Season 4 casting and the future of SGA

[wraithfodder]

Skiffy dumped a few press releases today, so I'll post 'em here. They contain spoilers for season 4 of Atlantis, so if you're not into spoilers, don't look.

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=41871

June 11th

Firefly's Staite Joins Atlantis

Producers of SCI FI Channel's original series Stargate Atlantis told SCI FI
Wire that the upcoming fourth season will add former Firefly cast member Jewel
Staite to the cast as a new doctor. Staite, who also appeared in the Firefly
feature film, Serenity, as well as the short-lived fantasy series Wonderfalls,
will play Dr. Jennifer Keller. She joins Stargate SG-1 cast member Amanda
Tapping, who also joins Atlantis' cast, reprising her role of Col. Samantha
Carter.

Staite is "fabulous," executive producer Robert C. Cooper said in an
interview on the show's Vancouver, Canada, set over the weekend. Other cast members
hinted that Keller may develop a romantic relationship with one of the other
characters and will become friends with Carter. 

As for Carter's joining the Atlantis team, executive producer Joseph Mallozzi
said the transition won't go smoothly. For one thing, Carter and Rodney McKay
(David Hewlett) have a history, as fans of SG-1 know well. "There will be a
little friction off the get-go," Mallozzi said. "But they're both adults [about
it]." McKay's unrequited lust for Carter will be addressed, Mallozzi
promised. "That gets touched on very early on."

"The difference between Carter and [Dr.] Weir [Torri Higginson] is that
Carter is in the military," Cooper added. "In fact, when she joins them she's a
full-bird colonel, and she's a superior to [Lt. Col. John] Sheppard [played by
Joe Flanigan], so there's really not much he can say or do; she's his superior
officer."

As for the season's storylines? "In terms of the stories, because we're not
doing 40 episodes a week—we're doing 20 episodes—we can concentrate more on
the individual characters," Mallozzi said. "Each of the characters will have a
story in the front half. We'll be developing a lot more of the overall arcs.
We'll be exploring a bit more of the Replicators and what makes them tick, we'll
be finding out a little bit more about the Wraith as well. That should be
interesting." —Melissa J. Perenson  

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

Just going to get the snarking/ranting out before "Creature Comforts" airs...

Well, the fact they might "ship" Keller with one of the other characters is rather scary.... does that mean she's being brought on to be the love interest, or the doctor? I really don't want to see her going "on my god, darling!" if her beloved is brought in with an injury. Heck, I'd watch Desperate Housewives if I want that sort of tripe ;)

Carter is a full-bird colonel? How on earth did that happen? I've watched the last few seasons and really, she hasn't done anything the others haven't done so why not promote Mitchell instead? Me thinks the only reason she's promoted is that if they tried to slot her in on the show as Chief Science Officer, fans would go ballistic (as would McKay). So now she's Sheppard's boss? Hmm...  I seriously doubt the writers will give her Weir's job - which is all admnistrative and bureacratic crap. When you're an engineer/scientist/etc and get promoted to management, you can kiss the lab goodbye. Now it's paperwork left and right. The writers should keep her in the office/control area, out of any labs (there are lots of scientists on Atlantis) and on the base, just like Weir, as after all, she's taking Weir's job. But the writers are awfully fond of Carter, so I doubt that will happen.... 

I am going to watch season 4, but can't help think this might be the end of the show. The PTPB aren't endearing themselves to the established SGA fans who have watched the show for three years, especially not with killing off Beckett and now 'displacing' Weir. And now they are, to a degree, catering to SG1 fans by putting an SG1 character on the show (while we lose an SGA one). Sigh.

Comments

[ladybeth.livejournal.com]

AHHHHHH!

*will not rant, will not rant, will not rant...*

Ok, I probably will, because I'm getting more irratated at the moment. The way things are going,I'm go to end up hating Sam before the season even begins.

[zikade.livejournal.com]

Wow, promote Mitchell, now that is an idea. Just think of John raging against the man Mitchell, I would faint over the hotness!!!

I don't like Carter's character that much, I was shocked at first, that she is replacing Weir. But I am already getting over it. I am just curious why she had the 11th Season in her contract and not the others? Will John disobey her once, like he did with Weir?

I like Kaylee.. err.. Keller. So far. I don't care about romantic relationship much, I hope it's not too central.

I still have hope for SGA. But you're right, they did a lot of casting changes to Season 4.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

yeah, that would be interesting if Shep disobeyed one of Carter's orders. After all, that's a military offense now. Before, not so much as she was civilian...

[piplover.livejournal.com]

As JF once said at a convention, romance in a tv show is usually the death of the tv show. It makes the audience want to shoot first the characters and then themselves. I have to agree. I don't want to see Keller involved with anyone of the cast because I really don't care about her. And I hate Carter, have since season 4 of SG1. I will watch season 4, but if they go the romance route and start touting Carter over Rodney, then I'm just going to have to say good bye. The only way I think they will be able to renew for a fifth season is if they base the results off season three, because I have a feeling season 4 is going to tank.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

He's right. Romance kills a show unless the show is specifically about romance, like, er, Desperate Housewivse and its ilk...

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

I've been trying to keep an open mind over Season 4, and so far I've liked what I've heard with regards to episode storylines...

There are a few things that bother me. I don't hate Carter as such, but I think a lot of this is down to trying to pull in SG-1 fans who didn't necessarily watch SGA before. I'm concerned about the talk of romance - because they can't write it for shit. And this whole Bird-Colonel crap really worries me too. So, what is she? Expedition AND Military commander rolled into one???

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

The thing is that Carter is being made out to be able to do virtually anything...I expect that, yes, she'll be so multitalented she can do anything. If the writers were better at their job, I wouldn't be griping about this, but after watching SG1 slowly go downhill, I'd rather not see SGA follow that route so quickly...

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

But since we know how useless at their job they are...considering the reason theyy are bringing her in in the first place...

I don't wish for SGA to go downhill like that either, however, I never really thought it would last as long as SG-1. Now I'm beginning to think I should enjoy SGA while it lasts - probably for another 20 episodes.

[clarkangel.livejournal.com]

The thing I didn't like about Carter coming, which is now sounding confirmed to me, okay...beyond the fact that I HATE CARTER LIKE SO MUCH I COULD THROW UP..ahem...is that I don't want Shep having to kow tow to her. He's earned the right to be in charge of Atlantis over her, most especially in all things Military. Just as Carter shouldn't have control over anything scientific, because Rodney earned that right, Carter's ass doesn't belong in charge of Shep in that way. Sorry! I will watch season 4 for Joe and Shep whump, But I will hate Carter will all the hate in me, if Shep just once has to obey her orders over his own. BEEYOTCH!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I don't hate or even dislike Carter, she was fine on SG1, but that's where I think she belongs. She's on SG1, the SG1 movies and now SGA (don't forget Sanctuary). I suspect she'll in the third SG show too at this rate. I just want Carter in the background, waving off the team. If the writers couldn't write for Weir, then now is not the time to suddenly go "oh, we should work on the command character too."

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

I have to agree - why didn't they put this much effort into writing Elizabeth, rather than bring her in? I don't buy that contract crap - never have - they could have reached an agreement on that.

I'm thinking the next person out the door, if they get a go-ahead for S5 will be Joe Flanigan - since his character is soon to become surplus to requirement. It's not like they even need him as the human on-switch anymore. To be honest, I think the only reason they didn't try that tack is because they didn't want to underestimate the power of 'Teh Pretty'...

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I don't even want to contemplate Shep or McKay going out the door. They're my reasons for watching! But yes, I think they could have put more effort into writing Weir.

[clarkangel.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Hi, sweetie. Don't go there. There is no SGA without Shep for me. If the Flan goes, I go. And happily. I really want the show to use his GENE for pete's sake. And Carter is not neccessary to the show ever. She doesn't belong there and TPTB suck. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. LOL

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Far as I'm concerned, show requires both Shep and McKay to make it to work. Shep, especially.

[libra-traveller.livejournal.com]

I was of the 'let's just wait and see' persuasion, but now I'm just pissed.

[xfkirsten.livejournal.com]

I'm with you. Ever since this whole debacle started, I was saying that I'd still give the show every chance, and I will... but it's looking more and more bleak with every announcement.

I was thinking about the Keller ship thing, and to be honest, I think there's two people they would put her with: Zelenka or Shep. McKay's spoken for at this point (and, based on the abandoned "McKay is a daddy" storyline, I assume will remain so) and I can't see her with Ronon at all.

[toasteronfire.livejournal.com]

Wow, it feels like TPTB got rid of Carson just so they could bring on a gal to ship with a male characters, huh? O_O

I'm almost positive that McKay is out of the running because Joe M. has commented on the appearance of McKay/Brown next season. So is it Shep? Ronon? Zelenka? Chuck? (actually, those latter two could work out if TPTB do it as a low-key Carson/Cadman type of ship.)

I wonder if TPTB think that "gelling" the cast entails shipping them with each other...

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Hopefully 'gel' and 'ship' aren't inclusive...

[les342.livejournal.com]

I was debating on whether or not to read this post and now I really wish I hadn't. Even with all the changes that were being made, most of which I don't like, I was going to give season 4 a shot. I guess I still will, but it will probably be with a lot less enthusiasm then I used to have for this show. This on top of the fact that earlier tonight I read on seperate forums for two other shows I watch and really like that they might not be renewed. Boy, this sucks.

At least I have the second season of Eureka to look forward to in a few weeks. I'm very excited about it, especially the third episode that David Nykl is guest starring in. Although now that I'm thinking about it, this show is on Scifi too, so I wonder how long it will be until they screw it up too. (Sorry, my bitter, cynical side is showing, but I'm done now.)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I'm still going to watch season 4, despite the changes, as I like Sheppard's team. Hopefully things will pan out, and well, hopefully Carter will be used minimally.

Meanwhile, I thought David Nykl's episode of EUREKA was the second, not third? Hmm, no matter. I watch the show anyway :)