If Atlantis is suffering without SG-1 as a lead-in, that tells me that people aren't watching Atlantis for Atlantis's sake, they're just leaving the TV on after SG-1 ended. Are casual viewers important to the show from a ratings stand-point? Yeah, probably, but the way you make a casual viewer a dedicated viewer is by making the show so good that they get hooked and will follow it wherever it goes and regardless of what's on before (or during) the show. Casual viewers may pad the numbers, but without a dedicated audience, a show is toast.
I don't see Atlantis as being a long-term show. It got off to a good start in season 1, but they quickly dropped the ball by tying Atlantis so irrevocably to SG-1. Yes, they're both set in the same universe and yes, it makes sense that there'd be a certain amount of crossover, but a little goes a long way and that's one lesson TPTB have never learned.
Atlantis has never really been allowed to develop its own voice. It has its moments, of course, but for the most part, as ToF (and countless others) have said, Atlantis has always- and will always be in the shadow of SG-1. The formula, the atmosphere, even some of the plots and characters all borrow heavily from SG-1. Instead of making Atlantis unique, they to the "winning formula" from SG-1 and just copied it. The team make-up is basically the same, as are some of the character types, and the one thing that could have given Atlantis a different spin- civilian leadership- was mostly a joke and never fully explored. Almost from the start, Atlantis was cast into Military Mode. What other reaction could there possibly be to stepping through the gate and inadvertently starting a war? Very few of the missions were pure exploration; the team was always looking for something, whether it was power sources, allies or enemies. I'd like to know why TPTB even bothered pretending that Atlantis was ever going to be anything but another military-oriented action show. They finally gave up that pretense and now they've given up on Weir as well. She was a civilian on a military outpost. What use was that? Not much, from the way TPTB treated her. Whatever platitudes they spew, I doubt that we'll see her much- if ever- again.
One of the biggest enemies Atlantis is facing right now are retreads from an enemy on SG-1. Call them Asurans or call them Replicators, it's hard not to notice the heavy similarities in appearance and action. If Atlantis is so great and original, how come they don't have a unique enemy of their own? There's always the Wraith, but the show seems to be moving away from them in favor of the Asurans. Safer ground for the writers, perhaps, but what about the audience?
Personally I'm sick of all the copying, the borrowing, the cannibalizing, and the other desperate efforts made to shove SG-1 stuff into another galaxy. It's been said before and it'll be said many times again: I want to watch Atlantis, not SG-1. Although at this rate it may become a moot point; there are already campaigns underway to try and "save" Atlantis. Even the dedicated fandom has lost enough confidence in the show (or in SCIFI as they will undoubtedly argue) that they feel these tactics are necessary. Everyone is begging everyone else to watch the show live (even though as far as I know it's still only Nielsen families who count and they know better than anyone the importance of live viewing) and fights break out every time "DVR" is mentioned.
These are sad days for Stargate Atlantis, and while there's always enough blame to go around, I still say that most of it rests on the shoulders of TPTB. With all the stunts they've pulled over the past four seasons, from killing off beloved characters to bringing in fresh blood and familiar faces to changing enemies and uniforms every chance they get, to hoping that Reuse and Recycle means Renew(al), their tactics don't seem to be working.
Sure, there's still a deeply loyal contingent who will watch the show no matter what, but you can't count on people like that to be the majority, you have to make the show appealing to a wider audience. And dressing the team in leather is NOT the right way to make the show appealing.
I'd say that TPTB need to concentrate on telling good stories and developing good characters (contrary to popular belief the universe doesn't revolve around Sheppard and McKay) but after all this time I sincerely doubt they're about to change their stripes and focus on what's important rather than what they like best. Atlantis is doomed. The only question is how long it will take to finish dying.
I don't see Atlantis as being a long-term show. It got off to a good start in season 1, but they quickly dropped the ball by tying Atlantis so irrevocably to SG-1. Yes, they're both set in the same universe and yes, it makes sense that there'd be a certain amount of crossover, but a little goes a long way and that's one lesson TPTB have never learned.
Atlantis has never really been allowed to develop its own voice. It has its moments, of course, but for the most part, as ToF (and countless others) have said, Atlantis has always- and will always be in the shadow of SG-1. The formula, the atmosphere, even some of the plots and characters all borrow heavily from SG-1. Instead of making Atlantis unique, they to the "winning formula" from SG-1 and just copied it. The team make-up is basically the same, as are some of the character types, and the one thing that could have given Atlantis a different spin- civilian leadership- was mostly a joke and never fully explored. Almost from the start, Atlantis was cast into Military Mode. What other reaction could there possibly be to stepping through the gate and inadvertently starting a war? Very few of the missions were pure exploration; the team was always looking for something, whether it was power sources, allies or enemies. I'd like to know why TPTB even bothered pretending that Atlantis was ever going to be anything but another military-oriented action show. They finally gave up that pretense and now they've given up on Weir as well. She was a civilian on a military outpost. What use was that? Not much, from the way TPTB treated her. Whatever platitudes they spew, I doubt that we'll see her much- if ever- again.
One of the biggest enemies Atlantis is facing right now are retreads from an enemy on SG-1. Call them Asurans or call them Replicators, it's hard not to notice the heavy similarities in appearance and action. If Atlantis is so great and original, how come they don't have a unique enemy of their own? There's always the Wraith, but the show seems to be moving away from them in favor of the Asurans. Safer ground for the writers, perhaps, but what about the audience?
Personally I'm sick of all the copying, the borrowing, the cannibalizing, and the other desperate efforts made to shove SG-1 stuff into another galaxy. It's been said before and it'll be said many times again: I want to watch Atlantis, not SG-1. Although at this rate it may become a moot point; there are already campaigns underway to try and "save" Atlantis. Even the dedicated fandom has lost enough confidence in the show (or in SCIFI as they will undoubtedly argue) that they feel these tactics are necessary. Everyone is begging everyone else to watch the show live (even though as far as I know it's still only Nielsen families who count and they know better than anyone the importance of live viewing) and fights break out every time "DVR" is mentioned.
These are sad days for Stargate Atlantis, and while there's always enough blame to go around, I still say that most of it rests on the shoulders of TPTB. With all the stunts they've pulled over the past four seasons, from killing off beloved characters to bringing in fresh blood and familiar faces to changing enemies and uniforms every chance they get, to hoping that Reuse and Recycle means Renew(al), their tactics don't seem to be working.
Sure, there's still a deeply loyal contingent who will watch the show no matter what, but you can't count on people like that to be the majority, you have to make the show appealing to a wider audience. And dressing the team in leather is NOT the right way to make the show appealing.
I'd say that TPTB need to concentrate on telling good stories and developing good characters (contrary to popular belief the universe doesn't revolve around Sheppard and McKay) but after all this time I sincerely doubt they're about to change their stripes and focus on what's important rather than what they like best. Atlantis is doomed. The only question is how long it will take to finish dying.
Sounds like you had a great time. 
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