Well I finally saw Condemned, and while overall it was okay, I totally felt like something was missing. So I watched The Runner, Duet and then Childhood's End again on TMNonDemand (sort of a built in Tivo thing - more on that later) and I realized what it was, why none of Season 2 has made me feel the way Season 1 did... TONE. The tone of the show has totally changed.
I was never a die-hard SG1 fan, but I've watched my fair share of episodes and I think it has a more general appeal because it's a pretty light show. (Now there may have been darker episodes that I just haven't seen so don't get crazy). But SGA is (was) different.
When I first saw the premiere of Atlantis, I was impressed. When I saw the Wraith I leapt for joy (the first female wraith is still the best one I've seen yet). When Sheppard shot Sumner I knew I was hooked. It was serious, it was dark, it was witty (not just funny) it was just... so damn good.
So far Season 2 has yet to create that feeling. And I don't think it has anything to do with the actual stories. The Superford story line is quite dark and has the potential to be quite disturbing, I mean he is killing wraith and then gutting them for that enzyme. But in "The Runner" this was completely overshadowed by McKay whining (though that didn't really bother me) and the introduction of Ronan (which I've complained about elsewhere). Ronans character also has the potential to be pretty dark (instead of just monosyllibic) but I'm probably being a little early in my judgement of him and should "wait and see."
As I said above, it really hit me last night (the tone of the show) because the episode was dealing with some pretty serious subject matter. A prison as a feeding ground, criminals ready to do anything to get off "the island." When I first read the spoiler for it, I was excited. It seemed like it was going to be an Eloi, Morlock kinda thing, you know "what cost is too great for freedom?" and all that. And while it sorta was on the outside, the inside was kinda hollow for me. There were still some great moments, I loved Shep's "I'm not scared, I'm lazy" and the Can/Am banter (albeit brief) about capital punishment.
I also liked when McKay got called on his "I can't fix it" ploy - As a side note: that is probably the most important and revealing character point we've seen about Rodney yet, hats off to the writing team on that one.
Anyways, I saw the ratings for Friday nights episode and they're up (2.1), so maybe I'm alone on this. I also know the saying "if it ain't broke..." and it seems that most people are extremely happy with the current season. But that doesn't mean I can't hope right? Some of the plotlines for upcoming episodes seem to be a little less fun(ny) - not that I don't like to laugh of course.
And at least we'll always have The Defiant One, Poisoning the Well, Thirty Eight Minutes, Childhood's End, Siege Part 1.... (sigh)
Thoughts?
I was never a die-hard SG1 fan, but I've watched my fair share of episodes and I think it has a more general appeal because it's a pretty light show. (Now there may have been darker episodes that I just haven't seen so don't get crazy). But SGA is (was) different.
When I first saw the premiere of Atlantis, I was impressed. When I saw the Wraith I leapt for joy (the first female wraith is still the best one I've seen yet). When Sheppard shot Sumner I knew I was hooked. It was serious, it was dark, it was witty (not just funny) it was just... so damn good.
So far Season 2 has yet to create that feeling. And I don't think it has anything to do with the actual stories. The Superford story line is quite dark and has the potential to be quite disturbing, I mean he is killing wraith and then gutting them for that enzyme. But in "The Runner" this was completely overshadowed by McKay whining (though that didn't really bother me) and the introduction of Ronan (which I've complained about elsewhere). Ronans character also has the potential to be pretty dark (instead of just monosyllibic) but I'm probably being a little early in my judgement of him and should "wait and see."
As I said above, it really hit me last night (the tone of the show) because the episode was dealing with some pretty serious subject matter. A prison as a feeding ground, criminals ready to do anything to get off "the island." When I first read the spoiler for it, I was excited. It seemed like it was going to be an Eloi, Morlock kinda thing, you know "what cost is too great for freedom?" and all that. And while it sorta was on the outside, the inside was kinda hollow for me. There were still some great moments, I loved Shep's "I'm not scared, I'm lazy" and the Can/Am banter (albeit brief) about capital punishment.
I also liked when McKay got called on his "I can't fix it" ploy - As a side note: that is probably the most important and revealing character point we've seen about Rodney yet, hats off to the writing team on that one.
Anyways, I saw the ratings for Friday nights episode and they're up (2.1), so maybe I'm alone on this. I also know the saying "if it ain't broke..." and it seems that most people are extremely happy with the current season. But that doesn't mean I can't hope right? Some of the plotlines for upcoming episodes seem to be a little less fun(ny) - not that I don't like to laugh of course.
And at least we'll always have The Defiant One, Poisoning the Well, Thirty Eight Minutes, Childhood's End, Siege Part 1.... (sigh)
Thoughts?
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