There better be some Teyla episodes!!!

[Jodi518]

I for sure season 4 better have some teyla episodes...instead of rodney...i mean ronon has had some and teyla has been there from the beginning. Its time we learned more about Teyla...and Teyla's past. sorry just voicing my opinion...i know she is suppose to have an arc...and they better not change their minds!!!:teyla:

[vaberella]

No worries, he just answered my question on his blog about Teyla.


Vaberella writes: “I noticed a lot of comparison between the Wraith and Vampires; What do you think of the Wraith and Morlocks from The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, similarity wise?! […]Oh, can you give us some hints on what you have in store for Teyla, if anything?”

Answer: I’ve never considered the similarities between the wraith and the Morlocks, although the similarities between the wraith and the vampires are fairly obvious. As for your second question - I’ve just finished reading an excellent revelatory Teyla script written by Carl Binder. Teyla fans are in for a treat with this one.

url to his blog response to vab (http://josephmallozzi.blogspot.com/)!

--I'm going to describe the similarities of the wraith and the morlocks...my avatar should be enough. :D

[Jackie]

Here's just a thought. It's possible that Teyla may end up doing Wier's job. Especially since TH will only be in for eps and the SGA is supposed to be civilian run. That would make Sheps team either 3 man or a newbie would join. Hmm, Carter?

[vaberella]

Here's just a thought. It's possible that Teyla may end up doing Wier's job. Especially since TH will only be in for eps and the SGA is supposed to be civilian run. That would make Sheps team either 3 man or a newbie would join. Hmm, Carter?


Unlikely for various reasons, although I wouldn't mind seeing that.

First off, we don't know how many eps TH has, the 4 eps comment was sort of blown out of proportion based on rumors that were posted on JM's blog site. It was an arbitrary number, and seems to be fact.

Secondly, again I wouldn't mind it, but the IOA won't put Teyla as full on head of Atlantis. Yes, we have seen that she has babysat Atlantis on numerous occasions ie, Intruder, NML, parts of Mis...they probably won't trust her especially since she's not from Earth. Her loyalty lies first to her people and most likely those of the PG, and secondly she's been taken by the the wraith.

I don't know the heirarchy of Atlantis, but I have a gut feeling that John is head of Atlantis if Weir is indisposed, mainly because of The Long Goodbye, so that throws CArter out the window even if she shows---unless it's a direct order from the IOA. But since JM has verified that Carter has her own ship, it's unlikely she'd be head of Atlantis. McKay would be head of Atlantis but take orders from John---unless again IOA dictates otherwise and appoints someone else in Weir's stead.

So Sheps team would still remain intact.

VB:P :teyla:

[Lt. Colonel Ryu Gaia]

I have renewed faith in the series because they seem to know what they're doing for next season. A Teyla episode at long last!

[Jodi518]

No worries, he just answered my question on his blog about Teyla.



url to his blog response to vab (http://josephmallozzi.blogspot.com/)!

--I'm going to describe the similarities of the wraith and the morlocks...my avatar should be enough. :D
Thank you so much!!! I really excited to see the new season but its so far away!!!

[cshawzye]

I'm really excited and hopeful for the development of Teyla in the next season. I just finished reading this great interview with Rachel where she was asked

Q. Is there anything new going on with your character? *going to spoiler her answer*

A. Well, I can tell you that there is going to be more of a dark side to my character being introduced this season. We'll see more of her edgier, ruthless side.
I can't wait to see the results of that. It sounds like what I've been hoping/wanting to see from the character. I know it's pretty vague but if it means more screentime for Rachel and more for development for Teyla and less time as background I'm all for it.

If you want to read the rest of the interview here's the link: Starry Mag Rachel Luttrell Interview (http://starrymag.com/content.asp?ID=1999&CATEGORY=INTERVIEWS)

[travis]

I for sure season 4 better have some teyla episodes...instead of rodney...i mean ronon has had some and teyla has been there from the beginning. Its time we learned more about Teyla...and Teyla's past. sorry just voicing my opinion...i know she is suppose to have an arc...and they better not change their minds!!!:teyla:

I totally agree with you there.

But I'll like her to be utalize in another manner apart from being a Wraith detector, though I do enjoy those eps alot but time to move one and explore other possibility giving her a strong reason for being on Atlantis and Team.

[Commander Ivanova]

Time we saw another side to Teyla, too much Ms Nice Gal is boring beyond belief.

[sgaaddict]

I agree, more Ronon, more Teyla.

[vaberella]

Time we saw another side to Teyla, too much Ms Nice Gal is boring beyond belief.

Well she's far from nice at times, epsiodes like Letters from Pegasus; showed us as a leader she can be very decisive and realistic. She says save the few we can, if not all; since she knows the capacity the PJ can hold. Then there was Trinity, and she was far from lovey dovey with Ronon (is she ever, treats the poor boy like a lap puppy most of the time). Another is The Tower, where she pretty much is willing to organize and start a small war---for social justice yes---but she allows Ronon to kill an officer with a smile on her face and joins in the drama.

Unfortunately where the writers go wrong is developing on those aspects of the character in later episodes. Showing us another instance and a reason why she would willingly participate in such acts. The ideas just tend to fall flat, although their touched upon. Further more the eps are few and far between.

My one little question is why she always has his satisfied smirk after she's done messing with the wraith in their minds; but she was suffering heavily before.

[Gen_J_O'Neill]

This is great news. I've been getting really frustrated lately at the lack of character development for Teyla but it looks like we'll finally be getting some good stuff in s4.

Personally I think s4 will be great. It looks like tptb have really seen some problems and are trying to fix them.

[freetoken]

I hope she loses some clothes...

[Skydiver]

it would be nice if she had something to do. I watched some of the s3 eps and yeah, there was a LOT of rodney. you especially see it when you watch 3-4 in a sitting.

wouldn't it have been cool had The Game been teyla and ronon instead of shep and rod? or if teyla had gotten what rod got in Tao?

[vaberella]

it would be nice if she had something to do. I watched some of the s3 eps and yeah, there was a LOT of rodney. you especially see it when you watch 3-4 in a sitting.

wouldn't it have been cool had The Game been teyla and ronon instead of shep and rod? or if teyla had gotten what rod got in Tao?


Nope, don't see Teyla or Ronon being into creating a civilization or making a 'game' of it. Teyla is after all leader of her people and in essence ruler of a civilization, so I doubt that would be of interest. Plus, I'd think she'd snub her nose at wasting time in front of a computer screen when she could spend it either training, being with her people, or meditating. As for Ronon, another unlikely move, which I'd think he'd be bored of. Ronon is far too much of an active person, more so than even Teyla. He's more about saving civilizations than wasting again his time playing a game creating it. All in all, these two seem far from being the x-box playing sims type of people.

Although, I will say it would have been cooler to reverse the order and have Lorne/Zelenka discover the computer thing and end up the 'oracles' for the people---rather than McShep. It would change the dynamic and be very refreshing, plus it would probably sting McKay and Shep that they didn't know about being 'oracles', despite Weir's displeasure.

I don't know how interesting an ep it would be if Teyla was afflicated with the 'tao'. What with her wraith dna, that thing would probably have killed her instead. Not only that, what would Teyla be doing on an Ancient console, playing and attaching equipment (I think McKay wouldn't even let her touch those wires)---I could see some rather interesting lemmings whinging away about how unrealistic it is of Teyla to do that, so it was a good move not to. :cool:

But there are various eps where it would have been interesting to see Teyla take the lead. It would have been more interesting to see Teyla do more with her Wraith flying abilities during the season, just a snippet more. Maybe see her play around with the cruiser and such, since she was given lessons, or taking lessons. :P

[Skydiver]

i think for tao to work for teyla, it would have to be in a different setting. instead of the city, what if they were on a planet? spoilers for tao how would teyla react if she had powers and could save people...what if they were people taht didn't want to be saved but could be? something like Red Sky, where the villagers didn't want help, but teyla COULD help. how would she handle having those 'super cosmic powers' but not be able to use them?

could she stand there, knowing that she could save them and had the power to save them...but if she did save them she'd ignore thier wishes and their culture and betray who they are. could she let a people die out of respect for their beliefs, especially when she had the power to make them live.

as to the game, it could be tweaked so that teyla is enjoying having tech, she's getting used to it and...wow, look at how much it screws up. maybe zelenka and lorne would have been 'better' but i'm thinking more of the general theme of the episode instead of simply swapping out characters.

[vaberella]

i think for tao to work for teyla, it would have to be in a different setting. instead of the city, what if they were on a planet? spoilers for tao how would teyla react if she had powers and could save people...what if they were people taht didn't want to be saved but could be? something like Red Sky, where the villagers didn't want help, but teyla COULD help. how would she handle having those 'super cosmic powers' but not be able to use them?

could she stand there, knowing that she could save them and had the power to save them...but if she did save them she'd ignore thier wishes and their culture and betray who they are. could she let a people die out of respect for their beliefs, especially when she had the power to make them live.

Yup that could work out well and it would really create some great development for her. As long as it's not ancient related, or maybe some random device---like in My Secret Identity, then yeah. This would have been a good ep to watch.


as to the game, it could be tweaked so that teyla is enjoying having tech, she's getting used to it and...wow, look at how much it screws up. maybe zelenka and lorne would have been 'better' but i'm thinking more of the general theme of the episode instead of simply swapping out characters.


Unfortunately, I still can't see that. My brain is not wrapping around it. I have seen Teyla use techonology but it seems only when writing up mission reports that John is not able to get too, or when she has to update the head guys like McKay, John, Weir of info. But on her own, for pleasure? I don't see her gaining past-time pleasure from that, much like golf. And your idea was basically swapping out the characters by using Ronon/Teyla besides Shep/McKay. I just find that Ronon and Teyla would be OOC for me if they were in a 'game' scenario.

Unless of course we were introduced a let's say danger game that is played as a coming of age amongst certain peoples in the PG, well then, that would be comopletely entertaining! Like an expansion on Ronon/John game in Sunday.

[maxbo]

I would love to have seen The Game and Tao written for Teyla. That's the kind of thinking outside of the box writing that's been missing in general and for Teyla in particular.

Although I didn't think The Game was a bad episode, I found it sadly predictable. The best parts were the Lorne/Zelenka scenes. I would have found The Game far more interesting if it had been about Teyla (and Ronon) because it could have been used to focus on the mindset of Pegasus galaxy residents.

In a Season 1 episode, I remember Teyla wondering what her people could have accomplished if not for the Wraith and wonder how she would have reacted to being able to create a world where they could defend themselves against the Wraith. In a game setting, how would she have reacted to having absolute power?

The Tao episode could have also have been a good Teyla episode because it could have been used to explore how she would have reacted to having real power. It would have been a good opportunity to get inside her head. Would she have believed that she could handle it, or, would she have been wary because of concerns from her past?

Teyla is such a tightly controlled individual that I wonder if she gravitated to meditation to help her gain control of her darker impulses? Although TPTB tend to want to keep Teyla in a little box as the benevolent alien, I would love to see some of the other parts of her personality - as shown in The Gift, The Storm/The Eye, and Trinity.

[Skydiver]

Yup that could work out well and it would really create some great development for her. As long as it's not ancient related, or maybe some random device---like in My Secret Identity, then yeah. This would have been a good ep to watch.




Unfortunately, I still can't see that. My brain is not wrapping around it. I have seen Teyla use techonology but it seems only when writing up mission reports that John is not able to get too, or when she has to update the head guys like McKay, John, Weir of info. But on her own, for pleasure? I don't see her gaining past-time pleasure from that, much like golf. And your idea was basically swapping out the characters by using Ronon/Teyla besides Shep/McKay. I just find that Ronon and Teyla would be OOC for me if they were in a 'game' scenario.

Unless of course we were introduced a let's say danger game that is played as a coming of age amongst certain peoples in the PG, well then, that would be comopletely entertaining! Like an expansion on Ronon/John game in Sunday.
ok, i can see your interpretation of teyla. a way to have gotten her into 'the game' would be if, what if she was the voice for someone else doing it? LIke, i dunno, someone else actually pushed the buttons based on ideas that teyla expressed verbally?

for me, there is so much of teyla that's been ignored that i don't see too much being out of character for her simpy because there's not a whole lot there as her character.

she's the calming influence, the mediator, the empathic one. she is always resoponding to something someone else does and rarely taking action on her own. I think it'd be cool to put her in a situation where she's the boss, where she's back to taking action, like she did when she led her people

[Nath]

she's the calming influence, the mediator, the empathic one. she is always resoponding to something someone else does and rarely taking action on her own. I think it'd be cool to put her in a situation where she's the boss, where she's back to taking action, like she did when she led her people

I totally agree with you. I love Teyla's character and I'd like to explore deeper her personality and her history. I like how she's calm and always nice with everyone. After all, she's the leader of her people and she's used to trade and stand on diplomatic relations. But what I also like, it's de duplicity of her personality. She can be calm and the next moment fight like no one and show so much strengh, so much will, and agressivity too. I'm sure we haven't pictured her real complexity yet. And I would love to watch it.

As for The Game and Tao, I don't think puting Teyla and Ronon instead of Shep and MCKay would have been wise. But I definitly LOVE the Lorne/Zelenka banters... that would have been great to watch more.

[vaberella]

ok, i can see your interpretation of teyla. a way to have gotten her into 'the game' would be if, what if she was the voice for someone else doing it? LIke, i dunno, someone else actually pushed the buttons based on ideas that teyla expressed verbally?

Now that I can see. If the game was explored differently and in that elk, that's realistic to me and I can see her getting into it...almost like a Pandora's Box affect. Nice idea actually. I'd like to see that fleshed out, if you could...


for me, there is so much of teyla that's been ignored that i don't see too much being out of character for her simpy because there's not a whole lot there as her character.

I see you're point, but at the same time...I see the same with Ronon and John. If you don't look for it, you don't see it. I love TPTB, but I still think that Common Ground was a cop out as a Shep ep. It told me nothing about Shep, and I'm mighty tired of, 'we never leave a man behind'. Thank you, I've heard that twenty times, it's clear. Let's get a new catch phrase for John; it's no where near as cool as Teyla saying, "They are Wraith" throughout the seasons.:DIt's like there's a moment here that is interesting, but if one just looks at an ep generally you really see nothing of essence. Like overall I found Ronon fascinating this seasons---besides turning into a whipped dog by baddies... Teyla unfortunately, wasn't as fascinating to me as she was in S2, where I was just blown away by aspects of her personality which was seen everywhere. They mainly focused on her relation with some of the guys on the team; from the guys perspective. Yet, I will say I had great hope about Tey in S3.


she's the calming influence, the mediator, the empathic one. she is always resoponding to something someone else does and rarely taking action on her own. I think it'd be cool to put her in a situation where she's the boss, where she's back to taking action, like she did when she led her people
That's why I didn't want her to be classed or anyone for that matter as the 'voice of reason' or what was that thing with ethics and morals. I forget it but deals with someone having the moral high ground, I forget the term they use. I think that is unrealistic for any human being and puts you in a terrible disadvantage in ways of development.

But her being leader in an actionary sense, would be interestingk. I could also see the slew of recrimination---when, it's established, she is only aiding the Atlantis team and does not prostate to their authority. But I would love to see that---so far the only time I've seen that is in cases like Duet or The Tower and possibly Trinity---again S2 (was real good for Teyla)---it would be great to see that fleshed out though in S4.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Again this is something I also want for Ronon, specialist of what? He seemed to lead a team in Sateda, what are his strategic abilities? I mean these are things that could and should be explored and yet completely ignored.

This is also the downfall of Weir throughout the seasons---where are the moments where she is having talks with her allies from the past seasons, building a military reserve front with the people in the PG (besides depending on Earth to supply military, when they have problems of their own). Where are her moments where she's having off base meetings with the IOA and she's interrupted. We never see these things, and yeah they're not that interesting in the scheme of things, but it just shows us their doing something than fooling around with comp. games or playing solitaire. And it takes 3 seconds and we cut to an important scene.

[Skydiver]

there are a lot of missed opportunities.

like ronon...yeah, good guy, great to have in a fight. and in sateda we got a glimpse into what makes him tick...and a little more in tao, but it'd be nice to see more of him beyond big strong alien :)

how about an episode where only teyla and ronon are free and ronon is injured/incapicitated and teyla has to fight with her brains since she's not quite up to whupping multiple tushie with her brawn?

i dunno, teyla and ronon trapped off world and he's blind or something and he has to depend on her to get him home. something needs to happen to shake the characters out of thier confort zone. and when they do that, we learn more about them.

how about lizzy and the tao? how would she have reacted had she been affected? would she be able to control herself? or would she revel in finally being able to do things that have needed to be done?

[RepliHawk]

how about an episode where only teyla and ronon are free and ronon is injured/incapicitated and teyla has to fight with her brains since she's not quite up to whupping multiple tushie with her brawn?


Sounds good to me

[ToasterOnFire]

I'm also really hoping for some great Teyla episodes next season. A "dark side" of Teyla would be fantastic, so would some backstory/flashbacks. :teyla:

[garhkal]

i think for tao to work for teyla, it would have to be in a different setting. instead of the city, what if they were on a planet? spoilers for tao how would teyla react if she had powers and could save people...what if they were people taht didn't want to be saved but could be? something like Red Sky, where the villagers didn't want help, but teyla COULD help. how would she handle having those 'super cosmic powers' but not be able to use them?

could she stand there, knowing that she could save them and had the power to save them...but if she did save them she'd ignore thier wishes and their culture and betray who they are. could she let a people die out of respect for their beliefs, especially when she had the power to make them live.


I am trying to remember where it was said, but if a person lives in danger, is it your right/duty to save them. Cause what happens if you do, then they go back to that same dangerous place. Would you just keep on saving them when they get into trouble??


how about an episode where only teyla and ronon are free and ronon is injured/incapicitated and teyla has to fight with her brains since she's not quite up to whupping multiple tushie with her brawn?

What about having it the other way, where it's teyla who is down, but instead of a 'battle type' problem to solve' for ronon, it is something to do with smarts/thinking things through..

[Skydiver]

that could be a good twist, ronon having to put his brain to work. I was just trying to avoid 'teyla in distress' which they had so often in s3. poor girl was always in the infirmary.

As to helping people, when is it help and when is it interferring? to paraphrase the sg1 eps Red Sky, a natural disaster is coming, here we can save you...no, our god will save us.

do you use force to save someone and ignore thier belief? or do you let them guide the direction of thier own life, even if that direction isn't where you'd want it to be?

It would be interesting to see teyla face such a quandry. Have the power to help,but the only way to help would be to ignore their beliefs and disrespect tehm. two aspects of teyla would be in direct conflict. because she greatly respects others' beliefs, but she also wants to help.

[garhkal]

that could be a good twist, ronon having to put his brain to work. I was just trying to avoid 'teyla in distress' which they had so often in s3. poor girl was always in the infirmary.

As to helping people, when is it help and when is it interferring? to paraphrase the sg1 eps Red Sky, a natural disaster is coming, here we can save you...no, our god will save us.

do you use force to save someone and ignore thier belief? or do you let them guide the direction of thier own life, even if that direction isn't where you'd want it to be?

It would be interesting to see teyla face such a quandry. Have the power to help,but the only way to help would be to ignore their beliefs and disrespect tehm. two aspects of teyla would be in direct conflict. because she greatly respects others' beliefs, but she also wants to help.

I wonder how the others would react to that situation.. or any of our SG main stays, like daniel, vala or mitchell..

[vaberella]

that could be a good twist, ronon having to put his brain to work. I was just trying to avoid 'teyla in distress' which they had so often in s3. poor girl was always in the infirmary.

As to helping people, when is it help and when is it interferring? to paraphrase the sg1 eps Red Sky, a natural disaster is coming, here we can save you...no, our god will save us.

do you use force to save someone and ignore thier belief? or do you let them guide the direction of thier own life, even if that direction isn't where you'd want it to be?

It would be interesting to see teyla face such a quandry. Have the power to help,but the only way to help would be to ignore their beliefs and disrespect tehm. two aspects of teyla would be in direct conflict. because she greatly respects others' beliefs, but she also wants to help.

There are tons of episodes where Ronon could use his brain. Big mission is at hand, Lorne's wicked team, is out there with Shep's team, right. Shep goes down or caught somewhere, possibly Zelenka and Teyla with him. Anyone with any military strategy ability is Ronon is he's called in to plan a mode of attack to save the others. As for Zelenka/Teyla they figure a scientific way out (Teyla is the only person who doesn't need a translator to understand Rodney.)

I say through a loophole in there, interdimensional eps (I was a big sliders) fan. Alternate world, ala purpleyin, with everyone in different roles---which would really play up the characters and their roles.
---------------------------------------------------

As for the quandry, didn't they do that with Inferno? Some were able to be saved and some weren't. She'd understand that, this was also shown in Letters from Pegasus (and she clearly stated 'some are better than none'). We've seen Teyla in those situations, she would be upset--- say a line similar to 'they are wraith' or 'you will all die' and those she could save she would and those she couldn't, she wouldn't. But she would respect the culture and the beliefs of those who would not believe her, and focus on her attention on those who would. It would be better I think taking into consideration TEyla's past and her actions in similar situations that she would focus on the living rather than the 'walking dead'.

[Skydiver]

what if she had the Tao powers? would she still so easily respect thier wishes when she could so easily change things? Would it be so easy to focus on the living and not worry about the doomed when she has the power to make miracles - literally - happen?

and, as one aspect of the game alluded to, simple assistance is often anything BUT simple. It often has ramifications beyond what people can see coming and can very easily snowball out of control.

There was a TNG episode, where riker was given the power of the Q, but he couldn't use it. Not even to save a dying child. It's also akin to being ascended, super cosmic powers that you are forbidden to use. Could she just stand there and watch her friends suffer, knowing that she had the power to fix it, but was forbidden to use it? and could she stay sane if she did?

Tehre are all sorts of things they could explore with her that would take her out of the role of alien pacifier with a side order of damsel in distress :)

[kimaken]

Since her people are out of the picture now and they have another kick-ass alien on the team, I'm not so sure tptb will see a further need for Teyla. They got rid of Ford, Beckett, and are reducing Weir's role (I liken her reduction to recurring status to that of Ford's in S2 and now he's gone, probably for good), I expect Teyla will be the next sacrificial lamb when tptb feel the need to "shake things up a bit".

Of course, I'm still bitter about losing my favorite character. I hope my prediction is totally wrong and you get your wish for lots more Teyla screen time, development, and back story.

[vaberella]

Since her people are out of the picture now and they have another kick-ass alien on the team, I'm not so sure tptb will see a further need for Teyla. They got rid of Ford, Beckett, and are reducing Weir's role (I liken her reduction to recurring status to that of Ford's in S2 and now he's gone, probably for good), I expect Teyla will be the next sacrificial lamb when tptb feel the need to "shake things up a bit".

Of course, I'm still bitter about losing my favorite character. I hope my prediction is totally wrong and you get your wish for lots more Teyla screen time, development, and back story.


Well based on my earlier post in this thread, we have just gotten confirmation from JM early on that Teyla is having her own arc, with the completed scripts so far. So that's done.

As for Teyla leaving, it's unlikely. They may have another kick-ass alien but he's not one of the 'friendly' and 'knowledgeable' in all that is PG as Teyla has been established to be. Teyla is, as established again by the writers, a negotiator (Rising, The Underground, Trinity, etc) and diplomat. As she had said in Home I believe or even seen her display in Letters from Pegasus that she knows a lot of the planets and bring in trade. Ronon doesn't provide that kind of service.

For seven years he's been on the run, and most places he's gone he's probably ended in killing a few people (Sateda), so Teyla is the one who can smooth things over with the team. No matter what it's unlikely they can let her go. Or they would just have to bring someone else with that skills ability to do the same. No one has first hand knowledge of the PG and nuances of cultures in the PG as Teyla does. Her character has been established as indispensible, while others have been shown far from that.

All in all to get rid of Teyla is to bring in another character who is essentially Teyla on the team.:teyla:

[prion]

Well based on my earlier post in this thread, we have just gotten confirmation from JM early on that Teyla is having her own arc, with the completed scripts so far. So that's done.



Uh, don't count your chickens before they're hatched. I've seen Mallozzi make plenty of 'promises' to fans that just don't pan out for one reason or another. he said in his 2/22 blog "As for your second question - I’ve just finished reading an excellent revelatory Teyla script written by Carl Binder. Teyla fans are in for a treat with this one". That's not an arc. It's one script; however, it is promising that Carl binder wrote it has he's got the best handle on writing Teyla of any of the writers. That's the only reason I might look forward to it.

[vaberella]

what if she had the Tao powers? would she still so easily respect thier wishes when she could so easily change things? Would it be so easy to focus on the living and not worry about the doomed when she has the power to make miracles - literally - happen?

and, as one aspect of the game alluded to, simple assistance is often anything BUT simple. It often has ramifications beyond what people can see coming and can very easily snowball out of control.

There was a TNG episode, where riker was given the power of the Q, but he couldn't use it. Not even to save a dying child. It's also akin to being ascended, super cosmic powers that you are forbidden to use. Could she just stand there and watch her friends suffer, knowing that she had the power to fix it, but was forbidden to use it? and could she stay sane if she did?

Tehre are all sorts of things they could explore with her that would take her out of the role of alien pacifier with a side order of damsel in distress :)


I understand your point, but I still see her as respecting their wishes...remember Rodney just kept on thinking ways of improving Atlantis. Teyla after seeing The Return I&II, seems to be disillusioned by the ancients. Ah crap, I can't see Teyla even having ancient power to even be discussing this, I think she'd be dead by being hit by something like that. But let's say it's similar but not ancient related, I do still doubt she would force her will on others. She has shown in aspects like Letters from Pegasus that she may expect things and want her way, but in S2 she has also shown compromise and tolerance made of decisions that she cannot control (ie. Michael) and again as estabilshed in passed eps, even if she could control those things---that doesn't mean she would. Remember she's a leader, she lead her people for years before the PG--- if people chose to be the walking dead, she'd probably make them as comfortable as possible; even if it would break her in half.

Now, I'm willing to change my mind if the writers come up with a different angle and create a scenario that would result in the predicament you stated. All in all, I don't know, but I don't think she'd force her will upon them. And fi she did in the beginning, she'd see the error of her ways, she's not one without reason.

As for highlighted in bold, that's a good question, I'm unsure of that. But taking into account TLG, she'd definitely let the kill the baby to save human kind. So if rules forbade her to do something---she would probably try to find a loop hole, or end up like Chaya. Or I'd have to sit there listening to John plead with her to see reason.

"Side order damsel in distress"---I thought Weir was better in that role.:cool: Three eps of Teyla getting whumped in S3, and all of the sudden she's a damsel needing rescuing...never mind one where she was shot in the leg, a second she tried reasoning with the guy and got stuck in a container as molecules, or that there were alien bugs and McKay could have just as likely been the damsel, and another where sharpnel plunged into her side and no one except Carson rescued her---except Michael had a bone to pick specifically with Teyla. Let's forget the S1,S2, S3 eps where she saved some arse and kicked some.

[vaberella]

Uh, don't count your chickens before they're hatched. I've seen Mallozzi make plenty of 'promises' to fans that just don't pan out for one reason or another. he said in his 2/22 blog "As for your second question - I’ve just finished reading an excellent revelatory Teyla script written by Carl Binder. Teyla fans are in for a treat with this one". That's not an arc. It's one script; however, it is promising that Carl binder wrote it has he's got the best handle on writing Teyla of any of the writers. That's the only reason I might look forward to it.

Prion, I see what you're saying. He said he already read the script. I'm not a jaded viewer, or lemming; so I'll take him at his word. If he says there is a script out there for Teyla, I'm prone to believe him. Since he also told us Teyla fans to look at Sateda, Submersion, Sunday, The Ark for Teyla----and he was right. Some were better than others, but these episodes had a good deal of Teyla as he had stated. So far he hasn't steered me wrong and it doesn't make sense that he would like about this on his blog. I'd like to see an instance where he has clearly passed out falsehoods to fans.

[prion]

Prion, I see what you're saying. He said he already read the script. I'm not a jaded viewer, or lemming; so I'll take him at his word. If he says there is a script out there for Teyla, I'm prone to believe him. Since he also told us Teyla fans to look at Sateda, Submersion, Sunday, The Ark for Teyla----and he was right. Some were better than others, but these episodes had a good deal of Teyla as he had stated. So far he hasn't steered me wrong and it doesn't make sense that he would like about this on his blog. I'd like to see an instance where he has clearly passed out falsehoods to fans.

Gotta admit after years of seeign Mallozzi say this and that, I don't put a lot of credence into anything when he says "you'll love it." You might want to go back quite a ways to "there's a lot of ship in thsi episode" to which S/J fans disagreed ;)

And heavens, no, I have a life. Sure ain't gonna dig back through all his baiting for find that, but boy, was the fan reaction memorable on certain lists ;)

[vaberella]

Whether he says 'you'll like' it or not will play no credence in if there is an ep. He can add this or that to describe one's feelings, but until I view it for myself there is no way for him to know. But he did state there will be an ep for the character, and since in the past he has clearly pointed out the eps we see more than Teyla saying, 'They are wraith' or making up background air. I'll hold what he's saying in consideration other than dissenting views.

[Klenotka]

So Teyla will have finally something more to say than "I sense something"...it could be good:cameron:

[Skydiver]

yes, it would

[vaberella]

She has pretty good one liners...

I just see whenever she says...
'They are wraith.'= "What the hell?! Are you *&%#$ stupid?!"
'There is something here. I sense the wraith!'= "Ah, %$^! Not again!"
'It is not a good idea.'= "That's one stupid ass idea."
'What?!' = "Oh hell no!!"
'John are you okay?'= "Aye, dios mio!"
'Ronon.'= "Check your self!"
'Rodney, this is not the time!' = "Shut the hell up!"

I'd like her to move beyond this, but I personally get entertained when Teyla says these phrases!

[prion]

Whether he says 'you'll like' it or not will play no credence in if there is an ep. He can add this or that to describe one's feelings, but until I view it for myself there is no way for him to know. But he did state there will be an ep for the character, and since in the past he has clearly pointed out the eps we see more than Teyla saying, 'They are wraith' or making up background air. I'll hold what he's saying in consideration other than dissenting views.

Not so much dissenting as experienced ;)

[someonerandom]

i really wanna see teyla working out :o

[vaberella]

i really wanna see teyla working out :o

By working out do you mean weight training or sparring? If by sparring, I had asked JM this at his blog.


Vaberella also writes: “Will we see Teyla sparring with John, Ronon, Wraith, or Zelenka?! (…) What does your magical eight ball say about asking Claudia Christian(Commander Ivanova: B5) to guest star in an ep?”

Answer: Teyla will do plenty of sparring in season four. As for Claudia Christian doing a guest spot, Magic 8 Ball says “Cannot predict now.”

If by weight training, do they have weights over there? Or a treadmill? Ah, who needs a treadmill when you're running from the wraith?! :)

[NubianQueen]

I just wanted tp state that I ust loved the convo going on in this tread. There are some thought provoking questions that were raised and references that I haven't thought of that have been mentioned.

It was a joy to read you guys!

NQ

[The Sweet Guy]

The big Teyla arc in Season 4 has been confirmed by Mallozzi's latest blog apparently :)

[Mitchell82]

I love teyla so I'd love to see more teyla episodes. Everyone has had their day in the spotlight and it's time for her to have her's again.

[Skydiver]

The big Teyla arc in Season 4 has been confirmed by Mallozzi's latest blog apparently :)
best news i've heard for the season after sam joining the show.

rachel's a good actress, it'd be nice to give her something to do

[Jodi518]

Im really excited...wonder what they have in store 4 her. I can't wait until the fall!!!

[vaberella]

Haha, great news. You guys got here before me...damn you school and Grad Stats...curse you to hell!! :D :D :D

I'm totally twickerpated by the news. ~sigh~

Go to the Teyla thread in the characters section if you want the link to see where JM announces the great news!

[vaberella]

I just wanted tp state that I ust loved the convo going on in this tread. There are some thought provoking questions that were raised and references that I haven't thought of that have been mentioned.

It was a joy to read you guys!

NQ

Hey NQ, I'm the rare skiffy poster... I'm friends with Artemis and chocogirl. :D :D :D Glad you're here, and I've been meaning to tell you I love your sig. Oh and join in the convo if you want...Teyla is Teh COOL!http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e308/vaberella/teylaanime16.gif http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e308/vaberella/teylaanime20.gif

I couldn't help myself...here's the announcement quote by JM:


Copernicus writes: “Will you guys be developing new story lines for Teyla, or should we merely expect more stand alone episodes?”

Answer: We’ve got a season-long arc in the works for Teyla.

JM if you read this please, please, please---bring just for my own sick enjoyment:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e308/vaberella/gift132.jpg

[The Ori]

agree she was really lacking in scenes in season 3, very lacking, it upped a bit in the end, but that was not enuff!

[Katiekat]

agree she was really lacking in scenes in season 3, very lacking, it upped a bit in the end, but that was not enuff! She will have more scenes and episodes with Weir being on a part time kind of thing. She might even be in charge of things there while Weir is out. I don't see Carter being in control there just helping out with other things not related to atlantis going on type of stuff.

[g.o.d]

I really want to see Teyla's death

[vaberella]

I really want to see Teyla's death

I really want to see McKay naked...or at least be found in a compromising position with either Shep or Ronon---but we all can't get what we want. ~sigh~

[freetoken]

i really wanna see teyla working out :o

Hmmm... in a thong bikini hopefully...

Look folks, what is the use of introducing a sexy body and not making use of it? Should have been a Shep/Teyla 'ship long time ago...

[ussrelativity]

Given that the Athosians were moved to another world by the Ancients, I wonder how Teyla would deal with the possibility that they may be culled by the Wraith. Since they are presumed away from Atlantis now, and the protection of the expedition team, how would Teyla deal with this? Or did they just move back when Sheppard and the rest came back to Pegasus against the orders of Landry?

[Skydiver]

what if she found more of her people? or others that have fallen in iwth the wraith worshippers?

I think there would be a fantastic conflict

[Copernicus]

Copernicus writes: “Will you guys be developing new story lines for Teyla, or should we merely expect more stand alone episodes?”

Answer: We’ve got a season-long arc in the works for Teyla.
Actually, he cut off my lead in to the question when he quoted, but I guess it doesn't really matter.

[Mitchell82]

what if she found more of her people? or others that have fallen in iwth the wraith worshippers?

I think there would be a fantastic conflict

I agree. Lots of potential for Teyla.

[the old briar pipe]

Copernicus writes: “Will you guys be developing new story lines for Teyla, or should we merely expect more stand alone episodes?”

Answer: We’ve got a season-long arc in the works for Teyla.
Actually, he cut off my lead in to the question when he quoted, but I guess it doesn't really matter.

What was your lead-in, if you don't mind my asking?

[vaberella]

What was your lead-in, if you don't mind my asking?

Sorry Copernicus, hope you don't mind, I took the initiative.


When Teyla's character was introduced, she had three running story lines: her conflicts with Sgt. Bates, her connection with the Athosians and her ability to sense the Wraith. Bates has disappeared altogether, the Athosians have disappeared from the screen and the Wraith are now competing with the Asurans for airtime as the main villain, which has led to some concern that Teyla's character has been less present in season two and season three and will continue to fade into the background.

I completely disagree with the comment on S2, but seems to be a recurring theme on this board---I'm getting used to. It seems that when an episode is not a character ep, there is then no development for the character (something I totally disagree with on so many levels).

[ussrelativity]

what if she found more of her people? or others that have fallen in iwth the wraith worshippers?

I think there would be a fantastic conflict

Now that I would really want to see!

[the old briar pipe]

I completely disagree with the comment on S2, but seems to be a recurring theme on this board---I'm getting used to. It seems that when an episode is not a character ep, there is then no development for the character (something I totally disagree with on so many levels).

Thank you, Vaberella! It's always nice to have context.

I agree with you that character development can, and often should, occur outside of dedicated character eps. However, imo, Teyla's hasn't much this season. We've seen very little new of her, and remarkably little of her at all in many eps.

For example, in S2 we had Trinity. A John/Rodney ep mainly, but Teyla and Ronon got a very good B plot with lots of development. Ditto Inferno.

Now take The Game. Same John/Rodney focus, but the only B plot I could find was the Lorne/Zelenka one, and that consisted of what, 2.5 scenes? It gave us a glimpse of these characters, but not nearly the depth that Teyla and Ronon got in those S2 eps. Also, Teyla and Ronon themselves almost faded into the background. (They got to glare a lot, as I recall.)

Another example: Sunday was touted to have lots of Teyla in it. Nope. She had exactly one scene focused on herself (as opposed to Elizabeth or John/Ronon or Carson), and that's the one where she was impaled by shrapnel and carted off to the infirmary yet again. I swear the woman has a dedicated bed in there.

I'm sure you could refute me with examples in S3 where Teyla and Ronon did get some, or even a lot, of play, but if you look at the quality of that play, well, Ronon comes out kind of okay and Teyla doesn't.

So my wish list for season 4 still has "Teyla does not turn into a potted plant" on it. And just declaring it so, fiat, in First Strike? Does not make it true.

[vaberella]

Thank you, Vaberella! It's always nice to have context.

I agree with you that character development can, and often should, occur outside of dedicated character eps. However, imo, Teyla's hasn't much this season. We've seen very little new of her, and remarkably little of her at all in many eps.

For example, in S2 we had Trinity. A John/Rodney ep mainly, but Teyla and Ronon got a very good B plot with lots of development. Ditto Inferno.

Now take The Game. Same John/Rodney focus, but the only B plot I could find was the Lorne/Zelenka one, and that consisted of what, 2.5 scenes? It gave us a glimpse of these characters, but not nearly the depth that Teyla and Ronon got in those S2 eps. Also, Teyla and Ronon themselves almost faded into the background. (They got to glare a lot, as I recall.)

Another example: Sunday was touted to have lots of Teyla in it. Nope. She had exactly one scene focused on herself (as opposed to Elizabeth or John/Ronon or Carson), and that's the one where she was impaled by shrapnel and carted off to the infirmary yet again. I swear the woman has a dedicated bed in there.

I'm sure you could refute me with examples in S3 where Teyla and Ronon did get some, or even a lot, of play, but if you look at the quality of that play, well, Ronon comes out kind of okay and Teyla doesn't.

So my wish list for season 4 still has "Teyla does not turn into a potted plant" on it. And just declaring it so, fiat, in First Strike? Does not make it true.

Hahaha!! :D Are you male, single, and above the age of 26? If so, I believe I have a ring pop around here with your name on it!! Would you marry me?! Maybe not, you might make Willow's Cat jealous---someone who I love pleasantly disagreeing with...and agreeing with.

Anyway on topic, actually I will not refute your claims as to S3. I had hope in the beginning of the season, because of course, I don't want to whinge to early---bite my tongue and then take all the crap I said back. How awful a feeling?! So I said to myself, before it's the end...let me then see how worked out. Don't get me wrong we had our moments, Sateda (B plot), The Ark (B plot--just more in the sense of extention of things we've previously seen). I would have said Submersion---had I felt Teyla had improved in her wraith abilities (but maybe her situation was far more realistic(since she didn't have much opportunity to practice with a wraith)). That being said, I was disappointed in Teyla in S3.

As for S2, I loved it. I mean that was episode growth--mainly B plots, but they were the same in S1, excluding The Gift. We had Intruder---this was the established glimpse to tell us that when the top three heads (Sheppard, McKay, Weir) are not around she's in charge of Atlantis---reflected again in NML. Further more she has a bevy of contacts unknown to us who were checking up on Ford. Questions rose in Runner and was a good ep in wanting to knwo more about her and family besides Ronon himself...what is her father's connection to Runners? Why would he tell her stories of Runners? Why in all her travels has she never met one (yet her father has)? Then we have The Tower, great ep if you see the little inkling of pleasure she gets when Ronon kills the guard. WE know she wanted to start a revolution---but in a rather unjust way since the people said they would not fight---but she seemed to want to force it. Secondly in the same episode, we come to see that Teyla is second in command after John of the team. Then there was CM where we see her rituals, her people again, and her feelings a bit more---which displayed throughout S2. Then we have Aurora--for the comedic ability and how she also is able to rag on the guys; further more another glimpse to see that she doesn't need a manual to understand McKay's technobable which is also seen in Phantoms. I think this is a very interesting maneuver because apparently she's the ONLY one the team (even John was lost in Phantoms) who seemed really knowledgeable and capable to argue with McKay. Then there's Michael and Allies, great eps for emotional depth of the character, her own conflicts over what they were doing and also the fact taht she is considered enough to be part of the decision making (although they should have bloody listened to her).

That being said, these are tons of amazing B plots that were done for her and gave us really great aspects of the character and who she is and what she is about.

All the characters have this...unfortunately what I noticed for most of the characters in S3, minus Ronon and McKay is just extentions of what we already have established in S2. Which doesn't look that great, the focus seemed to be on enforcing the familial aspect as seen in Tao of McKay and MMM. S1 and S2 had great character development all around---Teyla being one fo the few really relish in it (of course that is if someone pays attention). Unfortunately S3 is an overall disappoint for that----although I'm all about family. But if anything I do hold S3 in high esteem for bringing that aspect because we have the emotional bind Teyla developed with the atlantis crew started in S1 and developed and reinforced in S2---actually spoken about in S3. So I see S3 as more of an extention of the emotional development resulted in S2.


:D:D:D:D:D:D

[Shesmetet]

She has pretty good one liners...

I just see whenever she says...
'They are wraith.'= "What the hell?! Are you *&%#$ stupid?!"
'There is something here. I sense the wraith!'= "Ah, %$^! Not again!"
'It is not a good idea.'= "That's one stupid ass idea."
'What?!' = "Oh hell no!!"
'John are you okay?'= "Aye, dios mio!"
'Ronon.'= "Check your self!"
'Rodney, this is not the time!' = "Shut the hell up!"

I'd like her to move beyond this, but I personally get entertained when Teyla says these phrases!

Yes so do I, I especially love that "Rodney" line and the "are you going to behave or am I going to make you have a time out?" expression on her face.


I love the character of Teyla, and am really looking forward to what tptb have planned for her in season 4.

[the old briar pipe]

Hahaha!! :D Are you male, single, and above the age of 26?

Sadly, no. Just the last one. But I could be bribed with chocolate to say otherwise. ;)

(I, too, am overjoyed to find a like mind to argue with. It's so much more fun than arguing with myself. :D)


As for S2, I loved it. I mean that was episode growth--mainly B plots, but they were the same in S1, excluding The Gift.

Wow, I agree with everything you just said! (Then I snipped it for length. :D)

But yes, S2 was plenty o' Teyla and some reasonable amount of Ronon, in terms of development. Then they ignored that model until... Echoes? :beckettanime14:


All the characters have this...unfortunately what I noticed for most of the characters in S3, minus Ronon and McKay is just extentions of what we already have established in S2. Which doesn't look that great, the focus seemed to be on enforcing the familial aspect as seen in Tao of McKay and MMM.

Yes, exactly. I was willing to sacrifice individual character development in favor of those beautiful moments when the team just clicked. That was pretty much the only reason I finished watching Irresponsible. Then of course the last quarter of the season rolled around and Sunday came along and then First Strike and now I feel like they spent a whole season investing in a team/family that doesn't even exist anymore. Duh. I feel a strong urge to slap someone on the back of the head, a la Sheppard and McKay.

I'm a big team person, but I think Teyla could step forward and shine quite a bit more, even within that framework.

[garhkal]

Agreed... Heck i would just like to see more of her, not in combat...

[vaberella]

Yes so do I, I especially love that "Rodney" line and the "are you going to behave or am I going to make you have a time out?" expression on her face.


I love the character of Teyla, and am really looking forward to what tptb have planned for her in season 4.


She does this often...and then she starts stretching out every word as if their slow. I love that...she ends each word with an exlamaition point. You see that in Allies with John, those people in Sateda, pretty much all over. I love that pure class.

Oh I love the look she gives John sometimes or McKay---one of my shipper buddies---Gigajules, she called it the "Crazy Earth Man" look. I love that. She did that to them when John and McKay were explaining TV, I think in The Long Goodbye, and when she looked at Ronon and McKay was explaining him naming the town after his ex-girl in The Game. Ronon does it too.



Wow, I agree with everything you just said! (Then I snipped it for length. :D)

But yes, S2 was plenty o' Teyla and some reasonable amount of Ronon, in terms of development. Then they ignored that model until... Echoes? :beckettanime14:



Yes, exactly. I was willing to sacrifice individual character development in favor of those beautiful moments when the team just clicked. That was pretty much the only reason I finished watching Irresponsible. Then of course the last quarter of the season rolled around and Sunday came along and then First Strike and now I feel like they spent a whole season investing in a team/family that doesn't even exist anymore. Duh. I feel a strong urge to slap someone on the back of the head, a la Sheppard and McKay.

I'm a big team person, but I think Teyla could step forward and shine quite a bit more, even within that framework.

See what I think the problem was with, S2, (which I loved even if not that really popular amongst the people) is that it didn't have in your face character development. Admittedly if you watch S1 it's very character based with them and their reaction to others---actually if you look at S1 carefully it's actually an entire Teyla seasonal arc (which I realized is probably why the writers are going back to that in S4---it was successful for them)---this I can explain in full detail if you want, just ask.

Anyway the point is in S1 we have major character development, which is in your face--because people need to get an idea about who these characters are. In S2, it's all about the wraith and the characters came second. Practically the entire season was wraith based, broken in with a few wild adventures---but the character development (which there are plenty of) wasn't in your face---especially with failures to character eps like Epiphany (and personally I didn't like GUP) at hand. But because it was wraith based we were given a lot more team eps, because of the inclusion of Ronon and Ronon on the team and how that goes and this new team dealing with various little things. Fine.

When S3 came around...it seems to me, that when they established the team in S2 and we now know this is the official team--because Ronon is still alive at the end, or didn't end up ala Ford. They're going to use this in S3 to show the family side, the connection between them all. It was good, and a great effort, my problem was there was far too much reinforcing. I became totally fed up with John's "We dont leave anyone behind!"--I was like thank you John, I got the message when you said it 5 times in S2 not counting the 3 times in S1. Then the added 20 in S3 made me a bit sick---it's almost as bad as the annoyance I feel towards that ancient chair ( I hate the ancients-- pyro-technic dweebs :mad: ).


Anyway at times I did feel that when they threw in Ronon/Teyla it was a bit contrived or under used. The focus seemed to be on how John/McKay was familial to everyone else. So it wasn't like we have all of them reinforcing the family, but the "FAMILY" is reinforced through McKay and Sheppard's perceptions and feelings. This is throughout S3.

The family arc was poorly done from the EVERYONE perspective; like when John was captured in Condemned, I was totally pissed by Teyla's usage. We barely saw her. Weir was great though. Ronon was going crazy--which was okay. But what up with Teyla?.

Ronon/Teyla, unlike McShep, unfortunately only had Echoes to bond as brother/sister-- ;) on screen and we get a little of them and their unity. Meh, anyway the writers dropped a lot of the ball in regards to Teyla in S3 and possibly Ronon as well. But I have total faith they're going to rectify the error in S4.

Again these characters build story and with John and McKay's added presence we have great storylines with depth, a little comedic relief, and condescending sarcasm abound. :D


Agreed... Heck i would just like to see more of her, not in combat...


Agreed! I would love to see a more detailed raw combat moment---like when we saw her twist the wraith's neck in The Misbegotten. I was like my [inser deity] that 5'2" pixie just twisted a wraith's neck, wicked! Picture Tinkerbell doing that. ~sigh~ So sexy! :D

[someonerandom]

teyla working out as in pumping iron :teylaanime03:

or wrestling ronan.. then you have 2 buff people going in at it

[grizzlyadoms]

I really want to see Teyla's deathIf this arc doesnt work out good you might just get your wish. Ohh and teyla will never be put in charge of the atlantis expedtion. NO earth government would allow that.

[vaberella]

If this arc doesnt work out good you might just get your wish. Ohh and teyla will never be put in charge of the atlantis expedtion. NO earth government would allow that.

Check out Intruder and No Man's Land/Misbegotten, if you haven't seen them.

[someonerandom]

i really wanna see teyla working out :o

bump!