Just to get the unpopular fannish opinion out of the way...

[sholio]

... so you can all defriend me at will ...

I'm really looking forward to Stargate: Universe.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still as enthusiastic about SGA as I ever was. In fact, this is totally crazy, but right now I feel like the cancellation news has revitalized my fannishness for the show. Over the last year or so I've been falling into a sort of fannish holding pattern - I got a little burned out on h/c, a little tired of the majority of the fic, got busy with other projects and wasn't particularly interested in finishing most of my WIPs. Working on the Big Bang fic with Naye helped a lot, but still, right now I'm more happy and excited about the show than I have been since my early days in the fandom.

And I, like the rest of you, find the entertainment industry's focus on newer/younger/prettier to be extremely vexing. It's not a new thing, of course - I can't even count how many shows have been cut down in their prime because they weren't sexy enough or "young" enough or pretty enough. But it's deeply frustrating, and gets ever more so for me the farther I get into the "over the hill" demographic.

But, you know what? So far, the Wright/Cooper creative team have been two-for-two at creating shows I've really loved, that totally brought the h/c and the teaminess and the humor and most of the other things I look for in a show. I have no idea if I'll be fannish about SGU, and I also have no doubt that it'll still have all the same problems that have plagued the Stargate franchise so far (colonialism, etc). But, given that I've loved everything else the creative team have done, I have absolutely no intention of rejecting this one sight-unseen. I plan to cling happily to casting and production news, and I'm looking forward to getting to know another ensemble cast of space explorers. It may suck utterly, just like anything else, but I'm not going to dismiss it out of hand until I actually watch it.

There, I said it. *g* (And, yes, I know I'm the person who whinged about Dollhouse just based on the promo and cast picture. Ha. Well, I never claimed to be consistent - and, heck, I'm probably going to end up watching that one eventually too, though in that case, I'm definitely waiting for fandom to vet it for me.)

Meanwhile, for all your SGA needs, naye has a huge screencap-filled squee-post for Shrine located over here.

Comments

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

I'm not particularly looking forward to it, but not because I'm upset about SGA and plan never to watch it, just because I'm not that interested. If it turns out to be a really big fandom thing, I might end up watching, but it will probably be like SGA, where I'm doing so in order to be able to read the fic, rather than because I really love it on its own.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

I'll be the first to admit that they aren't especially good shows, but they hit my fan buttons like nothing else. And, while I do totally understand that people are angry and resentful, I just don't see any benefit whatsoever in rejecting the new show out-of-hand. Every single time something gets cancelled, there's something else that is blamed, whether it's TPTB for not recognizing the value of the show, or a more popular show for stealing viewers, or a shiny new show for distracting people -- and I just don't want to play that game.

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

The premise sounds fascinating. I'm sad to leave Atlantis behind, but hoping Destiny leads somewhere interesting.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

I'm mostly just thinking of it as a different show that has the same TPTB at the helm. So, it's not so much leaving Atlantis, as trying a new show that comes on the same network. I tried to divorce Atlantis and SG1 in my head, too, with varying levels of success - but they really *did* have a very different feeling to them, and I expect SGU will be yet another thing again.

[bluflamingo.livejournal.com]

I thought I was the only one who read a bit about SGU and thought - actually, that sounds kind of interesting, I'd give it a try. I mean, yes, the whole, newer, younger thing is kind of annoying (since when is 26 not the younger generation, for one thing?!) but still.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Hee! No, it's not just you. It can be a hit or miss thing with me, but I've really loved some shows that were aimed at the "hip young" demographic (SPN, Buffy) and it's not an automatic nail in the show's coffin for me. I really hate that Hollywood thinks that way, but I keep feeling like the fandom is placing a lot of rather unfair blame on Wright/Cooper for going along with the network in doing what networks ALWAYS do, and I will be happy just to have another sci-fi show to play with!

[tipper-green.livejournal.com]

I'm not excited about it, but I'm not unhappy about it either. I love me my sci-fi, no matter what form it comes in! If the characters are fun? Then I'm there.

(Of course, you already knew this. Hee hee hee.)

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Hee! Yes. :D

I was a little surprised to realize that I actually *am* excited. New space sci-fi ensemble show, from writers I generally trust to bring good entertainment - that's pretty rare, actually! And I very rarely get in on the ground floor of a show - I think the last one I started watching with the first episode was "Lost". Usually I come upon it after a season or three, when the fandom is already established. There's something kind of cool about being hopeful enough to try a show out with the first episode and watch the fandom grow.

[darkrosetiger.livejournal.com]

I don't care about it. I watched Voyager once; I don't see any need to watch it again with worse writing. And frankly, I do feel that if they want the "younger demographic" at the cost of alienating their existing fan base, they can have them. I'll take my money and spend it elsewhere.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Fair enough; to each their own. Voyager was not my thing and I'm not wildly excited about the general premise of the show, but I'm definitely interested to see what they come up with.

Like I said in the above post, the media industry's focus on young and beautiful (for certain values of "young" and "beautiful") is very frustrating to me. It's always a special treat for me to see shows featuring characters who aren't Hollywood-young and Hollywood-beautiful (which was something SGA had going for it, to a certain extent at least). But it's something I totally expect; it goes with the territory for me. I suppose that I get the frustration out of my system by focusing on creating characters in my original writing who fall outside the 18-25 age spread that Hollywood defines as "interesting". I can explore the universe vicariously through a cast that more closely approximates my own interests and experience, and then come back and enjoy the majority of Hollywood's offerings for the pretty, shallow things they are. But that's just me, and you obviously have every right to take your fanning, and your money, where you prefer.

[parisntripfan.livejournal.com]

I can't say I am excited about Stargate Universe right now, (mostly because we know so little and it is almost a year if not more away from being debuting...when we get closer I may find myself more excited by the show) I am most likely going to watch it. At least a few episodes. Bridge Studio's does have a good writing staff - ones that are good at telling a certain type of story.

And I agree with the idea of at least watching something before deciding it if it is good or bad. I have said this sort of thing in the past - whenever I hear people complaining about episodes or shows site unseen. My attitude is pretty much along the lines of "Can we at least watch the episode/show before we decide it sucks? Just in case it doesn't?"

Maybe I'm just getting old but if I stopped watching a network just because they canceled a show I liked? I would have missed a lot of good TV that came later. SGA is not the first show I loved to be canned. I have lost track over the years of shows that I loved that were cut short. It is part of life as a fan, one that you have to get use to.

[wildcat88.livejournal.com]

My fannishness was doing just fine, and I'm crushed they are canceling SGA. However, I have no intention on taking that frustration out on SGU. It's not their fault. I will certainly give it a chance. I wasn't wild about SG-1 having a spin-off and look at what I would have missed if I'd not given SGA a chance.

I hope SGU will be interesting. I hope I will enjoy it. I hope others will too. But if it isn't and if I don't, I won't wish the fires of hell to consume it or MGM or SciFi. Such is life and there are a lot of satellite channels.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I'm wary of this SGU from the descriptions but am trying hard not to all-out dis it. Every single one of my fave - and by fave I mean the shows I became obsessed with - shows started out as something I was barely interested in to not interested in at all. Andromeda Ascendant I completely ignored until it's second episode, because I'd made the assumption based on a summary in a news paper that it was going to be cheesy. After that ep, I was hooked. SGA I was actually a little indifferent toward and had no plans of letting myself get into it. Then I had a fanfic story idea for a sci-fi show, needed a sci-fi show, went with SGA and the rest is history. Heh, that story was Wrong End of a Leash and it nearly landed me in the BSG fandom ;)

So, I'm keeping my mouth shut and my opinions to myself concering SGU. Whether it's a good show, great show, or blah (and though a part of me is curious about it) I personally hope I don't get into it, mostly out of fear that if I do, it'll bury my SGA obsession (and it wouldn't be the first time that's happened). The only show I'm interested in getting into is Dr. Who, and would like to make both SGA and Dr. Who as my official sci-fi fixes. I just don't want to lose one show to another new show because, like I said, it wouldn't be the first time and I really hate it when that happens, don't ask me why.

Although, unless SGU ends up on regular TV after a year, I probably have nothing to worry about :D

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

It's the premise of the show that's putting me off. Yess I am resentful of what's happened but that will pass. I do feel that despite people's best efforts, the PTB have made their decision and they WON'T back down.
And unfriend you for having your own opinion. On your own lj. (and I haven't watched Dollhouse because I don't like the premise.) Remember, you are the person who gets me to think. The next step is to get me writing. I've started but it's hard coming home from work. The frustrating thing for me is that you and others have the same thing but it just seems to flow. I think I have blockers in there somewhere that are standing in the way. (or I'm too scared of sounding like I'm a twelve year old writer :))

[roving-rez.livejournal.com]

If it press my fangirl buttons like SGA and SG1 did - then I have no prob with a new Stargate series. I may even get excited as it gets closer.

But why must Atlantis go away???

*cries*

I'm still mourning.

[calcitrix.livejournal.com]

I don't mind the introduction of a new show; I'm upset that it comes at the cost of losing a show I like so much. I can't figure out why we can't have a couple more seasons of SGA AND SGU at the same time, especially since SGA's numbers are pretty good right now. What if SGU completely tanks and gets canceled mid-season? The two-at-once worked pretty well for SG-1 and SGA, and it allowed for the actors to cross over from time to time. I can't imagine that SGA's production costs are any higher now than SG-1's were by the tenth season when the actors were making that much more money.

That said, I'll give SGU a shot just to have something to watch, and I can only hope that I'll be as attached to the characters as I am to the SGA crew.

[naye]

Yes, because reading optimistic, sane opinions are totally grounds for defriending! *g*

I'm totally unsurprised to find that I agree with you nearly to 100% - at least about SGU! I mean, I've only been in SGA fandom for 14 months, and with this show, that's too short. Which is ridiculous, because 14 months is a long, long time when it comes to my fannish attention span...

I'm still having to make a conscious effort to not get so depressed by the fact that my show is ending and all the fantastic actors that I love will be out of work that I... I'm still struggling, but with SGA instead of SGU.

About SGU... I'm really annoyed with the "younger" spiel. As in - I thought you knew better, Wright & Cooper, I really did! I mean, look at the numbers your cast of 30+/40+ characters has been pulling in these last couple of years, and look at how the fans adore them, and their actors.

I feel indignant and appalled and quite possibly actually pissed off that they come across like they're saying that the cast of SGA is too old. Because I love watching these people who are actually believable in their roles, who have so much experience and who aren't cast simply because they are pretty. (I weave in and out of referring to the characters and the actors here, I find - please bear with me, as I still haven't had any tea today. *g*)

On the totally shallow side, people like RDA and Amanda Tapping and Joe Flangian are incredibly gorgeous, even after they've passed 40 and 50. (And David Hewlett is just - wow.) Nobody has said that younger = prettier, but we know they're all thinking it. And that is BS, and I hate them a little for it, because there's really no need to add ageism to all the rest of the -isms they're struggling with.

So. I have a whole lot of resentment there, and I've spent the last few days *clinging* to my show, because I'm terrified that the blow the cancellation news dealt me would make me lose interest in it. (For purely selfish reasons, like wanting to avoid the feeling of euphoria cut brutally short when I think of all the possibilities that will never happen. Like really hating this internal countdown informing me that each scene I love might be the last like it forever. Like when I woke up this morning and couldn't decide if I was more happy to have gotten The Shrine, or more upset about all of the things I'm already missing, without the promise of an unwritten season on the horizon - things like Jeannie, and David and Kate playing siblings; playing McKays.)

But! For all of the existential angst and OH DEAR CREATORS NO feelings about the way they phrased their new show's premises, I will be right there with you anticipating SGU. And I don't resent the creators for ending SGA while its good. I really don't. I don't resent them for putting their creative energies into a new show - I really don't think anyone working with them does, either, because five years is a long time! And SGA has had a wonderful run, and even I can see that it is so much better to end on a high note than to have actors jumping ship and phoning it in and end up with a run of really mediocre episodes that sinks the show. I personally don't think that the sixth season would have done that, but really, I admit that the creators know their show (and cast and writers) better than I do...

And! It's a creative team that has brought the kind of stuff that makes my fangirl self wriggle in glee as I watch! Wright is the original h/c fangirl writer (Kripke's got nothing on him!), Cooper does amazing characters and character interactions (Sateda! Doppelanger!), and if the two of them are creating a new show from scratch? I'll be right there with you, anticipating it for what it is, and not hating it for what it isn't. (That would be SGA, by the way. *g*)

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

I think one of my biggest sources of angst about the cancellation of SGA, actually, is that you and Emilie will migrate out of the fandom! Because you just got in, and it's been so nice having you here! At least with another season, I could be fairly confident that you'd stick around for another year or so.

But, well ... life goes on! I can't remember if it was a comment to you or someone else where I mentioned that, my first year in the fandom, I'd written a Christmas story in the middle of summer because I didn't believe I'd still be in the fandom come Christmas. Now, it's two years later and I'm still here. So you just never know - I had no idea I'd be in it this long (because I'm normally not) and I don't begrudge other people leaving. I just ... kinda hope you don't. XD

And, yeah, I'm having to focus on NOT letting that black cloud hang over me and ruin my enjoyment of the episodes. "No more Jeannie!" was something that was giving me trouble here, too - and one big problem with going from a series to stand-alone movies is that, if Firefly and SG1 are anything to go by, the movies really don't offer nearly as much of the quiet character moments and character-driven storylines that make the show so much fun for us. But - there will still be movies! More Team Dork to look forward to! And I'm glad we won't have to endure whole seasons composed mainly of episodes that we have to ignore. (We already know that the writers are entirely capable of doing DO NOT WANT episodes - can you imagine how awful it would be for the series' final season to be composed entirely of episodes like "Irresponsible" or "Misbegotten"?) This way, we can love them to the end.

Another thing I've been thinking about is that Jason Momoa had wanted to leave the show at the end of this season or possibly the next. It's possible that if the show had stuck it out for another season, we would have faced the breakup of Team Sheppard as we know it. And that would have been sad! As it is, I have no real casting spoilers for the rest of the season, but I'm mostly confident that the team will survive to the end ... and that way, in our minds and in fanfic, they can be together forever.

(I'm such a sap...)

And, even though the premise of SGU doesn't sound all that great to me, and the "younger and hipper" thrust is annoying, I really *am* looking forward to a new ensemble team show by the same writers. I want to see what they do! So far, two shows in a row have given me a set of characters that I really loved (at least for a while, in the case of the SG1 bunch) and some of the best h/c on TV. Another thing I've been thinking about today is that the Stargate TPTB are obviously well aware of slash fandom, and even toss them occasional nods in the show itself. If they're going for "younger, hipper, edgier" with this, is it possible we might actually get an openly gay character on the show? The mind boggles!

[mcalex22.livejournal.com]

The timing of the announcement wasn't exactly good. It was like a kick in the guts to SGA fans. But that's the way life works... I'm in the process of calculating redundancies at work and it really sucks and I know lots of people will be upset but from where I stand, I can actually see why it needs to be done (doesn't mean I don't have sympathy for the people).

I personaly have nothing against Universe and will watch it out of curiousity because I am after all a scifi fan! I was sad about SGA but life does go on and I think what you said previous was correct - 5 years is a good long run! I'm pleased it got this far and I will look forward to the rest of Season 5.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

The timing was bad. Although I can't think what would have been good timing for this, waiting for the initial outcry and upset to die down would probably have helped with the resentment.

But we'll see where it goes.

[roving-rez.livejournal.com]

Also... ( I forgot to write this above.
I just wanted to say I don't get this push for 'younger' stars. Who are they trying to attract? I'm a 21 year female habouring a major crush on David Hewlett and Joe Flanigan. I don't care if they are 40 - they rock my world.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

I've never understood it myself. I don't go for the "young, hot, pretty" look at all. I like faces with character and personality, and I always have. Give me a Rodney McKay over a dozen muscular young 22-year-olds.

(Actually, I'll take Rodney over pretty much anyone right now, but I'm rather biased ...)

I console myself with the knowledge that "young" doesn't necessarily translate to "bland". I'm not going to reject the new show out-of-hand just for featuring young stars - especially since we haven't even SEEN the cast yet! Who knows what sort of people they'll find for it; this is all based on pure speculation, and we might get ANYTHING.

[with-apostrophe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been saying this over the past few days - I wrote off SGA without seeing it, thinking it couldn't hold a torch to SG-1, then when it was 2 years in started on S1 DVDs and now look where I am! I'm not doing that again.

Younger, space ship-based, Voyager type sci-fi isn't exactly filling my heart with glee - DS9, Babylon 5, SG-1, SGA, have been favourites with me because they WEREN'T on space ships (though I do love the SGA ep "Intruder", which takes place where? Oh yeah, ON A SPACE SHIP!). Also, I'm wondering how the Stargate will fit in. It is called "Stargate" Universe, after all. I needs me Stargate. EVERYBODY needs a little Stargate!

Still RCC and Wright created SGA (not SG-1 BTW - that was Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright - so half of the team!) and have written AWESOME episodes either by themselves or together (2 of my top 3 SGA - Doppelganger and The Shrine), so I have hopes that it will be good.

Also, I've never been around a fandom from the beginning of a show. If I like the show, I'm looking forward to being there from the beginning, and getting involved, and seeing the show and the fandom evolve in real time, not in retrospect.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Oh! Thanks for the correction. *facepalm*

I'm not too hot on the "Voyager" idea myself, but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what Cooper and Wright come up with. I, too, was pessimistic about SGA, and look how that turned out.

[annieb1955.livejournal.com]

As if I'd defriend you for having an opinion. How then would I read your lovely fics? Silly you!

[ariadne83]

I'm more than willing to give Universe a try, firstly because I've been fannish in this 'verse since the movie and I'm not ready to let go yet, and secondly because with SGA I was forced to eat my words. I watched it and hated it, and watched it and hated it... and then somehow fell madly in love and bought each season as soon as they were available. The Stargate franchise is addictive, I tell you!

[trystings.livejournal.com]

I am giving SGU the benefit of the doubt, after all, SGA replaced SG-1 and I enjoy SGA a whole lot more than SG-1. But the premise of a star ship, lost in deep space with "more space set action than its predecessors" has been milked to death IMO. And the producers calling the current fanbase "slightly too old" is not helping their case any. AND, thirdly, I watch SGA for the team, for my favorite duo Flanigan and Hewlett. It saddens me they will no longer be working together.

But I'm sure I will check out SGU and who knows, in a year I might be totally smitted with the new cast and giggle when I read all those angry and emotional posts I made at this time about the cancellation of SGA. I sure hope so. And if not, I will move on.

[leenys.livejournal.com]

I'm open to it. I was open to Atlantis when it first came out. I like the idea of the Stargate verse as a whole, and while I, like others, am TIRED of my age bracket being discounted, I'm not throwing up my hands at this new series because of it. If it's good, I'll watch it. If it sucks, I won't. Cut and dry.

[ancientcitadel.livejournal.com]

I'll give it a try, it's just from the various descriptions it doesn't sound promising.

[artemis-prime.livejournal.com]

Your comment that you've become even more fannish now that the end is in sight is something I completely understand. I'm going through that right now, trying to get my hands on any SGA stuff I possibly can. Reminds me of my early Firefly days...

I have read some more about SGU (and doesn't that remind me of my college days) and I'm leery and interested. You're right in that W/C have come up with some interesting stuff and I really shouldn't dismiss it outright (heck, I even liked Woolsey after episode 2). I am just reluctant to want to watch "kids" making their way through the galaxy. Um, "200" anyone?

There is an issue of believability. And this stems back to my issue with Keller. As much as I love Jewel Staite as an actor, she is just too young, in my mind, to be playing the CMO. She doesn't have experience. All the other characters convey that to me, whether SG-1 or SGA. If TPTB have decided on a "90210" approach to the new series then it's lost its believability.

That said, I have read that W/C are focussing more on the drama aspect and character development, ala BSG, which is something I most hopeful about. It's the reason that I love fan fic so much; without character growth and depth, you can't have good, believable shows (again, Firefly comes to mind with its level of character development). Certainly, SGU should not be as brooding and self-wallowing as BSG, but having more on-screen emotional development is a good thing.

So thanks for giving me a different perspective - again! :)

[shortnudel.livejournal.com]

I´m looking forward to SGU, too.
In Germany we haven´t even seen SGA season four yet. So there is still a lot for us to look forward too. And some more time to get used to the idea of no more weekly fix. *Sniff*
My biggest problem is that I adore spoilers and love reading all those reactions to a new episode (and then go completly crazy looking forward to it for the next year or something). I´ll miss that even more than actually watching the episodes. Ohh and I´ll miss watching new songvids with McKay and Sheppard with scence in it I had never seen and could spedulate about all I wanted. I´ll miss McShep :-(

But I also loved getting into the fandom, when it hadn´t even started here. I read fanfic, spoilers, the first reactions, watched sonvids and was so giddy and excited when first season finaly aired.
So I have that to look forward too again.

*off to watch a SGA marathon now*

[astridv.livejournal.com]

It's actually nice to see someone be excited about it. :) I'm still bummed as hell over the circumstances of the cancellationn, but I plan to check out the new show in any case. After all, I missed out on several years of Atlantis fannishness because I was always convinced I wouldn't like it and had never even thought of giving it a try until I stumbled over some fan works.

[anniehow.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm looking forward to it as well. I got all my Younger-and-prettier-outrage over and done with when atlantis came out (!), and now I decided that TPTB have earned my trust. I'm really curious about it, though I do raise a skeptical eyebrow at how... "startrek" it all sounds.

[blade-girl.livejournal.com]

I'm speaking here as someone who knows next to nothing of the little there apparently is to know so far about Stargate: Universe, because I've only just heard the news that SGA's being canceled and have only heard the title of the new show and the fact that it's apparently being cast for a younger demographic. Yet I can say I have, really, no desire for more information about it and little or no interest in watching it when it eventually comes to air.

The reason for that isn't bitterness that the price of this new show is clearly the death of SGA. My reason for disinterest is actually kind of the diametric opposite of yours: I feel I've been burned by the Stargate people, in different ways, twice now, and I simply don't trust them enough to risk getting attached to another of their shows.

Their attitude toward their own creations has always made me uncomfortable; the sense that they are overgrown 14-year-olds snickering at us from behind the scenes and elbowing each other while saying, "Can you believe those idiot fans actually care about this shit so much?" has always sort of turned my stomach. But because I genuinely liked many of the characters (usually because they usually cast actors adept in filling in the writers' characterization gaps), I stuck with the shows through thick and thin. SGA was particularly taxing in this regard; the writing was so freakin' teeter-tottery for seasons two and three I felt like taking a Dramamine every week.

Now they pull Atlantis from the air just as they finally seem to have a handle on who these characters really are and what they want the show to be? That's my reward for patiently waiting and watching? Um, well... I just don't care for that. I wouldn't accept treatment like this from a merchant whose product I had been buying for years. Not only would I find another product to start buying in its place, I would not bother trying new products from that company, either.

This is not to diss your choice to be interested in the new show, you understand; it's just that most of the negative reactions I've seen so far have been punitive - "No, I won't watch this new show since they killed SGA to make it" or "No, I won't watch a show that thinks I'm too old to matter economically" - while my own reaction is based more on loss of trust, and I thought that POV might be of a little interest.

To someone besides myself, that is. :D

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

That's certainly fair; this hasn't been my impression of the show and creators, but that's why we're, well, all different people *g* -- though there are some creators that I react that way to (Joss Whedon, for example -- there are a number of reasons why I'm extremely wary of ever watching a Whedon show again, and don't get me started on Eric Kripke). I think your reaction makes a lot more sense to me than the punitive sort -- though, now that I'm past my initial frustration with fandom, I'm feeling a lot more "live and let live" about that.