MovieChat Forums > Stargate: Atlantis (2004) Discussion > I forgot why I stopped watching this ser...

I forgot why I stopped watching this series

posted 9 years ago by skeptic-phd
4 replies | jump to latest

The other day, I was scrolling through my AppleTV playlist and saw Stargate: Atlantis. I thought, "I haven't watched this show in years!" I didn't remember why.

I watched happily, through the first three seasons, and then I remembered what made me eventually loathe Stargate: Jewel Stait. I mean Atlantis. Suddenly, everything seemed to revolve around Jennifer Keller, the whiniest, least qualified member of the entire expedition (including Kavanagh). Yes, I'm aware the writers were ultimately responsible for the intergalactic shark-jump. The change might've been more palatable with a better actress and writers who didn't create a character I wanted to kill with my bare hands. It absolutely ruined the series IMO when they killed Carson Becket the the most insane way possible - an exploding tumor and added insult to injury when they introduced Keller (that's MY OPINION for any of the Stait sycophants who may attack me for it). She's just an annoying actress. Whine, whimper, weep, and make the worst clinical decisions known to man - that was Stait's Keller. Ugh. I think next time I'll remember to stop watching the show at season three, episode 16 and let it end there.

Back to some real thought-provoking sci-fi for me.

[–] olwenhill2 9 years ago

Totally agreed. She ruined it for me too.

[–] bab7410 9 years ago

Wow, you missed this, so had I the first time around. We might have had some much desired therapy (400 plus pages to boot, not surprised):

http://forum.gateworld.net/threads/46329-The-Anti-Keller-Thread-(Spoilers)-For-complaints-and-misgivings-ONLY

You are not alone in that sentiment, I recently thought to rediscover SGA as well. I am currently experiencing a REVIVAL of memories as to why I stopped watching!

Her name is, Jewel Staite. I didn't like her and I don't apologize because I couldn't stand that Wraith girl either (I can never explain what it is about her that makes my brain turn homicidal-ish), and don't get me started about her cute-girl routine in FireFly either. It's over the top and methodical, she's ALWAYS that way but I feel like it's forcefully influencing the environment around her and other characters to the point where I start getting a very BRAINWASHY feeling about her. I feel she is subjecting everyone to her whining, like Stockholm Syndrome, and my brain wants OUT of it!

Seriously, I didn't even KNOW that was HER as the Wraith child! But I had the same CREEPED OUT vibe about the character/actress... (I didn't know of her that well either mind you, I don't know why the Stargate folks or maybe the SYFY 'creative team' decided that she was a big deal - Firefly was mainly Nathan Fillion's cake), but that voice, sh##! Her whining, her hair (did they decide on BSG that blondes were the way to go or something?? Her Barbie hair was AWFUL!), I don't get what they were thinking.. (they wanted someone to date Rodney I think). Whatever looks they feel she'd be able to use on the demographics, they ruined with her flat Matel Barbie hair! She totally ruined SGA for me!

I wish I could enjoy the remaining seasons of SGA but I currently can't make an episode entirely through because SHE'S in it! It's horrendous! Her acting, her age, her etc etc... I'm like not taking her seriously at ALL.

She should have been in her 40s or something to even play a CMO, why the hell was she on our screens for 20 mins or more during OUR weekends?

I also don't think Sam belonged on SGA, I liked her on Stargate though. Picard was surprisingly better on SGA than I felt he was on Stargate. He fit into a leadership role once he became a regular in Season 5.

I wasn't fond of Dr. Lam (I experience the same slow death feeling when she's on screen) or Landry sometimes on Stargate, they made things weirdly hostile, whiny, and irritating. It's like the writers want to introduce characters that they find bristly and then overuse them (CAMILLE, Lucius Lavin- he subjected the community's women to chemical agent/rapist, Kinsey!) and they think they'll maintain ratings that way??

They also messed up Teyla's character, Season 4 Atlantis === everything went downhill. They'd mention the baby every few minutes in the beginning, she'd be complaining each time, and then everything became about her being very "womanly," condescendingly, I feel. Like I felt like they were making her an assault-friendly version of Mary Sue. As I did with Keller (minus the combat friendly trait there, I don't really want to suppose if that would have made anything worthwhile about her, I fast forward her scenes and a LOT of season 4).

Ronon --> not good replacement for Ford, Conan-ish feel, and like, nothing else.

Michael and Todd were ALSO overused. Dear God, I felt like they wanted out of the show or something... so many cliches started after the 3rd season (which was SOLID).

But damn, Keller takes the cake. Like Camille, you win. Daaamn

[–] o-lO-o-Ol-o 9 years ago

She is a complete b!tch in person.

[–] ae36 9 years ago

Plus she was only on the series for about a year before she decided to get fat in season 5.

The show runners didn't make a lot of great casting decisions once the show began airing, did they?

I recently read an old interview about the then upcoming second season-- Martin Gero
called Paul McGillion's character of Carson the "breakout star for season 1" and the need to promote his character to the main cast from recurring. This of course led to the Rainbow Francks being pushed out. The also brought in Jason Momoa for a little "arm porn" for the ladies I guess.

Well, then they "killed" the Carson character off in season 3 to make room for Jewel Staite-- so much for being the "breakout" star LOL> The real "breakout" star of the show was David Hewlett. His character of McKay was essential to the show. With the possible exception of Joe Flanigan (and that's arguable), McKay was the one character you HAD to have to make the show work.

Then they got rid of Torri Higgison in season 4 and replaced her with Amanda Tapping. That lasted for a season before Robert Picado came on board for season 5.

AE36