Ya know, I’m still shaking my head. 

I can’t seem to come to grips with the convoluted logic and excuses surrounding the disastrous maneuverings by The Powers That Be at Stargate SG-1 (hereinafter referred to as “Stargate Light.”) I’ve heard the spin, as well as that infuriating mantra “The Show Has Evolved.” But what is clearly evident - that no spin can conceal - is the denial of their own ruinous machinations and the down-playing of the significant outcry of fans hurt and dismayed over what’s happened with their show.

The statement made by Brad Wright that “the show has evolved” implies that the show itself somehow steered its own course, as no one appears to assume ownership of this "evolution." In fact, a show’s direction and content does not “evolve” without decisions made by those in charge to set that “evolution” in motion. And I have an issue with the term “evolved,” anyway.  

It’s a convenient euphemism for “changed.” So, let’s just call it what it is, shall we? The show changed.

Boy, did it! It’s painfully apparent over the past two seasons in the tired, lazy writing, the lack of character depth and development, and the loss of vision. And now, for the cherry on top: TPTB slammed the delete key down on the show’s heart and soul ­ Daniel Jackson. In advertising terms, we now have “Stargate Light ­ everything you’ve always wanted in a once-great sci-fi show with all of the action and intrigue you didn’t ask for and none of the feeling.” 

Woo hoo.

Worse, it seems TPTB don’t appear to care what the fans think - fans who wrote and called and begged for another season. Well, bully for us. We got another season - just not the season many of us had in mind.

I get a pervading sense of “What the hell? It’s our last year anyway. Fans, shmans!” This pisses me off more than all the other mind-bogglingly stupid changes enacted, and apparently, I’m not alone in my passion. I am proud to be speaking my mind along with my fellows in fandom who are dissed, pissed and soon-to-be missed.

Did they hear us? Perhaps. Brad Wright has thrown us a freakin’ bone with one lousy script for Daniel Jackson to return in one show. One show. Gee ... thanks. You really do care. 

*Yawn*

Sorry. If you want to impress me, you’re going to have to do a lot better than that.

Wright explains they wanted to bring back the excitement, that sense of wonder. He and the other TPTB spin doctors think the new guy can do this. They fail to understand that the characters didn’t lose that sense of excitement and wonder ­ THE WRITERS DID! Amazing. Simply amazing.

And ironic. Brad Wright can still write a very good show, capturing that excitement, wonderment and team dynamic that used to be. I fondly recognized it in “Beast of Burden” It was a nice reminder of what this show used to be like. Alas, it was a fleeting gem in Season Five. 

*Sigh*

So, as one of the Executive Producers, he must spin and explain. He says he didn’t want Michael Shanks to leave. From everything I’ve read, however, of online chats with him and postings from Joe Mallozzi to quotes from Wright and Richard Dean Anderson to magazine articles and direct quotes at cons from Michael Shanks, I’m convinced it was what I suspected all along ­ they wanted him gone.

He was told his character didn’t warrant an upgrade. In reality, I don’t believe Shanks asked for an upgrade so much as he asked for his character to be restored. And it’s not just Shanks’ character - Chris Judge is getting the shaft, too. In the end, Shanks had no choice other than to move on. I can hardly blame him.

I’ve seen this done in Corporate America. Make the job unchallenging, take away responsibilities, perpetuate an uncomfortable work environment, force the employee to make a move. By doing this, you save the paper shuffling nightmare that comes with firing an employee, and avoid any assumption of blame. “Hey, he chose to leave. We wanted him to stay.”

Yeah. Right. I was born yesterday when my mother fell off the turnip truck.

It took me a few days to unwind from the Brad Wright dog-and-pony show on Lycos; the one where he promoted “Stargate Light” and “Stargate Light: The Movie,” the one where he jammed Jonas Quinn down our throats, and said we’d say, “yummy!” if we gave him a chance, the same one where he claimed only Michael’s fans won’t accept Jonas Quinn.

Again, he and his fellow PTB fail to understand we fell in love with the show as a whole ­ the team, the stories, the vision, the spirit ­ not one actor. It’s a package deal ­ Jack O’Neill, Samantha Carter, Teal’c and Daniel Jackson (whose actions and wherewithal resulted in the Stargate functioning at all. Hello?)

It seems so simple. Yet, TPTB just don’t get it. And these aren’t dumb people either! Astounding.

I’ve not seen Meridian yet. Being a Yank, I and my fellow Americans without DSL were saddled with three cycles of “Stargate Light” season five reruns while the rest of the free world actually got to see the remainder of season five. From what I understand of the spoilers and the buzz, any idiot can see (once he has stopped inspecting the inside of his own rectum) that this new character, by his very actions and behaviors, could never hope to achieve the fan loyalty, respect and the devotion enjoyed by his predecessor. 

And NO - it’s not because Michael’s fan won’t like him. 

It’s because it just doesn’t make sense. It’s because TPTB made yet another in a series of gaffes, blunders, and assumptions that drove away a fan favorite and will, ultimately, drive away a significant portion of its fan base.

That’s the bottom line. The Powers That Be at MGM, Stargate Productions, Gekko, etc. hopelessly fail to understand their audience. Oh sure, you’ll get your fans who really have no opinion one way or the other and do enjoy the show no matter what direction it goes. I’m happy for them. But for a disproportionate number of us, we’re bailing. 

We see the Season Six iceberg, Captain. We’ve been pointing it out to you for months. Mind if we launch a lifeboat and sail on outta here? Thanks, didn’t think you cared anyway.

As far as “Stargate Light” goes, as you might have surmised already, I won’t be watching. I have to wash my hair.

Marcia

(c) Marcia 2002.  All rights recognised.  No copyright infringement intended.