Stargate: Atlantis

[kerravonsen]

Meant to ramble about this earlier. Saw the pilot episode last night, when it at last aired on Australian television. It was a bit backwards for me, since I'd actually seen one later episode when I was over in the UK.

But still, I am rather unmoved. I mean, here we go again, yet another totally evil (yawn), completely unstoppable (yawn) foe. Exotic alien princess (yawn) with super powers (yawn).

Kat's Law of Fandom strikes again.

Kat's Law Of Fandom:
Once you like the characters, it doesn't matter what the rest is like.

Corollory to Kat's Law Of Fandom:
If you don't care about the characters, it doesn't matter how good the rest is.

And y'see, is problem. Don't care about the leads. I like the Scottish doctor and Dr McKay, but the leads leave me unmoved. Well, I kind of like Major Sheperd, he comes off a lot better in the pilot than he did in the other episode I saw. But not enough.

So, folks, give me three good reasons why I should bother.

Comments

[azarsuerte.livejournal.com]

Considering I'm watching because a) I'm completely obsessed with Atlantis in any form (I loved the Disney cartoon, so sue me ;-)) and b) I'm madly in love with all the characters, not sure I could give you a reason that would mean anything to you.

The second half of the season is fantastic, IMO, but my two friends who are watching exclusively for McKay have been equally unimpressed with it, so chances are you would be too. :-/

Although...the introduction of the Genii does help--much, much, MUCH better villains than the Wraith. They're actually complex instead of being nothing more than glorified space vampires with bad fashion sense.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

I didn't see it - Sis did, and her comment didn't give me a lot of confidence. "The special effects were pretty. Very pretty. Ummm... yes, very pretty effects."

Kat's Law Of Fandom:
Once you like the characters, it doesn't matter what the rest is like.

Corollory to Kat's Law Of Fandom:
If you don't care about the characters, it doesn't matter how good the rest is.

Sally's Second Corollory to Kat's Law Of Fandom:
And if you don't care about them, no amount of wanting to/thinking you ought to/being told how wonderful they are is gonna make a bit of difference.

[kerravonsen]

the introduction of the Genii does help--much, much, MUCH better villains than the Wraith. They're actually complex instead of being nothing more than glorified space vampires with bad fashion sense.

Hmmm. But are these Genii just another notch in the tension -- even more bad and even more unstoppable (like Anubis was for Stargate:SG1)?

I think I'm getting sick and tired of Totally!Evil!Unstoppable!Villains.

Naw, it's really Kat's Law of Fandom: cheesy plots would still be okay if I'd fallen in love with the characters...
Still, if I actually manage to set up the VCR (they're showing it at 10:30 at night, too late for me) then maybe I will give it a few more episodes. Just to be fair. Maybe.

[mistraltoes.livejournal.com]

Haven't watched any of it myself yet (though I did tape it) but just to be annoying I'll point out that I didn't fall for the B7 characters *at all* until episode eleven.

[azarsuerte.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. But are these Genii just another notch in the tension -- even more bad and even more unstoppable (like Anubis was for Stargate:SG1)?

Nope. They're human, and actually technologically inferior to the Atlanteans, but utterly committed to the survival of their own people even if it means sacrificing someone else. They're ruthless, duplicitous, xenophobic, pragmatic but also deeply emotional, and above all...humanly fallible. That's what makes them good.

[temeres.livejournal.com]

Kat's Law Of Fandom:
Once you like the characters, it doesn't matter what the rest is like.

Maybe I'm just perverse, but I tend to find 'the rest' more important.

'Course, it helps if I like the characters too. Or rather, I have to like the way they're written (because great character concepts can be badly written).

[kerravonsen]

I guess it's what tends to be termed on the Lyst as whether or not someone is a "character junkie".

I think I formulated that "law" after realizing that the only characters in ST:TNG that I cared scrap for were Data and Q, and the rest could all be eaten by a giant mutant star goat and I wouldn't have blinked an eye.

[kerravonsen]

True enough, which is why I *might* record it.

On the other hand, I was a lot more impressed with the New Battlestar Galactica when watervole showed the pilot to me when I was there. Maybe I should track down if/when they're showing it here.

(later)

Yes! 10:30pm Wednesdays, Channel 10. Who knows how many episodes I've missed.
Typical, though. Australian programmers seem to have decided that 10:30pm is the time (just when I am going to bed) to show SF -- since 10:30 Thursday nights is when Atlantis will be showing.
(sigh)
Programming VCR. Buying blank tapes. Gave up on that years ago (sigh).

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

I think that indifference is even harder than overcome than actual loathe-detest-abominate (there are characters on TV who, if they were being eaten by a mutant star goat, I'd happily cheer the goat one :)) .

[watervole.livejournal.com]

McKay, Zolenka, and the doctor whose name I am too tired to remember as I'm just back from Eastercon.

BTW, the new Doctor Who is brilliant.

[kerravonsen]

BTW, the new Doctor Who is brilliant.
Wah! I have no idea when they will show it here. I have not been able to track down any kind of information.

Tapes? DVDs? Someone, please?