SG-1 and Atlantis Renewed

[Ugly Pig]

You know what... I was as excited as anyone about the official confirmation of season 9, but I can't help but still feel somewhat skeptical. JM has already said that the end of season 8 could function as a series conclusion if there was no renewal, so I'm sure I could've been happy with that. But now that it will continue, there is every possibility that it will be harder for the show to end on a high note. As I said in the thread about RDA's limited involvement for season 9, this is the first time that I have mixed feelings about the renewal of the show. Despite my dancing earlier in this thread, this is still the case. I'm happy that SG-1 will continue, but I fear that it may dissappoint me this time. Until I see confirmation that no main characters (the big four) will be written out, and none added, I don't think I will be rid of this fear anytime soon...

Thankfully, I have no such fears for Atlantis. I am 100% thrilled that it will continue - but then again, the entire cast has already been confirmed.

[Jolinarsam]

Whoo hoo! Whoo hoo! *Jumps up and down*

I'm sooo happy! Yay for SG-1! Wasn't expecting them to get renewed. Of course that seems to happen every year, but I'm not complaining. They could keep doing that for another 20 yrs and I wouldn't mind.

A lot of people are worried this season won't be the same but I'd rather have my favorite show as long as possible rather than none at all. Plus I'm sure TPTB can pull the show through another great season as they have all these years.

[Major Fischer]

Not sure how well this will go over...

SG-1

I hope RDA doesn't come back as a series regular in season nine. He's a fine actor and a fine character but his heart hasn't been in the part for three years now and it has harmed the series and handicapped the writers. IMO he has been sleep walking through episodes, making Jack appear to be silly and indecisive instead of the strong and complex character he has been early in the series.

I don't think the writing is inherently shakey beyond that they have had to reach so badly in some cases this season to justify including or excluding Jack in episodes and it has harmed the credibility of the series. I realize that many of passionate fans feel that RDA is SG1, and I can respect those feelings, however I believe he is overrated as a "draw" for mainstream television audiences (and no, forum posters are NOT mainstream and we do not represent the fanbase).

I believe that those kinds of crediblity and a committment issues set aside with the absence of RDA will allow the series to return to credibility in my mind. I believe Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, and Michael Shanks can carry the series forward, and I certainly think new characters will be added in. The most rabid of Daniel fans and the most rabid of Sam fans seem to think that one or the other is somehow a magically superior character who could carry the show alone, but it's important to remember that these are fans reactions and not those of the actors. I have gotten very warry of seeing fans attack each other and the actors when I know full well that the actors themselves would be horrified at the behavior and implications. As I said, many people will disagree, but that is the way I feel.

Atlantis

Oddly, my only ambivolent feelings about Atlantis have to do with casting as well. The show, IMO, has too many regulars to focus on effectively. While I love Beckett, the implication that they are moving him to the main cast worries me, especially as I have yet to see any indication (the Defiant One not withstanding) that there will be significant Ford character developement this season.

The writers need to decide if they will continue on this track, or not, and if they do, they need to ask themselves if he is really a main character.

All opinions expressed above are my own, and my own feelings alone.

[astronomicalchick]

Not sure how well this will go over...

SG-1

I hope RDA doesn't come back as a series regular in season nine. He's a fine actor and a fine character but his heart hasn't been in the part for three years now and it has harmed the series and handicapped the writers. IMO he has been sleep walking through episodes, making Jack appear to be silly and indecisive instead of the strong and complex character he has been early in the series.

I don't think the writing is inherently shakey beyond that they have had to reach so badly in some cases this season to justify including or excluding Jack in episodes and it has harmed the credibility of the series. I realize that many of passionate fans feel that RDA is SG1, and I can respect those feelings, however I believe he is overrated as a "draw" for mainstream television audiences (and no, forum posters are NOT mainstream and we do not represent the fanbase).

I believe that those kinds of crediblity and a committment issues set aside with the absence of RDA will allow the series to return to credibility in my mind. I believe Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, and Michael Shanks can carry the series forward, and I certainly think new characters will be added in. The most rabid of Daniel fans and the most rabid of Sam fans seem to think that one or the other is somehow a magically superior character who could carry the show alone, but it's important to remember that these are fans reactions and not those of the actors. I have gotten very warry of seeing fans attack each other and the actors when I know full well that the actors themselves would be horrified at the behavior and implications. As I said, many people will disagree, but that is the way I feel.

Atlantis

Oddly, my only ambivolent feelings about Atlantis have to do with casting as well. The show, IMO, has too many regulars to focus on effectively. While I love Beckett, the implication that they are moving him to the main cast worries me, especially as I have yet to see any indication (the Defiant One not withstanding) that there will be significant Ford character developement this season.

The writers need to decide if they will continue on this track, or not, and if they do, they need to ask themselves if he is really a main character.

All opinions expressed above are my own, and my own feelings alone.

I had a really good post, but I lost the thing!

I agree with MF, I would rather we didn't have RDA if he's isn't fully committed. If he comes back for 4 episodes where he is committed great, but otherwise, it would be nice for the rest of SG-1 to develop further. However, I do believe that SG-1 has nearly had it's day.

Beckett is great! Beckett is Scottish, and it's always good to be Scottish (except when we're being beaten at fitba'), but Ford doesn't seem to doing very much does he? So far anyway.

[norriski]

Yipeee...it's offical and I'm one happy camper!

[GateTraveler]

I'm very happy with this news but I have to give credit to the "anti-season 9ers" for keeping this thread somewhat positive. Almost all of the posts are either positive or a "cautious" neutral. I half expected there to be a bunch of negativism based on the speculation threads.

Regardless of which side you are on I believe everyone should at least agree that based on the overall quality of the show over the years that it deserves a 9th season - (at least as much or more than X-files did...)

[AlphaBlu]

...but I have to give credit to the "anti-season 9ers" for keeping this thread somewhat positive...

Well that's 'cause I haven't posted yet.

I remember on the old Delphi forums, around mid-way through Season 7, someone had in their sig:

"SEASON 9! SEASON 9! SEASON 9!"

That was their way of wishing for a Season 8. When I read it I went 'Yeah, Season 9, as if that'd ever happen'. And now look where we are?

I can live with RDA as a reoccuring character Fraiser style. She was in what... 6-8 episodes a Season? That's fine with me. What I can't live with is a show where Shanks and Judge are left to carry it because RDA doesn't want to be there and AT isn't there because of her baby. I'm certain that with a lot of help Judge/Shanks/Tapping could carry the show just, but not just two of them without the third.

The baby thing is a big issue for the show, so I'd rather them delay the production of the show than either A). Force AT back early, so much so that she quits to be with her baby or B). Her come back in a limited capacity for half a season.

What I do hope is that this Season's writing can be far stronger without the writers and producers having to run through hoops to get around RDA's schedual. No more filming four episodes at once. What I also hope they do is end it this season. No more tying up of loose ends only to be confirmed for another Season. Nine is enough (plus there are nine chevrons on the Gate, so it's perfect!). And finally I hope they don't try and insert any new characters. Bring back old ones, don't introduce new ones.

Atlantis

Yay! Atlantis is coming back. I love that show more than SG-1 now, and I'm glad to see everyone coming back.

I hope they also continue to show the reoccuring characters that they've introduced (Markam, Stackhouse, the mean Sergeant guy who doesn't like Sheppard, Dr. Zelenca, Paul Groden atc.) because I love continuity and I hate it when new characters appear out of thin air.

Anyway, as someone else said in the thread, I'm very happy about Atlantis' renewal, and I'm cautious about SG-1's renewal.

BYE

[Positively Kanyon]

Watching Season 8 lately I have been thinking how I'ld prefer more SG1 to Atlantis. Atlantis just doesn't feel right when I watch it :s

I'm sorry but I'd have to disagree with you there. I think Atlantis has done such a wonderful job so far of taking the Stargate torch and running with it. The team is starting to gel together very well and I'm liking the Atlantis stories compared to SG-1.

As for Season 9, I am a little apprehensive about it. Yay, great that we are getting new episodes, but I've so far been really disappointed with the direction the show is going in. A show that's called "Stargate SG-1" about a device capable of travelling to other planets and we get episodes about Teal'c moving into his apartment .

And as for RDA, I think he left the show a long time ago. You can see his heart's not in it anymore, and it's really dragging the show down. I would have been happy with SG-1 finishing after Season 8 and letting Atlantis carry the torch fully.

[Madeleine]

I remember on the old Delphi forums, around mid-way through Season 7, someone had in their sig:

"SEASON 9! SEASON 9! SEASON 9!"

That was me. With acknowledgements to Gipsy who had a "Season 8!..." sig during s6.

IT WORKED!

No need to thank me, everyone

[Jonisa]

Not sure how well this will go over...

SG-1

I hope RDA doesn't come back as a series regular in season nine. He's a fine actor and a fine character but his heart hasn't been in the part for three years now and it has harmed the series and handicapped the writers. IMO he has been sleep walking through episodes, making Jack appear to be silly and indecisive instead of the strong and complex character he has been early in the series.

I don't think the writing is inherently shakey beyond that they have had to reach so badly in some cases this season to justify including or excluding Jack in episodes and it has harmed the credibility of the series. I realize that many of passionate fans feel that RDA is SG1, and I can respect those feelings, however I believe he is overrated as a "draw" for mainstream television audiences (and no, forum posters are NOT mainstream and we do not represent the fanbase).

I believe that those kinds of crediblity and a committment issues set aside with the absence of RDA will allow the series to return to credibility in my mind. I believe Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, and Michael Shanks can carry the series forward, and I certainly think new characters will be added in. The most rabid of Daniel fans and the most rabid of Sam fans seem to think that one or the other is somehow a magically superior character who could carry the show alone, but it's important to remember that these are fans reactions and not those of the actors. I have gotten very warry of seeing fans attack each other and the actors when I know full well that the actors themselves would be horrified at the behavior and implications. As I said, many people will disagree, but that is the way I feel.

Thank you for articulating so well pretty much the exact same thoughts I have about Season 9. I know that a lot of fans have an emotional connection to the character of Jack and are quite upset to see him go, but it has really felt to me in these past two seasons that his token presence and somewhat detached attitude has been more of a hindrance than a help to the series. Maybe it's because I began watching Stargate in Season 7 when Jack's presence was already reduced, but I do think the trio of Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c can pull off a Season 9, especially when the writers don't have to write around RDA's schedule anymore.

To those who are upset about the prospect of reduced Jack next year, I do sympathize. I know what it feels like to see a beloved character leave a television series, not on Stargate (as I wasn't around when Daniel left), but on other shows. And who knows? We don't know officially what his schedule will look like. It's possible that it will be more than the 4/5 episode rumor.

As far as Daniel vs. Sam carrying the show, I vote neither. I love, love, love the chemistry that CJ, MS, and AT have with each other and am hoping that next year's schedule will allow more "team" shows and less "character of the week" shows. IMveryHO, that is the best way to go.

Add some interesting guest stars (Claudia Black...please Claudia Black. Yes, I'm a huge Scaper, why do you ask? ), and revisit some of the old storylines that Michael Greenburg mentioned, and I think there's great potential for Season 9 to be excellent.

But I tend to think positive most of the time.

[majorsal]

Excellent news.

*does a happy dance*

I think it's great news too, but...

I'm a HUGE S/J shipper, and while I'm scared of the ship being drug out another season (or the boyfriend continued to be used), I'm more afraid of Amanda barely being in it. Without Amanda... So I'll be waiting for news on how much (if any) Amanda will be in the show.

((((((((((((((Amanda)))))))))))))))))


Sally

[majorsal]

I highly doubt that AT will be missing or light in many if any episodes. There are a dozen or more shooting tricks including simply shooting her scenes for multiple episodes at one time and allowing her to bring her baby to the set.

They've obviously looked at making those considerations already, as the shooting start date has been moved from Feb. to March.

You're making me feel a LOT better, Major Fischer. For me, Stargate without Amanda is like cake without the frosting.

Sally

[David85]

That was me. With acknowledgements to Gipsy who had a "Season 8!..." sig during s6.

IT WORKED!

No need to thank me, everyone

Trust me we aren't.

[keshou]

I'm going to miss Jack. But I think I'm mainly missing the Jack I remember from S1-S6. And even in S6 it seemed RDA's heart really wasn't in it at times.

My best hope for S9 is that the freedom from the struggle to work around RDA's schedule and keep the Jack character involved in as many episodes as possible will result in a new creative vision for SG-1. I mean they might actually be able to film episodes in a more linear fashion like they did in seasons 1-6.

I definitely think they need a new character. I would LOVE to see someone with the presence of a Claudia Black or Adam Baldwin. This cast has great chemistry and if they pick the right person the chemistry could be just as good as Jack & Co. were in the earlier seasons.

I also agree with Jonisa that this is an ensemble cast now. Each character deserves a moment in the sun but they're at their best when they play off each other. Hopefully we'll see a lot more of Sam, Daniel and Teal'c being a team again.

IMO, AT isn't the STAR who's going to carry the show. MS isn't the STAR who's going to carry the show. CJ IS! (Hee! Just kidding, but the poor guy never gets mentioned. ) There should be plenty of time for all three characters to shine.

*fingers crossed in optimistic mode*

[acdj31]

It is great that Atlantis is going to be renewed (MORE FORD EPS) but I have doubts about SG-1.

Maybe if I watch the second half of season 8, I will be more then willing to see season 9.