Ooh...back to the Vala debate, eh???
My first thought was that this was just horrific. What are they doing to my favorite TV show and my favorite character???
Since then, I've realized a few things...
1. Vala, as portrayed in the first few eps of this season, will not be the Vala that we'll see as a regular on the series. Why? Because that level of over-the-toppedness is simply unsustainable long term and would inevitably get really old, really fast. Whereas I didn't appreciate a lot of what they showed us initially Vala-wise, they (tptb) were trying to deal with the loss of RDA and the temporary absence of Amanda. They needed big feet to fill such a massive void and Claudia was their choice. As a Claudia fan, that made me giddy but I cringed at most of the stuff they had on there as it was such a far cry from SG-1 as to be unrecognizable. However, the Vala of TPTB and Beachhead was almost a completely different character. Much more interesting (to me) and not nearly the cliche I had witnessed previously. That Vala I want to see more of and not the "let's make babies" Vala.
2. There is such gold to be mined from a Carter/Vala friendship. I mean, we're talking Fort Knox here. If tptb are smart, they will make use of the fact that they have two stellar actresses, make use of their rapport, make use of the characters' simularities and differences...and use EACH to add more depth to the other. Vala could get Sam to lighten up in certain areas of her life...Sam could help Vala understand the value of honor and responsibility. Also, Sam can handle her snark...heck, she dealt with Jack's for 8 years and McKay's for the two times they've worked together. She took it and dished it right back (with McKay more than Jack because she couldn't snark back at Jack obviously). Further, there's the whole issue of both being made hosts against their will...one suffering as a Goa'uld, the other as a Tok'ra.
3. I could be reading this wrong, but I am starting to feel more comfortable about Amanda's position and therefore Carter's. I don't see a 10/10 split like I feared. I don't see (anytime soon) Vala replacing Sam on SG-1. I see Vala now as more of an antagonistic ally and perhaps unwilling member of the team come Season 10. I have no problems with Vala on SG-1 as long as she isn't there to REPLACE Sam...and that was my primary concern.
And like I said, I think we'll see a snarky Vala, but not an OTT Vala, like before. Snarky Vala + Vala/Sam antagonistic friendship = Snarky Sam...and I love seeing Sam get a little snarky. I love seeing her hold her own with those who underestimate her. Not sure if Vala does...in fact, I don't think either lady knew how to read the other in Beachhead. But given time, they'd both get a sense of each other, which inevitably will be a source of tension...both dramatic and comedic. And that is something to look forward to.
My first thought was that this was just horrific. What are they doing to my favorite TV show and my favorite character???
Since then, I've realized a few things...
1. Vala, as portrayed in the first few eps of this season, will not be the Vala that we'll see as a regular on the series. Why? Because that level of over-the-toppedness is simply unsustainable long term and would inevitably get really old, really fast. Whereas I didn't appreciate a lot of what they showed us initially Vala-wise, they (tptb) were trying to deal with the loss of RDA and the temporary absence of Amanda. They needed big feet to fill such a massive void and Claudia was their choice. As a Claudia fan, that made me giddy but I cringed at most of the stuff they had on there as it was such a far cry from SG-1 as to be unrecognizable. However, the Vala of TPTB and Beachhead was almost a completely different character. Much more interesting (to me) and not nearly the cliche I had witnessed previously. That Vala I want to see more of and not the "let's make babies" Vala.
2. There is such gold to be mined from a Carter/Vala friendship. I mean, we're talking Fort Knox here. If tptb are smart, they will make use of the fact that they have two stellar actresses, make use of their rapport, make use of the characters' simularities and differences...and use EACH to add more depth to the other. Vala could get Sam to lighten up in certain areas of her life...Sam could help Vala understand the value of honor and responsibility. Also, Sam can handle her snark...heck, she dealt with Jack's for 8 years and McKay's for the two times they've worked together. She took it and dished it right back (with McKay more than Jack because she couldn't snark back at Jack obviously). Further, there's the whole issue of both being made hosts against their will...one suffering as a Goa'uld, the other as a Tok'ra.
3. I could be reading this wrong, but I am starting to feel more comfortable about Amanda's position and therefore Carter's. I don't see a 10/10 split like I feared. I don't see (anytime soon) Vala replacing Sam on SG-1. I see Vala now as more of an antagonistic ally and perhaps unwilling member of the team come Season 10. I have no problems with Vala on SG-1 as long as she isn't there to REPLACE Sam...and that was my primary concern.
And like I said, I think we'll see a snarky Vala, but not an OTT Vala, like before. Snarky Vala + Vala/Sam antagonistic friendship = Snarky Sam...and I love seeing Sam get a little snarky. I love seeing her hold her own with those who underestimate her. Not sure if Vala does...in fact, I don't think either lady knew how to read the other in Beachhead. But given time, they'd both get a sense of each other, which inevitably will be a source of tension...both dramatic and comedic. And that is something to look forward to.
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