Sam Carter/Amanda Tapping Discussion/Appreciation

[Kirara]

I have read the news about Claudia Black joining the Sg 1 cast as a fulltime member and I´m fighting now not to feel too bitter and dissapointed. It´s not that I would not have expected it, I have. But I still tried to keep some hope, that this wouldn´t happen. I can´t see that Sam will NOT shoved in the background with Vala around. I mean the first couple of season 9 episodes have shown us how the scriptwirters and directors deal with the situation. When Vala is around nothing else is anymore interesting for them...

I have thoght about the reasons why AT had signed the contract despite that she had the chance to choose from some different roles in other shows and movies. And the answer I found was not very comforting. I don´t know if this is true but I have often heard something about RCC saying as MS left Stargate that "he would never find a job in this city again". I supose that the Vancouver TV industrie was meant. I don´t know if there is any truth behind this story but the strange message on AT´s webside one day after the GABIT con made me think... And even if it´s no truth behind this rumour nobody want´s a big worldwide company (or should I better say Behemoth?) as Sony/MGM against them.
The are only two things that comforting me about the whole situation: First that Amanda has now a place on Atlantis (I hope desperatly that BW finds a way to include her in the cast so that her fans and the Atlantis fans can accept it) and the second is that RDA is no longer a part of this all... I begin to believe that he not only left the show because of family reasons (but I´m sure that this was an important part of it) but because this was the only way that he could keep his self-respect...or maybe he had just enough to fight against windmills as he tried to keep at least a little bit of the shows quality...

[Skydiver]

I'm sorry -- I don't mean to be offensive, but CB does not have the better looks or look younger than AT, IMO. Therefore, I don't see CB taking AT's place in this category whatsoever. Vala can play "sexy", provide lots of sexual inneundo, and wear more revealing clothes --- that is a big difference between Vala and Sam.

Acting is also dependent on skill (which both CB and AT have alot of). Hopefully they will let both actresses do what they do best next season.


I do hope down the road AT gets to do more directing, but I'm not ready to think that because AT hit the big 40, she has to move on more toward directing at this point.

I'm not expressing myself well here. I guess I'm saying that just because Vala is on the show doesn't mean we can't still have alot of Sam. They are very different characters. And I don't see CB replacing Sam in the looks appeal category!

hey, i agree with you. to my perception, put those pics of AT next to CB and - no offense to CB, it does look like CB's gotten one too many tans over the years. Amanda definitely looks young for her age.

i don't think a lot of it has to do with how they look per se, but the fact taht sam's character isn't the kind to wear the leather and spout porn like lines. Vala's been created to do just that. and since they want to appeal to the naughty, vala's their naughty girl

[ForeverSg1]

*snip*
I applauded, literally.

The pilot gave me a nod - and went back to talking airplanes with the little girl until the boy and their parents arrived, whereupon he told them that their daughter wanted to be a pilot, and he hoped they would support her in that, because she had the makings of a fine pilot.

I want that Marine Corps aviator to write for SG-1, specifically for Sam and Vala.

You and me both Sim.

[Daivy]

IMO, Amanda, from the pics I've seen, looks better than ever after having her baby! She looks great. She looks younger, somehow. I don't know what it is exactly, but she's never looked her age anyway...
She's a very young 40!

Yes Alyssa, I saw some music videos of her, and I must say, her ID card maybe says 40, but she acts like a teenage girl of 21, also the age of her heart, she acts and looks so not her "on paper written" age.

This is a compliment, so plz don't read this post wrong. Yes she looked better than on screen, younger. 32-34 at least, maybe even 28 (wink)

[ForeverSg1]

I think that I'd wouldn't have been bothered as much if I heard the news here first. But this is how I learned of it.

This is from Sci-Fi wire and as much as TPTB want to work it, I think a picture paints a thousand words. And believe me some people at SG-1 BB's ( Sci-Fi official) aren't happy with this either.

Yeah this is how I learned about it as well. If it weren't for the fact that everything involving Stargate this year seems to revolve around Ben and Claudia, I think I may have been more open to the idea of Claudia joining the cast as a regular.

I actually feel sorry for all of the cast members, including Ben and Claudia. I feel sorry for CB, AT, and MS because TPTB have basically said that they don't believe these three were capable of keeping the show going on their own merits. They felt it was necessary to bring in another name in order to boost ratings. They may not call him the star of the show but the new opening credits say otherwise to me. They used Ben and Farscape to get the media's attention and they have been milking it ever since. Look at how much they used Ben for publicity and how little we actually seen of Mitchell in season 9 so far.

The writers keep saying they have an infinite amount of ideas for future storylines, enough to keep Stargate going for years to come and yet to me they are bored with the premise of the show and have decided to spice things up so it would be more fun for them as writers.

JM has stated that he doesn't really enjoy writing the technobabble. I'm sure many of the other writers dislike this aspect of the show as well. I'm sure writing for Sam is much more difficult than say writing for Vala. Vala says what's on her mind. She's wild and crazy and has no rules or regulations to hold her back. Sam on the other hand is very scientific and has to behave in a specific way due to the fact that she is an officer in the USAF. She may have wanted to slap the crap out of people on a regular basis, but it would be improper for her to behave this way, whereas they don't have this issue with Vala. It also requires a great deal of research in writing for Sam because they have to make sure that what Sam is saying is plausible, because how would it look if your leading scientific expert starting spouting information that was just plain wrong even on a basic level.

So in theory, I don't see a lot happening with Sam over the next two seasons. We saw the writing on the wall in season 8. They ended every storyline that involved Sam. They got rid of Pete. They killed Jacob. They destroyed Replicarter. Sam finally went fishing with Jack and they've taken away her position as commander of SG-1. So what do the writers have left for Sam? We're back to Sam the Scientist and the technobabble that they seem to despise writing. So no, I don't expect to see much from Sam this season or next season and yes I'm a bit disappointed by it all.

Will I continue to watch the second half of season 9? Yes, I'll watch. Will I watch next season? Who knows. The way I compare this season with past seasons, is that so far this season I have been a casual observer just watching the storyline evolve; but in past years SG-1 have been a part of my family. I really cared for the characters. I laughed when they laughed, I cried when they cried. It tore my heart out to see them in pain, and I really felt as if they deeply cared for one another.

However, when Vala set on fire I was more interested in the whole shock and awe fire scene than I was to the fact that Vala was being burned alive. When Mitchell was taken by the Sodan, I felt no worry that he wouldn't be back or that he may die. Honestly, I felt nothing at all. I mean if the characters on the show don't act as if they are truly worried about one another, then why should I?

I believe bringing in the character of Vala has the potential to be a positive move, but it all comes down to where the writers choose to go with the storylines and how they use each of the characters. In my opinion, they have gotten so involved in telling the grand epic story that they've lost sight to what it was that made the series so unique and special to many of us. Whether or not they are capable of finding that spark again, remains to be seen. I keep thinking that maybe I'm asking for too much and perhaps I am just a tad bit spoiled. The original cast of SG-1 had this wonderful spark that made me fall in love with the characters the moment I saw them. Maybe it's just wrong to expect to see that kind of unique chemistry again, and perhaps I'm asking too much of the actors and writers. I had eight years of an amazing ride through the Stargate. If that all ends tomorrow, i'll still have had more good moments than bad ones.

I hope the best for all the actors on the show. This may not be the best opportunity for the original cast, but this is a big moment for Stargate. They are going into their tenth season, making it the longest running Sci-Fi show in American television history. I'm sure everyone involved with the show are amazed they have lasted this long and want to be a part of this celebratory season.

Sony and Scifi are going to do whatever they can to get the hype they need for next season. They are going to milk Claudia and Ben joining the cast for all it's worth as well as boast and pimp the shows newly acclaimed title. In the meantime, the producers and writers are going to bask in the limelight, and why shouldn't they? The show has been ignored by the media and written off by the critics for nine years. It's about time they finally got some recognition. Who knows, maybe with this new cast, the show may achieve an even greater number of fans and continue for another ten years...only time will tell.

The only thing I do know, is that if the show continues down the path it did at the beginning of season nine, I will not be one of those fans.

Kat

[Coley]

Forever. You are much more generous about the direction of the show than I could ever be.

Stargate sg1 was pretty unique for sci fi. Mainly revolved round this wonderful cast of 4 great characters and actors, based in the present day but still having adventures out there in galaxies far away with wonderful enemies like the Goau'ld - who were in general damn good baddie fun. We got great special effects that were never over done which maintained the reality of the show. The episodes in general were very moral and quite political - intelligent and well thought out. The US Air force was proud to be associated with the show. Sam the female was a vital member of the team both in terms of military and scientific contribution, not just an also run token female in a traditional female role. A fantastic female role model. Amanda could also deliver the technobabble with clarity and ease.

So the writers don't like writing techno babble? Get a writer in that does. So Sam is a little benign? Make her command of SG1 then she has position enough to be a little snarky, sarky or humorous like O'Neill. We have seen hints of Sam humour - lets see more. There is nothing boring about soldier Sam kicking butt and Amanda does this perfectly - she would need a harder edge to her if she was in command, we could have got a little more personality development. Need a bit of attitude? Bring on CB - renegade soldier into SG1. She and Sam spar frequently but it is plainly evident that they really like and respect each other. No need to pay big fees for BB!! So we still have an SG1 team - it has been mixed up a bit, but Rob has got his CB. Still plenty of team adventures to be told.

Instead the show is dumbing down. No more techno stuff - why have science in Sci Fi - why should it be educational and interesting eh? Lets just put a bit of female totty on the show - that's an easy draw. Is it just me or do the special effects and the mood of the show now make it seem less real somehow in season 9? I'm not so sure the US Air Force will want to be as closely associated with the new direction. I wonder what they thought of the way Vala wore the military uniform - in reality that would never be allowed. Also without Sam (and that will come if the show continues) there is no female role model. Look at the cast everyone. What place have females in this series now? This is a serious direction for women to consider. It may be just a sci fi show but it speaks volumes about how men like to control women's positions - Vala is just a male fantasy character. Do we really think female aliens all run around in tight sexy outfits? However they have been increasingly making appearances on the show from season 7

So the show is now about Stargate command - well haven't we already got one of those shows based in another Galaxy called Stargate Atlantis?

I'm sorry Kat I can never be gracious about the direction of the show. Even if it is a roaring success it will just go to show the way our society is heading into lazy unintelligent oblivion in my very narrow minded staunchly feminist opinion of course!

I could also never forgive TPTB for treating Amanda and yes Michael and Chris so poorly. (Also remeber how Teryl, Don and Carmen just got pushed out and the emphasis is on needlessly so as I know TPTB have to consider the success of a show to my mind these characters we wel liked and still had a lot of life in them) A very public industry should lead by example. At the very least Amanda should really have been spoken to by Rob about all the changes

On a last note to those that think Sam may figure quite a lot in the show? Rob Cooper has never mentioned her at all in any of his interviews I have seen - or Amanda. He and the writers figured out roles for the other main cast members then were left thinking how to manage Sam. I'm sorry but she will be an expensive cast member. She will be used just enough in the season to ease in the changes without them being too obvious, then her role will be diminished. If she were to feature as much as the other main cast she would have got her contract at the same time as the others as they would have already written their outline for her. You sort your main team players out regarding development and storyline then fit the other cast in around them!!

I think the whole thing is just terribly bad on all fronts. The only protest I can make is not to watch the show. How can I moan about all the above and continue watching? Women didn't win the vote by taking about it over a cup of tea or writing letters.

I think what has been done and how it has been done is bad and unnecessary, so for me it is the end of SG1. I won't be too sad as I have 8 seasons of dvd's to keep me warm - and Amanda appearing on Atlantis - gosh hope that doesn't go the same direction as SG1!!

[Coley]

I have read the news about Claudia Black joining the Sg 1 cast as a fulltime member and I´m fighting now not to feel too bitter and dissapointed. It´s not that I would not have expected it, I have. But I still tried to keep some hope, that this wouldn´t happen. I can´t see that Sam will NOT shoved in the background with Vala around. I mean the first couple of season 9 episodes have shown us how the scriptwirters and directors deal with the situation. When Vala is around nothing else is anymore interesting for them...

I have thoght about the reasons why AT had signed the contract despite that she had the chance to choose from some different roles in other shows and movies. And the answer I found was not very comforting. I don´t know if this is true but I have often heard something about RCC saying as MS left Stargate that "he would never find a job in this city again". I supose that the Vancouver TV industrie was meant. I don´t know if there is any truth behind this story but the strange message on AT´s webside one day after the GABIT con made me think... And even if it´s no truth behind this rumour nobody want´s a big worldwide company (or should I better say Behemoth?) as Sony/MGM against them.
The are only two things that comforting me about the whole situation: First that Amanda has now a place on Atlantis (I hope desperatly that BW finds a way to include her in the cast so that her fans and the Atlantis fans can accept it) and the second is that RDA is no longer a part of this all... I begin to believe that he not only left the show because of family reasons (but I´m sure that this was an important part of it) but because this was the only way that he could keep his self-respect...or maybe he had just enough to fight against windmills as he tried to keep at least a little bit of the shows quality...

This is a great post Kiara I think we are on the same lines. Still can't green for some reason though!!!

Though about AT signing on I'm hoping it is because what she really wants is some directing experience and she's willing to put up with the turn of events to get it.

Regarding the hastily posted message on her web site - I'm afraid it may have been because she let it slip at GABIT - which was very quickly posted by some very niaive Samandans like myself on this thread - about the todo with RCoop and her contract negotiations. Now this makes Rob Coop look really really bad and he quite rightly took a lot of flack on Gateworld for it. Amanda may have worried that this may compromise her negotiations and annoy RC even further into reducing her role. I'm still very very upset at that turn of events and wish we hadn't posted about theRCoop incident - who knew it would be all over GATEWORLD.

Anyway I think Amanda is very well regarded in the industry and I suspect everyone will be surprised that she is being sidelined. She has enormous talent and brings something to the show that I'm sure any other female actor would struggle to deliver. I am in no doubt she will be successful at making a living in the industry in the future. She got 3 plum roles offered to her in the time out this year that speaks volumes!!

As for looks Sam Carter is far more sexy than Vala no doubt. Vala hands it out on a plate though - which sad to say a lot of men like - sex without effort!

[Coley]

Simhavaktra you posted an excellent critique post 21877 (sorry the green system isn't working for me) And gasp horror - yes in the context you have described Sam and Vala - I could go with THAT sort of Vala -but then it wouldn't be Vala would it!!

The problem is the show has male writers I doubt they could see the potential or want to move away from their Valaideal (which is what you have said also)!!

Big Apologies to minigeek who is trying to keep everything positive, but I am just posting what I honestly feel.

Quite a while back at the start of season 9 I posted that Vala will take over from Sam, Most people thought at the time that was pessimistic. I hope I'm being pessimistic now but having said that if they keep Vala as she is at the moment I will not be watching. It is just too much of an insult to women for me to accept. I don't want to be a hypocrite even if it means missing Sam!! Having said that I may watch a Sam heavy episode if we get one.

Right enough negativity!!

[minigeek]

Big Apologies to minigeek who is trying to keep everything positive, but I am just posting what I honestly feel.

No need, Coley. Frankly I'm not hoping to keep everything positive, I just don't want this thread to turn into <gasp> The Dark Pit of Negativity </gasp> Iff-in-ya-get-my-meanin'

Even in the darkest hour, some good humour is always called for. Selfishly, I really just wanna be able to come visit here and not have to self-medicate with anti-depressants afterward, is all.

I'm not happy with the current direction of the series either. I share everyone's cynicism when it comes to the writing team and the probably attitude(s) that Sony/Sci-fi has towards the franchise and its characters. But the day Stargate SG-1 becomes anathema for me - no hope and no potential for a future - is also the day I stop watching. I'll walk away with a clean break and I won't look back. Tis a TV show, after all. But I do respect that there are many varied and passionate viewpoints here on these matters, so I'd never purposefully attempt to stifle anyone's right to gripe however and whenever the mood strikes. More than anything, I was just hoping to be a voice of moderation when it looked frightfully (to me) like we were rather quickly spiralling into an abyss where there was none.

[jckfan55]

This is a great post Kiara I think we are on the same lines. Still can't green for some reason though!!!

Though about AT signing on I'm hoping it is because what she really wants is some directing experience and she's willing to put up with the turn of events to get it.

Regarding the hastily posted message on her web site - I'm afraid it may have been because she let it slip at GABIT - which was very quickly posted by some very niaive Samandans like myself on this thread - about the todo with RCoop and her contract negotiations. Now this makes Rob Coop look really really bad and he quite rightly took a lot of flack on Gateworld for it. Amanda may have worried that this may compromise her negotiations and annoy RC even further into reducing her role. I'm still very very upset at that turn of events and wish we hadn't posted about theRCoop incident - who knew it would be all over GATEWORLD.

Anyway I think Amanda is very well regarded in the industry and I suspect everyone will be surprised that she is being sidelined. She has enormous talent and brings something to the show that I'm sure any other female actor would struggle to deliver. I am in no doubt she will be successful at making a living in the industry in the future. She got 3 plum roles offered to her in the time out this year that speaks volumes!!

As for looks Sam Carter is far more sexy than Vala no doubt. Vala hands it out on a plate though - which sad to say a lot of men like - sex without effort!

Well, the fans can't really have an effect on RC, can they? Would he be so spiteful as to take out frustration about *fan comments* on AT?
Maybe these offers AT has gotten knocked some sense into TPTB and they realized they might actually lose her. I was heartened to see her described as part of the principal cast. I can only hope that the writers get a clue about what to do with Sam. I'm not hopeful, but at this point I'm willing to try season 10 if only for AT being in it. I would call season 9 about a C. I get that by averaging the Bs and the Ds and using a merciful curve.

[jckfan55]

On a positive note--we have the reruns and DVDs. We can glory in the Sam we know and love. I got to see the opening scenes of Space Race yesterday. Love biker/speed demon Sam.

[Skydiver]

i wish i could rep your wonderful post coley.

maybe some think i'm overreacting when i see vala as detrimental to the world view of women. and yeah, in someways maybe. after all, what does one little part on one little show mean really???

course, it's not just ONE part. it's a way of thinking. it's the idea that the only females that are attractive are ones who trade thier bodies to get what they want. it's the way of thinking that brains don't matter as long as they're covered up by a well formed body. it's the way of thinking that the only female that's welcome is a scantily clad one who uses, not her mind to 'control' men, but her body

that way of thinking is why our society has the view that only the skinny women are worth while. or only the ones with pretty hair, or big breasts or curvy hips. only teh ones that dress good are worth while or the ones that expose thier bodies

vala is a symptom of a general world view that is very detrimental to females as a whole.

characters like vala are why it's deemed ok that a woman is paid less than a man to do the same job, or why women who stand up for themselves are deemed 'demandas' while men who do the same are just being savvy and a good provider for his family

women like vala perpetrate the stereotypes and discrimination that women all over the world still face.

will changing vala change the world? heck no. but it's a step in the right direction.

but in putting forth vala as good adn great and special, it's just another way to keep teh image of women negative. it's just another way to keep them subordinate and submissive.

[binkpmmc]

bump

[Terrah]

Just thought I would post a link to my vid here,

I heard the song a few months back and thought, that is Sam
Elvis Costello - She
So where would the guys of Stargate be without Lt. Col. Samantha Carter, well they would be dead.

Hope you like it.

[binkpmmc]

I'd feel a lot more copasetic about full-time Vala if I thought that, at least when it comes to Stargate SG(-1)C, TPTB collectively had a handle on the difference between 'very good' and 'hoovering the swamp bottom.'

But, after the first 10 eps of this 9th season, which they've repeatedly trumpeted as being nearly too wonderful for anything less than divinity (and I thought struggled mightily to rise to the level of 'barely so-so), I don't have any certainty that all of them have together can differentiate between a Bhodisatva and a buboe, and I know perplexing the public with propaganda only works so often and for so long. The public starts muttering things about 'lame' and 'stupid' and 'raunchy' and 'boring' after a while, and eventually wanders off to find something finely-crafted, intelligent, well-honed, and engaging, in a word, better, to do with their Friday nights, and only the people who dig over-the-top, raunchy, clad to titillate, brainless fare are left. (And more power to them for finding what they want to watch. ) Maybe there're enough of them to make excellent ratings for the collective PTB's new vision of Stargate SG(-1)C. May they all enjoy making and watching their show, in that case. Maybe someone's given the collective PTB a replacement for the set of books on writing for television and plotting science fiction that they seem to have thrown out before starting on creating season 9, and maybe they've cracked those books, maybe even read them and had a collective, continent-spanning, fist to forehead "D'oh!!!"-in-unison moment. I can hope. But, having seen-the-results-of, and heard the collective PTB in action for season 9, I can no longer expect any such thing.

I am, in the finest tradition of the cynic who expects the worst because all the actual surprises are pleasant thereafter, laying in the books, ogling McSpaddens, Blue Lions, and Cedar Creeks, and preparing to learn flatpicking, fingerpicking and chord-melody style on the six-string dulcimer (yes, we're talking Led Zeppelin on the dulcimer! WooHoo!!!!)(Oh, yeah. I am such a geek ), while Stargate SG(-1)C vacuums swamp muck.

Because I no longer trust them to make watchable television, much less good television, the collective PTB are going to have to pull off the proverbial second coming in the latter half of season 9 in order to keep me as a regular viewer for season 10, and, frankly, I suspect they think they've already given me the second coming in the first half of season 9, regardless of my dissenting opinion on the matter. So... I suspect I'm going to be acquiring a 6-string Schnaufer McSpadden. And breaking out the Led Zeppelin anthologies! (yes, yes - heresy, sacrilege, et cetera, et cetera - but, just like a cool, brilliant, fighter-pilot, kick-*ss, military astrophysicist being a beautiful, occasionally insecure woman, it works for me. )

What I do not get is how TPTB can see S9 as one of the greatest, or even good, it is so far below standard that it leads me to believe that they themselves have lowered the bar to a level that is underground. I certainly see it that way - S9 can, IMO, be defined in one word thus far - horrendous (and not in a good way). Eps 19 and 20 bode even worse I fear. TPTB seem to have traded in quality for cheap fun to determine whether their show is good or not.