already in the works. Organic vessels with advanced neural interfaces, just waiting to be discovered (with often surprising results), are fascinating to me. — Thinking about it, I have no idea how you’re going to cover everything that holds interest unless TPTB do the sensible thing and have the show run for as long as SG-1.
Speaking of…. I very much enjoyed SG-1 and SGA, but have no wish to see more than the occasional (and subtle) homage to those series, whether in style or character presence. I don’t see how you could continue to break new ground if fan pressure induced a return to those shows’ very different approaches to scifi.
I hope an impressively high emphasis on outstanding effects and aesthetics will continue to elevate SGU to big-screen-quality viewing, budget permitting. (Since MGM is USA-based, maybe Obama could be persuaded to pony up matching funds.) Seriously, LOVE the tech-art, and the great production values.
So many fav story moments to choose from, but if pressed, I’d probably pick Scott’s mind-altered desert flashback, with fascinating life-form in attendance. The entire sequence was captivating, from every perspective.
A guy pal at work requests more sex and more aliens, but not necessarily sex with aliens.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? Matt Scott. I see him as the second in command on the ship. How did he get there? How does he think?
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? More exploration and discovery of the Destiny. Rush is constantly saying how old everything is and how complex it is to understand. Would be nice to actually have some understanding.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I am totally over the stones. I truly dislike them and fast forward through most of the scenes. Only one I liked was Eli’s meeting with his mother.
But the one that really gets to me is Rush and his constant, continuous, everlasting bitching. He is always angry, always upset about something and yelling about it. Can’t he have other emotions and moods? To me, he is quite one dimensional.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? I enjoyed the search for water, episode. Honestly, I’ve not experienced that many so far, to my disappointment. I don’t mind the dark tone of the series but with the stones and all the personal crap, i find myself getting bored. Things move so slowly in each episode. I would like to enjoy this show, but so far, it’s been tough to do.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? More information or presence of the Ancients and why/how they build the ship. They are on an Ancient ship, for god’s sakes. A recording? Hologram? Some journals? Something!
Thanks for the opportunity to share.
Glad to read that your first Haggis experience was such a positive one! I wouldn’t steer you wrong! 🙂
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
TJ and Greer. By the mid-season break, these were the characters I had the most faith in.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I’ll agree with others and say Destiny, as a character on the show. I wanted to see this ship explored, and I wanted to learn more about its seeming ability to recognize what the crew needs and give it to them.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The communication stones. I was about giddy with excitement over the potential moral implications of switching bodies with strangers, and was disappointed when it seemed to be treated like no big deal. I also kept waiting for Young to use the stones in order to bring in people — anyone — who could help him keep ahead of Rush.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
“Light” was the highlight of the season for me. The scenes at the end of the crew spending what they believed to be their last hours and minutes alive were beautiful, and then seeing Destiny dip into the star was amazing.
With respect, subsequent episodes didn’t capture my imagination and interest like “Light” did, though I did find “Time” to be interesting.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I admit, I miss the humor and camaraderie of the other Stargate series.
Ok, here are my answers to the survey:
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Several, actually. TJ is at the top of my list. Out of everyone on the cast, she seems to be the one that’s seen the least amount of meaningful screentime. For the most part, we only saw bits and pieces of her awesomeness (i.e. when she drugged Telford in Air III), and at other times, she served mainly as a foil for other people, i.e Young, Eli in “Time”, and most of the cast in “Life”. The only time that I can recall that she really shined was in Water – however, come next week, nothing seems to have changed. It was as if her being in command never happened.
From where I stand, I would love to see her in a more desperate situation, like Time, but have the focus be on her and her struggles. I would also love to know more about her background; at the moment, the only thing we know about her background is her problem with the airforce, and I do believe that has something to do with Young. Far be it for me to judge before seeing it, but the fact that her past conflicts is because of a man is kind of…well, discomforting, to put it simply. Of course, I will wait and see before I actually make any solid judgement besides a vague feeling. I think it’d be cool to see a bit of her family as she mentioned in “Time” – maybe TJ flashing back to when her nieces or nephews were born or something. It’s all good.
Next on my list is Scott. He’s had more exposure (pun not intended), but most of it seemed more situational – i.e. they served the plot, rather than serve the character. The reveal of his tragic background was well done, but since then there has been very little mention of it; there also hasn’t been any clear instances of his background influencing Scott’s actions. Similarly, after the major revelation of “Life”, nothing seems to be amiss in “Justice”; I was hoping for some kind of follow up or hint, i.e. Chloe and Matt talking about it, or Matt being absentminded for a bit, even during a serious situation such as the one in Justice.
One could mention “Water” again, but I’d say that that was far more a Young episode than a Scott episode (or even a Young-Scott episode); Scott served to highlight the internal conflicts and honor of Colonel Young, but did very little developing himself; this was apparent to me when he spent most of the episode stuck in a crevasse.
Here’s a question that you guys may be able to explore with Scott: most of the military heroes we’ve seen in the past have been willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good; is Scott one of these people too, or is he much more like a normal person, who’d be at least hesitant about it?
Lastly, there is Wray. I am actually pretty happy for how she’s been developed; we’ve seen hints of how she’s faced past prejudices; we’ve seen her loving partner and ADORABLE relationship with Sharon; we’ve seen her strength in taking control of Destiny and standing up to Greer; now all I need to see is her following through on Sharon’s pep talk; start gaining support from the civilians and make her move. Basically, I just want more of her. One critique though: I was a tad disappointed that Young both lost and regained the control of the ship in “Justice” – it felt too early and neat; I would’ve loved to see Wray reign over the ship for a few more episodes; that would’ve made it a true game changer instead of a thing that happened in one single episode, and it would’ve given Wray a lot of meaningful screentime.
Those are my main ones. For the most part, I am very, VERY happy with Eli, Rush, and Young’s development. Chloe is on the right track of her development; you can actually chart, very clearly, her path from grieving for her father and being unable to get out of her funk, to beginning to realize her place amongst the crew and really stepping up, like in Justice. I think you guys just need to keep this up and not backtrack – unless you are going for a story where she purposefully backtracks because of some traumatic event, in which case it’s totally fine; after all, it’s normal for someone to momentarily lose all the strength they’ve gained since the previous traumatic event due to another one, and break down.
Personally, I feel that Chloe is the strongest of them all. Though it’s not shown very often, the fact that she 1). Stood up to Rush’s intent to sacrifice someone based on their worth, 2). Beat up Rush after her father died and 3). Stood up to Rush again when he suggested leaving Scott behind really sold it for me that she has an incredible inner strength just waiting to be let out; I wish to see this inner strength explored more in the future.
Telford is doing just fine as mainly an antagonist; however, I’m all for expanding his character if you guys go in that direction.
Now, Greer – the man is in a whole other league as far as I’m concerned. Even though he hasn’t had that much screentime, every time he appears on screen he basically steals the scene. Jamil Walker Smith is just so incredibly good at this. And, of course, you guys are doing a great job writing him. So yeah, keep doing what you guys are doing with Greer, and maybe throw in an introspective episode about him somewhere down the line.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
By far, the wonder of the Universe. I’m all for human drama, and I’ve loved what has come of that so far; however, the one missing ingredient that I wanted to see ever since the show was announced was the exploration of the far reaches of the Universe. As Carl Sagan once said, “the explorations of the Cosmos is a voyage of self-discovery” – it fits SGU perfectly. However, it doesn’t just apply to how humans behave when left alone so far from home, but also how they react to seeing things they couldn’t imagine.
One of the problems that was apparent in later years of SG1 and SGA was how our heroes were all hohum over the fact that they were traveling to other planets. That is to be expected (they’d probably get used to it), but it also kinda decreased the excitement factor a bit. With SGU, I want to see our crew momentarily forgetting their troubles as they, say, gaze upon the massive disk of a spiral galaxy as it rises above the ocean of an alien world. The scene in Darkness where the crew gathered to watch Big Bertha was an excellent example of this, and I wish to see more. Another good, but short example was Young staring up at the snow-strewn skies of the “Water” planet and noting how beautiful it is.
I mean, they are on the other side of the Universe; the only laws are the laws of nature, and with it the Universe has created so many wondrous things that some are still ungraspable by the human mind. Strange “balloon creatures” may live in the clouds of gas giants; once habitable worlds may have become Venus-like due to their stars warming as they age (this is going to happen to Earth in a few hundred million years), leaving behind telltale signs of the last days of a great civilization; Stars may get trapped in the gravity well of a Super Massive Black Hole and drift ever closer to its doom, while planets orbiting said star bare witness to the most incredible light show in the Universe, as the stars themselves are ripped to shreds right in front of them; while gas subgiants like Uranus and Neptune might be mined by aliens for the liquid diamond oceans that exist beneath their thick atmosphere, moons such as Titan, covered in organic material enough to form lakes of methane and ethane, can be sites of great battles over those precious resources; etc. etc. etc.
Remember those three videos I posted with the autotuning and the scientists “singing”? I suggest spreading that around the office; I really do think they are inspirational, especially if you want to write science fiction.
And, to go with such imagery and concepts, I would like to see Joel’s score become even more prominent. The music in the first 5 episodes was marvelous. However, for some reason, I didn’t think the music from Water to Justice was nearly as memorable; they weren’t bad, of course, but nowhere can I find another “Light” or “Air III” in them in terms of the scoring. Joel’s score really put that extra oomph into episodes and I would love to hear more of it.
Finally, I like to make mention of the Destiny and the Ancients. Yes, Joe, I know you don’t like them that much, but since the show is set on a ship built by them, I think they should be featured, eventually; perhaps as a flashback episode showing the building and launching of the Destiny or something.
Speaking of the Destiny, I love her. From that very first scene where we see her gliding quietly across the dark void of space, I just knew that this ship was going to be special. The score accompanying that scene was especially moving, and instantly made the ship a character in its own right rather than as just a piece of hardware. In that moment, I felt the plight of the ship; alone, empty, isolated, ancient, battle-scarred, forgotten for millions of years…and yet determined to forever travel onwards, following the commands of its long-dead creators. Then, in “Light”, when the Kino sees the ship from the outside for the first time, that theme played again; all I can think of at that moment was “at last, it is finally time for you to lay down and rest”. All of this to say that I would love an added emphasize on this aspect of Destiny; it has so much history, mystery, and experience that one can tap into for story ideas and for development of the Destiny as a character. You guys have done a pretty good job so far, having Destiny connecting to planets purposefully, showing off its amazing AI; and I want to see even more of that.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Nothing. Despite my demands in the previous questions, a vast majority of the stuff in the current episodes has been good – but there could be stuff added or made more prominent that would make things better (as I described above).
.4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
There are so many, but if I have to pick one, I’d probably pick the lottery scene and the subsequent shuttle-leaving scene in “Light”. It was a perfect blend of excellent writing (Greer letting loose on Spencer; Rush seeing the Destiny for the first time from the outside), excellent acting (Wray grieving for the lost souls on the Destiny, Scott and co. saying goodbye to those left onboard the Destiny), excellent CGI (obviously) and excellent music (Joel Goldsmith is a freaking smith of golden tunes).
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I think my answers to question 2 apply just as well here.
1. To be honest, I haven’t connected with any of the characters. You remember during action flicks, when the schmaltzy stuff started, you looked away? Well, I keep flipping over to MSNBC to see what Rachel Maddow is harping about. I like Rachel. She’s always interesting.
Maybe it’s the age thing. I’m 52, and your typically cranky middle-aged woman. Appeal to me.
2. The ship. Definitely the ship. I cut my teeth on hard SF. And where are the aliens? I believe you had, at one time, promised aliens that did not appear human. Still waiting!
3. Less jiggle and melodrama. I want to see that, I’ll rent the appropriate video. Or watch the next episode of Spartacus…now that’s a cool show! They’re even getting the archeology right.
4. Anything that expands on the Ancient mythology, and anything “sciency.”
5. So are they alone in this new universe, or what? And I agree with a previous poster that we need to check in with the SGC now and then.
Mmmmm, Haggis. Kinda looks like a giant puffball mushroom, so when you stick your fork in, parasitic spores will come spurting out. Saw that in a movie once, LOL.
So glad my culture’s cuisine relies heavily on cabbages. Halushki, halupki, real food for real people.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
TJ
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Destiny itself. I’d like to see different rooms on Destiny — engine rooms, any rooms set up for entertainment purposes?
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I’d like to see the visits to Earth used more sparingly, and minimize the drama between Young and his wife.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Almost anything from Time. That was an awesome episode.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Chloe needs to start learning a job. Maybe she could start to learn how to be a medic? A friendship between Chloe and Tamara would be nice.
Hi, Joe!
MGM Stargate has a SGU Graphic Novel Contest:
http://sgugraphicnovelcontest.com/
Featuring Dr. Rush!
Whoa, so nice of you to ask the fans what they think!! Of course, I am a fan, so I’m pretty enamored with what you’ve done already. Not too many things I think you should change the-show-in-general wise.
1) Eli! Eli is a fantastic character (and outrageously funny), and I’d love to see what happens now that he’s getting involved in the do-or-die politics that are at play here. Although he’s completely unassuming, he’s a valuable player on the board – not only is he a genius, but he’s also able to move pretty easily between the civilians and military. I’ll love to see what happens to him in later episodes. BUT PLEASE DON’T PUT HIM THROUGH ANYTHING TOO TERRIBLE THE POOR BOY’S SUFFERED TOO MUCH ALREADY.
2) As everyone else seems to be saying, the Destiny itself. Gotta love the uber-computer-mystery-alien ship.
3) Nothing, really… I wouldn’t complain, per se, if the communication stones became less of a plot device, but I don’t see other ways to keep what’s happening on earth part of the plotline. And the earth/Destiny tension is priceless.
4) I loved Young leaving Rush on the planet – big turning point for Young’s character. How does he reconcile that with his earlier refusal to leave Scott behind? And losing Scott would have been a lot less risky. Sure, they’ll all breathe easier knowing that the angry Scotsman isn’t about to yell at them for whatever reason, but breathing will become a WHOLE LOT HARDER when the filter breaks again and there’s NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THAT. Nice planning ahead, Young.
5) Erm… can’t think of anything I didn’t see in the upcoming episodes summaries. EPIC BATTLE. RUSH ANGST. DIVISION. MORE RUSH ANGST. Can’t wait for April!!!
Joe I just miss the show, too long til April, why do they not show reruns of SGU? Its hard to remember… 😉
Hello Joe.
I think I might be in the minority on this, but I think the communication stones have potential. What if someone on Earth with a high CIA (chair interface aptitude) like Sheppard or Beckett use the stones to take over the body of someone on Destiny with the ATA gene? If the movie is on hold, this gives fans the chance to reconnect with old characters and also explore new areas of the ship.
I also want to see people come together, because (and Haiti has proven this) during disaster, people tend to come together in solidarity.
One thing I feel could be toned down is the overt sexuality. It does seem to distract the audience from the story. Also, the sexuality could be implied by Eli echoing Mckay’s great line from Season one “…my god, he is Kirk!”. That would be funny, less offensive to sensitive viewers, and have second level resonance with fans of the series.
One that note, I agree with everyone else that I would to see more humor. Getting back to SGA, what made Sheppard great is that no matter how dire a situation was, he could always break the tension with a great one liner. RDA had a similar quality (“I like to close my eyes and think of England…”). Again, I think it is natural to use humor to break tension.
Thank you for giving us a chance to sound off on SGU. Can’t wait to see what is coming. Best wishes.
Bryan M. White
I should say upfront that my knowledge of the show is limited to reading scripts. This was flagged on the net, I couldn’t resist, sorry.
You guys got hauled over the coals regarding the portrayal of the female characters so do something that a lot of primetime shows fail to do, meet the Bechdel test. Have two or more of the female characters be friends with each other and have them bonding while doing the equivalent of racing remote control cars down a corridor (note: the female equivalent is not chatting about cake baking while burning incense and doing yoga/meditating, the female equivalent is racing remote control cars, but they’re pink and have bows on them and they cry when the cars crash into the walls). Take a couple of female characters and write them as if they were male characters – wahla, big part of the problem solved and you can be heroes to all and parades will be thrown in your honour. If you then add in a platonic male/female friendships (Just throwing it out there: Tamara and Greer since a lot of people want to see more of these two) you may be given a country to rule over, maybe a principality.
Use the plot to further the character development, not the character development be the plot – at least in the early days when viewers are trying to get to grips with the characters – that way the set up is still done, people get invested, and people’s attention is held. An example – the end piece you wrote between Radek and Rodney regarding Elizabeth – it was short, it was sweet, it was an excellent way of gaining insight into the strength of the friendships between the three characters – that was very nicely done!
What someone else above said – don’t underestimate the power of the Bacon guys. Two extras in SGA get gunned down and the fandom hive mind remembers it – it had an impact. Don’t undervalue the power of humour; it humanizes characters, it makes them more identifiable, and if you want to go dark, humour can be the perfect vehicle for delivering that sucker punch and making everything that much more poignant – Mutant Enemy is an excellent example of this. It can’t just be left to Eli to make Futurama references, and it just makes everyone else look like emo pod people.
Parks gets syphilis and after her brain turns into swiss cheese she starts leaping out at crew members and attacking them with sporks. Chloe gets an eyelash in her eye causing her to start screaming and rolling about the floor, in turn causing Scott, wanting to end her suffering, to pull out a gun and shoot her in the head while screaming, “Noooooo, Whatsherface!” and wiping away his tears with his rosary beads/picture of his stripper mommas baby (which is not his sibling, but what a (disgusting and unfortunate) twist!). A female crew member suddenly discovers that she is out of mascara, cue montage of her favourite moments of applying makeup, followed by cutting back to her poignantly weeping over her Maybelline, mascara smeared all over her face while “I feel pretty, so pretty” plays in the background in a touchingly ironic moment. New alien food gives everyone horrendous gas – will the crew die from methane poisoning? 42 minutes later they land on a planet and someone cracks open a window – only three crew members are lost, and nobody liked them anyway.
But um, yeah pretty much what others have said – explore the ship, explore the community, ditch the stones, up the humour (gallows, snark, knock knock, limericks, maybe a whole episode dedicated to puns), have someone pull a gun on someone else in order to get their hands on an iPod (possible sponsorship deal!), and have the scientists and military personal put on an amateur production of West Side Story with lashings of finger clicking and jazz hands. Sorted!
Most importantly – don’t ask what has already been done as far as BSG, Firefly, District 9 etc are concerned, ask what HASN’T been done, and do that. At the very least it would give fandom something new to complain about, and that’s got to have a novelty factor to it.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
TJ and Rush
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The Destiny itself and the exploration or contact with other worlds
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The use of stones, the scenes on earth always seem contrived to me. On the other hand I’d love a meeting on destiny of Rush, Mckay and Carter
4. What was your favourite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The end of Justice, Young leaving Rush on the planet came as a surprise and even more the unapologetically way he carried it off, with all the military culture of never leaving a man behind I look forward to see how that impacts on the crew once the truth is known.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Aliens and humour
Thank you for giving us this opportunity 🙂
I only tried haggis once and liked it, I had it in Scotland and it was served in a bowl, without the skin, looked more appetising
Get rid of the bimbo Chloe and the gratuitous sex scenes/ Chloe in the shower.
Get rid of the stones. I found it totally confusing about who was supposed to be who and where’s the peril being on a ship light years away when you can just pop home for a bit whenever.
Surely they’d have found the light switches by now, does it need to be so dark?
Could we actually find out what’s going on? instead of people quarrelling, moaning and being non-co-operative. Nobody seems particularly interested in the awe and wonder there should be ‘out there’
Mysterious Vaguely Annoying Person!
Dovil?
I think your blog has finally had it with me Joe and is sending comments straight to the spam bin. I’d understand if it was the Junk bin, because, that would be about right.
1. Of the main characters it seems TJ has gotten the shortest shrift. But I’m okay with that. I’d like to see more about Lt James. In the pilot it seemed like she’d be more prominent.
2. I’d like to see more examination of notions of command and authority. And moving beyond the simplistic notion that we too often see in scifi of the heroic military commander and the interfering busybody civilian. There’s this great moment in IIRC Earth after Telford’s attempt to dial Earth fails and Young is reporting to the leadership at the Pentagon and Young lets everyone know that he’s in charge. He holds all the cards in their relationship with Earth. I’d like to see some more insightful discussion along those lines Young has hinted at times that he understands that he has no real basis for authority on Destiny other than that people like him (and ultimately that he has people with guns who are loyal to him). I’d also like to see more examination of the civilian military split, including possibly a more heroic focus on the civilians.
3. I can’t think of an aspect per se. I will say that Water was, for me, the weakest episode of the series, and Air Pt Three was second weakest. Those eps seemed to be a bit more on point about being “mission” eps. They had a mission “get some sand” “get some water” and the ep was really all about that. Ultimately those were more lackluster episodes for me.
4. I haven’t watched the episodes in a couple of weeks so I’m sure I’m forgetting some. And I’m not quite sure what you mean by “story element” but here’s one little bit I enjoyed, which illustrates something I really enjoy about the show. In Light, I believe, Young has just made his announcement about their death plunge into the star and the lottery. There’s a scene that’s only maybe a minute long where everyone is doing their thing. There’s no clearly audible dialogue but the camera just moves around and we see things. Rush watches and then stalks off, James goes to confront Eli but he brushes her off and she leaves in disgust etc. I loved the underplayed nature of that scene. There’s a lot of different people here with a lot of different agendas and without actually having any dialogue, or really having anything substantive happen in that scene (except at the end where Scott and Chloe hook up) you get across something about the relationships on board.
5. The only one I can think of is more of a civilian presence on the ship. Other than Eli and Rush most of the main characters are military. I think with SGU there’s an opportunity to step away from some of the military fetishism that exists in a lot of space opera. Other than that I’ve got no major add ons to suggest. Just minor tweaks here and there.
I gave my two cents but felt I’d chime in on some common ideas I saw in other replies just so it doesn’t seem unanimous.
First, the aliens. I really like the fact that we’ve not, so far, seen any bipedal English speaking aliens. I’m sure they’ll show up soon but I like the fact that we’ve got this problem but no big enemy for the series.
Second, people who say that there is no humor are off base. Rush is blisteringly funny, albeit in a very vicious way, especially in Time.
Third, I say keep the stones. I shared other peoples concerns when they were first introduced, but they’ve been handled real well. I disagree with people who think that they lessen the stakes. They raise the stakes because they remind the characters, and us, what they’ve lost. If they couldn’t communicate with Earth then they might be able to make a cleaner break. And we, as the audience, would have a harder time understanding their emotional predicament. With the stones they can look but not touch. They can visit their loved ones, but they can’t go back. Plus the stones have opened up interesting issues of responsibility and authority.
Hi, Joe —
Thanks for asking the questions for our opinions on what we’d like to see in Season 2. Here are my answers:
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I’d like to get a better feeling for what Rush’s agenda is. In the eps aired so far, he just hasn’t been relatable for me. Why is he putting his discovery of Destiny above the needs/wants of everyone else. It feels a little like Kinsey to me, who always struck me as evil for the sake of being an antagonist, not because he actually had any kind of a plan. Rush’s only agenda can’t be that he doesn’t want to go home for some unknown reason.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Destiny itself. Get people exploring the ship, finding surprises. IMO the best ep so far was Fire with the trip into the sun. What else can Destiny do that will awe us?
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Stop using the stones so much. Trust your characters to carry us along on their journey instead of sending them back to the ranch so often.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Fire worked because even though we knew as viewers that things would turn out, we didn’t know how. You exploited the particulars of the Universe situation, rather than fighting against them.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More of a feeling of an external antagonist. Yes, this is more a drama, than an action series, but I think SciFi needs that uniting theme of an enemy to be overcome.
The best stories come out of character conflict, so I would love to see Wray and Greer locked up in a room together, forced to depend on each other for survival.
I used to cook haggis at a seniors home I used to work at here in Vancouver. The residents loved it. We even had a Scot march in with bagpipes accompaniment and recite the ‘address to a haggis’.
1. I’d like to see Eli and Rush characters explored.
2. The exploration of the ship and new rooms/devices discovered.
3. The stones and trips to Earth can be reduced in my opinion.
4. I’ve always loved SciFi shows that feature time and it’s paradoxes, so Time
stands out for me.
5. More humour, dare I say it- less sex (I watch with my daughter). If they continue to use the stones, maybe the stones could allow them to visit alien worlds. Aliens would also have stones, having been given stones by the Alterans in the past. That would make it interesting when aliens find themselves aboard Destiny and vice versa. The crew would then be able to visit that culture in person when the stargate is active and are able to meet face to face.
1. T. J.
2. The exploration of the Destiny. It is such a huge ship that a whole season could be used to show them exploring and cataloging the ship.
3. The Stones
4. Young leaving Rush on the planet. Did not see that coming.
5. I would like to see more of the background characters. There are approx. 80-90 people on the Destiny. We only know about perhaps a third of them, probably less. You could have a story arc that runs through the season where you have one or two different background characters each episode that contribute to the A or B story of the episode. This way we can learn about all the crew of the Destiny.
I’ll probably have more to add on this later on, but in regards to #5: What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Giving this one just a bit of thought, I looked back to other shows that I’ve enjoyed in the past, and what element worked for me. One this is a running ‘theme’ throughout an ep – Star Trek (esp. TNG) did this sort of thing a lot. The ‘theme’ (not sure what else to call it – plot device?) usually is set up at the beginning, and has some sort of impact in the episode. I’ trying to think of an Atlantis ep that did what I’m talking about…arrrgh. I’m sure there’s one…maybe the pilot, when the Athosian kids had the Wraith mask, though that may have just been a case of foreshadowing.
Anyway, the thing I’m talking about is something that gives a glimpse into everyday life aboard ship – into the ordinary lives of the people. For instance, remember that purple potato bit in Universe? Well, instead of leaving it in the mess, if that ‘potato’ moment played out somewhere else, just an ordinary thing that is woven throughout and/or affects the outcome of the episode. Oh, damn…Joe – this is a case where I can envision perfectly what I mean, but just can’t figure out how to describe it!! Blast! Okay…silly example but this is the easiest way for me to explain myself…
In the beginning of an ep, the crew decide to aim for a bit of normalcy by having a Halloween costume party. Someone has a really cool costume, but no one knows who it is. Things start happening aboard ship while everyone is at the party. People are told to get back to their stations, duties, or whatever, and most people remove all or part of their costume. Mysterious costume guy stays in costume. Mysterious costume guy is discovered to be some sort of alien. Mysterious ‘costume’ alien guy is eventually subdued by Eli in a Spider-Man costume.
Now – that’s just a bit of silliness, but I think you get the idea of what I mean. It is an element I like in several of the shows I watch (Psych does it a lot, Monk, too…and that’s probably why my example is silly instead of serious, but I think you get the idea). I’ve seen it done to lesser and greater degrees in shows – in something light, it’s quite obvious and not necessarily believable (like my example), in a more serious show it’s more subdued, more like that foreshadowing moment with the Wraith mask.
I just wish I could explain myself better…I know what I can see in my head, and it’s just not coming out right in type. 😛
das
1. Greer – I know there’s an upcoming episode about him but I’d like him to get more rounded out as a character.
2. I’d like to see more of the Destiny and its capabilities exploited. What makes this ship so special? And visit more planets, especially planets that are wildly different to what we’ve seen before.
3. Being cut off from Earth. We tried it in Atlantis and it worked for a bit but it’s been done. I’d prefer to have the characters be able to gate back to Earth at will, like in Atlantis, but continue to explore the Destiny and the regions of space it passes through.
4. The cliffhanger in Justice.
5. SPACE. BATTLES. LOTS of them please.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Vulkar (I know he’s just a minor character, but I think he’s fun), or Dr. Mehta (also minor, but so gorgeous), or Ray/Rhee(?). I really like the idea of taking some minor characters and fleshing them out.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
More dangerous and suspenseful exploration, i.e. “Time”.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The stones. They’re used too much, and they offer too much escape from the isolation and confinement of the ship. Limit or remove them, please.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Difficult to pick. It’s all so engrossing. Everything involving Rush?
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
A lot more mystery to compliment the already tense atmosphere.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? All of the secondary characters (Riley, Volker, Wray, Franklin, etc), Tamara Johansen, and Eli.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? Humour. Golly gee, there needs to be more humour. Please even go so far as to exploit the humour.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? SHAKY CAM! I know for a fact that y’all have competent camera people, because they did a fine job on the first two series. Please don’t feel like you need to shake the camera in order to get across your point that this show is “edgier”…if the episode is written, directed, and acted well enough this will come across on its own. Another: the stones. Too much Earth contact means I don’t get to know the people on Destiny as well as I want to. It should be about them, not about the people they left behind on earth. I’d almost like to see an early-LOST-style “character of the episode” format, where we learn a lot about one character and a little about the rest in every episode. OR tell each story from a different perspective (like how the 1st ep was from Eli’s perspective.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? I only get to pick one moment? 🙁 Well I guess I’ll hafta go with when Rush wakes up alone, staring up at the sky. So well acted was the scene that I wasn’t thinking “OMG did Young just do that and did Eli just agree to that?” but rather “Oh, wow. Rush. Wow.”
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? Well, I’ve already said more humour. And more Eli. And I’d like to see more aliens. And (I know I’ve voiced concerns about this before) I’d really like to be able to show my family/friends a random episode and have them catch on quickly. I’d have never gotten addicted to SG-1 if the episodes weren’t standalone (My first SG-1 was Morpheus, which was indeed part of a larger story arc, but still managed to stand alone as well. If I hadn’t been able to jump right in and get a feel for the team dynamics right away, I would never have watched another episode.).
Thanks for asking. Even if you *can’t* change the second half of season 1.
@Das Oooh I know what you mean about the recurring element thingy. I have a good example (involving the Holocaust, in which coffee represents both the prospects of Jews and the hardships of shortages and the darkness of concentration camps) but I just realized it’s kind of hard to explain. Sort of like what you were saying.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
obviously Chloe. she seems so useless, besides being matt’s love interest and Eli’s *friend*
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
the moral aspects of the Stones. what we saw in the first half… can hardly believe those things did not have serious consequence. would be good to have them cut off from the stones, everyone mad at Young for being the cause of it, etc.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
uhh. Life-like episodes. was fun. never again, please. i prefer SGU taking 90% place on the ship (including offworld visits) and 10% on earth.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
TIME was my favourite, from the “altering time might be harder than we thought” (as said in Season 5 of atlantis)
to Matt as the recurring rescuer to chloe the recurring dying.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
a group left behind, knowing the next ~10 stops of the Destiny, trying to get back to the destiny in time to catch up.
I just want to see the show having accurate science (which it always seems to have).
I’d like the show to never add extras on board Destiny that weren’t present from Air, Part 1.
I actually like the less humor on Universe, I find it more enjoyable.
I’d like to see the ship model be consistent with interiors and exteriors and never change from Air, Part 1.
I’d like to have the show be as realistic as possible. And no stereotyping of things, such as scientists as being weak or nerdy.
The show should always favor atypical, as far as everything is concerned. I think being atypical is the way to be.
I’d like the ship to always be explored throughout the entire show. And explore different rooms like the dome-looking room, and all across the ship – rooms in the front, rooms in the upper triangular part of the ship.
I’d like to see Rush take over the ship, and less focus on the military and more on the scientists and civilians.
I really like Rush, I’d like to see him never bend to military control and always just think logically and the way he does now.
I really like how there’s not a main enemy in this show, I find it a refreshing change.
I’d also like to see Telford get revenge on Young, I think that would be fun. Not that I support the concept of punishment though.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
TJ
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Destiny, various chambers, instruments, see below.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The soap opera aspects (usually regarding Earth relationships and accomplished via the comm stones).
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
The mythology for certain.
Here’s a wish: Let the Destiny Library finally be discovered and subsequently let serendipity bring a crewmember to browse the room while using a comm stone. With his/her hand holding the comm stone, the daydreaming browser rubs one of the zillion markers (Ancient lettering of course) on a vertical panel of the one of the many walls…BOOM, that crewmember is now reliving the publication/record of the original authour of the marker. Not holography, but as good as, it’s a derivative of the Ancient Repository tech. The stones coincidentally allow this feature. Each marker notes the title and authour of an article or story or academic lesson. And each work can be read traditionally in Ancient using a reader (which could be found later I suppose, and could be anything from an eye patch to a tablet to a button that fills the space with holographic script); OR With the happenstance crossover comm stone, the script can be “downloaded” into the brain to make images and understanding without need for conventional translation. Since the comm stone feature was not meant as the mainstream library reader, various issues can come up with using them this way. It works for some people and not for others, and can be a completely hallucinogenic trip for still others (as opposed to an accurate coherent hallucination which it really should be). I would prefer a different use of the comm stones now, rather than the soap aspects. However, I think the comm stones are a great way to check in with SGC (much the way Atlantis did). I’m sure you can see all the possibilities this brings up for adding to the Ancient mythology, learning what Destiny’s purpose really was, perhaps learning why Destiny was never inhabited as it was meant to be by it’s builders (or at least not in the way most Earthlings expect). Addictions, other medical problems, instilling a great sense of purpose to various crewmembers, learning new skills (via the academic categories of publications/records), most of all getting glimpses of Ancient authours in their style in their time, etc, etc, etc. Feel free to use this idea.
If the above is more of an answer for Question 2, then the element I would like to see added to the series as a whole would be optimism. Please. Keep in mind:
… a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events.
Robert A. Heinlein
No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.
Helen Keller
Thanks for asking.
more explore destiny napr.
engine
shield
weapon
energy core
ftl
Rush know all, I nothing!
bye
@ ytimynona – It sounds like you’re talking about symbolism, which is also a great element to add in, though I think it tends to work a bit better in movies than in a series…like the color red woven throughout a vampire movie, or bats in a Batman movie.
I love homages, too…whether it’s just one nod, or an entire episode done in a particular style (Hitchcockian, for instance). I think Universe does pay homages – especially in their movie references, etc. So that’s taken care of.
I think what I’m talking about a is a bit different – not symbolism. Take that purple potato, for instance (it was a potato, right?). In the beginning you have a man trying the potato. It doesn’t taste good, but he fakes it. Well, somewhere in the episode you have another person saying something like, ‘why should I trust you? You said the potato was fine’, etc…almost like a running ‘gag’ throughout the ep, without it becoming stupid. I think that reflects real life – if someone does something stupid/funny/sneaky, etc., you tend to NOT let them forget it. That’s the ‘subtle’ theme I’m talking about…the, ‘but you said the potato was good’ thing. The previous example I gave, about the costume party, is a more obvious thing, and may not work in a show as serious as Universe.
Gotta run!
das
1.) RUSH & Tamara
2.) Clearly Destiny. More about this ship. New
3.) Personal life and love of people, because we want more action (SGA was best). There is not action.
4.) my best episode was SGU Light 1×5
5.) The Rush or Eli could be find the code of Destiny and cancelled countdown. (We have 12 hours on mission. I think, its not good… than It will be serial “Sliders”).
And I think, that it will be best, if we have our earth weapons. So, people on the ship could find device, which make bullets and simple things..
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
TJ
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I really liked the concepts of Time and Water. I also liked Justice. I suppose I would like to see more action-driven plots with science fiction elements.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I would like to see the stones, kinovision Telford and the love triangles/relationship angst minimized.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Justice was the only episode I enjoyed from beginning to end. I was going to skip the back half until I saw it, and I think I have decided to give the last have a try based on the strenghth of this episode. I liked Young’s confrontation of Rush in Justice. I also like how that entire episode played out, particularly the Greer/Wray tension, Eli’s role and how Young dealt with the situation. I never expected him to leave Rush. I don’t think it endeared me to either character, but it was a good ending.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I’d like to see more humor. I’d also like to see more aliens, less reliance on contact with Earth.
Also, and I imagine this is far less likely because I don’t think this is the kind of show you are trying to make, I’d really like to see the development of more fully likeable characters. Eli and TJ are the closest to that now, but I’ve just had trouble liking this crew and caring about what happens to them. This minimizes my enjoyment of the show.
Thank you for soliciting these opinions. Good luck with the back half and season two.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Greer – I’d love to see him grow out of his anger issues due to something he encounters on Destiny – something other-worldly.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The space exploration aspect. I know this is more ‘drama’ than sci-fi but I’d enjoy seeing more insights into just what kind of weird life and alien planets are on the other side of the galaxy
Also — the Ancients themselves. More solid backstory/history as related to Destiny, Atlantis, the plague that wiped out the Milky Way — basically please build more on the established mythology of Stargate, via these trapped and desperate for any help humans.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Who’s sleeping with who, Eli’s love triangle with Chloe, Tamara’s situation, etc – not totally done away with but not the main focus as much.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Clearly it was Rush getting punched in the face and left on the planet.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
The Ancients playing a more direct role in the show – perhaps even an Ascended being. I know you want to establish SGU as its own thing, but you have such a rich treasure trove of concepts and established history to draw on, that I think it wouldn’t lose any new viewers, in fact it might inspire them to look backwards into Stargate once they’ve seen what beautiful sci-fi concepts it contains.
1. Rush – We haven’t seen much of him and we don’t really know why he is like he is (you can’t blame his personality issues/traits on his wife)
2. Using the stargate, going to new worlds, cooking food, rolling.
3. The soap opera
4. The part where all the army guys were ready to back Young up.
5. a cat
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Too many people are dumping secrets on Eli. He seems to be keeping them, but his expressions show he’s not comfortable. I’d like to see more of what’s going on in his head.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? I’d like to see them out on other planets, and I’d like to find out who left the ship where Rush is stranded.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? I don’t like all the R&R trips back to Earth. Some of them seem contrived. I’d like to see them get more control over the ship.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? Finding the alien ship and leaving Rush there. I assume you aren’t writing him out of the series, so I am interested to know how he gets back to the Destiny.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? More mature interaction (and I don’t necessarily mean sex) between the characters. The temptation has to be to go to the lowest common denominator in so many things when you are in a situation like this (think the Lord of the Flies), but the moments when people step up and think ahead–act maturely–are the best in the series. Yes, action is good, adventure is good, but character development makes the show. There’s a lot of potential here, and I’d like to see it explored.
5 . Put really strange alien into main crew of destiny 🙂
I want said yet, I think if the sgu had better intro (I think song) than SG1 or SGA, It would be beautiful. I know, that sgu will have new intro and I saw it, but Its so boring!
1. Of the new characters Rush and more Jack/Daniel is always good.
2. A few more planet exploring episodes might be nice.
3. Little less time spent back on earth.
4.The Cliffhanger in the mid season finale.
5. What I’d like to see is an episode showing that even though they weren’t supposed to be there, that they are the ones that should be there. Like they discover a piece of technology and they get into an argument about how someone more experienced like SG-1 would have this thing back to Earth already. They touch the technology and poof. The whole main crew has now become out of touch with reality and Jack, Daniel, Teal’c and Carter have appeared on the ship. Then they watch as the four of them try to understand what is going on and they learn that they are doing a better job then they thought they were, through watching sg1. Of course it will turn out it wasn’t sg1 but a made up incarnation or something, that the destiny programmed.
I have never seen a Haggis baked. Perhaps if I had, I might not be so- “squicked” when it came to the prime feast of the land of my ancestors. Alas, now, I am a rather solid Vegetarian. No. I have not and will not eat the canned Veg variety, that IS an insult to my heritage.
I don’t know why…but I’ve been very reticent to post this. I’ve now read through other posts and seen some folks say some of the things I have. I do hope that maybe this is still just enough different to still be a valid independent opinion. And I am a no one- it’s my first post here. I’m just going to suck it up and hope I don’t sound too odd. I have a bad habit of ‘guessing’ things.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
This is a super tough question to narrow down to just one person. I simply can not decide on just one, because I have been titillated just enough that several characters intrigue me: Eli because he is the one so far distant from everyone else on the ship. Not military; Not a politician, Not one of the ‘groomed’ scientists. Just a guy who’s brilliant in his own right. He’s a well done tag back to the SG:Movie Daniel. “You did in two weeks what they couldn’t in two years.”
Dr. Rush from word “Go” I hear this nagging voice in the back of my head: “He wasn’t always like this.” So why then is he? Why did the SGC put up with someone so high maintenance, and how did that all spiral away from his control? I think there is an episode coming that might touch on a lot of that… but I am certain sure even after 43ish minutes there could be more.
I would like to ultimately see more of *all* of them. As of now I expect TJ to have a baby as the reason she was so quick to get out of the SGC and not telling anyone. It’s cliched, but the gun is already over the mantle and it would certainly effect Col. Young as a character as well. Two birds, one baby. Just don’t get all “Lost” about it, and don’t kill TJ for it either. I REALLY loath that women always pay for the ‘illicit affair’.
Chloe… You know it’s with her I had the first fancy of who would be the BEST unlikely traitor on board. With things in the SG-verse like Tokra memory devices, and hidden spies (A Za’tarc perhaps?) without even knowing they are, Chloe would be a great nemesis… of course so would sweet, unassuming Eli.
Perhaps he even shoved Dr. Franklin (Mark Burgess- oh hey! Him too! If he jumped in the hot seat on his own- why?! In Kinosode 16 “It’s all Telford’s fault.” He tells Park they have to support Rush.) in the chair. Yay dramatic tension.
I would also like to see the Women in SGU with more meaning than being set dressing for these randy men… That does mean all of them. On Amazon.com only men are listed as actors on the Blueray and DVD. Bleh. My male room mate could not remember Lt. James name for the longest time. He called the poor woman “Lt. Broom Closet”. This is a mature, college graduate mind you.
I think Joe Straczynski said it best: “The purpose of an author is to put his characters up a tree and throw rocks at them.” Done right… SGU could drop mountains.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Where are the Archaeologist/Cultural Anthropologist? SGC should have Xeno-biologist-botanist-pologists running around by now. The ship is not just an Ancient Language machine. Language reflects on a culture… a Society. The design of Destiny is gorgeous. One thing well done is Destiny proves the Alterans were frail little things like us once too. I can’t help but wonder who were Ancient to the Ancients. Who helped them, if anyone?
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I rather hope that with Young’s blatant abuse of the Stones against Telford (No matter how well deserved- And I am still waiting to see how O’Neill puts an end to that little insurrection because Telford has no business talking to Emma about SGC Business.) Anaway- I think Stone usage should somehow become limited… a lot.
There is ONE thing I hope to never see in the new series: all of the Belief System bashing. Season’s 1-8 Gou’auld create religions they are evil. Oma created Buddhism and Earth religions but the Ori started out that way. So she’s evil. The Ori are any one of the main organised book thumping religions celebrated today. – I like the little bit of Rush talking to Eli about an Afterlife in “Time”. It didn’t HAVE to do with religion. Just don’t roll it up and beat Rush with it later.
Please, don’t butcher any more mythology. Earth isn’t the centre of the Multi-verse. Keep the new Story. I like what we have so far.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Uhg… just one? Episode Justice, after Rush is left behind and Eli is talking to Col. Young. He *LOOKS* at him. At first I took that to be lost innocence, he’s broken (“They could turn off mom’s health care if I don’t do this!”), fear- maybe something else… I even picked up on a touch of “Oh god! I know full well I could be next!”- and Young knows Eli is off somehow now. That LOOK could *be* so much.
I liked the effects sequence for Destiny’s corona dip in “Light”. The music used getting the shuttle back after the sunbathing trip was fantastic as well. A StarGate spinning from behind? Priceless.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I really WANT SGU to be separate from everything SG that has gone before. I would like to see this crew discover Destiny. Find ways as they go along to repair her. I want to see her tech. Her society. I would love to see Destiny actually *AWARE* of her crew. Sentient even. Rush makes a point to say if you tell Destiny what you need she brings you there. I’d also like to see the effect on places that have a Gate and weren’t abused by evil marching through it.
I would love to see blessed Furlings- perhaps disguised in another name, bringing it up in the last episode ever of SGU- “Oh hey, didn’t you guys know the translates into “Furling” in the most recent dialect of Ancient? Furlings. Funny huh? Sounds like Ewoks.” A Great line for Eli who has no idea how long SGC has tried to figure them out. Perhaps Ferlings as sentient ships… hrm.
A Nice thing between Malps and Kinos, Kinos likely have stronger tolerances to the effects of uninhabitable worlds. Meet more *Alien* aliens. Ones you could never meet in person because they live in a sea of liquid diamond and sapphire on a gas giant not unlike Neptune or Uranus. Both of these fantastic planets in our own backyard could redefine life if silicon can support similar structures to carbon being just one step off on the periodic table. Exotic and intelligent creatures that might glance at the humans on Destiny and say, “How sweet.” Of course, I had always hoped humans might change the minds of the “Others”. It’s what we do.
Another thing about SGU that I like is the Asgard won’t be along in 43ish minutes to pick up the crew from Destiny and bring them home. Humans are finally on their own out there. “The wrong people in the wrong place at the wrong time” I would like to see proved wrong. That’s what Destiny is about- Because the Right people ARE in the Right places at the Right time. And you know full darn well Rush asked Destiny to take them to a place where he’d be able to get back to her. (The crashed ship) He knows where she’s going. He even warned Eli what was going to happen in advance. Sheesh. “Fans” are so excitable. *grins*
And maybe could someone get around to opening the crates full of nifty uniforms, cleaning products, food, and find the Ancient Med-lab/sick bay/whathaveyou. TJ has to be running out of acetaminophen by now.
Just my 2p, and vastly over-inflated at that.
1. well all of them really because we’ve only had half a season and so we don’t know much about any of them
2. I’d like them to figure out how to use the ship a little more
3. the communication stones
4. When they Rush was left behind
5. Aliens and Humor
Characters… I would really prefer to have new characters that I actually like and “care” about. I am not sure I would have any of the current characters over for dinner. Eli is the closest and he’s a wimp geek who lived at home for heaven’s sake… so grow him up. You don’t have much to work with in the current crop and you have a tendency to reduce the “extras” to a whining mob.
Story… get off the damn ship, explore some alien worlds with aliens on them, stand-alone episodes of wonder and mystery – look at SG1 “Revisions” as a model.
Less of… Earth. These guys are supposed to be self-reliant, not attending staff meetings and doing soap opera stuff with other people’s spouses.
More of… good writing and episode construction – “Time” for instance was very nicely crafted. And some humor would be nice, subtle, even dark would be ok… but something. SGU is about as much fun as a funeral.
More discovery on the ship (woo-hoo, cheap bottle episode!)
Less Earth stories- I skip over all of that when watching.
How about another group of survivors, on the ship. Too Lost-y? Shuttle?
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? – Vanessa James and Dale Volker. Two characters in the background, one gorgeous, one with alot of character. These characters are just wide open. Could be awesome.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? These aren’t stupid people. They have access to McKay, Carter, and everyone else’s info on the Ancients, and their technology. I’d like to see them figuring things out faster.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? – the ship saving their lives every week. Jumping out of hyperspace when they need something, we get it, they do that, You’d think they’d give the ancients better credit and go with it.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? man that’s tough. “TIME” had some awesome OHenry moments. But I like the craziness surrounding the “stones”. Mainly because you’d think there would be some stipulations on people using other peoples bodies to do all sorts of THINGS (awwwkkkwarrrd).
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? Romance, a big bad, and some more aliens.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
TJ or any of the civilians for that matter… i hate extras… give them all some story
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The Ship!!! cargo bays/airlocks/strange storage items/anything… lets see more strange rooms/items the ancients put in place but never used….
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The stones… earth. the political struggle to take over the ship. they’re supposed to be trapped… far away from home… lets keep the struggle for survival going without the security of seeing home all the time.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
the power struggle ON THE SHIP between the military and civilians… and Rush being stranded on that planet.. (love Rush and Young, FINALLY a mature hard as nails officer in charge)
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
well, first.. PLEASE don’t bring in humor… keep it gritty and real….
second… nothing i need right now.. you’ve made a great show… just keep on course ( and move away from the earth side stuff with the stones )
1. TJ. She’s the most interesting character to me.
2. Explore the Destiny! Let’s see some more of the Ancient tech. Rush, his team and Eli should be trying to figure more stuff out. Remember McKay’s experiments gone wrong on Atlantis?
3. Ditch the communication stones. More 1st season Atlantis, less Melrose Place.
4. Young stranding Rush.
5. Aliens. Develop some of the other characters. For example, Lt. James and Dr. Park seem competent but let’s see them actually being competent.
1) Greer.
2) I’d like to learn more about the pre-Atlantis ancients. Explore the ship more. Maybe find some records of their society. I’d like to see them when they were just people.
3) Less sex, please. It’s just a lazy way of demonstrating that these are Real People.
4) One word: “Time.”
5) I’d like to see some interactions with a society who doesn’t know about the ancients, too. Aliens who aren’t human, but who think as well as humans. Maybe they’re a little weirded out by these ships coming from out of the intergalactic void and dropping stargates all over.
For that matter, it’d be nice to see what’s going on with the stargate seeding ships. What if they break down? What if Destiny enters an area where there’s supposed to be stargates, but an error left the the area unseeded?
1. Rush. He is played by one of the best actors on the show, appears to be one of the deepest characters, and has the potential to energize just about any story around him. To a large degree one of the distinguishing characteristics of Stargate was that it was a show about grownups, for grownups. As in not every conflict is resolved through fisticuffs, and most of the time scientists save the day. Often they know better than jarheads who sometimes see every problem as a nail that needs to be hammered.
Look at it this way – to many it is a question of Batman vs. Superman. Superman is neat and all, but hard to identify with. Batman OTOH is an extremely clever and determined individual who is much more human (you know what I mean). To your core demographic the same can be said about Rush and the Lt. – scientists and geeks are far more interesting and easier to identify with than
2. Exploration and change. Another neat thing about Stargate is that things have actually changed from season to season. Characters got new and better weapons, discovered alien technology made it into their hands, etc. Unlike in Star Trek, where every season was nearly identical.
3. Ronald Greer and Matthew Scott. One is a complete dick that I don’t want to see any more (kill him, please?) and the other is just annoying and bland. Not as bad as Aiden Ford, but just about there. Could you kill them both – or at least minimize them on the show?
4. The episode where Destiny was out of power and diving into the star – “Light”. I liked how it presented Rush. Also the comment about the cool people playing poker while the dorks were in the corner praying was awesome. 😀
5. More exploration and world building. Less darkness and militaristic pseudo-jingoism, and more fun sciency stuff. Less “There Will be Blood” and more “Back to the Future” tone. And above all don’t forget the humor – compared to the other Stargate shows it has been seriously lacking in Universe. That has been one of the key components of Stargate shows up until now.
Overall it seems to me that Stargate has rested on three pillars:
1. Humorous and interesting characters with a good dynamic.
2. Optimistic outlook on the world and exploration.
3. An air of intellectualism and the tendency to solve problems through grown-up means.
Pretty much all of these have been missing from Universe up until now. It should be an alternative to BSG, not an attempt to clone it. I know people (I was one of them) that refused to watch BSG because it wasn’t fun. Don’t make us stop watching Universe for the same reason.
I want to learn more about TJ, and Rush, although what I love about Rush is that he’s got this air of mystery about it.
I’d like to see more of the awesome sci-fi elements explored every once and again like in Time, that came completely from the leftfield.
I think you should lay off the stones too. It gives great license to have shows set on Earth but seeing has how Telford is trying to use it to get a foothold on Destiny it makes more sense that they’d use it less, except for when they have to report to SGC.
Just, Rush, his whole character. I loved the execution of Time as well it kept us guessing the whole episode.
And personally. I want to see the Replicators. as in, proper, no human form, just mechanical insects of death. We know how far they’ve gotten through the universe. I’d love to see them just show up and start messing with the destiny.
1. Greer or TJ. However: I want Greer to be more than just an angry black man (no matter what his reason to be angry is), and I want TJ to be more than Young’s indiscretion.
2. a) The amount of ship they haven’t explored/accessed yet! Destiny has been rocketing around for millions of years, there’s no way the Icarus crew is the first to live there. Send someone in with an EVA suit and give us a dark, tense, suspenseful a-la-Alien episode.
2. b) Their limited supplies and conveniences. Things like clothes should be getting pretty ragged, make-do and repaired clothes should start circulating; men should be growing beards, etc.
3. a) Earth. Don’t stop the body swapping, but we don’t need to see the Earth-side of the story.
3. b) The Ship Is Broken Then The Ship Fixes Itself. Sure it’s derelict and there seems to be some sort of AI helping out as best it can, but let the humans figure out the problem, the solution, and then do it (maybe with some sacrifice).
4. a) I like that there are schisms forming on the ship; Young and his people versus Rush and his people; Inner Circle and Outer (with Eli nominated to tell the Outer what the Inner is up to; Wray/IOA looking to shift the balance of power their way (“third faction”, I think it was called). Keep this up, push it further.
4. b) Franklin sitting the chair. He plays a bit of a wildcard, and now that he has the Ancient database in his head, I’m really curious to see if he’ll side with Rush, Young, or use the knowledge to put himself in power.
5. Humour. You have body-swapping rocks, think about it!
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
-Rush
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
-Gate travel to other worlds in this new galaxy
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
-Survival, get the fancy ancient ship up and working.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
-When the ship flew into the sun for energy; that’s the kind of awesome ancient tech we want to see, not broken air systems and everything else. How come the ship doesn’t have repair bots or creatures of some kind to fix it automatically.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
-In my wild theory to explain rush’s douchery to the crew and fervor to get on the ship, I believe rush to be an ancient in human form who’s job is to keep the ship working. I think that would make for good story.
Which character would you like to see explored more?
Any woman, at all, at any stage, EXPECT the senator’s daughter who is whiny and needs to die. One really great possibility would be to see a single female solder get into a scrape and get herself out of it; present her with a logic problem and lets see her solve it.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship, the ship, the ship. Its architecture, the culture, the mythology of the culture that created it are all interesting. This is a chance to present truly alien ideas, don’t lose it.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I’m torn between trips back home, and trips back home. I’ll go with trips back home.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The unexplored fact that the alien attack that had them dialing to Destiny in the first place was in all likelihood created by Rush. Or am I wrong?
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
This ship is more intelligent than anyone on board. It is alive longer than the human race, and has seen more than anyone else has. It is a thing of beauty, smarter than a God, and deserves the chance to enchant the audience.
1. Maybe someone new? or unexpected? One of the side/background characters maybe. I like the pace at which we’re finding out about people…the mystery keeps me coming back!
2. The Destiny! Let’s open her up and see what she does. Atlantis relied on the plot crutch of “Hey it’s a giant city full of crap” for way too long.
3. Anything formulaic. I loved that this was a departure from the “Problem-Resolution-we’re-all-alive-in-30-minutes that plagued SG-1 and Atlantis
4. Again the story arcs that cross episodes. Leave things unfinished and unanswered. It’s great! Not to rehash the Lost comparison, but the reason that show’s writing works is that you never want to see the next episode of Lost more than right after you finish the previous one. Don’t answer our questions.
5. Multiple cross episode/season stories! Again, don’t be afraid to leave us hanging. Make us hate you (because we will secretly love you.) I know it’s not easy to do, but you’re doing a great job and we want more.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
TJ.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The deeper lore of the Ancients themselves, and ESPECIALLY as it relates to Earth. That was my favorite aspect of the transition from SG1 to Atlantis: it went from this “Oh no! Egyptians are aliens!” idea to this crazy notion of our species being actually descended from this million year old species that in turn ascended, after fleeing their last home galaxy. It became this fantastic circular science fiction idea, and in my opinion the single strongest element of the entirety of the Stargate franchise.
The gate network itself? Naquaoftheweekadah? All plot devices. The notion that maybe we’re the aliens ourselves, descended from them? Returning to what they are in our little ways, such as the ATA gene? That was the money shot. Much more, please. This is why conceptually Atlantis was the far better show.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
As much as I appreciate (very much) the intense character development we’re seeing via the Ancient stones and their usage, dial back the sheer minutes per show and the sometimes drawn out nature of the Earth scenes. They’re not actually that long in all cases–but something about the way they’re filmed–the editing frequency and cuts? The pacing and tenor of the dialogue on Earth?–something makes them feel visibly slower than what we see when the Destiny castaways go to a planet or deal with each other on the ship.
We recently finished the entirety of the modern Doctor Who run, from Eccleston to Tennant’s finale. That crazed pacing, especially of Tennant’s run, felt closer to the best episodes of SG1, circa the end of the Showtime years and the beginning of the SyFy years. Don’t kill them completely — but maybe be bold and go for more of a short film’s pacing in five acts per episode, rather than your standard “television” pacing. That doesn’t mean more budget for SFX, either. Look also at the pacing tone of Dexter, True Blood… those sorts of television shows that, when they’re over for the week, you’re frothing for more since it was gone so fast.
That’s how the best SG1 & Atlantis felt. Universe, except for the Light episode in the sun, hasn’t done that yet.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The pure joy of the “marvels we are seeing” moments. The first encounters with the parasitic water aliens on the ship. The entirety of the Light episode, and the dawning (sorry!) revelation of what was happening, down to the slowly building crescendo of music. The bits that captured the sheer wonder of science fiction (yes, budget and special effects) and human response to the science fiction situation (not so much on the budget).
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I’m sure the “give us talking aliens” bit will be covered soon enough, so nothing there…
But what I wrote at the end of #4 above: the sheer WONDER of the situation. Yes. it’s horrible. Yes, it’s miserable. We’re eating crappy alien fruit, and powdered protein Stuff, if we’re doing OK on rations. We’re drinking likely stinky alien water. We’re showering in weird steam baths. My bunk is a piece of metal. I’ve been wearing the same khakis for TWO MONTHS. We may all die at any moment of any number of things: the ship may split in two from old age; another virus may get us; one of us may crack up and shoot the rest.
For all the nature of the show dwells on this and will–and it has to, by it’s very high concept, for at least I’m sure several seasons–don’t forget the sheer moments of joy that these people will experience, and don’t cheap out on showing them to us. Little sublime things, big ones. Back to Light: them watching the sun? That was one. How about other little things? Give us Lisa and Hunter, doing some work with Kinos–what? Tech busywork, whatever.
Lisa bumps Hunter’s Kino by accident, disrupting his work for all of 10 seconds–the sort of in real life little workplace annoyances we see ourselves daily. Hunter is annoyed and bumps Lisa’s Kino back. She retaliates, with another bump. Bump. Bump. Anger. Bump. One laughs at the stupidity of it all. Bump. Both laugh. Bump bump bump bump. They’re playing bumper cars with advanced million year old alien space probes. Laughing. Being human.
You’ve seen Forrest Gump? Remember in Vietnam, when the rain finally broke, Forrest took off his helmet, and looked up to the sheer beauty of the stars, with that tiny human moment in the midst of horror?
Don’t forget to show us that.
(if it’s needed, go ahead and ‘steal’ anything from here, freely licensed, etc., kill off someone named me in payment some distant day from now)
Which character would you like to see explored more?
Dr Rush
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Definatly the Ancients and Dr Rush’s and Destiny.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Anything to do with the senator’s daughter this charactor does nothing but complain and bitch and carry on a little bit to emo for me.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
not sure which episode it was from but where Dr Rush is left on the planet was definatly the best story line so far
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
The Ancients Omar desala could she be hanging in that part of the galaxy?
The wraith especially Todd they are capable of gaining the power needed in dialling the extra chevron
The replicators well because they are in all gallaxys
The Azguard bring back Thor lols
Adria? is this the galaxy she and omar dissapeard too?
1. Would definitely like to see Greer explored. Terrific actor and aside from Rush, the most interesting character. Great internal conflict. However, would never want him to lose that border-line psychotic personality that always has you wondering what he’ll do in any given situation. And, of course, Rush, to some degree. But tread lightly; his mystery is a big part of the character’s charm.
2. Like many others have said, let’s see more of the ship!s
3. I’m conflicted over the stones. Its allowed some interesting storylines (Young’s marital problems, the Telford-Young rivalry, Young’s struggle maintaining command of the ship) but too many returns to Earth detract from the central plot: they’re stranded and on their own deep in space in a huge ancient ship! (And family members/lovers seem a bit too accepting of the fact their loved ones are inhabiting someone else’s body.)
4. Favourite moments: a) Who doesn’t love plot twists? Young stranding Rush delightfully caught me off guard. b) Greer. Just Greer. And c) the ship energizing via the sun.
Now that I think about it, just about every favourite moment I can think of involves Rush, Greer or the ship itself in some way.
5. Two elements to add: more alien contact and more comic relief. Its an intense situation and Eli is carrying the comic relief load.
1: TJ. Seriously I feel like I know some of the random earth characters better than her.
2: The ship. Why keep going back to Earth when you’ve got this massive unexplored spaceship right here!?
3: The stones. This really destroys the whole “all alone at the other end of the universe” thing. Just get rid of them. Please.
4: The half-season finale. Woah!
5: We get it, their situation kinda sucks. I was so happy when rush gave them that fake hope about the planet a year away. Hopefully those in on it don’t give the game away and the crew can stop whining every five minutes.
I gave it a full post on Scificool.com
Here’s the meaty bit.
Well, since you asked Joe.
1. The girls on the show is the obvious answer. They’ve had a hard time getting revved up. It’s time for the space chicks to kick a little ass. If you’re going to showcase the space racks, you need to let the girls lock and load some too. Balance is everything.
2. People walk around on the Destiny like it’s their junior high school. The ship is ancient! It’s dark and echoey. There’s gotta be creatures someplace. I want to see long views down corridors where the end is in darkness, except, you can kinda see, something , slinking low at the edge of the light, something…that’s probably my imagination. Probably.
3. The Earth stuff. This is Sci-Fi. I know the stones thing is supposed to help with character development but it’s not helping the show in general. This is a castaways show. It’s about isolation, loneliness and hopefully, paranoia. I want to see desperation and despair. Letting people go home every week to see Mom almost lets all that air out of the balloon.
4. Rush getting left on the planet was epic. It was awesome. Gives me a lot of hope the arc of the show is heading in the correct direction. To infinity…and beyond!
5. We need more scary. We need more exploration of the ship. Space 1999 this thing. Eerie it up. Show us glimpses of mysterious happenings on the ship. Scenes of old battles, desiccated alien corpses, untranslatable messages scrawled in alien blood. We need mystery.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Greer
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Ancient’s history. This ship’s from way back, right? We should learn a lot more about them.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Earth time. Unless it has Daniel, then by all means plenty of Earth time.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? Not sure.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Furlings!!!! XD
ok ok…umm…color? It could use more color. Not sure how this changes later in the season or by visiting more planets but it’s too monochromatic for entire episodes.
Personally all I have to say is number 3.
3. The Stones. Destroy the Ancient Stones completely. Yes it allows all the characters the ability to interact with their home problems, but it totally destroys the drama of the series. With the stones playing an active role in the series, General O”Neill could have probably called in Daniel Jackson, Rodney Mckay, Samantha Carter, Dr. Zilenka and all the other omni-disciplinary scientist characters from past shows to help fix all the problems on the Destiny that Young cannot. Why Jack hasn’t called in his old buddies has not been explained at all.
So in order to quell this particular fridge logic, you have to throw out the stones. Besides, lack of contact with Earth would bring isolation to the crew of the Destiny and by extension drama. You want to show us what the crew member of the Destiny can/can not do? You want us to take the “being away from home” plot seriously? Destroy the ancient stones. Have some accident befall them, have some alien threat board the ship and throw them out the airlock. Besides, we won’t have to go through another episode where nothing happens. Yes the little character development fulled episodes are fine and all, but this is Stargate, and Stargate is a show that does it’s thing best when characters have to explore alien planets.
On second thought, I’ll answer this as well.
4) Time. It was an episode where the communication stones were excluded from the plot, where character development occurred without the aid of a trip back to Earth using the communication stones, an episode where the problem of the episode wasn’t involving the systems of the ship, and where a good deal of the episode involved exploring a strange new alien world. It was also the episode that I felt most pushed the characters limits, because you know, everyone was dead, dying, or horribly screwed. The only thing I can really criticize episode for is that it had to press the reset button at the end of it.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
– The women in general. T.J specifically.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
– More about the Ancients and Ancient tech.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
– Use of the stones. Bitching and complaining about their predicament.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
– Rush getting stranded
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
– Reasons for choices being made by everyone, especially Rush.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Greer
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Destiny itself. The ship looks massive; possibly as big as a city with floors. The ship has the potential to be the best character on the show if used right.
Human nature. Right now it looks like people are trying to mine their P’s and Q’s. There have been a few that have lost it but the characters are still in their Earthbound social “roles”. Can we see people really cut loose, please? I find people are not really who they seem to be when we first meet them.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The 90210/Gossip Girls/Mean Girls styled storyline surrounding Chloe. I was particularly confused by the whole “he cheated on me with my friend” outburst in the club. I could see her being shocked but the rage did not come off as hypocrisy but rather 90210/Gossip Girls/Mean Girls silliness to me.
After seeing “Justice” I know the character has potential but the teen drama pool she is drawning in is very disheartening.
The stones are overused. I like the idea of the crew being completely cut off from Earth; having to deal with the fact that they are never going home and moving on to make the best out of the life they have.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Everything in “Justice”!!!
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Please give me more suspense, not sure if that is the right word, like in “Justice”.
“Time” was a good example of what I mean too but having it be time travel and all the character development gains lost because of it kind of nulls and voids the episode.
“Water”, however, was way too predicatable. We all knew what was going to happen. There was no suspense there.
I think you should do a Bollywood number in Season 2. Why let Sanctuary have all the fun? Or maybe some Irish Stepdancing? 😉
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Chloe, Eli, Matt, Nicolas –
While Matt and Nicolas have more nuances to come, it seems that the dyanamic involving these characters could be interesting…
Matt and Chloe have issues and while Chloe has a strong interest in Matt, it appears that a signficant bump in the road has occurred. We know sort of what Matt stands for and a little about Chloe now. But where does Eli stand? Or what does he stand for? He likes Chloe, but that relationship is one way. What are the limits of this relationship? Is he willing to sacrifice himself for her? Is Matt with Young? Or does Nicolas remain his ‘mentor’ despite Nicolas’s personality? Is Eli’s interest in Chloe perceived as an impediment to Eli’s potential by Rush? Does Rush care? Given what Rush has lost, what does he think about Eli’s potential involvments. Or perhaps Rush doesn’t care about Eli at all? Does Young now become Eli’s mentor? That’s a wild one…
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship. It’s big. Perhaps you’ll have more later on this.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
We know all the character’s have flaws and that there are agendas. There is a point when you have too many plot lines going and some of the more interesting character interactions from earlier plots lines (see 1 above) potentially get left behind.
Less stones please. We’ve seen too much of the Earth for now. Don’t space them… just ease up.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The dynamic between Eli, Chloe, and Matt when Eli realizes that his feelings are really one way. We have to have hope that the nerd can win someting in the end…
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
The shuttles seem like they have additional possibilities for moving around the ship and for planetary work.
Thank you for asking! I love it when execs ask us fans what we think. It makes me feel appreciated and part of the show.
Q: Which character would you like to see explored more?
A: I, of course, want to know about all of them but right now, I find Dr. Rush and Colonel Young the most fascinating. I think the character development so far is phenomenal. Keep up the good work.
What would I like to know about Rush? Most probably what everyone else is wondering – what makes him tick. He seems to be a little emotionally wounded and distant to me (wears a wedding ring but wife is deceased I’m guessing since he never goes back to Earth to visit, etc.). I can ‘almost’ forgive his horrible actions if he’s really hurting inside. I really don’t want to hate the character so I hope you’re not going to overdo his bad behavior. And please don’t make him a bad guy – misunderstood is okay but not bad.
As to Colonel Young, I’d like to know more about his little indiscretion with the medic Johansen. Most importantly, why? And how did the wife find out – did he tell her or did she find out on her own? I also like how Telford is brought into the picture with Young’s wife to make things worst. I don’t think Young making love to his wife in Telford’s body helped much either – she’s still looking into Telford’s eyes, not his! I also like that Telford and Young don’t get along and would like to know why on that as well. Telford wasn’t dating Johansen was he?
Q: What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
A: I love the references to other TV shows. I’m surprised you haven’t added some kind of comment about Lost in Space or Star Trek: Voyager (two shows about ships being lost in space far from home).
Visiting planets and exploring is another thing. While they’re there, they might as well look around a little bit.
Repairing the ship and learning the new technology. Are they going to have to learn how to make a ZPM (Zero Point Module) so they’ll have the power to gate home?
I also know that more action scenes are planned (thank you), which is a definite must, and I also like it when you add songs to certain scenes (Breathe by Anna Nalick comes to mind in Air). I love it when you turn certain scenes into rock videos.
This kind of makes me think of songs that I’d assign to certain character’s as well.
Nicholas Rush – Snuff by Slipknot (if he’s hurting inside)
Everett Young – Landing in London by 3 Doors Down (makes me think of him missing his wife)
Matthew Scott – Keep the Faith by Bon Jovi
Ronald Greer – What I’ve Done by Linkin Park or Monster by Skillet
And I think you have 1st Lt. Matthew Scott too bland so far so I’d like to see you crank up that character a little bit.
Q: What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
A: The use of the stones. I kind of find them distracting more than anything. I mean, should you really be having sex with another person’s body – hello . . . have you never heard of STD’s and unplanned pregnancies? And what if someone pigged out on chocolate in a body that is diabetic? I’m just wondering how bad would it be if the stone’s stopped working or randomly had problems? If you do use the stones, use them to send the Medic Johansen to medical school.
Q: What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
A: The first thing that comes to mind is when Col. Young abandons Dr. Rush on that planet (Justice). Wow! The other moment is (Water) when Young and Scott are conversing on the ice planet kind of father and son like. The last one is when Eli is watching the Kino of them dying (Time) and you end the scene with Eli saying “What the-“ and the screen goes black.
Q: What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
A: Can I suggest several elements?
1. Action and more action for starters. I love fight scenes.
2. Non-humanoid aliens or if they are humanoid, make them different somehow; strange and vicious animals; and dinosaurs (what can I say, I like Dinosaurs – Velociraptors the most, saber tooth tigers next). If you want to go a more sicker route, have them meet ugly, clown-faced aliens (you do know that clowns are evil right?). How about a half biological/half mechanical alien?
3. An alien join the crew as a translator/survivalist to help them communicate to get food and other supplies from the natives (which I’m assuming there will be) kind of like Sacajawea & the French traders with Lewis & Clark (because with the ship on a set course, they don’t need a guide and I really don’t think any races this far out will speak English!) When the Ancients came through the first time, did they leave any unplanned pregnancies behind as in are there any half-breed Ancients running around that can help? Oh by the way, I really like that Destiny is on a set course that they can’t change.
4. I’m kind of wanting someone on the Destiny to turn traitor and join the other side but not Rush (I don’t even know what the other side is yet but I just think that there is a big bad enemy out there somewhere that they are going to engage at some point). Having someone turn traitor gives this big bad enemy an insight into what Destiny has to offer. And who knows, maybe the original Ancients made some enemies the first time they came through and ruined it for the rest of them.
5. With all the sexual tension, I can tell you what I DON’T want to see – pregnancies. Maybe the crew need to start looking at plants for medicinal purposes. You know, that magical mushroom that works as birth control. I don’t mind the sex – it just needs to be safe sex. Of course you have to make sure they don’t choose that hallucinogenic mushroom instead which would not be good.
6. I’d like to see something left behind on the Destiny by the Ancients – video diaries, tools, etc. that will give the current crew an idea of who lived there before them so they can identify with them. You’ve heard the phrase ‘you can’t take it with you’ well it looks like the Ancients did. The ship is totally bare as though they were never there to begin with.
7. More emotional agony for the main characters – especially Rush and Young. I loved Dr. Rush’s meltdown from Caffeine and Nicotine withdrawal – good idea. I’d also like to see Rush suffer a little – a couple of more breakdowns would be nice . . . maybe some hallucinations or delirium . . . physical pain always works too, and throw in some diarrhea and upset stomach . . . and tears of course – you get the picture. We’ll love the guy no matter what he does, if he suffers a little. I also like it when he pouts.
8. More humor and practical jokes. I know SGU is darker than SG-1 and that is okay as long as it’s not dark all the time. And please don’t go as dark as Battlestar Galactica (I actually stopped watching BG because of it).
9. The crew mutiny.
10. If there is life out there, I would love to see some of the crew “go native” and wear local styles of clothing – especially the civilians/scientists of the group.
11. I can’t remember if anyone from the series Stargate SG-1 or Atlantis went missing and is presumed dead, but it would be cool if they suddenly showed up on Stargate Universe enslaved on a planet or something.
12. I love the mythology of all the Stargate series. It looks like you’ve covered just about all of them except the Mayan. Viking–Asgard; Egyptian-Goa’uld; Atlantian-Ancients. Is there a race out there for the Mayan culture?
13. If you do add an alien (for the exotic effect), I’d love for it to be a strong, warrior-like female. I love strong, fighting women who can kick butt. Tattoos would be kind of cool too. How about an Ancient who is mentally challenged and can’t ascend? (Mentally challenged by Ancient standards – genius by Earth standards). Maybe she could be a little immature and give Rush a headache now and then. Perhaps she is pursuing her own “destiny” and helping the crew is part of it.
And finally, THANK YOU for putting out another Stargate series. I am reallly looking forward to watching their adventure.
No offense I’d really like to answer those questions but I haven’t been able to watch a full episode of SGU without turning the channel. I find SGU extremely slow and boring. It seems at times to be a rip off of Battlestar Gallactica camera work and Star Trek storylines.
Since Stargate Atlantis should never have been cancelled I’ll answer those 5 questions in relation to that far superior show.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Todd the wraith
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
More of the evil asgard storyline
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Copying independance day (movie) for a crappy finale, just remove that entirely and continue with Season 6.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Not Applicable
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Season 6
1. TJ. Rush. Greer.
2. Sacrifice (not necessarily death). Trust, and mistrust.
3. Communication stones, unless you’re going to deal with the ethics of using another person’s body, or why they’re not being used to bring specialists (doctors, etc) on board more regularly.
4. Lots to choose from, I’m not sure I could easily pick one, except to say “nothing from Water.” Light, Time, and Justice were standout episodes for me. Any moment where Rush makes an unpopular choice motivated by his sense of logic and greater good.
5. The struggle for survival will only carry the show so far. I love the internal conflict and the shades of gray, but the stakes will have to be raised to carry on for more than one season. Young leaving Rush to (presumably) die is a good step in this direction, but to create a strong credible sense of threat to the characters you’ll need to demonstrate that you’re willing to kill them, and to do that you’ll also need some way to introduce new characters. I’m less interested in the introduction of an adversary, unless the adversary can be made sympathetic and “shaded in gray”.
1. Greer, because he seems to have so much more complexity to his character than anyone else. He’s quick to take sides, intensely loyal, has a sense of humor but keeps it in check, has an artistic/spiritual side as seen during Light, and is aggressively passionate about his past and sense of responsibility (when he chooses to accept responsibility).
2. Politics, because it seems natural to form factions around opposing ideas on how to survive. I honestly expected Camille Wray and Vanessa James to each form factions that would sometimes oppose and sometimes be assets to Young’s and Rush’s factions.
3. The communication stones. They’re great when they build tension like between Young and Telford, but often they reduce the tension of whatever’s happening on the ship. So I guess it’s not the stones themselves, but the fact that they are used to reveal back-story rather than enhance the plot that is unfolding in the present or telling a parallel story.
4. When Telford demanded Young be removed from command. The story needs a central villain, but that villain doesn’t have to be an alien bent on killing everyone. Telford seemed to be assuming that role by undermining the authority on Destiny and antagonizing anyone he came in contact with. It would be awesome if he had a more concrete objective that put at odds with everyone while also gaining more power over the Destiny crew so he can’t just be ignored.
5. Curiosity out of all the characters. Not just about exploring Destiny or other planets, but asking intrusive questions about each other’s opinion, pasts, and relationships. That is where great character drama comes from, right? Characters with opposing views on how to solve the same problem or revealing secrets that affect the present.
Also, the overall pacing of each episode is really slow. I think shorter scenes with more plot lines in each episode would really help to speed things up. Other shows with ensemble cast, like The Wire and Heroes, cut back and forth between different characters confront unrelated problems each episode but their actions have consequences for other people and add depth to plots. I know that can get tricky if you are trying to keep the plots episodic while serializing the character development, but I think it would be a great way to keep the audience interested in multiple characters.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Eli, as his character seems to have that sense excitement and wonder that so many of us look for in science fiction.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship, and teamwork (for a group of mainly career-driven adults they’re particularly uncooperative and backstabbing).
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The politicking, backstabbing and general angst. Also stop wasting the stones, either send useful (technically minded) people through who can do somthing useful on the ship while they’re there ,engineers or doctors, or stop using them so much. Do we really need to see so much of earth?
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The ship refuelling in the sun, and Rush letting everyone think that they’re about to die.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Science fiction suprises: new ideas, rather than inpersonal drama that just happens to be set in space!
If you ever go to Scotland, do not deny yourself the majesty that is fried haggis. You can get it in any Scots chippy. It verifiably takes three years off your life, it’s that good.
1. Young and Greer are by far my favorites, but don’t explore Greer. Ever. He’s best in short, mean doses. Same with Rush. Scott’s faith could do with more testing, but at the moment, I’m not entirely certain what purposes Chole or Camile serve on the show (outside of Camile’s brief palace coup). They’re prime vote-off-the-island candidates as-is, so that’s where I’d focus some attention.
2. I think we’ve seen about eight rooms on Destiny, which is billed as a colossal ship. Let’s see some people get in trouble just walking around… it IS old and falling apart, after all, and who knows who/what else is in unexplored parts of the ship. Or why it was built. Or what its program is meant to accomplish. Give me more than another chair.
3. Earth. Cut those people off. The more desperate and “we’re totally screwed” they are, the more they color outside the lines, the better it plays. The big mistake of “Voyager” was making things comfortable, and then making them even more comfortable. Don’t do that. Don’t give them things. Take things away.
4. Young stranding Rush. Oh, of course Rush is going to get inside that ship and catch up, but it was so well executed that the initial impression was “Holy shit! They just stranded Robert Carlyle!” Even if you leave yourself a teeny-tiny Out, pull triggers like that on a regular basis. “We’re totally screwed” works best when, at random, you actually totally screw someone. Preferably the lead.
5. Desperation. Desperate solutions to desperate problems, which are not always good or right solutions (see Young stranding Rush). Get away from the Resource Of The Week stories (without losing sight of that issue), and get nice and chummy with Consequences Of The Week stories (see Rush Catching Up to Young).
Otherwise, keep ’em coming.
1) 1st Lt. Tamara Johansen
2) Destiny – the ship is so huge, but yet we’ve seen 3 rooms of it. We need to see more of it.
3) Kino’s. They peeping tom instruments are an overdone device.
4) Dr. Rush being left behind.
5) More exploration and world building. Less darkness and militaristic pseudo-jingoism, and more fun sciency stuff. Less “There Will be Blood” and more “Back to the Future” tone. And above all don’t forget the humor – compared to the other Stargate shows it has been seriously lacking in Universe. That has been one of the key components of Stargate shows up until now.
Hello, Joe!
Nice haggis report. The dish appears totally disgusting, but I am vegetarian, so what can I say? 🙂
Anyway, in regard to your five questions:
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I would like to see more Greer background. He’s a character that will obviously mature, and he is one of the more “real” characters in the show, if you ask me. (And if that makes any sense.) His character is just begging for more reveals.
Plus, it is always good to see a rebel in the SG Universe.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
More of the ship. I don’t care if people compare that idea to SG: Atlantis, or whatever. We need to see more of the ship. Or, probably better, more of the ship’s functions being discovered and utilized in an interesting fashion. Rush would have obviously led the charge in this effort, but since he is gone (for the time being), I guess Eli will have to do this.
And more “pew, pew” of the ship’s weapons would be nice. Preferably blowing up some bad guys (at some point) or engaging in space combat.
Pew, pew is always good.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Less of the love interests/love stories would be preferred. Yes, I know that’s sometimes needed, and I know SyFy wants to attract a female audience. (Or, at least SyFy THINKS female sci-fi fans want to see interpersonal relationships . . .) But too much ship/planet exploring time was absorbed by the whole tangled mess of character relationships in this last part of the season.
If you are going to have a more adult direction with a sexier edge, it’s probably not a good idea to overdo it.
I do admit, though, I thought “Life” was a pretty good episode, so maybe some drama ain’t so bad after all.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I absolutely loved “Time” — I thought it was one of the best episodes of the season. But I guess that isn’t a story moment, is it? That episodes did have some good moments of reflection from the characters — maybe because they were in dire straights, their emotional reaction seemed more sincere.
One last thought: I do dig the musical montages. Good stuff.
Anyway — thanks for listening, good luck with the rewrite, and we all look forward to the next season!
Cheers,
~Baculus
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Scientists. I’ll bunch them together. I like to see more of them all working together and discovering more of the Destiny itself.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Technology of the Ancients.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Get read of the stones. Once in a blue moon is ok but not more often. And please, stop portraying military officers as a 13 years old emotional wrecks.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I love the moment in Time where TJ came out of the infirmary and had n emotional brake down. What a grate seen by the grate actress. What a grate way to introduce human emotion with out sex and soapiness.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Aliens. Not necessary bad guys or villains. How about we encounter ship and a group of the aliens. Ship is broken and we need to make a decision if we take them aboard or live them to die. We take them aboard but our cultures clash (think StarTrack and culture of Klingon’s or Magog from Andromeda). What a reach fields for conflicts, anthropological study and study of the human nature could that be?
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I would like to see all of the characters explored more. Because SGU has done this extremely well already, I think that aspect of is already perfect. However, to note my personal favorites- Greer, Young, and Rush, and that is because of their unique and morally gray personalities.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
One thing about the show that I think is lacking is it’s suspense. Unlike other science-fiction serials, (Heroes and Lost), SGU has failed to catch that excitement of ‘What will happen next week?’ So in direct answer to this question, I would like to see more scenes like Young leaving Rush stranded on another planet, and Rush making everyone believe that the ship was going to explode, only for everything to be ok. Basically, more plot twists- just not too many more, as that is what caused Heroes and Lost to loose viewers, but just enough to make me excited about the next episode. So far only “Time” has manged to do this.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
As many others have said, I would like there to be less sex. I’m not saying take it out entirely, just not to let the camera linger on the two people having sex. I believe in order to develop characters properly, sex scenes is an important thing. But there is no character development or anything constructive with watching those scenes for more than fifteen seconds. As for the communicating stones, I like the drama that has come so far from them, but I would like a little less of their involvement.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
All of my favorite moments were from the episode “Time.” Sadly, all of those moments never happened for the timeline SGU now follows. I would love to be more particular about what scenes I loved in “Time,” but basically every moment of that episode I loved, particularly the character development, suspense, and twists.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I don’t think that SGU needs any new element yet. Certainly more of elements it already has, but I think that SGU needs to a little more time before it brings out the mythology we saw so much in SG-1 and SGA, or any else new. One thing I would like being part of every episode (except for the season finales) is cliff hangers. Nothing can maker me excited about watching the next episode of a tv show then a good cliff hanger.
1. The Destiny is a character. It must be explored much more, but it needs to put up a fight, too. I would be oh-so-happy if the mystery aspect was drug out for five seasons with small clues being opened up one at a time. Don’t go “God mode” and just open it up and spill all the beans. The best drama comes from torturing the viewer through curiosity. Think “Lost”.
2. The hopelessness is wonderful as a device and needs to become a driving force, something people take real sides on. There needs to be a rift between those accepting their apparent lot in life and those fighting to get home, and it needs to widen very slowly until there’s some dangerous fire brewing.
3. The stones need to be limited to once every three shows. This isn’t about Earth and, frankly, one guy banging another guy’s wife just isn’t good scifi to me.
4. Rush getting dumped. Pure awesome.
5. Aliens. And not humanoid aliens — the Ancients were not out this far. I’m talking about “a whole different line of evolution” aliens. Different kinds of life (maybe not even cellular?). Anything that doesn’t have eyes and legs as we know them. And for the love of God, don’t cop out and toss in reptiles or insects. The “sand aliens” were a neat idea in this respect. Keep going there.
Loving the show, honestly. I love the grim aspect and the drama. I love that it’s NOT SG1 or SGA. It’s something new and fantastic. Keep that! SGA got boring, quick. Don’t go there. Stay where you are, lose the stones, and fight! and blow things up!
1. Greer. I am not as fond of TJ as other fans seem to be. Greer is the most interesting character to me, by far, and we haven’t seen much of his backstory at all.
2. I’m really more a fan of “planet of hats”-type sci fi than I am of serials like Lost. I find it fun (and thought-provoking) when the characters encounter something unusual and have to figure it out. The episodes with the dust mote aliens were really dissatisfying to me. Instead of being an interesting alien species, they became yet another technical glitch. Boring. The show could be renamed Stargate: Technical Glitches.
3. Just going to repeat what everyone else is saying: the stones. I understand that you’ve been using them to develop your characters, but honestly, I’d rather see the characters finding out who they are now than continuing to revisit who they used to be. It’s depressing. Perhaps there could be an episode where they realize they need to stop for their emotional well-being, or the stones are causing physical health problems, or something. I also don’t like all the romance. It’s okay once in awhile, but I don’t want it to be the focus of the show. (Note: I am part of that female demographic you’re supposedly aiming for.)
4. The last episode was enjoyable. I look forward to seeing what’s going to happen with the chair, and what will become of Rush.
5. I understand that you’re trying to give this show a more adult flavor than the other SG shows. But still, I’d like to see some kind of recurring alien enemy. You don’t have to make them wear fabulous costumes, but I’d like to see the characters battle something other than the ship’s systems. However, please don’t bring back the Replicators. It would make sense, because the Ancients invented them and they have visited these worlds, but I was sick to death of them before their final SG-1 appearance. I hated having to see them on SG-A too.
1. Genereally all the women.
2. The ship, the ship the god damn HUGE alien ship!
3. The crazy genious doctor. I dont understand his agenda.
4. Twist at series pause.
5. A constant threat in pursuit of the HUGE ship. An alien presense in other words.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Rush. Who is he? Why is he doing what he is? He’s got to have some interesting background that explains the way he is.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
+1 on exploring the Destiny. It’s a huge ship, but we’ve only seen a couple of rooms, not to mention that it’s fully automated so far.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
THE DAMN CAMERA SHAKING! This enough is reason enough for me to almost stop watching. “Air” parts 1 and 2 made me feel sick for hours afterwards (if not the whole day – I watched it in the morning), and “Time” was the same (Kino-to-the-head? The kinos are horrible enough as they are!). The rest still make me sick, but not as much as the above two episodes.
PLEASE tone this down, a lot, as it does little except make the camera crew look incompetent! Knowing SG-1/SGA, I know they’re not.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Unsure, but the biggest twist was certainly in Justice. 😉
Destiny recharging in the star was also a nice one, although much easier to expect than Rush being dumped on a planet.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Other spacefacing species – good or bad, or both – just something to make the show less focused on virtually characters only. The Sci-fi element is left out too much for character exploration.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
The women, but no more Wray relationship drama. Put the ladies front and center. They need to be described by their traits and actions more than their jobs.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Other planets. The ship.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Earth. The stones shouldn’t go away, but we need repercussions for the abuse and someone needs to take a stand against them and echo the fan’s stance on how they can violate a person. Isn’t it a violation to take over someone’s body. Repercussions and changes on how the stones are used. Have something horrible happen, like two people switch permanently. That way they’re too risky to use and we can come back to them later. Cut them off. Reinforces the idea they can’t get back. Til now they’ve had hope.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Rush stranded. Conflict with consequence. Split the group more.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
We need more of the outside conflict thrust back in. Character is good and all, but even BSG had Cylons to run from.
I just want to start by saying that I really enjoy the show. I’m a professional screenwriter, so I know that telling you that I like everything is of very little use when you’re trying to improve something, so I’ll focus (hopefully constructively) on what I think isn’t working.
1. I actually feel that, aside from a central few, I don’t know any of the characters at all. Most of the second tier characters feel like one dimensional place-holders. In some ways, this is a good thing, as it allows a lot of growth, but it currently prevents me from caring about any of them. The direct to camera interview clips do give hints to deeper characters, but it says a lot that after ten episodes, I still can’t name most of them.
2. The stones. Actually, this is more a “use them right or get rid of them”. There have been several cases in the show where a crew member needs to be selected to be objective for some task, or is asked to do something beyond their actual skill set. The stones allow any expert to be accessed, so long as Mission Control has them, yet the crew never do this.
I can understand that having a regular character engage in a task beyond their skill set allows the character to be explored and to develop; I understand that having a character required to behave objectively in a situation that everyone has a personal stake in allows for drama and interpersonal politic, but you need to either justify exactly why they don’t get someone from Earth to do it via the stones. Otherwise you have to let the most logical course of action be taken and use the stones.
3. The distrust between characters. I like the darker tone, but the element of distrust has been overemphasised so far. It’s already become a cliche of the show that after anything happens, there will be one character who assume this means someone else can’t be trusted. Distrust between characters is a good thing, but when you are signposting as much as SGU does, it undermines itself. I think an example of a show that really got this right was creaky old Blake’s 7 – on that series, each character had their own personal agenda, often in conflict with the others, but they all needed to work together, so they rarely expressed their distrust directly, yet you always knew it was bubbling away under the surface, ready to erupt when events forced things to a head. (As a disclaimer, I should point out that this is how I REMEMBER the show being and that time may have improved how well this played in my memory).
4. My favourite story moment is really more of an element: the ongoing issue of supplies and resource management.
I was always a little bothered by the way the recent Battlestar Galactica never really dealt with the fact that there was only so much paper left, or cigarettes, or medicine, or malt liquor. That fleet was all that was left of humanity, but (aside from a couple of beats early in the series) there never seemed to be a sense of everything running out.
I’ve really liked how SGU has placed an emphasis on the scarcity of just about everything. I hope to see the cast’s costumes degrade as the series progresses, getting patched and repaired. I want to characters die and have the survivors putting their hands up for the dead person’s shoes and clothes. I want to see the brief discussion of the ghoulishness of this that gives way to the realisation that absolutely everything must be reused.
I personally see a greater potential for drama among the characters if, rather than constantly distrusting each other, the work together and seem to get along until the scarcity of certain resources force them into conflict.
5. I’d like to see the total banning of the story structure: “Destiny arriving at planet X, the away team goes down to explore or collect supplies, and everything is fine until some conflict or catastrophe occurs just as time is running out and a rescue or resolution to the situation must be achieved before the Destiny leaves them behind.”
In one of the first episodes, the solution of having someone stand with their arm through the gate was discovered, and since then, this race-against-time trope has played as phoney. If you solve a problem, you can’t just ignore that solution every time it is inconvenient to the story.
I hope these suggestions help to make SGU everything it can be.
I can only speak for my myself and my friends that watch SGU but the only episode aside from the cliffhanger that got us truly engaged is “Time”. Then the very next episode after “Time” was more of the same sleeping with loved ones on Earth drama. Things like that make us all conclude that instead of building amazing stories you take the cheap-writer’s way out. I’m sure it sounds all fine and dandy in the writer’s room, “Let’s really explore the history of Camille and her sexuality by having her visit Earth.” If anymore conversations in the writer’s room have the phrase, “visit Earth” you should shoot yourselves. I know visiting Earth is your way of doing in real-time what other shows use flash-backs for, but they are executed horribly. A secret military operation will let people control the bodies of their officers for drinking and sex off-base?
You preface your request by saying there is more action to come, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is having good scifi you are all dropping the buck; you have an amazing cast and amazing story premise and you’re just disappointing everyone.
Mitch
1. Rush. As much as I love not being entirely clear on his motivations, and further exploration could threaten this uncertainty, his time on screen stands out. The man’s a scene stealer, and should clearly be allowed more stealing.
2. Coping. I’m enjoying that about the show, how people might actually cope when thrown into that circumstance. Exploring what bravery and heroism actually mean, four man teams taking on entire armies devalued that, and universe can reclaim it.
3. Fitting into the above; while I understand there are many new things to see in the far reaches of space, and that these things often drive the narrative, “planets of the week” serve to make the theme about the situation rather than the characters reaction to it. I appear to be advocating less gating in Stargate.
4. Crashing into the sun. A classic trope inverted, in a time of crisis our intrepid technical genius goes and reads a book, awaiting the inevitable. There have been subtler references to the central idea, the ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, but this stood out to me as the signature moment.
5. As little as possible! Exploring what is there rather than continually adding.
If I wanted to watch a freaking soap opera, I would quit my day job.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Definitely more Greer, I see him as someone who is more complicated and deep then he lets on. I would also like to see more of TJ and Wray.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I want to see more of the Destiny and what it can do, particularly more development of the AI.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I have to agree about the stones, they are good but I get a bit bored when more the half an episode is back on earth. I think they should still be used to develop characters stories but just not too much.
I also get a bit sick of the tension between Young and the SGC back on earth. I always found the ‘new person/bureaucrat comes in to try and challenge and remove the popular leader’ story lines in other SG series incredibly dull. Less office politics please.
I’d like to see Rush a bit more humanised. I love that he is dark and complicated, but I’m concerned that it is going too far that way. I’d hate to see him become a one dimensional character like House MD for example.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
It is hard to pick one moment but the bits that I’ve enjoyed most are the ones around how they are trying to survive, so when they were obtaining the water, food and so on.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I agree that it needs more humour but not at the expense of the darker feel of the programme. I think SGU has been the most realistic series in terms of how humans really interact with each other and this has made it more entertaining but it would be good to see them having more fun. I want to see them improvising entertainment and developing their own social culture and rituals.
Finally just wanted to say thank you for giving us this opportunity to voice what want. It is nice to think that the writers care about what we think and I know it can’t be easy for you to balance everything that we’ve asked for. I’m really enjoying the series and can’t wait till it starts again in April.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Rush. What’s his real agenda? Why is he such an ass? Is he a good guy, a bad guy, or something in between?
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship and its alien technology.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Convoluted plans to get back to Earth that inevitably fail. We all know that if this series thrives and lasts several years that they aren’t getting back to Earth until near the very end if ever. They need to let Earth go and embrace their fate and try to learn us much as possible about the ship. I could also do without any more time travel episodes. That has been done to death in scifi shows.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I enjoyed when the ship refueled in the star even though I saw that coming a mile away. The excitement and relief of the crew was well done. More amazing revelations about the ship would be welcome.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
To avoid becoming a rehash of Lost In Space or Star Trek Voyager, the show really needs to delve into the ship, its creators, its purpose, its destination, and perhaps even whether the humans were intended/destined to be on it.
the only wish i have is that the Atlantis movie be produced and released sometime in the near future
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Eli Wallace. Yes, he is already the leading man (sort-off). But it feels like he has been held back so far. His best moments are the more emotional ones, where you get to look in his personal life. He’s just a smart dude who wants a normal life, girl, house, etc. but now he’s lost between the military guys/gals on a space ship. He is the least trained person for this mission of everyone on the whole Destiny (hell, even Chloe is used to the public/politics). I know you wanted him for the comedic aspect, but David Blue is just way more convincing with the character moments.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship it self. Rodney McKay just ransacked the city in Stargate Atlantis for fun technology to play with, and that was fun! Some of the best episodes and usefull tech for later episodes have come from this. Just let Rush loose on the ship! 😀
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The Earth moments. Earth is cool, but use it for cameo’s like with Rodney. Also, less Matthew Scott. Yes, you need a military dude like John Shepard and Jack O’Neil. But those parts we’re fun and cool. You made Scott the opposite of them, but that just doesn’t work out. Give the guy something better to do than screw Chloe.
For a good comparison: Ronald Greer could have been like
the useless Aiden Ford in Stargate Atlantis. But luckily you made him more like Ronon Dex, the big grumbling Wookie. Greer is more serious, but he’s stil a Wookie. 🙂
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The half-season finale. Leaving Rush was really cool. But even better was a smaller moment: Chloe choosing Scott, after all Eli had done for her. The surprise and look on Eli’s face was just a really good character moment, not seen before in a Stargate.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More ship space. A little more neon. Keep up the strong arcs for both the adventures and the characters, they are both Universe’s life-blood, not one over the other.
The problem with the entire show is that it took everything that made the previous shows beloved and tossed that out the airlock. It was then replaced with characters that are darned hard to care about and dark and dreary drama between said characters you really don’t care about.
I’m sure you can tell I’m one of those grossly disappointed previous fans who now watch SGU mostly out of a sense of obligation, something like “I’m a fan, guess I should force myself to sit through it” kind of a thing.
So – how about more humor, more action, more emotional involvement in the characters (make us actually care for them, not actively want them dead in a gate malfunction incident)?
1. I’d like for any one of them to be actually likable. The nerd gets closest now, but the cliche “nerd loves the hot chick, who firmly puts him in the friend category while getting with the hot guy” is annoying me. Sure, it’s real life-like… which is why I want to escape into entertainment.
2. The ship itself. Right now it’s a gloomy backdrop to gloomy characters… how about some sense of wonder for the ancient ship, please?
3. The soap-opera like bouncing back and forth to Earth, not to mention how bodies are apparently interchangeable. I mean seriously – a woman switches bodies with someone on earth, shows up at her lovers place in the borrowed body and they then spend the night together as if that was no big deal? Come now now… tell me that’s not insane.
4. Drawing a blank, honestly. It’s all kind of a dreary blur of dreary people.
5. Fun! Humor! Though I suppose that may clash with the basic premise of “let’s make it a dark and dreary exposé of dark and dreary people in a dark and dreary situation” that is the show.
Hmm, I wonder if this is too bitter… ah well, at least it’s honest. 😉
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Eli. But only because I’m somewhat the same type of character, so it’s only natural to identify with him more. Excepting Eli, I’d have to say Tamara, definitely an interesting character as well.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Ancients, mythology, the Destiny, the stargate itself.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Bending away from established technology, honestly, what is that? Why use FTL when you already established that people travel through subspace? A similar thing with the stones, they built this square lighted thingy to make them work long distance. How did they ever build this?
Also, much less sex, in fact, more than once per season is too much, and then only about people we actually care about. Like Eli with Chloe or something. I really don’t need to know about Scott’s “conquests”. You actually don’t need any sex, McKeller never had sex, and yet I enjoyed that (well mostly).
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Either finding the alien ship, or Rush’s edginess due to his lack of coffee. The latter is very relatable, while the first is just exciting, especially in the SGU context.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More humour (humour is a coping mechanism for many -if not most- people, afterall), and more techy stuff and good ideas, like McKay’s plan for wiping out the replicators halfway through season four of Atlantis.
Those Asgard off-shoots also seem to belong more in Universe than they did in Atlantis.
Well, those aren’t technically new things.
1. Greer. If there is one character I want to have my back it’s him. I want to know why he was in jail and know if he is good or bad. Love him!
2. The ship stupid!!! I want to see them explore the ship and mess with it. I want the ship to anticipate their needs and give them what they want. (Sex? Combat training?) Get rid of the stones and have the ship compensate them for it by giving them holograms of their loved ones. You have so much to work with!!
3. The stones (great at first but have the ship do that now and if the stones worked I’d use them to get Daniel Jackson on the ship and fix it. The premise doesn’t work).
4. The moment I learned the ship is trying to help them and give them what they need. Imagine if they didn’t want what the ship was doing!
5. A big bad – Rush at first but it’s really the ship (You’re writing Rush too mean to be likeable or sympathetic you should make him the bad guy. He’s best in small doses for now.) Then imagine an evil ship and a good Rush having to rescue everyone.
Those are my ideas.
1. Any of the other crew. So many fled to Destiny, yet very few are truly featured (I know, limited main cast). Just one of two new prominent people on a recurring status. And don’t blow it like Lost did with Nikki and Pavlo.
2. Unlocking Destiny’s secrets.
3. Barely surviving. If Destiny was in that bad a shape for real, it’d be a broken down hunk of driftwood.
4. The time travel one where they find a Kino with their deaths on it.
5. Aliens. They’re in space, and all we’ve gotten so far is intelligent dust. Adding the Asgard to the original got passed the every planet has humans on it bit (yes I know, it’s easier and cheaper). We need some recurring alien species for Universe.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Greer, hands down. There’s clearly a lot going on in his head. Also, frankly, he’d make a good leader if Young were incapacitated, especially if T.J. was holding him back a little as his effective XO.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Beyond question, the actual hardish science fiction aspect, an example of which would be the entire first “refueling at the star” sequence.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Guys wuv Chloe.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Rush not being willing to sit in the chair himself.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Assuming they gain control of, stop or leave the Destiny, our guys building a permanent colony. For extra points, building a colony not on a planet, out of the raw materials orbiting whatever star they settle.
Alternate possibility: hijack the Destiny’s systems to start planting a Stargate (sub-)network of their own, and through that creating a network of small, permanent settlements.
1. Greer. He intrigues me.
2. The tensions between the military and the civilians. I’m mindful of ST:Voyager’s promises that the Maquis and Starfleet crews would bump heads a lot but in fact they were all buddies by the end of the pilot. I like that you’ve kept the tension simmering – and not just between Rush and Young, but between everyone in their respective camps – and I would imagine that as their situation gets more extreme that the tensions will continue to rise. So I’d like that to continue to be a major ongoing issue, perhaps rising to some kind of open confrontation. Whatever you do, don’t have them suddenly all be buddies.
3. My heart does tend to sink every time Lou Diamond Philips comes on screen, but I don’t think that’s his fault. Something about the character winds me up, and not in a good ‘ooh, he’s a nasty bad guy I can’t wait to see him get his comeuppance’ kind of way. I can’t put my finger on it, but ten episodes in I don’t quite understand why he’s in the mix.
4. The fact that you ended the time travel episode when you did, without a final, laboured, explanation scene – and then didn’t mention it in the next episode. Not only was it ballsy as hell, it showed a respect for the viewer’s intelligence that is rare these days.
5. Felicia Day. Just, y’know, because.
Nah, I think you’ve got the balance about right. I wouldn’t go throwing a major alien threat into the mix just yet. But when you do, make it as different as possible to anything Stargate has done before. Believe me, I know how big of an ask that is, but this is a such a different show that it needs a totally different kind of alien encounter.
All in all, the ten eps I’ve seen so far have me really enthused about the show and excited about what’s coming next. Keep it up 🙂
Let it be said, I tried watching a few SG1 and SGU episodes, and could never get behind it as it always felt too cheesy and tounge-in-cheek. This iswhy I’m really liking Universe, as it keeps some of the ideas of exploration/conflict and other things, but “grounds” it a bit more.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Grier and TJ, they seem like they have something more to say and have grown from very meh/boring characters to some of my favorites.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The Destiny! I may be new to Stargate, but the ship (And it seems pretty big) has a lot of things to discover. Mysterious passages and terminals. Perhaps -reaaallly- figuring out what Destiny was designed for and the people who were on it?
That and getting into the whole deal of what it’d take for a bunch of Civilians and a few marines to actually live on this place.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The stones, I don’t think they’ve been a deal breaker, but keep it minimized and use them to further a story arc.
Ancillarily: Eli. Don’t get rid of him, I -like- him, but my one big issue (which has gone down as the episodes go on) is he is a character. The first few episodes, I couldn’t get behind his character as he just screamed “Hey viewers! I’m your portal in to the world!” and he had nothing else going on. You guys are developing him along, and that’s good, just don’t rely on overtly silly gags and I think we’ll be fine.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Rush being left behind. Jaw-dropped.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
1. Definitely more TJ. I think she’s excellent & of all the women the one I’m most interested in seeing more often. And if not TJ then Greer because he’s damned interesting with the little we’ve got so far.
2. Personal stories. Most specifically alliances being built, shifting & breaking down between the people on the Destiny (especially those who have agreed on things in the past). As all are not military & some have obvious tension it’d be interesting to see more of who & how sides are taken given various perilous situations they encounter & also regular everyday challenges.
3. Please minimize the Chloe/Scott interaction & make them more interesting singly so possibly I’ll care about them together. And the stones… I’m kinda over the novelty of that whole thing now. It was great for background on our mains but I don’t really want to see that so much any more.
4. Best story moment may have been Rush being left behind by Young. It’s what I’m most looking forward to finding out more about when the next half of the season resumes.
5. I’d like to see more of the people on Destiny adapting & carving out actual lives as opposed to simply surviving. It’s pretty clear they’re not going home any time soon & while I get that they’re all still craving that, someone has to be clear on the reality that it’s further from happening than not. It was good when TJ was doing her psych evals to check on how people were coping but surely that’s an ongoing and ever changing kind of thing that should be followed throughout. I’d like to see how all these characters react when challenged with the harsh realities of what’s happened & the fact that, stone or no stones, they’ve only each other to really rely on at the end of the day. I want to see how they do that. What happens to faith & culture in this situation? Do they all hold on to what was or seek out something else? There’s got to be more recreation than sex for everyone, so what is it? And with regard to sex what are the possible consequences of that over time? There’s likely no limitless birthcontrol options on Destiny or in TJ kit bag so sooner or later that’ll need to be covered. And how does the possibility of reproduction affect everything else in this perilous situation where supplies are limited? It’s not just a personal issue, surely it’s a political one on Destiny as well. So far it seems they’re all still working as though their lives have only changed minimally but in reality there are some serious discussions that need to take place about what rules they are going to agree to in this little society they’re now in. The game’s changed & likely so will the rules.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Greer, I like edgy characters. Greer is a very interesting character who hasn’t been fully explored or developed. Why was he in the cell? What’s up with him and Telford? He is obviously a good loyal soldier in some respects and a loose cannon in others. Why? We need to learn more about what makes Greer tick and see some of his back story.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The Ship/The Big Universe – I don’t know a better way to say this than, “Take a page from Farscape”. What I loved about that show was the interaction of the trapped crew and how the grew into a family over time coupled with the growth of Crichton (and to a lesser and different extent Aeryn growing from a mindless footsoldier into a person) as he is introduced to a universe much larger than he ever dreamed. He was thrown in out of his depth and over his head and forced to rise to the challenge. You have a whole crew Crichton’s…let’s stop solving problems by shooting them or hoping back to earth. Explore the ship, have the crew over come obstacles together, grow and change based on acceptance of their new lives. Accept that getting home isn’t happening anytime soon and get on with what needs to be done. Let this group of strangers become friends and more as they struggle to survive against terrible odds. The plot appeared to be flowing this way as the first half of the season progressed and I hope to see more. Find the chair was a good start. there is so much more to do and find on the ship just to stay alive. Between fixing the ship, gathering supplies/exploring offworld, there is so much room for this series to grow.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The Stone/Earth – Enough already with Stargate Command. The crew has gone rogue, Command has tried to usurp control, they ain’t getting back anytime soon, so lose the stones. You have a giant ship and a whole universe to explore let’s leave daily visits to earth to see mom and dad or cry on my girlfriend’s lap behind. You’ve made the point everyone is leaving someone or something behind even if they didn’t know it before (Scott). The fact that the behavior of these people while borrowing someone else’s body is appalling is besides the point. A number of times they have done questionable things and acted with very little respect for their colleagues bodies. This could be expected from the civilians, but from the military people it seems out of character and even creapy. Young screwing in Telford’s body, Chloe getting loaded, etc… If this keeps up, we will end up not liking any of the characters just based on how they disrespect the people who’s bodies they are borrowing. Besides this little bit of Deus Ex Machina, has played itself out. It’s a crutch that is now taking away from the story rather than adding to it. Need to flush out a characters background and motivation, use the stones; have a difficult problem to solve, use the stones; need to set up tension in the crew, use the stones. Besides the whole Telford story line need to be shot dead and buried then dug up and shot again just to be sure. The whole idea of him deciding it’s a good plan to seduce Young’s wife is ridiculous and strains belief. Why would a Colonel in the US Military, who obviously has progressed well and far to have attained his position and rank in Stargate Command, risk it all… Never-mind the fact that if he is so unstable how the heck did he make it that far in the first place. Who would ever actually behave this way risking the mission, the lives of everyone on board, and their rank and status? Beyond that what’s his motivation, revenge on Young, he’s horny, he wants Young to crack so he can take over, he’s angry because Young was getting busy in his body…none of these make a great deal of sense. This plot line is really dragging down the rest of the show like an anchor.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I loved the episode “Time”. It’s not just the action of the episode but it was the interaction both before and after the trouble started. Greer teaching Eli to shoot, Chloe picking fruit… Character development outside the Keno (well not exactly but it wasn’t the Keno Big Brother confessional), outside the cafeteria, and outside Earth. Plus bad-ass aliens and razor thin escapes are always a plus.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Aliens, Aliens, and more Aliens – Good aliens, bad aliens, and indifferent aliens; like I said in 3 you have an entire crew of people not meant for the challenge they now face. This can play in two ways… 1) This crew for the most part has never experienced gate travel, other cultures, or alien species. There is going to be a level of culture shock and difficulty adjusting. Who steps up? Does Chloe take after her Dad and become an ambassador for the ship? What strange cultures do they encounter? What’s out there this far into the universe? 2) This crew is screwed… They don’t know where they are. They don’t know what is out there. They can’t control their ship. They can’t fix their ship. They are short on everything. The need help…alien help. It’s time to expand the crew. This ship needs it’s Ronan/Tayla/Teal’c. Someone to help guide them through some of their issues. Someone to help button up the holes in the ship… maybe more than one alien. They could stumble upon a crashed or damaged vessel with a few surviving experienced crew members. However it works more aliens cultures and planets…preferably not dominated by single races or under the thrall of a ruthless dictator or facing another species that comes in to wipe them out semi-annually but functioning societies. Multiple space faring races, numerous cultures mixing together with numerous species. The challenge for the crew is in surviving, adapting, and relating to these different being and places not in battling some omnipresent and super-powerful foe.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Eli maybe. He’s the last sciency guys left on the ship he needs to step up and take the reigns as the lead in that area.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I want to see more of the ship. It’s a great piece of technology but it’s thusfar just been there not doing much.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Please get rid of the damn stones! It’s like “Hey guys here’s a great show about some people lost in deep space. Oh but we’re going to focus on lesbian adventures on earth or jealous husbands being overly dramatic” The stones are a great device. Too great a device. These people need to have very little contact with earth to draw me in to the show and get OFF EARTH already.
Don’t give us a great ship then focus on melodramatic garbage happening on a planet we already live on.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The time travel episode had some great moments. The busted up alien ship they found was pretty great. Focus more on the universe.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More Ship! Right now it’s just a setting it needs a character of it’s own.
As an avid Stargate fan I’m afraid SGU has been a big let down – as a previous poster noted it is so negative – there is no humour and it really needs some.
As regards the stones – frankly in a sensible world either Carter or MacKay would have used the stones to help them solve some of their problems in understanding the ship.
Stargate Command would have called them in – of course I realise the need for new characters but on the whole the SGU lot are wholly uninspiring and I really don’t like them. I will give the second half of the series another go but it had better improve quickly or this is one Stargate fan who will go back to watching reruns of SG1 and SGA – even though I know every episode backwards.
The basic idea is great but the stories and the characters really disappoint.
“What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?”
Exploration, science fiction (humor). More growing up of the characters (ie, less acting as someone with a 3 week education and 2 digit IQ)
“What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?”
Sex lives. Teenage emotions projected into adults. Less rerun of ancient soap opera tropes. Less “angst”. Less bitching. Less infighting.
“What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?”
I’ll get back to you on that (or not)
“What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?”
Likability.
What if one of the crew finally says, “Damn I wish this ship could talk to us,” and all of a sudden the Ships AI comes on and asks what do they wish.
I and tired of the survival episodes, let them find seeds, water, and weapons. Let’s move on to bigger and better things. WE’ve all see Star Trek Voyager, we need something more.
Bring on the ALIENS, cut ties with earth.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
– TJ, Eli, Young and TJ are my favourite characters so far and we know so much about Eli and Young but I would love to see more of TJ
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
-I would love to see more fractures between the people stuck on Destiny, so far it seems to be everyone against Rush and/or Telford so people making cliques unusual friendships (Eli and Greer?) would be an intresting dynamic I don’t think has really been explored in either SG1 or SGA, its always been everyone working together for the cause and apart from 1 or 2 protagansits there has never really been any great divide between the people involved.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
-Less earth. They aren’t really stranded from home and the people they love if their conciousness can pop home whenever they feel homesick.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
-Eli and TJ in ‘Time’ when they were talking about their parents. It was the first time we saw some actually bonding between crew mates that didn’t involve saving someones life.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
– So far I’m pretty happy with the show but I would love to see people adjusting to the fact that they aren’t getting back to earth any time soon and start making Destiny a home also lots of different types of alien encounters, not just one that keeps coming back every few episodes
1- Above all the women in the ship, TJ and the politician’s daughter. They deserve to have a more active role in the life of all men.
2- The ship, the culture of the ancient. It is a very large ship, it has to have tons of gizmos, and things of their culture that are not close to ours
3- The earth interaction, in the sense that it only provides more conflict to the people in Destiny and no real comfort, empathy or even solutions..at this rate, they are going to kill each other pretty fast
4- couple: the first 3 episodes with the basics (water, food, air) as an arch…..and rush in the planet
5- There is a number of people in the ship (particularly women) that are just shadows. we don’t know what they do (except for3 or 4…but everyone seems to be busy all the time), what do they know, how the get to know each other, how the resolve conflict…and how they growth (with some good side/actions) as people….they will never be a crew…but not sure why everyone distrusts every other person in the ship.
regards
1. Colonel Young.
2. It feels like the fact that these guys are out in the unknown with no back-up hasn’t really been exploited enough. Give them some real enemies to go up against.
3. EARTH! Ditch the stones! What’s the point of even having them on the other side of the universe if they can just pop back home for a night at the dance club whenever they want!?
4. The end of ‘Justice’. A great cliffhanger, and it really felt like things where starting to come together for the shows’ story.
5. You really need to ramp up the action and adventure. these were the strong suits of the previous Stargate shows, and while I’m not saying SGU should be the same (I enjoy the more “serious” tone and drama) the show just needs the sort of fun that comes with a good adventure.
Agree with io9, – 100%. I have seen all SGA & SG1 Episodes!
Hi I’m new to the Blog and the Gateworld community.
1. Which character would I like to see explored more?
I would like to see all the characters explored more, this is what I mean. There are 80 people on this ship and I don’t know who they are, If I was someone one the working on the show I would want to explored this “WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY” this can help SGU found itself.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
There a lot I would like to see more of first being Destiny. I think Destiny should be more of a world inside of itself then just a ship, I understand when I watch a Sci-Fi shows and there a flying ship that they’re going to be a flying spaceship assault, but what if Destiny was a ship with its own ship meaning Destiny been flying thought space for millions of years by itself no one to take care of it, no one talk to. I think Destiny should be using the 80 characters for it own will like labs rats. Sending them to worlds not because there something on the plant that they can use, but to see what will happen, see how the being on the world will react Destiny be more of a mad person then just a ship.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
How short the stories are I want them to go on over a few episodes.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s First season?
Justice
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Flashback, back stories, more drama, less guns, more characters, and better looking worlds
Ok now let me put everything in place for you.
There are 80 people that have a story to be told. Why not tell it using the stargate and the worlds they come across. Why not focus on one story like a mini-series having 4 or 5 episodes deal with a group of people there back story, and the world that there on. Why does evil have to a person or a being? Why can’t evil a place? Why do we have to fight using guns? Why can’t we run away, can’t we not turn our backs? What makes a hero? What makes a villain? Why does the hero need to win the war?
I feel that the SGU team has an attempt to do something that never been done on a show before. By focusing on the characters and not the action there can be a really good show to come if the team is panic by the hate and fear of some people. By adding more drama, more characters, more Sci-Fi, and less action could be the best of the SG shows of all.
This is what I mean when I say less action and more Sci-Fi
Torchwood Children of Earth
Lots of drama, lots of Sci-Fi, and little action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtYmtQfzueM
Fringe
Lots of drama, lots of Sci-Fi, and little action most of the time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE
The best episode of all time
LOST: Expose
Lots of drama, focus on more characters, had some Sci-Fi, and no action.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
2nd Lt. Vanessa James USAF She is the fourth ranking officer on the starship. In the USAF you don’t spend much time at 2nd Lt. so she is due for a promotion within the life of the show. Don’t make her an Ensign Kim. What was her role at the base? What is her role now?
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Exploration of characters reactions to the situation also the limited amount of resources and characters.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Romance and alien of the week
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The time travel episode because you see character’s reactions to death.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Exploration of other worlds.
This comes with the caveat that I still have to watch my DVR recordings of the last couple of episodes before the hiatus. (You could see that as an indicator that I haven’t been wholly caught up in this show yet, although I still want to give it a chance.)
1. TJ, hands-down.
2. The ship! I want to see it really fleshed out into a sort of character of its own.
3. The earth stones. I know you guys want some amount of contact with earth, but IMO if you have to lean so hard on earth to show your characters’ stories, then you haven’t built enough into their current surroundings. The earth-side stories have seemed kind of, well, to be blunt, boring (apologies). There should be plenty of ways to minimize their use—simply dial them back without any explanation and let them fade into the background; have them develop some sort of long-term degenerative effect on the mind if used too frequently; have the occupation of your body by someone else’s mind have long-term negative effects if you do it too often; etc.
I want to wait until I’ve caught up to answer those last two questions…
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I like Greer a lot. He’s one of the stronger characters. Young as well is also very likeable. TJ is someone I would want to see more developed on the female side.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The desperation. The thievery. The duplicitous nature of man. The fact there really is no order keeping things together, just a thin thread of sanity. These people should be more on edge. Id freak out if i was eating pancake batter for months. Need a cheeseburger rant somewhere. And more tie-in’s with characters from the other shows. We need some McKay loving.
Also, where did the old crew go? Maybe theres a story here about the pre-ascended Ancients, or an “echo” of an Ancient thats lingered around like a ghost in the darker recesses of the ship.
The crew members that went to off-limits planet in the third episode. I want to see what happened to them, who or if they met anyone, and what those events mean for the future of the crew of Destiny.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The stones. In fact, id like to see the technology become less and less effective. Move them out of transmission range and isolate the crew more. Let the tension build.
Or even better, have someone switched and the unit broken except the consciousnesses are permanently switched so Young is stuck on Earth and Telford is in charge of Destiny and watch the powder keg explode. Then write LDP out and firm up Young’s character.
Only allow communication to take place when the ship is refueling and has access to unlimited power and can send a transmission powerful enough to reach Earth. Then make storylines where prior characters on Earth can be figuring out ways to keep in contact with Destiny or poring over the reports they get back on a delay. Of course, normal communication would take thousands of years, so we’d need to invent or introduce a new method for communication that reduces the time to months or days of lag as opposed to millenia. Maybe even through the Stargate network itself with one of Rodney’s famous macros.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I think the faith vs rationale conflict inside of Scott is excellent. Its very existential and fits the tone of the show. Id like to see his character go through some major metaphysical changes, maybe even putting down his gun altogether and using his compassion and empathy to assume a bigger role in the chain of command. He needs to go through a dynamic change. A more spiritually connected version of Daniel Jackson, a natural leader and diplomat. Maybe he can be the conduit by which the “echoes” of past ancients communicate to the new crew of Destiny and lead them through the darkness to the light. Maybe the ship is even sentient enough to choose its own captain and Scott is that person. Make him the only person (initially) who can access the chair. And make it in part because of his spiritual leanings. This isolation either makes people go mad or free themselves.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More tie-ins to the SG franchise as a whole.
We need a spy on the ship or something too. Someone we all know and would never expect. Someone who knows something more about this ship and its crew than anyone from the SGC and has had a part in shaping the macro events that led to the present. A group that has access to the gate network between Earth and Destiny. Maybe even laying plans for an invasion further down the projected course. A super evolved and highly covert race with a presence in all areas of space that might even hold more influence and sway over large swaths of the universe than anyone has ever noticed. Purposefully manipulating this crew towards an end game they have no idea is in play. The only person who notices anything is Rush, who by this time has exhausted anyones good will towards him and isnt trusted by a soul on Destiny.
It would also be nice to see some of the original species from SG-1 that “left” the Milky Way and rebuilt their cultures elsewhere. Itd be nice to run into a culture that was once great but is now rebuilding and see what they kept or left behind. Maybe a lesser evolved group of Asgards? Need more familiarity to get the hardcore fans back into the show.
its random and i didnt spend much time on it, but maybe theres some good nuggets in there for you guys to expand upon.
First of all, thank you, this opportunity is great. I always wondered how someone contacted a writer and told them something needed to change on their already great show. That something is number 3.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Eli . He’s the last science guys left on the ship he needs to step up and take the reigns as the lead in that area and not be as annoying as McKay
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Destiny, how does it work? Where is it going? Maybe the ship reaches the end of the universe and loops back in the Milky Way. It could even stop by Earth and it does not stop and crush the morale of everyone or it could stop for 12 hours to get supplies, drop off characters and drop some new ones in.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The Stones.
4. What was your favourite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The overall concept that we humans cannot figure out everything in one episode or less like McKay does all the time. Let’s keep “us” helpless and innocent a little longer.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
The opposite of the Pegasus Galaxy. In that Galaxy humans were always more advanced, smarter and more technology developed than everyone else because the wraith kept them this way. Now that we are billions of light years away from any McD, let the humans be the most “backward” specie.
Let the human race be humble by how far we are behind in terms of thinking, social structure and technology so that we may understand as a race why we are right now thousands of years away from ascension. Another thread could be that we are the equivalent of the Wraith in that part of the universe, we are overly aggressive to survive our current ordeal.
Thank you
1. Ronald or Eli
2. The Destiny, but here’s the hard part – how do you do that without episode after episode of “oh, here’s another room we can get in now, what does THIS ONE do?” and avoiding the old “new room, unknown Ancient technology causes a problem” curse. I mean, SGA had this same problem, how do you explore new rooms all the time without creating a pileup of impossibly-advanced-but-dangerous technology without any clear purpose or advantage to the show? Eventually you’re in “God mode” which is a problem. In order for it to work, someone has to sit down and work out what systems would logically be on this ship, why, where, and so on. Someone on your team has to actually figure out the workings of the ship ahead of time so it’s not a patch job that makes no sense when looked at as a whole.
My favorite idea is, if the Destiny is building Stargates, WHERE? Let’s see the gate-building room. In all these years, the Ori are the only ones to actually construct a Stargate; we’ve never seen evidence of how the Ancients distributed them until now; Destiny MUST have a construction room; and if the crew finds it, the Stargate-construction technology ALONE would be reason to figure out how to get the whole darn ship back to Earth.
3. Get rid of the fucking stones. They were stupid in SG1, they were stupid in SGA, and they’re stupid now.
4. The ep where they left the Kino on the “kinda-Goa’uld” planet and only implied that the situation was resolved, instead of explicitly resolving it.
5. I would like to see an alien species that’s more advanced than humans, but not God mode, not evil, but also not isolationist. Stargate needs an opportunity to build an intergalactic federation not based on a common enemy or desire for better tech,
Ooops, lost the last part of 5.
5. I would like to see an alien species that’s more advanced than humans, but not God mode, not evil, but also not isolationist. Stargate needs an opportunity to build an intergalactic federation not based on a common enemy or desire for better tech, but merely on mutual recognition of the other’s existence and a desire to get along and understand each other.
I mean, yeah, team up when the bad guys come, but one thing that kept me pulling my hair with SG1 was that they NEVER picked up any advancements from all their travels until the last few seasons and even then, only got most of it because the Asgard were dying.
Speaking of that, I’d like to see the ‘isolated to a dying planet’ Asgard off-shoot we encountered in SGA S5 again. Non-pussy Asgard is a great idea.
DaytimeTV wrote:
‘If I wanted to watch a freaking soap opera, I would quit my day job.’
What, you don’t have a way of timeshifting a recording? Sounds odd in this age of gadgetry.
Oh well.
I want FEAR. I want these guys scared to walk onto each planet they go on. The scary creatures from “Time” were awesome. Add that sense of discovery and fear more often. By the end of SG-1, those guys were way too comfortable walking onto new worlds.
I would like to see more of Colonel Young.
SGU is my favorite Stargate series. Dont listen to the complainers, keep up the good work.
I thought I’d offer my opinions:
1. Tamara Johnson. Her performance in “Time” made her my favorite character.
2. Using the gate itself to travel to other planets.
3. It’s a toss up between the stones and the sex. I watched SG-1 and SGA with my dad, but he doesn’t like sex in TV shows at all, so now he doesn’t watch SGU with me. If the sex went away, then he might watch it again. I, personally, am tired of the stones.
4. TJ’s reaction to Eli’s goodbye to Chloe in “Time.” Her reaction said so much about her character! I’m cheating by saying two, but also Chloe’s reaction to her father’s death–I actually got chills.
5. I’d like to see more exploration added, whether it’s to other planets or other parts of Destiny.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Eli and Rush should get along alot better and work magic on the level of Sam, McKay, and Daniel.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship should be progressively unlocked over time, and they should gain more ability to wield the technology they have.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Less stones, less random gates.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
When the Senator died, no one likes the ignorant politicians/IOA.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
There should be enemy(ies) they should slowly grow to be an impending threat, the technology they slowly gain should be only just enough to stay alive. So the suspense is always there.
1: More Eli. He’s the fanboy personification, and genre savvy enough that he should be more useful than just ratting out Rush from time to time. Also, let the poor guy hook up with someone. He deserves it.
2: The very end of the pilot featured what looked like some kind of shuttle leaving Destiny. We need some payoff for that.
3: The Young/Telford thing needs to be sorted out and concluded.
4: The reset button push in ‘Time’ was brilliant; usually that kind of thing is annoying (see also: the number of times Star Trek: Voyager pulled the reset stunt to end an episode). I’m not encouraging more use of time travel as a solution; rather just commending the exceedingly rare good use of it.
5: We need more aliens! We’ve seen a sentient (and possibly telepathic?) dust storm that was somewhat cool, and ended things off with an alien ship that was effing awesome, but we need genuine alien beings for the characters to interact with. Don’t be afraid to move away from near-humans, too. Two arms, two legs, two eyes, fine, but give your makeup department more to do than just give them a coat of face paint or funny looking foreheads. Let’s have some aliens that are truly *alien.*
–Also, Furlings, man. If not actual Furlings, perhaps something distantly related to them, as humans were to atlanteans; it would be almost comical, yet very interesting, to see a similar struggle to that of SG-1 going on with different beings in a different galaxy.
And encourage Syfy to have some walk-on contests for fans. Nothing gets us more interested than the possibility of nerding it up with our favorite actors.
1. TJ. she reminds me of charlize theron. anyways maybe she could some how provide more of a role then just a basic medic.
2. i would like to see more information found about the ancients that built this ship. with atlantis being about 10,000 years differerence, and Rush saying destiny was launched hundreds of thousands of years go. the ship needs to be explored more.
i think the sex scenes help a lot. it shows that the show is directed towards a more mature audience, The way BSG was. i dunno it makes me feel like im getting into a show that may have some substance to it. something that you have to actually think about.
id like to see eli turn out to be the super smart guy. someone very valuable to have.
3. less stones. those scenes annoy me so much. its like having all the excitment of destiny and the stargate and exploring, taken away. then having to watch 10 or 15 minutes of personal scenes. and with people i dont care to know more about.
less random gates. less Camile Wray, her character annoys me. shes like a politician.
4. when young punched out telford
5. I just want to know where the ship is trying to go! and is willing to leave people behind through the gate to get there.
Thank you for opening the floor here. The haggis looks incredible, but then again, I’m a fan of menudo myself.
I watch SGU primarily because I am a strong fan of the Stargate franchises. I like the directors and producers, listen to all the commentaries, and like to see how the show is assembled, soup to nuts. I want the show to succeed, but must be honest – I am not a large fan of SGU yet. Every show takes time to come into its own, and I don’t feel SGU is there yet. It is too slow for my tastes, too dramatic (I have often been told that if I want an action show in space I’m watching the wrong show). I would like to see even a single character that had a noble aspect to him – and it is possible to have conflict and dark characters who are noble and make the wrong decisions for what they think are the right reasons. I would like the show to respect canon, and as a fan don’t like it when the show breaks canon. I know you are trying to attract new viewers, which means canon gets less attention. Anyway! You asked, here are my answers.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Rush. I wish that there was a character on the series who I could watch grow, become something greater and more nobler through the challenges. I think Rush could become an incredible character, and he has been set up with a huge, huge challenge by the middle of the season, a situation of his own making. (The rest of season 1 will probably develop him – otherwise, invest some time in making one or two of the other minor characters. I hope Chairguy lives and develops further).
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Truly, fully being cut off from Earth. Ultimately, they must solve all of their own problems, and step away from the Scientist versus Military stuff that ep 10 tried to establish. They’re all together in this and can’t let differences destroy them. Explore Destiny, explore the Ancient’s back-story further. Please address canon of the Destiny and put it properly into the context of the Stargate universe.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The Stones, the IOA’s role in any and all parts of the show, the huge violent personal conflicts that seem to be forming the core of the show’s plot development. At minimum, give the personal conflicts meaning beyond them, show resolution, and that people can grow, change, get better. If two people who hate each other are forced into a situation where they must work together or die, which would they choose? Life. Would they hate one another as much afterwards? Yes, their reasons still exist, but suddenly, a reason to not kill each other has come about. And please… I love the actress who plays Chloe, but ultimately feels that as a character she is useless. I can think of tons of ways to use her better.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
This comes from “Time” – to me, the purest Stargate story from season 1 so far. As a bonus, there are two character moments that totally worked – the awesome scene with Rush at the Stargate getting the kino through it, and the moment with Eli being shown how to fire the gun (very good character establishment, a new skill is being learned, and he’s in the trenches with the others). Story moments : “Time” told an incredible story with the way the characters interacted, how they gathered food, and blended it with a new style that seriously got me excited about SGU. It all tied so well together with their situation on the Destiny, and helped payoff canon by being a Stargate-centric story. The only downside was that I wish the ep was 20 minutes longer.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I need to be honest here – if the Destiny exploded, right now I would not care. Why? 1. A number of people I feel little for would die. I want characters I can like, characters that can grow into having heroic traits or depths of tragedy, characters I can identify with (SGU took a stab at putting the wrong people in the wrong place at the wrong time, and yet, I identify with very few of them – yet, elements of SG1’s earliest days made me identify with elements of each character; I was hoping to identify with SGU’s characters more right off the bat, but instead, I feel no ties towards any of them except for Rush, because his private moment in the Pilot with the picture of his lost love was a very human moment). Only Rush has grown on me, who is hard to like because he is making decisions that harm others, but we’re not seeing a greater motivation for it other than he wants to be on Destiny. 2. Ultimately… the Destiny, and people being there, has zero impact on all of the Stargate universe. Nothing learned or gained there matters in the larger universal continuity. And, even if you put a method of doing it (SG1 – Season 9’s memory recording device + Stones) into the show, it still wouldn’t matter – the knowledge of the Ancients has constantly been nothing more than a plot device – a way for us to meet the Asgard, a way to defeat the Replicators, etc. By its nature you cannot give it to the characters or the franchise, else they have all the solutions they might ever need. Both SG1 and SGA (more Season 1-6 of SG1) grew the universe because they introduced jeopardy which the characters had to overcome to ‘save the day’ (agreed, the franchise has seen enough ‘saving the day’). They also grew the universe because slowly we humans learned things, took apart the technology we found, and told the story of those advancements and the risks around it.
I want this show to be human. I think it can do it, and watch, hopeful to see how things get resolved in the next episode!
I realize… maybe SGU is not the show for me. I hope my comments do not offend. I really want the Stargate franchise to continue – no other franchise have I devoted more time and effort to. SGU has some elements that can grow into larger stories, and I hope that it does. Thank you for your time and the opportunity to comment here.
1) Lt Vanessa James. Not exactly because of her physical assets, which are great, but I believe the character has a lot to develop because she seems hard, pragmatic and very no-nonsense, and those are elements of very strong characters if they’re explored well (as someone said, the show needs a Ripley or a Sarah Connor, a strong woman that has seen a lot, and knows where her head is at).
(NOTE: Tamara Johansen, Colonel Young and Sgt. Greer are my favourite characters)
2) I’d like to see more clash between the collective and the individual. Which is something that we have already seen, but could be explored more. Sometimes, the good for everyone is the sacrifice of one individual, or vice-versa. Sometimes this sacrifice may not be life, but can be for example, reputation.
I would also like to see more of that ‘wind’ entity, but you probably have that already figured out
3) I don’t know what to tone down. I think the stones thing and romance is quite good.
4) Young punching Rush, no doubts of that!
5) A powerful Ancient AI that know the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything Else!
1. Scott, but not in a wimpy way ie: my doggy died when I was 5 boo hoo, instead more of a squad leader like John Sheppard from SG Atlantis.
2. The ship, alien encounters, strange planets.
3. All the soap opera crap, adults should act like adults, not big babies. It would also be great if Chloe mistook an airlock for a shower and all we got to hear her say is “oops.” Then whoosh.
4. The first 5 minutes when under attack they jumped through the gate and landed on the ship. It was all downhill from there with all the crying and incessant hysteria.
5. Alien encounters, not humans with lumpy foreheads and wrinkly noses, but aliens that don’t look like us in any way, shape or form.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Some of the background people that are there, but haven’t had any/much screen time.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Visiting worlds using the stargate. Working together.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The stones. All the soap opera crap. Ugh.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The looping in ‘Time’.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Humor. And… um… English speaking aliens. 😛
Forgot to add…
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
More “science” talk and less “relationship” talk.
FWIW, I’m a big SG1/SGA fan.
So, as we prep for the show’s second season – and keeping in mind you haven’t seen the more action-oriented back half of season one – I’d like to know:
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
T.J. I’m really curious about her background. She seems a lot deeper than what she appears.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Off world alien encounters and truly exploring more of the ship, instead of just saying that it’s being explored.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The stones, although I do believe they’ve gone a long way toward character development. I just think once we’ve seen everyone’s backstory/current story, the focus should shift to life on the ship.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Young confronting Rush on the planet and leaving him there. That was a whopper twist on characterization. Young finally grew a pair.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More planetary exploration. I’d like to see something bring the ‘crew’ together.
You should’ve fried your haggis. It’s quite tasty with eggs in the morning. 🙂
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Sgt. Hunter Riley – “No regrets” – this guy grew up on a “farm” – that’s all we know (And his birthday, lets ignore that). Sgt. Hunter Riley’s attitude is fantastic. Everyone felt way too safe with the stargates – go thru, come home. He seems to be the only one on Destiny who accepts that they may not make it home. And he’s okay with that. He’s like a pioneer or a true explorer, yes a true one, from the days of Columbus or the pioneers in the 19th century. His attitude has got to catch on, and then Young and his little military dictatorship can be taken down.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
They’re on a ship, explore it. How are they cleaning their clothes? They ought to discover replicator-esque technology of some kind and make clothes – and then rebel against Young’s god-awful mandated fashion of Communist jumpsuits.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The stones and earth in general. And the whining. Suck it up! Look to Sgt. Riley for some leadership/inspiration. Have someone go home with the stones and say GOODBYE to a loved one – then refuse to use the stones again. That’s it, they have no more connection with earth, they’re a shipmember on Destiny.
The military. The Air Force has been portrayed in a horrendous light this season, particularly in dealing with the civilian population on Destiny.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Sgt. Riley… “No regrets.”
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Acceptance of the situation. This probably won’t work well until season 2 or 3, but hell, there has to be some conflict b/w the Earth lovers and the Destiny crew.
Aliens. I strongly encourage your makeup/prosthetics people to look into hand prosthetics. Some aliens need 7 digits on each hand.
1. Pick a random character and make it like the Buffy episode “Xander’s Day Off”. Show us there is a reason for the seemingly random and useless supporting characters that are on the Destiny.
2. Show us Destiny! None of the characters are likeable. Make us like the ship.
3. Destroy the Stones. And sick of hearing about keynos.
4. Young beating Rush to a pulp before leaving him behind and lying about it.
5. Light! It’s so dark and depressing on the ship. If it was meant to be a generational ship most of the crew would have killed themselves before they had kids.
Or random rooms and machines that don’t mesh with human needs.
I gave you my opinions earlier, so let me tell you one more thing, then I’ll hush up.
Mister Mallozzi:
What would you lose by bringing back Atlantis as a series?
Nothing.
What would you gain by it?
The respect you lost by dumping it like it was nothing, for one thing. Ratings for “SyFy” will go through the roof — without having to pad it with DVR figures. Have the McKeller relationship go through its natural cycle to an ending, and ratings will triple once he’s single again. Not to mention you’d get the chance to work with Jewel Staite again…. You’d gain the ability to tell stories with humour and joy and heroism again instead of the dark awfulness of SGU. You’d gain a ton of credibility if you’d just say “You know what? We made a mistake by cancelling Atlantis. Here it is again.” and follow through. You want our respect and our following you? All you’d have to do is bring back Atlantis and treat it RIGHT and you’d HAVE that.
At least, from this fan.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I think there should be not 1 but 4 or 5 characters exploited more. A group thing like the SG1 team.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Definetly got to give us more of the ship (if not all). Maybe a couple of Un-decended frozen Ancients somewhere on the other side of the ship.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
There seems to alot of meetings all the time, how about 1 every other episode instead of all the time. As viewers, we don’t need to review the situation constantly.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Come on. An Ancent ship on autopilot just pitstops in a SUN for a recharge. I want more like this. oh yes 🙂
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Your Haggis! Seriously. Stick it on a shelf or shaft/ airvent or somewhere on the ship. Have the crew discover it as a pre-historic Goa’uld.
I would definitely like see more of dr. Park and Volker. Main character wise definitely Dr. Rush.
Definitely would like to see more of the destiny explored, she looks amazing so far.
I would definitely like to see Eli’s movie references toned down a little bit, more along lines of the favourite movies list from time, rather than his planet of the apes line from Air pt 3. However, if you opened up his references to other cultural things like comic books and video games, it would give him more flexability for references.
Story telling wise, the revelation in time about eli’s mothers illness was really good.
Element wise, personally I’d like to see a return to early sg-1 where the team didn’t have a ton of advanced tech and had to make the best of the situation using the limitations of the materials on hand.
Whew, writing all that on an iPod was tough.
Can’t wait for the rest of season 1!
1. I’d push for a handful of characters exploited more, too. I’d say Dr. Rush, TJ, and Eli.
2. More exploration of the Destiny, and maybe some other civilizations to interact with would be nice. Of course, the canned Earth-Period-History Village of the week from SG-1 and Atlantis should be avoided. There needs to be something exciting going on on-planet.
3. On-ship politics. They’re boring as hell. Oh, and the soap-opera vibe.
4. “Time” was great in general. And Rush being stranded is up there.
5. Optimism, humor, and aliens. Pleeeease. And I’d love to see Rush reappear in that wrecked ship, possibly with powerful new alien friends. Hell, it’d be fun with him as a villain, if not for the gaping hole he’d leave in the ship-borne cast. Space battles would be awesome, too!
I figure I’lll keep it brief =D
1. I think we need to focus on a central type of character more, that would bring back the old stargate kind of feel to it if you follow me. So the Military leader on the ship with them, think he’s a colonel right?older guy.
2. The Ship, for goodness sakes you’ve been giving us small little bites. I would love to have all kinds of neat things start to pop up about the ship, realy neat systems explored, just pull back the curtain some here.
3. The Drama. Now I don’t mind some drama, I can deal with that. But yyour show is starting to feel kind of like some soap opera in space to me.
4. Really as strange as it may sound, sacrifice. When the older politician gave his life to save the ship by closing the doors to eleminate the air leak. It doesn’t have to mean someone dies. But this picked up the impact for me about their situation.
5. Yes this is wide open. I will just say, where are all the kewl aliens at?
1. Eli, the comedy character/protagonist. He needs development but preferrably less defaulting to comedy. You don’t need a “Hurley”, or to say all geek roles are to be reduced to comedy stereotypes. It seems almost like geek self-hate.
2. The despair, the doom. You’ve got convenient communication with Earth. The whole William Castle syndrome of locking a bunch of people who don’t know/like each other in a box and shaking it. Voyager could have played with the Starfleet/Maquis but forgot it almost instantly. Look at Lord of the Flies. Having a military structure’s only so good, and look at what happened in the Stanford Experiment. Having the scientists and the military as the effete, cowardly nerds and the angry, macho jocks will only go so far. This isn’t high school, this is the end of their careers and their lives if they’re not careful. As Harry Kim found out, there are no promotions in space.
3. Kind of two. The first is the earth-stones, their use means the group aren’t *really* away from Earth and don’t have a desperate need to get back as they can say goodbye to their loved ones almost every damn episode. The other is the inevitable “this title is the resource they’re out of and nearly die trying to get”. It’s telegraphing itself and proving pretty predictable. There have been some great episodes where they are resource-low, but they’ve bled into each other so much that you lose track which resource loss they’re almost dying over.
4. Time was great. You took standard sci-fi tropes and screwed with them. I was in a middling place with this series (which is good, being very much not a fan of SG-1) and this won me over completely.
5. Like Morrison did to X-men plots and Lynch did to soap operas, you have a huge opportunity to play within the ‘rules’ and tropes of science fiction, and yet completely screw with things and make your own awesome world/s. I always get frustrated when a show’s story could be in any other show. In Stargate, having watched the first few seasons as a playtester for AEG’s Spycraft (and therefore the Stargate RPG). So many plots could have been easily moved to Sliders, Star Trek, Time Tunnel, practically anything where “The cast go through [stargate/transporter/dimensional thing] and encounter [egypt or vancouver, bumpy headed aliens/people from the past/people from another dimension]”. This probably sounds like me railing on Stargate and to a point it is, but my main want is for these stories to do MORE. I want the Unique Selling Point for these shows, the kind of thing which makes it brilliant, but only there. Stargate Universe has shown an f-ton of promise and I’m really pleased about that, but there are a ton of generic sci-fi plots genre shows default to. There are a ton of generic character types. You can do more, there are constant glimpses of more than what was seen in Stargate SG-1, more than what Voyager promised and failed to deliver. The genre demands more than just one success (the probably banned words with the initials BSG). This could be it, given enough nurture, enough growth and enough of a USP other than “you liked Stargate, this is kind of like that… in spaaaaaace!!!!1!”.
Thanks for letting people share their opinions, and I hope this didn’t come off as mad ranting, it’s the kind of feedback I’d give my creative writing groups and I’d expect right back at me.
I´d like to see more jokes, something like O´neil. Maybe Eli can be like him. And I thing, there must be more traveling by the stargate, because I thing it is the most important thing of Stargate… and maybe few feelings and more action. And I want Dr. Rush back, he is really cool, and I still don´t know if he is good guy or bad guy 😉
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Greer – he’s pretty awesome and should get more screen time. Greer, Young, and Eli are the best. With TJ coming in close – I can see a lot of character development in her future.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Definitely the ship! Let’s explore Destiny and see what she has to offer us! Or what we can take and exploit from her! Make the ship the character that Atlantis the city should have been. Make it start working for and against our people – opening or closing doors for no reason, turning light on and off, trying to communicate with them, and lead them where they need to go, maybe eventually even speaking to them – but don’t just let it be a set piece – let it be the Firefly of SGU – the final character that we all love and hated to see get torn apart in a crashlanding. let’s find a way to get Destiny repaired and functioning much better – even if we can’t make take complete control of it. Maybe start out slow and find a way to lengthen stops and thereby skip other destinations to maintain it’s timeline, or be given a choice of destinations that are within Destiny’s mission parameters. Maybe we can alter her mission parameters but not change them completely? Let’s use this ship! And get to know and care about her!
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Visiting Earth with the stones so frequently – we need to maintain contact, just not so often – and sex. I don’t mind knowing that the characters are having sex, I just don’t need to see it.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Time! Time was awesome! But that was a one-off thing. Trying to pull that again might be overdoing it.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Less Survival, more living and exploration. Let us know what Destiny is actually doing and where it’s going and why. No bumpy-forehead aliens please! More sense of exploration and wonder! More usable cool tech. More Ancient involvement. Maybe pick up some pets along the way to give the crew something to care about other than themselves. Like creatures that can seek out edible food, and others that can defend the crew planetside. How about finding some ground vehicles somewhere inside Destiny to take through the gate to make exploration quicker. Maybe find a way to involve some Asgard that didn’t suicide, or a splinter group of them like in Atlantis.
(Also: what’s to stop Atlantis from using their new drive to catch up with the Destiny and rescue them.)
it pleased me something to that effect
1. we liked would be if he returned dr.Rush but that’s about everything to this point
2. Furthermore, it should not be more wrong if destiny reviewed and found vseliake new technology would not be bad if objavli Neake plnety much as ever even if they have difficulties
3. They also do not like me and sometimes it is a lengthy debate when people in the cinema I would let the cinema series
4. SGU most interesting parts to me were air-1, darknnes + light and justice
5. as I mentioned I would like on the show saw new planet, possible new race
That’s about everything I hope SGU will continue as successful as yet
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
It is not about development. It is about what these character do for a living. The characters need responsibilities that make sense to living on the Destiny. Each character needs to have a responsibility, a duty, and a team in which to interact.
The private in charge of the galley should have a personality, charm, and wit that goes with that type of job.
The scientists need to be organized into groups that work together.
The soldiers should be acting like soldiers.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The abilities of the ship should be revealed faster and used to help or hurt the crew.
We are in a new galaxy and we have no idea what is there or what any of the inhabitants look like. We need to see some interesting non humanoid aliens. Talk to Jim Henson to get some interesting ideas.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The long range communication stones are used too often.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I don’t have one. That should tell something right there.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
We are in a new galaxy. Your stories need to tell me something about this galaxy
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
The main ones. I mean settle on a main cast and actually use them.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The actual science fiction part. The Ship and Alien Worlds part. Break the stones and forget Earth exists in the show except as a plot device of where they are trying to get back to.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The Soap Opera part. I watch scifi for scifi. Throttle back the crappy junior high puberty junk that is being passed off as character development. Show someone on the cast making the hard decisions and actually becoming a hardened leader. I have actually been around real officers who actually make the hard calls in real life. And the personalities you have them portraying are so bad they can’t even be called laughable. If you wish to base this show on character development and inter-personal interaction instead of scifi, action and adventure, that is you call. But at least leave Follywood and go out and meet a few people that actually embody the characteristics you are attempting to portray.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Hmmmm…. I can’t remember. I think there was one, but it had been driven from my memory by the constant drumbeat of adolescent touchy-feely drivel….
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
That is easy. SCIENCE FICTION related ADVENTURE with at least one believable character! Just because it takes place on an alien ship doesn’t make it scifi. The movie Titanic took place there but had nothing to do with the ship. They could have made the setting a train or a hotel and told the exact same story.
Overall ditch all the Earth side stories and hire at least one writer that has looked up Science Fiction in the dictionary and transform the show from a soap opera into an actual Science Fiction series.
Feel free to delete or flame. But you ask for opinions……
I love seeing Gen. O’Neill on the show occasionally, and would love to see a little more connection between Universe and SG1/Atlantis. I know contractually speaking it might be difficult to get them, but when a scientific problem needs solving, why are McKay or Carter not brought in through the stones? History/archaeological questions, bring in Daniel Jackson. I’m not saying to do it all the time, but once in a while it would be really fantastic.
It seems like bringing in recognizable characters once in a while could add a greater sense of continuity and make all us Stargate fans not feel the lack of our favorite characters!
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
One of the background characters (a redshirt maybe) who is not who he says he is. This should not just be a one episode event though. Maybe the use of the communication stones (which probably should be limited anyway) could be intercepted and the characters both on earth and on Destiny are held captive whilst their captors.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Explore more of the ship and visit more planets for gods sake.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The home visits should be probably be cut back – though I suspect this helps with the hierarchy tension but maybe keep the personal visits down.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I thought the entire episode of “Time” was intelligently and well done. A solid episode. Though I also feel that Rush’s abandonment in the last episode was nicely done too
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
1) Add a secondary Stargate on the Ship. With either a secondary abandoned group – need not be human….or maybe it is our team split in two….or maybe find some way of abandoning LDP at the secondary gate with a team.
2) The team discovers that another team has been abandoned previously…..they are a elite SG team from the beginning of the SG programme who were deemed lost. These guys are old but experienced. They can help with faster progression into the ship.
3) keep this programme dark no laughs. So O’Neil lovers
1. Any of the non-main cast characters. A strong supporting cast always adds depth to a show. (Star Trek DS9 comes to mind).
2. Unlike a lot of posters, I actually like the earth-bound stories. I think the attempts to bring Destiny home and the opposing factions (I.O.A., U.S. military, etc) all vying for control of the project make for some fascinating political machinations.
3. I don’t think any aspect of the show should be “minimized”. Frankly, Universe strikes me as being one of the most successful balancing acts between the “oohs” and “ahhs” of science-fiction and the genuine tensions of character-based drama that I’ve seen.
4. Favorite story moment by far is the episode “Earth”. Seeing the response to the Destiny situation back on Earth is fascinating. Loved watching Telford’s naked ambition and seeming disregard for the safety of his crew crumble when he runs home with his tail between his legs because Rush scares the hell out of everybody. Enormously satisfying to see Young regain the respect of the Earth contingent (however begrudging it may be), and give THEM orders for a change.
5. Element added to the series… that’s a tough one. I actually would like to see how all the Universe stuff is playing out at Stargate Command. Some of the O’Neill/Earth military scenes come off as cramped. I know this is a logistical impossibility, given the striking of the SG-1 sets to make room for the Universe sets, but one would think a lot of the earth-bound storylines would take place there.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Greer. I think there’s a lot of hidden depth to this character, especially if he isn’t turned into a caricature of the angry black man.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship. There are some fascinating rooms with domes and some unopened boxes left by the Ancients that I’m just dying to know the purpose of.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The boring love stories back on Earth. That’s not scifi, that’s soap opera. Except for character background, leave that nonsense to Desperate Housewives.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
During “Life” when they are choosing the 15 and the “survivors” run to the shuttle, almost afraid they will be stopped. Ming-Na’s reaching “safety” and weeping with relief was an incredible moment.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More exploration of the difficulties of being trapped in a distant galaxy. Making it too easy too soon takes away from the drama of the show.Case in point: Little things count. The need for fresh food and water is important, but what happens when their clothes/uniforms start to become rags? Do they bargain with aliens for cloth and a sewing machine and make their own? Or do they find Ancient uniforms and “civilian” clothes they can adapt for their own use and make their own “new” uniforms as they become a more cohesive unit. Some people have iPods, etc. but all work and no play or entertainment will make things pretty depressing awfully fast. Poker only takes you so far. Even strip poker gets boring after a while. That, rather than focusing on Earth relationships, can also be a part of the Human drama. I don’t expect to see whole shows devoted to the search for music and club clothes, but there can be some comedic elements added in now and again without taking away from the overall darkness of the show.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Either Vanessa James or Tamara Johansen, preferably TJ because i wonna know about her past. Vanessa James has been a main character in the story from the beginning and hasn’t been explored yet either (what do we know about her? besides that she has an amazing rack).
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The age of the ship, come on people, the ship is really old! can’t it break down or something and why can’t they find the engine room???
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Colonel Telford, he seems to be sitting at that desk in his office all the time just waiting for the stones to activate. The IOA is a crappy excuse for an antagonist because it has been done to death, and that doesn’t mean you can resort to using the replicators as antagonists again!
Also, Chloe is currently being portrayed as a slut, she has to be more than that.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The ending of ‘Light’ was just totally awesome! the music was friggin sweet too!
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
The show needs more excuses to use the stargate that don’t involve the ship because the show will run out of things to do too quickly.
0. I’d have an idea that might make SGU a tad more realistic than its predecessors: NO HUMANOID LIFEFORMS. It has bugged me that all Aliens ever encountered turn out to be humanoid looking in Stargate, so if you can avoid that mistake I’d be VERY happy.
(Also, no replicators please! >.<)
(And please not the same mistake as BSG <- too much religious symbolism)
Now that I think of it, won't they run out of ammunition for the guns at some point? Maybe Eli and some other scientists will need to improvise for the military (Coil Rifles, Impulse Weapons, Flamethrowers (as already seen, thumbs up)) that will be charged via electricity.
Would also be interesting to have a point at which the ship ahead of the Destiny runs into a problem, and the crew must turn on the brakes before the smash into it, which would also allow them to do some maintenance on it and bring it back on it's course (or one part of the crew decides to take the chance to turn around and fly home, resulting in a heated discussion if they will keep going ahead, or just pack up and try to fly home).
1. The character that should NOT be explored more is Rush. For one thing, he shouldn't be explained to early right away. It seems obvious he is bitter from losing his wife in either a tragic accident or from a sickness, but if you explain it too soon, everyone will feel sympathy towards him, which will result in him loosing his edge way to early in the series.
2. The ship itself.
3. The stones, apparently. Now that all of the SGU members that have been on Earth seem to have broken their connection to it, it would be weird to keep returning there. So, yes the stones need to fly out the airlock, fast.
4. The Time-Travel episode, where they watch the Kino. Hilarious.
5. More realism. I know it sounds weird asking this from a SciFi show, but SG-1 and SGA always had too much luck in every episode thrown up their *rses. Whatever the universe throws at them, they 'magically' survived it. Not this time, and I'm glad this show kills people and leaves them dead (no ressurections, etc.).
Would like to see what happens to the guys that escaped in Episode 3 though and how they are coping with survival. Maybe Rush could pick them up once he figures out how to use the alien ship, building a small team on their own.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
The actors are all good, just their characters are too morose. Put some professionalism and pride into some of the characters. Find an optimist or two. Someone must convey the wonder of what they are going through.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Technology, planets, ship, non-human, non-malevolent, non-advanced aliens.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The series is too downbeat and one note. Not everyone will be incompentent, selfish, and panicked. Some will find their inner hero or explorer. Eli could be great if he were given a real job and was made to face responsibility. Boy to man.
Also, ship is kind of a Monster in the House set up, but the stones relieve the tension. Also, it never made sense that the super secret Stargate program would let people just go visit civilians on earth and spill the beans. Stargate in general always did a great job of capturing professional competence in both good guys and bad. This version is more one note.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Any scene with Alaina, the one person with a head on her shoulders and without an obvious agenda.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Cut them off from Earth. Make us like more of the characters so we care about their real peril. Give them enough ship control to linger at some planets to avoid the Sliders/Space 1999 curse.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Robert Carlye Charactor
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Technology
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
This show is watched in spare time on `hopefully` a prime time slot so i think the show has to much
negativity – shouting – confrontation …now i know they are in isolation but hopefully that side of things has been ….sorted….
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
anything with Eli Wallace as funny with intelligence
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Money, as sets was the same IE the ship or dull IE snow – forest – desert outside the ship.
You have got to somehow got to add more humoured situations, team working situations (like a alien trying to take over the ship) explore technology more and show it helps them throughout the series.
Sorry but at the moment your boring the UK.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
The ship
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
SPACE
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The girly “lets talk about our feelings” stuff you dribble on about… this is all aimed at bringing women into Sci-Fi.. I swear… STOP THAT ! .. lol
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Where there is some CGI on the screen, usually something exciting going on at that point
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Better plot lines that are NOT associated to the crew, time travel, space battles, Aliens, parallel dimensions, a main character dying, and returning later when the ship does something weird and loads their conciousness into the computer , like HOLLY from Red Dwarf ( BBC show ) ….
Right now, I watched about 6 episodes, and got bored…
England here too !
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
The captain making tough, unpopular calls. Does he pull it together, slowly start losing it?
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The unknown.
First, explore the ship. I want to be constantly discovering newness on Destiny: new technologies, new ideas, new philosophies. The ship flew through a freaking sun and fueled up, that’s amazing.
Second, introduce an alien group that are so powerful that the humans seem like kittens in comparison. These people need to be afraid and barely hanging on.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Let’s leave Earth already and do away with those stones. They are cool, and a useful way to introduce story without relying entirely on flashbacks, but they lessen the feeling of distance and entrapment one should feel when stranded on a spaceship at the other side of the galaxy.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The ‘groundhog day’ episode was extremely well told. I did find that I wanted to know more about the worm creatures, that ecosystem, the time travel itself. I feel that the interesting part of SF is how people react in unimaginable situations. This episode balanced great drama and interesting discoveries and we crave more of this. Watching characters trying to cope with their own mortality so that they can figure out how to save their future selves is damn engaging writing.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
We need a global stresser. These people may be lost in space and struggling to retain some level of order in their lives, but to bring this show to the next level, these people need to be scared of something a hell of a lot more terrifying than the idea of not seeing Earth again. Space pirates, Goa’uld, hell gates, something terrible has to create mass conflict for this show to move beyond Voyager-style discovery of the week.
If this happens, I’m hooked and you’ve got yourself a winner of a show. Great work.
1. Tamara and Chloe
2. The destiny
3. Communication stones and trips to earth
4. Rush being stranded
5. More off world stories and contact with aliens
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
The Destiny. It is clearly intelligent, or at least ‘aware’ in some fashion. Its the most important character on the show yet you’ve not really delved much into it other then as an occasional deus ex.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Exploration. Even if they arn’t “superhero scientists” like in the other Stargate series, these people are still in the stargate program. I imagine the qualifications are far above astronaut, and I can’t imagine anyone in that situation not exploring more, even at the utter risk of their own lives. Where is the wonder? The sense of curiosity? You got out of the galaxy and into the whole of creation, all of the universe. Use that! Have mysteries and steller objects the likes of which defy all laws of physics and human imagination.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The teen drama. These are scientists and military officers, not 90210 characters.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Watching Rush outsmart everyone in oh so many episodes.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Wonder.
The problem with science fiction adventure is that it has gotten trite. We all know the aliens look like humans, they all happen to speak english, and the planets all happen to resemble either the California or Vancouver countryside. I don’t mean for stargate, I mean the genre.
But with Universe, you can get around this. Galactica started to reinvent the genre, but you have the potential to do it better then Galactica ever did. Stick with the ‘non-humanoid aliens’ – but ramp it up a notch. Don’t just stick with plots involving strange planets, but use your imagination to twist the universe itself; new types of stars, new types of planets. Invent a cool looking picture, a neat special effect within budget, something you could imagine in space but which has never been seen in scifi, and find a plot to put it in there. Return endless wonder to science fiction. Sure, these people are alone. Sure they are afraid, sure they are dying. But thats part of the point of stargate, and you can highlight that in a way the old shows never could, as much as everyone liked them. The endless beauties of creation are //more// beautiful in these horrible situations, and these brief glimpses into eternal mysteries are what make the endless horrors between them worthwhile.
Today’s blog entry is dedicated to Chev. Thanks for the calendar! Paul put it up in my office today.
1. A little bit more of the female characters.
2. I love all the little subtle clever writing that really takes advantage of the premise – things that happen with the stones signal getting cut off, the sand alien turning out not to be a vision, the microbial issues, the ‘day in the life’ episode. And some of the grand stuff – Destiny airbraking and then sun scooping was breathtaking.
3. Earth stuff. I like that it’s an option, and I like what you’ve done so far, especially crazy stuff like the mid coitus body switching. But too much continuing focus on it would ruin it. OTOH, I’m entirely on board with Lou Diamond being *so* contrary, he’s a little one note at this point. And there needs to be a little bit more of bringing in experts from Earth to solve important problems. Would also like to see less of Destiny tech being mysterious as a weasly plot device – most of these people should read ancient, and any decent high tech vehicle will have a good user manual in the OS. Makes for fake drama. You do the real drama well, no need for the jury rigged stuff.
4. The marooning in the cliffhanger. This is the sort of thing other shows would lead up to and then find a way to weasel out of. But you went ahead and did it. Wow!
5. Would like to see things which should at this point have been explained stop being so mysterious – why are they having to explore the ship and sporadically discover things? If they can read ancient, there should be some kind of master directory of what each room on the ship is for, instructions for the magic brain chair, a reason why ship functions are locked out, a map of the local stargate network, a reason why there are no DHDs, why we haven’t seen the ship’s own medical bay yet, what the Destiny’s original plan for having food supplies was, etc.
There is also traditional Spanish blood sausage that can be grilled or even eaten cold (i prefer grilled) it is awesome. there is a place close to seattle called the Harvest Vine you can get all kinds of great food.
1) I think Eli should be doing more and not just be making video logs. I would like to see Ming Na organize a science team and have them out do rush (if he comes back) this team would eventually bring in Eli. She is an excellent actress and this would give her something tangible to do to forward everybody’s situation. I find Ronald Greer to be pretty interesting.
2) You should exploit the fact that it is very dangerous to be in that ship. People start to get comfortable and think they are safe. Let us like some small part actor only to kill him or her off 75% through an episode. Maybe it can be a friend of Eli’s future girlfriend. What happened to the ship that flew away in the first or second episode? Will it come back? and if it does who will be in it?
3) I really like everything you guys have done so far. But if I had to mention anything it would be less lovey dovey stuff between scott and chloe.
4) I really liked the whole everyone thinks they are going to die and then they go into the sun that was brilliant. And I loved that rush gets stranded on an alien planet, I wonder how he’ll get out of that one? That is if he does.
5) Since this ship is less advanced (really?) have it be more user friendly may be toward the end of the second season, maybe they will find a aeroponic bay in which to grow food and a food lab in which to find if something off world is safe to eat. Maybe they find an immortal on the ship like Gilgamesh (Sumerian myth, he was a ruler that founded Uruk in modern Iraq 8000 years ago or more if its myth the story is probably older) frozen or maybe a robot or android it doesn’t have to be as advanced as a replicator to kick ass. Maybe an idea for aliens could be a medusa in a tank or an advanced dinosaur.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
The female characters in general and Chloe in particular. So far, we mostly see her as a supporting character, all of her scenes seem to revolve around men comforting her or being secretly in love with her. Make her stand on her own, let her grow into a strong decisive leader, she is the daughter of a senator, after all. Some of his genes should be in her as well.
One fine way to start this whole development might be Camile taking her in as a mentor, perhaps because she sees potential in her, perhaps simply because she needs her (and her political legacy) to strengthen her own position on the Destiny.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I hate to see characters react to circumstances beyond their control and I love to see characters make and realize plans of their own. One step would be to eliminate the stupid “the ship takes us were we need to be”-mechanism and either put the leadership in a place where they can select planets according to their needs, or introduce some actuall AI that can be communicated with. So far it looks too much like a “stop of the week” show.
Next: The Destiny is on a vogage of discovery like few else, but no-one except the crazy guy seems to mind at all. How about some general enthusiasm for what is going on – shouldn’t at least some characters feel thrilled by what is going on? 2009 was called the year optimism came back to scifi story telling. How are we as viewers suppossed to be thrilled about what’S going on aboard the Destiny if neither of the characters are?
Also, dynamic and original character relations might help. And don’t hold back all the good stuff either and give us an endless charade of hints. After a while, we will just stop caring whatever Green did that Camile despises him so much and what the whole deal with Tamara was. Just get it out into the open, shower us with information and build on it!
Also, some character depth and actuall warmth might be great. Rush mostly comes accross as either cracy or genius, but not much else. We see little more of the relationship between Chloe and what’s-his-name than what Eli does, so the main (only?) purpose here seems to play up his jelousy/anguish. Also, less drama please. The whole story-line about Telford an Young’s wife is probably the most annoying part of the whole series so far. Less drama and more real, honest human interaction. Are their no friendships abord the Destiny? We know that this is a extreme scenario, everyone being lost millions of miles from home, but the ordinary that humans will find in even extreme circumstances like these is something that should make some honestly great scenes. Get some former exchange students that lived on a different continent for a year or even off-shore miners and listen to their stories, there should be lots of good stuff in there.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Short and simple: Earth.
I mentioned the off-shore drillers and the exchange students going to a different continent for a while. Having some form of communication with home is great, but it should remain limited to real communication – not abused to bring characters home for any stretch of time. She short scenes with Eli and Chloe and (especially) Camile with their families were great, but the whole Young-Telford-Wife-thing … shudder!
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Probably those few moments when the characters actually made plans and improved their situation. Instead of just waiting for whatever happens next to them and the ship they find themselves on.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Science. And scientists. Not one universal genius like Rush who seems to excell at everything from chemistry to astrology, archeology, ancient languages and even neurology/human-computer-interfaces?
Also, and this may sound weird: An expire date. Set a number of episodes / seasons in which you want to tell the story of the Destiny and then go for it. No holding back, no filler episodes, just look at the scenes, plot-twists, character developments you find are most awesome and cram them into as few episodes as possible. Also, a mission statement for the series, something you want the crew to acchieve by the end of the series, even if you don’t tell us out front. Make sure you know where you are going and that you know which steps the story needs to take to bring us their. Also, a sense that we are moving forward and making progress all the time, every single episode.
Probably nothing others haven’t told you before, but still, since you asked..
Patrick
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Eli — He hasn’t been crusted over from the effects of politics and “reality” and yet has his own vulnerabilities and wants with which we can all identify.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Destiny — one of the last great legacies of the Ancients. What’s up with the ship? There are hints of it being quasi-sentient, or is it just more robust than Windows 2317? Other versions of this ship could build Stargates and DHDs, but this one can’t fix broken windows?
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The “amazing ethical and moral issues raised by regular use of the communication stones.”
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
In spite of my comment about the communications stones, I really enjoyed Eli’s trip to see his mom. There was so much vulnerability and bottled excitement in those moments. He’s living a dream beyond dreams but he can’t share those details, as a techie would often do. Instead he has to navigate awkward waters to establish a meaningful, emotional connection with someone he loves.
And who says good SciFi can’t get mushy sometimes?
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Story without conflict is pretty damn boring, but these people on Destiny are light years up the river without a paddle. Bring them together. Yes, they’re going to fight but this is a new family by mutual adoption.
Ok as a fan of the show I thank you for asking for an opinion. So here goes
1. TJ specifically but more of the civilians. I have no idea who any of them are and so far Rush has so dominated them they are faceless canon fodder. Plus would they really be that suspicious of the military if they have been involved with them as SG teams for any period of time.
2. The Destiny of course. Big bad Alien ship and all we see is Earth stories via the stones and a bunch of science guys sitting around. Lets explore the ship more… Are there more supplies stored someplace, weapons, amazing advanced things yet unseen. What amazes me about this show is the Ancients were planning to jump to this ship and live there at some point but they never thought to have extra supplies and parts (like for the air circulation system) so that when they landed it would be easy to ready the ship for occupency. Hey why didnt they have some of the transport systems like on Atlantis. this would have gotten the crew PAST the mangled sections of the ship. Besides you cant tell me there isnt a secondary passage system they could use to get to the closed off sections. Dont they have some suits to use?
3. Please enough with the stones…. A little is enough but it shouldnt be the focus of the ship. They are all going to be even MORE homesick if they keep going back to earth so much. These should be for Emergency and communications purposes not social calls.
Also Id add the fairly strange time limit on the gate. Let them explore a bit instead of rush though a planet because theya re going to miss the bus.
4. Easy for me the dust/sand alien episode. Like to see more aliens, and maybe a bad ass recurring menace. Worked well for SG-1. Gives the cast someone to worry about.
5. This one is simple, maybe a sense of amazement and camaraderie.
No one seems to like anyone except for sexual purposes and no one stops to look at the ship and the planets and says WOW this is so cool. The only character that might is too busy helping keep an eye on Rush. Lighten up a bit guys, I know this show was supposed to be darker like BSG but even that show got really slow at points because they eliminated the action too much and got WAY too depressing at points. This can way too depressing without some light moments. Look at Lost and notice how the character of Hurley keeps it light vs the dark moments. Contrast is everything. Some characters take a dark path and then some take a light path. This balances the show so it isnt too depressing to watch.
I personally would like to see the use of the Ancient stones minimized, or at least have a side-effect or drawback to their use. It seems far too convenient to have the out of easily communicating with the folks back home.
Meanwhile, why aren’t the characters exploring this ship? We keep seeing the same basic places all the time. If I were out there with all this alien tech, I’d be looking at all of it! Where’s the exploratory sense?
I like the angle and way the show is going. Keep going, and thank you!
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Eli Wallace
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship. They are trapped on it, its the major backdrop. They’ve barely scratched the surface of it and its capabilities. I’d hate to see the ship turn into the vanilla backdrop that Atlantis turned into for Atlantis.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Telford v. Young Story Line. I find it a distraction to the rest of the story.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Ironically it was the hiccups in the ancient communication devices.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I think it would be interesting if somehow they end up with an alien (not just a human from a different planet) or two trapped on the ship with them potentially some ally they saved on a mission. The team is missing their Ronin/Tealq aspect.
1. TJ
2. Exploration of the unknown, on and off the ship.
3. Gratuitous trips back to earth using the stones. It’s too much like the ‘holodeck’ issues that plagued Star Trek when they used it as a crutch.
4. Easily the confrontation between Rush and Young in ‘Justice’.
5. More episodes like Time, while at the same time using less time travel. Exploring a new dangerous ecosystem completely foreign to us. Gritty survivalism in space. More of that please.
1. The female characters except for Chloe, esp. Dr. Park. Eli and Rush’s science minions.
2. The science fiction aspect. Less mundane angst, more big picture.
3. Earth. Less using the communication stones for R&R, more using them to solve scientific problems, and more stargate use.
Also the use of the Destiny as a literal deus ex machina is annoying. Stop it or explain it.
4. Eli going through the gate for the first time.
5. Joy. I would like to see people having a little joy and happiness. It may be your party but if all you’re going to do is cry and be depressed, well that’s not exactly entertainment in my books.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
The doctor/professor. Nicolas Rush — what’s his back story?
His reasons for acting how he’s acting are more than simply he wants to understand/is searching for knowledge.
(Maybe he made a deal with someone who asked him to find a certain thing/understand a certain thing — like the ship — and in turn his wife or child who is suffering from some incurable illness will be healed).
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Some interaction between the ship mates and some aliens.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The return visits to Earth seem a bit tedious. Necessary and useful, I know, but there should be fewer of them.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? When it was realized that the senator’s daughter and the security/pilot/soldier person were in a relationship and so she didn’t think of the ‘geek’ in “that way”. This is sort of trite and hackneyed.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? See #2.
Just a couple of suggestions:
I know that the ship is running on low power, but does every scene have to be lit so darkly? Also, the “crew” has been on the ship for a little while, I would expect to see decorations, souvenirs, and other stuff around the inhabited areas.
Destiny is waking up, and I am interested in how she will react to a bunch of stowaways. Please do not have the ship talk, and make the the idea that it is “aware” to be debatable. The ship itself could be a good foil for Eli.
The crew are cast-aways, treat them as such. After a couple of months, most of the women will have run out of contraceptive and I am willing to bet that condoms were not one of the items hastily brought aboard. Unprotected sex will have it’s usual consequences and an on-board pregnancy and the angst it provides could be fun. Unless the ship stops at an intergalactic 7-Eleven they will be running out of all sorts of stuff: toilet paper, toothbrushes, deodorant, makeup, batteries, duck tape, paper, pencils/pens, etc… The lack of personal hygiene products will have Destiny reeking in just a few weeks. Don’t forget the MacGivver aspects of using mundane objects like credit cards, food containers, and nail polish to fix problems. Diseases and ailments that are trivial to cure on Earth are much more serious on Destiny; appendicitis, an infected ingrown toenail, or a bad chest cold can be fatal without medicine, skilled care, and correct equipment.
Unlike most people here, I like the stones. They re-enforce the close but far aspect, the ability to see and hear but not physically interact. The stones give you some cool plot hooks like: with the size of the crew, it would be logical if an economy starts to develop. Probably barter, but using the stones someone could offer to pay x-dollars on Earth for you family if you do this for me…
Hope this helps
-*Zortag*-
Well.. How do I say this….
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Definitely Rush. We know so little about him, it is frustrating. I know we as an audience aren’t supposed to like him a whole lot, but still. We know NOTHING about him except his bad qualities. Why can’t we know about his childhood? His hopes? His past mistakes? Do you want your audience to give up on this guy?
T.J. Is also good. I like her a lot. Seems to be the only one with a head on her shoulders. You could change that, or keep it. Right now she is a anchor on the ship, with everyone being swept away in emotion and despair around her.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I’ve always thought sci-fi shows with extremely enclosed character bases are the best kinds of shows there are. Take advantage of what you have so effectively created! Figure out who each and every person is on that ship. One of my favorite parts of the first episodes this season were when the cameras would document other people we never saw. Knowing there is a definite base of people, why not take a little time to explore their plight? Everyone is facing certain death several times. I love that. In moments like that, we know a character more than we ever could in hundreds of safe, contained episodes. So don’t just show the main characters dealing with their mortality. Let us see everyone else, about to die, thinking about life, and creating relationships.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I hate Teleford. And not because I’m patriotic and I think everyone in the Airforce is good. Not because I don’t appreciate a good bad guy. But, let’s face it. This is the furthest from a good bad guy you could get. He’s annoying, always popping up, almost doing something dramatic, and then disapearing. Stop wasting your time on him. Nothing is interesting there. If this means creating a more strict ration on communication stones, that would be even better. Exploring the main character’s pasts in the face of death doesn’t mean they have to visit them.
Also, break off more from earth. I don’t care if Jack O’neill is there. Love the guy, but come on. Independent from the U.S. there is much more mutiny, disorder, and interest.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Sigh. If you mean character development wise, then the near death situations are great. Even though there were several of them, they always brought something new. Those were great, please, please keep them.
I also love the character development that goes on when someone dies right in front of the rest. There’s nothing quite like not only being told who the officers are, but knowing who they are by seeing their steely reactions and steady heads when compared to civilian strife and fear. It really brings out courage, nerve, and character.
But, if you mean a specific incident, I loved that when faced with hate, Young, who I expected to be the clean cut perfect guy who always made the right choice, just beat another, weaker man silly. It was magnificent. Makes me think I was wrong to trust him with command of the ship. Makes me think a mutiny against the military wouldn’t be half bad. Makes me think the Camille route is looking sunnier and sunnier. Which I’m sure was your plan!
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
MORE STARGATE PLEASE. I’m sick and tired of seeing episodes where the stargate is taken for granted. Nothing cool or “stargate-y” ever happens! “Time” was magnificent. It finally acknowledged the fact that the thing transporting them was a stargate. It has flaws. It has complications. IT HAS MYSTERY. Remember that past this mysterious ship and galaxy, you also have a vastly mysterious device, one that has captivated veiwers since the 90s.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Tamara – Besides her relationship with Colonel Young, what was her life before being forced onto the Destiny?
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I’d like to see more action and sci-fi aspects to the show – I’m happy to know that we’re getting more action in the second half of S1, though 🙂
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The sex – I don’t want it to go away if it’s good for the storytelling – but I don’t really need it or want it.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I loved finding out about Eli’s mom, and him going back to see her, though not being able to tell her who he was in actuality. It made that interaction all the more interesting because of that barrier.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I don’t really have one – I’m loving the show so far 🙂
Finally Space is dangerous again.
First I have to say that i’m an absolute fan of your new series and from the writing, acting, directing, photography etc. you could easily compete with major primetime shows like house (which i also really enjoy) or sth like that and i don’t really know if i can really help you with my diarrhea i post (or even you by all the things people post they want to practically bring back the feel of the predecessors)
So here my five tries to answer ur questions.
1. Definitely Greer. And please DONT explore too much of Rush or even Young. I like the Tension between the two and what they’re up to. Because i don’t buy Young’s motives either. Let’s keep it that way to fuck our minds. I like the SGU character plot twists a lot.
2. As I said the Character Plot twists. For Tech stuff, I think it would be the Stargate itself. It is after all a prototype and should behave as such. (-> some gate malfunction episodes would be nice or sth. but without the carter/mckay geek speak. “Time” eg was excellent in terms of storytelling)
3. Cloe/Scott lovestory if it doesn’t lead to anything. Also, give Cloe more function in some way – or kill her.
4. The whole “Time” thing or the Planetscene at the end of “Justice”.
5. Something like the Trust/Lucian Alliance or sth like that trying to compromise/get their hands on the Destiny project via bodyswitching or some stories set on earth. Give the earth travels more meaning – don’t get rid of them. They’re great if you go this way.
And will Eli start to become thinner because of the dietchange?
If you want to include an ascendet ancient, it must be kept like daniel jackson in SG-1 Season 6, don’t overdo it and let it help on a more metaphysical way than just
help someone getting out of a situation. (You could use Ona Grauer once again – just kidding)
And PLEASE don’t change it back to the predecessors. I really loved them but they are obsolete – in so many ways. So: NOT more humanoid aliens, NOT more geek speak,
NOT more humor and especially NO USB-compatible Ancient Technology for gods sake.
I want SGU – not the old ones.
The communication stones are annoying. explore the ship more
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Ronald Greer. He’s a knot of complications just waiting to be untangled.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The environment has a lot of people forced together. Many of these are military men who probably haven’t seen a leave in a while, and won’t for the foreseeable future. There are also a number of women on board the ship. While we do have a perfectly healthy relationship between a couple going on, we have a large number of people who are under a lot of stress. Interpersonal contact between the military and non-military personnel is one thing, but there must be a lot of sexual tension that’s going to reach a breaking point. I’d like to see how they handle that.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The communication with Earth has to be downplayed or completely removed. These people have it too easy, being able to make their greivances known. The show needs to go on a more Mutany on the Bounty-esque sort of turn.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
It actually occurred in the first/pilot episode. Where the senator saved the ship. It gave me a moment’s hope that polititian might actually do something for the larger good. Of course, it was only a moment’s hope.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
A couple of things:
I’d want to see them start making the ship work. Let’s don’t go crazy about it, I’m just tired of the “Well, if this was working, we might be able to see why these other things aren’t working”. Make some things work.
Also, the crew has no external conflicts – I can’t count the encounters on planets as external, because they’re all contained in the premise that we’ve only got so long to go ‘splorin’ then we have to head on home and get supper. They need something to start following them/attacking them while their in hyperspace. Heighten the tension that the ship isn’t going to last forever, and that they all could die.
I appologize for my negativity. I watched all the episodes but with little enthusiasm. This is soap opera carried out on a ship.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
To be honest you don’t have any sympathetic characters or even very interesting ones that I can think of, except for the psychiatrist/nurse. You need to give some of the people some real skills that we see being exploited on planets, not the ship. Please diminish the role of the precocious kid. He is very unlikeable. Take a look at Caprica — it has much better characters & far better actors.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I would like to see much more off world exploration, including encounters with bad beings. Find cool weapons on the ship or on a planet and kill off the bad guys.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
There is much too much soap opera — the romance between the soldier and Senator’s daughter is often nauseating. The Major/leader & psychologist is better.
Get rid of the communication stones. Every time I see one of these used I want to turn the show off. Maybe you could use them to beam up some more interesting characters who then get cut off from Earth because the stones quit working. I love Alien technology but this the stones are a bit much. This had to have been thought up by some touchy-feely person. Get rid of all your touchy-feely writiers. Please.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Leaving the smart dude on the planet — the treacherous scientist. Also flying through a sun to get a direct solar recharge was cool.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I want a stargate found on a livable planet and some people left with it. Let stories on world develop. They can interact with the ship. You need to get into the SG-1 kind of dramatics. What you are doing isn’t working IMO.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Greer! He’s beginning to be my favorite character, but so far he hasn’t got to have much of a solo story in comparison to some of the other characters.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I’d like to see them having more fun. I know their situation is pretty horrible, but only a few of the characters have had a “fun” moment. Maybe begin to show that in some of the more stick-up-the-ass characters.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The Stones! They need to have some kind of side effect or expiration date. I know you need some kind of way of seeing things back on earth, but from my point of view it seems like something waaay too convenient. If you could go HBO dark with them that would be one thing, but since you can’t do everything that would be logically done with them perhaps there should be more limits put on them so they could not be such a crutch.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I liked when they thought the ship was done for and they had a lottery for who would have a chance to survive on a “inhabitable” planet they found. I liked the human dilemma aspect enough that the solution at the end (very convenient) didn’t bother me as much as it might have otherwise.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I would like the original mission, even though these were not the intended crew members, to be eventually embraced in some form. They have to find a point to being out there and that is as good as any. Obviously that will take time, but surviving will only get them so far. Doing more than just surviving is when you start living.
>I want SGU – not the old ones.
Me too. I want SGU to stay SGU.
1Which character would you like to see explored more?
Eli Wallace, with Rush gone he is now essentially the one eyed man in the land of the blind, over time it would be easy to see his confidence improve as his insight into destinies systems becomes more wide spread,sort of a young inexperancied daniel Jackson,there could be a whole range of character development as he evolves from geeky slacker to leader
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
the ship ,destiny for a large ancient ship millions of years old we’ve seen remarkible little off it, is it alive, has it encounted other species.are there clues to understanding its system’s in mytholigy or clues to urderstanding myth’s in its systems. an insight into the ancents ways and culture
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
earth , they can’t go back, the crew need to establish lives where they are ,move from survival mode
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
the moment Rush was marooned ,Young finally took command of the situation ,for better or worse he now is really in charge
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Wonder ,they are on a ship on the otherside of the galaxy faced with mysteries old and new ,from who were the ancients to is there any body out there.
When are they going to meet there good “alien”.
It’s getting old about not being able to get control of the ship. Yes the can never “go home” but they should be able to control the ship.
Maybe meet up with a group of “people” that can help fix the ship. (a neat story line could be the people that help fix the ship fad away – it turns out those “people were “ancients” )
When can they become the “heros” of the galaxy there in.
Cut way back on the “Visits” back home via the “stones”.
When they access the other parts of the ship they find uniforms and weapons.
why are the stones not used to get sam, jackson, and rodney on the ship and get it up and running?
why dosent atlantis send supplies since they have
the zpms?
and why do earth military teams not have at least one member with a zat or wraith stunner per group?
id like to see young step it up.
more ship exploration
less earth drama
the time travel death
more exploration or who or what took the first shuttle
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
TJ – there have been hints to her character but nothing to fill out who she is
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The Ship – Destiny: there is so much potential, especially now that the chair has been used
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The Stones – there has been so much connection to earth, especially in respect to personal relationships. I think that if you are going to use the stones, that they should be used in learning more about the ship. To that end, I think that Rodney McKay and Sam Carter should use the stones to come the Ship and learn it better. They are the ones who are experts in Ancient Technology.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The confrontation between Rush & Col. Young or when Col. Young thumps on Col. Telford
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More positive emotions – forgiveness, charity, sympathy, kindness – simple day to day actions that lighten the load of another shipmate
The premise of SGU was good & despite of my negative feelings due to the cancellation of Atlantis I desprately wanted to be wrong & like it. Yes it has Stargate in the title but thats it, they have not built on the Stargate canon & Legacy by all means take the Stargate franchise in a new direction but to totally abandon the aspects of Stargate that the fans loved & to then tell them it is the fans fault they do not like the series not the producers is arrogant & insensitive.
So what don’t I like about it. 1, Character developement for it’s own sake at the expense of story. 2, Over using to the point of boredom of various gimicks, the stone communicators & Kino’s these plot devices should support the story not be the story. 3 inconsistencies with the SG1 & SGA series for example the seeder ship & Destiny presumably date after or the same time as the Milky Way & Pegasus gate netwoks yet the Stargate on Destiny seem remakably short ranged surely it should be able to access all the gates in that Galaxy but no they have turned it into a star trek transporter! There is a lot more the above I give just as examples.
Lets be straight there was always going to be a season 2 that was agreed when the SGU was given the go ahead so the dramatic renewed for season 2 hype was just more spin that this show seems to generate. This recent announcement is obviously a belated attempt to get the old fans back after 1/2 a season of hype, spin & faked viewing figures (Comparing the on the night figures of Atlantis with the combined viewing & 7 day PVR of SGU is not like for like it is desperation). The very large mid season gap is obviously to allow some serious rewriting after all every other Scifi show including the V & Flash Foward will be back long before SGU & they both will have new writers & producers when they were found to be loosing like SGU their audience!
I seriously hope SGU’s producers listen to the fans after cancelling the Atlantis series & movie to finance SGU as for myself I have watched every SGU so far & found only 1 episode even remotely enjoyable. I hope season 1 part 2 picks up if it does not I am not even going to bother giving season 2 the benefit of the doubt after the treatment it’s producers have given the Stargate franchises loyal fans
So what would I like Storys with Structure, character developement in context with the story lines, bring back some of the sense of fun & humour. Get rid of the Stones or at least use them to support the story rather than be the story as they have been in 3 or 4 episodes & less of the Destiny Wich project with the Kino’s please. More Tamara & more of the human side of Rush rather than the Lost in Space Dr. Zachary Smith part of him.
You certainly need to give the crew some control over the ship it seems to me that it would have some form of long range communications so perhaps Atlantis has a compatable coms system there you go a story idea & they get the ships computer unlocked via remote access. Earth finds a way not rescue the Destiny crew but to open a gate to them so sends supplies plus volunteers with needed skills.
Get rid of the stones or have repercussions for people misusing them. And I don’t mean a slap on the wrist…
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I Find Greer quite interesting.. I know with a shady past his further exploration is no doubt coming.. But he is a character I did not like at first.. But he grew on me.. I always appreciate writers who can do that to me.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I like how dark it is.. I would always opt for darker.. Something the SG’s lacked…
I also liked the fact that there wasn’t an immediate “expert” in ancient technology (i.e Rodney McKay and Carter etc…) They are for the most part normal people who really don’t know how the ship works. Eli is smart, but be careful how you go about his learning process (That chair is a cop-out) so it seems like he has to learn it the hard way, not he suddenly knows how to fix and operate ancient technology (Or he can plug is laptop into the Ancient USB port)
Nerdry, yes, but it’s little things like this that people pick up on, and diminishes the feeling of realism on the show.. SG1 ruined itself quite quickly in that regard…
I wish my Dell laptop could run an ancient city…
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The traveling back home to visit people via ancient device (device seems too convenient… It sort of cheapens the whole premise… I don’t particularly care about back home, or who is sleeping with who’s wife or someone’s lesbian friend.. I care about what’s happening on the ship and the characters there.
Also the rivalry between Everett and Telford (wife bonking aside) seems a little silly, because, really.. What the f_ck can he do to the crew on the other side of the universe? Other than an excuse for having Lou Diamond Phillips in a recurring role…
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The general despair and hopelessness of the crew when they truly realized they wouldn’t be getting home
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I would comment on what I don’t want to see added:
No big seemingly impossible to beat alien races are the humans always overcome against impossible odds… Stargate has done that in spades..
Not that I’m against aliens at all.. Just do it differently.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? Greer hands down, he is the most interesting character on the show.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? I would certainly like to see more of the ship, just the dangers alone could get you quite far before you start involving the outside universe.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? The constant mistrust of Rush, I would prefer to see him gain trust only to betray everyone for his own goals then see it come up every time. That is of course if he is still around…
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? The multipart time story, I always have a weakness for stories like this and I think it was done well.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? Eventually we will have to run into some sort of enemy, but only if it is done well. Sg1 was great but this show isn’t SG1 and shouldn’t have the same types of great villains.
Now all this is just suggestions, i’ll be honest that i’ve been very happy with the chances you all are taking with the show. This is not like other scifi shows and I love it for that reason.
1. Eli. He seemed to have such promise and usefulness in the first episode, yet it seems he’s been demoted to lackey. I don’t need to know more about his personal life (The epp with his mom did not really do anything for me). I want to see him put to use the knowledge he displayed while playing the video game on the ship (beyond the kino)
2. An external Antagonist. I need a bad guy. The internal Drama and bickering is just getting old. I want to see them come together against a common foe.
3. I would like to see less drama with the characters. I’d like to see them assume the roles they have bees assigned (especially the military officer) and get over a lot of the personal stuff. I need action, the the constant drama is what drives me to only watch the show on Hulu when it comes to mind.
4. My favorite point of the first half of the season/high point of the series so far was when Icarus Base was attacked and the planet exploded.
5. An external Antagonist.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I think Tamara!
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
More action and SciFi scense instead of dramatic moments between crewmembers!
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The melodramatic scenes!
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Light!
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
The anchient stones!
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
i mean more action scenes and not so much stories with these stones!
It’s great, you’re asking! Thank you!
1. Ronald Greer. I think he’s the most interesting character of the show. Not evil, not good. He’s the Dirty Harry of SGU.
2. The conflict between characters should go beyond love and sex. I would like to have a main storyline through the series. Something that creates danger and may lead to something else at the end. People want a bad guy. But a bad guy might be an alien or a human. I don’t care. And very, very, very important…
Please give us some mystery! Mystery may be a secret place on the ship, or a secret desire of a character. You may create small mysteries to be solved after a few episodes and one or two huge mystery to be solved very much later.
3. Visits back to earth by 80%. Romanticly themed stories by at least 50%
4. Justice is the first episode I really liked. The conflict was great. And a member of the crew being stranded on another world was perfect. I hope the story about Rush won’t be solved so soon. I don’t like it when stories always return to the status quo within one story, like in the most Star Trek episodes.
5. Tension, suspense, mystery… You may even create a ghost story-arc which doesn’t need to be fully explained at the end (things vanish on the ship, unexplained things are happening, someone sees something or even someone who shouldn’t be on the ship, etc…). Give us something to think about. The stones are still of unknown technology. Something may change the way they work and cause a crewmember to be standed on earth in another body. Perhaps someone who tries to bring the Stargate Project to the public. This way it might be possible to do a thriller like story with political backgrund. Oh, my… there are so
many possibilities.
Hello
Stargate Univers is cool but is not better then Stargate Atlantis!
Atlantis and Sg-1 is the Best!
pleas pleas!!!! bring the Ship to the Atlantis base!!
I LOVE ATLANTIS
IS MISS IT!!!
;-(
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I think the show’s doing a great job of character exploration with Rush & Young. There is one main character that’s been virtually ignored – Destiny! Please focus more on the ship itself, ie., technology, purpose (exploration, escape the plague, enemy before the Wraith, etc….)?
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Sci Fi elements – space craft, aliens, mysteries.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
For God’s sake, break the damn communication stones & leave Earth alone!
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The best episode was Air and, in particular, when they were working towards restoring life support on the ship and – please note this in particular – exploring the technology on the ship! The first half of the season could have mostly set in an office building.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Please leave Earth alone – all the hype about the sexual relationships, back-door politics, sabotaging marriages, etc… It’s really like a soap opera. Please get back to the core values of what makes Sci Fi truly entertaining.
I would like you to bring back Rodney McKay in some episodes, that would be great with his tech know-how onto the destiny.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I would say the character of Jamil Walker Smith (Lt. Greer). His character is, let me say, unknown. Maybe some flashbacks of his past.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The fact that the Destiny is a ancient ship. More ancient details, or bring in some ancients like in Atlantis, but these ancients can be different.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Actually i havend seen something that doesn’t fit into this show, this is Universe and not SG-1 or Atlantis, but lets see what the second season-half brings.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The Episode Time, I had the feeling that the result was a Stargate Episode.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I think that it would be more interesting to know how the Stargates get build, spread out and stuff like that. So more things which should be explaned in single episodes divided over the whole season/s.
I hope my thoughts are traceable, because I’m from Austria and I’m not shure if wether all of what I wrote is right.
Feel free to ignore my suggestions, there are people who love the show as it is. I can’t resist adding my two cents but in the end who cares what we think? All the SG franchises have taken fairly big twists and turns both in plot and casting that have always made the show better and better. So I’m certain that the show will go to surprising new places and I may find myself eating my words. But as long as you ask…
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
More Eli please; he’s smart and he’s actually excited to be on the ship. And give Everett Young the reigns and let him lead his crew; he and Eli are the best things on the show. Why is Rush the only one who knows everything? Why can’t the other characters step up and shape how the show develops? Comparing SGU to 9/11 and Katrina I’d say SGU is certainly the Katrina of sci fi, showing people falling apart and losing their humanity after a tragedy instead of banding together.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
They are on a ship, blowing by cool planets that they can’t explore because the ship is on autopilot? ‘sup wit dat? So the ship is like Herbie the Love Bug? Let the cast members drive stick. Allow Tamara be a stronger more decisive character; her lack of initiative (I’m just a medic!) is so depressing; I really wanted to like her character but she’s so wishy washy, argh.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
No more magic travel stones, I beg you. Just have them figure out how to physically get back to Earth, like asap.
Enough of Mr. Smith aka Rush. I will never find Rush appealing. Never. He could win Powerball, bequeath his winnings to me and I’d still hate him. “We’re out of coffee?? The pain, oh the pain!” And no more whiny non-military/non-science characters (yes you, Senator’s daughter, assorted fry cooks and paper pushers). If they can’t load mad military skills into their brains Matrix style then ship them back to Earth, or better yet airlock ’em.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I liked how Eli was indoctrinated into the SG world; it was cool to see how SG through a newbie’s eyes. All the planet visits have been great. I’d like to see more plots driven by exploration; the sand creatures were very cool.
I love the ship; why not let the cast explore it without Rush screaming about power?
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Lets get on with exploring the the new universe.
My favorite thing about SGA is that they didn’t spend the entire season lost on Atlantis. They were able to reconnect and travel back and forth to Earth, which allowed them to then explore freely in a new place. The bottle shows are always my least favorite, but a whole bottle series?? It got old real quick on Voyager (Gilligan’s Island used up that territory, salted the earth).
Lets get the Earth travel sorted so that fresh characters can cyle in and out. No more Body Snatching love scenes.
Wow! I am impressed. Thank you for asking!
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
—-The Senator’s daughter or Eli. That relationship is one of the few saving graces of this show.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
—-The why and where of the ship they are on. Let’s Explore the universe…
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
—-The stupid stones…. Earth…. And frankly, the main character. Please let Rush be dead.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
—-The relationship between Eli and the Senator’s Daughter.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
—-Please leave the Soap Opera stuff to Caprica, and BSG.
—-SGU is part of a Franchise. The franchise brought in viewers who developed an interest in the show because of the tie into archeology and the old myths all within the realm of some classic sci-fi story lines. This show has disregarded all that, it seems, in favor of more Soap Opera. Which really is a bit of a slap to the fans who are expecting something else. It’s like changing the recipe for coke, or the Big Mac. I respect the creative will of the Producers, but take it to another franchise, don’t change the SG universe us geeks have come to love.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
The Ship itself (hint they need to find the AI running the show)
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
More things going BOOM
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I would throw all but one of the stones out an airlock
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? Rush getting stranded on that planet
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Some way or another get a “proper crew” on Destiny or at least get some alteran “toys” on board (heck have Destiny find one of those gate builder drones on some planet)
Oh btw could you define an “offical” Nine Chevron Sequence so that fans could
put that down on record??
i know this isn’t really one of the options, ut i wonna see the furlings!
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? — Greer. There’s got to be something behind that cold exterior of his..
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? — I’d like SOME vague idea of where they are… what galaxy are they in? The Ancients had a presence in the Milky Way AND Pegasus galaxies; clearly they had a presence in at least one more… this is significant.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? — Drama for dramas’ sake. Let the drama be more a result of the sci-fi aspects of the show.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? — Either Destiny flying into a star to recharge, as it fleshed out some character responses to (perceived) mortal danger, or the time-travel episode. Good ol’ Stargate.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? — Teal’c. We’ve seen the rest of SG1, but the whole “no huimanoid aliens” idea seems to have been retroactively enacted so as to leave Teal’c (and similar characters) from being acknowledged.
Also, we’ve had plenty of SG1 cameos, but no mention of Atlantis. Let’s get McKay working on a solution for the crews’ return. Let’s see Sheppard, too. Don’t erase Atlantis from Stargate lore!
My pitch for Episode 1×11:
(I know it is already done, but I am working with what I know happened before, so I can’t really project into the future)
First of all, let’s mercy kill this misserable Young-Telford-Young’sWife-Triangle:
Around the middle of the episode, when no-one expects anything spectacular, Telford enters his appartment, only to find a fellow officer there. The guy asks Telford what his beef with Young is and it is implied that he acts on orders from higher up the food chain. Telford eventually gives in and we get his motivation, some part of backstory that makes the character actually interesting. The other officer says: “Good, I needed to know that” and shoots Telford dead.
Later in the episode, we watch the officer get rid of the murder weapon, enter Stargate Base, work through the corridors – enter the communication stone chamber, sit down, touch the stone, and we jump back to the Destiny stones, where Young opens his eyes and let’s go of his stone. In future episodes, we will build on Young as a closeted psychopath.
[…]
Hey, Patrick – while it’s great to have fan conjecture on the upcoming episodes, I unfortunately can’t allow pitches for specific story ideas.
JM
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Rush. He’s a wonderfully complex character, and Robert Carlyle does a great job. In particular, I would enjoy seeing more about the side of him that is obviously a technical genius.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Exploration of Destiny.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Anything involving Earth.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Refueling in the star at the end of Light. Somewhat predictable, but still awesome; fabulous VFX too.
#2 was Ely sticking his arm into the gate at the end of Air(III).
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I would love to see some kind of link established with the Ancients (maybe via “malfunctioning” stones?), which the crew uses to learn critical things about both Destiny and the Ancients themselves.
Also, how about some real mission “success” in terms of knowledge, gadgets, etc — SG-1 and SG-A would often *almost* get there, then fail, which was very frustrating. Imagine them learning an important secret about something that would benefit Earth, but then not being able to tell them about it for some reason.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
-This show needs a “super hero”. Imagine, the philosophical subjects that could be approached with a “Data” type character. Perhaps the ship could manifest a humanoid that has “Data” like abilities. You get the idea… Give us someone like this so we can marvel in his abilities, and relate to his tragic flaws.
Hello I’m 29 and from Germany.
to 1.
I want see a new Alien-caracter, may be a old Ascension-Android or an Cyborg (like sevenofnine or data from StarTrek)
to 2.
I want see mor SYFY! I mean more new worlds more new (or old) technology. More news from the “Destany
to 3.
No more family things on Earth.
to 4.
I can’t say that. I have see only the first 10 episodes (that “scheiße!”). But for me, the first episode and the episode with rescue-concept have nice “moments”.
to 5.
Maybe you can say for all, it’s a parallel-universe (like “Las Vegas” in SGA). Begin again, maybe after a “McCain-Experiment”
that my answers
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Lt. Tamara Johansen
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The Ancient Ancients Destiny era, stargate seeding ships-how do you make a stargate?
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Sex-This is science fiction not HBO.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Rush and Young come to blows with alien ship. Cool.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
It should feel more like Stargate, i.e. more action adventure with aliens-please aliens!! Life is depressing and serious enough without SGU adding to it.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I’m hoping there’s someone in the shadows that will grab me more than any of the current characters do. I haven’t seen anyone yet that is archetypal. Where’s my “heroic, witty, cute guy who looks before he leaps.” ie: O’Neill, Sheppard, Mitchell (Solo, Kirk, Crichton . . .) It’s like the writers decided to give each character ONE appealing trait and the rest of their personality is made of flaws. Where’s the fun in that? (“fun” is an important word to me.)
Also, I know what you’re trying to do, but speaking for myself as a long time SG-everything fan, it was the camaraderie and chemistry, not the antagonism between characters that kept me watching. I think you’re missing the main thing that drew people to keep watching SG for all these years.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The SHIP, dammit. Why haven’t we been allowed to see more of the ship? If I was on that ship I’d be exploring every nook and cranny. Forget offworld — the ship is so big you could have a whole series and never leave it.
There are a lot of little things that have been bugging me with continuity — immersion is in the details. do they have a barber on board? how (and WHY in the world) do all those guys have their military buzzes so perfect all the time? Bathrooms? How come they have blankets on the beds but they’re still wearing the same clothes they arrived in?
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? Earth.
Oh god, the angst. The gratuitous sex too. How much crossover was there ever between Stargate fans and Gallactica fans anyway?
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
favorite moment: when the base survivors in the first show first went through the stargate and landed on Destiny. So much potential there.
Favorite episode: Time
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More interesting regulars, more humor — particularly a younger O’Neill type action oriented character.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Rush. He was a likable guy at first, he was the obvious genius of the group (carter, mccay; and who didnt like them?), but there’s other “smart-guys” on the ship, mainly Eli. But rush has gotten dark, grim, almost like he has a secret agenda… what in the world is he thinking? Why is he going so “evil” all the sudden. Why does he not care about anybody? Maybe Eli can start using his genius to go against Rushs (evil?) genius.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The ship. As others have said, this ship is huge! I remember an ep where rush was freaking out because of the imminent power failure. People were turning on tons of systems, but they were turned off. Let’s find some new devices to play with, and get in trouble with. While not getting into trouble or exploring new planets, they should be exploring the ship. (and a lot less of exploring each others bodies for no real reason).
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The gloominess, these people should start to get used to their situation. Let’s have people making the best of the situation. That bald white guy killed himself (finally) so let’s all stop being like him, and cheer up. Let’s deal with the situation and move on.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of The episode time was by far, amazing. It had what a lot of other episodes didnt have. The cliffhanger was awesome (cliffhangers make the majority of good tv shows lately (lost, heroes, more…)).
Deck punching rush was awesome. and they even left him behind! unexpected!!! now what will happen? *show ends* NOOO!!!!! “cliffhanger!”
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
The destiny is many many GALAXIES away from our own, in places the ancients never went(as far as we know?), so I don’t want to see any more humans. Let’s see some exotic aliens. Maybe stumble into a universe where there is a galactic society where many different species travel frequently to different star systems, have inter species councils?
6. My conclusion;
Reading this list of things other users have posted, many opinions are unanimous. Like the stones, for example, toss ’em(or make them less frequent). It’s clear this show “will not be another Sg1 or atlantis”. But don’t be “an idiot”. to ignore all of these pleas for change would mark the death of this show. We understand you producers want the show to be a certain way, that’s fine, doesnt mean it will stay on air for long, because its not what the VIEWERS want. For all I care, I could make a show about a dresser and a bed who communicate while nobody is around. YEAH MY SHOW!!! but who’s gonna watch it?
Salutations
Well. So far the series is good. But I would like to see more exploration, and way more gate travel and some sense of characters being ‘cemented’ as to what their roles are, and character development that ‘moves’ the story along.
As a long time SG1 and Atlantis fan. There is not enough humor and too much sex just for the sake of just putting it in the show. If it moves the story along and adds to the story, why not. But if it doesn’t why add it? I am just using it as a example, any plot point for that matter.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? Sgt Greer.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
More gate travel. More action. There is not sense of ‘Awe’ that was present in the two previous shows. The first season dealt with where the Gates originated from, and the people who built them. Even in series two the ‘ancients’ as they were called were mentioned even back then. In season three we learned about ‘ascention’. Just who were they, who were the Asgard? Why did they build the gates let alone the various worlds that they went to.
The story progressed from season to season. The first half of this season is all over the place, too many ‘mini-plots’ with no connection to the main story arc. There needs to be less ‘character development for the sake of character development’ and more character development that makes sense to the overall story and arc of the show.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Too many mini-stories. You want the show to have a ‘harder’ edge. Fine. Just make it pertain to the general arc of the show. Why have Everett Youngs wife have sex with telford if it doesn’t move the story or pertain to the story at hand. Too much of trying to ‘shock’ the audience for the teen crowd. SG-1 was on for ten years for a reason, because it told a bigger story and each characters story played a role in the telling of the overall story arc.
This current show doesn’t have that. We don’t need another BSG. Be your own show. Too much like a soap opera.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Rush and Youngs falling out. The cliff hanger.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
More adventure and gate travel and the exploration of the Ancients and the ship. More character development. More humor.
Develop a team’ that goes through the gate. More character develop and exploration. How about a few aliens. Doesn’t have to be a ton like Atlantis, which there were I feel too many and tended to get cheesy. I mean how many ‘villages’ are there? but there needs to be a ‘bigger story’ to all the little mini arcs being told.
1. Rush
2. The Ship
3. The Stones.
4. The entirety of ‘Time.’
5. ACTION
Thank you for soliciting opinions from your viewers! I am betting that you have gotten far more responses than you have time to read.
I love the premise behind Stargate Universe but I’m finding a lot of the episodes are boring. That’s okay. The best shows often have a rough start. I’m sticking with it.
Here are my answers:
1. I have no opinion, sorry. Right now I don’t like any of them.
2. I want to see more problem solving! The core theme of science fiction is that problems are solved by observing a system (whether it’s nature, technology, or the mind of a person) and figuring out ways to apply that knowledge. I am thrilled that the characters are trapped on a broken ship they don’t understand. I want to see them exploring the ship’s systems and figuring out ways to make them work. I want to see them figure out clever ways to fix things.
3. The scenes on Earth, via communication stones. Don’t get rid of the stones themselves. It’s good that they can communicate with Earth. The stones could be used to enlist the help of people on Earth to reverse-engineer the ship. They could be used by engineers on Earth to deliver solutions to problems they’re having, like NASA engineers helping Apollo 13 astronauts rig up an extra CO2 scrubber. The stones could be used to get decisions from higher up in the chain of command, when resolving disputes and an episode could be about the difficulty of enforcing decisions from distant superiors. But please, no more long scenes on Earth, featuring plots that do not effect life on Destiny.
4. My favorite story moment was when they were discussing the ancient CO2 scrubbers. We actually got to see how the ship works and observe their attempts to fix parts of it.
5. I have a pet peeve about all modern television and film: the characters are stupid and crazy. I will spare you the soapbox, because I’ve just finished typing a 1400 word forum post about it. Basically, I deal with idiots all day and constantly wonder why they haven’t been eaten by alien monsters yet. And then I remember that there are no alien monsters. When I watch Sci-Fi, I want to see the stupid people get eaten. The awesome thing about SG-1 was that all the characters were some kind of genius. It should be like that on SGU but I’m not seeing it. They act like petty normals. Sometimes it’s like watching a reality show. Can’t stand it. I want to see the characters start to perform better. I want to see proof that they deserve to survive. I want to see each and every one of them do something awesome that I can’t do. So far, all their problem solving has not been beyond my own abilities. In fact, most of it was not beyond what I could do in real life. And I still don’t know why they didn’t close the shuttle door by throwing a wrench at the switch. Or poking it with a long stick. Or taping a stick to a Kino floating camera thing and using that to push it. And why they didn’t slow down the air loss by sticking a piece of rubber against it. Or a rag. Or gaffer tape. Solder. Scrap metal. Closed-cell foam from an equipment case. Sealing it perfectly wouldn’t be so important as slowing the leak, which could be done by holding a pad of paper up to it, which would be held there by the negative pressure. Sorry. I obsess over things I like.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Every character! There is a need to have a grey zone and they must stop being either Darth Vader or Jesus. There is a huge grey zone that you are not using at all.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The way an episode needs to be linked to the next, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, the way a subplot in episode let’s say x-2 becomes a major theme in episode x+1. There needs to be continuity. This is what all you studio people don’t get. This is what makes great drama you guys are supposed to be trying to do here. We need to stop this concept of stand-alone eps if you want character development to show integrity.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The duration of a sub-plot element, come on we get it, we’re not stupid, so add some mystery instead. And definitely not focusing on something that will be forgotten in the next episode.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Rush left alone on the planet, although I wouldn’t have explored the moment this way. I would have added many dimensions of intensity into it.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Integrity.
I could write pages for days on that. But no time and I don’t think you’d listen anyways, but hey why don’t you talk to me if you want more!
Martin
I like to see an ancient in SGU. In the whole second half of the SG Atlantis series, there where not a single ancient, after the last encounter in mid-season 3.
1. Vanessa james (I seem to be alone in this)
2. Ye old department of backstory
3. those stones.
4. everybody’s problem with everybody.
5. missions! and some good ‘ol stargate franchise enemies.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
A strong alien character like Thor or Teal’c.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I like where you are going with it except for the “soap opera” bits. Keep it scientific and explorative and phase out the emotional “drama”.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
NO MORE SEX!!!!
Sex killed farscape, and I vomited in my mouth a couple of times having to see it in SGU. Keep it family friendly, I want to share it with my 9-yo kid!
NO MORE SEX!!!!
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
It’s been too long….
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Alien contact.
I’d also like to see deeper exploration of Destiny itself.
What entertainment did they leave aboard? What kind of food did they leave for themselves? What did their “workout room” look like. I’m interested in knowing more about how the ancients designed their ships.
What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I totally agree with the above NO MORE SEX you are killing SGU.. I just finished watching the Atlantis series again lols and i quite like the idea that while you no there are relationships forming there not jumping into bed with each other. I like the way Rodney and Jenifers relationship developed. You know there together but you dont see them rooting. I enjoy SGU but i dont think i could watch it no more if you keep having them sleeping with each other. While yes it may get boring on Destiny surely there is other adverntures these guys can have. Its sort of turning into one big orgy on Destiny. Not realy good for the younger viewers.
1. TJ and Chloe. They have hardly been explored at all so far, and I don’t know what is going to happen in the back half but I know Rush and Greer will get a lot of development. So I think we need to develop the women more.
2. Exploration. There needs to be a real sense of wonder when exploring, and the crew need to start exploring for explorations sake, not just for survival. They need to start fulfilling the Destiny’s original mission. The planets in Air part 3 and Justice were a step in the right direction.
3. The communication stones. I’m not as against them as some people, but I do believe that they should be destroyed somehow, maybe by Rush or some aliens. It would get rid of a problem the series has, and would create a good story for an episode.
4. Rush being left behind by Young. That scene had everything I want from SGU: great character development and interaction, exploration, mystery, and an alien ship! It also had a brilliant twist which set the bar high for the rest of the series.
5. I think that we need to find out more about the Destinys’ original mission. We have found out virtually nothing since Air, and it is a very interesting aspect to the story of SGU and needs more development.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Rush and Young (the seniors). Being seniors amongst a group of kids basically, they bring more legitimacy to the series. In the interest regarding relationship, let them be each others ying and yang (as you are doing now).
But make Young more heroic. We know he is in pain because of his wife, but no need for him to go around and sulk about it all the time. Let him take the pain and focus on the matter at hand, his crew.
Ronald Greer, of all the characters he has the most potential imo. Keep evolving him into a anti-hero. A anti-hero is always fun to watch and is often likeable once you know their true motives.
Oh, and you got to do something about Chloe and Scott. Right now they are just plain boring, with Scott having zero personality and Chloe constantly whining. Let them evolve their relationship, preferably Chloe getting pregnant, and then have Chloe killed, leaving Scott fuelled with feelings of vengeance! 😉
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
More about the ancients and what drove them here.
Let the crew find new pieces of ancient-tech, which is later used in coming episodes over and over (not only once, rendering the piece of tech broken and never again seen).
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The constant attempt to explore the characters, as well as the attempts to desperately trying to build up the relationships between them.
Imo, the relationship between two characters should never be the primary focus, it should be a bonus derived from what the two characters goes through, and experience together. Take Rodney and John from SGA for instance, they grew into beings pals after a couple of seasons, because of what they had experienced together.
Oh, and get rid of the stones. They somewhat eliminate the feeling of isolation and constitutes major logical issues, e.g. why not bring aboard two of the brightest scientists and let them figure out how to take them home.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Honestly, I do not remember…
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
MORE ALIENS! Let them meet other alien societies already.
Lighten up the series a bit, no need for it to be constantly dark and miserable. Implement some jokes and some humoristic elements.
Oh, don’t listen to the ones wanting for less sex in the series. I am glad that there finally is a Sci-fi for us more mature fans.
I applaud your initiative and sincerely hope that you manage to turn this around. Good luck!
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Rush and Young (the seniors). Being seniors amongst a group of kids basically, they bring more legitimacy to the series. In the interest regarding relationship, let them be each others ying and yang (as you are doing now).
But make Young more heroic. We know he is in pain because of his wife, but no need for him to go around and sulk about it all the time. Let him take the pain and focus on the matter at hand, his crew.
Ronald Greer, of all the characters he has the most potential imo. Keep evolving him into a anti-hero. A anti-hero is always fun to watch and is often likeable once you know their true motives.
Oh, and you got to do something about Chloe and Scott. Right now they are just plain boring, with Scott having zero personality and Chloe constantly whining. Let them evolve their relationship, preferably Chloe getting pregnant, and then have Chloe killed, leaving Scott fuelled with feelings of vengeance! 😉
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
More about the ancients and what drove them here.
Let the crew find new pieces of ancient-tech, which is later used in coming episodes over and over (not only once, rendering the piece of tech broken and never again seen).
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The constant attempt to explore the characters, as well as the attempts to desperately trying to build up the relationships between them.
Imo, the relationship between two characters should never be the primary focus, it should be a bonus derived from what the two characters goes through, and experience together. Take Rodney and John from SGA for instance, they grew into beings pals after a couple of seasons, because of what they had experienced together.
And drop the stones!
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Honestly, I do not remember…
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
MORE ALIENS! Let them meet other alien societies already.
Lighten up the series a bit, no need for it to be constantly dark and miserable. Implement some jokes and some humoristic elements.
Oh, don’t listen to the ones wanting for less sex in the series. I am glad that there finally is a Sci-fi for us more mature fans.
I applaud your initiative and sincerely hope that you manage to turn this around. Good luck!
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
The medic, Alaina Huffman’s character, seems at times a cipher, a shadow, a reflection, a buttress–anything but a self. But Huffman is amazing, and the potential for her character is a deep well.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The fact that they’re so far from home. Show us stuff we wouldn’t see near our own galaxy. This was one thing I was hoping SGA would show us with the remove to a new galaxy, but that didn’t happen. By that I don’t mean aliens necessarily–show us phenomena that don’t exist near the Milky Way or Pegasus, but that do exist where the Destiny is.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Much as I love Lou Diamond Phillips, the stones must go. As some have pointed out, they function too easily as a “deus ex machina” device. If they stay, they stay, but it’s like watching two TV shows–one on a ship, the other one in someone else’s body. Pitch me Stargate: Stones if you want, but let that one carve out its own hour. This is Universe. Right?
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The two unexpected moments that pissed me off most, then got me excited because I realized you’d have to write your way out of both of them–Rush’s stranding with the alien ship, and the chair’s malfunction.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
While others want aliens, I want something more risky for this kind of show–hazards that aren’t aliens. See my answer to question 2. (On the other hand, as long as you don’t invent a Universal Translator, human-to-alien contact might be intriguing. But not every week, or even every other week.)
Please, no alien sidekicks a la Teal’c or Ronin. If an alien joins the crew, that should be an occasion for continual tension.
1. The Medic and Young. And Greer. Young finally started to grow a pair at the last episode.
2. How about the goddamn spaceship? And whatever happened to that pod that flew off at the end of the “Senator dies” episode? It’s like you just forgot about it.
3a. Stones. The damn stones have to go or be re-utilized. How about bringing some goddamn engineers and scientists aboard? I’m not saying you have to get Sam Carter or Daniel Jackson aboard but I do not want to watch whiny biatches cry to their mommies in someone else’s body back on earth.
3b. Scott & Chloe. They need to break up or one get killed or captured or something. It’s not the sex. I like sex, but these two actors arent good at it. Maybe you should have Julia Benson hook up with someone.
4. Finding an alien spaceship, the confilict b/n Rush and Young, and then dumping Rush on the planet. This is where SGU started to get good. I also liked the episode Time, I think, where everyone dies but they get stuck looping in time through the stargate or something. That was awesome.
5. How about some encounters with other intelligence? But if the aliens speak english I swear to god…
1. Greer and Rush, they are about the only interesting characters you have.
2. Exploration of the ship.
3. The stones and all the soap opera stuff.
4. My favorite “story moment” was when Greer tricked them into eating the “sweet potato”. This show needs more comic relief like this.
5. More action like in “Time” or intrigue like in “Justice”. I read a post by someone else that suggested some truly alien aliens, as in non-humanoid. Ala H. P. Lovecraft or say “Event Horizon”. Give it a bit of a ghost ship creep factor, now that would be interesting.
Every episode of SG-1, Atlantis, the movies and universe fan here. Hi.
As an aside, vegan haggis exists. it’s sold here in the bay area so with all the scots in Canada…:) Tastes just as nasty, half the guilt.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
To date, the characters I feel connected to are those played by Robert Carlyle ,David Blue, more and more, Jamil/Greer. The character dev on the Ferreira’s character was starting to work on me. (these cats could all become, among other things, bad-ass artists, musicians, athletes as part of, see story line below)
Brian Smith’s character is okay but the smooth operator thing has been fully explored. Like to see the spiritual calling resurface, maybe as part of the calling/human potential story line below
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
Someone else made the comment that “Optimism” was what the show needs. That is on the mark. Rush (not as his intent was Sullied, but what he could have and still can be) embodied that optimism, Blue’s charachter, and for that matter Jamil/Greer’s could come to be the foundation of a greater optimism for the team/crew (please see storyline ideas in #5)
How about Rush comes back, had to set up the Ferreira’s character because “his girl”, the medic was the one who sold all out to the Leutian (sp?) Alliance in the first place and he needed to contain her for everyone’s safety (some angle at redemption) If you don’t bring back Rush and redeem him, I don’t know what to say, except good luck.
Ancient research on ascencion, ship’s prescience, Rush’s being several steps ahead/paternal self-sacrificing altruistic, but focused “rightness”/determination to do what’s right and safe for all, long term.
David Blue’s character becoming more and more like Rush’s (minus the casting of doubts on his ethics/intent and total sullying in the episode where he got left behind (again, redeemed by way of him knowing the ship was there, having brought along something he’d found from the database to access that ship, after learning about it from the database, and what seemed like/was moral lowness was a desperate attempt to remove Ferreira’s character enough to contain the traitorous medic (the blond medic girl, whom may be redeemable but is fully two faced and dangerous at present), which Ferreira’s character wouldn’t have picked up on because he was so distracted with the crap with his reactive wife.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
Less leaning on military shite as a crutch, you don’t need that. The show has an excellent premise and all the potential in the world. Stargate was always just on the bearable side of nausea with all that, but sometimes it’s a turn off here. But so many other good things going on.
I don’t want to be negative, but please make Lou Diamond Philips go away from this show? It’s be like having tried to do a great movie in the 80’s but then Donald Sutherland walks on set in the corduroy jacket, you know the one, elbow patches and all) smoking his pipe and proceeds to be Donald Sutherland all over the movie. Not worth it, just to have a name in the credits. Rather see Colin Hay in the part, which wouldn’t be a bad idea, btw.
Sexual feeling are cool, romance is great, but down with the dating and mating drama a little, and the clock’s ticking thing, up with the higher calling stuff/mind expanding bigger issues stuff, but not to the exclusion of anything entirely. The stuff of someone messing with Ferriera’s wife was totally real and bitchin (as a very foray, not part of a days of our lives mainstay of what the show’s made of). The unthought of ethics breaches of using someone else’s body, who pays the speeding ticket, what if someone “catches” something, and the crap that went down. It’s interesting adn the surrealism was good, but please consider the dev in my answer to #5 as an alternate means, going forward, for personal, non business contact.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
Rush bullshitting the IOC or whatever’s dangerous plan by faking a meltdown, to mullify the annoying wife of the dead senator, and RDA telling Ferriera to make the best of it. That was great. Wish you’d stayed on that with people coming to trust him more and not in vain. There were/are better ways to make/keep it interesting that that kind of self-mutilation of the show. Again, please redeem Rush.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Once RUSH is redeemed and in control (not that he wants any control, except for good and to keep monkeys from messing with the ship, it’s crew, or their shared destiny(no pun intended), and with the aid of what he’s found out before and after getting the ship from the ancient database that he took a comms/access device for with him to that planet meaning to to board it after what he calculated would leave him stranded on that planet, he returns, perhaps at a crucial time – to help, manages (maybe after a small struggle) to convince BLUE and the Ferreira’s character that he had proof the blond medic gal was the one whom sold out the whole program, from comm’s he found, then concealed, that she had tried to initiate contact with the people she sold everyone out to, repeatedly, throughout. Including information that might point to her willingness to sell out Earth itself, if she got the chance
Rush, with Blue now working with him, together,are able to figure out how to override the ships’s “must move on” thing and come to interact with alien civilizations, maybe one where there’s a primitive but highly evolved, maybe like a Nox-like race in terms of powers and vegan and stuff, but that are wildly expressive in terms of the creative arts, and all forms of passionate expression. Are able to help the crew recognize, develop and transcend normal human levels of expressions in a way that stays with them. A lasting artifact being that the entire crew is able to drop into a kind of spiritual/consciousness connection with them, from anywhere in the galaxy, at any time, which helps them learn to transcend tricky situations personally, emotioanally, militarily, etc. In effect, sparking the next step in human evolution as a race, ethically, emotionally, etc that came out of contact which could only have occured if every step of the journey to that point happened just as it did.
This gives meaning to the journey – beyond the whole, perhaps worn “man, we have to get home” angle, meaningful cohesion to the entire crew, as they are bound by it in ways no one outside that group could ever know, and a sense of dedication to the ongoing journey, a way to “connect” meaningfully with loved ones they can’t and accept that they might not see, as it’s part of what was meant to be, for people of earth to move towards their potential and beyond the primitive thinking that’s bound the race/planet so far: a larger ideal. Rush, the ascended ancient consciousness in the ship, the alien race that “awakened” the entire crew (whom can communicate with them, and one another, as needed, from a parallel but different state of consciousness), all of it become, as Rush knew, the greatest step forward in Mankind’s history. Kind of like “Upgrades” from SG1, except not just out of control wristbands with a major downside, but healthy, lasting, deeply powerful new understanding/ability, physically, spiritually, etc.
Getting home deprioritised (not that they don’t love people at “home”). Military fetishism crap weened off. New understanding, adventures, learning about what each of them can be(with growing pains and twists and turns along the way).
I’m not saying break down religion, though who’s to say there isn’t the hand of creation behind the hand of evolution, but the gift the Nox-like race gave the crew, what they taught them to see and grow in themselves, and teach others, also enables them to share interludes with loved ones on earth, directly, so in recognizing their destiny aboard Destiny, at least a deep spiritual connection to loved ones needn’t be lost. They won’t need the stones, as this is more real than real for both parties. Haven’t thought that out but seems an okay idea. There should probably be some exclusion where they can’t start teaching people of earth the gift yet (they never report the “powers” to anyone on earth,lest they be feared or restrained, or “used” if they ever get back), because of some downside or risk of exploitation, but maybe a subtle effect would be imparted on their loved ones and they could start to make subtle inroads to change on earth. Those could be alluded to in short, inspiring but not-allowed to flourish(the loved one’s unknowingly starting to become more than they were, ways, in interwoven sequences.
As the motif of the potential, and the need forhuman evolution is woven across time and space, subtly of course
Sources of power, defensive weaponry, healing and what they realize paradoxially comes with the powers- longer life, max human potential in every sense including the arts.
When they finally do find a way back to earth, can loop back in time but still bring everything they’v learned, as a military/political/alien cataclysm threatens to obliterate life on earth, the ship and crew arrive, appeal to all and are ignored, and when all is about lost, they intervene and save the planet. Changes are made. The teaching of how to max human potential spreads, and the planet takes a leap forward.
That’s as far as I’ve thought it out, kind of sick right now.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? Eli
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more? Exploring the ship and dealing with new discoveries there!
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized? The Kinos are great but the stones suck total ass.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? The entire Time episode was awesome! Best time travel episode ever!!! When everyone died on the first team and then Eli stops the Kino playback with his, “WTF?!” line… epic!
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
A. More ship! More ship! More ship! It’s all about location!
B. The Wraith were scary (ooooh vampires in space) but I think the setting calls for something far more “grand.” I’m just thinking out loud here but what about sentient ships? Whole fleets of living ships? Or something stolen from a page of a Heavy Metal magazine? Cyborg-Lizard people? After Avatar, maybe some furries? Not blue though, oh god please!
C. Cybernetic lifeforms…
D. Tolkien’s “Battle of the five armies” in space! Yeah! Five waring factions and Destiny flies right into the middle of it. Each home planet has a ring on it and has been affected differently by it’s presence on their planet (because they were all at different stages of their evolution when they were placed) meaning that the entire war is kind the Ancients fault…. sweet!
The whole ‘using someone else’s body to have sex’ thing probably ought to be minimized. It’s weird, icky and uncomfortable. And what gives with the stones anyway? You’ve got so many useless people on the ship with no worthwhile skills in their current situation – every one of them should be rotating through on earth while genuine experts with useful skills switch places with them. You could bring in some of our favorite extras from SG-1 – make it so Dr Rush has a decent crew of scientists and engineers to work with who won’t just take him at his word and be too intimidated to challenge his conclusions. A Carter cameo would be nice and might draw a few of the old viewers who’ve panned the show so far.
And what about the naturally awkward and humorous aspects of people trying to figure out who’s in who’s bodies should be played up. i.e. a guy finally gets up the courage to ask out one of the girls on the ship, only to discover that she’s traded places with some survival expert from Earth who isn’t interested in men but finds the situation amusing anyway.
How does everyone always seem to know exactly who’s in a body at any given time? The stones are a neat concept, but being done in the most frustrating ways I can imagine.
And for crying out loud, quit with the schmaltzy stuff. When it’s relevant to the actual plot throw it in. But when you’re just building up backstory do it quick and be done with it.
The show overall is too slow-paced and dark. You can do an episode or two like that when it’s warranted, but you really haven’t had a single truly enjoyable episode yet. Almost every episode of SG-1 was exciting and fun, and yet SGU is just a dark and plodding sense of doom. At least with SG-1, you could have horrible things happen, but they always led to a satisfying conclusion. SGU is just frustrating. It’s like every episode is the one where Carter and O’Neill gate to Antarctica, but without the happy ending.
Well, where do I start…
I like the basic story, its compelling although a bit of a rehash of Star Trek Voyager…
Unexpected crew gets thrown umpteen distance from home, seeks out new life and experiences and learns to just “get along”
but… I’m OK with all that if we can get things moving…
My god, I have never been an impatient person, but the pacing of the first 10 episodes has been just short of a slug.
The characters…None of them, not 1 seem like SG program material, they are all “As*Holes… Self involved, impatient and hostile to each other for unknown and quite honestly unimportant reasons, the military personnel don’t seem to be anything but the rejects from the local national guard, none of them, not even the main characters are professional soldiers, they are all just idiotic sometimes, whats up with that, don’t you think having some savvy characters that actually know what they are supposed to be doing is a good thing?, please give use people we can depend on in this new unknown universe…
Its ok to have some deeply flawed characters, they can drive the storyline, but egad, everybody here is massively flawed, they are all characters that I would be happy to see die off in horrible ways.
It all seems like office politics in space, I never Liked the IOC crap in Stargate, too much like home, politics, politics, politics, who cares, don’t we watch shows like this to take us away from all that crap?
I actually was happy to see the senators daughter get center-punched by an alien in the Time Episode, no more stupid vapid, and pointless “oh I dont even know why Im here, oh, wait I can be sensitive and quasi romantic with Eli, but I will get my freak on with the hot pilot guy with almost no lead up, oh.. wait does that make her a slut..
Yes I think it does..egad why keep her around, just let the aliens eat her ASAP!
The hot pilot guy is the closest character with his head screwed on straight but you made him a womanizer and a total screw up relationship wise, why do we even need that here?
Please stop all the MELODRAMA on earth, kill off the stones use, they were important initially, but all this oh my personal life back on earth is just getting in the way of the stories that they are supposed to be going through on the ship..
Stay on the ship, stay on the gate planets, stay in the damn stories that you are creating.
Earth is billions of light years away from these characters..
Let it stay there, please…
Lets tone down the Angst as well, it seemed that by the 4th episode, that the characters were settling into their roles on the ship, please let rusch take on the mantle of the ancients expert with pride…and please let them take risks with discoveries, thats the whole damn point, with risk comes opportunities for adventure!
All the Evil Doctor Smith Overtones can be dropped for rusch its boring and quite campy..
The commander, please, he is the biggest puss weed I have ever seen as a ships commander, are you trying to make him into Janeway? Please fix that.
Eli is an interesting character, but please don’t let him become Wesley Crusher, been there done that.
Show a motivated side to him, let him get the girl for cryin out loud.
Sensitive weenie man character can go away anytime…
Have an idea to scale back stones use but retain them for emergencies, strickly business, etc.: What if someone (on Earth, preferably – see below) dies while the link is on?
Telford (if that’s Lou Diamond Phillips – two birds with one…stone…oh boy, so sorry!)’s physical body dies, the real telford, while his consciousness is on Destiny in someone else’s body. His physical body dies. But the link doesn’t sever right away, nor does the Destiny member’s body die. Telford’s posthumous consciousness begins a narration, but it isn’t good.
Sits up in the body and says some scary threatening shite, then with surprised, widening eyes, relents/disapears/gives way to the real occupant of that body’s mind, whom looks around, jilted, stunned, tired, but at home, and collapses. Medic callng for help…scene transition
and Voila: no more gratuitous stone usage/Pandora’s box. Only when really necessary for business, the Earth bound host never leaving the Earth-bound facility by new protocol.
Ideally Rush suggests the new rule/protocol, after his return with the alien ship at a crucial moment, a suggestion he was a mile ahead of Ferriera’s character all along, redemption is established and this time sustained, the intimation he was once an ascended being, though as the person whom suggested it (excellent) said, he himself may not really realize it yet/dismiss the idea. He and Eli being working (happily, together, closer, having fun even..father/son dynamic, especially if anything is going to happen to eli’s mom) long hours, making breakthroughs. Applying things Rush’s intuited from what he’s learned from the ship’s computer and more, as both are caught up in accelerated discovery that benefits everyone and opens up a the universe of possibility, once control can be exerted over their course and such
All the best stories by every medium, have main characters that represent splintered aspects of self for the reader/viewer.
This self needs the gestalt of that to include hope, wonder, a willingness to sacrifice self for what’s right and good and others – connection to a higher self, of solutions unseen, goodness as powerful, not viewed as “weak”. Example: Oma Desala kicking Goa’uld ass, through Daniel, on that Jaffa holy planet. Less chaos, more cohesion and still a storyline that overwhelms with the unexpected.
BSG may have market share but to be engulfed in that kind of fearful, base, splintered self is to be a pecking order, office politic, heady, sycophant in/to a hierarchical power structure as highest ideal. There’s no sense of humor. Honestly if it weren’t for gratuituous sex under and overtones, East/West sound libraries and good 3D I can’t imagine the allure of a show who’s backstory includes a robotic dog with an 8 bit bark, with grey duct tape around each of his joints, even the ears. Wouldn’t waste my time on it.
You have, and can, bury them by losing yourself in your work, letting your characters, everyone involved, get as into it as they can, and all having fun with it at the same time. Tilk joking about Oprah as they enter the Gate? Eli, Rush, and Greer can supply the humour. Eli’s aside about macs was awesome.
What you’ve started is frelling amazing. Please continue to shine and let your only reference point be the furthest reaches of your imagination.
1. Rush. And maybe Eli needs more “brilliant, save the crew” moments instead of “never had a girlfriend” moments.
2. Intelligent and mysterious story arcs. The coolest thing about BSG was not the cinematography or the flashbacks. The writers need to watch BSG!!!
3. Please downplay realism. It feels like a scripted reality tv show and it doesn’t help the story or dull and depressing characters.
4. Rush getting knocked out by Young and left behind on an alien planet with an alien ship.
5. Stop reusing plots from Star Trek and SG1/Atlantis! Use your imaginations! This show hasn’t been original or surprising. Every episode can be predicted from the first 5 minutes (except for the episode where Rush gets left behind). How about making some characters actually likable? At the moment I couldn’t care less if you killed off every character in the show, except Rush, they are all annoying.
Q1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
A1. At first I want to say Rush, but since he is a big name actor, it’s a sure bet you will anyway.
I think the Young Soldier needs more (there I cannot even think of his name)
Q2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
A2. I like the gritty “realism” the show has going so far, as long as the stories keep in with the Stargate concept (the reason we watch) and does not go down the big brother Reality TV direction….
Q3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
A3. Avoid too much focus on one or two characters, too many shows pick favourites to run stories with, dispite the show being about a group of people.
Q4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
A4. Can’t say I have one over any other.
too soon for me to tell
Q5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Q5. I can only think of a format where like B5, plan out the whole season and then on the fly make them fit with a sub story appropraite due to the Crew being stuck in an alien ship… but avoid the ST:Voyager method of wrapping it all up nice and neat inside of one episode
I think that having some sort of accident with the stones
(that makes the in use stones go POP) would be a good idea
also could we have somebody that speaks ancient get on board (or some sort of mind driven translator thing get found)
also even if you strand the Lucean Allience guys on the ship we need some sort of “the gate on X planet can dial in every X0 days (with an X of 3-9)” thing heck have them bring some of the “stuff” that got forgotten when they evaced from whatever that planet was
also just for the fans could you please give an answer as to what the 9CA is i think 5 are known what are the other 4??
1. Which character…?
What if the ship is sentient with the kinos occasionally reflecting that?
2. What aspect…exploited more?
I’d like to learn more back story about the Ancients and why they’re seeding the universe with stargates, although I expect we’ll get more of that in time.
3. What aspect…minimized?
I think the sexuality should be brought back closer to the PG range for reasons already expressed.
4. What was your favorite “story moment”…?
I’m a sucker for paradox plots, so I guess when they were watching themselves die…
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
I’m sure the little pod at the end of the first episode has not been forgotten. With that in mind, however, there was a period of time when everyone was coming on board where Rush was nowhere to be found. We all assume the Rush they found on the observation deck was the same Rush that came on board with everyone else. Whether he was a doppelganger (for good or ill), a time traveler, from an alternate reality, or simply a newly informed or “instructed on how to act until a certain point” Rush, nobody really knows.
-Glad you enjoyed your Haggis. Never could stomach it, myself, (sorry).
1. I’d like to see more about Lt. St. James. She seems too cool and protective to not explore more. Riley would be good, too.
2. My favorite stories of any franchise are the ones that deal with either time loops (like in Time) or in AUs. An AU where the Ancients didn’t ascend, and the wires get crossed, and maybe Destiny Prime timeline gets some hints about what’s going on with their ship without hitting the jackpot–that would be cool.
3. The whole Eli lusting after Chloe who is boinking Scott–so over the geek as best friend to shallow twit motif. Not original, and honestly, Eli deserves better. Scott and Chloe deserve each other. Let it go and move on to something more productive.
Also, the stones back to Earth? Crutches. At some point, these characters are going to have to stand on their own. Yes, there are issues and relationships back home. But it’s just annoying. Feels like the whole story is being held back.
4. I enjoyed most of Time, except all the agnsting that’s happening because of the subplot I mentioned in point 3. However, I loved the ending of Justice. Nice twist!
5. I want more of Destiny’s people settling in for the long haul. I want them to get shoulder-deep in the technology because they understand it’s the only way to survive and thrive under these conditions. I want them to gain at least some control of Destiny, enough that they don’t have to panic about basics like air and water any more. And I really, really want them to prove Young wrong about being the wrong people in the wrong place.
1: How about the Ancients???
2: The ship, their has been little exploration maybe some more repairs really getting into the ships different areas.
3: The drama really is a downer especially the unneeded sex scenes. I know you guys want raw and gritty but its a waste of time…. The stones are also a damper less time on earth I could care less.
4: Mainly Rushes research the chair was awesome too…
5: I think it would be great if they found some ancients in stasis or just some type of run-in with the ancients even an ascended one… Maybe finding a fighter bay full of 1st gen Puddle Jumpers…
to sum up the consensus
LESS FRACKING MORE FRAGGING
Rush/Eli both need to be fleshed out (heck anybody that has more than say 20 minutes of screen time need to be fleshed out)
Chuck most of the ComStones out an airlock (or limit use somehow)
Wheres all the ancient tech?? we have yet to see even a “sonic screwdriver” (okay the Kinos are cool and the little DHD pad things are sort of nifty but…)
*********************************************
1. The architects of Destiny, would they not have designed an interactive holographic interface. Like Thor in Unending. A personification of the reasoning behind the ship. something we can look to the past and see where they’re heading. Not just endless exploration. So basically a yet to be penned character who is embodiment of the future. Someone to share his vision of the future so everyone “believes in the mission”.
2. The ship; where is the bridge??! Also I hope the engine room is cool, not just cgi.
(I’m going to be a little negative)
If the Ancients where all intelligent where is the planning? I mean if they knew it was a one way mission(possibly) Where are the medical, food, weapon supplies? I understand the difficulty of creating a vehicle that’s scifi in a “pre puddle jumper” tech setting real thinkers would have transport and harvesting/collecting methods established(not just Eli’s Kino stretcher ). Having two shuttles? that’s limited. If this might possibly be a generational star ship where are the simulators to teach the young people. Where’s the shuttle assembly room to build more. Where is the gymnasium? the physical and mental training centers. I know it’s just a show and you could say, ” Where were those things in Atlantis” but that’s in the past.
Where are the dimensions of the ship that enforce individuals humanity that says were are here far away but we signed up for this so enjoy. The designers knew this is what it was to be used for, so where are the aspects of the ship that help a human keep their marbles.
3.Without the communication stones there would be no O’Neil. They’re good and the show would not have the dimension it has without them. The paradox that they’re so freakishly far yet a stone throws away with the stone. I cannot say what I want removed.
4. Watching a second time it is not as moving. But in “darkness”? When Rush is freaking out(going through withdrawals) “there is no more power” and faints. For me it was just powerful that he’s so upset that he cannot do anything to stop the disaster and this mission is his chance his everything and he’s failed.
Also in alternate time line when Rush is like “I thought we were in trouble” and jumps through the gate possibly to his death. Then the Young(?) is the only one who know what he’s talking about. That made you think there was hope for them.
5. Maybe an alternate reality(I know it’s been done to death) where the Ancients did go on the destiny and spread out farther. Also the fact that someone did come aboard the ship in the thousand of years since it’s launch.
I think the show is great(to an extent) but you guys had to go in a different direction to save the franchise in the long run. There are so many simulates between sg 1 and sg a I think it’s good that a radical shift was made.
GOOD WORK
ghost ship creep factor,
Well I’m coming into this a bit late but I just thought I’d put in my pennies.
1. Eli! I love him just the way he is. No changes needed. I liked Daniel at the beginning of SG1 but by the end he just seemed to have morphed into another soldier. Also like TJ, Rush and Young.
2. Relationships between the crew. No not those kind of relationships! I like the whole Young, Rush and Eli thing that’s going on with both of seeming to try to get Eli on their side. Eli invents more cool stuff 🙂
3. I think everything is fine. Maybe a little less stones (I know everyone has said that). I think they are good but maybe in smaller doses. Less gratuitous bonking. Less Chloe. She’s just rather boring to be honest.
4. Rush getting left behind in Justice! The whole episode of Time was awesome.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
I like the direction that SGU is heading in by creating a pocket of support for Rush. But I don’t even know the Asian girl’s character name – and she seems to be backing him quite strongly – so if we could get more about her character, perhaps I’ll remember her name!
On the whole, it’s the first season, so I expect more character development all across the board.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
“Space” was a great episode in theory because we finally saw some interactions with other life forms. Sadly it was a bit convoluted and some elements of the story were way too simple/stupid. Chloe going towards the pothole thing was just waaay too stupid a plot device.
More interaction with planets and alien encounters in general would be great. The episode “Time” was great in that it echoed back to episodes of ST:TNG – classic sci-fi type of “figure it out using technology n’ brains.”
SGU isn’t ST:TNG, but it also isn’t Stargate – it has a combination of many sci fi shows and this should be exploited. I get the sense that it’s a lot like BSG in that there is a quest for earth element plus Lost in Space. All combine to make each episode unique and full of potential.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I don’t know how but you need to give these folks more clothes. I can’t stand the fact that the civilians are always wearing the same outfits and never ruin them. Eli’s shirt was cute for the first 3 episodes but really, give them something new to wear!
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
“Time” was a great episode. Not only was there some interaction with a planet but the planet had life and there was some serious conflict but with the classic ST:TNGesque ‘theory of the mobius’ element that made it such a hit. That episode alone keeps me intrigued.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Add more characters.
A neat way to introduce them, along with some new clothes and supplies, would be to have Destiny land on a planet that has some human-like life.
Let there be some interaction – little conflict – make it a happier episode with some sort of festival going on and introduce more to the love story and get Col Young with that girl he used to date and have more Eli angst over Chloe yada yada.
Episode ends with everyone wearing some new digs, there’s tension about who is bonkin’ who, and some stowaways find their way on board as well.
Remembered something that might also be a realistic topic: Tampons. There are women on board, and at least once a month they’ll need them. But they’re on the edge of the galaxy, so they’ll need to come up with some diy solution soon.
I find that with the civilians against the military, it’s turning into Lord of the Flies. There needs to be more science, more humor, and more exploration. There is also too much politics involved. The cast hardly ever even goes through the gate any more. There should be more information about Destiny and it’s purpose and what was being done on the planets that it is visiting. My favorite episode was the Groundhog Day-style episode.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more?
Eli or Greer. Eli is the first character we encounter, and at least for the first episode is our point of view, which I think is made more effective because Eli is so much like the primary audience. It seems as the first half of the season and the first several episodes of the second half progressed he was pushed to the backseat and generally acted only on Young’s orders. Eli needs to step up and become a major player once again. There is a lot of room for his character to develop.
Greer is an interesting character. I think we’ve gotten that he is loyal to Young, and Young alone. He’s established early on as a good follower, who prefers to solve problems with a more “direct” approach. I think it would be fascinating to see him in a position of authority in a situation where he is forced to think beyond his guns-a-blazing approach. And what was that picture he was looking at?
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
I think many people have said the ship, so I don’t think that needs to be addressed further.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
The communication stones, by far. I think the strength of SGU compared to SG1 and SGA is the feeling of isolation. Especially being isolated from Stargate Command means that the rules need not apply. I think that being alone on the ship, without any guidance from Earth, means that the characters can establish a uniquely human experience, rather than the idealistic experience of SG1 and SGA.
Also, it feels like when the characters are back on Earth, there are no consequences to their actions. How can events on a planet affect a ship billions of light years away? Therefore, why have character development on Earth when Earth is essentially meaningless to the plight of our stranded characters?
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
The ship refueling. I thought it was interesting to see how people reacted to having to choose between who lived and who died, and to see how those left behind came to terms with what they thought was their impending demise.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole?
Unconventional aliens would be nice to see. I recently watched “Solaris”, and was intrigued by the idea that alien intelligences would not necessarily be humanoid, or energy (ascended). We’re a long way away from the Milky Way and Pegasus, and in that distance there has to be something that breaks the rules.
Granted, I have no idea what is waiting in the back half of season one, so these may very well have been realized by that point, but as of right now (up to episode 13:faith) these are my thoughts.
1. I would like to see Eli some more. You see him battling with things within himself frequently, but rarely do we see or hear it outwardly. He seems like an interesting character with a potential primary role, and who will likely appeal to a large viewer audience. It would be nice to see him progress somewhat like a Daniel Jackson type character, where he doesn’t quite fit in, but eventually becomes a major asset to “off world” (ship?) missions and whatnot.
2. The relatively unpredictable story line and I like how each episode has it’s own plot, but the series/season as whole does as well. Don’t do away with either, nor over exploit one. It seems like a nice balance so far. Additionally, we are starting to see the rise of a little more technology, or ship control in each episode, it would be very cool to see that continue to advance and progress. Firstly, for the sake of seeing new and exciting technology, and secondly because having it as a slow trickle progression keeps it interesting for longer. When there’s no more room to ‘advance’ technologically, i find i begins to detract from the technology they already have. So yeah, keep that up.
3. Generally speaking, the first half of season one was … how to put this… depressing? Not sure if that is how i want to say it at all, but sufficed to say, i think the “minimal supplies” plot needs to be slowly worked away from, considering it was done in Atlantis a lot. I would like to see more (not exclusively though) triumph as a whole, less loss.
4. About to crash into a sun… oh no they’re all doomed… there they go… and they’re fine! Yay. The whole part dedicated to finding out that the ships is powered by stars was very cool, and i didn’t quite expect that outcome. Also with characters split on who lives/dies. I enjoyed that whole segment a lot, thank you.
5. Mythology/history of the alien(s) species they encounter. And maybe a little more about the ancients (if there’s much else that can be revealed). Meanwhile some more ‘unusual’ technology and alien species(perhaps coupled together). In the long run, it would be nice to see them make some allies too.
>Thanks a lot by the way for the whole series. That may sound a bit silly, but i have had a few tough times to deal with over the past few years, and Stargate has been something to look forward to and enjoy on a regular basis. I hope universe doesn’t lead to the end of the Stargate basis – i know all good things must come to an end – but i hope this one somehow defies that.
I can’t believe I missed this posting. Well, maybe this is too late but perhaps you’ll get a kick out of it anyway.
1. Which character would you like to see explored more? 100% Chloe. I love most of the character’s in one way or another, but to me she is the largest blank slate in the cast. We don’t know what she can learn to do. We just know that currently she doesn’t have a lot of useful skills so far. Although the last episode I saw was “Lost”, so obviously she’s picking things up. Keep it up.
2. What aspect of the show would you like to see exploited more?
The variety that I’ve seen so far. The mix of fear episodes, exploration episodes, and paradise episodes has been very good and keeps things interesting. When it is skillfully interlaced with the personal relationships, it really works well.
3. What aspect of the show would prefer to see minimized?
I don’t think personal relationships need to be minimized, but I do think there are times when I feel people are “saying” more than they really would. And at times, it feels like the exposition is walking all over the plot, thereby sacrificing the singular episode for the sake of a larger storyline.
4. What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season? This seems simplistic, but the Armstrong-Wallace-Young exchange at the start of Human. The first half seemed so conflict-laden, it’s hard to pick one of those moments. But give me a moment where people forget, even for a moment, where they act like themselves and it can tell you much more about a person than constant duress.
5. What element (I’m leaving this one wide open) would you like to see added to the series as a whole? I would like to see more exploration on what isolation actually does to the psyche. This shouldn’t be an every episode thing. However, in one episode you can show someone becoming isolated. Possibly a few bad experiences combined with a group that’s too small causing someone to lose it.
Also, odd romantic pairings that seem to occur when people are under a great deal of stress. The one that currently makes me laugh every time I think of it is Wallace and James because I can’t think of any reason James would want to put up with him and yet I can still see it (both things she might actually like about him and vice-versa besides seeming so ill-matched). The insanity of an Armstrong/Scott and Wallace/James double-date comes to mind, and I just can’t stop writing uncomfortable comedy as soon as the image sinks in.
Quick addendum… yes, I was typing quickly and I needed to check my grammar. But I wanted to clarify something on #5.
Yes, isolation has been done in a form or fashion with Sgt. Spencer, but I’m more speaking about social isolation that’s not necessarily brought on by simply being biochemically out of balance. I’m talking actual events causing a bit of a neurosis that gets worse.
This second season is much improved over the first. In fact, the revolt by the civilians against the Military was one of the best sci-fi stories I have seen on TV in some time.
Hey Joseph,
I realize you asked specific questions, but what if I have a great storyline/cliffhanger for the end of Season 2 (next year 2011).
Marcus
Since you approve all of the comments, here goes.
Here’s my idea for the Season 2 Finale.
[Sorry, Marcus. I don’t approve all comments – and, in particular, those containing pitches for the show.]
atlas Dream
By Vernon Nielsen
This was a dream I had the other day which was remarkably tied to my theories on consciousness. I thought it was interesting and might make for an interesting show.
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[edit. Hi, Vernon. Thanks for this and I’m sure it’s great but, unfortunately, I don’t read unsolicited submissions.]