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I have to say that caused me to write a few letters, which I almost never do. Yes, this thread probably doesn't go here. But it s**** that they cancelled that.
Posts: 1588 | Registered: Jul 2007
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Perhaps we could make it about writing? I never watched it. (I don't watch television, really), but I caught an episode here and there. What made it so good, from a writing standpoint? What could other shows do in terms of, for example, plot, character, story, to be as good?
Honestly, the few episodes I watched didn't grab me, but everyone raves about it. I assume you have to watch a lot to get into it.
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I never got into Stargate. I kind of got mad at it when the SCIFI channel cancelled Farscape because they wanted to spend all their money on Stargate and Stargate spinoffs -- I know, I know, that was SCIFI's fault, not Stargate's. Still....it kind of soured me towards it and when I finally got a hold of some of the first season episodes I only thought it was ok. The way it played out in season 1, it kind of reminded me of a cross between sliders and Star Trek.
Still, ten seasons! Wow, what a great run. Almost an unheard of run, actually. I'm surprised they still had material to work with after so long. Usually, when shows go that long they kind of die a slow, agonizing death. Not having seen past season 1, I'm not sure what state Stargate is in in season 10, but perhaps this isn't as bad as it seems. Sure, you'll miss it, but is it possible that it's better to end it now rather than to drag it out until it becomes bad? (I've seen this happen to a few shows.)
As for the appropriateness of the topic...I don't think we need to invent reasons to talk about stories (written or on television/big screen) that inspire us and move us. Stargate is clearly one of those stories if it had a ten season run.
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"Stargate?" Never took to the few episodes I saw. I lost my grip on primetime viewing when I started working the graveyard shift---I'm never home when the stuff it on. For me right now it's cartoons, DVDs of old shows, and news. Oh, and the occasional NASCAR race.
Posts: 8809 | Registered: Aug 2005
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Its a show that is either loved or hated. I am firmly in the love it camp. I didn't know it existed until Feburary this years. I have now seen almost every episode and have 1 - 9 on DVD, 10 by the end of the month. I heard it was being cancelled just weeks after first discovering it, and was dissapointed, but since I can watch it whenever I like, it doesn't seem to bad. I guess everything has to come to an end.
And now I am going to watch the beginning of season six!
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I'm not trying to invent reasons to talk about it. I'm genuinely curious about why it is liked.
Posts: 696 | Registered: Sep 2005
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Stargate started out on Showtime and ran for five seasons before being bought by Sci-fi. A lot of Hatrackers probably know that, but the important thing is that it brought with it a huge audience, much bigger than Farscape offered at the time. I liked both series and was sorry to see Farscape go, but I have to admit that Stargate appeals a broader audience.
It's not surprising, as Sci-fi's programming has been changing dramatically. Now they even have wrestling. What wrestling has to do with sci-fi, I don't know, but there's got to be a sci-fi story in there somewhere!
Sci-fi used to have a lot more print fiction on their site too, but that has changed as well.
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lehollis, I think you have a valid point. What does make Stargate interesting? Is it the World? Is it the characters? Is it the action? Is it the science? Or is it something else?
For me, it's because it's a true-to-the-genre series, in my opinion. By that I mean it has realistic science, (even if it is made up and is often wrong), contains space travel and aliens, (most of which are human), and puts the characters in interesting dilemas which forces them to think their way through to the conclusion.
It's also episodic. In almost every episode, the characters are put to the test, and the viewer gets to see how they handle it. Or, put another way, each episode has a beginning, middle, and end. A complete story in an hour, unlike a lot of TV series now where you have to watch 15 or so episodes to get the whole story.
Anyway, that's why I like it. In general, I find it's the same things I like in my fiction. Complete stories with good characters I care about being put to the test, and enjoying them solving their dilemas in a satisfying way.
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Luapac, those are all important elements of a good story. Good to know. Thank you I like how you mentioned the true-to-genre, bit. I think that is important for fantasy and science-fiction.
Posts: 696 | Registered: Sep 2005
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I'm a mild Stargate fan, but it was pretty clear to me that they had to go, especially when they got into what my friends call "Dragon Ball Z Syndrome" (if you've ever watched the anime you know what I mean, the syndrome of introducing more and more powerful enemies because the good guys keep getting more and more powerful themselves - the Gou'old, the Replicators, the Orii). When you reach "DBZ Syndrome" it's time to consider ending it.
Plus, it's lasted 10 seasons and has a spin-off that's still going. How many series, cable or broadcast, can lay claim to that, especially (non-Star Trek) sci-fi shows?
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