Ya know I am noticing a couple of trends on the Forum lately. The first one being....
Few want to actually have a real discussion. DISCUSSION: an exchange of views on some topic. Now normally in a discussion there are some views that are similar and some that are opposing. Thus this can make for a lively and animated discussion and lead all parties involved to possibly THINK outside their normal realm.
What I am seeing more of a trend of is many are wanting to hide in threads with others that have only similar and/or like views. I am a
HUGE proponent of the Pro and Anti threads. Why?? Because I think everyone needs a place to retreat to for any number of reasons. They need to cool-off after reading something that has annoyed them regarding the show and they feel that if they expressed their FULL feelings, unvarnished, it would cause a ruckus. They need to perk themselves up, sometimes for the very same reason just mentioned. They just need to vent about things happening in the show they don't like but they really haven't worked WHY it bugs them so much. SO talking with others that feel similar may allow them to verbalize in a manner that isn't as clear to the average member who does not share this feeling. They are giddy with excitment and want to spead their joy BUT its not a topic that is beloved by everyone in the fandom and its nice to have a place that you can be a squeeing gushing fangirl/boy with like minded individuals. So the Pro and Anti threads serve a purpose.
However, when they begin to start being the ONLY place you feel "Safe" then there is a problem.
What is that problem? ..I am so glad you asked that! Because the answer actually leads us to the second trend I am seeing on the Forum.
That being...Intolerance for other viewpoints.
The way these two things fit together is this. If you no longer engage in "discussion" with people that have DIS similar viewpoints and just huddle in your own lttle thread you begin to polarized yourself to the rest of the fandom. It happens in many ways. First the discussion aspect of the Forum begins to break down and little by little many become intolerant of other ideas and opinions. Any and every little thing becomes a big deal if it is in some way "against" what you believe about the subject. Opinions become personal attacks to many even when it is clear that it IS THAT person's opinion.
The intolerance comes from both sides of the fandom.
Those that are still thrilled with both Stargate shows and are so busy sucking in all that cloud-dust that they just can't seem to understand why those that are disenchanted are even posting in the Forum. Never thinking for a moment that those that disenchanted have many friends on the Forum and still enjoy bantering with those friends. Its never thought that they can say anything good about the show, which they do on occasion. Nope if anyone has said anything negative they get lumped into the "Icky people" group and are to be avoided at all costs because if they don't think like you then they can't possibly have a decent conversation.
Those that are disenchanted with the shows are just as bad. They have spent so much time wallowing in the depths of their own negativity that they can't seem to find some good in these Upbeat people. So they get the same attitude. That even these upbeat PITA people do just come here for fun as well. That many are capable of having a back and forth discussion and be open to a negative comment now and again. In fact they might even make one or two themselves.
However, so many have decided that they are just going to stay in their little corner because ...well "Everytime I try I get smacked down"....... well guess what folks I read alot of your posts and if you THINK you are trying..go back and read some of your posts that are an example of that. .. Ya know what I see? I see posts that are rude and condescending to the other side of the coin. But of course you have "tried" to word it so you can seem to be understanding to their POV. BULLHOCKEY!! A good number of them are just a bunch of self righteous posturing about how your POV is pushed aside and/or ridiculed and you aren't "Allowed" to be positive/negative and you are tired of defending your POV so you have retreated.
So if YOU have decided to hang ONLY in the PRO threads then more power to you
However, you have also decided at that moment to close off HALF of the population of this Forum. The neutral folks and the negative folks. SO if its a shock to you that they are there when you FINALLY decide to poke your head out then you have yourself to blame. Because the rest of us have been talking to them all along and understand their POV and ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THEIR OWN POV!! what a novel concept
and if you decide to hang your hat ONLY in the ANTI areas...well then you need to quit bellyaching over all of the positive people. You want to surround yourself in negativity... Be my guest ..
THAT IS YOUR CHOICE. But you have closed off half of the Forum. The neutral and the positive peoples. So stop being so shocked that they are out there in droves. Geez Louise THIS A FAN FORUM.... did you expect it to be filled with a whole slew of negative nellies??? That is a bit naive if you did...
Maybe some of you need to check your egos at the door. This fandom is populated by 13 years old and above. So there will be LOTS of teenagers and contrary to what they think they don't know everything
but guess what Grown-ups ...you don't either. This is a place to discuss opinions about a Fictional TV show and some other Sci-Fi shows if you desire. We aren't here to save the world. No interested government is reading this Forum to see "How they should be acting" and no religious leaders are worried about what you think. But even those discussions are allowed here. If YOU can act like you have any of the manners your Momma taught you or if you paid even the slightest attention in Kindergarten.
I am tired of hearing and reading how GateWorld Forum has done this or done that. The Forum is YOU PEOPLE and so if its pissing you off then its because you all are not even trying to deal civially with one another. The Forum is a bunch of 1's and 0's on the internet. Its YOU that writes the posts and its YOU that responds maturely or immaturely.
So as has been said SO MANY TIMES ...quit pointing the fingers at everyone else and look in the mirror. There's your problem right there and only you can fix it
see ya on the flip side Gaterites
This has spoilers GALORE!!! And I do mean GALORE for Sateda
What did I think of Sateda? WOW just keep crossing my mind everytime I think of this episode. WOW! WOW! And even more WOW!
Earlier this year Darren and David had a chance to interview Rob Cooper and while he is not my personal favorite of TPTB I decided to take a listen. He spoke at some length about Sateda and how they had filmed it and all that had been involved. So I was looking forward to a "New look" in this episode. RCC had said they had filmed this just like a Feature Film and I am here to tell you IT SHOWED!
So for the first time in my Blog's history I am going to be writing a SEMI-review about an episode. Why?
Well because I can firstly and secondly I think this episode deserves all of the Kudos it can get.
First off I really liked the way the whole episode opened. As much as I like being reminded of what "ties in" to make the story an overall part of the whole. I was happy to see that they chose not to rehash when Ronan first came to meet the team. That helped make this episode feel fresh.
Rodney getting shot in the ass was just about perfect for me. I LOVE Rodney. He is one of my most beloved characters and one of the reasons is because when something this "cliche" happens I KNOW David Hewlett will take it to a new level. As expected he took it places I never imagined and I was howling with laughter and feeling bad for him all at the same time.
Rodney on morphine was priceless. Again David Hewlett took it up a notch and made it his own. The writing was excellent as well with nods to Joe Flannigan's hair woes or joys (depends on your POV) as well as the fine make-up and costuming of Ronan. Cave-man indeed.
I was happy with the village scenes. I liked the explanation of the time Ronan was there before. I understood that the malice they felt was due first to the death and destruction Ronan's coming there did to them and the secondary anger by the leader of watching his daughter die. Leaving him with not only a need for revenge but also survivor's guilt. A very potent combination to allow a man to refuse to see any reason. As in this case, thinking that the Wraith would truly honor any "Deal".
Now onto Ronan. AAAHHHH Ronan. I doubt if there are enough complimentary words in the
dictionary for me to convey just how well I think Jason Momoa did on this episode.
At the beginning of the episode he was quiet, soft spoken, then slowly you began to see multiple facets of his personality emerge. First the flashbacks of the village were brought to light and we see the anguish and the sorrow on his face as he remembers what happened. The transformation of resolve straightening his spine as he bargains for the lives of his team mates with his own life. The refusal to be swayed by his friends concern and confusion. The relief that sagged his shoulders as they were led away. The determination and willingness to do just as he threatened was very believable and Jason held that scene beautifully.
In just that opening segment we learned that Ronan has never forgotten the damage he has done to others when he was a runner and he carries that guilt fully on himself. That here is a man that has the capacity to be brutal, barbaric and violent and yet brave, honorable and loyal to a fault. That these are qualities he HAD before ever meeting the Atlantis team. Too often John and others infer that they had a hand in "civilizing" the Brute. Now we see that is not the case.
My first thought upon seeing the new Wraith dude was."It's a DUDE!" How often do we see a guy in that control chair on a hive ship? I am thinking NEVER. So that in itself was a surprise. Then the way he looked was just.... Just.... Dare I say it… finally scary? For once I was actually thinking here was a Wraith that I would be afraid of.
Ronan on Sateda. Sateda the planet. I must compliment the cinematographer, the skill in filming, and the editing choices. It was all amazing. Never once did the background pull me away from the story unfolding on screen. However, what it did to enhance the story was breath taking.
As I watched Ronan prowl through the city I could feel his anger, his rage build at what he must have perceived as being placed back at square one. Again he WAS "The Runner." Add into the mix all of the emotions spring up, that being on his home planet for the first time since the massacres and you have one hell-bent for death killing machine.
Personally I liked the fast first flashbacks of Ronan’s wife. We see that he had love, he had passion in his past and it had been stripped away.
On a side note, the actress who played Ronan's wife (Alexandra Carter) sounds JUST like the actress who played "Doris" in the movie "Fame" her voice sounded extremely familiar to me. So I wonder if they are related
The first Wraith and the first major fight scene was a wonderful depiction of both characters. Ronan, which means loosely "a masterless samurai" when spelled with an *i* and Wraith, who are well known for their ability to see in the dark. This scene played on both strengths of each character and was just downright
exciting!
Then we have Ronan *walking his mile in the Dead* his fellow soldiers and friends. We find out that Ronan had good friends as well as comrades. He feels keenly their loss, as he has to strip them for the things he needs to survive. Then that moment when he tosses the grenade over his shoulder. "Oh my" fans self. I know guys were cheering his Badass self and ladies were sighing over his Badass sexiness.
The second battle scene is just a phenomenal credit to everyone involved behind the scenes at SGA as well as the actors. I can't even begin to tell you how impressed I was with the special effects, the Matrix like editing and of course Jason. If I didn’t want this guy on my team before I sure as heck want him now !!!
Ladies there is a New Sheriff in town and his name...RONAN!!!!
Can you tell I am trying to wind this up cause I sound like a gushing school girl LOL
The whole hospital scene was enlightening as far as Ronan and his wife. She couldn't leave knowing everyone was going to die and he wanted her to leave knowing she would die otherwise and then the look on his face when he realized that time had just run out and he was forced to watch the woman he loved die before him, gives a lot of reasoning into why this man began to hate the Wraith even before he became
a Runner.
I completely enjoyed the moment between Ronan and John. John knew to step back and let Ronan have his head this time around and they just needed to back him up. Way to go Team. I know there were some SGA * Other* moments back at Atlantis that I liked as well but this thing is getting ridiculously long as it is (grin)
I laughed myself silly over John still being "Guy" enough to have to still beat a girl when it came to shooting. That was just the right amount of humor at this point in the show.
The final battle was awesome. I was so glad that TPTB didn't go the route of Ronan getting his butt kicked for a bit only to come back and save his own ass. The fact that he was just getting pummeled was appropriate and to have Beckett come in save the day PRICELESS!!
I am glad that Ronan was able to say Thank you to them all in the end. He worked through some of his past while there and found he really does have friends and possibly a family with the Atlantis team.
I don’t want to end on a downer note but I am a bit worried that TPTB won't be able to top this episode for me personally. But that's ok. As long as they keep being entertaining, I'll be happy.
Since I can do this here I will say I was SO ENAMOURED with this episode that I spent the weekend making the first and only ever SG video I have ever made. Those who know me know I make BSG vids and I am pretty single minded about that (grin) So if you want to take a gander you are welcome to. It is a tribute to just this episode so it is only Sateda footage.
www.tamefarrar.com However, it is set to Metal
music so if you don't like metal… be wary Its * Stand Up* by Trapt
Ok so next time I will be a bit more on the philosophy and less on the gush (grin)
See ya on the flip side Gaterites
Tame is a sci-fi junkie who loves to read, watch movies, and who has too
many pets. She grew up in the Midwest of the USA and now resides in sunny
Arizona, and drives her 19-year-old twins batty ... and still makes her
husband of 20 years laugh.
