What the hell has become of Stargate?

[wiseheart]

I'm so done with SGU, it isn't even funny! Today's episode was the last straw - I won't be watching that stupid show ever again!

Without wanting to spoil those who are willing to give this utter crap a chance, let me just ask a few questions. When did O'Neill left behind an annoying civilian on a planet to die, no matter what said civilian might have done? When did Sheppard ordered Bates or Stackhouse or any other soldier under his command to storm the mess hall of Atlantis and hold the civilians at gunpoint? The same people they were supposed to protect and whose only "sin" was that they wanted to have a word in the decisions that influenced their possible survival? When did General Hammond ordered a life-threatening operation performed on a civilian by someone who didn't have the qualification to do surgery, without the consent of said civilian?

artemis10002000, do you remember what we've said about military vs scientists in the Stargate universe? Well, today's episode was the prime example for everything that could go wrong, should that tendency be taken to the extreme.

That's it. I've given up on this trash. Fortunately, I've got 8 seasons of SG-1 (as long as O'Neill was a regular) and 5 seasons of SGA on DVD to watch.

Addition: I went to the Gateworld forum to see what people were thinking about the episode. I must admit, I was quite shocked to see that most of them sided with the military. The few ones who did not, were mostly military members themselves.

At times of profound crises a dictatorship seems to be a good idea - to the naked eye. If there's one thing dictatiorship brings, it's order. And people like order, especially when life is unusually dangerous. Order is safe - at least on the surface. But at the moment when order becomes equivalent with the armed forces having everything under tight control and aren't forced to answer to anyone, this so-called "order" becomes extremely dangerous. I think I might have to write a short story about passive civilian resistance as a tag to this very episode - and see if grunts like SGT Greer can force Ancient tech work by hit it with the butt of their rifles.

The sad thing is, I started off liking Colonel Young and Greer. And I still can't stand Dr. Rush. Only that now I can't stand Young and Greer either. Actually, the only truly likeable person is still Eli Wallace.

Comments

[artemis10002000]

I can't decide whether I'm glad I missed the episode or sad for the sheer train wreck value XD

I think I'll go and find a summary anyway.

But the truly sad thing is that such a plot (basically a "lost in space" situation turning into a military dictatorship, if I deduct this right from your rant) could make for a very fascinating and thought-provoking tale in the hands of other screenwriters.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Be glad you missed it! It make me so angry it took me several hours to calm down enough to make the above entry. And then I read the Gateworld discussion, and it maddened me even more.

I mean, okay, Sheppard had his moments of The Jerk, too - you know I hate the guy - like when he ordered Kavanagh tortured. But: a) fortunately, it didn't come so far, and b) the oh-so-diplomatic civilian expedition leader agreed with him. Which tells you a lot about the expedition leader, but hey, at least they were in agreement.

Okay, Sheppar went over the head of Weir(d) during the nanovirus crisis and got away with it, but that's still miles away from threatening her with a frigging *gun*!

[artemis10002000]

Yeah, there's a huge difference between Sheppard's jerkish moments and what goes on with the SGU crew all the time.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Besides, Sheppard didn't think he had the God-given right to boss everyone around just because he had a gun. He just thought he knew everything better because he had a penis - which is a difference. ;)

BTW, did you find the time to take a look at "The Ancestor's Breath"? I find Keith Hamilton Cobb's thoughts about what it means being a Nietzschean incredible - he doesn't pull his punches and goes mercilessly along the road with all consequences. Considering that he actually made the effort to read Nietzsche while preparing himself for the role (and found him confusing), it's no small feat.

[artemis10002000]

Unfortunately I didn't get around to it yet, but it's high on my to-do list!

Haha, yes to Shepphard :D It's still annoying, but there is a difference XD

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I must warn you: it's not an easy read. I've been studying it for years, so that I can absorb some of its spirit (and some thoughts) into my Tyr characterization, but still have to re-read every sentence at least three times before I got to the actual meaning. But it's well worth the effort.

The other excellent source of Niet fandom is Kit Manson's story, "The Recreation of the Warrior". It's a little less bloodthirsty than KHC'S essays, and the good stuff (=cultural background) is scattered all over the story, but I still recommend it.

[artemis10002000]

I'll schedule to take a while then, considering it's not anything to read in-between doing other stuff.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

No, it very definitely isn't. I also suggest to print it out if you have the means - that makes it easier to find your way through it. The language is very rich and intense, I for my part have it an easier time when I have such texts in hard copy than reading them on the screen. But we are different people.

Also, I found Kit Mason's story (http://www.anzwers.org/free/andromeda/fanfic/Mandyfic/warrior1.html) for you - due to some bad linking on the Andromeda Uncovered site, you won't find it starting at the site map, but I definitely recommend it as a reading. There's a slight overkill re: sexual situations, but you can skip those if they bother you and focus on the Niet culture.

[artemis10002000]

Yeah, printing it out is a good idea. I also prefer to read difficult texts on paper, both because it's easier to read and you can make yourself comfortable. You just can't cuddle into an armchair with a good cup of coffee and some chocolate with the computer screen like with a book or stack of papers.

Downloaded Kit Mason's story right away so I won't lose the link/it disappears on me. thank you!

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

You are so right about the dangerous appeal of "order" in times of crisis...

Bummer about SGU: I'll take them off my list of magazines to check on when at the big bookstore.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you can happily forget about it. It's the most appalling crap I've ever seen - an insult for the Stargate universe. Small wonder it seems so popular, eh?