I have just rewatched the first 18 episodes of Season 9 back to back and have come to a conclusion about what exactly has been bugging me about the season so far - what the creative team have done with the character of Cameron Mitchell. Compare the Cam we were introduced to in the first three episodes to the Cam of the next 15 episodes and let me know what you think.
I was approaching Season 9 with caution, trying to not watch it with preconceived notions. Season 9 was going to take Stargate in a new direction, they had lined up some good actors to join the cast and had made some changes to the creative team.
The opening three episodes were written by Robert C. Cooper and went about setting the scene for the new Stargate direction. In the first 20 minutes of Avalon we get a well done brief introduction to Cameron Mitchell via flashbacks, conversation with the general, Cam individually approaching the former members of SG-1 and we get brief glimpses of Cam's sense of humour.
We don't see a whole lot of Cam in the first three episodes and I found him to be quite professional. He asked relevant questions of people to help solve the situations they found themselves in. He participated seriously in briefings and even summarised a "Daniel lecture" to help out.
What little we see of Cam is good EXCEPT for that stupid trying to shoot the communication device scene. To quote Lt Col Mitchell "Bullets Bounce"!!!! I put this down to a not well thought out plot device, no worries I thought. Maybe I should have worried, was this a portent of future Mitchell?
In episode 3, Origin, we get the first appearance of "down home" Cam, to me it was in context. One of earth's versions of preaching as a foil to the Ori's. Cam participates seriously in briefings, his quips are low key and not frequent, no OTT Mitchell here.
At the end of theses episodes we don't know much about Cam but we have had a reasonable introduction to him. What little we have seen of him comes across, military wise, as confident and competent while on a personal level he is friendly with a decent sense of humour. Overall a good three episode introduction to the new story lines and cast, I feel Robert C. Cooper did a good job here - not great but good. Good acting from everyone. This seems to bode well for the rest of the season.
Things took a downturn from there.
We don't see a lot of Cam in following episodes and by episode 6 we are starting to get more quips and "smart mouth" Cam, some of it during meetings. Maybe just a touch of character development would have been more appropriate. By the opening scene of Babylon I'm yelling at the TV "Cam shut the hell up!!" He's acting worse than a green recruit. This is the first time I had seen him do something that could be considered inappropriate.
In Prototype Cam is staring to p**s me off in meetings, seems like nothing but quips. This episode is the first time TPTB get Cam to do something dumb to further the plot. It is also the first time we see "hero Cam". Ooohhh Got a concussion? Doc says you're not going anywhere but you gotta go to the gateroom and be a hero!! Sigh. Sloppy writing, just lose the concussion from the script and it would have worked just fine.
In episode 10 we actually don't get much of Cam at all. We get quick glimpses of a competent officer working out in the field and reporting back to base. Unfortunately you then have to weigh that behaviour up against the flip attitude Cam has in meetings and his over confident macho BS on the Sodan planet.
The season is now half over and they haven't developed Cam's character. I feel let down by TPTB. We are supposed to have this great new SG-1 leader but I haven't seen it, in fact in the last few episodes we have seen glimpses of a not so great officer. The first three eps showed such promise. This is the first season I have reached mid season and actually been a tad disappointed. Not much "team" from SG-1 and no signs of "Outstanding leadership skill" from the new SG-1 leader.
SIGH - THINGS GET EVEN WORSE!!
The next eight episodes have Cam acting less professional and more of a joking maverick. I could give numerous examples but this post is already way too long and these cases have been well stated in the Episode, the Who Should Lead SG-1 and the McCullough-Mitchell Effect threads. Although I will point out that the absolute lowest they have gone so far is having Cam commit a court martial offense in Stronghold. You DO NOT disobey a direct order whilst under fire, you DO NOT risk your life and the lives of your comrades because you are upset. This was sloppy writing again! They could have had "hero Cam" without making him appear SO unprofessional as an officer.
So at the end of 18 episodes we still have not much "team" from SG-1 (but it is getting better) and still no signs of "Outstanding leadership skill" from the new SG-1 leader. I feel that the character of Lt Col Cameron Mitchell has a lot of potential but the creative team seem to be making a mockery of him. Mr Cooper wrote a good beginning for the character but the rest of the creative team haven't followed through on it. It seems that RCC portrays the character of Cameron Mitchell, whilst the rest of the creative team portrays the caricature.
Oh well, Friday's episode is written and directed by Robert C. Cooper. Maybe we will see the character get put back on track.
I'm a Stargate fan and I live in hope. How about you?
I was approaching Season 9 with caution, trying to not watch it with preconceived notions. Season 9 was going to take Stargate in a new direction, they had lined up some good actors to join the cast and had made some changes to the creative team.
The opening three episodes were written by Robert C. Cooper and went about setting the scene for the new Stargate direction. In the first 20 minutes of Avalon we get a well done brief introduction to Cameron Mitchell via flashbacks, conversation with the general, Cam individually approaching the former members of SG-1 and we get brief glimpses of Cam's sense of humour.
We don't see a whole lot of Cam in the first three episodes and I found him to be quite professional. He asked relevant questions of people to help solve the situations they found themselves in. He participated seriously in briefings and even summarised a "Daniel lecture" to help out.
What little we see of Cam is good EXCEPT for that stupid trying to shoot the communication device scene. To quote Lt Col Mitchell "Bullets Bounce"!!!! I put this down to a not well thought out plot device, no worries I thought. Maybe I should have worried, was this a portent of future Mitchell?
In episode 3, Origin, we get the first appearance of "down home" Cam, to me it was in context. One of earth's versions of preaching as a foil to the Ori's. Cam participates seriously in briefings, his quips are low key and not frequent, no OTT Mitchell here.
At the end of theses episodes we don't know much about Cam but we have had a reasonable introduction to him. What little we have seen of him comes across, military wise, as confident and competent while on a personal level he is friendly with a decent sense of humour. Overall a good three episode introduction to the new story lines and cast, I feel Robert C. Cooper did a good job here - not great but good. Good acting from everyone. This seems to bode well for the rest of the season.
Things took a downturn from there.
We don't see a lot of Cam in following episodes and by episode 6 we are starting to get more quips and "smart mouth" Cam, some of it during meetings. Maybe just a touch of character development would have been more appropriate. By the opening scene of Babylon I'm yelling at the TV "Cam shut the hell up!!" He's acting worse than a green recruit. This is the first time I had seen him do something that could be considered inappropriate.
In Prototype Cam is staring to p**s me off in meetings, seems like nothing but quips. This episode is the first time TPTB get Cam to do something dumb to further the plot. It is also the first time we see "hero Cam". Ooohhh Got a concussion? Doc says you're not going anywhere but you gotta go to the gateroom and be a hero!! Sigh. Sloppy writing, just lose the concussion from the script and it would have worked just fine.
In episode 10 we actually don't get much of Cam at all. We get quick glimpses of a competent officer working out in the field and reporting back to base. Unfortunately you then have to weigh that behaviour up against the flip attitude Cam has in meetings and his over confident macho BS on the Sodan planet.
The season is now half over and they haven't developed Cam's character. I feel let down by TPTB. We are supposed to have this great new SG-1 leader but I haven't seen it, in fact in the last few episodes we have seen glimpses of a not so great officer. The first three eps showed such promise. This is the first season I have reached mid season and actually been a tad disappointed. Not much "team" from SG-1 and no signs of "Outstanding leadership skill" from the new SG-1 leader.
SIGH - THINGS GET EVEN WORSE!!
The next eight episodes have Cam acting less professional and more of a joking maverick. I could give numerous examples but this post is already way too long and these cases have been well stated in the Episode, the Who Should Lead SG-1 and the McCullough-Mitchell Effect threads. Although I will point out that the absolute lowest they have gone so far is having Cam commit a court martial offense in Stronghold. You DO NOT disobey a direct order whilst under fire, you DO NOT risk your life and the lives of your comrades because you are upset. This was sloppy writing again! They could have had "hero Cam" without making him appear SO unprofessional as an officer.
So at the end of 18 episodes we still have not much "team" from SG-1 (but it is getting better) and still no signs of "Outstanding leadership skill" from the new SG-1 leader. I feel that the character of Lt Col Cameron Mitchell has a lot of potential but the creative team seem to be making a mockery of him. Mr Cooper wrote a good beginning for the character but the rest of the creative team haven't followed through on it. It seems that RCC portrays the character of Cameron Mitchell, whilst the rest of the creative team portrays the caricature.
Oh well, Friday's episode is written and directed by Robert C. Cooper. Maybe we will see the character get put back on track.
I'm a Stargate fan and I live in hope. How about you?
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