Regarding "The Big Three"
I've actually never called them that, but I can certainly understand the frustration of those that do. For me, I've never seen that term as a reflection of Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c and how they think or what they believe about themselves. Rather, I see it as a growing frustration from a lot of long-term viewers of how the three characters have been sidelined this season in favor of Vala and Cam. Even Daniel, though he was prominent in the first five episodes was, to me, little more than Vala's straight man.
I also don't think it's entirely accurate to say that it's fan's refusal to accept these characters that make the characters not work for them. (That's what I took from your post, Lys, forgive me if I got your meaning wrong.)
First-I haven't run into too many people here, or over on LJ where I 'hang out' a lot, who wrote Mitchell off before he appeared. Most people I think either wanted to like Mitchell (like me) or were at least willing to give him a chance. However, the writing for this character has been so uneven, his character so poorly developed that for many people he's been very difficult to accept as real, let alone really part of SG1.
Second, while it's true that a new character isn't going to have the depth or layers that a character that's been around for nine years has, I think the writers have made the mistake of trying to force such depth and character onto Mitchell in what amounts to half a season. (Since his characterization was also, for me, sacrificed to the 'fun' the writers had with Vala.) And for that reason, the team aspect of the show has suffered as much, and if not more so, than because of the more complex storylines than in in the first season.
The writers have made, for me, a lot of poor choices this season-sacrificing the team aspect that has always been what really drew me to the series, pushing the new characters to the forefront in what I can only assume is their way of trying to integrate them into the show (which, imo, has done the exact opposite), rushed the Ori storyline at the expense of having anything like character stories for anyone but Cam, and written Cam as someone who, to quote what a fan of Cam said on my LJ, "doesn't seem too interested in staying with the team, ironically after he was so invested early on in getting them back together." And I think they've relied on 'tell not show' far too often this season. (Crusade was for me a overblown example of this tendency, which is why it was all the worse for me.)
I think all of these things are factors in why a lot of people don't, yet, accept Cam. I do think his character can be salvaged, but at this point I wouldn't simply accept him starting to act in a more mature, reasonable way. I've seen so much of unreasonable behavior for him that I'd want to know why he'd changed. I want to see it-not just suddenly find him acting like a seasoned Lt. Col. should. I honestly think that if the writers tamed Cam's maverick tendencies in a belivable way, most people who haven't liked or accepted him would give him a chance. I really haven't run into too many people here, or on LJ who are determined not to like him no matter what the cost. In fact, I've run into far more people who were determined to like him-based soley on his being played by BB-before he even made an appearance on the show.
As for Vala-I'm torn. On the one hand-I'm with Sky. I'm not entirely sure her character can be salvaged. She was written, and acted, so OTT, her humor was adolescent and base, her behavior so often self-centered that I fear that in order to 'tame' her, or tone her down, the writers will write her changing in an unbelievable way. On the other hand, I could have liked the Vala we saw in Crusade, but even there I was already seeing the changes in her as unbelievable.
In an effort to keep this on topic, Sam is, and has been since I first started watching SG1-my favorite character. I don't accept that she has to be sidelined in order to learn about the new characters. The best way for the audience to learn about, and accept, the new characters would have been through the old ones. Sadly, this wasn't the tact the writers took. And I think it was a mistake. I think fan reaction shows this, and I really don't accept that it's the fans' fault.
I've actually never called them that, but I can certainly understand the frustration of those that do. For me, I've never seen that term as a reflection of Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c and how they think or what they believe about themselves. Rather, I see it as a growing frustration from a lot of long-term viewers of how the three characters have been sidelined this season in favor of Vala and Cam. Even Daniel, though he was prominent in the first five episodes was, to me, little more than Vala's straight man.
I also don't think it's entirely accurate to say that it's fan's refusal to accept these characters that make the characters not work for them. (That's what I took from your post, Lys, forgive me if I got your meaning wrong.)
First-I haven't run into too many people here, or over on LJ where I 'hang out' a lot, who wrote Mitchell off before he appeared. Most people I think either wanted to like Mitchell (like me) or were at least willing to give him a chance. However, the writing for this character has been so uneven, his character so poorly developed that for many people he's been very difficult to accept as real, let alone really part of SG1.
Second, while it's true that a new character isn't going to have the depth or layers that a character that's been around for nine years has, I think the writers have made the mistake of trying to force such depth and character onto Mitchell in what amounts to half a season. (Since his characterization was also, for me, sacrificed to the 'fun' the writers had with Vala.) And for that reason, the team aspect of the show has suffered as much, and if not more so, than because of the more complex storylines than in in the first season.
The writers have made, for me, a lot of poor choices this season-sacrificing the team aspect that has always been what really drew me to the series, pushing the new characters to the forefront in what I can only assume is their way of trying to integrate them into the show (which, imo, has done the exact opposite), rushed the Ori storyline at the expense of having anything like character stories for anyone but Cam, and written Cam as someone who, to quote what a fan of Cam said on my LJ, "doesn't seem too interested in staying with the team, ironically after he was so invested early on in getting them back together." And I think they've relied on 'tell not show' far too often this season. (Crusade was for me a overblown example of this tendency, which is why it was all the worse for me.)
I think all of these things are factors in why a lot of people don't, yet, accept Cam. I do think his character can be salvaged, but at this point I wouldn't simply accept him starting to act in a more mature, reasonable way. I've seen so much of unreasonable behavior for him that I'd want to know why he'd changed. I want to see it-not just suddenly find him acting like a seasoned Lt. Col. should. I honestly think that if the writers tamed Cam's maverick tendencies in a belivable way, most people who haven't liked or accepted him would give him a chance. I really haven't run into too many people here, or on LJ who are determined not to like him no matter what the cost. In fact, I've run into far more people who were determined to like him-based soley on his being played by BB-before he even made an appearance on the show.
As for Vala-I'm torn. On the one hand-I'm with Sky. I'm not entirely sure her character can be salvaged. She was written, and acted, so OTT, her humor was adolescent and base, her behavior so often self-centered that I fear that in order to 'tame' her, or tone her down, the writers will write her changing in an unbelievable way. On the other hand, I could have liked the Vala we saw in Crusade, but even there I was already seeing the changes in her as unbelievable.
In an effort to keep this on topic, Sam is, and has been since I first started watching SG1-my favorite character. I don't accept that she has to be sidelined in order to learn about the new characters. The best way for the audience to learn about, and accept, the new characters would have been through the old ones. Sadly, this wasn't the tact the writers took. And I think it was a mistake. I think fan reaction shows this, and I really don't accept that it's the fans' fault.
And Sci Fi had better do a one-hour special on it, too (now that BSG won't be premiering until October).
) 
You should probably buy a helmet of some kind! 
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