Well, I just finished up my latest installment of the In the Making series, a big three page behind the scenes look at Ripple Effect which includes most of the scenes and sequences that didn't make the final cut. Its not secret that I love this episode and am interested in seeing what kind of response it gets tomorrow night. It will be paired with Atlantis's Critical Mass which sets up a neat little mystery, bringing back some familiar faces (like Lt. Cadman and the much-missed Kavanagh).
Finished the rewrites on Morpheus and Counter-Strike and will be reviewing them both this weekend. On Monday, I'll be getting notes on Memento-Mori and preliminary indications are the first draft is in pretty good shape. Saw the almost-finished visual effects for Camelot and they are amazing. We screened the Day One mix the other day and Carl said it was the best episode of SG-1 he's ever seen. I'm kind of biased because I wrote the episode and feel the need to display some of my trademark humility (ha ha), so I will NOT say its the best episode of SG-1 ever.
But its certainly in the top ten.
Good news! Paul finally has a title for his script. Atlantis, episode 2: The Begotten. Quick, make it official before he changes his mind! Rob and Martin got in revised drafts of Flesh and Blood and No Man's Land respectively. Both great season premieres, but the Cooper episode I'm really looking forward to is Sateda which he not only wrote, but will be directing and producing. If he thought he had his hands full with Crusade - well, let's just say we're going to be sure to hide all of the sharp kitchen knives while this one is being shot.
Next week we are finally, absolutely, positively spinning stories. We've got the 200th episode to work on and Alan's heist episode, and the SG-1 mid-season two-parter that already has the visual effects department salivating. Today, we had a preliminary discussion on the Atlantis mid-season two-parter which promises some exploration, a complication leading to a confrontation, an altercation, an attempt at communication, increasing frustration, an investigation uncovering certain information that offers an explanation, setting up a determination and ensuing culmination in a celebration. Honest. That's what we've got so far.
On the DVD front, I finished Vandread (meh. I preferred Nadeisco) and have started Cromartie High School (And I thought Excel Saga was weird) and will be starting Samurai Champloo (the final volume came out a couple of weeks ago). Also, have to check out the latest Lupin. Have got one more episode to go in the third season of Homicide, and have started on the latest Family Guy release (I'm amazed at what they get away with). Have been holding off on Serenity because Paul wants to see it, but it looks like he'll be too busy for the time being.
Well, that's it for this entry. I'm still checking out all the posts but skipping over those dedicated to ragging on the actors, as if these whiners have nothing better to do with their time...What am I saying. Of course they don't. Anyway, let me know what you thought of Ripple Effect - and Critical Mass while you're at it.
Ha, ha, first comment.
I win, you all lose.
Top ten, eh? Honestly Joe, you haven't sniffed the top ten, or even top twenty, once this season. What's so great about Camelot? You can tell us. Ooh, I know, more babysitting for Carter, right? Silence for Teal'c? More Rambo Daniel? Please, let us in on the wonderous details.
Disenchanted Gater
Joe Mallozzi said:
"Rob and Martin got in revised drafts of Flesh and Blood..."
Please, please tell me that these "revisions" you speak of include the complete eradication of Adria, spawn of demons and the proverbial jumped shark of Stargate. Please!
"Top ten, eh? Honestly Joe, you haven't sniffed the top ten, or even top twenty, once this season. What's so great about Camelot? You can tell us. Ooh, I know, more babysitting for Carter, right? Silence for Teal'c? More Rambo Daniel? Please, let us in on the wonderous details."
Were you refreshing Joe's blog until he updated just so you could post a gem like that? You suck at the Internet.
Joseph, I'll give you $10 for a copy of the near finished Camelot. Right now. I can be in Burnaby or downtown in 5 minutes.
Hey Joe! Thanks for the updates. I really like reading your blogs. Anyway, since you say you're spinning stories, I just wanted to push for having both Daniel and Sam in all 20 episodes of SG1 next year. They're my favorite characters now that Jack is gone, and it would really suck if either of them wasn't on SG1 for every episode next season. So, basically what I'm asking for here is that you guys just try and keep the team together. That means having Carter and Daniel there all the time. Thanks for listening.
Elizabeth McCullins
Joe,
Any word on whether Jack O'neill will be in the 200th episode? Please, please ask him to appear! It would just be wrong not to have him.
Hey Joe. I don't mean to be a pest to you (or anyone else here, for that matter) by asking an ancient question, but I noticed that one of the newer podcasts on scifiscoundrels.com stated that SciFi Channel will be cancelling SG-1 (Please God NOOOO!) and replacing it with a Battlestar Galactica spinoff entitled Battlefield Caprica. Does this mean that SciFi is actually pulling the plug on Season 10, declaring that Season 10 will absolutely be the last, or is this just a false rumor? Thanks.
There are still whiners watching SG-1? And here I thought they'd be complaining about something less worthy of them.
I hope you enjoy Samurai Champloo... I think it's in my top ten list of anime, and I've only seen a few episodes. And you still haven't seen Serenity?!
I agree with the guy asking for Jack in the 200th ep.... I can't imagine Richard not wanting in on it.
"more babysitting for Carter, right?"
I don't even know what that means.
"Silence for Teal'c?"
Interestingly enough, I was doing one of the DVD commentaries with Martin Wood who told me that, according to Chris, Teal'c has had more dialogue in the past season than in the first three season of SG-1 combined.
"Joseph, I'll give you $10 for a copy of the near finished Camelot. Right now. I can be in Burnaby or downtown in 5 minutes."
If only my car wasn't in the shop...
I don't even know what that means.
It refers to the fact that in the last two episodes we've seen (both scripted by one Joe Mallozzi), Carter does nothing but babysit the two children featured in those episodes, Orlin and Mitchell. What, did those scripts read "Carter glances at Orlin/Mitchell with sympathy and compassion" about 100 times? And it's not just a Carter thing. Daniel has been useless for the last two episodes, too. He was a wiz a turning that dial in FHII, though. And as for Chris Judge, as is often the case, he's just wrong about having more dialogue--no sarcastic argument required.
Disenchanted Gater
Hi Joe, I really enjoy reading your blog and am glad that you skip over the insults directed towards the actors. I was curious if we will ever see Thor again or if he was retired with Rick? I know we have a new asgard but I still miss Thor and Michael doing the voice.
"I noticed that one of the newer podcasts on scifiscoundrels.com stated that SciFi Channel will be cancelling SG-1 (Please God NOOOO!) and replacing it with a Battlestar Galactica spinoff entitled Battlefield Caprica."
Its actually Battlefield Earth: The series, because the movie was such a huge success.
Joe, I don't suppose that you could give us a little hint about dark Daniel in season 10, the controversial story arc for Daniel(that according to you won't destroy his character) or how long or often Daniel will be in Atlantis. Anything that you could tell us would be greatly appreciated. BTW I am really looking forward to season 10. Take care and thanks for blogging.
Joe,
Please, PLEASE don't bring the SG-1 characters to Atlantis. Atlantis has tons of great characters of its own. The only thing that was better about season one was that Atlantis was cut off from Earth. I know it's just my opinion, but i do feel strongly about this. the more isolated atlantis is from sg1 the better.
Ronon's concubine
jmallozzi said...
"I noticed that one of the newer podcasts on scifiscoundrels.com stated that SciFi Channel will be cancelling SG-1 (Please God NOOOO!) and replacing it with a Battlestar Galactica spinoff entitled Battlefield Caprica."
Its actually Battlefield Earth: The series, because the movie was such a huge success.
Hahaha. So this info is just a load of lies? It's hard to tell seeing that it's buried among a lot of factual info.
"Carter does nothing but babysit the two children featured in those episodes, Orlin and Mitchell."
While we'd love nothing better than to have all four of our main characters share the screen equally in every episode we air, its just not going to happen. Sometimes, there will be episodes where Daniel may take center stage (ie. Origin), and other times there will be episodes where Mitchell will take center stage (Collateral Damage). As for 4th Horseman - you saw it as "Carter doing nothing but babysitting" while I and many others saw it as "Carter helping Orlin come up with a cure for the plague that was threatening to wipe out all life on Earth". Potato PotAto.
"I was curious if we will ever see Thor again or if he was retired with Rick? I know we have a new asgard but I still miss Thor and Michael doing the voice."
Nope. Thor is still out there. Right now, we're just rounding out our stable of Asgard.
anonymous said
""...I noticed that one of the newer podcasts on scifiscoundrels.com stated that SciFi Channel will be cancelling SG-1 (Please God NOOOO!) and replacing it with a Battlestar Galactica spinoff entitled Battlefield Caprica. ....""
Hmmmm...I always love to speculate on rumors...
If this has any validity AT ALL I wonder if this is the JMS project that's been hinted at in some of his latest posts. It's supposedly being shot in Vancouver and is a spin-off of a show currently in production. Battlefield Caprica would fit the bill.
I guess I have to wait to see what you think of Serenity. I'm a bit obsessed with that movie. I bet you couldn't tell. :-D
Anyways, I think that Ben did an absolutely wonderful job in Collateral Damage and it was a real pleasure to finally get some back story on Cameron which allowed me to get a bit of a better handle on the character. One question, was the bit with Cam killing the refugees just for use in this episode or is it going to come into play somewhere on down the line in another episode? I ask because it's such a huge thing and it would be interesting I think to see how it affects him (military decision, having to give orders under fire, etc.).
Thanks for blogging!
Joe, I have a question about Ripple Effect. At a convention Teryl said that there would be a scene between her character and Daniel that she really liked if the scene wasn't cut. Do you know if we will get to see that scene or if it might have been cut?
Joe Mallozzi said:
As for 4th Horseman - you saw it as "Carter doing nothing but babysitting" while I and many others saw it as "Carter helping Orlin come up with a cure for the plague that was threatening to wipe out all life on Earth". Potato PotAto.
Look, Joe, I know you said that you almost never watch the final cut of any episode, but I've got to tell you that that's not how it played. In fact, Orlin's entire role in the episode was extremely marginalized by the fact taht he didn't cure anything. And Carter didn't help him at all. Sure, she asked if she could help, but the dialogue you wrote pretty much shut down that possibility.
Carter: "Anything I can do to help?"
Orlin: "You can keep me company."
Carter: "Give me the information, I'll finish the cure."
Orlin: "I have to do this alone."
Sorry, Carter did nothing, and you do know it. Coming on here and being disingenuous about the content of episodes is a pretty weak position to stand by. As for your professing that certain characters play bigger roles in certain episodes, I think that we all get that. That is how the show has always been. The complaint that many fans have is that lately, this season in especial, one or more of the characters is completely wallpapered in order to highlight a different one. That was never the case in previous seasons. All your arguments serve to do is hammer home the fact that you don't know how to write team episodes anymore.
Disenchanted Gater
Firstly, Joe, ta muchly for putting an end to the petty whining about actors.
Secondly, I'm dying to see Ripple Effect, or, as I've dubbed it, Raspberry Ripple Effect. Shame it doesn't air til Tuesday over here, but I've cancelled the debating coaching I run to stay in and watch this one. I can't really see how it can be a bad episode.
Lastly, I'm not sure I understand a lot of fan reactions to character development (or lack thereof). You have four new characters to explore, and, in order to get them established, there needs to be some allowance for that.
Although I have a few little niggles (doesn't everyone), I can't complain too much about the season so far.
As for DVDs, I'm a Little Britain fan (very daft British comedy) and have also been watching Der Untergang again for a German project, a really fascinating account of Hitler's last days, which I fully recommend.
Jm said"While we'd love nothing better than to have all four of our main characters share the screen equally in every episode we air, its just not going to happen. Sometimes, there will be episodes where Daniel may take center stage (ie. Origin), and other times there will be episodes where Mitchell will take center stage (Collateral Damage). As for 4th Horseman - you saw it as "Carter doing nothing but babysitting" while I and many others saw it as "Carter helping Orlin come up with a cure for the plague that was threatening to wipe out all life on Earth". Potato PotAto"
so Joe when is Carter's centric episode due out for S9?
Oh and for the record Babysitter aptly describes wht you guys have done to Lt. Colonel Carter (and in some ways Daniel and Teal'c). Come on Joe don't say anything if you can never admit that you guys have made a mistake or fallen off the track. Making some of the lead characters (the ones a huge number of people actually tune in to watch because that is who the longer than 1-2 season Stargate fans are invested in) into wall huggers is a mess for you. People hope to see them doing something substantive that actually contributes to the arc of the show, besides of course holding up the doors and the walls and clasping their hands in front of them.
BTW - your big new shiny star got you a 1.7 - congrats on that!
Dwayne Kinson (Pac. Pal. Ca.)
Joe, please resist Skiffy interference at all costs! Scifi only ruins shows. End of story.
Well, at least one or two of those characters will play a big role in season 10. Anyone wanna bet on who those characters are?
Joe...
Would love to hear about the cut scenes you teased us about!
Further, still giddy over RIPPLE EFFECT...I can't wait and I have less than 24 hours. It's like the Beachhead Carter return countdown all over again times fifteen *giggles*.
Thanks for saying you skip actor bashing posts. Maybe they'll stop now. (Let me enjoy my naivety for a brief moment.)
Did you get to see Noises Off? And more importantly, did you try my casserole?!???
Thanks for not giving up on us...
Mary Beth
:D
Joe,
Will the characters of Carter, Mitchell, Daniel, Teal'c and Vala all play major roles in season 10 of SG-1?
Thanks for your time.
Joe,
I'm not sure who Carl is but if he thinks "Camelot" is the best episode of Sg-1 he's ever seen, then I must assume he's never seen any of the episodes from the early years (Fifth Race, Forever in a Day, Menace, Crystal Skull, Maternal Instinct, etc., etc.). I bet old Mitch will get to take out the sword again for Camelot, hey?
Ya see, Joe you just should't talk like that. Now folks are going to be expecting great things from "Camelot," watching it with a discerning and critical eye and I gotta think it just won't meet expectations. If you'd said nothing, and just let yourself be the master of underestimationedness, like Bush, then everyone would think you were great.
Joey, joey, joey, what *are* we gonna do wid ya?
Agatha
Joe, you may have missed this (and maybe you ignored it) but I am going to try again:
Can you tell us if Colonel Carter will continue to be a major character in S10 like you said Vala would be? From what you said it sounds like at least 11 episodes are written or at least sketched out (broken?) and you should have an idea of what is going on with the group, including Sam Carter and what type of role she will have on SG1. Will it be substantive and contributory, will she have a reason to be there (I found it disturbing how in the 4HM2 and CD she was basically a glorifed baby-sitter (as so many others have pointed out) who stood around a lot but did not contribute anything susbtantive at all to the team or to the show (in CD the same was true of Daniel and Teal'c but at least at other times during this season they have contributed substantively to the story and the team - Sam Carter has yet to be treated that same way and here's hoping that changes with RE this week and then beyond through the remainder of S9 considering her import and contribution and history with the show and the team).
Thank you very much for your thoughtful reply.
Suzanne Pettis (SG1TeamFan)
Well, I've already seen Critical Mass, since I'm in Canada, and I got to say it was awesome! The whole thing flowed very smoothly, and the crossovers were well done.
And of course, Rachel sang beautifully, and created some of the most memorable scenes in Stargate history. Bravo!
Can't wait for Ripple Effect!!
PG15
Joe, thank you so much for answering my question about Thor. I really enjoyed Collateral Damage. Ben did a great job. Next time you talk to Michael tell him that Tatiana was adorable in the episode. It sounds like you have been really busy with scripts for next season. I'm really looking forward to the Daniel/Carter scene that you told us about in episode 2. Thanks for taking the time to blog and answer questions from the fans.
I've seen Critical Mass (Go TMN!) and it was great. Atlantis has been really impressing me this season. A lot more original story lines, and the Vis FX continually amaze me.
So excited for Ripple Effect! I'll probably comment again after I've seen it. I've been waiting all season to see this epi ever since I read some spoilers/teasers.
As for Camelot being the best episode...well it's got tough competition (Threads, Heros (1 and 2), Fifth Race, Lost City) but I'm sure it'll be kickass :)
Oh, and Joe, I'm not sure I'm asking the right person, but who would I contact/where would I go to get my extended version of Threads for S8 dvd boxset? There was some info on gateworld but it was only applicable to US citizens. Any ideas?
Joe,
I hope I'm not disappointed. I'm really hoping we might see Thor in "Ripple Effect." If Jack can't be there, Thor would be the next best thing, 'cause contrary to what other people might think they know, contrary to the little hints you've thrown out, I just know that Jack is with Thor on some secret mission somewhere.
Thorina
was it your idea in Critical Mass to have Kavanagh fainted.
i thought having Kavanagh faint was a nice touch.
did you think of that joe
first time on your blog
joe was it your idea in Critical Mass to have Kavanagh fainted.
i thought having Kavanagh faint was a nice touch.
and having herimod telling him to be quiet was a nice touch too.
johndoe4880
Quote: "Please, please tell me that these "revisions" you speak of include the complete eradication of Adria, spawn of demons and the proverbial jumped shark of Stargate. Please"
Double please to this request.
Tom
Thanks for the update, and yes, you should skip the pointless bashing.
I am especially intrigued by the SGA ep "The Begotten." If that's the same ep you mentioned before that has Beckett in it, and if I assume that the "trapped in an asylum when the inmates take over" thing is a metaphor...well, maybe I am trying too hard. ;-)
cheers,
M. Reader
be·get
1 : to procreate as the father : SIRE
2 : to produce especially as an effect or outgrowth
No offense Joe, but Carl wrote the swiss cheese that is the Hive, and you think The Ties That Bind was a great stargate episode. So,I'm gonna take that whole "top ten episode" bit for Camelot with a big, big slab of salt.
Just out of curiosity, what are the other nine eps in your Top Ten? Looking for some context here.
Man, do I miss RDA. This new guy just feels so flat.
**Anonymous said...
No offense Joe, but Carl wrote the swiss cheese that is the Hive, and you think The Ties That Bind was a great stargate episode. So,I'm gonna take that whole "top ten episode" bit for Camelot with a big, big slab of salt.**
Good one, heh, heh. I'm with *you.*
Joe-
I just thought you would like to know that Late Night with Conan O'Brien just aired a skit that included SG-1. They were showing January "previews" of popular TV Shows. For SG-1, Conan said that the clip showed "two leaders of the jaffa race" contacting an alien. It showed a clip of Teal'c and Bratac on a Goauld Mothership. They both look at the viewscreen as it activates and it is George W. Bush. It was pretty funny.
Joe--
I love how the writers have stepped up the Asgard presence a little. Hermiod is pretty funny. Any chance of making him or other Asguards more permanent characters on SG-1, Atlantis, or spin-offs in the future?
Dang it! That would have been HIlarious!
Hey Joe,
I asked you this in your questions thread, but I was just wondering if you'll have any moments between Teal'c, Daniel and Sam that kinda goes back to the early days. This request isn't really a slam against the new season (though I have had my beefs), it's just that these three haven't really had many moments together. I mean, they've been together, but it's typically been to move the story along. Will we get anymore pre-season nine moments between these three character next season?
Thanks for stickin' around.
~ tdos
Oh my god! You started on Cromartie High School? That's awesome, I've been suggesting it to you in the Comment Box for months!
Wow, this is the first time I've REALLY thought that you guys pay attention to our comments.
Today, we had a preliminary discussion on the Atlantis mid-season two-parter which promises some exploration, a complication leading to a confrontation, an altercation, an attempt at communication, increasing frustration, an investigation uncovering certain information that offers an explanation, setting up a determination and ensuing culmination in a celebration. Honest. That's what we've got so far.
You know what Joe? I can save you some time on this one. You guys can stop thinking about writing the episode and I bring you my Atlantis script which quite corresponds to the description! And, what a coincidence, it's a two-parter!
I can be at the Bridge first time tomorrow morning. Tell Brad and Rob to be ready. I bring the nutella!
;)
S&J
Hello Joe,
I was recently watching Redmption Pt.2 again and I have got to ask you something. Repli-Carter discovers when she probes Daniel's mind that he has according to her, a vast amount of Ancient knowledge in his subconscious. So I'm frankly a bit stunned that the writers haven't taken advantage of this gold mine of information and written any stories where 1) bad guys such as the NID or the TRUST kidnap him to get at the information or 2) Daniel is somehow able to briefly use some of those Ancient powers to save someone. Come on. You KNOW we want to see some of those Ancient powers.LOL
Also I keep waiting for another great meaty, angst-filled, emotional episode to be written for Michael Shanks. You guys all know that he in incredible in those eps like "Lifeboat" and "Legacy" and "Crystal Skull". So are we going to get any more eps along these lines in S10?
I think one of the vital componants that is missing from the show in the emotion. Fans want to see the characters getting angry, feeling scared, laughing, crying. We want to be touched emotionally when we watch a show. So what do you think Joe. Any tug-at-your-heartstring episodes on the horizen, especially for us Daniel fans?
Kath from Indiana
**I think one of the vital componants that is missing from the show in the emotion. Fans want to see the characters getting angry, feeling scared, laughing, crying. We want to be touched emotionally when we watch a show.**
I love those episodes too, but isn't that just what we've seen with Mitchell in Collateral Damage?
Loved this episode btw. Joe... Thanks for the insight into Mitchell the man and his relationship with his father that made him the character he is today :)
Kas
So just to clarify: Mitchell is a threat to Carter because he has been placed as head of the team instead of her.
: Vala is a threat to Carter because she is a woman and might detract from Amanda's screen time.
: Daniel is a threat to Carter, because he ??????????????????? is played by Michael Shanks???????????????
Is ther anybody besides Teal'c/ Walter or Chaka that isn't going to be an object of hatred by Amanda's fans??
P.S: substitute "Carter should lead SG1 instead of Mitchell" with: "Amanda should be the NEW STAR of the show instead of Ben" and that is what both Amanda and her fans are really trying to say.
Maybe she should have gone off and joined the cast of WHISTLER and have found her true home, instead of calling the production office at SG1 sexual discriminators, and then expecting a Fu***** job in return. Wake up people, she's PLAYING YOU
I think that Stargate SG-1 is now better than ever before, because all episodes connect to the main events (like BSG). The Atlantis Season 3 should be written so too, because the "old" (means S1-S8) SG-1 style isn't enough for the fans now. We need more character development, more intresting two-partners and not only action and CGI wars. :)
So just to clarify: Mitchell is a threat to Carter because he has been placed as head of the team instead of her.
: Vala is a threat to Carter because she is a woman and might detract from Amanda's screen time.
: Daniel is a threat to Carter, because he ??????????????????? is played by Michael Shanks???????????????
(cut for other crap that was posted)
wtf............ dude, get a clue. oh wait, that would require more brain cells than you presently require.
Collateral Damage was an emotional episode for Mitchell but that doesn't mean that we don't need episodes like that for the other characters too. I agree with the above poster that the emotional episodes are some of my favorites. I would love to have another really good emotional episode for Daniel too. I would love a really good Sam and Daniel angsty episode that reminds us what good friends Daniel and Sam really are. I think the last time we got a Sam and Daniel hug was in Forever In A Day in season 3. I really miss the onscreen friendship(brother/sister relationship) that Sam and Daniel share that goes back to season 1. Considering that Amanda has referred to herself and Michael as "kissing cousins" and Michael has referred to Amanda as a "big sister" I know they would do a beautiful job if given the chance. I just wish they were given the chance. Maybe in season 10.
Salut Mister Mallozzi, je me demandais juste si vous parliez le francais vu que je sais que vous venez du Québec! En tk chu ben fier de ca pour Stargate, je peux dire qu'un Québécois est dans la production:P Encore beau travail! Et comme on dit par ici, on s'en criss des chialeux, yen aura toujours :D
Martin
nantel007 at hotmail.com
This season of both shows has been great so far. I can't wait for tonights eps. From the spoilers and info you have given, they look to be the best so far! Also, from what little info has been given on next season, it looks to be even better than this one. You guys are doing a great job! Keep it up.
One worry that I am having is about the Friday night line up. SciFi has announced that Dr. Who is going to be taking the 9pm slot (Atlantis's slot) as of March.(I'm assuming that this will be after the end of the season.) Do you guys have any info on why they are doing this? There have been loads of negative feed back from fans about the change in the line up. We are not against bringing Dr. Who to SciFi, just against it being in a Stargate slot.
Anyway, any information you may have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
JMallozzi said...
'While we'd love nothing better than to have all four of our main characters share the screen equally in every episode we air, its just not going to happen.'
Fallacy of false dichotomy. Unfortunately, that's the way the scripts have been going. For example, Judge went from 35% of the main characters' lines in one ep to 5% the next (figures are for illustration only; NO, I haven't counted lines). So, yeah, while his overall average may be up (thankfully), the ping-ponging feast-or-famine also has increased.
'As for 4th Horseman - you saw it as "Carter doing nothing but babysitting" while I and many others saw it as "Carter helping Orlin come up with a cure for the plague that was threatening to wipe out all life on Earth". Potato PotAto.'
More like 'potato, cauliflower'. Sorry, JoeM, but Carter didn't do diddly-squat in 4H2, and she was only slightly more efficacious in Collateral Damage. Offering words of comfort is NOT substantive, plot-forwarding action. When a main character 'monitors' a situation, surely that should mean something more than 'stand there and look worried' -- especially when said character is a tech qenius who also has had more than her fair share of experiences with Goa'uld/Tok'Ra memory devices.
Troll watch update :grin:
And the troll award for this edition of JM's blog goes to... ::drum roll:: "kiss my white a**" !
Congratuations, "kiss my white a**", for the first actor-bash post of this edition.
Now we can all follow JM's example, refuse to feed the troll further, and skip :)
Hiya Joe,
I came here cos I heard you wrote Collateral Damage, and since I thought it was the best standalone ep in years I'd like to say a big THANK YOU. It was a simple and straightforward story, but the details contained a lot of hidden brilliance. The thing of how a person's memory makes the person who they are and ending with the murderer making himself innocent by slicing the murder from his own brain was compelling. And I liked the sinister undertone that is there upon rewatching, aware that however much of the truth the government know they'll do sweet naff all about it cos it's not expedient to act.
BB got a chance to stretch himself, and the writing of the other roles put me in mind of 'Fallout' where you achieved the same deal with writing very small parts for certain characters and yet giving them interesting, weighty and in-character lines so that their presence in the 42 minutes appears far greater than a totting-up of talk-time would imply. It definitely felt like a TEAM ep.
I'm greatly enjoying s9 so far. Teal'c and Daniel, my favourite characters, have had plenty of good story, and I think Sam, Vala and Cam have also all been great to watch. Again: THANK YOU.
Madeleine
Your communication about the Atlantis mid season two parter - c'est manifique!
ROTFLMAO!
You certainly do get to have fun!
S
OH...And I'm looking forward to Ripple Effect, I seem to be LMAO every time the sci fi promo plays Carter sayin' "I got nothin'....yet!" I'm excited to see it!
Hey Joe, can't wait for Ripple Effect. I've been looking forward to this one since the very first tidbits were released. Hope it's every bit as good as it sounds like it'll be.
On another note, I enjoyed "Horsemen I & II" overall. The second part not quite as well as the first, I'm afraid. The idea was fabulous. The acting was great. And I had no problems with Carter's role, per se. But... if you don't mind a tiny bit of (hopefully constructive) criticism, I also thought that the episode featured too much "telling" us what was going on, and not enough "showing" us. I'm not speaking of the visual-effects sort of showing us, either. I'm speaking of actual details, more than "we're looking for a cure; we found a cure".
For example, one of the things you said was: "I and many others saw it as "Carter helping Orlin come up with a cure for the plague that was threatening to wipe out all life on Earth".
I saw that you wanted that to be the role Carter took in the episode, and it was understood via the exposition, but we didn't actually get to see what Orlin was trying to do, or to really understand his role in making it happen. We didn't get to care how difficult it was (from a technical or scientific point of view) with respect to Carter, either. Carter did play some very nice emotional support to Orlin, which was touching, but as a viewer, I don't think your narrative was strong enough in terms of its ability to capture the core conflict. It skipped around to too many diverse points of focus. The idea was huge; the story timeline didn't seem adequete to accomodate it. It was a race against time; but it didn't feel that way. And I think, if I may be so bold, it could have been a lot more powerful.
Anyhow, with absolutely no malice intended, I hope you don't mind my saying so.
Best,
minigeek
Just in case you don't speak Quebecois
"Salut Mister Mallozzi, je me demandais juste si vous parliez le francais vu que je sais que vous venez du Québec! En tk chu ben fier de ca pour Stargate, je peux dire qu'un Québécois est dans la production:P Encore beau travail! Et comme on dit par ici, on s'en criss des chialeux, yen aura toujours :D
Martin"
I was just wondering if you spoke French cos I know that you come from Quebec. I'm really proud that I can say that Stargate has someone from Quebec on the production team. Anyway, lovely work, yet again, and, as we say here, let's cross our fingers that there'll be more.
(I hope that's pretty much right. There was one sentence where he used Quebec net speak, not something I've come accross much)
Disenchanted Gater said: It refers to the fact that in the last two episodes we've seen (both scripted by one Joe Mallozzi), Carter does nothing but babysit the two children featured in those episodes, Orlin and Mitchell. What, did those scripts read "Carter glances at Orlin/Mitchell with sympathy and compassion" about 100 times? And it's not just a Carter thing. Daniel has been useless for the last two episodes, too. He was a wiz a turning that dial in FHII, though. And as for Chris Judge, as is often the case, he's just wrong about having more dialogue--no sarcastic argument required.
I've read some spoilers for the rest of S9 and you should be pleased to know that there seems to be a more even division of team members' contributions.
Do you read them? Skip over this post if you want to remain spoiler free.
S9 SPOILERS FOR SAM CARTER:
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Carter is supposed to save the day in "Ripple Effect" and "Off the Grid". She's part of the team searching for Teal'c in "Stronghold" (I think she gets to play soldier Sam). She coordinates the search and rescue for Daniel, it appears by spoiler pics, in "Ethon". She's said to have some nice scenes in "The Scourge" which Joe has said made a very good team ep, and she's with Mitchell in another dimension in "Arthur's Mantle". She's in "Crusade" more than Daniel or his actor, apparently, and is part of the big battle in "Camelot", where she also gets to explore and get techy.
I'd say that Carter's not babysitting in the rest of the S9.
-spoiled fan
i stopped watching cromarcie high school after the first episode so good luck.
Very good job on the season so far, it has been really entertaining, collateral damage was a very enjoyable classic scifi episode with a surprising twist.
Nice to hear about DVD commentaries for ripple effect.
When do we get a gary jones episode at the research of the lost chevron ? hehe.
hi, i just want to say that ive heard rumers that the 200th episodes might have the furlings in it. Plz Plz Plz make it so. So when your spinning stories for the landmark episode could you mabye bat the idea around the table. i feel that the 200th episode is a special one and what would make it more special for the fans if had the elusive/evasive furlings in it. Just a thought....
So just to clarify: Mitchell is a threat to Carter because he has been placed as head of the team instead of her.
: Vala is a threat to Carter because she is a woman and might detract from Amanda's screen time.
: Daniel is a threat to Carter, because he ??????????????????? is played by Michael Shanks???????????????
Is ther anybody besides Teal'c/ Walter or Chaka that isn't going to be an object of hatred by Amanda's fans??
P.S: substitute "Carter should lead SG1 instead of Mitchell" with: "Amanda should be the NEW STAR of the show instead of Ben" and that is what both Amanda and her fans are really trying to say.
Maybe she should have gone off and joined the cast of WHISTLER and have found her true home, instead of calling the production office at SG1 sexual discriminators, and then expecting a Fu***** job in return. Wake up people, she's PLAYING YOU
This is why kids from Brazil shouldn't sbiff glue.
*sniff*
Thank you for taking the time to write this and make awesome TV. Hopefully we will see stargate for season 20.
Joe, please write Jack into the 200th episode!
Saw "Critical Mass", one of my favorite Atlantis episodes yet! Seems like it could have been split up into two and used as a season finale.
tracy jane said
There was one sentence where he used Quebec net speak, not something I've come accross much
The sentence from anonymous French guy (or gal) was written in good old pure laine (died in the wool) Joale (slang) "Et comme on dit par ici, on s'en criss des chialeux, yen aura toujours :D"
Which, when translated, means " Like we say around here, to hell with whiners, there's always some hanging around"
Now you've got the whole message.
Of course, if you were from Quebec, you probably know all that
BigG
someone said: P.S: substitute "Carter should lead SG1 instead of Mitchell" with: "Amanda should be the NEW STAR of the show instead of Ben" and that is what both Amanda and her fans are really trying to say.
Maybe she should have gone off and joined the cast of WHISTLER and have found her true home, instead of calling the production office at SG1 sexual discriminators, and then expecting a Fu***** job in return. Wake up people, she's PLAYING YOU //
besides you leaving out the reasons and wherefores... amanda never said these things. her fans never said these things. this isn't a black and white situation. where do you get this stuff?
sally :)
Joe,
Your so great at telling us without telling us... keep up the great work! :)
JOE! I LOVED Ripple Effect. Had me in stitches most of the episode. Of course, a friend suggested that an Evil-Carter should have a mustache, but he's messed in the head. I'm just wondering.. two realities she's married.. but to WHOM? *boggle*
Hey Joe.
Been getting live spoilers via MSN, and I'm so glad that I cancelled the debating class I run. I can barely wait.
Just out of interest, who did you intend the husband and father to be? Jack or Pete?
And the almost-kiss was that Sam or Jolinar's feelings?
Very Excited Brit
Tracy xxx
Joe, this episode was FANTASTIC!! Thankyou from the bottom of my SG-1 loving heart for that utterly great episode!!!!!! The only thing I would've liked to see (other than the deleted scenes that were just released) would have been Jack (on the base for some unbeknownst reason as usual) to walk into the room with the 20 Carters-it would have been too funny, but I understand why that couldn't happen. Very sneaky with the omission of who Sam was married to/having a baby with, very sneaky indeed--I'm just going to take it how I want to even if that's not the way you intended. AND the line about seeing Janet soon/again...PLEASE make it come true, we miss our Janet (even if she was from an alternate reality!). Thanks again, and if you happen to see anyone who worked on the show, tell them all what a great job EVERYONE did!!
Joe-
Ripple Effect--great episode. My favorite scene, the room full of Carters...classic. I had to watch the scene several times, as I kept missing the dialog because I was watching the background Carters interact with each other. Amanda rocks! Great acting all around. It looked like everyone was having a good time. Loved the Sam/Janet moment at the end. Reminds me of how much I miss the character. Martouf looked hot, hot, hot! I groaned at the interepted kiss. Awesome beats, though. This episode will become one of my favorites. Suzi
Now that's what I'm talking about - A TEAM Episode...! (albeit 13 teams may be a little excessive every week).
Nice to see another Janet and Martouf... oh and those Calvins.
Loved the missing scenes too - too bad they had to be trimmed.
Looking forward to the Ba'al and Teal'c throwdown next week. Thanks!
Both Episodes to night were very good. I even like Atlantis better than SG1, which is the first time that has happened for me. I'm glad I decided to stear clear of major spoilers this season. Did not see the twist on Atlantis coming. (won't spoil it for others)
As for SG1, loved the way Mitchel did a mind job on himself at the end. lol
Speaking of Critical Mass:
PLEASE PLEASE tell me Mitch Pileggi will be returning as Colonel Caldwell. I've been hoping he'd be made a series regular because he has brought such strength to the role. I was delighted when he joined Atlantis and I just can't see it without him now.
Caldwell will be okay, and the Daedalus will fly under his command again.
Yes?
You are well loved in our household right now. Critical Mass was well recieved.
Serenity is a great movie! If you've seen Firefly or not, it will truely be an adventure. Hope you and Paul enjoy it.
Neener Neener said...
Speaking of Critical Mass:
PLEASE PLEASE tell me Mitch Pileggi will be returning as Colonel Caldwell. I've been hoping he'd be made a series regular because he has brought such strength to the role. I was delighted when he joined Atlantis and I just can't see it without him now.
Caldwell will be okay, and the Daedalus will fly under his command again.
Yes?
yeah Caldwell will be back.
remeber at the end of the ep. mackays says hermoid is beaming out the gouled from his head.
you see him in the
THE LONG GOODBYE
Joe - best parrt of this ep was Carter, Carter, Carter, Carter and JANET. More Janet and Carter time would have been better - fans saw them as best friends and spending some quality time on them (just a few additional minutes) would have made this a 4/5 instead of a 3/5, especially since Janet has been all but ignored since S7 Heroes 2 and nary a mention by anyone, tsk, tsk on that. Carter Carter Carter and more Carter for S9.
Karen C.
Joe,
Loved Ripple Effect, but wished it was extended (like Threads), so that you didn't have to delete those scenes. Since they were already shot, any chance that they will appear on a future DVD?
It was great seeing Janet and Martouf. Please bring Janet back!
Anita
Some of the comments above touch on various character support in SG1 lately. To be honest, It does seem like there is a discomfort either between the actors or the writers. The show is changing, a new lead, a new big bad and I believe that is a good thing. However, the chemistry on the team needs to be adjusted. There have been far too many awkward moments with Teal'c, Carter and Daniel lately. The show has a good and long future, but the diehards have to be willing to flex and allow cast changes to happen. It feels like TPTB are trying to please everyone and making everyone feel a little uncomfortable.
Overall, I liked Ripple Effect. One of my Fav eps this season, however, someone needs to do something about Carter's hair.
Critical Mass - I love SGA. They have a wonderful chemistry and I really enjoy their adventures. I do believe, the Wraith were a poor choice for an initial/primary big bad and the Atlantis mission doesn't seem to be as fleshed out as the original SG1 mission (find new technologies to protect Earth from the Goa'uld.) The series feels like it has been painted into a corner.
I'm looking forward to another Big Bad next season and hopefully a larger and stronger mythology to go with the series.
Keep up the great work! I enjoy the blog and the insight into the production process.
Jim R
Thanks so much Joe for giving us that closure between the team and Janet, especially between Janet and Daniel. That was so welcome and heartwarming.
Great episode, a lot of fun with clever twists and great one-liners ("I miss Thor"). A bit heavy on the technobabble; I was willing to believe without all the reasoning :) but the interactions were great. Lam was sweet this time, too.
And thanks so much for leaving it open who the other Carters ended up with. If Jack had been named I would have ralphed.
Critical Mass was good as well though it seemed a cheat that Caldwell didn't act at all strangely the whole ep... Also I thought the singing only barely managed to avoid 'cheese' territory; Rachel's voice is lovely.
Hi Joe, I enjoyed Ripple Effect. My favorite scenes were the ones with Daniel and Janet. It was good to see the two of them together after what happened in Heroes. I'm curious who decides which scenes to delete. Is it the writer or whoever edits. I would have loved the scene between Daniel and Mitchell where Daniel talks about his wife. The fact that she is still alive in another reality was a great idea. Thank you for posting the deleted scenes though. BTW my favorite line in the episode was when Daniel said "I miss Thor". Have a great weekend.
loved ripple effect. i'd like to see something with the " evil" sg1 again . keep up the good work. i look forward to the future episodes.
I just read your 'in the making' notes. Very interesting! I would have thought some of those scenes could have fit if some of the Carter technobabble had been shortened instead. No?
It did seem out of character for Black Daniel not to question what they were doing, so scene 54 would have been perfect and added a lot to the ep. I still felt very sorry for Black SG-1.
I love how PdL interpreted which relationship was being hinted at. No wonder he filmed Carter and Mitchell standing so close together. I wondered what was up with that!
OK JM...
Thanks for blogging, spending time in the forum and doing bts write ups!
I enjoyed the ep. I loved Sam using Jackism's. I enjoyed the reference to ST's Mirror Mirror. I enjoyed walking down path's not taken.
Being a shipper s/j shipper, I enjoyed the references to a possible future w/Jack...of course I hope that's what is meant, but alot would say to ambigious. Why is that? The thing that...speaking as a shipper did annoy me was the Green same leaning in for a kiss from Marty, when she has previously said she's "not exactly" single...Jack or no Jack. wtf?
But anyway, the Blue Jello was a hoot, as is My Sam comment by Landry.
Hubs said it was slow and that you could have had way more fun with it. And while I agree...perhaps you didn't get to have as much fun...because you ran out of time...as you said ep was running long...or you didn't want to have to worry about fan backlash when you went to far one way or another...as I remember your blog about the PC gift from Christmas...now that I've had my big run on sentence...
Thanks again for what you do - I enjoy it...even if I have my own opinion!
S
joe, will the sam/other ship ever stop?
why'd you have sam almost kiss martouf if she's supposed to love jack?
i'm not really expecting you to answer, but it's the only place i think you'll really see this since you barely play on your q/a thread and emailing is over.
sally :(
OH,
JM - I was kinda harsh in that last post...really I very much enjoyed Ripple Effect.
I think Critical Mass was very cool, that Kavanaugh is very annoying, Hubs guessed the twist...I was oblivious...
Nice Sci Fi Friday
S
Hi, Joe! Thought I'd tell you how much I enjoyed Ripple Effect, as well as your In the Making notes. Any chance of seeing these deleted scenes on the forthcoming dvd?
Loved Collateral Damage too. Just thought I'd mention it. Thanks for blogging. Have a great weekend.
It's a pity so many scenes involving Daniel were cut. Instead we got scene after scene of Carter and her love lives and her technobabble. Why?
Also I sure hope you're not introducing Carter/Mitchell ship. They sure were blocked together all the time again this week.
Joe, Although I enjoyed Ripple Effect, I was wandering why so many of the Daniel scenes were cut? It just seems like it would have been better to have a couple of those scenes instead of the scene with Our Sam getting ready to kiss Martouf(liplock I might add) when I thought that you weren't going to ship Sam anymore. If it had been an AU Sam it would have been different but it was OUR SAM. I just feel like that was an insult to S/J shippers. First Barrett then Orlin,Mckay,Martouf and it looks to me(just look at the blocking in Ripple Effect) that Cam is next. I just don't understand. Like I said, I would have enjoyed one of the cut Daniel scenes instead of a scene like that. After the scene in Avalon I thought you guys might be leaning towards Mitchell/Sam ship. You know the scene where Vala puts her arm around Mitchell and tells him he needs to play hard to get(after he had just talked to Sam). I guess I'm just disappointed. Thanks for listening.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU FOR THE CUT SCENES! My roommate, however, is currently feeling violated and washing out her eyes after read the Daniel/Mitchell scene. I, however, was greatly amused. This episode would have been completely kick ass with those scenes and I'll be looking forward to the DVD. Wish you would of said who Sam was with though. Like Jack, for instance. I know, I know, broken record but do you wonder if SG1 was at a new low last week due to Mitchell and no clear leadership and blah blah. Fans are not watching. I am though, and I did like this weeks. Also, love Atlantis. Always. I am liking it better then SG1 and this makes me sad.
Loved Ripple Effect - and Critical Mass was great... could have done without the singing :)
Wow - now Sam can't have feelings for someone other then Jack? Wow!
C'mon enjoy the episode, why oh why do people have to continually search for faults?
Well, I must say that "Ripple Effect" was the best episode done at all this season (I loved it!) I have to agree with the Anonymous fellow above. What's up with the ressurection of Sam Carter's love interests? They're DEAD (some literally and others figuratively, but we all know the difference there :P). And you're seriously sending mixed signals. If Martouf wasn't about to say "General O'Neill" when Sam asked who "her" husband was in Martouf's reality, I'll be a shoebox!! And the "not really" comment earlier in 1st half of the season with Agent Barrett? We're getting a little too shady here. Either there's ship or there isn't, what's with all the grey? I'll agree it was by far the best episode this season (and I'll agree it's not the best episode *ever* - not sure you can top Window of Opportunity). Good job. I'm getting so frustrated with Sam's current position. :l
Hey Mr. Mallozzi!
So far I've been feeling that Season 9 as a whole has been rather slow and cliched, but as soon as I saw previews coming up for Ripple Effect I knew I had to watch it. It is by far THE BEST episode that you and the writers have come up with this year. I loved seeing Janet again (I cried; it was so good to see her) and Martouf, whom I've missed dearly. Whoever came up with the idea of sticking 18 Carters in one room was a genius; I thought I was going to crack my funnybone. Overall, A+ doesn't even begin to describe it. I've been waiting for this episode for about two weeks and I was not dissapointed.
While I'm on the subject, I'll also inform you that Critical Mass is probably in my top favorites of Season 2 as well. Whoever wrote Teyla's funeral hymn must have been influenced by Celtic music, because that is what it reminded me of. It was a very exciting, very mysterious episode that kept me guessing up to the very end. I thought it might have been said evil person, but I had no idea that he was a Goa'uld..! Truthfully, I love the character, so knowing he was Goa'ulded means he'll be back, which is a relief.
Anyway, thanks for a great Friday Night, Mr. Mallozzi. I hope you can send us more episodes like them during the course of Seasons 10 and 3!
Thank you for giving us Martouf and Janet.
They were always my favorite 'secondary' characters and it would be such a pleasure to see them return again.
Oh, both of those episodes were awsome! Hillarious, riveting, just great! I was expecting Ripple Effect to be really good and was not disappointed. Loved the idea of the team having to outwit themselves. And the fact that the black team was pretty justifiable in their reasoning (if not completely) helped. I had to wonder if the real team wouldn’t go to nearly such lengths if it were them. Which, since it practically was them, is good. (Oh, but the beard/evil twin/Star Trek reference was fantastic.) It was great seeing some old faces, in both shows, but it would have been nice if Martouf and Fraser were utilized a little more. I love the new little Asgard guy. So funny. The scene with all the Carters was very interesting, and visually convincing. I couldn’t help but wonder what McKay would think if he walked in on that. And that Carter with the glasses eating in the background looked an awful lot like the one in Moebius.
Atlantis was great. The LOTR reference and the way the geeks immediately understood what he was saying was great. I love that nervous Deadalus woman; she's hillarious. Great to see Kavanagh back, even if he is an obnoxious jerk. Half-way through I thought Cadman might be the spy, but when McKay suggested it right after I knew I was wrong. You waited until the last moment to expose the spy, and it was a great revelation. Great having it be Caldwell. The song was interesting and had a great effect. That scene with Kavanagh seeing Ronan and freaking out was priceless. At least it proves the guy's not a complete idiot.
Read the deleted scenes. Too bad you didn’t put the “frell” thing in there. Maybe you can get it in later sometime. I love a good reference. Wish you guys could film the extra scenes anyway, if they’re good, just to put them in the DVD, which you could make longer if you wanted. It would have been cool to hear that there’s a world where Sha’re’s alive, and get a glimpse of how that might change things.
I really like the way the two shows are beginning to tie together more. Crossover characters, mentioning Atlantis on SG-1...it all really helps to make it seem like it really is the same world. I am constantly amazed that you guys can keep up the quality of these shows after going for so long. Brilliant.
Mr. Mallozzi,
I'm sure you are going to hear comments from both sides... the shippers will be upset because Sam almost kissed Martouf... the Martouf lover's will wish they had.(I'm in that camp)which isn't the point.
The point is that it was a great episode. I liked it even though I could have done without all the ship hints. What would have helped with that would have been to state difinitively that she was married to Jack in one, and Daniel, and Martouf, and Pete, and Rodney, and well you get my drift...that way ALL the ships would have been able to say that she was "with" their mate of choice. sigh. Anyway, even with the inevitable J/Ser's starting up again, it was great and seeing Martouf was the best part. I sincerely hope you will find some way to bring him back into our universe and therefore to the show, at least occasionally. He is truly missed by us.
I also enjoyed Critical Mass. It was good and I didn't mind watching the prometheus commander get shot, since I dislike that character. Mostly I enjoyed it as it was pretty Rodney heavy, and he is favorite in the Atlantis world just as Daniel and Sam are my favorites in the world of SG1. Again, thanks again,for a great SG1 episode this week and a very good Atlantis one.
if you meant 'one sam honeymooning and another living with someone and another on maternity leave' as for sam/jack, then THANK YOU.
but that 'almost' sam/martouf kiss was horrible. (that was OUR sam doing that)
almost ruined the 'maybe/possible' sam/jack stuff. :(
sally :/
What does it matter what Joe meant? See what you like and stop worrying about the writers validating it.
...
Hi Joe,
Since you asked what we think about RE, here it goes: I loved it, great episode, hilarious. Best episode this season, well done.
Great performances by everybody, but especially Amanda! Bravo!!!
Ripple Effect was a fantastic episode. The little shipper beats were really fun. I'm a shipper to some extent, I don't take it to extremes and say I'll never watch again if it doesn't happen, so those beats were just awesome :D
Seeing Martouf was a fantastic surprise. I had accidently read Janet would be back and was totally not expecting him. I never pay attention to the guest credits, so having Martouf walk in was just awesome.
Kudos on being the man behind the best season 9 episode yet!
Joe, I guess I'm with the fans that are trying to figure out why you cut so many of Daniel's scenes. The scene where Daniel is talking to Mitchell about Sha're and how he is still married to her and she is helping them would have been fantastic. It would have been nice to know what is going on in at least one of Daniel's other realities. There was also another scene cut that some fans said would have been really nice because it was the old Daniel that some fans have been really missing. We did learn that one Sam is married, one has a child, one is probably with Cam and our Sam is still in love with Martouf(which tells me that she can't be with Jack because Sam would never do that.) I did enjoy seeing Janet and Martouf again and loved the scenes between Daniel and Janet. Since you asked for our opinions I wanted to be honest. I hope that is O.K. BTW I am a