 
GW: How does the addition of Samantha Carter affect your character as one of McKay's leading scientists? Do you still have the same role-play in scenes with McKay, or has it adjusted a little bit to accommodate a trio?
DN: I think it's adjusted a little bit. I didn't have as many scenes with McKay this year as I've had in the past, and I don't know if that's a cause with the addition of Amanda. We've had a female "captain" since the beginning, so it's just the nature of the character. As I said, they were focusing a lot on the new characters that came in this year. It's developing them, and developing relationships with them that is going on.
Yeah, I still have some fantastic scenes both with Amanda and David this year, and it's just making room for everyone to fit in to the new Atlantis.
GW: Radek has, usually, seemed to play second fiddle to Rodney. With the addition of Amanda, are we going to see some growth away from that this season for your character?
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Zelenka and McKay pair up to install a hyperdrive in a Puddle Jumper. From "Lifeline." |
DN: Perhaps. The few scenes that I've had this year with Amanda indicate that they're certainly using Radek in more capacities than just working with McKay, which is great to see. But also the bread and butter are the scenes with McKay. That kind of relationship. I'm a big fan of them. I really enjoy doing them, and I really like working with David Hewlett, so I'm happy to see more of those coming down the pike.
GW: Martin Gero has said if he doesn't want to explain something he'll put you guys together and that shorthand that they have between each other is the excuse for not expositing every little thing.
DN: [Laughter] I've noticed that! I've noticed that little trick. We jump on each other's sentences and not have to explain everything! [Laughter] It's a good way to do it!
GW: What episode from this season really stands out in your mind for Zelenka's character? You mentioned "Quarantine."
DN: Yeah, that was a very good one. That was a terrific episode where we all get a chance to pair up in rather unconventional groups, which is a great little character piece by Carl Binder. I really liked that script. As you said, "Adrift." "Adrift" and "Doppelganger" were a lot of fun to do. I really enjoyed "Reunion" as well. Those four stick out particularly since I had a chance to, again, work with Amanda and with Joe and David.
GW: Right. Well, fantastic!
DN: M-hmm! Pretty terrific. Yeah, a great year. A great year.
GW: Any opportunities for Zelenka to go off-world again this year? Maybe get into mortal danger?
DN: [Laughter] No! No off-worlding. Actually yes, "Doppelganger." There is some inherent peril there in that one. Other than that I think that was the only time I went off-world this year. Yes. The reason I couldn't think of it [was be]cause it was in the studio. Usually off-world is somewhere on location. I haven't done a location this year.
GW: Well they were pretty good for creating a lush environment for that. I had to ask myself, "Are they outside or are they inside?" Even I didn't get it at first. That was really special.
DN: It was done really well, wasn't it? Yeah, we have a terrific crew.
GW: Do you feel like Radek has grown as a character since he was introduced?
DN: I think definitely. I mean, I definitely think, considering Radek started as a day player on --
GW: "Thirty Eight Minutes" --
DN: "Thirty Eight minutes," yeah, exactly. And then the pairing with McKay and the development with the other characters. It's tremendous to see how much the character has grown. I greatly enjoy working on it, and working with that group of actors, and I just hope we can continue.
Nykl admits he will miss working with actors like Higginson. | |
GW: Do you ever fear that the character's going to bite the bullet, or have you been assured by the writers that Zelenka's too valuable?
DN: No, no. I haven't been assured of anything. [Laughter] No, no. I don't get much in the way of assurances on anything. I don't even know if I'm in the next episode. A script appears on my doorstep and I go "Oh, OK, I guess I'm going to be in this next one."
GW: But you don't always go straight to the end, right? To see if he's still ticking?
DN: Like flip the pages to the end? Well, no. I first read the script for its entirety and then start breaking it down into its individual segments.
GW: Is that a pleasurable experience for you when you get a new script? What's the reaction when that comes in?
DN: Oh, I love it. "Oh great! I get to be working!" I love it when I'm in the episodes. I'm always eager for more.
GW: So they don't call you first? A script just lands on your door and you're expected to show up a few weeks later?
DN: That's right. That's how it happens.
GW: Wow. That's kind of cool!
DN: I know! That's how it happens. The script shows up and I'm going to work.
GW: Are you under any kind of contract?
DN: No.
GW: Oh, OK. So if you are working on another project then you call ...
DN: Well yeah, then it becomes an issue as to management of availability and time management.
GW: OK, scheduling.
DN: Scheduling, yeah.
GW: If this is Atlantis's last season how do you feel this show will be remembered five, ten years down the road?
DN: Oh, goodness, I don't want to speculate on that. I personally don't believe that it's going to be the last one. I think that we're going to go on. I feel quite optimistic. I think a lot of the other actors and writers feel that way as well. And as for its legacy, it's just way too early to talk about it.
From what we've put together so far I think we're a classic space/sci-fi show, and I just hope that the real powers that be, the ones that make the decisions as to whether the shows continue or not, will see that and let us go on for as long as the fans want us to.
GW: Indeed. Do you have any other projects going on at the moment that fans should be expecting?
DN: I'm working on a film called "Helen," coming up, with Ashley Judd. It's going to be coming up next month. I'm shooting a couple of days on that. I'm going to be playing the husband of one of Ashley's friends in the film. I know very little about it. I only know that I was cast, but I haven't yet got the script. It's a feature film, so that's going to be kind of fun. Looking forward to doing that.
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Nykl promises a darker, grittier season for Atlantis's fourth. |
As far as that I've got a couple of conventions. I'm going to be going to Amsterdam next week for UtopiaCon, and then I'm going to Germany for Wolf Events, close to Hanover, and then CollectorMania in Manchester with Jason Momoa. I'll be there.
GW: Wow, keeping busy. Excellent.
DN: Doing a little bit of that, yes.
GW: Sci-fi actor's work is never done.
DN: Sci-fi actor's work is never done! Exactly. Hopefully that's a prophetic statement for our next season.
GW: Any recent memories of cons you'd like to share? People can sometimes be unpredictable.
DN: People can sometimes be unpredictable! That's true. I've enjoyed all of the cons I've gone to. They're a great opportunity to meet the fans, and to really see what's going on out there. The bits and pieces I get from emails, and some wonderful letters I get, is just a fraction of the fandom that I get a chance to see when I go to these things.
I'm always amazed at the worldwide following, and the way people pay attention and care passionately about the show. I think that's a tremendous phenomenon which is unique to Stargate.
GW: And any message to your fans in particular who may be listening in?
DN: I love you guys all! [Laughter] Thanks for all your support, and I hope to be able to continue next year.
GW: Here's to a Season Five. Yes sir.
DN: Here's to a Season Five, David. Thanks.
RELATED LINK:
David Nykl's official Web site
- D. Read
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