NUMBER 3: WRITE MORE CHARACTER DRAMA.
Series co-creator Brad Wright recently told GateWorld that Stargate Universe may be “a little more character-based, [and] a little less rooted in a sci-fi mythology.” We think that’s a good move.
Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis fit squarely in the “action-adventure” style of show. This has made for great fun, but it often comes at the expense of dramatic moments between the characters. How many times has a nice, personal moment been two team members been left on the cutting room floor because the episode ran long? How many script ideas were shot down because they were too quiet?
Characters are why most people fall in love with a show. We won’t watch LOST by the millions just because we want to see someone shoot a bad guy, build a raft, or open a hatch. We watch it because we want to find out more about Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and the rest, and find out what happens to them. Likewise we don’t tune in to see any pair of boots run through that Stargate; we love SG-1 and Atlantis because we have come to know and to care for Jack, Sam, Daniel, John, Rodney, Elizabeth, and the rest.
Stargate Universe will bring a new team, with new faces. Whoever is on that team — a sardonic leader, a brainy scientist, a tough guy (or gal), a native guide — they need to be not only well-cast, but well-written. Don’t give up on the next Aiden Ford; don’t write out the next Elizabeth Weir. The characters need time to find their voices, and the team needs time to jell. And they all need to have stories written for them from Day One — stories where they can emote, relate to and conflict with others, and reveal aspects of who they are deep down.
Stargate Universe doesn’t need to be a full-fledged “drama” in the vein of Boston Legal or Gray’s Anatomy. It can still be an action-adventure show. But if it can tell the story of those adventures with more drama about and between the characters, with more development of who they are on the inside, it could be truly awesome. And if that drama is well-written, it will get people talking about Stargate again.
NEXT: The Bad Guys
How is more character drama going to make it better? Viewers defiantly the younger viewers don’t wont drama
The whole thing should be based around Sci-Fi mythology that was the one cool thing about Stargate SG1 that made me watch it, I loved hearing about how everything is connected.
Stargate SG1 and Alantis had the right amount of drama, it wasn’t all action, it doesn’t have an expense. If you have to much drama it look unrealistic and cheesy. Yeah character are why people fall in love with a story and the character in SG1 and Alantis were perfect. The show made seem real unlike in other show of Sci-Fi and what seems to be the new show Stargate Universe there is so much drama that it doesn’t seem real, what kind of military officer would be crying or showing to much emotion in the middle of a mission?… Read more »
SG Universe sounds like a fascinating way of exploring how the Ancients developed the Gate system and expanded into the universe. I am interested in seeing what other adventures are in these other galaxies. I agree with composer01 in regards to linking the new show to the Sci-Fi mythology then expanding upon it. My concern is that the current characters listed are cringe-worthy and stretch the imagination way beyond the realm of science fiction as to how certain of these characters would be on a super-secret military base. When I initially read about the characters for SG Atlantis, I wanted… Read more »
“Hold-over viewers from the first two series, loyal as we are, will simply continue to age and lose interest.”
That explains it then! That attitude tells me that I’m not important to the producers of this show, which is why I have now given up. I gave it a few episodes to prove itself, but I’m not interested in a soap.
One more of your original fans have just “aged and lost interest” for good. What fools you are.