Stargate Atlantis: First Impressions (whoops)

[rispacooper]

First, you guys realize this show is Star Trek lite? I mean, even the show owns it, with it's constant ST:TOS references, but seriously-- It starts out straight-up Star Trek with the Kirk and the (slightly more snarky) Spock and the Bones (although they try to trick you, making the doctor the Scottish one) and then just rips off ST plots (any moment they are going to travel to the Nazi planet and the 1930's Chicago gangster planet, and I am so looking forward to the sex pollen episode) and then it just merges into a sort of Next Generation/The Original Series hybrid by bringing in touchy-feely Teyla (who is seriously fucking pissing me off with her soft voice and magic Wraith empathy powers. Why's it gotta be the girl?). Not to mention their complete inability to truly delve into any sort of issue, no matter how fucked up the actions of an episode. Couldn't they have learned from the New Battlestar Galactica? (i.e. They are isolating (interning) members of a certain race out of suspicion and at the end of the episode, everyone's all like, it was the right decision, no harm no foul. Or using a prisoner for scientific experiments, that's a line most people would at least *hesitate* to cross, no matter how creepy the prisoner. And speaking of creepy prisoners, why are the Wraith so one dimensional? Ever compare early Klingons to the later version? Later version is far more interesting...and disturbing).

Yes, I grew up watching Star Trek, and yeah, I could totally go on. But I won't, cuz I have another point (though keep in mind I am still watching this show and reading this fanfiction and making little squawks and girly noises and giggling, so obviously I am able to go with it and maybe love it a little). But in every fic so far I notice two things (Oh, should I mention I'm reading McShep? Isn't it obvious? If it weren't for their snark, the show would be so boring). One, "He was completely wrecked" the line leading me to believe it must be said on the show at some point, and the reemergence of the phrase "slow on the uptake" something not seen since the heyday of Due South (which leads me to believe the presence of a certain fabulous Big Name Author *cough* Speranza *cough* is the culprit). At first it was cute. Now it's bugging me. So knock it off writers, so I can enjoys more of the fluffy manlove. (Not that I haven't done a Due South cliche or two...or three in my time, but you try to move past those. Hopefully? Oh God, what if I haven't? *panics*).

Anyway, in conclusion: pir8fancier this is all your fault.

Though my total love is still clear, right? I mean...there has to be an episode somewhere where Sheppard and McKay are forced to fight to the death like Gladiators with the crazy music playing...

Comments

[rispacooper.livejournal.com]

Oh, I meant to put "first impressions" in the subject line and forgot. Oops.

You know, a show subverting all the Star Trek conventions would be pretty awesome. I mean, so far they've violated the Prime Directive all over the place. That's a shame they didn't go there, apparently, because Star Trek is so the mold for all these sci-fi shows/movies.
That isn't good news about the writing...I'm already sitting through that on Torchwood.

Maybe once they got the first season out of the way the writers felt they could leave the ST stuff behind and explore a little.

Also, Carson needs more stories. *love*

[utterfrivolity.livejournal.com]

I feel you *so much* on the writing issue. Somehow the shows I watch on a weekly basis are Doctor Who, Torchwood, SGA, and House. House occasionally has legitimately good episodes, and Doctor Who is usually fun and rarely painful, but Torchwood and SGA...I've actually watched through my fingers. While humming. I like to watch the episodes once and then remember them as much better than they were.

BUT! The good news is, Season Four of SGA is by far the strongest season. And the slashiest. So if you get bogged down in Season Two, just skip ahead. It's not like you'll miss any character development, after all.

I'll be interested in what you have to say about John Sheppard v. Captain Kirk as the show goes on. I subscribe to the theory that JFlan is the source of most of the subversion. Or as I like to describe it, John Sheppard is the result of a perfect storm of bad writing, writer/actor disagreement, and bad acting. He's honestly my favorite character in the history of television, and that's very much in spite of the writers' intentions.

[rispacooper.livejournal.com]

Hmm interesting about Sheppard. I mean, Kirk is a pretty bizarre character anyway to admire (or at least I always thought) so someone choosing not to emulate him but being written as him...maybe...

*makes no sense*

I shall watch and report.