Syfy

Today, I went to Future Shop to pick up a new laptop to replace the one in my home office that keeps doing that blue screen of death thing.  I told the sales associate that I wanted something simple.  I don’t need a computer with games or satellite tracking or face recognition software.  All I really need it for is writing, photo storage, and doing online research on quasars, neutrinos, and the Naomi Watts kissing scenes in Mulholland Drive.  He recommended a fairly inexpensive option that I decided to go with.

“Would you like the extended warranty?”he asked.

“No thanks,”I said, figuring I’d no doubt replace the laptop when the time came.

“It’s a very good deal!  Are you sure?”

I told him I was, but he was a persistent little guy, insisting he run through all the options before I made a decision.  I told him I’d already made my decision but, before I could say “I shoulda just gone to Best Buy.” he was off.   And, some five minutes later, he was back with the extended warranty pamphlet.  Again, I informed him I wasn’t going to get the warranty, but that did little to dissuade him from launching into a lengthy breakdown of the differences between the lame manufacturer’s warranty and the awesome Future shop warranty.  It went something like:

“The manufacturer’s warranty is one year parts and labor which require you to ship your laptop to their technical support center in Clackmannanshire, Scotland staffed by approximately a dozen octogenarians with little computer experience outside of having watched the original Star Wars, a movie most found loud and confusing.  In conjunction with their Calcutta call center, they will seek to fix your problem to the best of their abilities using a tuning fork and the power of positive thinking, then ship your laptop back to the nearest pick-up depot – in your case, since your live in North America, a brothel in Mexico City.  When you’ve paid the establishment’s entrance fee (which includes one non-alcoholic beverage of your choosing), you must provide identification in the form of a framed birth certificate as well as three letters of reference from practicing chiropractors swearing to the fact that you have never served in the capacity of Archbishop for the Catholic Church.  You will then receive your laptop, a receipt of work completed, and a kick in the groin for good measure before being sent on your way.  Only once you’ve made your way back to your hotel will you realize that your wallet has been “lost”, but a frantic return trip to the depot will find it shuttered as the employees have already set out on their weekly Customer Appreciation Day Picnic.  You will return to your hotel and explain your situation to the on duty clerk who will sympathize with your plight, and then call the police who will arrest and then proceed to interrogate you in the hopes that  you will provide them with information pertaining to a recent high profile kidnapping or, failing that, an approximate re-enactment of the interrogation scenes in Slumdog Millionaire.  In the event you’re unable to provide them with either the information or entertainment they seek, you will be permitted to make one phone call.  You will, of course, contact your embassy but the new Hungarian receptionist who’ll answer the phone will speak very little English and, after numerous aborted attempts to understand what, exactly, you’re trying to tell her, will grow frustrated and hung on you.  The second call you make to friends and/or family back home will prove more fruitful and, after your ransom/fine has been paid, you’ll be sent on your way minus your shoes and copy of Eat, Pray, Love you were hoping to finish on the return flight back home.  When you finally DO make it back home, you’ll open up your laptop to discover a grilled cheese sandwich nestled atop the keyboard.  The manufacturer’s warranty also covers damage that resulted from trying to make a grilled cheese sandwich by pressing it in a closed laptop left sealed overnight.  All you have to do is send it in.

OR, you could go with the Future Shop warranty that covers parts AND labor in addition to hugs, pep talks, back rubs, dating advice, restaurant recommendations, weekend reiki treatments, spotting in the event you choose to use your laptop on a trampoline, unqualified medical counsel, free use of the Future Shop Scion with the racing stripes provided Alvin from t.v. and video hasn’t taken it out, an escort to your cousin’s wedding, someone to talk football with, and moral support if and when you break up with your significant other.”

“How much?”I asked.

“Regularly $169.  With this laptop $64.”

“Great!  I won’t take it.”

He seemed genuinely surprised.  ”What did you expect it to be?  Free?”

“No,”I said.  ”I never wanted the extended warranty, but you seemed so fired up to run through your routine that I thought it would be rude to interrupt.”

Mailbag:

Eventful Horizon writes: “When will we see some aliens that aren’t bugs or other similar creatures?”

Answer: When the show returns in April, you’ll get to see the coolest aliens we’ve ever done on the show.

Jenny writes: “Joe, you state that the show on second viewing, all those things that people took exception to, became less of a problem. That’s a bit much to ask isn’t it?”

Answer: I’m not saying that you need a second viewing to appreciate the show (although I highly recommend multiple viewings of each ).  All I’m saying is that given the change in tone and style and the groundwork established in those first few episodes, it’s possible you may grow accustomed to this new type of storytelling and issues (like the shooting style) will become less problematic for you.  Of course this won’t be the case for everyone, but a surprising number of fans I’ve spoken to stated that this was the case for them which is why I mentioned it.  So I’m curious to see if anyone else had a similar experience, not merely in terms of re-watching episodes but watching new episodes as the season progressed.

South African Singularity writes: “Audiences desire a larger amount of character interaction and development. A more in-depth understanding of the character.”

Answer: I agree.  Audiences are much more sophisticated than they were ten years ago.  They want to be entertained but they also want to be challenged.

Overmind One writes: “I thought that the entire season was already filmed, edited, and “in the can”. If that is true, then you are just HOPING that we will be delighted.”

Answer: Of course nothing is a certainty, especially when it comes to fandom, but I base my prediction on the fact that many of the issues fans have expressed and the suggestions they have made will be addressed in the back of season one – and this has nothing to do with last minute rewrites and everything to do with the episodes that fill the #11-#20 slots.  The stones for instance.  Many have complained about the use of the stones being used for personal visits, hoping to see that aspect of the show minimized, while suggesting other depictions of the stone tech (SF complications, using them to bring experts to the ship, etc.).  Well, as it turns out, in the back half of season one use of the stones for personal visits will be minimized and the stone tech will be explored in other ways (SF complications, using them to bring experts to the ship, etc.).  Again, you can’t please all of the people all of the time but, at least in the case of those complaining about the use of the stones, a great number of them will be very pleased with what we have in store for them come April.

Thornyrose writes: “Have the standards slipped so bad in the program that people whose psychological profiles are so fragile now assigned to such missions? [...]  Oh, and why is it that out of almost 100 people we’ve only seen one suicide, and that partially induced by drug withdrawals?”

Answer: The obvious answer is that these people fall somewhere in between.  It’s not so much that they’re psychologically fragile as they are unprepared for spending the rest of their lives on Destiny.  Yes, they signed up for off-world assignment.  But they didn’t sign up for this.  The prospect of being stranded without any hope of ever returning home would strain even the strongest of individuals.

Thornyrose also writes: “And ignoring that, why would the PTB on Earth permit the breech of security by alloiwing the exiles to communicate with loved ones? It makes for drama moments but doesn’t make sense from the show history. Or are you finally going to reveal the Stargates to the people of the SG universe Earth?”

Answer: Two issues that look to be addressed down the line.

Arctic Goddess writes: “As an aside, since POW’s stuck in prison camps often find ingenious ways to make hooch, I’d expect some of the boys on Destiny to try the same thing.”

Answer: Brody’s on it.

Airelle writes: “Joe I know you are tackling the comments here and you are brave, but I was wondering, should I get the ab circle pro, I mean the tv promo says it works… ”

Answer: If you want to have abs that pop, you really need to work at it – and while buying something like the ab circle pro may help, it certainly won’t get the job done alone.  To actually build those abs, you should incorporate weights into your ab routine (ie. weighted crunches) and combine them with effective core-building exercises like the bridge or the bicycle crunch (I’m sure you can find explanations online).  Then watch your caloric intake, replace more indulgent foods in your diet with lean proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables.  Building those abs may actually be the easy part.  Stripping away belly fat and toning the area so that those abs actually pop will be the challenge.

lavvyan writes: “Asking for suggestions on how to improve your show, only to explain everything away, is quite another.”

Answer: There’s a difference between gathering feedback and taking dictation.  I’m doing the former, not the latter.  You can’t ignore your audience but, on the other hand, if you start second-guessing and scrambling to implement every popular online opinion, you’d be better off writing one of those Choose Your Own Adventure books.  I’ve always been interested in what fans have to say, but do sometimes take issue with how they say it.  In the case of some of the issues expressed (ie. the stones, the emphasis on relationships, etc.) I’ve stated reasons why, from a creative and production standpoint, we developed these particular story elements and how some of these issues may be addressed in the back half of season one and beyond.  With regard to the various aspects fans have expressed an interest in seeing developed, I’ve also tried to point out, wherever possible, how many of those aspects WILL be developed later this season.

Dodoalda writes: “1) Any word about some SGU season 1.5 trailer?
2) Now, when some of SG props are selling by e-bay, what you will do, if tese props are necessary for filming third SG-1 movie or first SGA movie? Make new ones?
3) Are you planning opening theme for SGU´s S2? At least for DVD releases? I know, that there is no theme because of episode length, but Joel Goldsmith makes wonderful job and SGU just deserves some opening titles…please.
4) Will be in future episodes (I hope sabotage is gonna be the one) desctibed, how exactly FTL works and what´s the difference between FTL and Hyperspace?
5) I´ve just wondered, if having longer and longer hairs in every episode is creators´s decision (because there are no scissors on the ship) or actors´s decision?”

Answers: 1) They’re working on it as we speak.  2) MGM had literally thousands of props gathering dust so, rather than keep them in storage indefinitely, they’ve elected to finally make most of those items available to fans.  As for potentially selling anything we may need in the future – I liken it to the show’s visual effects which have improved dramatically over time.  I’d rather have a newer, cooler version than an older used one.  3) Not sure. 4) No plans to get into the intricacies of the FTL drive. 5) I believe it was something the actors wanted to do.

Pastrygirl writes: “How does casting work in conjunction with the writing? If you have a particular actor in mind, like for a cameo, do you have to get them on board before going ahead with writing the episode? How much involvement do the writers have during casting for parts for episodes you’ve written?”

Answer: Most of the show’s writers produce their own episodes so they are involved in every aspect of episode prep including casting.  If we have an actor in mind, it’s a simple matter of contacting him to find out whether or not he’d be interested in appearing on the show.

Niall mcnamara writes: “can you help me please if you read this i want you to read a story that i wrote.”

Answer: I’m sorry, Niall.  As much as I’d love to read what you, or many others out there have written, I honestly don’t have the time between work, dogs, and sleep.

Tim Lade writes: “Also, the only request I have to make is…can we please see the bridge or command centre of the Destiny?”

Answer: Sure.  If we can find it.  Welcome aboard, Tim.

Tanie writes: “Are you getting the h*ll out of dodge while the Olympics are on?”

Answer: Unlike everyone else, I’ll be in Vancouver for the Olympics.  Instead of hightailing it out of here, I’ll instead be entertaining a guest visiting from Japan.  Tanoshii!

Overmind One writes: “Thing is, the declining ratings and negative commentary all over the internet has prompted them to ASK US what we really want.”

Answer: Actually, no.  Sorry to disappoint.  If I was trying to curry favor with mass fandom, I’d be cross-posting this survey on the innumerable other forums out there.  Instead, I chose to ask fans here on this blog because I’m familiar with most of them and know that they’ll provide a fair assessment of their likes and dislikes in a well presented and respectful manner.  I’ve asked because I’d like to know what’s been working for them, what hasn’t been working for them, why, and then present some insight into the reasons we’ve chosen to pursue certain creative avenues in addition to hinting at the ways some of their concerns may be addressed when SGU returns with all new episodes in April.

Tagged: Stargate, Stargate Universe

Moving on to the contentious third part of the SGU viewer questionnaire – I asked fans: What aspect of the show would you prefer to see minimized?  A multitude of fans surveyed.  Top five answers on the board:

Those F**king Stones!: One of the things I loved about writing for both Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis was the scope of the storytelling when it came to tone (action-driven, humorous, tear-jerkers, etc.), scale (epic space battles, run ‘n gun ops, quieter character-driven stories, etc.), and location (off-world, shipboard, Earth-based,etc.).    In a sense, we were making a mini-movie every week and what allowed us to tell those bigger, flashier (read: more expensive) stories were the smaller, less flashy (read: less expensive) but no less engaging tales we would tell along the way.  And just as important as the kind of story we told were the types of places in which they were set.  Back on SG-1 or Atlantis, having the team set off on an off-world adventure EVERY week would have been as tiresome as, say, doing an SGC/city-based bottle episode EVERY week.  Tiresome, not just in terms of narrative but visual styling as well.  Mom was right after all.  You can’t be inside all day.  You need to get out every once in a while.  Breathe some fresh air.

Especially if you’re trapped on some dark mystery ship on the other side of the universe.  Getting off that ship on occasion is important, not only for the well-being of its crew, but the home audience as well.  Trust me, if every episode of Stargate: Universe was set aboard Destiny, fans would be very quick to complain.  Which is, I’m sure you’ll be quick to remind me, what the stargate is for.  And, yes, we have gone off-world and visited strange new worlds (the desert planet in Air III, the ice planet in Water), and will continue to do so in the back half of season one and beyond, but one of the elements Brad and Robert wanted to avoid as much as possible with this new series were the forested planets that became a hallmark of the other two shows as well as the accompanying human-form English-speaking aliens.  Never say never but, to date, we’ve been pretty good about keeping our alien landscapes alien-looking and our aliens, well, alien-looking as well.  But at the end of the day, CG landscapes and alien life forms don’t come cheap (especially some of the stuff we have in store), so it’s the occasional Earth-based episode that allows us to bring you those alien vistas and encounters.  And they also allow us to reveal aspects of our characters that may not necessarily come to light on board Destiny.  Take the character of Camile Wray for instance.  At first blush, given her shipboard behavior, some may write her off as a humorless hard-ass and yet the episode Life uncovered a whole other side to the character – a compassion and vulnerability her crew mates aboard Destiny are unaware of (for the time being at least).

What several of you have pointed out, however, is that your objection lies not so much with the stones but the way they are used.  Instead of using them for home visits, why not tells stories in which they’re used for more calculated ends?  Or stories in which they malfunction or their use results in undesired SF consequences? Or, given what they can do, why not introduce a situation in which an expert or experts are brought aboard Destiny to deal with an issue our crew is wholly unprepared for?  In response to these questions, I say: You’ll be downright delighted with what we have in store for you when SGU makes its April return.

Sex and Soap: On SG-1 and Atlantis, the personal interrelations between our characters often took a back seat to the adventures at hand.  Yes, character relationships were developed over the course of many years of many missions, but the focus was always on defeating the goa’uld or thwarting the wraith.  There wasn’t much time for falling in love, much to the displeasure of fans of various romantic pairings (Sheyla, Shweir, McKeller, ShepKett, and Muppet). Unlike SG-1 and Atlantis, however, those aboard Destiny are trapped together with no hope of returning home.  As a result, it makes sense that they will eventually find comfort in one another.  Over time, relationships will develop and, yes, some of these relationships may eventually become physical. Honestly, the aim is not to titillate but to show that these are real people trying their best to cope with highly surreal situations.  As for what the future holds in this regard – relationships (romantic and platonic) will continue to develop as the focus shifts to exploration and discovery.

Darkness and Despair: Yes, Destiny can be a bit of a gloomy place at times which is why it’s nice to contrast those shadowed corridors with bright alien worlds or the occasional sunny day on Earth.  But what many of you seem to be saying is “These people should suck it up!   I would kill to be in their shoes!”.  Well, let me start off by saying “YOU are special.”.  Being stranded on a space ship with no hope over ever returning home would be a hard pill to swallow and, in the beginning, most (if not all) of those trapped in such a scenario would be understandably upset.  But, like a hot bath or an annoying uncle at Christmas dinner, it’s a scenario they’ll have to adjust to and, if not embrace, then find a way to accept.  They just got on board, people.  Don’t rush ‘em!

Stop shaking the camera!: I remember talking to Ben Browder about the shooting style on Farscape and him telling me that the directorial approach to every episode was to “keep the camera moving!”.  Doing so lends a scene or shot a certain dynamism lacking in the more staid or static approach to visual storytelling.  Having said that, a little does go a long way.  For instance, the type of shooting style that worked so well in Cloverfield would no doubt induce nausea on anyone watching our show.

Pick up the pace!: One of the challenges of starting a new series is establishing the narrative framework, everything from concept to characters, rules and relationships, backstory elements and future prospects.  And it’s doubly challenging in the SF realm because we’re often dealing with scenarios and technologies the average viewer may be unfamiliar with.  The trick is to lay this groundwork while still moving forward, telling engaging stories like Darkness and Light that not only entertain but inform (Hey, the ship is solar powered!), picking up the tempo as the series develops and our characters evolve.  Justice kicks off a run of terrific episodes, culminating in a taut, fast-paced three parter that closes out SGU’s inaugural season.

One of the things I’ve been told by several fans who watched the show live and then screened those same episodes uninterrupted was how some of the elements they’d taken issue with on first viewing were no longer problematic the second time around.  For them, it was like familiarizing themselves with a narrative shorthand (ie. the visual style, the pacing of the storytelling) that, once acquired, allowed them to enjoy the show on a whole other level.  If any of you have re-screened those first ten episodes (or plan to do so when the DVD hits stores shelves February 9th) let me know if you had a similar experience.

Tomorrow, we move on to your favorite “story moments” from the first half of Stargate: Universe’s first season.  And, time permitting, I’ll even hit the mailbag.

Tagged: Stargate, Stargate Universe

Wow!  160+ comments and counting!  Who knew haggis would prove such a popular topic.  Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment on my first attempt at the Scottish delicacy.

Also, thanks to those who have been weighing in with their thoughts on Stargate: Universe – their likes, dislikes, and hopes for the future.  As I stated in yesterday’s entry, you have the entire back half of season one to look forward to come April and I can assure you that many of your requests will be magically honored when the show returns.  While the first ten episodes established the series, the ship, its characters and their various relationships, the next ten will be more action-oriented, focus more on exploration, and delve deeper into our crew.  Still, this is the perfect time to chime in as we gear up for the show’s second season.

I’ve received a slew of comments (and expect many more), but would like to address each of the topics in term.  So today, let’s discuss the responses to the first questions asked:  1. Which character would you like to see explored more?

Not surprisingly, you weighed in with a wide selection of worthy candidates ranging from main characters to background players.  But leading the pack was SGU’s resident medic, Lieutenant Tamara “T.J.” Johansen.  Many of you cited the character’s potential and the surprising depth of Alaina Huffman’s performance in even the most cursory of scenes or exchanges.  It’s something that struck me as well, especially in later episodes, Alaina’s ability to masterfully convey so much about her character in subtleties like a simple line delivery of a thrown look.  Although most of your diehard fans know where we’re going with the character, but I’ll resist the urge to spill the beans for those who don’t want to be spoiled.  Instead, I’ll simply assure you that T.J. will have a developing story arc through the back half of season one, one that will have major ramifications for her character well into season two.  A lot of wonderful Tamara moments throughout the back half, but Faith, episode 13, is the episode that fans of the character (and fans of actress Alaina Huffman in particular) should really look forward to. And the show’s second season gets off to a very interesting start for her as well.  One of the aspects of the T.J. character we see flashes of in episodes like Water that I truly love and want to explore is her military side.  In short, I want to see her kick ass!

Two more characters who you’re requesting to see more of are the Machiavellian Dr. Rush (Robert Caryle) and SGU’s spirited warrior, Master Sergeant Ronald Greer (Jamil Walker Smith).  While Rush has been front and center to date, many of you are hankering for a peek at Rush’s motivations, his backstory, what potentially dark events from his past shaped him.  Well, fans of the character won’t have to wait long for some answers.  Human, episode 14, will explore the Rush character and, if not answer many of these questions, then at least offer some major hints to a troubled past.  And, of course, Rush will continue to follow his own agenda (which we’ll begin to piece together as time goes on), ultimately taking this game to a whole new level as we head into the show’s second season.

As for Greer, many of you have expressed a desire to find out a little more about his backstory as well, what makes him tick tick tick.  He’s one of the more fascinating members of the Destiny crew, a soldier’s soldier with an explosive volatility simmering just beneath his ice cool exterior.  And, in episode 15, Lost, we finally get a glimpse at Greer’s past, some of the events that shaped him as well, for better and for worse.  In addition to that episode, the back half of season one is sprinkled with plenty of wonderful character beats both dark and humorous, as well as moments that will speak to the bond of friendship between Greer and Scott.

Plenty of other characters made the wish list.  Quite a few of you want to see more of  Eli Wallace (David Blue), find out a little more about how his mother is doing, and see the character mature a little over the course of his incredible adventure aboard Destiny.  Check, check, and check although, admittedly, the latter requires us to walk a fine line between having the character mature over the course of his experiences yet keeping him the grounded, fish-out-of-water the viewer can continue to identify with.  There are many challenges ahead for the young genius, not the least of which being his uncertain positioning in the ongoing tug-o-war between two diametrically opposed father figures: Young and Rush.  Remember that last scene in Justice where Eli goes to visit Young after Rush has been left behind?  You figure he suspects something’s up?

Chloe Armstrong (Elyse Levesque) was another character that received quite a few votes and more than a few requests to see the character developed beyond what we’ve established to date.  Well, things will get very interesting for Chloe almost immediately upon our April return and her harrowing experience will have repercussions not only for her, but for the rest of the crew as well.

Camile Wray (Ming-Na) and Colonel David Telford (Lou Diamond Philips) also received mentions.  Wray is a civilian with a background in Human Resources and while, at first blush, the skills she possesses may seem impractical in a space-faring scenario, Camile will step to the fore later this season, especially when all hell breaks loose in the show’s two-part season finale.  And then there’s that hate-hate relationships she’s got going on with Greer. We’ll be exploring that throughout – and in very interesting fashion later.

Several of you wanted to know more about Telford.  As one poster mentioned: “There has to be more than what we as viewers have seen of him”.  True, true. And we’ll find out plenty more about him later this season.  Also, someone else cited his past with Young and suggested that this was an element that warranted further exploration.  Well, yes, we have hinted at some history between these two and some of these shocking and tragic details will be revealed late in season one.

Also receiving votes: Luis Ferreira’s Colonel Everett Young (big trouble looms for our anguished commander on the heels of his shocking decision in Justice), Brian J. Smith’s Lieutenant Matthew Scott (Faith, episode 13, in particular offers us a better understanding of his selflessness and willingness to self-sacrifice for the greater good), secondary characters (some great moments upcoming for the likes of James, Brody, Volker, Park, Franklin and Riley), and Destiny itself (shipboard exploration and discovery to come).

So plenty of character development headed your way, most of which will hopefully satisfy your numerous requests (while simultaneously stirring further interest in our extended shipboard family).  And if what’s ahead in the back half of season one doesn’t clear your entire wish list, well, there’s season two to look forward to as well.

To JimfromJersey who complained because I didn’t post a pic of my finished haggis.  Sorry.  I forgot.  Here it is.

Viewer mail:

PG15 writes: “I just got accepted into the Calfornia Institute of Technology as a Graduate Student!! Woohoo!!”

Answer: I echo Carl Binder’s congratulations (If you missed it, check the comments.  He posted especially for you!).  Go Beavers! (to quote Cal Tech alum Dr. Alison Porter in Whispers).

Michael A. Burstein writes: “Haggis is one of those foods found in every culture, that people within the culture appreciate and people outside generally can’t understand. (In my background, that food is kishke.)”

Answer: Now kishke I have done, back in Montreal where some of my Jewish friends also introduced me to the joys of chicken liver dumplings.  Yum on both counts.

dasNdanger writes: “Now…how about that 100-year old egg.”

Answer: Also done.  It was a tasty ingredient in the congee Fondy and I would get when we used to go to Richmond for lunch.

Kerry writes: “You should now try Blood Sausage – a traditional Irish breakfast DELIGHT! Black or White pudding are your options, and I have to admit, if you don’t think about what you’re eating (much like Haggis), it’s a pretty great part of a Sunday fry. Alan makes his friends from home stock him up when they come to visit because the good stuff is hard to find in Vancouver.”

Answer: First Carl, now you.  It’s a practically a Stargate reunion in the comments section today.  So, yeah, I gratefully accept your invitation to try blood sausage the next time Alan’s friends come to town and bring the good stuff.  Looking forward to it.

Dasndanger writes: “But I was wondering about the writing team – what’s really better? A team of the same writers, or mixing things up a bit by bringing in new blood? Personally I think having a consistent team of writers is good, since they really get a feel for the characters. Sure, outside writers can bring in new ideas, but what if those ideas are at the expense of the characters? Just wonder what you think of regular writers v guest writers…if you have a sec or two to share.”

Answer: You started your post by referencing Mark Harmon (who I hear nothing but good things about on and off screen) and NCIS and I just wanted to say I LOVE the fact that this show has been pulling in some of its best ratings ever in its 7th season!  Hats off to them on a truly impressive achievement.  As to your question – Which is better, established writers or new blood? – I would answer: Can’t we have both?  On the one hand, established writers know the show and its characters better than anyone and they’ve developed a strong working relationship with the cast and crew; on the other hand, new writers could inject some new ideas and approaches to the stories and characters.  Why not the best of both worlds?

Steve Eramo writes: “Glad to read that your first Haggis experience was such a positive one! I wouldn’t steer you wrong.”

Answer: Hey, Steve.  So what’s next on the menu?

Tagged: Stargate, Stargate Universe