
Dr. Daniel Jackson reinstated in the SG-1 team ASAP.
Jack O'Neill and Daniel Jackson to once again be the good friends we know they are, with an end to the artificially manufactured conflict, the hurt without comfort or resolution. Jack and Daniel came from opposing and necessarily balancing viewpoints. They come together to do the right thing, the best thing. This was how and why the movie and the show worked. It hasn't for two years. It can again. The adlibbed banter, the humour and the depth of their mutual affection and respect are deeply missed. They were key elements of what made "Stargate" unqiue. Both a buddy show and an ensemble, sci-fi and engagingly human drama.
For Jack and Daniel's friendship to once again be the heart of the team dynamic.
For the team of SG-1 to be a FAMILY again, with each member loyal to, caring about and loving the others.
To have ALL of the team members written equally, each with their showcase episodes AND a contributing role in team episodes.
To balance episodes on and off-world, with new cultures and aliens, not re-hashed US culture. Avoid using Blockbuster video rentals, other series and the re-packaging of old episodes and the X-Files as 'inspiration' for the writers.
Return to the original ratings-winning formula off peaceful off-world exploration - the mythology made Stargate unique. Series Two was the season of peaceful exploration and of the family of SG-1. It had by far the highest ratings.
To have Jack the smart, caring and inspiring commanding officer he was in the first three seasons. Engage him with his team, show his people skills and good judgement.
To have Daniel able to use his skills as a linguist and archaeologist once again, allow him to communicate and explore the past and new cultures. Allow him to matter to Jack and to his family of SG-1.
To open up Sam emotionally again, to make her flawed, human and as real and dear to us as she used to be. Give her that Earth-based love interest - give her a chance of humour, drama and fresh character development.
To bring Teal'c out of the shadows, out of the backdrop and allow him to play an equal part with the other characters. Much of his experience as First Prime remains unexplored. Bring out the drama in his acceptance of his reduced status and power in SG-1.
Bring back Jonathan Glassner to the core production team if possible. If not, the show would be in safe hands with fan favourites Peter DeLuise and Robert C. Cooper as Executive Producers, supervising the writing team.
MGM: Look at what your audience is overwhelmingly telling you. Listen to us.
A lot of your fans are telling you that your unique, compelling touchstone character is Daniel Jackson. If you want the spin-off 'Atlantis' to succeed, your leading character and actor are here. Dr. Daniel Jackson and actor Michael Shanks will lure most of your existing audience into the new show. You can't buy the popularity that Michael Shanks has, his charisma, the extraordinary dimensionality his portrayal has imbued Daniel with. You can't buy his appeal to fans of every age, of both genders, of many nationalities and different backgrounds.
If you want the movie to be another worldwide hit, then Jack and Daniel should be in leading roles together as friends and adventurers at the heart of it, leading the team, the family of SG-1.
It's really very simple to accomplish this. Just sit down at the negotiating table with actor Michael Shanks. Address his concerns - and ours - about the equal integration of his character into the team once again, and the development of his character.
After all, its becoming more and more clear, to many, this character and this actor are first among equals, and this team, this family of SG-1 is the reason most of us watch.
Additional
Amanda Tapping and Chris Judge want to write and direct. Let them. They have the confidence and the sympathy of your audience, who want them to shine, even - or perhaps especially, those of us unable to go on watching without our whole family of SG-1 intact.
Teryl Rothery earned and deserves co-star billing with the main cast, and a larger role in the show.
If you persist in ignoring the wishes and needs of your audience, at the very least give Amanda and Chris the chance to explore in depth the friendship between Sam and Teal'c, so criminally ignored in the show.
We'd also like recognition and respect from the production team that we - your audience, your fans, your paying customers - are not an out there vocal minority of nuts to be insulted with impunity.
Best regards and thanks for your consideration, Mr. Cohen
Members of your audience, making our voices heard here at the SDJ site
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