You know what? Now, this is just my personal opinion. But I think part of the problem has been that Joe F gave up fighting for Sheppard. He used to beg all the time for good stuff. Season 5? I think he gave up.
I can totally see that being the case. I know I've read comments he's made at conventions, where he'd suggest stuff to the writers, but they would refuse to change anything. JF made a joke about it, saying he kept trying to get to the writer's room faster, before the ink was even dry, but it didn't sway them.
He was also quite open about saying he thought it was a mistake to let TH go, though I think he did manage to get them see that just having Weir drop off the map and have Carter ride in to save the day would be a horrid mistake. He's also said they only added AT in an attempt to boost ratings and it didn't work.
He's been sounding like a man with nothing to lose in the last couple of years, and so very tired of fighting The Man. It reminds me so much of when Shanks wanted Daniel Jackson to actually get the screentime he deserved as second lead, but was told his character "wasn't worth the upgrade" needed to fit where TPTB wanted to go with the show.
I also wonder if they focused on McKay/Keller because they actually could, unlike Sam/Jack which was thwarted by sticking to the military rules. Maybe a side of "proving" both McKay and Jack aren't gay by having them show interest in a woman too.
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Date: 2008-12-11 05:58 pm (UTC)I can totally see that being the case. I know I've read comments he's made at conventions, where he'd suggest stuff to the writers, but they would refuse to change anything. JF made a joke about it, saying he kept trying to get to the writer's room faster, before the ink was even dry, but it didn't sway them.
He was also quite open about saying he thought it was a mistake to let TH go, though I think he did manage to get them see that just having Weir drop off the map and have Carter ride in to save the day would be a horrid mistake. He's also said they only added AT in an attempt to boost ratings and it didn't work.
He's been sounding like a man with nothing to lose in the last couple of years, and so very tired of fighting The Man. It reminds me so much of when Shanks wanted Daniel Jackson to actually get the screentime he deserved as second lead, but was told his character "wasn't worth the upgrade" needed to fit where TPTB wanted to go with the show.
I also wonder if they focused on McKay/Keller because they actually could, unlike Sam/Jack which was thwarted by sticking to the military rules. Maybe a side of "proving" both McKay and Jack aren't gay by having them show interest in a woman too.