Here in Germany «Stargate SG-1» is late in it's 5th season officially. However, I managed to watch the first 7 episodes of 6th season so far using other means than the local tv station. To sum it up: I AM SAD! I'm upset for weeks now. You (the producers of the show) even made my cry. I don't like that.

First of all, I'm sad to see Michael Shanks leaving the show and with him my most favourite character. I'm stonedead certain, you will see a lot more of my fellow countrymen being cross with TPTB once «Meridian» has been aired in Germany for the first time in September 2002. Stargate is (or better: was) very popular over here - as it is in many areas of Western Europe actually. And why is that?

I somehow doubt it is because of the NID/conspiracy episodes or the war with the Goa'uld story arc and the ever increasing use of special effects. Nor was the introduction of gorgeous young ladies like the «Anise» character of any incentive to tune in. Don't get me wrong - my eyes were pleased but if I wanted to see pretty women I'd turn to other places; no offence intended. Just for the record: I'm an affluent young male and therefore well within the targeting group for the advertising industry.

In the beginning I watched the show because I liked the way how the producers/writers handled the transition from the movie to the new series. The Daniel Jackson character was the most likeable in the movie and soon I found myself enchanted with his portrayal by Michael Shanks. RDA was doing fine too but I must admit having had at first doubts about the Sam Carter character. However, these doubts vanished in season 3. Teal'c is a good and honest chap. I would trust him with my life but somehow he isn't going to make me watch the series.

Originally, I tuned in because I knew RDA and Don Davis (never heard or seen any of the other actors before). Furthermore I was intrigued by the show's approach. Using the Stargate to seek out new life and new civilisations in present day circumstances was an idea I was genuinely interested in. In Star Trek, Jean-Luc Picard was my favourite before he changed important parts of his personality with his appearance on the big screen.

I didn't mind, Stargate was US-centered despite its meaning for the whole planet although I wished TPTB would recognize one day the tens of millions of viewers in Europe. There was a charming and educated fellow in the show who spoke his mind when ethics, moral issues and sometimes even basic human rights were in danger of being sacrified for no convincing reason by the military or political leaders respectively.

With Daniel Jackson I could easily identify myself. Over time, when the exploration issue became less and less important I've drawn joy from the writers efforts to develop the four main characters. In over 100 episodes there is a good chance for writers to do so. And they did. SG-1 managed to become part of the family. Of all the possible interactions between the main characters I was most intrigued by the Jack/Daniel bantering.

For me there was nothing improper the way the writers handled the issue. On the contrary, the more militaristic and showmanshiplike the series became after «Small Victories», the more I appreciated the humour shown in the relationships between Jack and his teammates. That is what kept me watching. With Daniel Jackson gone the show has lost it's appeal to me.

When I first learned Mr Shanks was leaving the show I couldn't believe myself I was reacting so emotionally. I tried to calm myself down with the notion that most probably the actor has nothing in common with the character he is portraying. I still think that is utterly true. However, Michael Shanks triggered something and it isn't only because of his good looks. His acting helped a lot to get me growing fond of Daniel Jackson, in fact watching every scene with him in a state of high excitement. That doesn't happen very often with other actors. Other good looking hunks (e.g. Enterprises Ensign Mayweather or Stargates Jonas Quinn for that matter) stand no chance of achieving the same effect so it must be something else.

Perhaps it is the actor after all. I've read quite a number of reports concerning Michael Shanks appearances at conventions in Europe earlier this year. He seems a nice person.

I also read interviews with him as well as with TPTB. My conclusion is that I would probably have done the same as Michael Shanks. Leaving the show was the right thing to do for him. I wish him every luck in the world for his future career.

I would be most happy should he get a leading role in another successful tv series that will make its way to European small screens. Independend Canadian TV-films are not likely to fulfill this wish.

BTW, does anyone know how to contact Michael Shanks or his agent via mail?

Cheerio and Lots of Love

Tristan

PS: I hope it wasn't a ghastly thing to read through this letter. Imagine I would have written it in German. ;))

Tristan Hoffmann <t-ho@bigfoot.com>
Duesseldorf, Germany - Friday, August 16, 2002, 11:07 PM

Nelly <enter@hotmail.ru>
St. Peterburg, Russia - Tuesday, June 18, 2002, 3:43 AM

I saw the movie years ago. I remember being captivated by the sense of wonder when they were first went through to Abydos, but from there it became a standard science fiction action/adventure film. I liked it, but didn’t give it too much thought afterwards. Then I heard it had been turned into a series and was being shown in syndication on the local Fox station. I was curious as to what they had done with the concept, so I checked it out. I enjoyed it, but it was difficult to follow through all the preemptions and schedule changes, so I didn’t get into it much. Finally, the schedule settled down and I was able to watch it more regularly. The show was enjoyable and I watched when I didn’t have other plans, but I didn’t really become hooked until I was fortunate enough to catch "The Fifth Race." Hook, line and sinker! The episode recaptured the magic of that first step through the Stargate in the movie. I eagerly watched the repeats of the episodes I had missed, and I was fortunate that my husband had the foresight to tape all but three episodes. (I have those right now in squinty version on CD-RW and look forward to taping them when SciFi Channel starts showing the older episodes).

Somewhere along the way I fell in love with a sweet, smart guy who shared the same interests I did in cultures, languages and the larger issues (the whole "secrets of life" stuff), a smart-mouthed, highly skilled soldier who was really just a big, old teddy bear inside, a dignified and calm warrior, and a brilliant scientist/soldier and all-around big sister. Many shows can draw me in with an interesting concept, but if there is no heart there, no sense of friendship/family, then I lose interest quickly. I got both the concepts I loved (the mythological and cultural stories) AND the family all wrapped up in one terrific package.

Enough to turn this woman into a regular viewer, but not enough for obsession. THAT came about after I went online. I dabbled in one other online fandom, but it didn’t take. Boy, did Stargate! I started off innocently enough in the fan fiction realm, having been roped in by the great writing of Jmas, foremost among other talented writers. Heliopolis became my mecca. I soon went in search of others with whom I could discuss the show and, truthfully, to read the stories before they became archived. I happened to come upon a great list called SG1HC (*waves to my fellow h/cers* "Hi, guys!" :D) and from there the rest is history. :)

It’s been three years now since I became the maniac that I am. It’s been a great ride for the most part. The series I loved dearly has changed in ways that I don’t particularly care for, but my love of the show still remains strong. If I’m not welcome by TPTB because my views of their program are different than theirs, then so be it. There’s always fan fic, although I prefer to couple it with the show itself. I really do need to be able to see and hear the characters and stories, not just read about them, being a TV/movie/theater type when it comes to fiction in spite of my love of reading. Well, I’ll see what the future holds when it gets here.

Still imagining and obsessing :) Rowe

Rowe <ladybug67401@yahoo.com>
Kansas - Thursday, March 21, 2002, 10:41 PM

Liyana :)

~LiYaNa~ <liyana_leo@msn.com>
burnley, england - Monday, February 4, 2002, 1:35 PM

One day my wife, my two children, and I were in Blockbuster looking for a movie to watch on a rainy Saturday evenening. "So, honey, what are you in the mood for?" I asked her. "Romance." she said in her usual sarcastic way. We laughed, and hugged each other. That hug turned into a kiss. While we were kissing, our 7 year old sons came up to us. "How about this one, daddy?" they asked. I picked it up. "Stargate. Well, ya in the mood for some scifi?" I asked. She sarcastically rolled her eyes, and nodded. We got the video for five days, but the first time I saw it, I was hooked. This opened my door into the stargate univirse.

Shortly after that, I found out about the TV series. I began searching all over for Children of the Gods, through video stories and contacting my friends overseas and I even contacted Showtime to see if they would give me one. They did not.

Finally at last, I found it. I watched it. At first, everything seemed unfamiliar. Where did Colonel O’Neill go? Daniel? Whos this Tealc guy? After watching it a few more times, I finally began to get ’into’ the series. I looked for Episode 2, and then 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.....Today, I have every single episode on tape. Usually, I don’t remember the days when I watch an episode, I only remember the episode itself. But Meridian was special. I remember that day as if it were yesterday.

I went over to visit a friend in Florida. We often watch Stargate together. and today he got Meridian. We sat down, and began watching. Now, were both very opinionated people and we usually chatter away through the episodes and then somehow be able to remember the picture and sound as if we werent chattering. We talked through most of the episode, but then stopped. Jacob was about to try to heal daniel. We watched, our eyes fixed on the TV, seeing jacob pretty much sorta suceeding. Then it began displaying daniel. He began saying he was ready to go, stepped through the stargate. We watched blankly at the screen as daniel turned into one of those energy being, and floated off.

Now, I never cry unless a family member has died. Not even when I was a little boy did I cry for anything but that reason. My friend here cries all the time, but lets ignore him for now. Even though I knew that this was going to happen, I began crying. First it was one tear, then two, and then it turned into a full blown cry. It was like one of my family members died. Actually, one of my family members did die: Doctor Daniel Jackson, Ph.D. It may seem stupid, but he was like family to me.

Now every time I watch Stargate SG-1, it will never be the same. Episodes without Daniel will always be missing something. Missing the humour, joy, and geekiness that Daniel brought to Stargate. The Episodes with Daniel will just serve as a painful reminder of what happens to the fan when other "influencial people" degrade a character to the point where its so obvious that hes just there for....for "wallpaper". It began at Season 4, and ended in Season 5.

Thanks for listening...

Ian <tassadar5000@yahoo.com>
St. George, Utah - Monday, March 4, 2002, 10:26 PM

In the last week I found myself getting more and more angry. But to this later.

For myself SG1 already ended with the season opener of season 5. Why, many will ask me this. My answer: it was plain boring. Getting to see the techno bugs again was not a good step imo, the only thing I could do was to switch it off, which I did. Thanks to a friend who’s taping me the eps I have season 5 complete here, but I never watched it, the interest just died. Wouldn’t it have been for the friend, who needed an ep back, I surely would have never watched "Beast of Burden" either. There was even an ep, and I honestly can’t remember which one, where I spent forwarding the tape until I came to the interesting parts. Again boring. After a certain convention I may have seen now 5 eps at all, including "Wormhole X-Treme" which (surely oddly enough for many) I found very funny. Mmh. Do I miss the rest? No. It’s not important to me anymore. Did I watch "Meridian"? No. I did read the spoilers, I saw a few screencaps, that’s it. I don’t intend to watch.

What makes me a fan then? I don’t know. It was actually pure accident I stumbled into this fandom 2 years ago. Starting with a gift - a DVD from SG1 season 2. What got me hooked up to it? When I want to answer this, then the movie. I loved it dearly, every minute of it. I was greatly disappointed when the show started, because I simply do not like people copying other’s work (same goes for the music, I deny to listen to anything which is called "A cover Version" or similar). Eventually I watched it, and found it very entertaining, also starting to like it. Anyway, in the year 2000 the internet became a very good place for me to gain more informations about upcoming episodes. And then I found fanfictions. Today I can surely say, the fanfictions are to blame for me being a fan. At this time they gave me what I needed, having more SG1 adventures. The fanfictions are still the mainreason which keeps me in this fandom, because this fandom has become very sore over the last 2 years. (I’m a die hard fanfiction reader, I read everything, starting with a little ship, over to het, gen and up to slash.) Which leads me to the two big parts we have right now: the yes sayers, and the no sayers. There are people caught up in the middle too. While I can understand the yes sayers to watch season 6, I can also understand the no sayers. It’s not hard to see the points coming from both sides, but it seems hard to stop fighting and here again I’m sure most don’t want to fight, but oddly enough it still flames up. I can also understand why so many say "No, I won’t watch it anymore.", because, like for myself, something is left out, or more, we already stopped watching some time ago.

Now this leads me directly to TPTB. I have read the responses from Mr. Mallozzi, while it’s appreciated that he takes the time to response and tries to sort out.. the so called "mess", it leaves me wondering what good is it actually doing. It also leaves me puzzled if.. his bosses actually know that he’s answering questions coming from the fans. Mmh. And certainly things are extremely hot right now.

Showtime: I wondered a long time why they didn’t air the new eps. A few days ago I had a thought: What if MGM told Showtime not to air it as it usually happened, because they didn’t want that most of the viewers get to know about Daniel’s departure? With the current schedule it means writing and filming already started and when it hits the screen.... it could be already too late for the rest of the US fans to change anything. But, this is a *very* big *what if* here, it just occured my mind and left an odd taste.

Why am I angry? Several points: that TPTB allowed, or allowed the writers, to leave out DJ like this, when he was one of two main characters, and a really important one, in the movie *and* in the show. For also allowing that Teal’c gets cut off like this, having barely something to say at all. For killing off Sam’s guys. The woman must be traumatized by now. When you came from the season one opener and watched your way through all seasons till season 5+, then you have the feeling something is odd, different, in season 4+. I dare to say, like brain washed.

My mainpoints? I’m sick of bad writing, sick of that a good show like this started to go down hill a long time ago. Sick of a war *within* the fandom, when we have enough war going on out there in our RL already. Sick of hearing: "You HAVE to do this or that or you aren’t a fan." What a crap. Sick of getting called a minority, when ALL are fans and helped the show to develop and grow in the last years. Sick of getting a kick in our butt now when voicing concerns as a thank you for supporting the show in the last years. And obviously, the very helpful criticism isn’t acknowledged at all. And that’s actually what should get others thinking, because it can be extremely helpful to get better and to improve. But it seems to be the other way around, if you criticize, then you are a bad fan. Thank you very much for stomping down on us like this, on your own fans, who make sure you get paid every month. Thank you.

A lurker
Thursday, February 21, 2002, 9:55 AM

C. B. Mahoney <brenda552001@yahoo.com>
U.S.A. - Sunday, February 3, 2002, 8:42 PM

sorry if ive wasted your time with mt blabbering, but thankyou for reading this

liyana

liyana <liyana_leo@msn.com>
burnley, england - Sunday, February 3, 2002, 4:21 PM

Sage
Wednesday, February 6, 2002, 12:41 PM

How Stargate changed my life? Well, this first part may be a teeny bit OT, but from the first time I saw the original movie, the character of Daniel really changed my life. He showed me that even a person with so many weaknesses can have strengths as well. A person with so many flaws can still be loved by millions. As soon as I saw the SG-1 movie, Children Of The Gods, I was instantly attatched to Daniel’s charm and brilliance, like a moth to the flame. I haven’t been a loyal viewer of the show for very long, but from what I’ve seen, we just can’t go on without our Daniel. I am a 17 year old, who was almost forced to finish school early last year, because I have severe back problems that are slowly disabling me, and I have to go in and out of hospitols around the state far too often. I was only in school for maybe 3 years total, then homeschooled the rest of the time. I also went through a lot of abuse from someone who is no longer in my life, and through all of this, it amazes me even to say that Daniel really helped me out. He always made me smile, and cry when I needed to but couldn’t, and he made me see I could still do a lot, if I was in a wheelchair or not. He has also made me see that, despite the fact that I will probably never be able to work, I should still study. There are always things to learn, and discovery is what keeps my mind occupied these days. Girls may very well be SG-1’s biggest fan base, and it was all because of Daniel. I want to thank MICHAEL for making my life worth living, even during the times I would rather have been dead.

And to all the DANIELites, for making me laugh when nothing else can!! Love you all!

Kris <torres262@yahoo.com>
MI, USA - Friday, February 15, 2002, 10:39 AM

Stupid bastards. I’m single, have a rather enormous disposable income, and love to spend money on toys. How the hell can I possibly be less important as a demographic target than some 15 year old weenie who has an allowance and blows it all on porn and cheapass playstation cartridges? It’s been proven time and time again that when a TV show, particularly a genre show, bows to "accepted wisdom" and pursues the wanker-male demogrpahic to the exclusion of all others, it sinks like the Bismarck. When will they learn?

Janis Cortese <janis@io.com>
San Diego, CA - Wednesday, February 13, 2002, 9:07 PM

MARY ANN LATHAM(a true fan of STARGATE SG1) <PRIVATE>
STAFFORD, BRITAIN - Wednesday, February 6, 2002, 8:14 AM

I first saw Stargate SG-1 two and a half years ago. They were airing it at our local television, and as I had seen the film and loved it, I thought ‘what the heck, there’s nothing else good on telly anyway’ so I saw the pilot. That was the day I knew that if I was ever going to like a show, that show would be Stargate. I so loved ‘Children of the Gods’! I think I like this ep more than the film. And I loved the new interaction they put in Jack and Daniel. So cool!

Well, time passed until they cancelled the show. We had only got to see until ‘The Tok’ra’, and I feel so angry they decided the show was not good enough to be airing..... but I let it pass. Then, after four or five months, to my surprise they started airing again Stargate, from the first ep, and again I fell on the routine to watch it every day, and every day I liked more what I was seeing. We finally got to see ‘The Fifth Race’, my fav ep, but two days later they cancelled the show again. That time I didn’t want to let it pass, so I thought ‘if Mohammed doesn’t go to the mountain...’, and I started searching in Internet. That did the trick. I met a lot of wonderful people there, some of them I know personally and I’ve got the honour of calling them friends, and we all had something in common: We liked Stargate, and we liked most of all, because the relationships and the dynamics of the team. So when I read about Daniel’s departure, I felt devastated, and a lot more when I saw Merdian last week. Knowing that a lot of people felt the same as I help me to get a little over it, but I find myself surprised at how Daniel quitting had affected me, although now I know why. I don’t consider Stargate SG-1 just a show anymore. It has become a part of my life, because thanks to Stargate I’ve learnt a lot of things and I’ve made wonderful friends, and when something like that happens, you don’t want anything to change.

I love SG-1 as they are, everyone of them is essential for keeping the whole team alive. Now that Daniel has gone, I’m not sure SG-1 will ever again be what was once, and that makes me really sad. I hope things turn on for the better and soon we see Daniel again, with Jack, Sam and Teal’c!

Ribbon <amy_jorda@yahoo.com>
Terrassa, Spain - Tuesday, February 5, 2002, 3:59 PM

What’s SG done for me? Opened up a whole new world, encouraged me to communicate with my fellow inhabitants of this fine planet in a way that I’d never thought I’d be able to do, brought me to places I might never have visited, given me good friends I’d never thought to have looked for.

We might not have been the people TPTB were aiming for, but I’m encouraged by the fact that we’ll be the people who remember the show, the people who keep the SG fandom going long after Brad Wright and co. have moved onto different things.

They might forget SG-1, try and ignore the importance of all 4 characters to the show, but we won’t.

Thanks guys, it was a hell of a ride while it lasted.

Graculus <graculus@btinternet.com>
Sunday, February 10, 2002, 8:35 PM

I love words, language, pure emotions, hope and clever, cleverness. So, I just want to swim in the tide of despair that Daniel’s departure has nourished, not just because he’s gone but in recognition of all their time together...

Subtract the clear merchandising opportunities, the emphasis on beauty, the need to explain everything and the band wagon mentality of TV the world over and the door is opened to more subtle explorations.

SG1 seems to afford itself the freedom to reflect without needing to dwell. I see everyday heroic things around me in my work, little but wonderful things. Yet they often go unrecognised. Saving face for a loved one, choosing not to hurt someone, asking nothing in return...

And I get the chance to see that these same values apply elsewhere when they are extolled on TV. The way they are in SG1. And that gives me hope.

No flo-mo scenes there.

At it’s best, it is akin to the likes of crouching tiger, hidden dragon. At it’s worst, a great TV show about a great water effect the places it takes us...

...which is, so often, where I was headed anyway

Sam

Sam Wardhan <a.horowitz@ntlworld.com>
Lincoln, UK - Friday, February 1, 2002, 9:21 PM

Even though I myself do not write fanfics I can say that I have enjoyed reading the other writer’s work and will still carry on reading, but I don’t think I will be reading anything that does not have Daniel as part of the team and I don’t think I will be bothering with the series six when and if it comes on Sky TV.

All I can say Michael is good luck in what ever you do and I wish you well in the future.

Gail Lavigne <lavigne@hqww2.freeserve.co.uk>
Tavistock, England - Thursday, January 31, 2002, 12:18 AM

That is, if I have a reason to. I’m not into the bimbo type I have to admit - so there go a lot of the characters that are turned out in today’s shows. I mean, I like attractive women, but its also nice to be able to carry out an intelligent conversation too if you get my drift. You could probably call me a geek girl since I have a degree in science (oh, by the way, if you know of any pathology labs that’re looking for technicians, you wanna drop me a line?), but that’s not why I watch science fiction. I don’t even like some major shows in the sci-fi world. I can’t handle all but one of the Star Trek series (not including Enterprise since I haven’t seen it yet). I used to watch Farscape, but then Channel Nine got all funky with the scheduling and I lost interest in a show that I previously loved (gotta love program planners). I watched Sliders until the Professor died - I loved that bloke, reminded me of Pavarotti except that he thankfully didn’t burst into song and he didn’t have that whole handkerchief thing going on. There are a few other series that I’ve watched, several more that I’ve lost interest in (case in point, the X-Files - it just got lost in its own mythology).

And now Stargate... Thank you Channel Seven. Thanks to this mob, I’m yet to actually see the end of season 5 - but I’ve got tapes when I get around to it. Which isn’t going to be any time soon I’m afraid. Probably due to a combination of pure laziness and my growing disinterest.

Hey, its a long two metres to where I keep my tapes okay?

Don’t ask me why I’m starting to lose interest in one of my favourite obsessions. Perhaps its the way the team formula’s changing in the eps I have seen (the moment two main characters fall for each other I start to feel a bit iffy - I’m not exactly shipper material)... Perhaps its because there are a few eps in what I’ve seen of S5 that suck so much that they blow. Who knows, who cares? I’m an ex-university student who’s flat broke, lives out in the middle of nowhere and is the wrong gender appparently.

I’m not worth much to a TV producer.

Dan

Dan <DJs_specs@yahoo.com>
Mount Isa (dare ya to find that on a map), Australia - Wednesday, January 30, 2002, 10:58 PM

Lynsey <ps0andr@student.qmuc.ac.uk>
Edinburgh, Scotland - Thursday, January 24, 2002, 5:27 AM

I now want to make it very clear that most of those cherished friends are indeed Slida’s DANIELites. She’s created a marvelous, warm, friendly, fun and supportive *home* for us, and I thank her from the bottom of my heart!

{{{{HUGS}}}} to Slida, and to DANIELites everywhere! ;-)

Debra <dkraft@yazaki-na.com>
Detroit, MI/USA - Thursday, January 17, 2002, 7:37 AM

Well I don’t know how. I just know that it did, and Daniel Jackson was a large factor in it. I know Daniel and online fandom changed my life. Heck, it’s *been* my life for the last three, almost four years. And I’m 19 now, so Stargate has taken up all of my late teen years. If it’s true, and that’s when ‘stuff’ happens to you, then I spent it with Stargate, Daniel, Jack and different online communities that mean so much to me.

It’s not my first fandom, not my first major fandom… but it is the fandom that I first wrote fan fiction in, the first fandom that I really joined in with the online community and the first fandom that took me on my first holiday without my parents to go to a convention. It’s the first fandom where I’ve actually met all the people I’ve talked with everyday for at least two years.

I’ve met some wonderful people over the last few years, too many to mention. With communities like the DANIELites and Jackdaniels, where there are so many caring and helpful people, I know that some of these people who I’ve met will be friends of mine for a long time. These people have helped me through such mundane things as recommending fanfics to read, all the way to supplying information for essays at university to helping me through the bad times in my life. And I thank them wholeheartedly for that, and I thank Stargate, and Daniel, for being the one thing that first made us come together. At first, it may have been the only thing that we had in common, but it united us from all over the world and we found so much more to talk about.

More specifically, Stargate and Daniel have helped me decide what I want to do with my life. Others may talk about discovering a love for archaeology, linguistics or physics through Stargate… mine was slightly different. Yes, I took a course in linguistics (but that was just for fun! Daniel was the inspiration behind that decision though!) but my Major is in Film Studies. I would love to produce my own successful television show one day. And from Stargate and other shows, just by watching, I’ve learned what to do and what not to do.

I love Stargate SG-1, I really do. And as much as I can watch episodes like Torment of Tantalus, The Serpent’s Lair, Need, One False Step, Legacy or Deadman’s Switch over and over again, there are some things that have happened in Seasons 4 and 5, that have changed Stargate so much that I may still watch, but only with hope that the show will return to it’s former glory. And to its credit, it gave us some great episodes, like Absolute power, Enemies and Beast of Burden, but also some that took the show in a direction that I don’t like. And, unfortunately, I’m not the only one who feels that way.

But there are people much more eloquent than I who have already gone into great detail about the contrived nature of any kind of romantic involvement between Carter and O’Neill, or the diminishing of Teal’c and, in recent episodes, of Daniel to wallpaper status. And I would just like to add a ‘me too’ to how I feel about these developments. I don’t like them.

We are all campaigning, and not just for Daniel to return. If Michael Shanks doesn’t want to return then I would in no way want to force him to return, but I do want to say that I don’t think I’ll be watching season 6 without him.

I always saw SG-1 as a team of people who were completely different. They certainly aren’t heroes and individually, they would never get along. If it hadn’t been for the Stargate, they would probably never have even met. But because of this big round disc, they did meet, and become friends who care a lot about each other, more than they should. Take away one member of that team and to me, it all falls apart. Try and replace him? No, that would never work. It seemed rather like a miracle that these four worked together so well. Just replace a member of the team and that message loses a lot of impact and reduces all four of them to nothing very special at all.

Lastly, I’d just like to send some heartfelt thanks to Mr. Michael Shanks. His portrayal of Daniel for five years was a joy to watch. From happiness and wonderment to despair, addiction and madness it was one great ride that I hope doesn’t end with the end of season 5. Daniel was a real person to me. And that is all down to you. Thank you.

linsey <linsey_kree@hotmail.com>
perth, UK - Wednesday, January 16, 2002, 11:23 AM

When I first saw the show I hated it. I loved the movie and RDA’s Jack was too far removed from the movie for me, drove me round the bend. Then I saw Shades of Grey and thought "That’s not the usual Jack, something weird is going on here." It was the way he treated Daniel which sparked my interest. Obviously I’d been absorbing the show by osmosis while I was taping it for my husband. Very soon after that I was hooked.

The storylines were clever, fresh and new in science fiction, and the whole team dynamic was so special, particularly the interaction between Jack and Daniel. Take that away and for me at least it ceases to be Stargate SG1. When it was first announced that Michael was leaving I figured it was his choice to make and supported him as I always do. Now it seems he didn’t jump, he was pushed, and from watching season five I can see why he would want to leave. Daniel is being shafted by the writers, and by extension so is Michael. If they want to keep the viewing rates up so that they can spin SG1 off into something else, this isn’t the way to go about it. SG1 is *not* SG1 without Daniel Jackson and the show is *not* the show without the contribution of Michael Shanks. His portrayal of Daniel as the moral conscience of the team, his quiet strength of character and his fortitude in the face of adversity made him my favourite character on the show and I can’t see myself watching it without him.

Personally, I was burned by the demise and scrappy last season of Babylon 5 and sadly it seems SG1 is going the same way. I don’t want to be left with a bitter taste in my mouth. I began writing while I was involved in the B5 fandom, but it was Daniel and the rest of SG1 which really helped me to develop as a writer, to the extent that I now have the confidence to enter writing competitions and am getting extremely high marks in my creative writing university course. I have Michael Shanks and Daniel Jackson to thank for that, if not for the enjoyment he and the others have given me during my short time within the fandom.

It’s doubtful I’ll have the bottle to tell him this in person, so I’m saying it here.

Thanks Mike. For everything. We’ll miss you.

Wadjet <munko@erehwon.karoo.co.uk>
Hull, Yorkshire UK - Wednesday, January 16, 2002, 7:40 AM

Australia is way behind with episodes so I bought the Season 1 DVD box set from Amazon and spent a whole week of my holiday entralled and entertained. My imagination was ignited. I’ve just spent a small fortune on the next 3 series of DVDs which I’m awaiting from the UK (the exchange rate sucks).

I know it’s sounds silly but my life has been changed by SG-1. My imagination was so stimulated by the show that I have finally started the novel(fantasy genre) I always wanted to write but never had the courage to commit to paper. Maybe it’ll come to nothing, but at least I would have tried.

I was incredibly upset by the news that Michael Shanks had decided to leave the show but I understand the reasons. For a character to just fade into the background must be like a slow death for the actor who portrays him. A part of the SG-1 magic has been lost. I can only hope that the efforts of fans can return him and Daniel to the show, on the right terms. If not, then so be it and I wish Michael well in his future pursuits. Thanks for all the memories.

Arona <arona_o@ivillage.com>
Melbourne, Australia - Tuesday, January 15, 2002, 6:04 PM

It changed my life. I mean that literally, and from a very real, very human perspective, not the fandomonium or groupie perspective from which those words might appear to have derived. I joined the fandom because I thoroughly enjoyed the series. Every episode was wonderfully creative. Every character was fresh and real. The team interaction was outstanding, with each person adding a unique link in a beautifully woven chain. These aspects blended together in a way I’d not seen on television before. Hence, I joined the fandom for the chance to share my *wonder* with others who would understand what I was talking about. I expected nothing more than some moments of "play" here and there. But I received something priceless in return. I found true friends, from all around the globe - and I *do* mean *true* friends, the kind you share your soul with, the kind who laugh with you and cry with you, the kind who share your excitement when things go well in your life, and who offer sincere consolation when things do not, the kind who remember your birthday or other special days even when your family might seem to take them for granted, the kind you can count on to be there even when the world itself seems to have been turned upside-down.

There are incredibly, special, marvelous people in this fandom. These are the kind of people Stargate SG-1 attracted early on, during its first and finest seasons. They are intelligent, well-spoken individuals, who respect the anthropological and cultural flavor to the story-lines. Many fans have earned a new fascination for archeology, and some younger fans have even embarked on career paths inspired by the references on the show, taking on college studies in history, anthropology, archeology - and likely astronomy and physics as well.

Unfortunately, the fandom has been altered somewhat by the story-lines of seasons 4 and 5. The changing team dynamics with the principal characters are often identified as the root cause of heated debates, and have pushed some viewers away. There could be no greater change than the removal of SG-1’s "heart", Dr. Daniel Jackson. And there has been no greater out-cry.

Daniel Jackson stepped through the Stargate in search of "meaning of life stuff", as noted in season 1’s "Torment of Tantalus". It is not, therefore, surprising to think back on the *wonder* I’d experienced alongside him on the journey. After all, isn’t that something we’re all seeking, and always questioning? If you take that away, all you have left is formula television, more "same old, same old". The wonder I’d found after 40 years of flipping channels is swept under the rug. Stargate SG-1 is diverted from a universe filled with "what-if’s" and unceremoniously deposited into the corporate realm of dollars-and-cents, where all that matters is demographics - a word with little real value in the end. If demographics’ studies were perfect, there would be no failed shows on television - every one would be a winner. Yet aren’t the majority of new programs introduced in a given year actually cancelled and quickly forgotten?

Isn’t it sad, now that there are literally hundreds of channels to choose from, there is so little worth choosing? I *choose* Stargate SG-1 as it was, with the chain unbroken, with its heart and soul intact and its teammates complete. If that’s not a choice, then I suppose my television will get far less use in the future.

Debra <dkraft@yazaki-na.com>
USA - Tuesday, January 15, 2002, 4:29 PM

I never watched Stargate SG-1 until recently. I have a friend who has been a big fan for several years and she used to tell me about it all the time. I was always trying to remind myself to catch it, but always seemed to forget. Then, one of my favorite actors, Peter Wingfield (Tanith), guest starred in a 4th season episode. I didn’t understand a lot of the episode, but I fell in love with Jack and Daniel and the Stargate universe all over again. I started watching, both on Showtime and previous seasons in syndication. I bought the DVD set for Season 1.

I find that I still think Daniel is the one true hero of the story. Without Daniel, there would be no Stargate program. Without the Daniel and Jack dynamic, the fact that they are such opposites and yet manage to come together as friends and colleagues and heroes, the show seems so much flatter. I’ve already seen it happening throughout the middle part of Season 5 as Daniel has been written more and more into the background. I love the character of Sam as she was written in earlier seasons of the show. During Season 5, she’s suddenly so often front and center, to the detriment of the other characters (even Jack), that I’m beginning to dislike her. This annoys me, because I think that good role models for females are few and far between on television. Sam is smart and pretty and funny and, up until fairly recently, she was written as a very believable, albeit far above normal in intelligence, character. Lately she seems to have turned into SuperSam, and I hate it. I feel bad for even saying this because Amanda Tapping is an awesome actress and she’s done a great job on the show. Teal’c is an interesting character and there have been many great stories about him in past seasons. He had a great story line at the beginning of Season 5 and since then seems to have gone mute or something. He sort of lurks in the background.

For me, the crux of the matter comes down to emotion. The earlier seasons of the show had great passion and drama and the main characters showed that they cared for one another, even if they often disagreed about ways and means. Lately, the emotion and the passion seem to have bled out of the show in favor of more and more action. Less and less dialogue and interaction. More emphasis on guest characters and less focus on the characters so many of us have grown to love and admire over the last five years. The writing of so many episodes seems so flat and shallow. Episodes that TPTB describe as "team" episodes consist of the team in one place at the same time, but that is about it. I wish I knew why the writing on the show seems to have drifted so far left of center. They claim they aren’t writing to attract a certain demographic, but I don’t see how anyone can deny that the focus of the show has shifted. It has now shifted to the point that one of their top actors, one of the main characters (and to many of us THE main characters), has chosen to leave the show. I would think that speaks for itself?

Ann Wortham <ashton7@aol.com>
Orlando, FL - Monday, January 14, 2002, 4:04 PM

Jean <jmc3@hotmail.com>
Brisbane, Qld, Australia - Sunday, January 13, 2002, 5:43 AM

Re: 7 of 9. Don’t hate her, want to date her. ;-)

Sage
Saturday, January 12, 2002, 3:04 PM

Katherine
Atlanta, Georgia - Saturday, January 12, 2002, 2:51 PM

While this is a big change, unlike some people I don’t think Daniel leaving is going to ruin the show and I don’t agree with "SG1: All or Nothing" motto of this site. I look forward to the rest of the series and the spin-off and hope TPTB keep up the good work. But remember Daniel while you’re doing it.

Lastly, although not a young male, I thought 7 of 9 was a great character. If you can’t see past looks, that’s your problem.

Jean <jmc3@hotmail.com>
Brisbane, Qld, Australia - Saturday, January 12, 2002, 4:34 AM

H.D.

Hakana Delin <hakana_delin@yahoo.com>
Miami, Florida - Friday, January 11, 2002, 11:02 AM

Cathy
Birmingham , UK - Wednesday, January 9, 2002, 10:47 AM

I’ve been dissappointed with the show since the end of S3. Even in episodes like "Foot-hold", "New Ground" and "Crystal Skull" there wasn’t a proper ending. People are lost or harmed and there is no proper ’closure’ or sense of relief when they are recovered/saved.

I liked the relationships we saw in s2 where it wasn’t forbidden for all the characters to show affection for one another as friends. I like Daniel being hurt and Jack rescuing him so shoot me. It’s what I like and in the old episodes in s1 we used to get that a lot more. In s1 if Daniel was hurt/lost it was alright for Jack to be upset about it but from the end of s3 onwards that didn’t happen any more. I used to read spoilers so I could imagine how the episodes would go and up until the end of s3 they were usually better than I hoped for. But now I know they will be worse. I don’t even bother ’projecting’ any more because I know nothing interesting will happen to the characters that tells us anything new about them, and they certainly won’t have Daniel hurt and Jack caring about him because people might think they’re sleeping together and that would be the end of the world. :-P

I don’t understand MGM at all. Don’t they want their show to be liked by it’s fans? I know hundreds of people who are watching the show because Michael Shanks plays Daniel Jackson in it. I don’t know ANYONE who is watching it because it’s produced by Brad Wright and written by Paul Mullie & Joseph Malozzi. Someone at MGM should have taken a basic arithmetic class before they lost their most popular character just to keep an "X Gate" storyline no one but them seems to like.

diodorus <diodorus_siculus@yahoo.com>
New York, USA - Wednesday, January 9, 2002, 10:14 AM

Iam a big fan a big of StarGate for longer time. I dont know what is happening about StarGate scene now, because in local telivisions the show have stopped after season four. And dont know why the show isnt continuing. I hope that I will see next seasons. I have read some texts which tells about that Daniel Jackson is ending in the show. I have watched a video from chapter six with new character, but I havent seen Daniel Jackson. I like all characters of StarGate, my best isnt Daniel, but I think, that Daniel Jakson is the most important character in the show. At beginning wasnt StarGate show, but StarGate movie (film). In this movie Daniel Jackson have been as main charakter, without him u.s. army wouldnt know how StarGate works. I think Daniel is very important for StarGate scene. And If you have some new informations about cause please write they on this server or to my e-mail. Thank You. I hope that StarGate show will continue as the show for Sci-Fi fans who believe the power of StarGate world or the power of own world. Iam sorry for my English, because Iam still learnig it. I live in Czech Republic but I havent Czech nationality, but isnt important. I want to say that StarGate have fans in WEST-MIDDLE(CENTRAL) Europe too. And I for all times believe that freedom is all for me, I want to tell that isnt important when a human was born (f.e.: U.S., Korea, Russia, Iraq or Germany). I think if a human feels free and believe independance its great for him and for world. If the freedom of world is growing now (grows the number of freefom people) it is super. I know that everyone is freedom and I feel that StarGate is the show, for freedom, strong ideas peoples who loved Sci-fi. And I think that StarGate world is great, because is too strong and shows strongs and powers of this world. What do you think? I tkink that. Its all from me.

Goodbay.

Peter Kajfosz <kificzek@msn.com>
Trinec, Czech Republic - Thursday, September 26, 2002, 6:32 PM

Julie Ness <jlienss@optusnet.com.au>
Ipswich, Australia - Thursday, September 12, 2002, 8:34 AM

Hazelnut <Hazelnut05@hotmail.com>
Manchester, England - Wednesday, July 17, 2002, 1:19 PM

ralph <ralpmg@aol.com>
bklyn, ny - Sunday, June 23, 2002, 2:15 AM

sharilyn <sharilyn2@earthlink.net>
Odessa, Tx/USA - Thursday, June 13, 2002, 2:03 PM

But I started watching Stagate SG-1 with my husband, who is a certifiable "geek," a Trekkie from way back, a fan of alien movies and science fiction galore. I was initially attracted to the interaction of the characters on Stargate SG-1--I loved how they all related to one another. Then I rented the original movie and fell in love with the character of Daniel Jackson--the outcast, the geek who stood by his beliefs when everybody else thought he was nuts. What really intrigued me was the theory that aliens built the Egyptian pyramids. Ancient civilizations have always held a fascination for me--decoding a language, for example, or examining the artifacts left behind in a tomb. I think it's the storyteller in me, wanting to unearth the tales that have been hidden for so long.

And to see all that come to life on the screen!! My interest was peaked, big time. The possibility of discovering an ancient gate, a gate that can transport people--people just like you and me--to multiple worlds, where multiple races/cultures resided--was thrilling and mind-blowing. Imagine all the stories! Imagine putting all these ancient puzzle pieces together!

And it was done by a geek...NOT the military, who had the gate in their possession and a crappy translation of the cartouche. I still feel a surge of triumph at the scene when Dr. Jackson strides up to the chalkboard on the military base and erases all the mistakes somebody else made while trying to decode it. He came away with the phrase, "The Gateway to Heaven." And all the gunslingers could do was stare open-mouthed at him.

For me, Stargate SG-1 was not a far-fetched Sci-Fi series. It was about exploration and discovery. My thirst for knowledge was equal to that of Daniel Jackson, and I got to live vicariously through him as he gated to many different worlds. The show, for me, provided what my creative writing did--a trip to someplace new, someplace unexplored and unknown.

An added bonus was the incredible dyanmic between all four main characters. They had me laughing; they had me crying. They had me looking at the world a little differently. They were originally kind and compassionate to one another, headstrong and opinionated at times, emotional wrecks at others, doing what they had to do in order to survive. In short--they portrayed real life. But they all seemed to stay true to themselves, and to one another. It gave me hope for the future of humanity to know that O'Neill would NEVER leave one of his people behind. That honor still existed in warriors like Teal'c, who was fighting for a just cause: to free his people from slavery. That a woman could be brilliant and strong, but also beautiful and feminine, like Carter.

And that tolerance, curiosity, morality, and kindness existed in Daniel Jackson.

I looked forward to my new "trips" every week when Stargate SG-1 came on, when I heard that beloved sound of the chevrons locking and the gate being fired up. I couldn't wait to discover the latest culture and planet with my team.

Somewhere, somehow, that simple formula, that simple premise, was lost. And the series is no longer the same. The writers have too easily succumbed to cliche in terms of the characters, and they virtually stopped the space exploration when the whole NID-government conspiracy plot came into being. Why would I want to follow a bunch of guys in black, running around in mysterious ways, keeping top-secrets away from the public? If that was my desire, I could always go to the "X-Files" or read the latest theory on the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

And now, Daniel is gone. The original dynamic has been dissolved. Brad Wright mentioned in one of these articles that Daniel's story "arc" was over. To me, that is just plain laziness and lack of imagination on the writers' part. Here you have a multi-dimensional character, just bursting with different plotlines and avenues to follow, and you end up pasting him to the wall in the fifth season.

I feel the writers and producers have stopped caring about their story. They have left behind the brilliant originality of the Stargate in favor of winning over boys and men who have not yet grown out of the cowboy-and-Indian appetite for action. They dumbed down the entire show, which is an insult to my and many other's intelligence. They have stopped stimulating their brains and their creativity, and as a result have done the same to me.

The character of Daniel Jackson affected me in profound ways. He made me look at myself more closely, to challenge myself to be more humane, more tolerant, more forgiving. His friendship with O'Neill showed that it was OKAY for men to be close and caring toward one another. What wonderful role models for our children. What a shame to kill off those role models.

I miss the discovery and the wonder. I miss the friendship of the original team. I grieve that the series I once loved has morphed into the rest of the garbage spewed out by television these days.

You never know what you have until it's gone.

J. Lynn Kallio <jlynn1972@hotmail.com>
Berkeley, IL USA - Friday, May 24, 2002, 4:59 PM

Bree <petdrusilla@aol.com>
Las Vegas, NV - Sunday, May 5, 2002, 3:11 AM

LiYaNa

~LiYaNa~ <liyana_leo@msn.com>
Thursday, March 7, 2002, 3:56 PM

Let me tell you, Jack drew me in (being a bit sarcastic by nature, myself, he just spoke to me...go figure), but it wasn’t long before all of my attention was focused on a certain archeologist with an undeniable passion for life, determination to live it no matter what was thrown at him and a tendency to step in "it" with both feet before he realized what kind of mess he was getting into. I know all of you know exactly what I’m talking about. He’s drawn in quite a few people, as this very web site will attest. Integrity, optimism and tenderness...amazingly rare qualities these days. He’s the kind of guy who makes you want to be a better person. I think that’s basically why we all adore him. I know it’s why I do.

Since that first episode I’ve watched the characters develop, grow, bond. From Season 1 to Season 3 it was a joy to turn on the television each week just to find out what was going to happen next.

Then came Season 4. A bit of a let down, but I was willing to give things a chance. After all, ebb and flow is what life is all about, right? After seeing what has happened in Season 5, however, I have only one question...what on Earth (or any other planet for that matter) are they thinking? How could TPTB so completely miss what is so obvious to the rest of us? In all the polls Daniel stands out as the favorite over every other character by several percentage points. Shanks has an on-line fan base (monstrous would not be an overstatement here) that rivals those of big name actors. (Sorry, Michael, but you’re not one of those yet....YET.) Why then, would they let him go???

I haven’t seen Meridian yet because I’m one of the unfortunate few who have to put up with the nightmare that is Showtime (totally different topic that doesn’t deserve to take up space here), but I’ve been "listening" to the comments that are flying around in cyberspace about it. While I’ll admit, it is a totally fitting "end" for Daniel...something that follows the character very well, I’m profoundly sorry to see him go. I find myself among the many viewers who are honestly surprised by the amount of emotion his leaving stirs up.

I also want to make it known that I’m disgusted with the fact that TPTB weren’t satisfied enough with having a fan base of adult woman that they decided to obliterate the show in favor of completely altering the viewer demographic. Let’s face it, Daniel leaving will completely change the way the team (SG-1) functions. The way they relate to one another will be undeniably different without him and as a result, so will the show. TPTB have lost viewers, alienated loyal fans and have created a whirlwind of hostility that I hope they feel for a long time to come, all in favor of changing the direction of the show so that it caters to a more “acceptable” audience. OK, so we weren’t what they had expected their fans to look like. Fans are fans. Ratings are ratings. Why is it that women are deemed not good enough? What does it matter who’s watching as long as we’re watching?

I could see the not so subtle changes they tried to make by introducing Tok’ra Barbie. They wanted more testosterone in their viewing audience. I figured they’d realize soon enough that we didn’t appreciate it and drop it. Obviously that hasn’t happened. If they’re willing to drop one of the main characters (and the Favored One at that) and disturb a balance between the rest of the team that had once worked so well, then obviously the gender of the viewer is more important to them than I’d realized. And before you guys out there get all up in arms, that isn’t a slam toward you. It actually has nothing to do with you at all. It has to do with a closed minded attitude that apparently still lives and breathes in L.A. that women watch daytime drama and men watch sci fi and that’s the way it should be. If women like a science fiction show than obviously someone is doing something horribly wrong.

I love the characters. I love the actors, but the people pulling the strings, insulting us all with the insinuations that their actions have stated loudly and clearly, I can live without. I hope for the sake of the many fans involved in this endeavor that we’re able to get Daniel back in his rightful place, even if only for one more season. I hope for TPTB’s sake that they wake up and smell the mocha and join the rest of us in reality!

This isn’t just about a television show or a favorite character and for anyone reading this board who thinks it is…who thinks that we’re just a bunch of obsessed, hysterical woman who’ve lost touch with reality…maybe you should take another look at WHY the show was changed in the first place. There was a reason behind the alterations that started this mess and there was an attitude behind that reason. I can’t say whether insulting the loyal viewers of the show was intentional or unconscious, but I would like to point out that if it wasn’t intended….why are they still refusing to fix it?

Panther <seavan@mybc.com>
Seattle, Washington/USA - Thursday, February 28, 2002, 2:19 PM

I can’t even think what the new crew is going to be like.

Michael, thank you for making SG-1 What it is today. You will be missed.

Traci Holmes <Tholmesla>
Winnetka, CA - Tuesday, February 19, 2002, 5:08 PM

Sandra D. Mc.donald <deem31@webtv.net>
lancaster , Pennsylvania - Tuesday, January 8, 2002, 10:35 AM

Ghazala <akhtarghazala>
Huddersfield, England - Monday, February 18, 2002, 9:11 AM

Kit <snow_star@email.com>
U.K. - Saturday, January 5, 2002, 6:22 PM

Babs <baeckknit@aol.com>
Hershey, PA USA - Friday, January 4, 2002, 7:47 PM

Stacey Bilotta <fbilotta2@cogeco.ca>
St. Catharines, Ontario - Friday, January 4, 2002, 3:42 PM

Clio <lady_c74@yahoo.com>
TX USA - Thursday, January 3, 2002, 10:43 PM

sharyn <sharyn@shadowmyst.com>
Centereach, NY USA - Thursday, January 3, 2002, 10:32 PM

Lisa <blindwolf00@yahoo.com >
Lebanon, MO USA - Thursday, January 3, 2002, 9:48 PM

Hall <earlyprimaryteacher@yahoo.com >
Chicago, IL USA - Thursday, January 3, 2002, 9:47 PM

Rebecca <EilanofAlbion@gmx.net>
Duisburg, Germany - Thursday, January 3, 2002, 2:23 PM

Peggy <yrye3stars@aol.com>
NY USA - Wednesday, January 2, 2002, 3:00 AM

Deborah Louise Gough <littlemissarty@hotmail.com>
Jersey, Channel Islands, UK - Tuesday, January 1, 2002, 3:33 PM

Melodi Rayl <melrayl@juno.com>
Springfield, MO USA - Monday, December 31, 2001, 5:35 PM

Marla (GateAngel) <gateangel@angelfire.com>
USA - Monday, December 31, 2001, 10:11 AM

Isabella <isabellarosa@hotmail.com>
Chicago, IL USA - Sunday, December 30, 2001, 9:48 PM

Jill <jillie168@yahoo.com.au>
Sydney, NSW Australia - Sunday, December 30, 2001, 9:01 PM

elfin <elfin@burble.com >
UK - Sunday, December 30, 2001, 2:37 PM

Elaine (not that one, the other one)
Edinburgh, Scotland - Saturday, December 29, 2001, 8:05 PM

Adele Shakal <adele@shakal.org>
Los Angeles, CA USA - Friday, December 28, 2001, 9:04 PM

Xochiquetzl
Etlanna, Jawjah USA - Thursday, December 27, 2001, 10:45 PM

Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, SCI FI Channel, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. All blog entries represent the opinion of the poster. All editorials represent the opinion of the author. All linked content represents the opinion of the linked site's webmaster. Copyright on all articles/editorials/blog entries belongs to the original author. Offer void where prohibited. Please remain seated while the aircraft is in motion. Warning: Coffee will be hot. A moose once bit my sister.