"Romancing the Gate" ;-)
Mar. 14th, 2008 08:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gateslackerI have lots going on but who wants to talk about all of that stuff when there is new Gate! I finally got to see the AOT and it was like Christmas where all the anticipation seems to be over in a few moments time, which is why having Continuum around the bend is a really good thing. I have to agree with most of my friends reactions to it, which, I'm proud to say, I avoided until I had the chance to watch it myself. Go me!
Stand out moments:
The back story of the Alterans and the possible glimpse of the gate plans in their infancy. But, am I to realize that the conflict between the "Ancients" and the "Ori" , existed before everyone ascended, or were we seeing just seeing the Ancients in their mortal form for convenience. Was the Gate system invented before or after the ascension? I did find myself confused about that timeline, even while being mesmerized by it.
Going through the Supergate!! That scene was so wonderfully reminiscent of the original movie, it warmed my little fangirl heart.
Tomin and Teal'c's heart to heart. I love how they touch on Teal'c and his past. With the defeat of the Goauld and over the course of ten years, that is something that we have forgotten. It was a nice touch of continuity as well as being a truly great moment. Definitely one of the best scenes in the film.
I have never been a fan of the replicators in their basic machine form but I think, of all things, it was the most surprising plot twist, even if it was a boneheaded IOA plan. What were they thinking?!? Poor Cam. That was some major whumping but it brought on the macaroon scene which was very sweet and highlighted what I like about the relationship between Cam and Sam as friends as well as equals. Even when Cam is "leading" as was the case, you can see they see one another as equals. Theirs is an easy camaraderie that we could never have seen with Jack, initially because of the differences in rank and the later because of how a UST or proposed relationship alters a dynamic.
Vala jumping back rather purposely when Daniel and Teal'c come to the cell where she is with Tomin caused me some happy D/V shippy squee, as does her hope that there is something for her at the SGC. Daniel and Vala's relationship has softened without losing that spark. Interesting.
There's something about Daniel. The character seemed more settled, more comfortable in his own skin than he had over the past couple of years and, yet, it is something that I hadn't though about until seeing such a calm, self assured Daniel. And, yet, the scene with Morgan shows that desperation that drives him still. I truly believed that he was on the verge of giving up and not just trying to convince Morgan to interfere.
Adria was more cold and calculating. She struck me as a true villain for the first time! She came into her evil own by ascending and I found the whole fire thing sufficiently creepy. What a terrific special effect. When she and Morgan do battle, I certainly had a B5 Vorlon and Shadows flashback! (In a good way).
Ah, Julian Sands! The Doci's revelation was heartbreaking and I felt for that character as much as I did for Tomin, a character who was more well known. I was blind but now I see . The words are oh so familiar and, even so, it was the perfect ending statement for this character. A definite lump in throat moment.
I definitely felt there was a great payoff for the months of waiting. I was satisfied with how events play out and with the resolution of this story. Of course, there were elements I felt lacking. I know that with a story of this scope , keeping everyone together is impossible, but still, I did wish the replicator storyline didn't consume so much team together time even knowing that with high action and adventure there is always the need to raise the stakes. Tealc's Mountain LOTR-esque trek was beautiful and eye rolling inducing at the same time, especially when he collapses in the plains of Celestis.
Stargate has always had an inherent capacity for just about everything when it comes to telling a story that I am sure it is difficult to contain sometimes. There are shows that have capacity for drama and intense character moments, but can never by their very nature have real comedic moments. There are comedic shows that are hilarious but not completely satisfying because the comedy limits those dramatic character moments. A true action/adventure story often has this failing as well. Because Stargate can and has incorporated all of these elements, thereby enhancing its appeal, it's somewhat of an Everyshow. However, you can't have an everyshow without sacrificing bits and pieces at different times. For some, the intimate character moments are all important. For others, action/adventure should be the driving force. Still others just want a good story. More drama, less comedy? More comedy, less drama? The combinations go on and on and this is not even factoring in the various favored character/story arc dynamics. Perhaps this quality is Stargate's greatest strength and its greatest weakness Maybe it is the reason the show has spawned such an enormous amount of fanfic over its ten year run.
Since I have had time to think through the initial squee, I feel that despite a few shortcomings, we have a story and a conclusion that doesn't disappoint. For me, Stargate still has that special something that continues to fuel my ongoing devotion. Roll on Continuum!
The back story of the Alterans and the possible glimpse of the gate plans in their infancy. But, am I to realize that the conflict between the "Ancients" and the "Ori" , existed before everyone ascended, or were we seeing just seeing the Ancients in their mortal form for convenience. Was the Gate system invented before or after the ascension? I did find myself confused about that timeline, even while being mesmerized by it.
Going through the Supergate!! That scene was so wonderfully reminiscent of the original movie, it warmed my little fangirl heart.
Tomin and Teal'c's heart to heart. I love how they touch on Teal'c and his past. With the defeat of the Goauld and over the course of ten years, that is something that we have forgotten. It was a nice touch of continuity as well as being a truly great moment. Definitely one of the best scenes in the film.
I have never been a fan of the replicators in their basic machine form but I think, of all things, it was the most surprising plot twist, even if it was a boneheaded IOA plan. What were they thinking?!? Poor Cam. That was some major whumping but it brought on the macaroon scene which was very sweet and highlighted what I like about the relationship between Cam and Sam as friends as well as equals. Even when Cam is "leading" as was the case, you can see they see one another as equals. Theirs is an easy camaraderie that we could never have seen with Jack, initially because of the differences in rank and the later because of how a UST or proposed relationship alters a dynamic.
Vala jumping back rather purposely when Daniel and Teal'c come to the cell where she is with Tomin caused me some happy D/V shippy squee, as does her hope that there is something for her at the SGC. Daniel and Vala's relationship has softened without losing that spark. Interesting.
There's something about Daniel. The character seemed more settled, more comfortable in his own skin than he had over the past couple of years and, yet, it is something that I hadn't though about until seeing such a calm, self assured Daniel. And, yet, the scene with Morgan shows that desperation that drives him still. I truly believed that he was on the verge of giving up and not just trying to convince Morgan to interfere.
Adria was more cold and calculating. She struck me as a true villain for the first time! She came into her evil own by ascending and I found the whole fire thing sufficiently creepy. What a terrific special effect. When she and Morgan do battle, I certainly had a B5 Vorlon and Shadows flashback! (In a good way).
Ah, Julian Sands! The Doci's revelation was heartbreaking and I felt for that character as much as I did for Tomin, a character who was more well known. I was blind but now I see . The words are oh so familiar and, even so, it was the perfect ending statement for this character. A definite lump in throat moment.
I definitely felt there was a great payoff for the months of waiting. I was satisfied with how events play out and with the resolution of this story. Of course, there were elements I felt lacking. I know that with a story of this scope , keeping everyone together is impossible, but still, I did wish the replicator storyline didn't consume so much team together time even knowing that with high action and adventure there is always the need to raise the stakes. Tealc's Mountain LOTR-esque trek was beautiful and eye rolling inducing at the same time, especially when he collapses in the plains of Celestis.
Stargate has always had an inherent capacity for just about everything when it comes to telling a story that I am sure it is difficult to contain sometimes. There are shows that have capacity for drama and intense character moments, but can never by their very nature have real comedic moments. There are comedic shows that are hilarious but not completely satisfying because the comedy limits those dramatic character moments. A true action/adventure story often has this failing as well. Because Stargate can and has incorporated all of these elements, thereby enhancing its appeal, it's somewhat of an Everyshow. However, you can't have an everyshow without sacrificing bits and pieces at different times. For some, the intimate character moments are all important. For others, action/adventure should be the driving force. Still others just want a good story. More drama, less comedy? More comedy, less drama? The combinations go on and on and this is not even factoring in the various favored character/story arc dynamics. Perhaps this quality is Stargate's greatest strength and its greatest weakness Maybe it is the reason the show has spawned such an enormous amount of fanfic over its ten year run.
Since I have had time to think through the initial squee, I feel that despite a few shortcomings, we have a story and a conclusion that doesn't disappoint. For me, Stargate still has that special something that continues to fuel my ongoing devotion. Roll on Continuum!
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no subject
Date: 2008-03-20 12:28 am (UTC)I also think it would have been interesting to explore Vala's feelings about her relationship with Adria. I mean, does Vala view herself more as a vessel than a Mother where Adria is concerned? With her experience with Quetesh, it seems that she, of all people, would be able to make that distinction and separate herself from that. Did she ever wonder at the possibility of a real Mother/Daughter relationship or did she realize early on that such a thing would never happen. I really think it would have been interesting to explore that a bit.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-20 03:10 pm (UTC)Either way, any deeper exploration of such ideas would have to be either done mentally or in fanfic. There's only so much time in a 44-min episode, or even an hour and a half movie format, and those kinds of deeper character though processes have to be left to viewer interpretation. Fortunately for us, we're pretty good at that sort of thing. ; )