Many of you have asked: “What is it like working with author John Scalzi?”. Well, while I can tell you it’s been both fun and informative, I can’t really offer much in the way of details given the secretive nature of his work. As Stargate: Universe’s Creative Consultant, John reads and weighs in on all of the scripts, in addition to providing input on various story ideas. He’s a very knowledgeable guy who can always be counted upon to offer informed advice on everything from vectors of inertia to the politics of woodland creatures.
Take the episode I’m presently working on: Resurgence. The writers had beaten out the story and I was in the midst of writing the outline when I came up against a TBD. A TBD, for those not-in-the-know, is a story element that has yet to be fully realized, a crucial albeit mysterious little piece of the narrative puzzle whose details are shelved for future identification. Like, say, when you actually sit down to write the outline. TBD. To Be Decided. And it was time to decide. I spent the better part of the morning wracking my brain, trying to come up with something clever and cool (and made sense). And then it suddenly dawned on me. Hey, why am I so miserable? We have a Creative Consultant! Why not make him miserable too?
I sent off the following email to John Scalzi [note: in order to avoid giving away any spoilers, I offer a slightly edited version of our exchange].
“Joe Mallozzi here. I was sitting at my desk agonizing over my latest Stargate outline when it suddenly hit me. Hey, why don’t I share the love and have John agonize over it as well.
So the basic premise has Destiny [redacted]. While [redacted], they [redacted] that opens [redacted]. They [redacted] in [redacted]. The reason? Well, here’s where you come in. I was discussing the idea with Brad and we threw out the idea of [redacted] that [redacted]. Of course, the big question then is why doesn’t [redacted]? Perhaps [redacted]? Alternately, we were considering the possibility of [redacted], a result of [redacted], that somehow [redacted] between the [redacted]. Thoughts? And, no we can’t have space dolphins magically appear and [redacted]. I already pitched that out and, for some reason, Brad wasn’t enthused. I think maybe Battlestar already did it.”
Moments later, I received a response from John:
“First, this show’s bias against space dolphins SICKENS me and always has.
[Redacted] won’t work tremendously well because [redacted] without something to [redacted] (and [redacted] would [redacted]).But I did think of something that might work for your purposes; Destiny, as you know, has [redacted]. Why not [redacted]?
Opportunities for drama include:
1. Redacted
2. It can give you a “[redacted]” issue, in either a) there’s [redacted] and/or b) you can have [redacted];
3. Either way it’ll have to be [redacted] who [redacted].
Let me know if this helps.”
Well, you’ll no doubt agree, this helped tremendously. I wrote back:
“Love it. However, I need the [redacted] to be [redacted] so that they don’t simply [redacted]. I want them to be [redacted]. That said, what would be the likelihood of their being able to [redacted]?”
And he replied:
“If [redacted], I think it could be pretty likely. Just have your [redacted] be [redacted], and have that [redacted] be [redacted]. [Redacted] a lot [redacted].”
So. there you have it. A rare glimpse a the creative process at work. Magical, isn’t it?
Anyway, I wrote the script and received John’s notes on Thursday. All great. I’ll be incorporating them into the next draft which comes out next week.
Speaking of which – I fear that this script may end up being a little short. Anyone have any suggestions for an extra scene?
Mailbag:
Mishmee writes: “One my brother and I loved as kids was the 1979 The In-Laws, with Peter Falk and Alan Arkin.”
Answer: One of Carl’s favorites.
Zoomeister writes: ”
1.) Are we going to get a Ben Browder (Cameron Micthell) appearance on SGU or in ANYTHING Stargate-verse related in the near future? I happen to be a huge fan of the character and actor and I was pretty disappointed to learn that he’s apparently not going to be appearing in Stargate: Revolution. Will we be seeing any more Browder/Cam any time soon?
2.) Are we going to get a fun, Riley-based episode any time soon?”
Answers: 1) It’s possible. Time will tell.
2) No plans for a Riley-based episode per se, but it’s very possible we’ll see Riley or any of our supporting cast play a pivotal role in a given episode.
Becky writes: “You probably have already answered this question, but what happens if, while using the stones, one of the hosts dies?”
Answer: Good question. It remains to be seen, but past experience would suggest it would kill both participants.
ZeroPointBatteries writes: “ok joe great epp sofar but why didn’t carter just beam out the two pilots that were on their way back to the hammond?”
Answer: She certainly could have tried, but the time spent locking onto their lifesigns and transporting aboard were precious seconds needed to escape. Faced with the tough call, she elected to take the sure thing and waste no time retreating, saving the lives of all those aboard the Hammond.
Kymm writes: “Why would the connection not break when Telford/Rush died?”
Answer: Another incident that points to the possibility that, rather than simply severing the connection, killing one will kill both.
crayonbaby writes: “What’s your take on writers of the scriptwriting persuasion getting into the comic trade?”
Answer: Scriptwriters writing novels. Comic book writers scripting movies. Authors writing for television. I think it’s great.
Arctic Goddess writes: “A question regarding your comic book series. Have you had to lay out any of your own money to get this off the ground, or is it more like writing a novel and getting your agent to sell it for you?”
Answer: Our agent and lawyer negotiated the deal.
Former SGU Watcher writes: “No explaination why the Lucian Alliance would want to go to Destiny when it is known to them it will be a one way trip with only a 0.0001% chance they can return. What could they gain by going there?”
Answer: Just because an explanation isn’t immediately offered doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist.
Former SGU Watcher writes: “With the LA knowing the situation aboard the Destiny from Telford, they took even LESS equipment and supplies than the humans from Icarus?”
Anwer: Because, like the humans from Icarus Base, while they may have planned to head through the gate at some point, they didn’t plan on doing it so soon. The attack on the base was unexpected and they were forced to escape through the gate with what they had at hand.
HBMC writes: ”
The way the Lucian Alliance succeeded in Incursion 1 was just absurd, especially when you consider at the start of the ep we saw it was possible to have a person unconscious on the ground after a few mins of venting air.
You vent the air for half that amount of time, and every LA member is then on the ground gasping for air, which incapacitates them, which then allows Young’s group to rush in and take them all without firing a shot.”
Answer: Ah, the benefits of Monday morning quaterbacking. Young vents the atmosphere in Telford’s quarters in order to kill him – bring him to the brink and back – because he has no other options. That is the only proven way to overcome the brainwashing. And there was no guarantee it would even work.
The same logic would apply to the attackers in the gate room. Yes, he could have vented the atmosphere immediately and killed them as per his initial plan, but when he saw Telford come through the gate, he elected to offer the Lucian Alliance the opportunity to surrender. It wouldn’t have cost him anything but time and could well have saved Telford’s life. If they’d refused, he would simply go back to Plan A and vent the atmosphere – which he does, but too late because the attackers have technology he wasn’t expecting them to have.
Immediately venting the atmosphere and waiting until they were presumably incapacitated would have made even less sense. How would you know who is incapacitated and who isn’t incapacitated? How could you be certain that some Lucian Alliance members couldn’t be holding their breath, playing possum, in the same amount of time it would take for Telford to suffocate?
HBMC writes: “Sure, Telford is gasping for air alongside them, but really, removing the oxygen from a room doesn’t kill people instantly. 20 seconds would’ve been enough time.”
Answer: But the Lucian Alliance is still armed. Why risk it when you can either: a) give them the opportunity to surrender and save Telford or b) simply vent the atmosphere and kill them all?
imadaman writes: “Why didn’t the F-302 pilots use the Hyperdrive on the ships to jump out from the AoE? (Area of Explosion)”
Answer: Presumably they believed they could make it back to the ship in time or their hyperdrive engines could have been damaged in the attack.
jinx writes: “Why is the “Lootin’ Liance” using earth style weapons?”
Answer: The Alliance, as the name implies, is made up of a coalition of various groups, so it’s very likely they’ll have access to very different weapons and resources.
jinx also writes: “What was the purpose of the Camille character…”
Answer: She is the one pushing for negotiation in order to save the lives of the hostages. And we’ll see her step up next episode as well.
jinx also writes: “In comparison with the Camille character yes, she is lesbian but I felt you really didn’t give us much past who she sleeps with. What was it like growing up being an Asian in a traditional family when her goals were far more western.”
Answer: We’ve established that Camille is in a healthy, grounded and supportive relationship which is in stark contrast to her lonely existence aboard the ship. Back on Earth, we see beyond that cold shell to the warm, caring, and loved individual she really is. That is, in my opinion, far more interesting than finding out whether or not her parents supported her in her career decision. You’re oversimplifying by saying all that Life accomplished was to show who Camille happens to be sleepinh with. That would be akin to saying all those ten years of SG-1 accomplished was to show who those people were working with.
kabra writes: ” So just to make sure I got this correct, Telford is now aboard Destiny physically and mentally? So how does this open the doors for more Destiny/Earth travel????”
Answer: It doesn’t. The power source – the planet – was destroyed. But, to answer your first question – yes, Telford is now aboard Destiny.
Shannon writes: “Where do you guys get your World of Warcraft references?”
Answer: I thought it would be a funny gag, then did a little research to make sure it actually made sense to you WoW players.
Dodoalda writes: ”
1) Did LA guys found those “door openers” somewhere or they just created them using Telford’s informations about the Destiny he told them?
2) Is that elevator mechanical or it’s more like SGA’s transporters?
3)And my traditional at the end: Is Joel Goldsmith planning to release the SGU soundtrack?”
Answers: 1) Telford was unaware they possessed this technology.
2) Mechanical. And it can go sideways!
3) Don’t know. Sorry.
Major D. Davis writes: “Im like CUT THE CONNECTION AND THEN VENT THE ATMOSPHERE! Then revive telford like you did at the beginning of the episode.”
Answer: As I already said – easier said than done. Just because it worked the first time doesn’t mean it would the second. Sometimes, attempts to ressucitate people don’t work – and they stay dead. Given the information Young had, he lost nothing by giving the LA an opportunity to surrender. What he wasn’t banking on was the technology they possessed. They surprised him. Happens in battle a lot.
kabra writes: “What’s the difference between “back ordered” and “out of stock”? Either way the item isn’t in the inventory and you still have to wait for it to arrive. Is one or the other suppose to make me feel better as a customer?”
Answer: Yes. “Back ordered” should comfort you in the knowledge that the item in question is already enroute.
lkk222 writes: “why didn’t they just vent the atmosphere, and as the Luciens were grasping for air, go in, shoot them one by one in the back of the head, easy picking”
Answer: Except that they’re all armed and extremely dangerous. Wouldn’t it be easier to just vent the atmosphere and kill them that way?
lk222 also writes: ” or just station soldiers behind/sightly to the side of the stargate, so as the lucians came out one by one, they can be shot in the back.. as they are struggling to get up… why give the enemies the time to regroup and form an assault?”
Answer: Again, why put lives at risk? Why put your men in potential harm’s way when you can simply vent the atmosphere from outside the room?
lkk222 also writes: “not enough dead people! not enough dead people!!!”
Answer: Our guys were in retreat while their guys were looking to take hostages rather than kill.
lk222 also writes: “joe, what are the limits of the communication stones? can a human use it to swap bodies with say a dolphin? or an ant? or a guaold snake?”
Answer: No idea. I’m sure someone somewhere is working on this.
lkk222 also writes: “and speaking of sex, i’ve always wondered… if someone makes a Stargate themed porn, would they get sued?”
Answer: Probably. I strongly urge you to reconsider.
Brandon Williford writes: “Did you have any idea that it would end up being so much fun when you were bashing your head against the keyboard?”
Answer: It’s always a lot more fun than bashing your head against a keyboard. Also, great responses to some of the questions asked – particularly to the individual outraged by the fact that we haven’t immediately explained why the Lucian Alliance wants Destiny.
Kevin writes: “Young vents Telford’s room to undo the brainwashing and manages to revive him…yet doesn’t vent the gateroom the moment the L.A invades for concern over Rush/Telford. He could’ve vented the room and tried reviving Telford again..no 100% certainty it’d work but Telford would have understood the risks. Much better to do that then allow armed boarders to gain a foothold.”
Kevin: “Young vents Telford’s room to undo the brainwashing and manages to revive him…yet doesn’t vent the gateroom the moment the L.A invades for concern over Rush/Telford. He could’ve vented the room and tried reviving Telford again..no 100% certainty it’d work but Telford would have understood the risks. Much better to do that then allow armed boarders to gain a foothold.”
Answer: Again, this is Monday morning quarterbacking. You’re criticizing Young’s decision with the knowledge of what happened. He didn’t have that luxury. Given everything he knew at the time, it would have cost nothing to give them the opportunity to surrender. He could have simply vented the atmosphere anyway if they’d refused.
Also, given the amount of time it took for Telford to collapse when he was losing oxygen, it’s more than likely the Lucian Alliance would have been able to get those doors open anyway.
vvv0472 writes: “Technically speaking, if the Lucian Alliance can dial Destiny in another universe from their Icarus-type planet, could they have dialed Atlantis in another galaxy as well?”
Answer: Yep.
Thanks for the mailbag. I enjoyed the further insights into the episode. I was thinking about it some more today, and I came up with another possible reason that Young might have hesitated about venting the gate room. Is it possible that when he saw Telford, and not knowing that the switch had occurred, that he was wanting to make sure that nothing happened to Rush as he knew that Rush was their best chance for getting home, and he also still felt guilty for leaving Rush behind on the planet in Justice.
I’ve only been a member of your blog since January, and it has been great reading all of the behind the scenes stuff for the show. Keep up the great work!!!!!!!
I feel much more enlightend now that you’ve shared your correspondence with Mr. Scalzi. It almost feels like I wont even have to watch the episode itself.
Thanks for the mailbag. It’s appreciated that you took the time to repeatedly address the issue of “he should have dumped the atmosphere in the gateroom”. While I had some issues about the way the defense was carried out, this wasn’t one of them. Young had every reason to think he had the enemy contained, and he would have time to figure out how to extract Telford from the surrounding LA troops. I am going to be really interested in seeing what would induce the Alliance to sink so much manpower, resources, and time into the attempt to gain hold of Destiny.
Belated congratulations on the comic contract. Looking forward to the details, such as artist, release date, and how much you’ll charge for autographed copies.
Hope you have fun through the weekend. And it’s been a few days since we’ve had doggie pictures…just in case the pack feels like mugging for your camera.
Awesome Episode, like all SG season finales! Good Job Joe!
Heres some Qs for your next mailbag, please reply 🙂 :
1-Can the “Repair Robot” repair Destiny’s hull breaches?
2-This is something i’ve been wondering since Air Part 1, when the Milky Way dials Destiny, the travelers enter the gate running/walking, why do they come out in Destiny flying through the gate getting injuried?, Is this because the VERY VERY BIG DISTANCE between MW and Destiny?
>they’ll have access to very different weapons and resources.
I thought it was already established they mostly use projectiles as they are deemed most effective, or at the very most if the need someone alive, Zats? I don’t remember seeing the Lucian Aliiance use anything but Earth style guns in SG1.
But with that being said, I don’t think the Lucian Alliance has been completely explored if anything it could just be personal preference, some may like the flashy kinda beam weapons, some guns.
>could they have dialed Atlantis in another galaxy as well?”
Wouldn’t of lasted long, Ronan + Sheppard combo would kill all the intruders, if there’s one thing Atlantis personal are good at, it’s taking back the city. Still a Ronan & Teal’c Reunion clearing the LA off Atlantis would of been amazing.
Early tonight, hey? Aren’t you going to the Leo Awards?
Thanks for the mailbag and the WoW answer. It did make me laugh. Pretty hard. Yes I am a geek 🙂
Camille is probably my least favorite character but I think I’m really biased towards the military (AF brat here). I have a hard time sympathizing with her mostly because I feel like she pities herself too much (when the whole swap with Mandy thing happened I immediately thought “Great, another reason for Camille to feel sorry for herself”) and I don’t get the impression that she believes in her cause (like Woolsey did). I think she definitely agree with it, don’t get me wrong on that side. That being said, I thought she did step up pretty decently in this episode. The last time I liked her on screen was with Eli (but I think Eli makes every scene that much more likeable).
On another note with everyone asking about Young waiting to vent the atmosphere – it happened pretty closely to Carter making the painful decision to leave her 302 pilots behind. I saw a contrast working between the characters (which I thought as being supported by O’Neill dressing down Young later).
I’m done rambling. Again, thanks for the mailbag.
Joe, I thought the episode was killer, granted the tactical decisions the Col. Young made with trying to kill the L.A. in the gate room by venting the atmosphere, oh well. I’m curious to see what the season finale plays out. But Good work. I hope that Eli and Chloe can find some super weapon to use against the LA. We shall see..
BTW, Are you, MGM or Whom ever going to release a SG Atlantis Movie “Extinction”? Looking foward to more SG1 movies and Atlantis..etc
A more important explanation for me is why someone with the handle Former SGU Watcher is commenting on an episode of SGU.
You have far more patience than I to entertain such foolishness. How do you put up with this Joe?
You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din.
I wounder if you can make a episode about redaction. Becuase in this bolgpost it has a good basis for it.
“We’ve established that Camille is in a healthy, grounded and supportive relationship which is in stark contrast to her lonely existence aboard the ship. Back on Earth, we see beyond that cold shell to the warm, caring, and loved individual she really is. That is, in my opinion, far more interesting than finding out whether or not her parents supported her in her career decision.”
Hi I have to disagree with you. My question
“What was it like growing up being an Asian in a traditional family when her goals were far more western.”
This question was not simply about her career decision so please let me be more specific.
Camille being an Asian woman in her late forties, no doubt felt the sting of racism/sexism, while growing up, going to school and in her career choices. What were her parents like? Is she the first generation born here in the states. How was she able to become a member of the IOA a mostly male dominated organization.
When you compare her background experiences, education, perceived stereotypes, it provides a much richer character than who she sleeps with.
Joe – hubby and I just watched Incursion and enjoyed it immensely! Well done! I don’t have any questions or complaints – thought it was fairly straight forward enough, and anything unanswered is just part of the suspense. My only ‘disappointment’ is that I love hating Telford, and now I’m not sure I can. I liked it better when he was a rat, through and through. 🙂 Well, there’s still Wray… 😉
das
What was up with the George Hammond having a pink hyperspace window? wouldn’t it be the same as the Daedalus, Apollo and Odyssey
First time commenter here. But I have one pretty good question (or questions)… Remember Atlantis having that Wormhole drive they whipped out last minute to get to Earth faster than travelling through hyperspace? What if they get the chance to dial Destiny again, get some supplies in and send in a beacon to track where Destiny already is. Then use Atlantis’ wormhole drive to get to Destiny faster no matter how far it is. If ever Atlantis gets more than enough power supply (e.g. lots and lots of ZPMs) do you they would use Atlantis and it’s wormhole drive? Do you think using that wormhole drive would be an effective means of travel? How come the ancients didn’t invent that sort of drive and it was humans who actually made a working “beta” wormhole drive? Maybe they could also fit a wormhole drive in a deadalus-class ship, is that possible? Because if it is, I would really want to see more of the wormhole drive, hyperspace is getting lame already… hehe
Quote “lkk222 also writes: “and speaking of sex, i’ve always wondered… if someone makes a Stargate themed porn, would they get sued?”
Answer: Probably. I strongly urge you to reconsider.”
Not that I am recommending that anyone do that, but there are so many bad porn puns that could be used..
“I’d like to cross her event horizon”, “I hope her wormhole doesn’t have a Iris”.. Yeah I’ll stop now.
I think if I were Young, knowing that the “L.A.” were going to be coming through the gate; I would have vented the oxygen from the room before hand. The human brain can survive 6 minutes without oxygen before it begins to cause damage. Long enough for everyone to pass out, or at the very least unable to concentrate enough to aim.
Found something you could check out while in Japan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQbAzXHyOfk&feature=player_embedded I have no idea what she is singing about, but I’ll take two. Do I smell a Stargate musical guest?
1) Can we please see some of those Lucian Alliance soldiers use some Zat Guns?
2) What is the status of NID and the Trust during the time SGU takes place?
3) Kiva revealed her rank as Commander, how does this compare to the structure of Netan’s Seconds, higher or lower in rank?
question is this: If Telford survives incursion part 2 and intervention will he and young share command?
I love Mailbag!! OK you may have noticed a pattern, I say that a lot, but then that would probably explain why I love reading/commenting on your blog. *big smile*
Thank you for addressing my question!!
It was good that you clarified the whole venting of the Gate Room atmosphere. That was actually one of my other questions. Now that you have explained it, your reasoning is sound. Plus, Young had a split second to make his decision(s), whereas we, as you correctly pointed out, have the advantage of being Monday night quarterbacks.
Scene suggestions, you want scene suggestions? I know you were teasing, but I’m going to pretend that you were truly asking. Oh what fun…
You can’t really go wrong with Sex, Drugs and Rock n ROLLLLLL!!! Wooo-hooo…..… *waving the devil horns* …….Oh wait, I forgot when it comes to some of the SGU fandom, apparently you can go wrong with S.D & RnR…… No sex, I guess the orgy scene is out of the question, no!? *giggle*…….. No drugs, already short on medicine…….. No rock, some people apparently don’t like the music montages……*grumble mumble* ……..Other ideas: you bring back BAG, someone shouts “LET’S PUT ON A PLAY” and breaks into song (a la Glee), poetry reading, they decide that it’s cleaning day, Eli plays knock knock ginger or some other diabolical practical jokes (a la Ashleigh), food fight (with the non-existent food), so it would be more like a mush fight. This coming with up ideas, that people will actually like, is harder than it looks, I guess that’s why they pay you the big bucks eh? *snicker*
OK, I still like the idea of the Space Dolphins, cue Flipper, only make it a BLUEBERRY Flipper.
@Das – you are definitely right I about Telford and his likability factor, and it will be interesting to see how he interacts with Young and visa versa, now that he has been exorcised.
How are the pups?
Finally, thanks for the spoilers on Recursion. I bet you didn’t know that some computers have software programmes that will see through/translate redaction did ya!!!
Have a good one!!
Kymm
JOE!!!! For all your amazingness you made one error in your mailbag. An F-302 does not posses a hyper-drive like its predecessor because R&D was not able to utilize naquadria due to its instability (SG1). Therefore a hyper-drive small enough to be incorporated into a small fighter is not possible at the moment, unless there has been some advancement in that area since the end of Atlantis.
And thanks for answering my question!!
Thanks always,
ZPB
@Kymm: OMG i absolutely love your post!! I was laughing soo hard after i read it. the really funny thing was when i realized what you meant by blueberry flipper 😛 and great scene ideas
thanks
ZPB
So i just watched Incursion on my DVR, and u’know, i just have to comment. Young not venting the Atmosphere has got to be the most ridiculous thing i’ve ever seen and damn good for O’Neill to have bitched at him about it.
Telford’s a soldier and he knows the risks. All soldiers do. They have the EVA suits from Water, why not put Greer, Scott, and James in them and have them take cover in the gate room, so when teh Lucian Alliance comes through, just pepper them with rounds. Hell they could have set up a couch in front of the stargate so that the LA would trip over it on their way in. They HAVE guns, let them USE them effectively! Telford and Young are COLONELS. They’re not inexperienced Lieutenants who hesitate at such a hard decision. The military trains their officers to make decisions like that because hesitation leads to people dying.
You could have had a mindblowing action scene where the Lucian Alliance has an overwhelming force storming Destiny. It could have been the equivalent of D-Day with the Lucian Alliance having to pay for every inch they take. Yet it comes out with me having to headdesk and question what i just say.
Would it have been risky to vent the room? Yes. But is it as risky as letting an enemy force gain a foothold in a tenuous position of a rust bucket in the ass end of the galaxy? Sorry, i can’t digest that. The military takes risks like that everyday and there ARE casualties. They go into action KNOWING that not all of them might come out the other end. They ARE military officers right?
There are so many variables over the LA getting onto Destiny, maybe they could throw stun grenades in first, maybe they have a Malp type thing that’ll warn them of the conditions. There were dozens of potential scenarios but the one that played out makes Young look like an indecisive idiot. You can call it “Monday Quarterbacking” all you want, that doesn’t change the fact that venting the gateroom, setting up traps, placing guards in EVA suits MAKES SENSE if you’ve got an invading force incoming! Hell they could have put some of those handy leather couches in front of the gate just to confuse the hell out of the LA and trip them up!
This is really sad to me since i actually like Louis Ferreira’s acting skills albeit in other projects. I was really expecting you to pull out all the stops in this season finale 2 parter and instead, it feels like a cheap carbon copy of “The Storm/Eye”
I understand that this is a different incarnation of Stargate. I’m not comparing this to SG1 or SGA, but that’s not an excuse for me having to literally pause my DVR and go “Wait… what?” and actually have to try and fill in the blanks.
One of my biggest concerns was not even a throwaway line for the two 302 pilots. All it would have taken is Sam saying “Beam them out!” and the helmsman saying “They’re not clear of the field!” and Sam has to make the hard decision. You get great drama out of Sam having to make a hard decision like that but no…
Two little lines, and it would have stopped so much questioning over her actions.
If you really think about it, this entire season’s worth of plot could be summed up by watching Air1-3, a montage of important scenes from other episodes such as Franklin’s Chair, the Robot, the Mutiny, totaling maybe an hour and a half, and the last three episodes.
I just hope they don’t use the Time Squid venom again as some kind of incapacitating agent to knock out the LA. Please don’t do that.
i have an idea for an extra scene,
general o neill brings his puppy to work as it is bring your puppy to work day at homeworld security.
o neill plays catch with the puppy using the ancient stones and suddenly colonel young tries to use the stones and is in the puppies body and the puppy is in young.
rush enjoys the new young and they cuddle.
G’day Joe
Thanks for the hilarious post today. Have not laughed so much in a few weeks.
However I could not read the mailbag as it has way to much info on Incursion and well being Down Under, it has not aired yet. I have been too spoiled for it now.
Janet.
@Zeropointbatteries. – whyyyyy thank you, it’s because I’m a Gemini…..and do you know what’s probably even funnier, is that I may have jinxed Joe, so now when he is writing his scene, all he can think about are my crappy ideas. You know how you get a thought in your head and CAN’T get it out. *LOL!!*
Joe – how’s your writing going NOW? *palm to forehead* Oh, just in case, I give you my permission if you want to gank one of my ideas. Although you better be quick, as I’m sure they will be in high demand. Get ‘em while you can. *chortles*
Seriously though, something did come to me, you know how Greer and Telford had a problem in the past (Greer punched out Telford if I am remembering correctly). I wonder if that was before or after Telford was brainwashed. Hmmmm *inquiring minds want to know*
Kymm
You could add more Greer!
Or someone could RickRoll a few kino’s.
Congratulations! Thrilled for you guys, a little sad for my Daniel, but hey, can’t have it all! Kudos to all of you!
If I see the word “redacted” one more time. That hurt my brain a little.
You didn’t answer my question, you silly man. There just seems to be a trend out there right now. A good trend, nonetheless. Joss Whedon, Jane Espensen, did Steven DeKnight do a comic too? I think in some ways it’s helping the comic industry. Anyone agree? I’m not a big reader though. Just here and there. I’ll have to take a look at yours when it comes out.
@Das: Did you see? Christopher Heyerdahl won over my Daniel…
I’ve been hacked/virused on my desktop and am still up with f***ing Norton while they “attempt” to fix this mess. I’m getting off of Facebook as soon as this is over, because apparently, I got nailed there. I didn’t open anything weird, just goody two shoes stuff with my friends, and this happens?
@Sheryl and Kabra: Stay off Facebook until they resolve their latest fiasco!
Nite all!
Joe said:
“Young vents the atmosphere in Telford’s quarters in order to kill him … only proven way to overcome the brainwashing.”
Completely understood. We’ve seen Bra’tac do that to Teal’c, and even one of the Jaffa do it to himself when he thought he might be brainwashed by Ba’al. No issue there.
My point was that zero oxygen =/= instant death. Zero oxygen does, however, equal a good way to subdue someone (even a group of people) quite quickly.
Joe said:
“Why risk it when you can either: a) give them the opportunity to surrender and save Telford or b) simply vent the atmosphere and kill them all?”
Except that venting the atmosphere need not kill them immediately (nor would it). It would kill them eventually, yes, but there would be enough time for the crew of Destiny to subdue the gasping LA troops (and Telford), drag them into areas of the ship with air, and then deal with it from there.
Don’t get me wrong Joe, I’m not one of those ‘fans’ who watches each week only to bitch endless about how ‘terrible’ the show is, and how SGA should come back. I really do like this show, I just felt that this one was… lazy. The plot-hole of how oxygen works on people just struck me as unrealistic.
Depending on fitness people can hold their breath for a couple of minutes – some 3 minutes or more – that’s enough time to get the LA to surrender or render them unable to fight back.
Furthermore, and I might be wrong on the technical side here, so please correct me if I am, but how are guns that are reliant on explosive force able to fire in a vacuum?
Fire = Fuel + Heat + Oxygen. Fuel is the gunpowder. Heat is created by the pressure from the firing pin striking the round, and oxygen is the air around us. Without any of those, fire does not result, therefore, guns would not work.
As I said, lazy.
Chasing a random thought…
Could it be that Young was an adequate officer, not a great or perfect one, in the first place? That his leadership skills and confidence are suffering after so many months of stress and of being out of his comfort zone? I think the man may be due for a breakdown and/or help “governing” the DESTINY.
Hi Joe,
REALLY important question for ya 😉 heheh. Here it is:
Jane and Jessy swap bodies with the communication stones. One of them ascends. What happens?
😀
-Sean
Incursion Pt.1…The best episode of the season. I really can’t say anything until:
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
I am very disappointed in what you did to Col. Young in this episode. In the second half of the season he has taken a great leap upward in being the leader that the crew needs to get them thru this unending situation. Yet, as O’Neill tells him, he could have ended this situation instantly by venting the gateroom. If he thought it was Rush as Telford in the gateroom, than as much as they need him killing him to save the other 80+ members of the crew is an acceptable sacrifice for a military officer. If he thought it was Telford himself in the gateroom, than Telford as a commanding officer himself would have accepted the sacrifice of his own life to save the rest of the crew. This leads to the gaffe of T.J. not instantly telling Young that Rush was back in his own body. That info would have led to what I just said, Telford accepting his death for the greater good. Col. Young now looks like an inept commander and O’Neill would have every right to replace him with someone else, including himself, with the stones. Now the LA controls vital areas of the ship, has hostages, and has presumably wounded more of the crew besides Chloe. The other gaffe, why Carter didn’t beam the two F-302 pilots on board, was answered in the mailbag. The episode itself was top notch from start to finish. I don’t remember an episode where they killed someone to reverse the brainwashing in the past. I don’t remember them killing Agent Barrett to reverse it. I loved the ironly of one set of forces attacking the planet in the premier and the planet blowing up, and the other forces attacking the planet in this episode and it blowing up as well. Always nice to see A. Tapping again, if only for a brief time. Can’t wait for Sanctuary to return. I am anxiously awaiting Part 2 next week, yet I am sad that it is the last new episode until probably October. Bring on Part 2!!!!!!!!
Everybody loves shower scenes, and you put them in the promos to score more ratings, like enterprise did!
Except it’ll probably work better this time because the water used in destiny’s showers is more relatable to the average viewer than the tubes of decontamination gell used in the enterprise.
Also, I know you never take unsolicted scripts or accept suggestions, but have you ever had to change an idea you had because somebody suggested it to you?
For example let’s say you did somehow accidentally read an unsolicited script, maybe it was encoded in the first letter of every line of a novel or something. If you just happened to have done something similar in a script you were writing, would you have to change it?
Hi Joe,
Maybe you should change the name of the episode to “Redacted.” As for additional minutes, this is the perfect opportunity to do your SGU Musical – you use the extra time for intros, bridges, and fade-outs, not to mention choreography. *envisioning a show-stopping finale extravaganza as Destiny surfs gracefully through the corona of a star*
Thanks for the mailbag – love it!
Smiles, Julie
@ Kymm – too funny, girl! Your comedic stream of consciousness had me in stitches!
@ Das – What do the Wraith have in common with the average politician and how do they differ?
A: They both suck the life out of you, but the Wraith can give it back
Thanks Joe for this terrific episode.
Im happy about the fact that I live in germany because we will get to see Incourson 1 and 2 this wednesday as 2part season Finale. Although the german voices are really awfule
and the Translation is twice as bad.
Soooo you’re backing Italy in the World Cup… ok…
If they win, fair enough, but if they lose, they can always apply for the 2012 Olympic DIVING team!!!
Go the Socceroos!!!!
😛 hehehe
Joe, I wonder if this was thought of when folks say Telford was brought back after the air evacuation of his quarters.
Take these two people…
Number one is a well-nourished, well-hydrated, in-shape U.S. military officer who probably exercises regularly.
Number two is a recently former chain smoker, coffee drinking, presumably sedate scientist who is most likely under-nourished and somewhat dehydrated.
Who was brought back to life in that room? Number two was, not number one. The body never changed. Rush’s toleration to the suffocation was what should have been in question, not Telford’s.
Telford’s body had been tasked a bit by the torture and lack of food that he received from the Lucian Alliance while Rush was getting their Icarus set up on line. But he still should have kept a lot of his stamina and may have survived longer than the Lucians in an evacuated Stargate room.
Why oh why was TJ running after Rush? Right now it seems to me just a set-up for being captured, but there’s gotta be more to it than that.
Catching up on a bunch of posts…
First off….I need to clear something up.
ChevronSeven said:
I’m sorry, Joe. I really tried to get into SGU. Sadly, it’s not for me. It’s not the Stargate that I love. I cannot get invested in the characters. Even Jack and Sam seemed a bit off. I remember Colonel O’Neill getting more upset when someone wasn’t following orders. General O’Neill seems a bit softer. I was never a fan of BSG and SGU seems to be leaning in that direction. I’ll miss the Stargate franchise and there’s always the DVDs.
Good Luck with your comic book series!
This is not me!!
Its a bit like O’Neil and O’Neill…..there are a bunch of chevron7’s around the Stargate communities…I didn’t realise it was soo generic when I chose that screen name oh so many years ago…
So how can you tell the difference? How do you know if it’s chev?
1. Frequently I’m a bit of a brat, or so I’ve been told. You’ll often find me stirring Joe etc, attempting something along the lines of humour.
2. I usually sign off all my tweets with cheers….That’s a long story (the origin)….however the only time I don’t sign off cheers is if somebody has died or is very ill etc.
3. I also sign off with chev….it’s what most people call me.
4. I often post links to interesting sites or quizzes on the web…I haven’t done one for a while ‘cos people haven’t seemed to be interested in them….maybe I’ll start up again in a few weeks.
5. Atlantis is my fave Stargate but I like SGU.
6. I might be rendered speechless if my fave guy appears on a blog post and just as easily hurt when he ignores my birthday.
7. I’ll try to help where I can with Internet or website issues.
Anyhoo, that’s me…chev….or if you’re on twitter then its @imwebgurl …..again…long story.
Cheers, Chev
OK…next is the World Cup….Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! of course….however I like a dark horse so I’ll also tip Uruguay. Am I the only person with Uruguay or Australia?
Cheers, Chev
Seminal movies, or perhaps I should say influential movies….’cos the other evokes other thoughts….lol
Star Wars – my love of sci-fi
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – my love of narration in movies
While You Were Sleeping – my all time favourite film…this speaks to me in so many ways.
Die Hard & Raiders of the Lost Ark – my love of action and smart arse heroes.
The Mission – first time I thought of a film as a piece of art…..the score is brilliant.
Cheers, Chev
I have nothing to criticize over Incursion (Young’s decision made sense to me) but I totally woke up in the middle of the night, apparently dreaming about this, and actually said to my dog “Crap! This means Telford is on the ship now.”
(It is not so much that the dog and I dislike Telford – we really liked him at the beginning – but that we *REALLY* like having Young as the leader.)
I stand corrected.
Guns /can/ fire in a vacuum as the powder contains an oxidiser. Of course, with no air to take the heat away, you’ll only get a few shots off before the gun overheats and cannot be fired again. 🙂
BYE
Speaking of which – I fear that this script may end up being a little short. Anyone have any suggestions for an extra scene?
Anything with TJ. Please. 🙂
How long of a scene are we talking about?
Or the crew finds a huge stack of Ancient clothing. Since their own clothes are… well, quite worn, they try some on. And from now on, we see people combing their own clothing with the found ones. Come on, if SGU lasts for 5 seasons, their clothes have fallen apart long before the finale. 😀
Or… well, I suck at this. And not knowing what the ep is about doesn’t help. 😛
Maybe crew members continuing their everyday lives on the Destiny, like in “Life”. I always love seeing stuff like that. Add a bit of music. Make a montage, if you will.
I’m sure guys would love to see Park reading a book.
Hmm, let Eli work on his documentary. Edit Kino clips from S1, and some latest stuff. I’ve always hoped he’ll finish that projects of his.
But I’m sure you’ll think of something much cooler. 😀
JulieAloha: the jokes are too funny! Thanks, needed it. Long day yesterday…the garage dropped a box tools on my car. They are paying for repairs, just a pain dealing with it.
Mr. M, cool Q & A! I can’t believe you answered the porn question though. 🙄
I’ve been rewatching season one of SG1 (going waaay back to the beginning) and I just saw ‘The Nox’ and remembered why it they were my favorite aliens and ever and why the episode remains in my top five for all times. They’re the only people I can remember meeting who are both technologically more advanced than earth and don’t end up being super wrong about not wanting to do what an SG team tells them to.
Question: Might we see the Nox again somehow in SGU?
Hey Joe…..
Just wanted to say sorry if I was a little over the top last post… SGU is my favorite show right now and I feel bad just being nitpicky like that. Sometimes I just take the positives for granted and focus on the negatives.
And thanks for the explaniation about that scene… Now that I think of it it makes a lot more sense… Sorry If I over-reacted…
Hope I didn’t frustrate you… You did great with incursion… 🙂
Thanks so much,
Major D. Davis
“I thought it would be a funny gag, then did a little research to make sure it actually made sense to you WoW players.”
Research being asking Deluise? 😉
Know you the first French website and forum dedicated to the stargate franchising ?
i invite you to Stargate Fusion
http://www.stargate-fusion.com/forum-stargate/
Hey Joe, I saw Incursion again in this morning and I was again surprised about Amanda Tapping. How does she do that? I must say that shes in my view much younger and more beautiful than she was in the first season of SG1. She was a few seconds in Incursion, but she raised up my ranking. Same Jack when I see him in SGU I only wait what funny moment will come :D. Incursion is really great and really thank you that you gave us the blues and LA in second half of first season….that first 10 episodes were really about nothing without aliens, but now all is on its place and we can wait what happen in 2 season. Thank you Mr. Mallozzi
I have quite a number of comments to make
and questions to ask concerning the SGU season
finale episode(s).
….but since the finale is a two parter that really
should be viewed as a whole…I am holding back
my comments and questions until I’ve had a
chance to view both of the hour long episodes.
BTW….I didn’t really like the setup of how you
made it happen..but it was what it was..and it
got the job done…but it was good to see that
you managed to get Eli and Chloe stuck
together like that with a little extra special one
on one time.
…and they are injured…they are in danger..and they
are moving around in a somewhat unexplored
part of the ship.
Oh I can feel all sorts of related tingles hitting
hard on my potential storyline sensors.
While everyone is keeping their attention on the Young
Vs. the LA situation…I have a BIG feeling that it’s
Mr. Eli that might be the one that is being set up
to make the moves that might really matter for
the many…on and off Destiny.
Joe…
I think the best way to add a couple scenes to the episode you’re working on with Scalzi is to add some [redacted] in the middle of the [redacted]. If that doesn’t work, you can always show [redacted] showing [redacted] that [redacted] could never work.
Love the show.
To fill out an episode, please consider a character-building dialog scene… Especially one involving a non-major character. My Fave STTNG Ep was “BelowDecks” — 90% of that ep. was minor characters.
Can’t wait for the next episode and Season 2.
I wonder, will Yung/Telford allow the LA troops to integrate with their forces, or will they just dump them to the next habitable planet : ohdear :
chevron7 I wouldn’t worry about it, most of us are intelligent enough to know the difference between peoples names, you haven’t made yourself look bad in anyway.
Still I would of imagined a name like yours to be unique.
Need an extra scene, huh? Might be time to adopt a raccadillo…;-)
Space dolphins … It’s actually a less silly way around a plot hole I’ve been thinking about. Can I borrow it or is it already public domain? I know, I know, 42.
I guess anytime you have creatures show up in an environment where they normally wouldn’t survive, but you make them space creatures, you’ve succinctly given them a backstory that speaks to greater than assumed abilities for those creatures. In this plot hole, it was already dolphins, and I love that their seemingly unintelligent social interactions can stay because they’re space dolphins so you know it’s just their way.
Thanks for answering my questions, Joe. I thought it was cleaver how you got Telford aboard Destiny – so there’s no turning back now for him, huh? Interesting.
It seems like everything I have been ordering is either back ordered or out of stock… my camera that I replaced was back ordered and let me say I purchased it online at Best Buy – they were really good at communicating for the weeks it took, which wasn’t bad considering. They emailed me to tell me that after a week it was still back ordered and the the emailed me that it was shipped. I was impressed. Now, I am trying to purchase a thatched umbrella – we are going for a Polynesian/tiki/ South Pacific theme on the patio and the umbrella I desire is “out of stock” until 6/18 – OY!
Hi Joe!
Just wanted to put out a HUGE CONGRATS!!!!! for SGU winning “best dramatic series” at the Leos last night! Also congrats to everyone else who won an award for their part in SGU! I also want to congratulate Patrick Gilmore, Jennifer Spence and James Bamford as well as all the other SGU nominees that did not win. Though they did not win in their categories, they were just as deserving and should be proud of themselves!
Would you recommend a rewatch of Incursion pt 1 before watching Incursion pt 2? And also wondering if when season 2 starts up, if the networks (SPACE &ScyFy) will do a three part marathon of Incursion pt1,2 and season opener for Season 2?
ANIME – Suggestion
Planetes, didn’t see it in you list. Its a Hard Science Anime set in the near future. Its brilliant well worth your time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetes
Thanks for all the hard work btw.
“Speaking of which – I fear that this script may end up being a little short.
Anyone have any suggestions for an extra scene?”
Ooh! I love brainstorming (as many here have noticed).
Why not some rare but natural phenomenon?
After all Destiny is traveling through space, so it’s kind of odd that they don’t see “more” out there, obviously space is immensely wast, and you’d never see any ship or creator or phenomenon unless you where almost right on top of it.
No idea how long the “padding” would need to be, but what about tacking onto an establishing shot of the Destiny either when they exit lightspeed, or when they are about to enter.
Just let some of the crew at least Rush or Eli or some technically minded person should be there, and then someone who is not. Heck, it could even work with Rush explaining something to Eli while looking out the window of the ship at whatever they are looking at.
It could be a Space Dolphin, it could be a natural or artificial event, space geyser, a volcano eruption on a moon, two huge asteroids colliding, they might catch a glimpse of a space caravan of ships, or just something along those lines.
Just to establish that there are things going on out there in space besides just the Destiny flying through space; and that if they aren’t’ careful, they might miss something unique while blinking.
It would also leave a future potential plot potential,
or it could just simply remain a “weird and wonderful things that they briefly see”
Establishing shot of the Destiny (or tacking onto an existing one of that script if available), a somewhat zoomed in view at whatever it is and two or more characters looking at it through the windows not necessarily in that order obviously, one explaining or pointing out something to the other character.
Who knows, it could lead to a “Space Spotting” trend among the crew on Destiny, with the crew keeping notes on what they see, how many and where.
I’d certainly do that if stuck on the Destiny, exploring the ship is one way to consume the time but that is limited or restricted, staring into space on the other hand…I’d probably do that a lot, and hopefully spot some cool things.
@ Chev – Not to worry, I don’t think any of the regulars were fooled 😉
@ Tammy – Sorry about your baby (car); I’m still in mourning for mine.
Here’s another one (taken from alteranancients.com, author Myrddin):
Daniel: Do you remember that time you lost Machello?
Jack: Yeah, but I always figured you were more of a double bass kind of guy . . .
Incursion was ok. Nothing special. I’m totally kidding. Best freakin’ episode of SGU yet! That episode freakin’ rocked!
Wow last night’s episode blew me away. Love it. Loved the guest appearances of Amanda and Richard. Love the whole feel of the episode.
In parts it was a bit too dark lighting wise. I could barely make out some of the stuff. But over all ok.
Can’t wait to see what the cliffhanger is.
The ship has a mind of it’s own. It feels like it knows who the bad/good guys are and it’s protecting it’s crew. Can’t wait for the mystery to be solved. Love the direction this is going in .
@JulieAloha – Aww shucks. I love to make people laugh. So I’m glad I made you giggle a little. I like your wraith jokes!!!
Last night I was coming up with a steady stream of scene suggestions. So if I were to list all of my tongue in cheek (read crappy) scene scenarios, then that would leave only the good scene ideas for Joe to simply write up, correct? ……….*blonde head tilt*…*plink plink*
Joe – could you please pass on my congratulations to the SGU cast and crew for the 6 Leo Awards last night!!
Kymm
P.S. Speaking of John Scalzi – did you see Bacon Cat? OMG!!!. I loved that he asked his wife for permission first, she sounds very loooonnnnnnng sufferinggggggg…… (I would have liked to have seen the rest of the To Do List)
Hey Joe
Congrats on your LEO win last night…
Best Dramatic Series
Stargate Universe
Brad Wright, Robert Cooper, Carl Binder,
Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mulle, John G. Lenic, N. John Smith – Producers
…and all the others! Do you get your own award do you you all share?
Elminster
Coucou! Salut Joseph! Me revoila 🙂 et je suis très heureuse, ça fait plaisir de vous retrouver ♥
J’ai lue votre post d’hier…alors comme ça vous allez suivre la coupe du monde? …..et vous allez supporter l’Italie -_-‘ hum moi je n’aime pas cette équipe, rien que de pensé à la finale de 2006…graaa ‘no comment’ lol. Sinon je ne pense pas que la France va gagner, mon coeur irai vers les Us et ma raison le Pays Bas, en tout cas j’espere qu’ont aura du beau spéctacle.
Gros bisou!
A demain.
Congrats are in order for the writers producers production crew and actor Julia benson of Stargate Universe
1. Best Dramatic Series: Brad Wright, Robert Cooper, Carl Binder, Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mulle, John G. Lenic, N. John Smith – Producers
2. Best Screenwriting in a Dramatic Series: Brad Wright – Stargate Universe – “Light”
3. Best Cinematography in a Dramatic Series: Michael Blundell – Stargate Universe – “Human”
4. Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Series: Rick Martin – Stargate Universe – “Human”
5. Best Visual Effects in a Dramatic Series: Mark Savela, Shannon Gurney, Brenda Campbell, Craig Vandenbiggelaar, Krista McLean – Stargate Universe – “Air”
6. Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series: Julia Benson – Stargate Universe – “Pain”
>6. Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series: Julia Benson – Stargate Universe – “Pain”
Amazing choice there, well they are all but this one works really well, she came accross as believable when she thought she killed Matt. That being said I would of loved to of seen Elyses name there when she was playing crazy speaking to her father. At least in general that scene had more outside influence, with Eli and several others noticing her behavior, it really reflected her character, she misses her father, deeply.
I’m amazed at all of the comments. I did not find the episode very confusing, nor riddled with plot holes as some people claim.
Why didn’t they already have the gateroom vented?
Let’s think about that for a second, and you’ll find out why it’s not a good idea. We are aware of the fact that an ‘enemy’ wishes to overtake Destiny, they want the ship. They have an enormous advantage… they are not ON the ship. It’s pretty easy to assume that if an enemy wants something and you aren’t giving it to them, they will take it away from you. Next thing you know, they’ve sent a massive bomb through the gate and you are dead.
The BEST solution to this is to let them all come through the gate unharmed, THEN kill them.
That’s where we ran into problem #2 that people complained about. There was no question Young was originally going to kill them all once they were all in there and the gate was closed (this was the best approach), but he saw Telford/Rush.
In my opinion, there’s no question he believed it was Rush. This caused him to pause, because while O’Neil may be sitting pretty down on Earth, Young is stuck on this ship permanently. It’s clearly well known by now that Young left Rush for dead once before and the characters have a conflict. If Young kills Rush, that could officially do his leadership in (along with their best & most knowledgeable scientist). Seeing as how there are complications with the ship near every episode, Rush is a guy you want to keep around if you enjoy living. Yep, pretty clear why he didn’t just kill him….
Could he have vented the atmosphere after they were all in and attempted revival of Telford/Rush?
This has been directly answered before, but I’ll go at it anyway. Yes, he could have, but there was no logical reason to do so. It was an unpredictable event that the LA would move so quickly and be able to open the doors. In real life, do you live in a bomb shelter every day expecting the unpredictable event of a bomb being dropped on you? Hell no. You make the logical assumption that you are safe from bombs. So, there was no harm in delaying immediate execution and trying to get Telford/Rush to safety while offering the LA the opportunity to gate off to the nearest habitable planet. Young held the logical advantage and was not rushed for time.
Once they immediately displayed suspicious activity, Young did not hesitate to try and vent it but it was too late at that point as the doors were breached.
In conclusion, Young acted within the guidelines of his character. He made intelligent decisive decisions, including not risking Rush’s life for fear of backlash and future complications. The latter may not have been the best military decision, but he is a human first and processed events according to his surroundings and acted appropriately. He is NOT a robot with no care of future implications.
Hopefully some people read my explanations and find them useful. I didn’t even realize it was under confusion until I came here today! Personally, I just filled it in with what I deemed the most logical explanation.
Filler Idea
Eli is running down a corridor towards the mcguffin effect of this episode. He accidentally knocks over an ancient box. Slowly a light flashes on in the box and [redacted] appears quite similar in appearance to [redacted] from series [redacted] of [redacted]. The [Redacted] unhinges a [redacted] which begins to [redacted] behind Eli, while the [Redacted] heads the other way. Eli doesn’t notice the [Redacted] which quickly [Redacted]. Later we see the [Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] as it [Redacted].
Dont thank me, its just an idea
Incase some people didn’t realise, expanding on my comment, I know the supporting cast award doesn’t apply to the main cast thus Elyses name won’t be there, just her scene to me was one of the best, if not the best in that episode in general, along with Greers. It’s just a shame it didn’t get much recognition. Can’t believe I’m actually liking Chloes character lol
*quickie drive-by post…*
1. I had to look up what ‘redacted’ meant. I’ve never (consciously) heard the word before, ever.
2. @ Kymm – 😆
3. @ Deni – No, I hadn’t heard! Go, Chris!! 😀 (Hope the virus thingy gets straightened out – just had a problem with my office computer last week, so I know what it’s like. )
4. @ JulieAloha – 😆 Hey! What’s black and white and green all over??! A Wraith! (Betcha saw that coming a mile away… 😛 )
5. @ chevron7 – No worries…we weren’t fooled for a second. (Oh, okay…MAYBE a second, but no longer than that, I swear!) 😉
das
Joe, the mention of Space Dolphins kinda got stuck, sure it sounds silly but imagine this…
“(Young and Rush staring out window)
Young: What the hell is that?
Rush: No idea, never seen anything like it before.
(outside the window something glittering seems to flow or dance around in the lightstream around the Destiny)
Eli (casually): The Space Dolphins? Don’t worry, they are harmless.
(Young and Rush staring blankly back at Eli)
Eli: (beat) What? You gotta be kidding me…Don’t people around here ever look out the windows? It’s not like there is much else to do here during lightspeed…
Eli: They aren’t really Space Dolphins, I just call them that because those light or energy things play around the Destiny’s wake, just like Dolphins back on earth sometimes do around boats, so…, I call them Space Dolphins.
Young: How long have they been there?
Eli: (shrugs) I don’t know, a few months maybe…(casually walks off)
Rush (mostly to himself while looking out the window again): Space Dolphins…(light laugh) heh!”
I’d love to see something along those lines!
Joe — Had an idea for your scenes but @Randy had the same idea, only I would add that you should use the [redacted] to bring on [redacted] so that they could [redacted] with [redacted] causing [redacted] and we would all be happy in the end.
Or they could just all walk through the gate together into a bright shining light.
JulieAloha: Thanks! I’m not extremely attached to any car but it’s going to be a pain to leave it somewhere for a week. I’ve saved up money for a new car but this one is running so well, why get rid of it? How is your car search going?
Chevron7: Sorry but I did think it was you. I’ll know better next time, promise! Say, how are your sister’s rabbits doing?
Ok, I’ve had a headache since Thursday. Anyone else want it? Free?
Joe –
Not sure whether to thank you or curse you! We stopped by Recchiuti at the Ferry Terminal in SF today. Our wallets are much lighter and I’m sure our hips are going to be a lot wider soon. The chocolates are outrageously good. (They even gave us free samples!) The fleur de sel is absolutely unbelievable – it’s the tiny hit of salt at the end that really makes it.
I spoke to the cashier and told her I’d learned about them from the blog of a Canadian TV writer, and she immediately remembered you from your recent order. She also said “he was just the sweetest guy ever.” (Uh-oh. She’s going to ruin your image!)
Anyway, if you ever go there in person, I suggest also stopping at Blue Bottle Coffee just down the hall. Their Giant Steps pairs well with Recchiuti’s fleur de sel.
Bonjour de la france;)
En ce moment, je regarde à nouveau tous les épisodes d’Atlantis en DVD, je suis toujours aussi fan, i love love!
But i’m very disappointed that John and Teyla don’t have a more serious relationship, there are so cute…
In the script of Atlantis movie, there is any chance to have something between us?? (i hate Kannan ;)) (sorry for my english, but it’s a very important question for me!)
Nous attendons ici les épisodes de SGU avec impatience, la télévision française n’est pas pressée!
bonne soirée!
Will we ever know what happened to the Furlings?
Can the same address be used for 2 diff gates since Destiny is traveling to different galaxies
@ Troy:
You said: “What was up with the George Hammond having a pink hyperspace window? wouldn’t it be the same as the Daedalus, Apollo and Odyssey”
Don’t cha know….pink for girl commanders and blue for boys!!! 😀
I thought it was established in SG1, SGU, or in this blog that the “Lootin’ Liance” (thanks, Jinx!) wants to scavenge DESTINY for Ancient technology. The LA learned well from their Go’auld masters.
QUOTE
Former SGU Watcher writes: “No explaination why the Lucian Alliance would want to go to Destiny when it is known to them it will be a one way trip with only a 0.0001% chance they can return. What could they gain by going there?”
Answer: Just because an explanation isn’t immediately offered doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist.
END QUOTE
Integration of enemies was done in “Star Trek: Voyager”. Chakotay and Torres were originally Maqui guerrillas.
imadaman: QUOTE
I wonder, will Yung/Telford allow the LA troops to integrate with their forces, or will they just dump them to the next habitable planet : ohdear :
END QUOTE
Tammy Dixon said:
That’s OK….someone else emailed me wondering what was up so I thought I should clarify in case there were a few people confused, worried etc.
Sis’ rabbits – well Fluffy the sole survivor of last year’s Calici virus outbreak is still around….they couldn’t get any more bunnies for at least 4 months or have him inside for 4 months so he’s been a bit lonely.
However, they just got 2 new baby bunnies….relations of the ones that passed aways….sooooo cute….Will Twitpic some photos when I get the chance and share them here.
Thanks for asking 🙂
Cheers, Chev
dasNdanger said:
Haha….thanks
Cheers, Chev
JulieAloha
🙂 thanks….oh and thanks for the follow on Twitter
Cheers, Chev
Randomness said:
Thanks randomness. I guess we all like to think we’re unique…then find out not so much.
Cheers, Chev
Thanks everyone !!!…much appreciated
Cheers, Chev
@chevron7 – Ya, every name is duplicated somewhere, and usually many times over. I remember though, back in the very early days of the web, my first email address was my first name. That was it, just a 5 letter, simple, first name. No numbers, dashes or anything else before the @. Gawd, I’m old 🙂
Elminster
My four year old has become a fan of your blog.
Well, really just a huge fan of the picture of the doggie at the top of the blog. But in fairness, he can’t read yet. I’m sure if he could, he’d enjoy the actual writing too. 😀
Thanks for the insights on working with John Scalzi, I found it very [redacted].
@Das: Virus thingie resolved, thanks! Took until 2 a.m.! It wasn’t Facebook, anyway, as we had thought, not that Sheryl listened to me to stay off the thing… Still, a pain in the ass to deal with at that time of night (or any time at all, I suppose)!
Chev: 🙂
You all are redactulous! =)
@ chevron7 -I completely agree with you on “While You Were Sleeping.” Girl semi-stalking guy aside, it was a fun movie.
Thanks Joe for a great episode!
much kudos to you..i really cant wait to see Incourson 1 and 2 on wednesday. Keep it commin!!
Filler idea……something “inexpensive”.
No costly SFX/CGI etc.
An actor or two speaking on set…a personal moment..or
two.
Thoughts and ideas being expressed.
Maybe even an inventive moment involving no words.
Just the silence of actions speaking in an interesting type
of way.
Something possibly leading one way…but revealed to be
something else entirely. (…surprise surprise.)
Emotions expressed through the actions being depcited.
…anger…frustrations….caring…longing….sadness…loss..
…gain.
Maybe someone creating some piece of art related
to the people on Destiny.
…a photo collage..a scrapbook…a painting…sculpture.
Maybe special words spelled out on a board..with the
letters being created by spent shell casings that have
been collected by the individual from all over the ship.
Has anyone been picking up and collecting all of those
many many spent shell casings from the Destiny hallways?
…visually it could make for an interesting clean up
scene full of memories and emotions etc.
(…maybe an emotional scene for the Bald Asian Guy
to be shown doing?)
The word “DESTINY”…spelled out using all of those
spent shell casings.
..and no skinny thin letters…really thick BOLD letters..created
using many more shell casings than could
have been imagined have been fired onboard the ship.
(…think a close up shot…shell casings being moved or
glued into place by anonymous fingers…”what is that person
doing”?..and a pull back to reveal the created letters..spelling
out “DESTINY”.)
Hey, I found your missing scene:
CHLOE, SCOTT, and ELI are walking through the hallway. ELI gets to the point where he will turn into his BEDROOM. Chloe and Scott make to move onward, but Eli says
ELI: Wait. Chloe, can I talk to you for a sec?
Scott looks at Eli and Chloe quizzically. Turns to leave.
SCOTT: Okay. [to Chloe] See you in ten?
CHLOE: [glances at Eli’s serious face] Better give us fifteen.
Scott nods and walks away. Chloe turns on Eli, asking “What the hell?” with her eyes and facial expression alone. She doesn’t even need to speak.
ELI: Hey, that’s the only way I could talk to you alone! You and Matt have been joined at the hip lately.
CHLOE: Okay, well, we’re alone. Together.
Eli freezes. He seems to be steeling himself to say whatever comes next.
ELI: I’msofrakkinginlovewithyouIcannothelpmyselfanymoreI’mgoingcrazywatchingyouwithmybestfriendandIdon’twanttohurtyoubutIneedtogetthisoutbeforeyouguysgetandclosertogether. [breathes, off her face] I. Love. You.
Chloe is confused. She playfully takes a step back.
CHLOE: I. Uhhh, I love you too. You’re closer than a brother.
Eli rolls his eyes: he’s heard that one before.
CHLOE [cont]: We’ve been best friends for almost a year now. You’ve saved my life more times than I deserve or could ever repay—
ELI: [interrupts her] No, you don’t understand. I *LOVE* you. I want to be with you forever. I am crazy in love with you. [to self] Wow that sounds cheesy. [turns back to Chloe, in earnest] I want to be with you.
Eli awkwardly kisses her. She pulls back, surprised. She smiles, and kisses him back. The kiss ends.
CHLOE: I’ve got to tell Matt. I can’t cheat on him. He’s your friend too.
ELI: Yeah, you’re right. Plus, he’s expecting you.
Chloe checks her WATCH.
CHLOE: Wellllll, we do have ten minutes left.
Chloe drags Eli into his quarters.
We see the doors to Eli’s quarters close.
HARD CUT TO:
Eli wakes up suddenly. Sits up. Then wryly grins.
ELI: Well that dream ended better than it did last night. [realizes what he was dreaming about] Oh crap.
//Sorry. Every time Chloe says Eli is a good friend I cringe. How can she not see he’s madly in love with her?!?//
Scalzi sounds like fun! I know he keeps saying he doesn’t want to take on the mantle of writing a full episode until he’s ready, but I think he would do a good job of it! I’d LOVE to see what would happen in a Scalzi-penned SGU episode!!!
Oh CRAP that was really long. And prolly reads like BAD fanfiction. Sorry… it was in my head and I had to get it out! 😀
While the lucien could’ve dailed atlantis it would’ve being phenomenally stupid for them to do so, atlantis has a shield over the gate so unless you have the idc code than your not gonna be able to get though,as seen when the genii tried to get in with an idc they still lost a lot of people, due to shepard putting the sheild on.
Trying to figure out wither all the [redacted] tags have being put into posts by joe or the authors themselves :O
I have to say the script for the space dolphins would make an awesome kino episode, although surely the idea cant be used now that someone has posted it here?
extra scene:
baby christening?!?
I’m a little confused with the “Monday Morning Quarterback” fallback, isn’t the determination of success or failure in the writing?
The atmosphere was a huge blunder of TV tactics. Vent until they are on the ground if that is all the preparation you have time for. IF some are playing possum, incapacitating the rest to any degree still puts you at an advantage. All of the responses that focus on “venting till dead” are preposterous. Vent until they are gasping, then rush them when you have that advantage.
If you had enough preparation time… it’s an advanced ship with some level of life support, shift the N2 to O2 ratio. Or even carbon monoxide, of which there should be plenty, would work although would entail more casualties.
It’s just weird to justify something written (which many view as poorly done) by falling back on shaky ground. The writing itself could’ve resolved it.
After the whole “To vent or not to vent,” the taking of the corridors around the gate room was a lot of noise and poorly edited advances. There was a scene with LA advancing 4 abreast while people in cover fired back and decided to flee.
I also have to concur with the post about “Why does the LA use Earth weapons?” Yeah, I get it’s an Alliance which connotes multi-planetary involvement. The question is why with a galaxy of tech did Earth machine guns make the grade and not something a little less “this is what we had budget for”?
I was really enjoying the series up until this point (immensely more so that SG1). It had much stronger science, and, while remaining true to the SG mythos, it had left some of the hokiness behind. I was apprehensive when Earth and the LA was introduced via the stones. I understand the varied plot possibilities of introducing fresh faces onto Destiny, but to also have them in contention with the current crew makes for good drama. The episode, Incursion Part 1, felt hurried and unpolished. Almost as if we know we are at point A, with only the current Destiny crew, and we can see point B with more people on Destiny, but we just rush to get there without too much worry about continuity and logic.
We’ll see how part 2 plays out. But so far I feel that SGU just got “SG1″d.
@Richelieu
“But so far I feel that SGU just got “SG1″d.”
Don’t worry, I’m expecting Young will kill all in opposition and then knowing the rest wont respect him in the morning he’ll off himself as well. You wouldn’t get that on SG1 😉
“Speaking of which – I fear that this script may end up being a little short. Anyone have any suggestions for an extra scene?”
I’d like to see a little more exploration of the characters’ religious beliefs (or lack thereof). We know about Lt. Scott’s connection to the Catholic priest who raised him, but unless I’m forgetting a lot, we haven’t seen much else.
If it’s any consolation, I was yelling at Young to vent the gateroom even before anyone arrived. Adding air back in can be done much more quickly, giving him the advantage of an immediate response. And if he wanted to make sure it was not Rush in there, move the stones off the board!
Sunday afternoon yelling-from-the-sidelines all the way, baby!
I absolutey loved the final and after this scene with TJ and Varro I really hope he’ll stay on board. He seems to be a reasonable guy unlike Kiva and the other one now in charge. And it would be really interesting having the crew and members of the Lucian Alliance working together.