JM BLOG UPDATE
Spoiler:
Airelle writes: “How many queens do the wraith have, or are they in different hives?”
Answer: It’s impossible to tell how just many they have, but there is a Queen for every alliance. More on wraith politics in The Queen.
PG15 writes: “Do you guys know, generally, what you want to put in those 2 empty spots at the end of the season, or is it completely blank? Are there “notions” for those spots?”
Answer: No notions, but there are a couple of loose ends that could use tying up.
Rachel writes: “…any chance … in some future sam/jack will be together… ?”
Answer: Sure.
Anne Teldy writes: “From what you’ve answered before, Mr. M, I’ve inferred a Wraith can survive off large animals but the sustenance gained isn’t as tasty or the effects as long-lasting as when they feed from humans.
1. Is this essentially correct?
2. If yes, do the Wraith in general know this?
3a. Will Sheppard and the others ever learn this fact?
3b. I’d like to see Sheppard’s reaction when he finally learns he could have fed Todd a cow instead of Wallace in “Miller’s Crossing”. Possibility?”
Answers: 1. I’d liken their feeding on animal to our consumption of chocolate and candy. In some respects, it would temporarily sustain us, but we would need real food - in our case protein, in their case humans. 2. The wraith do know this and are not inclined to change their ways given that feeding on humans is what gives them their regenerative abilities and strength. 3a. We’ll be exploring the wraith feeding process in season 5. 3b. It wouldn’t have worked.
WK writes: “ If the wraith do not mirror us, and therefore develop beyond the “baddie” let’s pack up and go home, because we know the end of this tale—dull. However, you did not say this…exactly.”
Answer: In fact, I said very little on the subject beyond the fact that the wraith will remain an enemy of Atlantis for the foreseeable future - and this has to do with other reasons beside the wraith’s need to feed. They’re far more complex as a race than the expedition originally assumed, and some individuals (Todd and even Michael for example) colorful and not wholly unsympathetic. Again, more on this (and them) in season 5.
Kevin writes: “1. In Season 2’s Instinct we see Jewel Staite play the role of a wraith child and in Spoils Of War we learn of wraith cloning. Will the topic of wraith children be revisited in season 5?
2. Is it possible that we may come across some planets that the wraith are not aware of in the Pegasus Galaxy?
3. Will we see Beau Bridges (General Landry) or Gary Jones (Walter Harriman) at all in season 5?
4. Just an off the wall question, are you or any of the other Stargate writers or cast into NASCAR?
5. Will we be seeing anything that has to do with the Goa’uld in season 5?”
Answers: First, congratulations on your impending fatherhood. Next - 1. I had pitched out a story early in the season that addressed this issue. Alas, it didn’t make the cut. Maybe season 6? 2. Sure. 3. Unlikely. 4. I’m not sure. 5. Nope, sorry.
Sammie writes: “Now that you answered Sam/Jack shippers about Continuum, is there anything for Sam/Cam shippers in Continuum?”
Answer: Nope, sorry.
Linda Gagne writes: “When the writers write for Carson, do they write it for his scottish dilect or tell him to fill in the appropriate phrase he would use if in Scotland?”
Answer: A little of both. In Whispers, for instance, there’s a point in the script where Beckett makes a surprising discovery. Under the character slug (Beckett), I wrote: “Insert quaint Scottish expression!”.
DasNdanger writes: “We had hope in Todd, but it seems that he will not be given that sort of character arc…either because he will be pigeonholed as a ‘villain’, or because he will be killed off.”
Answer: Really? Is that what’s going to happen to the character? Do you know something about episodes 17 and 18 that I don’t? Well, since you’ve already resigned yourself to the fait accompli based on who-knows-what information, don’t let me spoil it for you.
"And, all the while, running dialogue through my head for the next scene I have to write: McKay, Zelenka, black tea, and a frank admission. I went on a bit of a creative tear last night, hitting the 29 page mark before running out of steam. But much of the night after that was spent lying in bed, tossing and turning as I plotted out the next couple of acts."
Answer: It’s impossible to tell how just many they have, but there is a Queen for every alliance. More on wraith politics in The Queen.
PG15 writes: “Do you guys know, generally, what you want to put in those 2 empty spots at the end of the season, or is it completely blank? Are there “notions” for those spots?”
Answer: No notions, but there are a couple of loose ends that could use tying up.
Rachel writes: “…any chance … in some future sam/jack will be together… ?”
Answer: Sure.
Anne Teldy writes: “From what you’ve answered before, Mr. M, I’ve inferred a Wraith can survive off large animals but the sustenance gained isn’t as tasty or the effects as long-lasting as when they feed from humans.
1. Is this essentially correct?
2. If yes, do the Wraith in general know this?
3a. Will Sheppard and the others ever learn this fact?
3b. I’d like to see Sheppard’s reaction when he finally learns he could have fed Todd a cow instead of Wallace in “Miller’s Crossing”. Possibility?”
Answers: 1. I’d liken their feeding on animal to our consumption of chocolate and candy. In some respects, it would temporarily sustain us, but we would need real food - in our case protein, in their case humans. 2. The wraith do know this and are not inclined to change their ways given that feeding on humans is what gives them their regenerative abilities and strength. 3a. We’ll be exploring the wraith feeding process in season 5. 3b. It wouldn’t have worked.
WK writes: “ If the wraith do not mirror us, and therefore develop beyond the “baddie” let’s pack up and go home, because we know the end of this tale—dull. However, you did not say this…exactly.”
Answer: In fact, I said very little on the subject beyond the fact that the wraith will remain an enemy of Atlantis for the foreseeable future - and this has to do with other reasons beside the wraith’s need to feed. They’re far more complex as a race than the expedition originally assumed, and some individuals (Todd and even Michael for example) colorful and not wholly unsympathetic. Again, more on this (and them) in season 5.
Kevin writes: “1. In Season 2’s Instinct we see Jewel Staite play the role of a wraith child and in Spoils Of War we learn of wraith cloning. Will the topic of wraith children be revisited in season 5?
2. Is it possible that we may come across some planets that the wraith are not aware of in the Pegasus Galaxy?
3. Will we see Beau Bridges (General Landry) or Gary Jones (Walter Harriman) at all in season 5?
4. Just an off the wall question, are you or any of the other Stargate writers or cast into NASCAR?
5. Will we be seeing anything that has to do with the Goa’uld in season 5?”
Answers: First, congratulations on your impending fatherhood. Next - 1. I had pitched out a story early in the season that addressed this issue. Alas, it didn’t make the cut. Maybe season 6? 2. Sure. 3. Unlikely. 4. I’m not sure. 5. Nope, sorry.
Sammie writes: “Now that you answered Sam/Jack shippers about Continuum, is there anything for Sam/Cam shippers in Continuum?”
Answer: Nope, sorry.
Linda Gagne writes: “When the writers write for Carson, do they write it for his scottish dilect or tell him to fill in the appropriate phrase he would use if in Scotland?”
Answer: A little of both. In Whispers, for instance, there’s a point in the script where Beckett makes a surprising discovery. Under the character slug (Beckett), I wrote: “Insert quaint Scottish expression!”.
DasNdanger writes: “We had hope in Todd, but it seems that he will not be given that sort of character arc…either because he will be pigeonholed as a ‘villain’, or because he will be killed off.”
Answer: Really? Is that what’s going to happen to the character? Do you know something about episodes 17 and 18 that I don’t? Well, since you’ve already resigned yourself to the fait accompli based on who-knows-what information, don’t let me spoil it for you.
"And, all the while, running dialogue through my head for the next scene I have to write: McKay, Zelenka, black tea, and a frank admission. I went on a bit of a creative tear last night, hitting the 29 page mark before running out of steam. But much of the night after that was spent lying in bed, tossing and turning as I plotted out the next couple of acts."
I'm so happy now.
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