15 November 2008 @ 08:19 am
 
You know, if you take a step back from the oh no! There's no JT, this season really isn't too terrible...

Are there problems? Totally. (see below) But, I think season 5 improved over last season.  (Actually, in my ideal world, they would take parts of season 4 and mesh it with season 5, LOL)

The good:

Woolsey.  I love him.  I wish he was there from the beginning as the IOA's representative.  It would have been great interaction and I would have loved to see him play off Elizabeth more. 

Carson.  Unlike just about everyone else, he has had the most character development.  Though he's only been in three episodes so far, I know more about him and his goals in life than Lorne who has been in three times as many episodes. Or Keller who is--well, again, see below for my "What stinks".

Teyla. I know, people are upset at the lack of her.  But, I think she has had some of the best (and believable) storylines this year--becoming a Wraith Queen, killing Michael, and taking care of her son.  I know, people are annoyed at the lack of Teyla--that she would stay back and watch Atlantis during TLT, her concern in TDV,  her waiting so long to make a decision in BT, but really...it's realistic.  When you have a kid, perspectives change.  And since we don't see how much Kanaan is there, one would have to assume that her priority is the welfare of her child.  It doesn't mean she can't still kick butt--look at The Seed and The Prodigal.

Secondary/guest characters.  I love Todd--I think he is freakin' awesome.  Radek, thankfully, is not the "creep" they painted him out to be in Season 4.  Lorne--ok, well, I learned more about him in season 4, but it's always nice to see a pretty face. LOL.  I like Banks, but I miss Chuck.  I thought Daniel was really good in the mid-season two parters.

The bad:

I only have three major complaints.

One, and it's the biggest one, is the lack of team episodes.  Remember those?  Sateda? The Long Goodbye? Letters from Pegasus? Home? I could go on and on and on.  The whole team doesn't have to be in every scene together, but it's nice to have them weaved through the episode--unlike this season when, if you're looking for someone that probably isn't in the story, look at the beginning or the end: Rodney in Whispers, Ronon/Teyla in Remanants, Teyla in TLT.  Or you can suspect they are missing from the entire episode: Ronon/Teyla in Whispers and Teyla in Tracker.  Woolsey and Keller have been MIA in several as well.  I can't remember an episode back in the early season where Elizabeth just wasn't there...

Keller.  I understand Carson isn't coming back.  Fine.  But, her character is so all over the place, it drives me crazy.  One episode, she's scared, the next, she's beating off a wraith with a stick.  And let's not even get into the whole love triangle thing.

Ronon.  I know people are mad about Teyla.  But look at how they treated Ronon all season.  In Tracker he was shown as the intelligent man he is, in TLT, he's "Caveman", shooting everything inthe control room.  Where's the character growth for him?  No wonder JM wanted to leave after this season.  And please, someone take the wig away from the man.  LOL

Overall, I'm glad that this season is its last.  While I enjoyed it a lot more than last season, you can feel the actors getting tired.  And while J/T won't ever be cannon, I can enjoy the episodes because I wasn't ever like Oh my goodness! If they never get together, I'm going to hate the show forever!!!!!!!  It's always been about the snark for me. :D :D

Alright, I'm done giving my input now.  
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: thoughtful
 
 
( Post a new comment )
[identity profile] lahela-sga.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 05:25 pm (UTC)
I agree, for the most part. In fact, I agree with just about everything... except that this season is better than last. The biggest downer for me this season is the ship. TPTB just can't, no matter how hard they try, write decent romance. They can do sex (Shep's Kirking is testament to that) but real romantic relationships are beyond them. Not that I'm a shipper by any stretch of the imagination, but if it were at least done well enough that the characters didn't have to be so out of character that you wouldn't recognise them with the costumes (and wig!) it might be bearable.

I miss Ronon :(

Best thing of all this season, Woolsey is made of win :)
yappichick: Ronon[personal profile] yappichick on November 15th, 2008 06:10 pm (UTC)
I had problems with a few episodes last season--Trio, Missing and Harmony come to mind (This season I didn't like Tracker with Super!Keller or Whispers--a little too Boo!gotcha! for SGA). I didn't mind Carter, I just like Woolsey better. :D But overall, I give season 4 a solid B. We'll see when all is said and done what I give this season.

If you're talking about the McKeller ship. Ack! I can't stand it. And I am sooo not looking forward to Brain Storm. Why is that Rodney (whom I love) has had more meaninful relationships than Ronon and Sheppard combined? Methinks something is awry.
[identity profile] anuna-81.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 06:32 pm (UTC)
Why is that Rodney (whom I love) has had more meaninful relationships than Ronon and Sheppard combined? Methinks something is awry.

The writers are obviously doing the thing known as self insertation. I don't mind Rodney. I enjoy Rondey and John friendship but too much of a good thing is NOT a good thing. I would loved if I could have seen more John and Ronon friendship or Elizabeth and Ronon dynamic. And Lorne? What happened to Lorne? Or Zelenka?

And let's not talk about female friendships (which don't include Carter and Keller!).
[identity profile] lahela-sga.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 06:33 pm (UTC)
Oh I liked Sam - loved her since day one on SG1, I just don't think they did her justice on SGA. Woolsey, they seem to be really making an effort with.

The whole triangle and McKeller ship, from the start has just been... yuk :S I adore Rodney, and I didn't mind the Katie Brown thing for the most part, because for the most part it was background noise. For me though the biggest thing was what they did to Ronon... I'm an unabashed Ronon gal so it made me sad to see him like that :(

Love your icon, BTW ^^D
[identity profile] azure-horizon.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 05:44 pm (UTC)
Indeed.

The thread won't appreciate my thoughts on Season 5.

At all.
yappichick: chiefcortana1[personal profile] yappichick on November 15th, 2008 06:20 pm (UTC)
You rebel you. I keep most of my opinions out of the thread. LOL
[identity profile] azure-horizon.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 06:52 pm (UTC)
Yes, because a lot of folk in the thread are the fans that give fandom a bad name. And I don't mean just out thread.. the whole forum is like that.
[identity profile] anuna-81.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 06:09 pm (UTC)
*sneaks in* Is the resident heretic on your flist allowed to speak up? I'm gonna risk it. One thing I was afraid of was another baby of doom popping up, like Adria on SG - 1 but for a change Teyla got to have a normal baby, and that is probably most realistic and the best thing they have done with this season. I love Teyla and I wish those guys had an idea what to do with her from the day one. They didn't. At least I'm not convinced. But you're absolutely right, when you have a child priorities change completely.

I've heard that demons that haunt John are still being mentioned, but we still lack an explanation. Considering that he's my second favorite character, and the favorite to write about, that makes me pissed. Psychologically, he is a package of opposites and contradictions. What made him so vulnerable? What happened between him and his father? Why is he a loner, but at the same time so fiercely loyal to his people and ready to give his life for them? We'll probably never get answers to those questions.

And let's not start on the topic of what was done to my favorite character. I'm not going to forgive them that. Replacing Elizabeth with Carter was bad enough because Carter became something she wasn't supposed to be (and to me she was never at the top of my favorites list. I was never too interested about her), but having Woolsey as the leader? The man who usually came carrying accusations, the same one who wanted to kill Daniel? Oh, please. To me he is a comic relief, and nothing else. Elizabeth was the leader.

On Ronon - his wig beats Rachel's wigs from S1. That thing he has to wear is absolutely hideous. One would think that a show like SGA can afford a decent wig?

Overall, I miss SGA, the way it was in its golden days.
yappichick: rememberme[personal profile] yappichick on November 15th, 2008 06:19 pm (UTC)
ROFL, heretic. Dude, you are funny. I love differing opinions.

I believe me, I think getting rid of Elizabeth and Carson was not a wise thing to do. It polorized the fandom and ,I think, led to their demise.

Believe me, I know what it's like to lose your favorite character. Doggett on the X-Files could never compare to Mulder. Grissom on CSI will never be replaced. I left the XF fandom in season 8 (though I came back when DD popped on) and I won't watch CSI anymore now that I know Grissom going away.

Character development for poor John has been lacking. You get nuggets, but nothing substantial. Look at last night (I know you probably didn't watch it), but Imaginary!Koyla says to John "You torture yourself everyday." It's like...about what? His father? His brother? Aiden? Carson? Elizabeth? All of them? But do you think we'll ever hear about that again? Nooooooooooo.

Don't you miss shows like TNG, DS9 and Voyager where most of the characters managed to stay and they had character development? *sigh*
[identity profile] anuna-81.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 06:28 pm (UTC)
DS9 owns me!!! They had everything: continuity, character development - even for secondary characters (heck, even Morn got it!!), plausible romance that wasn't made of yuck, war, action, adventure, really cool baddies, battles of epic proportions - overall, it was a show you never forget. It spoiled me for any further watching.

Yep I heard about Kolya's question. I guess it would only serve to confuse a regular viewer, but to me it's an eye rolling cue. There's a scene at the very beginning of the show that sums John up perfectly - the coin tossing in "The Rising". When I saw that I instantly wondered what kind of life did he have to act like that and feel like that. I'm still waiting for an answer. he's a fascinating writing material and they have a perfect actor for him. And what do they do? Waste all of it, completely. I don't care about Keller's love affairs. Tell me something about John or Ronon, or Elizabeth or Teyla.

I hate what they're doing to Ronon. We rarely see him for a smart man he definitely is. Cue in "Wasted time" by The Eagles. I think it would fit perfectly. Why is Woolsey getting development? Is it a justification for his being there? He's okay and I love Robert Picardo, but I care about the regular characters more.

Oh and about Elizabeth and Teyla and generally their treatment of female characters, I could rant a whole day about that. My icon describes me perfectly. Ship - matters aside, why were we never given Teyla and Elizabeth friendship moments? It would have rocked. We did get ton of John and Rodney friendship - does that mean that men are more important? Now think back at DS9, and characters like Kira and Jadzia (I love Jadzia).

Dear SGA TPB, you're made of fail. No love, me.
[identity profile] azure-horizon.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 07:01 pm (UTC)
Dear SGA TPB, you're made of fail. No love, me. Oh my word. *cackle* so true!
[identity profile] anuna-81.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 07:20 pm (UTC)
Someone said once PTB are good in doing one thing - making various fan groups hate them (for various reasons), finally achieving the goal of uniting the SGA fandom.

OT - I really like your icon!
yappichick: Strongbad[personal profile] yappichick on November 15th, 2008 07:20 pm (UTC)
And you, Dude, are completely made of win. :D :D

And yeah, Jadzia rocked! :D
[identity profile] anuna-81.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 07:22 pm (UTC)
((huggles)) You rock too! I have no idea how you put up with me? I can be really hot headed.

Btw, that assignment? You should have it by tomorrow night, your time.
yappichick: Awesome[personal profile] yappichick on November 15th, 2008 07:32 pm (UTC)
Woo hoo!! I'm excited...I've been needing a push to write something. :D :D

And, I do not put up with you. I love what you have to say. :D :D
[identity profile] anuna-81.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 07:33 pm (UTC)
I don't need a push, I need a kick in the butt and more time.

What kind of genres do you read?
yappichick: Elizabeth[personal profile] yappichick on November 15th, 2008 07:44 pm (UTC)
Are you talking about books or fanfic?

If your talking books...honestly, anything. I have anything from C.S. Lewis to Jerry Seinfeld to Michael Crichton on my shelves. I don't have as much time to read as I use to (currently, I should be getting the house clean for Autumn's birthday party tomorrow, LOL), but I'm all for reading new stuff.

[identity profile] anuna-81.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 07:48 pm (UTC)
Lovely icon!!!!

I have all kinds of books too. C. S. Lewis I still have to write. I was thinking about re reading "Anne of Green Gables" these days.
[identity profile] cazzblade.livejournal.com on November 16th, 2008 12:25 am (UTC)
Aparantly it in the first draft he was torturing himself over the death of his mum! But that would have actually been a development, obviously too much depth for the character of Sheppy to handle *rolleyes*
[identity profile] padme18.livejournal.com on November 15th, 2008 11:42 pm (UTC)
Yeah the wig is bad. Very bad.
(Reply) (Link)
[identity profile] cazzblade.livejournal.com on November 16th, 2008 12:43 am (UTC)
Urrggh! My laptop is evil! I just wrote out an incredibly long reply and my internet cut out as I tried to post it so I lost it all :/ I'll see if I have time to write it out again tomorrow! Whether I'll be able to capture the same genious is another matter ;) :P
(Reply) (Link)