We are going to see a LOT of Filler Episodes...

[Jack_Bauer]

This is not a Universe bashing thread.

I can feel it in my bones people, there are going to be lots of filler eps in this new series. Think about it, they are trapped on a ship jumping between points in space. Not that i'm against filler eps, i think if they are done right they can progress the development in a character, however, if your a sucker for the overriding story arc, then this is gonna be a long series for you my friend...

[Lewisco]

i thought the exact same thing. the series lends itself to filler episodes. but you never know, depending on what the main story arc is we might not get as many as we're predicting. but id agree, i dont mind fillers as long as they're done well. but then again, too many.. and it can get tiresome.

[Platschu]

I think every main character will get an own episode, so if you ad the season opener, the mid season two parter and the season finale, than they will continue what they did on Atlantis in the last years. I believe in writers's creativity, because even if an episode will show a new view of a character, than they can link it to a bigger storyline. I am sure there will be at least 3-4 minor story arc as well. Maybe they will have returning enemies and allies, so they can bring back earlier Universe guest characters and events.

Other. What can we call as filler? Because I believer a good stand alone adventure doesn't count as "filler", if it had great special effects, great sets and expensive guest stars. The word refers to such episode, when we can see our heroes in new situations (like SG-1 in Changeling).

[General Yogi Bear]

I think it would be neat if in every new season they jump to a different galaxy. Like Jack Baur said if the filler episodes are done well its fine. And like Platschu said there will probably be mini-arcs in each season. Personally I think overall that the filler episodes in Atlantis have been great but to be fair some seasons have been better than others. When it comes to Universe I will have faith in the writers. Theyve done 15 seasons of tv and movies. They know what they're doing.

[Serebii]

Look at SG1 and see how many episodes of Season 1 featured the Goa'uld and the story arc;

Children of the Gods
Enemy Within
Bloodlines
Singularity (In a silent capacity)
Cor-ai
There But For The Grace Of God
Politics (Sorta)
Within the Seprent's Lair

Isn't really that many

[Platschu]

Look at SG1 and see how many episodes of Season 1 featured the Goa'uld and the story arc;

Children of the Gods
Enemy Within
Bloodlines
Singularity (In a silent capacity)
Cor-ai
There But For The Grace Of God
Politics (Sorta)
Within the Seprent's Lair

Isn't really that many

You didn't mention the Nox and Hathor. And they mentioned Goa'ulds in almost every episode.

But they began some very important story arc:
- the Asgard, Protected Planets, the Unas
- the Nox
- the Ancients and the Four Race
- the Tollan
- the second gate on Earth
- Nirrti, Cassie, gene experiments
- political crisis about the future of SGC, the NID

So there were only 3-4 "real" stand-alone, but every episodes was continued later.

[Jackie]

I

What can we call as filler? Because I believer a good stand alone adventure doesn't count as "filler", if it had great special effects, great sets and expensive guest stars. The word refers to such episode, when we can see our heroes in new situations (like SG-1 in Changeling).

I'm sorry to have to disagree but...


That's exactly what is filler is.

An expensive ep with no real bearing on the plot but is flashy and loaded with crap.

A filler is an ep that has no bearing on the over all plot. It simply fills space. Great special effects, great sets and highly paid guest stars is a basic recipe for a filler episode. If the script is bad then all you got is eye candy. 45 minutes of eye candy is a bit too much for me. Might as well be watching a porno flick.

Writing could make a filler less of a filler if done correctly. The mini plot of the filler must be captivating or else all you are left with a flash and no substance.

With SGU and the given history of tptb. I fully expect a series loaded with fillers, flash and no real substance.

[Platschu]

Ok, maybe I expressed myself wrong or I definite wrong, but these episodes are called as stand-alone what you wrote. Basically every filler is stand-alone, but not every stand-alone is filler. The Changeling or 200 were such episodes, because they made something really very different from the "normal".

I liked the first season of SG-1, because every episode were made as a "mini movie". As far as I can remember they planned the earlier episodes really as a "new" SG movie, so the episodes became really exiting tales. Maybe I am in nostalgic mode, but I loved the feeling of discovery. They began a new series and we didn't know what will happen. There were new planets, new races, new adventures. I could sense this in season 9 and Atlantis season 1 as the spin-off(s) began. I hope the Universe will cause such good memories in me next year too.

[Serebii]

You didn't mention the Nox and Hathor. And they mentioned Goa'ulds in almost every episode.

But they began some very important story arc:
- the Asgard, Protected Planets, the Unas
- the Nox
- the Ancients and the Four Race
- the Tollan
- the second gate on Earth
- Nirrti, Cassie, gene experiments
- political crisis about the future of SGC, the NID

So there were only 3-4 "real" stand-alone, but every episodes was continued later.

Exactly my point, they got continued later, but when SG1 aired, they were considered fillers just like the SGU eps will be

[Arthurdent]

I don't expect (although I would hope) that there will be too many continued plot threads relating to the places they visit. What I mean is that there will be a lot of planet of the weeks that we will never see again. So if that's filler, I think there will be a lot of it.

I would expect to have continued plotlines about the Destiny itself and its crew, since that's going to stay from week to week. And I wouldn't consider that to be filler.

[LostCityGuardian]

Exactly my point, they got continued later, but when SG1 aired, they were considered fillers just like the SGU eps will be

Exactly. Story arcs have to start at some point. For example, did anyone really think when they first saw Thor's Hammer that it would create a huge Asgard story arc over the next 10 years?

[TheHomegaMan]

This is not a Universe bashing thread.

I can feel it in my bones people, there are going to be lots of filler eps in this new series. Think about it, they are trapped on a ship jumping between points in space. Not that i'm against filler eps, i think if they are done right they can progress the development in a character, however, if your a sucker for the overriding story arc, then this is gonna be a long series for you my friend...

Just so we're absolutely clear, you're just coming up with speculation based on a gut feeling? There can be plenty done with the Destiny. I know plenty of Gateheads feel that a story revolves around the planet of the week, but I'm willing to see what TPTB are going to try with a focus on the characters instead. BSG proved that you don't need to find some new race, go to some new planet, or find some random über-gadget of the week to drive a story.

Trapped and unable to control where they're going? I'd love to see how the characters are dealing with that. This is a chance for a real character-driven show. I'm of the belief that maybe TPTB can get character development right this time, unlike their McKay-Ronon-Keller fiasco. I have about as much information on the show as most of you (read: very, very little), but the potential is there. I can't say they'll capitalize any more than most of you can say they'll drop the ball, but at least I've got enough sense to wait and see.

If you want to have a basis for wondering whether or not there will be a solid storyline, look to what they've done before. SGA's idea of long story arcs is to bring in a villain from SG-1, deal with them for a season (two seasons tops), bring in somebody new to command the expedition, then move on to something else. The Wraith are hardly the top bad guys now.

Now don't make the easy mistake of misinterpreting this as a pro-SGU post. It's simply a matter of pointing out the very many and very manifest flaws in most of the criticisms leveled thus far. YMMV.

[Shaod]

Ok, maybe I expressed myself wrong or I definite wrong, but these episodes are called as stand-alone what you wrote. Basically every filler is stand-alone, but not every stand-alone is filler. The Changeling or 200 were such episodes, because they made something really very different from the "normal".

I liked the first season of SG-1, because every episode were made as a "mini movie". As far as I can remember they planned the earlier episodes really as a "new" SG movie, so the episodes became really exiting tales. Maybe I am in nostalgic mode, but I loved the feeling of discovery. They began a new series and we didn't know what will happen. There were new planets, new races, new adventures. I could sense this in season 9 and Atlantis season 1 as the spin-off(s) began. I hope the Universe will cause such good memories in me next year too.

I agree. What first got me into Stargate SG-1 was all of the exploration. If SGU is anything like that I will watch it for the first season at least.

[poundpuppy29]

I am still unsure if I will check this series out. I like SG-1 more than SGA but I loved the first 3 seasons of SGA and I like characters more than story and I am unsure about the characters so far but I like the filler eps for the most part because usually they are character centric.

[Jackie]

Ok, maybe I expressed myself wrong or I definite wrong, but these episodes are called as stand-alone what you wrote. Basically every filler is stand-alone, but not every stand-alone is filler. The Changeling or 200 were such episodes, because they made something really very different from the "normal".

I liked the first season of SG-1, because every episode were made as a "mini movie". As far as I can remember they planned the earlier episodes really as a "new" SG movie, so the episodes became really exiting tales. Maybe I am in nostalgic mode, but I loved the feeling of discovery. They began a new series and we didn't know what will happen. There were new planets, new races, new adventures. I could sense this in season 9 and Atlantis season 1 as the spin-off(s) began. I hope the Universe will cause such good memories in me next year too.

stand alone and filler are two different things. Stand alone eps do have a plot, even if it doesn' effect the over all arc immediately. Plot is key.

200 was so off the wall it was actually a joke episode down by tptb to make their birthday. That's neither filler or stand alone. It was simply retarded. 200 was so bad IMO there is no category for it.

tptb are also pretty good at doing a cross between a stand alone and a filler. essentially, a stand alone ep that is lame on plot and reason or filled plot holes. hence, a stand alone filler.