I hate to admit it, since I like Carter better than Weir, but...

[Ripple in Space]

That's not a problem. That's exactly how it works. The one with the most experience and knowledge is the one that stays back and calls the shots.

In some cases, but when Rodney's faced with two options:

:Let me call up Sam, and ask her if she can help me with this computer problem.

or

: Let me feed myself to this Wraith.

And he chooses the latter as more preferential, then tptb have a problem.

[marielabbott]

I think chemistry is like pornography. You can't really define it, but you dang sure know it when you see it.

I thought of that quote too!

Yes, chemistry is something that is usually undefinable, and subjective. But if you read film reviews, you often have professional reviewers speaking about the chemistry of lack of it between characters/actors, and it's a valid point for them to bring up, because it affects their enjoyment of the film, or their assessment of it's quality. And they disagree and argue about it as well.

I'm not a shipper, but I do think Weir had a much better chemistry with the rest of the characters. And it does affect my enjoyment of the show.

[Integrabyte]

In some cases, but when Rodney's faced with two options:

:Let me call up Sam, and ask her if she can help me with this computer problem.

or

: Let me feed myself to this Wraith.

And he chooses the latter as more preferential, then tptb have a problem.

Putting it that way I am surprised we will have S5

[Ripple in Space]

Putting it that way I am surprised we will have S5

Lol. Actually I thought the last episode, "This Mortal Coil," as far as writing goes, was by far the best of the entire series! So it is improving.

As a Carter fan, I just hate the direction they've taken with her character. We don't see her using her scientific OR military expertise. Even though she's the best at both on the base. And outside of Jack & Hammond, she's the best at both out of the Tau'ri.

It's kind of like Jerry Seinfeld's joke about Superman and the Justice League. Back in Seinfeld's day, Superman wasn't only super-strong, but he was also super-smart and could time-travel at will, and had telekinetic powers. So why did he need the Justice League?

It's the same situation with Carter and the Expedition. In Sg-1 she wasn't the best at everything...
SG-1
- #1 Scientist, #2 Military Officer, #3 Warrior
- #1 Military Officer, #2 Warrior
- #1 Anthropologist/Archaeologist, #1 Ambassador
- #1 Warrior
- #1 Military Commander

Atlantis
- #1 Scientist (by McKay's own words), #1 Military Officer, #1 Military Commander (just ask HWS & the IOA), #1 Offworld Experience (been on far more worlds and more diverse tech levels), #1 Alien Kill-Count ("Exodus" + 10+ years of Combat)
- #2 Military Officer
- #2 Scientist (by his own admission)
- #2 Offworld Experience
- #2 Alien Kill-Count

And tptb way of dealing with it is not mentioning her at all in times of crisis. How can she develop chemistry with the team if she's always invisible when they're in a tight spot?

[Linzi]

I think chemistry is like pornography. You can't really define it, but you dang sure know it when you see it.

You little minx! I've never seen pornography, so I have no idea what you're talking about! Yeah, right!

Actors are frequently put in situations, romantic or otherwise, where they have to relate to and interact with other actors sometimes on a very intimate level. If the audience believes the resulting scene is believable and that the emotions portrayed by the characters are real, they consider the actors to have chemistry.

I think you're right there. But, I do think it's very much based on our own personal likes and dislikes, if that makes sense? Sometimes we connect with an actor portraying a character, and sometimes we don't.

From the first moment I saw Torri Higginson interact with the rest of the cast, I saw that chemistry. Rodney, Daniel, Carson, Jack, Peter, John, even Sumner in the pilot and then later in the series Teyla, Ford, Ronon etc. She seemed to genuinely care about each and every one of them and they her. In the pilot everyone ran around trying to show her things and in later episodes her authority was accepted without question most of the time. The little bit of conflict with Sheppard before they found a commonality was just spicy enough to make things interesting. That is sorely missing with Carter. I won't even speak about the romantic angle with her and John because everyone knows how I feel about that, but that chemistry is there without a word being spoken.

I don't disagree that Weir has showed much caring to the characters. I think she has, and this is one of the things that I have always like about her. I think, with Carter, she just doesn't know them all well enough yet for us to see that. Let's not forget, Weir et al were stranded, isolated and fighting for their lives in season 1. They became bonded very quickly out of necessity. In season 4 the situation is a little different.

I always liked Carter in SG-l but whoever this blonde woman is who seems unsure of herself and sadly out of place is not that Carter. More and more it seems like Sheppard and Rodney are running things and doing a fine job of it IMHO. And speaking of chemistry, JF and DH have it as did both those men and PM. It's an ease of working together, a generosity that comes across on the screen. It can't be developed and it can't be faked. It just is the subjective opinion of the viewer.

Now the test for TPTB is if they can decide that they see what some of us see.

I personally believe Joe and David to have the best chemistry on the show. I always have, and to be frank, all other chemistries pale into insignificance in comparison, IMO. Both actors have that indefinable charisma that you're born with, I think. It will be interesting to see what happens in the latter half of season 4 as far as chemistry goes. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing how it all pans out.

[Agent_Dark]

Atlantis
- #1 Alien Kill-Count ("Exodus" + 10+ years of Combat)

top1 kdr no doubt ftw

[Ripple in Space]

top1 kdr no doubt ftw

I have no idea what you're saying.

[Cautious Explorer]

Lol. Actually I thought the last episode, "This Mortal Coil," as far as writing goes, was by far the best of the entire series! So it is improving.

As a Carter fan, I just hate the direction they've taken with her character. We don't see her using her scientific OR military expertise. Even though she's the best at both on the base. And outside of Jack & Hammond, she's the best at both out of the Tau'ri.

It's kind of like Jerry Seinfeld's joke about Superman and the Justice League. Back in Seinfeld's day, Superman wasn't only super-strong, but he was also super-smart and could time-travel at will, and had telekinetic powers. So why did he need the Justice League?

It's the same situation with Carter and the Expedition. In Sg-1 she wasn't the best at everything...
SG-1
- #1 Scientist, #2 Military Officer, #3 Warrior
- #1 Military Officer, #2 Warrior
- #1 Anthropologist/Archaeologist, #1 Ambassador
- #1 Warrior
- #1 Military Commander

Atlantis
- #1 Scientist (by McKay's own words), #1 Military Officer, #1 Military Commander (just ask HWS & the IOA), #1 Offworld Experience (been on far more worlds and more diverse tech levels), #1 Alien Kill-Count ("Exodus" + 10+ years of Combat)
- #2 Military Officer
- #2 Scientist (by his own admission)
- #2 Offworld Experience
- #2 Alien Kill-Count

And tptb way of dealing with it is not mentioning her at all in times of crisis. How can she develop chemistry with the team if she's always invisible when they're in a tight spot?

You've just presented an excellent case for why Carter doesn't belong on Atlantis in the first place.

[Agent_Dark]

You've just presented an excellent case for why Carter doesn't belong on Atlantis in the first place.

dude, top1 kdr means shes the obvious and really the only choice. top1 kdr means shes definitely up the top of the scoreboard, most likely top1 score (unless some noob is spamming med-packs/revives). top1 kdr means she doesn't need to do a 'hacks above/noobs below' call since there is no-one above her. she simply releases a 'noobs below' call.

top1 is ftw.

[sueKay]

Hmm...so Carter is apparently top at everything...that screams of mary-suism and bad writing

pity she ain't number 1 in the personality stakes...

[Ripple in Space]

dude, top1 kdr means shes the obvious and really the only choice. top1 kdr means shes definitely up the top of the scoreboard, most likely top1 score (unless some noob is spamming med-packs/revives). top1 kdr means she doesn't need to do a 'hacks above/noobs below' call since there is no-one above her. she simply releases a 'noobs below' call.

top1 is ftw.

huh?

[prion]

I wish I could think of a way to say what I want to say about this that wouldn't get me banned.

I've seen a lot of people talking about TH's "chemistry" the last 2 days but I just don't see it. I don't even see "decent." All I've ever seen is a drama queen.

I think rules say you're not supposed to diss the actors. You can gripe about the characters, but not slur the actors.

I'm hard pushed to call it great chemistry because of her limited time so far but I think she's fitted in fairly seamlessly and hasn't been too forced in which is a blessing.

Torri/Weir did admittedly have great chemistry with the others imo but she did have three years to cultivate that. I'm particularly fond of the chemistry between her and Rodney who she has mostly been gentle and understanding to, knowing exactly how to deal with him and seemingly seeing beyond his surface personality. My biggest worry was that Carter would somehow belittle Rodney (not because of being intentionally horrible to him or anything) and I'm glad that hasn't happened.

To be honest I think I prefer Carter keeping herself slightly separated from the rest of them as it probably should be like that with her as military leader. I'd like to see a deal of mutual respect but not necessarily best buddies.

She basically has Hammond's position on Atlantis. You never saw Hammond and the sG1 team hanging around having a meal. When the team were hanging around at the end of Doppelganger, it seemed forced that Keller and Carter were suddenly hanging with them.

I don't understand why the writers are so afraid to put other main characters in conflict with Carter. This happened on SG-1 too, and I didn't understand it. Are they that afraid that it's going to make her look bad? That doesn't speak well for confidence in the character. If they were bringing a character like Jack O'Neill over to run the place, you can bet they'd throw in a lot of tension and butting heads between him and Sheppard and him and Rodney. So why in the world not do the same with Carter? Why take the easy way out? The Carter/Shep bonding moments wouldn't bother me so much if they'd had to work to get there - if they'd earned them. But this instantanious harmony is not only unrealistic - it's boring. Annoyingly so.
. [/B]

I don't understand it either. In reality people do not always get along, and now that she's in command, there are going to be situations where folks are going to butt heads. My feeling is that the writers are so enamored of Carter that they don't want to do wrong, and in turn, this fosters the "SuperSam" reputation that has bugged a number of fans. The closest we've come to 'butting heads' was Ronon leaving Atlantis and Carter making some noises about him leaving.

[chocdoc]

I personally believe Joe and David to have the best chemistry on the show. I always have, and to be frank, all other chemistries pale into insignificance in comparison, IMO. Both actors have that indefinable charisma that you're born with, I think. It will be interesting to see what happens in the latter half of season 4 as far as chemistry goes. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing how it all pans out.

I actually would go with DH and AT on the chemistry. I think they have had great chemistry since SG-1 and I'm hoping to see this chemistry used in the second half of season 4. As far as JF and DH, I'd say there is chemistry there, but I'm not wowed by it. If I had been, I'd really love SGA because there is so much of Shep/Mckay, but it actually bored me at times.

[bluealien]

As others have said chemistry can be totally subjective and one fan can see loads of chemistry between characters while another sees none.

I think Sheppard has "chemistry" will all of the characters and I wouldn't say that one is hugely better than the other, just different. Some fans relate better to different pairings and to what these different pairings bring out in the characters. McKaySheppard brings out more of the mischevious side to Shep, whilst the Ronan/Sheppard brings out more of the competitive/soldier side, Sheppard/Teyla brings more of Sheps emotional side and Sheppard/Weir more of a protective side. They are all just different and each one brings out interesting sides to the characters, and some fans just naturally get drawn to one pairing more than another, and therefore feel this paring has the best chemistry.

Weir has had 3 years to get to know the team and bond with them so there will be a familiarity and closness that has grown over the course of time. I would never say that this was instantaneous. Sheppard/Weir were quite distrustful of one another in the first few eps and even in Rising Shep didn't seem willing to follow Weir's orders at all but over time they definitely came to respect each other eventhough they disagreed on issues with regard to Atlantis. Weir probably knew Rodney the longest and wasn't phased by his abrasive nature and I felt they had the best understanding of who they both really were. There was no light bantering that we saw more often between Shep/Weir but deeper emotional moments and this is why I think Rodney was hit the most by her death.
But people do take time to get to know one another and yes there can be an instant chemistry or a knowing that you like and respect this person but boundaries still have to be set and this takes time. Carter has only had a tiny amount of time to interact with the team so there is no way we can say that she can build up in a few weeks what Weir built up in 3 years. But even though she is still finding her feet in her new position, and with Sheppard and the team, I do feel that that instant respect is there already and Sheppard feels possibly more at ease with her because they both share a military background. His relationship with Carter again is just different but they do have that instant rapport IMO and they seem to fit very well into the kind of leadership that Atltantis needs at the present time.

In time I think Carter will build up a great relationship with all the team. It may be different to how Weir interacted with them but that doesn't mean it will be any less meaningful.

[chocdoc]

She basically has Hammond's position on Atlantis. You never saw Hammond and the sG1 team hanging around having a meal. When the team were hanging around at the end of Doppelganger, it seemed forced that Keller and Carter were suddenly hanging with them.



I don't understand it either. In reality people do not always get along, and now that she's in command, there are going to be situations where folks are going to butt heads. My feeling is that the writers are so enamored of Carter that they don't want to do wrong, and in turn, this fosters the "SuperSam" reputation that has bugged a number of fans. The closest we've come to 'butting heads' was Ronon leaving Atlantis and Carter making some noises about him leaving.

I don't think Sam is like Hammond though. Her style is going to be different and it should be. I like the fact that she hung out with them for a bit, even though typically she does not.

As far as conflict -- well Sam has been in the show as the leader for four episodes only. In one of those, Reunion, she definitely had conflict with Ronon, and I thought it was done well. Tabula Rasa -- they weren't themselves, so no opportunity there. The Seer--- she was pretty busy confronting Woolsey in this one. When you have an outside threat, then it is natural for Atlantis personnel to team up -- hence, Shep backed Carter up. Good for him -- that is what he should have done -- and good thing he did, because Carter's gut was correct. Dopplehanger -- I'm not sure there was much room for disagreement there either, given that once again members of Atlantis were threatened by an outside force.

So, let's wait and see. Maybe there will be some conflict. I personally don't care if there is or not. I suspect we will see some conflict between Mckay and Carter down the road.