SGA Season 4 tidbits/spoilerish screencaps

[wraithfodder]

I transcribed the following stuff below the cut from http://stargate.mgm.com/video.php?id=62 video (which is about five minutes) Feel free to link to this LJ post but please don’t copy it elsewhere. Thanks!

Season 4 interview with Joe Mallozzi & Paul Mullie (with a few spoilerish clips from season 4). I’ve stuck some spoilerish stuff in smaller type in case you want to sorta avoid…

 

 

 

Mullie: I think the show hadn’t completely sort of gelled yet as of the end of season 3. We just wanted to focus a little more on the characters. We felt like in season 4 it’s time for the characters to really come into their own.

 

Mallozzi: … let’s look at what we did in the past, what worked, what didn’t work. If possible, I wouldn’t say rectify mistakes but obviously there were some elements that we … didn’t have time to concentrate on.

 

Mullie: …felt like we had to do a fair amount of character-driven stories.

 

Mallozzi: For the first half of the season, every character pretty much has their focus episodes – we’ve got one for Keller, we’ve got one for Teyla, we’ve got one for Ronon, for Sheppard, for McKay, even for Carter, who joins the show. More than any other year, I think I’m really, really happy with the overall bunch of stories that we have.

 

NEW FACES

 

Mallozzi: Jewel [Staite] is the first new addition to the cast that we brought in late last year. Her character is very likeable, I think very charming. I’m not saying fans are going to forget Beckett but I think they’re really going to like the Jennifer Keller character.

 

[shows clip of Keller in lab and off-world by a tree, where somebody impales a big throwing star into it. Another clip of her on a rope bridge]

 

Mullie: We’re very excited to have her on the show. She’s been great. Very talented actress and she’s been on show before, where she was covered in Wraith makeup, which seemed like a shame at the time but in a way it was good because we knew we could bring her back as a human that no one would recognize her and say ‘oh, she’s been on the show before’ and we would bring a whole new character.

 

Mallozzi: One of the nice things the Carter character gives us is she’s so multifaceted. She doesn’t have to be stuck behind a desk even though she’s the leader of Atlantis. She has a military background so she can go out on ops and on the other hand, she’s got the science background so when McKay and Zelenka are sort of trading gobbledygook, she can get right in there with them.

 

[Clip of Carter, closeup, hair pulled back, talking, and also McKay – having conversation?]

 

CONTINUING THE SAGA

 

Mullie: We start usually February or March so we started breakings stories for season 4 probably in October or November [of 2006]. That’s kind of when we knew there was going to be a season 4. At that point we did make a conscious effort to focus a little bit more on Teyla, on Ronon. We knew that Amanda was coming in so we knew we would have to deal with her… we had a deliberate plan to do some specific episodes with those characters.

 

[clip of Teyla, looking rather forlorn, going to Sheppard and hugging him, and he hugs her back. This is more of a  dramatic scene than anything romantic]

 

Mallozzi: We’ve got a bunch of team episodes which are really cool, and also in terms of this year, I think this year more than any other years has a bunch of not only character revelations but revelations regarding relationships and things like that, but also also in terms of big story arcs. We finally get a chance to explore a bit the inner workings of the Wraith. We find out a little bit more about the replicators. We shift things in I’d say a surprising direction. Again, I don’t want to give too much away but I mean I think this season will be full of surprises.

 

We created a race called the Travelers. One of the nice things about SG1 for instance is that … and encounter a technologically advanced people as well as sort of low-tech people, but the problem with Atlantis in the Pegasus galaxy is that whenever a race would get largely advanced, the Wraith would come in and them out, so there was never an opportunity for a race to reach that level. So we decided that yes there is a way, we’ll just put them in ships, so they’re an armada of ships that basically go from planet to planet, and they come down and scavenge the leftovers of societies that have been culled by the Wraith. I guess they’re kind of a loose cannon, kind of roguish and untrustworthy in some ways but also potential allies in another way and generally the type of characters that I personally like. Not black and white but kind of gray.

 

[clip of Sheppard, being pushed along inside spaceship of Travelers. He’s their prisoner. Next shot, he’s tied to chair and lady leader comes in – that’s Larin. Next shot, Sheppard and Larin kiss, but she’s also got a gun on him so may have no choice in the matter]]

 

 

FRESH ATTITUDE

 

Mallozzi: Just the fact that we would be producing 20 episodes instead of the usual 40 was such a load off our mind that having the time is such a luxury. I mean you down on set this season, I find the atmosphere, the attitude, a lot more relaxed and laid back.

 

Mullie: I think things are going very well. Joe and I are really excited about how the show is looking. We’ve doing a slightly different look to the show this year, we have a different post production process which has changed things up a bit, we’ve changed the costumes a bit.

 

Mallozzi: The actors are having fun. We’ve implemented read-throughs so if they have any questions about the script we got over them early. I mean, so far so good.

 

SEASON 4 AND BEYOND

 

Mullie: The irony is that we’re working very hard to produce what we think is a very good seaon, season 4, but our fate – whether or not there’s a season 5 – is being decided by the back half of season 3 which we can’t do anything about.

 

Mallozzi: Actually Paul brings up a good point, and what I might suggest is if every fan out there. Let’s say we have a million fans. If you guys can get 5,000 of your friends to tune in to watch the show, we’ll definitely have a season 5. Five or ten thousand, just average it out.

 

***************************************************

 

 

Here is a photo collage of season 4 spoilerish type shots… scenes of Teyla and Sheppard hugging from, um, don’t know. Sheppard and the alien babe, er, Larin, from “Travelers.” Shot of Keller from, er, don’t know.

 

 
UPDATE: More caps at http://x-erikah-x.livejournal.com/6517.html#cutid1 !

 

Comments

[tringasolitaria.livejournal.com]

One of the nice things the Carter character gives us is she’s so multifaceted. She doesn’t have to be stuck behind a desk even though she’s the leader of Atlantis. She has a military background so she can go out on ops and on the other hand, she’s got the science background so when McKay and Zelenka are sort of trading gobbledygook, she can get right in there with them.

Is it wrong that this is a totally depressing statement to me? :( Am I overreacting?

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

It's... of concern. Mallozzi was pretty gleeful when talking about carter, and despite his assertion that Carter will be 'supporting' in season 4, I have reservations. Honestly? I don't want Carter going out with the team as you don't need her and McKay both. It makes no sense from any standpoint. And now Zelenka-McKay banter might get interrupted by Carter??

I like Carter, but I liked Weir a lot too. I'd rather have Weir back.

Meanwhile, am looking forward more to the episode with the Shep-Teyla hug than the whump in Travelers (as I don't think it's gonna be all that much).

[agentcat47.livejournal.com]

Nope, you're not overreacting. I miss Weir! You know, what's so dumb, is that they COULD have made Weir go off world. She DIDN'T have to be stuck behind a desk. She could have been negotiating, and there could have even been failed negotiations that would result in the military and the Atlantis off-world teams having big roles.

Also, I agree with wraithfodder. The Zelenka-McKay banter is probably going to get interrupted. Even a lot of the Sheppard-McKay might get interrupted.

[toranoko.livejournal.com]

I never personally liked Weir, so I didn't mind the idea of Carter coming over. However, that comment is depressing to me too.

If they are saying they don't believe the show has "gelled," then they do not need an outside character taking away from established Atlantis characters. We already know about Carter, we've had 10 years to get to know her, we don't necesarily need her to help "characters to really come into their own." I believe there are plenty of people on Atlantis, main and reoccuring characters alike, that can help in the development of the other characters. With Carter, I don't believe we'll get as much development or gelling, as we would without her.

Hmm. I think I'll stop there. :)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Think the only gel we'll get is in the hair... ;)

[aqualegia.livejournal.com]

No, you're not overreacting... Apart from Sheppard getting whumped, the interactions, and banter, between Sheppard, McKay and Zelenka are my favourite parts and I really don't want them to be interrupted. Also, I didn't like Carter's character.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I like Carter, but on SG1, not SGA. A decade is enough, thank you.

[balikpulang.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing! When does S4 hit our screens?

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I probably have a better chance at figuring out the winning Powerball numbers than when season 4 airs. They said Fall, which means anywhere between Sept-Dec...

[libra-traveller.livejournal.com]

On one hand I don't want to be spoiled, on the other I have to know. Is it next week's episode or the finale in which Weir leaves or whatever?

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

The pivotal episode in which the stage is set for Weir's exit is "First Strike," which airs Jund 22nd, so, two more episodes to go.

[the-other-sandy.livejournal.com]

Thanks for transcribing this. I'm still on dial-up, so I don't even try to download videos unless I have reason to believe they're going to be awesome.

I think the show hadn’t completely sort of gelled yet as of the end of season 3.

Yes, it had! Season 3 was one big gel! Stop touching my show!

And if tringasolitaria is overreacting about the Carter thing, then so am I. ::is equally depressed::

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I'm not thrilled with Carter coming on board, as we're losing Beckett and Weir in the process. Sigh.

[zikade.livejournal.com]

oh, I don't mind the Carter thing, but that Larin! I like Sheppard being pushed around and tied to a chair, but Larin looks so idiotic.

thanks for transcribing!

[pavaneofstars.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the transcription and caps. :) The Traveller people sound interesting.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

[pisces227.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the caps. Hurry up S4!

[diamond-raven.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for taking the time to transcribe this! Hmm, so it seems like Carter is taking over for Weir? The Travellers sound interesting, as long as Shep doesn't do his kirking thing right off the bat.
Oh, why is October so far away?

S4 vid

[lorr54.livejournal.com]

You are a trooper! Caps and transcript, wow! Thanks!

Re: S4 vid

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

When I saw the video was just five minutes, i figured, eh, won't take long to transcribe :) And the digital camera was next to me so just took pictures off the monitor. Must upgrade to a better method! :)

[veracity]

Thank you for this. I'm utterly depressed, and honestly, the way the interview went I don't have any desire to come back but to see Weir (according to transcribed version, as I tend to ignore Mallozzi whenever possible). They didn't gel as characters because they're retrending story lines that barely worked for the SG-1 team, and certainly don't fit a Wild West outpost setting, which is what it started out as. And still to some degree is. I mean, it's not our fault they had two shows to take care of. If they couldn't do it, then say it and have someone else take over one of the series. The end of season 3 could have been better (okay, a lot better), but that required effort it's quite obvious they didn't intend to invest. I think they're missing the whole "if you don't believe in it, your customers won't either."

As for Weir, she had the potential to be great, but instead the women of SGA suffered so Carter could get better problems and actions on SG-1. That's the creators fault, not the audience for not understanding. *shakes head* And I was wary of Carter being on anyway, because she seems to be the golden wonder child, and well, I thought that was Rodney's position on SGA. We don't need two of them. If they weren't willing to give SGA the chance to stand on it's own, then they have no faith in the show and so why should we?

[aqualegia.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the link to the video, and for the transcription... I know just how much hard work that is having just transcribed a 14 minute interview in another fandom. {{{hug}}}

The video is not making me any happier about Carter joining the cast... I had a rant on my journal at the beginning of March when I discovered that she was being added to the main titles.

I stopped watching SG-1 when it became the "Carter saves the day show", and I really don't want her to interrupt Sheppard & McKay or McKay & Zelenka, (or the three Geeks together M,S+Z) they're my absolutely favourite parts - especially if you've seen the one in First Strike.

I guess I just really hate the way the are messing around with the characters :(

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I know some folks are quite enamored of CArter so this is great news for them, and they welcome the change, but as an SGA fan, I want SGA to stay the way it is (casting-wise). Not thrilled with Beckett and Weir vanishing, and now Carter coming. Alas, the writers are pretty enamored of the character so I suspect she'll do more than just be an administrator.

Oh yes, saw "First Strike." Good episode, except for it's part one!

[tazzles.livejournal.com]

I think I pretty much second what everyone here has said.

My main bitch though, is the way they make Rodney into an idiot whenever Carter's around. Plus, whenever certain people :cough, cough: have direct influence over an episode, they turn him back into SG-1 Rodney (the one we first met all those years ago and really didn't like). Any character progression will be lost, just to show us how "good" Carter is. Also, she doesn't exactly treat him the best, is often rude and dismissive (yes, he can be a bit of an idiot, but still...), so I wonder how this will translate to Atlantis with her being his boss.

Also, to get a bit OT, doesn't the addition of a Colonel as the leader kinda diminish the whole "Atlantis is civilian run" theme that's permeated the whole show, and led to some interesting situations that would surely have been handled differently and in a more militaristic manner had it been set in the SG-1 'verse. If you know what I mean. Sorry, but it kinda came to mind whilst reading this.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Rodney devolves around Carter. Any character growth goes right out the window when she's around. Mallozzi said in an interview on SciFi today they'll 'address' that situation. Considering it's the same writers, I'm not sure how much faith I have in that statement...

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Mallozzi said in one of his blog entries that they'd 'address' the Carter-McKay situation. How, who knows? I only hope it's McKay who looks at Carter and goes 'eh' and sticks with Katie Brown.

Yeah, the civilian leadership of Atlantis seems out the door if Carter is put in charge, unless she's quit the military (and lose the pension? I don't think so!!)