posted
I am cynical. I quit grad school with just a master's, but looking at the phds, very few were all that intelligent. One of the postdocs I worked with was seriously too stupid to live (he could have blown us all up a few times, once lit himself on fire). Because of the requirement for unique research, there is a super specialization to a lot of phd programs. Big picture concerns are not much of an issue- it is more what does widget 2984763 do in context of this specific situation (which half the time is an artificial situation anyway). Perhaps other programs and degrees are better, but seriously, if I was picking someone to figure this crazy technology out, I would pick people who actually work with the product- an electrician versus an engineer.
Posts: 2223 | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Honestly, I know plenty of bachelors/masters/phd level engineers, chemists, biologists, psychologists, etc. While I'd say there is a greater proportion of these folks who are capable and I'd have high expectations of (in general), there are plenty with some combination of the following faults: 1) stupid but persistant 2) brilliant but incredibly unwise 3) smart, but very reserved/timid 4) poor social skills 5) poor political skills
Toss together a few of those and even though you're dealing with a bunch of presumably "smart" people, they may make many poor decisions (especially in a group setting).
Hell, I know plenty of times when a bunch of engineers actually talking about their own subject of expertise will make poor decisions because of even one vocal person, or because they are pressured by management or whatever (i.e. far less trying than the current situation).
And to build off of what scholarette said, the people most suited for this kind of situation are mechanics and electricians and plumbers, not archaeologists and physicists and aerospace engineers... I can design a ship to Mars, but put me on said ship and I'll be far less useful than someone who has practical hands-on knowledge of how much you can torque this kind of valve before it breaks etc... and no one should particularly expect either of us to be competent at establishing a government from the survivors of a plane crash (or whathaveyou).
Posts: 1038 | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
Seems to me that while this might be true in real life, it seems that this is precisely the opposite of the state of affairs in the Stargate universe.
In Stargate, you have your super-smart Carter and McKay. With a strong grounding in theory, they also never hand-off fixing stuff or building stuff to mechanics and technicians. They are almost always better at doing the work that underlings might do, regardless of whether the system is Ancient, Wraith, human, etc.
The Destiny expedition did get the mechanics and technicians, people without theory background, and Rush is definitely portrayed as being inferior to Carter and McKay. It's not working out nearly as well.
Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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quote:Originally posted by TheGrimace: 1) stupid but persistant 2) brilliant but incredibly unwise 3) smart, but very reserved/timid 4) poor social skills 5) poor political skills
Toss together a few of those and even though you're dealing with a bunch of presumably "smart" people, they may make many poor decisions (especially in a group setting).
How great would it have been to get these characters instead?
Posts: 2283 | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
Yeah. They didn't seem to do a good job of illustrating the appeal of the planet. Considering that they're just scratched the surface of Destiny and they're just beginning to really use the communication stones to bring over qualified personnel*, I didn't really get the appeal.
Then again, I thought the self-stranding at the end of BSG was stupid as well
* $ $ $ $ Apparently, Daniel will be making an appearance, possibly on the Destiny. So that could be a start.
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Blayne Bradley
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Oh yeah, this was a pretty good episode that ended interestingly. I suspect the planet will actually have SOMETHING of importance on it and soon they will find a way to turn Destiny around.
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I liked this episode a lot. But in the clips for next week, was that a dinosaur?!? To me, that doesn't bode well. And I'm pretty sure they'll figure out how to go back and get those four main characters of the show. They won't be gone and lost forever.
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quote:Originally posted by Mucus: Ack, they wasted the Daniel appearance.
I strongly disagree. I thought the role was quite clever. Actually, for the most part I quite liked this episode. I still think Rush is a jerk and Young a not-quite-sociopath, but I am a teeny bit more sympathetic towards Rush.
As opposed to last week's episode, which made me dislike Young even more than I had.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:Originally posted by rivka: I strongly disagree. I thought the role was quite clever.
I'm willing to be convinced. Why was the role clever and why couldn't "stargate recruiter as figment of Rush's imagination/memory" have been some lesser guest star?
It seems to me that they have limited chances to guest star people from the other series without making it a bit hokey so they should reserve it for something more substantial.
Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Why do you like Young less after "Faith"?
Cheating married men always endear me to them. Also, T.J. is TERRIFIED of him finding out. She was, in fact, planning to leave the project just before they ended up on Destiny -- now we know why.
quote:Originally posted by Mucus:
quote:Originally posted by rivka: I strongly disagree. I thought the role was quite clever.
why couldn't "stargate recruiter as figment of Rush's imagination/memory" have been some lesser guest star?
It could have been, but it wouldn't have been as good. Daniel was the SG1 conscience/soothsayer in many ways; this is a continuation of that role. (See "Abyss", where ascended!Daniel counseled O'Neill, who was being tortured by Ba'al.)
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Blayne Bradley
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I strongly agree, more daniel is always good.
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Daniel is certainly charismatic in a way that the cast of SGU is not. That said, I'm not convinced that this was the best way of using one of Daniel's probably limited number of appearances going forward. But I see where you (rivka) are coming from.
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quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Why do you like Young less after "Faith"?
Cheating married men always endear me to them. Also, T.J. is TERRIFIED of him finding out. She was, in fact, planning to leave the project just before they ended up on Destiny -- now we know why.
quote:Originally posted by Mucus:
quote:Originally posted by rivka: I strongly disagree. I thought the role was quite clever.
why couldn't "stargate recruiter as figment of Rush's imagination/memory" have been some lesser guest star?
It could have been, but it wouldn't have been as good. Daniel was the SG1 conscience/soothsayer in many ways; this is a continuation of that role. (See "Abyss", where ascended!Daniel counseled O'Neill, who was being tortured by Ba'al.)
I guess my thought process was that we already knew he was cheating with TJ, so it's not like we like him any less because of that when we already knew. TJ wanting to get away however is suspect, you're right. I think it had more to do with her just wanting to have her kid grow up with fresh air.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
I watched Friday's episode, and I really liked it. It was nice to see Greer turn into a real person instead of just "angry guy" like he's been in a lot of the episodes. It was a needed change.
My only concern is that last time they gave me a good dilemma, they immediately found Rush and went back to the status quo. The Rush/Young throwdown was the best thing about the entire first half of the season. I still want repercussions.
Putting Chloe (who actually stepped up and did something, can you believe it?), Eli, and Lt Boinks-a-lot together has potential. If the first thing they do next episode is realize the ship is turning around for another pass of the galaxy and save them, it would waste a really great set up.
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Blayne Bradley
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But on the other hand its not really that good for the show for them to be separated for too long.
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I'm curious what low temperatures have to do with ascension - it is likely the case, but given what we know about the scientific nature of ascension(from that atlantis episode) I wonder how temperature fits in.
Posts: 76 | Registered: Aug 2009
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Not a bad episode, but somebody on the writing staff seriously needs to take a class on developing the plots they set up instead of immediately resolving them. I half expect TJ to have the baby next week so we can get that over with.
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Blayne Bradley
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low heart rate is correlated with ascension as per the time mackay got zapped by the supergenius ascension ray on SGA and said that 'once your heart rate gets to here you can ascend' lower temperature can provide this indirectly in a jiffy and well as maybe turn him into a biological superconductor.
Either way its the most plausible explanation of why he went poof that leaves the possibility of him still being 'alive' and a chance to come back, otherwise hes dead for good.
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Bumping this thread for season 2. What do you think is going to happen with the Lucian alliance folks? Given certain actors being listed on IMDB, I guess some LA folks will stay on board.
Any ideas on what is going on Rush's head? I'm leaning toward he's going crazy, but there is that other hypothesis he floats out there.
Posts: 76 | Registered: Aug 2009
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Blayne Bradley
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Two whole episodes past, any comments?
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Im watching Syfy right now and they keep showing a commercial announcing the return, and end of SGU. Ten episodes to wrap it all up is better than what could be.
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Im just happy they were allowed ten episodes to end the series and possibly the entire StarGate... well universe. If Whedon had been connected to the show they would have terminated all production five minutes after everyone went home for the day and never show the completed episodes.
Posts: 2302 | Registered: Aug 2008
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I appreciated the call back to the joke about McKay staring at endowed soldiers chest (I dont know her name) the quick joke along with the referance to McKay the episode before was a highlight.
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They have updated the SGU episodes streaming on Netflix, not current but I am surprised that they are keeping so close.
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So has no one noticed that every stargate show has had an out of shape character that slowly becomes in shape?
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quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: They have updated the SGU episodes streaming on Netflix, not current but I am surprised that they are keeping so close.
Ok, having just finished Netflix-streaming all 4 seasons of Ugly Betty, I am now catching up on SGU, which I had given up on.
And NOW I finally realize why David Blue (Eli) looked so familiar!
quote:Originally posted by Melvin Nevergold: So has no one noticed that every stargate show has had an out of shape character that slowly becomes in shape?
Really? so you think That David Hewlett was healthier at the end of SG Atlantis than the begining. And the fact that David Blue and the other curvier civilians havent visibly changed has been annoying me for a while. How long have they been on that ship? and no one has lost wieght!
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quote:And the fact that David Blue and the other curvier civilians havent visibly changed has been annoying me for a while. How long have they been on that ship? and no one has lost wieght!
This is hardly the writer's fault. What do you expect the actors to do, starve themselves? These guys are no-name TV actors, not Tom Hanks or Christian Bale hunting for Oscars.
Posts: 1515 | Registered: Feb 2002
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I understand why they havent lost weight themselves, but I like to think that if I were a producer I would use the visible changing of the actors to further dramatize the setting of the series. Make it a point as the producer to help them do it safely and in a healthy matter, and not just chubby actors but maybe a ripped one as well. The show barely got a second season and is ending, I dont think I would go through the ordeal either but wouldnt it be a bit silly if they had five seasons and everyone still looked healthy despite lack of sustenence being a re-occuring plot device.
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You do realize that while any SG show is filming, they routinely work 5 or 6 12+ hour days a week? It's a grueling pace, and doesn't really allow for much else.
Leaving aside the fact that while they have had to ration several times, the majority of the time they have not only been getting enough supplies from planets to eat well, they have enough excess calories to be fermenting some of them in a still!
Intermittent periods of calorie restriction alternated with excess calorie availability actually tends to cause net weight gain more often than loss.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:I understand why they havent lost weight themselves, but I like to think that if I were a producer I would use the visible changing of the actors to further dramatize the setting of the series.
I'll say again, it's an unreasonable request to make of an actor if they aren't award hunting.
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Also, T.J. is TERRIFIED of him finding out. She was, in fact, planning to leave the project just before they ended up on Destiny -- now we know why.
