SGA "First Strike" & the 'why' of Carson on "Sunday" (spoilers)

[wraithfodder]

I was going to review SGA's season 3 finale "First Strike," but hey, others have done such a good job already, I'll just link to the spoilers:

Photos & transcript: http://www.scifiquest.com/stargateatlantis/firststriketranscript-stargateatlantis.php

Review: http://a-pilgrim-soul.livejournal.com/16651.html

Meanwhile, comments about Paul McGillion and the episode "Sunday" (yes, chockful of spoilers)

Snippets from Paul McGillion interview in Starburst #347(plucked off a GW thread)

 

Just as work on Phantoms was ending, McGillion received some news that would affect his future on Atlantis. "We shot most of this story on location, and when we got back to the studio for the final day of filming, of the ADs said that the producers wanted to talk to me," recalls the actor. "I didn't think anything of it. Truthfully, I thought they might be telling me, 'Great job in Phantoms'. However, when I went upstairs and they closed the office door, I knew it was serious. They said 'Stargate SG-1 isn't being renewed, and we're not sure yet if Atlantis is going to be either. We need to shake things up a bit, and the long and short of it is we're going to kill off Beckett.'

 

"Needless to say I was stunned, for lack of a better word. I didn’t see that coming at all. Personally, I felt like I was doing a good job on the programme and I think the producers thought so as well. I sat there and listened to the reasons behind this move and what they were looking to do. I was sad and disappointed by their decision, but yet this is a business. I understand that and I respect these guys for giving me the chance to play a character like Carson Beckett. I'm not being political when I say that. I'm being honest. Most actors never get a dream job like that in their entire career, and I had it for three years.

 

"After they told me, I said 'I'm disappointed and shocked, but obviously you're smart guys. The Stargate franchise has been around for a long time, so you know what you're doing. So how do we move on from here? How do you want me to handle this?' We would shoot Beckett's final episode [Sunday] out of sequence, and the producers asked me if I wanted to leave after that. I said that I wanted to finish my contract the way I went into it, with integrity. Not only that but I wanted to honour the character as well as the cast and crew that I had been working with all this time."

 

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After finishing work on Sunday the actor returned to the Atlantis set to film the remaining episodes leading up to Beckett's swansong. "The final story I did this season was The Ark," says McGillion, pausing briefly to collect himself. "Only a few people knew it was my last day, including Martin Wood. He wanted to make a speech about me in front of the cast and crew once we wrapped, but I said to Alex Pappas 'I can't be there on set because I'll break into tears. Just tell everyone that I'll see them at the wrap party and shake each of their hands for being so wonderful to me over the years'. So I just let it go like that and I hope I went out, hopefully, with dignity and class."

 

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In the aforementioned Sunday, our Atlantis heroes are enjoying a rare day off, but it's not long before an emergency arises, and it's one that ultimately takes Carson Beckett's life. "As difficult as it was for me to film this episode, I can only imagine that it must have been equally as difficult for Martin Gero to write it, having been such a big fan of Beckett as well as myself over the past three years. That being said, I think Martin did my character proud." Smiles McGillion.

 

"That week, people on set had this look in their eyes as if to say, 'Jeez, I feel so sorry for you.' At one point I made a joke out of the situation and referred to myself as 'dead man walking'. I wanted everyone to lighten up and realize that at the end of the day this is a TV show. Our paths will cross again, and what an amazing experience we've had over the past three years. Now let's get to work and make the best damn episode we can. I want to knock this one out of the park, for myself, for the cast and crew, but most of all for the fans because they deserve it. In my opinion they're the ones who 'made' Beckett. He went from a character who the producers didn't even know was going to be Scottish, to one who was only supposed to be in and handful of first season episodes, wound up in 17, and was finally made a regular character last year. That couldn't have happened without the fans, and I'll be forever grateful to them."

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To be blunt, wow, doesn't that just SUCK? Carson Beckett bumped off as the sacrifice to the great ratings gods. Perhaps they should sacrifice a writer or two as well? Boot 'em out the door as if they can't increase the level of writing, maybe they should stick with food reviews... ahem, cough cough. The sad thing is you've got a great cast (minus 1.5 now - Beckett's gone and with what they did with Weir in "First Strike," sheesh) who's capable of so much better if the writers would stop retreading SG1 scripts, etc. The quality is uneven. You can get great episodes, then a hideous one. 

But they kill Beckett for ratings. Sheesh. Who's next??

.

Comments

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

Would you believe that's the EXACT story Teryl Rothery told at the con in NJ about how they told her she was going. Except with her, they did it over the phone. I swear, the exact same words.

Appalling.

As for sacrificing writers, they could definitely do with the likes of Morgan and Wong from XF, or even borrow Joss Whedon for an ep -- hell, Tarantino did an ep of CSI, so that sort of thing isn't unheard of.

As for who's next -- if we're not extremely forceful, it'll be poor Torri.

I feel so bad for Paul that they told him that way.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I remember her telling that story at the NJ con as it's the only one that I did. I suspect Torri will be next if these moves don't kill off the show entirely.

Poor Paul. Man, that must have been awful.

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

You were there? Wow! Small world.

Yes, I'm almost convinced we'll hear a very similar story from Torri if the Save Elizabeth campaign doesn't kick up a gear. At this stage they're saying she's recurring, and they haven't started filming and haven't written all the episodes, so there's still hope. People need to be motivated though.

The fact that he said he'd end up in tears if someone said great things about him in front of everyone... I really feel bad for him.

I've worked in the media all my working life. I've seen how TV and radio work. This is typical of the industry, sadly. People aren't people, they're a comodity in the media.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, was at the NJ con. If you back up enough on my LJ here, you'll find the big con reports I did ;)

I think fans may soon tip to the point that they'll feel no matter what they do, TPTB are going do whatever the hell they want, and damn the viewing audience...

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

They're going to get what's coming to them when the series is cancelled. IMO, adding Amanda to the cast is just about the biggest mistake they could ever make. It's a very, very bad move.

I hate that I care so much. I really do, but someone has to...

[vecturist.livejournal.com]

I really feel sorry for Paul. The producers went for the cheap ratings fix, which was probably mixed at best, especially when all the rumors started circulating. I agree they could stand some new blood writing-wise, and SciFi deserves a large part of the blame for their scheduling. I love SGA, and partly hope that this blows up in TPTB faces (the protests are certainly getting press now), but I don't want the rest of the cast to suffer (although I'm going to be cynical and say AT will be protected) if there's a huge drop in ratings - and I'm expecting that given that most potential viewers know what happens and have probably downloaded episodes already.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Instead of killing off Beckett, they should NOT do episodes like "Irresponsible." A lot of folk don't download or read spoilers, so the s**t might hit the fan once "Sunday" airs on Skiffy, whatever month that is.... Killing Carson, adding AT will NOT fix lackluster writing.

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah! Agree with you 100 percent!

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

What they said to Paul is identical to what they said to Teryl when they killed Janet off. The only difference is that they told him in person, while they told her over the phone (how's that for adding insult to injury??)

I hope you're right and that people fire up...

Suz has had her Save Elizabeth letter put up on Scifi.com. There are a couple of others, too.

[les342.livejournal.com]

You know, I was actually feeling better about the changes on the show. It still sucked, but I was willing to give season 4 a chance. Now I'm not so sure. Bad enough what they did to Carson, a fictional character, but I feel absolutely horrible for Paul. TPTB are just morons. Absolute, TOTAL FRICKIN' MORONS, every single one of them.

I have more I could say, but I don't want to be rude and nasty so I'll refrain, other than to say that I agree with you 100% that just totally and completely SUCKS!!!!! :-(

[clight000.livejournal.com]

Ah, poor Paul. :( If there's one thing I don't understand, it's how TV producers think that killing off one of the most popular characters (that, like it said in the interview, grew to have a bigger part because of the fans) will actually help the show? What is the logic?

And you never know who's safe... let's hope this is the last stupid decision TPTB makes, although I have a feeling the whole Torri thing may be a distaster waiting to happen.

[alaxes.livejournal.com]

Poor Paul. I really feel sorry for him!
So, who is the next one who will die? Rodney? John?

[delcamy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I will admit it sucks. Reading the interview made be so depressed about SGA yesterday. REALLY put a downer on my day. This and other silly thing PTB have done in the pass just re-enforces WHY I want to learn the reason/process behind this kind of thing.

I do wish Paul the best of luck and hope to see him in something soon (and for more than a second!)

Though I wonder which producer(s) had the job in telling him. Be interesting to see how that and telling everyone else was handled (like that will happen!)

And one more thing-I think SCIFI had a bigger role in this choice (and samething with Torri too I guess) then the PTB in Vancouver. Darn that $$$.