Our vs Big Damn
While putting the furniture back into my room, I took an hour long break so that I could watch Firefly. And I've gotta say... that was way more fulfilling than what I got with watching the later repeats of both Stargates and Battlestar Galactica.
Lately Stargate SG-1 has kind of... well, it hasn't exactly been dragging, but there's something missing. I think that it has something to do with the attitiude that the show has been developing over the seasons. When the show first began, Our Heroes would visit a world and react to meeting other races and civilizations (whether technologically advanced or not) with some form of awe. As the story progressed, however, dealing with the Goa'uld, Jaffa, and the Tok'ra became more and more "business as usual." Heck, even the Asgard get this treatment! The only two who don't, seem to be the Ancients (because they don't meddle in the affairs of the non-ascended) and the Furlings (c'mon folks, at least have 'em in the series finale!).
Anyway, I currently watch SG-1 for the characters; I like the characters, despite their one flaw: they don't seem to have any. This is, of course, not necessarily true, but comparable others, these guys are near paragons of virtue. There is, of course, O'Neill's rascism toward Symbiotes, Teal'c's sordid past, and the episode where Daniel took over the Earth (in a dream), but these are like fleas in the ointment.
Battlestar Galactica, however is the exact opposite. The only "good guy" that I can pick out there is Apollo... and maybe Helo, although he's been on the run for a while (I actually expected him to die in Season 1). Hm... both sun deities... coincidence?
But, yeah, my running alternative title for BG is still Alcoholics, Schizophrenics, and Terrorists in Space. You have to use that qualifier. And you have to say it right. "I-i-i-n-n Spa-a-a-a-a-ce..." Try it. C'mon, you know you want to.
This seems to be one thing that I like about Stargate: Atlantis: characters who are better at being flawed [Wait. What? --Ed.] than those in SG-1. But, on the flip-side, they're not the overacheivers we see in BG (not a complaint, per se, it's just that the hyperreality there can be a bit depressing).
Like Rodney McKay, my o-fficially fave-o-right Atlantis character. Why do I say this? Because too many of those characters have the same virtuousness going for (or against) them! *beleaguered sigh* McKay may be a bit of a jerk sometimes, but he's a loveable jerk... or, at least, not hateable. Kind of like Winchester on M*A*S*H. The outer shell may be a bit rude and arrogant, but, at the end of the day, he's a good guy, really.
Returning to the original topic of discussion, this is something that I love about Firefly. The characters are flawed, but not to the point of unlovable-ness. While Stargate has virtuous heroes and BG has humanity in all of its "splendor," Firefly gives us a good mix. They're fun AND interesting.
It's kind of like Star Wars vs Star Trek. Now, I like both, but Trek, like Stargate, suffers from the Our Heroes syndrome. Wars had Han Solo. 'Nuff said. Han, many will say, shot first. Malcolm Reynolds kicked a man into a jet engine (while it was in operation, I might add) in response to a death threat. Somehow, I doubt that's how Picard or O'Neill would handle the situation.
I guess that's what separates Our Heroes from those of the Big Damn variety.
Babylon 5 also had good flawed characters (with some very good writing) as did Andromeda, and I heartily suggest y'all take a gander at those DVDs.
Anyway, I also realized something that would nearly surpass all other activities on my mind in awesomeness. Two words (say them with me now): Firefly Fanfilm. Know why? 'Cause... it's awesome; that's why. As an added bonus... I'm sorry, I just paused to watch the Earth explode on TV; where was I?... Oh, yeah, right. You really wouldn't need too many special props for a Firefly film. Wear a holster, curse in Chinese, and you're halfway there.
I just hope their lawyers wouldn't get all uppity about it and would, rather, follow George Lucas' example. Say what you will about the man, but, as others have noted, he lets his fans get away with murder.
So, in the meantime watch this. 'Tis funny.
Lately Stargate SG-1 has kind of... well, it hasn't exactly been dragging, but there's something missing. I think that it has something to do with the attitiude that the show has been developing over the seasons. When the show first began, Our Heroes would visit a world and react to meeting other races and civilizations (whether technologically advanced or not) with some form of awe. As the story progressed, however, dealing with the Goa'uld, Jaffa, and the Tok'ra became more and more "business as usual." Heck, even the Asgard get this treatment! The only two who don't, seem to be the Ancients (because they don't meddle in the affairs of the non-ascended) and the Furlings (c'mon folks, at least have 'em in the series finale!).
Anyway, I currently watch SG-1 for the characters; I like the characters, despite their one flaw: they don't seem to have any. This is, of course, not necessarily true, but comparable others, these guys are near paragons of virtue. There is, of course, O'Neill's rascism toward Symbiotes, Teal'c's sordid past, and the episode where Daniel took over the Earth (in a dream), but these are like fleas in the ointment.
Battlestar Galactica, however is the exact opposite. The only "good guy" that I can pick out there is Apollo... and maybe Helo, although he's been on the run for a while (I actually expected him to die in Season 1). Hm... both sun deities... coincidence?
But, yeah, my running alternative title for BG is still Alcoholics, Schizophrenics, and Terrorists in Space. You have to use that qualifier. And you have to say it right. "I-i-i-n-n Spa-a-a-a-a-ce..." Try it. C'mon, you know you want to.
This seems to be one thing that I like about Stargate: Atlantis: characters who are better at being flawed [Wait. What? --Ed.] than those in SG-1. But, on the flip-side, they're not the overacheivers we see in BG (not a complaint, per se, it's just that the hyperreality there can be a bit depressing).
Like Rodney McKay, my o-fficially fave-o-right Atlantis character. Why do I say this? Because too many of those characters have the same virtuousness going for (or against) them! *beleaguered sigh* McKay may be a bit of a jerk sometimes, but he's a loveable jerk... or, at least, not hateable. Kind of like Winchester on M*A*S*H. The outer shell may be a bit rude and arrogant, but, at the end of the day, he's a good guy, really.
Returning to the original topic of discussion, this is something that I love about Firefly. The characters are flawed, but not to the point of unlovable-ness. While Stargate has virtuous heroes and BG has humanity in all of its "splendor," Firefly gives us a good mix. They're fun AND interesting.
It's kind of like Star Wars vs Star Trek. Now, I like both, but Trek, like Stargate, suffers from the Our Heroes syndrome. Wars had Han Solo. 'Nuff said. Han, many will say, shot first. Malcolm Reynolds kicked a man into a jet engine (while it was in operation, I might add) in response to a death threat. Somehow, I doubt that's how Picard or O'Neill would handle the situation.
I guess that's what separates Our Heroes from those of the Big Damn variety.
Babylon 5 also had good flawed characters (with some very good writing) as did Andromeda, and I heartily suggest y'all take a gander at those DVDs.
Anyway, I also realized something that would nearly surpass all other activities on my mind in awesomeness. Two words (say them with me now): Firefly Fanfilm. Know why? 'Cause... it's awesome; that's why. As an added bonus... I'm sorry, I just paused to watch the Earth explode on TV; where was I?... Oh, yeah, right. You really wouldn't need too many special props for a Firefly film. Wear a holster, curse in Chinese, and you're halfway there.
I just hope their lawyers wouldn't get all uppity about it and would, rather, follow George Lucas' example. Say what you will about the man, but, as others have noted, he lets his fans get away with murder.
So, in the meantime watch this. 'Tis funny.
posted by Jeff at 12:55 AM
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