S10: Critique & Contemplation

[amconway]

There's plenty of reason to object to Mitchell at this point. How can he be the most experienced when he'd never even seen the Stargate, never mind actually being a member of an SG team before he suddenly became SG-1 leader?
Why was he given the leadership when there was a multitude of more experienced SG team leaders/members who should have been given the chance of leading SG-1?
Sam was already leading the team, but the writers had to dis-band SG1 just so they could insert Mitchell.....one of many pilots that had helped in the battle against Anubis.

He's plenty experienced NOW. What I'm saying is that the old objections are just that. They can't be applied to the movies at this point, except through general dislike of the character.

[Callista]

Well for the point of Sam performing autopsies...she didn't, she assisted the doctor who was there, by handing him what he needed.

I beleive Janet went to Egypt in case they needed a doctor, one who had clearance and knew Goa'uld physiology. Which narrows it down some.

As for Daniel and Dr. Lee in Honduras, and Janet going into the field...I believe those took place in s7 when RCC was taking over the reigns of the show, and didn't do his job very well IMO.

Actually, I was referring to her alien autopsy in Evolution. But, now we're into season seven so I guess that may not count to you. (I don't recall the assisting. Which episode was that?)

I don't really buy sending Janet just "in case they needed a doctor". She doesn't follow them around on every mission "in case they need a doctor" what makes this any different? (Don't get me wrong. I love seeing her bouncing around in the back of that jeep and sneaking up on the temple. But that's kind of my point....it's much more fun to see Janet do that stuff than some random soldier/medic.)

And as to season seven and beyond, I guess I'll just have to disagree with you. I found seasons 7 through 10 to be just as entertaining as the earlier seasons. In fact, I thought seasons 1 and 2 were pretty silly, 5 was kind of depressing and most of 6 was just plain boring to me.

Like amconway said, I don't think too many people are watching this show for its realism. Most are watching because they find it entertaining (or, at least, it has a character or two that they like to follow). It's simply that we all find different things entertaining. I found "200" and "Urgo" to be quite funny through multiple viewings (my kids love those two episodes and put them on all the time) while "Window of Opportunity" was just mildly amusing the first couple of times I saw it....now I could take it or leave it. I, personally, think the Goa'uld are often cringe-worthy and the Tok'ra rather dull but I really like the whole ascension arc and therefore, I think it's pretty natural that I would like the later seasons better than the earlier seasons while people who like the Goa'uld and Tok'ra would like the early stuff better. I think it's rather subjective to say which are of higher or lower "quality", it's mostly what we like or dislike. (There are many novels I've read that are considered of fantastic "quality", that doesn't mean I have to enjoy them all. And, of course, that goes both ways.)

I can whole-heartedly understand that if someone thinks their favorite character got shafted (Ha! Cam's nickname is "Shaft"! ) or that the direction of a show veered from what a person likes that that would spoil their viewing. So, with that said, I think I'll shuffle off and leave this thread to it's peace.

[Crazedwraith]

Sam was already leading the team, but the writers had to dis-band SG1 just so they could insert Mitchell.....one of many pilots that had helped in the battle against Anubis.

Actually I think the disbanding of SG-1 had more to do with needing the accommodate Amanda Tapping's maternity leave and once you have written Sam as no longer part of SG-1, I think ditching all of them was the next logical step. Resulting the plot line we saw.

[Mandysg1]

Actually, I was referring to her alien autopsy in Evolution. But, now we're into season seven so I guess that may not count to you. (I don't recall the assisting. Which episode was that?)

Oh sorry, I thought you were talking about S10's Morpheus, many people have said Sam was doing the autopsy in that one.

[dipsofjazz]

Actually I think the disbanding of SG-1 had more to do with needing the accommodate Amanda Tapping's maternity leave and once you have written Sam as no longer part of SG-1, I think ditching all of them was the next logical step. Resulting the plot line we saw.

They didn't have to disband the team for that. There are umpteen posts in this thread with many possible scenarios that could have had Sam injured/elsewhere helping out/etc, etc, whilst Amanda was away.
In my opinion, the disbanding of SG-1 was done so that Mitchell could be inserted into the show.

[Mandysg1]

Actually I think the disbanding of SG-1 had more to do with needing the accommodate Amanda Tapping's maternity leave and once you have written Sam as no longer part of SG-1, I think ditching all of them was the next logical step. Resulting the plot line we saw.

I don't think so, because they knew well ahead of time she would be absent for a few episodes. And just look at how they handle others who take time off. MS was given his own story arc of becoming a prior They could have written Sam out for a few episodes more beleivably than disbanding SG1, just to put the new guy in charge, a position which Sam earned over the years of being a memeber and then leader of SG1.

[amconway]

In fact, I thought seasons 1 and 2 were pretty silly,

Some episodes were a little rough, granted, but there were also some if the best! The Nox, Thor's Hammer, Torment of Tantalus, There But For The Grace Of God, Within The Serpent's Grasp/The Serpent's Lair, Need, The Fifth Race...

I think it's rather subjective to say which are of higher or lower "quality", it's mostly what we like or dislike.

That's quite true.

[Callista]

Some episodes were a little rough, granted, but there were also some if the best! The Nox, Thor's Hammer, Torment of Tantalus, There But For The Grace Of God, Within The Serpent's Grasp/The Serpent's Lair, Need, The Fifth Race...

See. Subjective. I only really like one of those. I recognize "quality" in three of the others but I don't have any desire to watch them again. The other four have a couple of moments I like, but that's it....I certainly wouldn't keep tuning in every week for that.

OK, I'm shuffling off now. Really!!

[Crazedwraith]

There are umpteen posts in this thread with many possible scenarios that could have had Sam injured/elsewhere helping out/etc, etc, whilst Amanda was away.

Forgive me for not being knowledgeable about everything that's been brought in an 800 page thread.

In my opinion, the disbanding of SG-1 was done so that Mitchell could be inserted into the show.

Of course it was. That doesn't mean it was the sole reason. Had AT not been absent then I think an entirely different method would have been used to introduce Cameron but since they had to introduce Cam and account for Sam's absence. Well that may have narrowed down their options somewhat.

[RealmOfX]

I think it's rather subjective to say which are of higher or lower "quality", it's mostly what we like or dislike.

That's quite true.

Actually it's not. Whilst like and dislike can factor into things please don't try and negate other people's opinions by saying it's not about quality when it is. There are some basic things that are required for quality, you know the stuff they teach you in writing classes and cinematography courses etc.

There have been quite a lot of posts on the subject and there are quite a few intelligent people who can remain relatively objective and discern the difference between like, dislike and quality. Unfortunately there are also some that can't.

[RealmOfX]

Forgive me for not being knowledgeable about everything that's been brought in an 800 page thread.



Of course it was. That doesn't mean it was the sole reason. Had AT not been absent then I think an entirely different method would have been used to introduce Cameron but since they had to introduce Cam and account for Sam's absence. Well that may have narrowed down their options somewhat.

No, it wouldn't. To me that's just an excuse for poor writing and planning.

[poundpuppy29]

I have seen some of the ideas that some have said and they would work if the show was Stargate Sam Carter but it's not. I get the impression that some would only accept Mitchell if he was subservient to Sam and that does not make sense to me Jack was not subservient to Sam so neither should Mitchell.

[RealmOfX]

I have seen some of the ideas that some have said and they would work if the show was Stargate Sam Carter but it's not. I get the impression that some would only accept Mitchell if he was subservient to Sam and that does not make sense to me Jack was not subservient to Sam so neither should Mitchell.

Yes, well there are some people that can't see beyond their favourite character but thankfully not a lot of them so perhaps we could dispense with the sweeping statements and give credit to the people who have raised valid points that aren't governed by who their fave character is.

[Melora]

What about Sam performing autopsies? What about Daniel and Dr. Lee going to Honduras all by themselves without any escort? Why did Janet go to Egypt? Why on Earth would they send Janet out into the middle of a firefight just to stabilize one guy in order to bring him back to the SGC? They don't have any medics around there?
<snip>

This is very off-topic for this thread and I’m sorry if it comes off as a bit of a rant, but I have seen a lot of fans complain about Sam doing autopsies and it just really annoys me for some reason. She has never done an autopsy on the show. She assisted in one in “Morpheus” b/c she was the best qualified person available at the time.

As for “Evolution,” she wasn’t really doing an autopsy then either. No one knew the Super Soldiers were organic beings at the point that she started her examination. Everyone at the SGC probably thought that they were dealing with robots of some kind since Super Soldiers look like inorganic beings with their armor on. Since Sam was the tech expert and had experience studying other robotic life-forms (Menace), she was most likely the best person for the job at the time.

They didn’t realize that he Soldier was an organic life-form until after they removed the armor and the MRI could effectively scan the Super Soldier’s body. After Jacob and Sam removed the armor, they didn’t show any more of the autopsy. She never cut into the body or even probed it – she just removed its helmet (which is something she is imminently qualified to do). The show immediately cut to the briefing room where Sam and Jacob told everyone about their findings. For all we know, a doctor or biologist was called in to assist with the autopsy as soon as they realized that the Soldier was organic and not robotic.

But Sam was never shown to be conducting an autopsy, nor did she or Jacob ever say she did. In fact, in the briefing she only discusses its armor. Jacob/Selmak were the ones to discuss the anatomy of the Soldier, which leads me to believe that he was the one who probably conducted the autopsy - not Sam.

The writers have made Sam (and Daniel, Vala, and Jack for that matter) do things in the show that realistically she shouldn’t have been capable of doing. However, autopsies are not one of them. Again, sorry for the rant. Just a pet peeve of mine.

[poundpuppy29]

Sorry if I offended you but it was a trend I noticed. I am a Daniel fan but I like Sam. I think Callista made a great point

What about Sam performing autopsies? What about Daniel and Dr. Lee going to Honduras all by themselves without any escort? Why did Janet go to Egypt? Why on Earth would they send Janet out into the middle of a firefight just to stabilize one guy in order to bring him back to the SGC? They don't have any medics around there?

Sure, those weren't "heroics", but the writers have been having main characters take on things they wouldn't really do since the beginning because they are the lead characters. Heck! I still think it's ridiculous they let Sam and Daniel go out on dangerous missions all the time what with their irreplaceable skills and abilities. But I suspect most people wouldn't be too happy to have a show based around a whole bunch of people that you see once and never again while the main characters sit around messing with their computers and reading books.