Martin Gero is a screenwriter and co-producer for the highly popular SCI FI Channel series “Stargate: Atlantis.” Born in Switzerland, this 30 year old writer/producer/director not only writes and supervises scripts for Atlantis but, also spent two full seasons as a writer and the story consultant for “Stargate: SG-1,” America’s longest running SF show in television history.
In 2005 Martin was nominated for a Gemini Award in the category of Best Writing in a Dramatic Series for his work on “Stargate: Atlantis,” specifically for the episode titled “Brotherhood.”
Martin took time from his busy schedule to sit down with our Slice of SciFi reporter, Linda Craddock, for this special Thanksgiving Day interview. Enjoy.
Linda Craddock (SoSF): Hello Martin, how are you today? Happy Thanksgiving.
Martin Gero (MG): I’m fine Linda, and thank you.
SoSF: How did you get started with Stargate franchise?
MG: They were hiring new writers and they expanded to Atlantis and I was the guy that got hired.
SoSF: You have held a number of titles from staff writer, Story Editor , and now Executive Producer. What would you say was the most challenging position for you while working with the SGA project?
MG: Well, it’s all the same job, it’s just a question of seniority. Producer does the same work as the Supervising Producer and the Co- Executive Producer. It’s slightly more responsibility as you work your way up the chain
SoSF: You were nominated for Best Writing in a Dramatic Series for “The Brotherhood” in Season 1. Talk about the growth and transitions the show has made from that time to now 5 episodes into season 4.
MG: Any show has to get better every year to stay on the air and in season 1 — season 1 is always about trying to find out what your show is, what works best, you know and what characters are going to pop and also finding the voices, finding what kind of stories you want to tell. Season 1 for us was kind of a buck shot of stories and enhancements and themes and you kind of see what works and go with it and as shows evolve, we’ve become more serialized every year and the characters get deeper and richer.
SoSF: In the episode “Common Ground†the writers introduced the concept of the Wraith giving back life after 2 seasons of being life sucking aliens that rained-down terror in the Pegasus Galaxy. What was the thought process that went into this revelation?
MG: Well, again, as with our lead characters you have to explore new parts of them and deepen our knowledge of them. You never [allow] the audience to think they know everything about your enemies or your characters and the second everybody knows everything, that’s the time to wrap up shop and you’ve done all your story telling so that was definitely part of it. It was something we’d always kind of discussed and Brad had in the back of his mind for a little while and so this was the perfect story. It was a way to age and have Sheppard tortured and not have a 78 year old lead for the rest of the series and with that revelation comes, or allows us, to do even more stories, namely “Reunion”.
SoSF: Many fans have expressed their dismay regarding closure for Rainbow Franck’s character “Lt. Ford”? How would you comment about the subject?
MG: All I can say to the fans of Rainbow, with closure comes closing of the door of/for him being able to be in the show and I certainly don’t want to do that yet.
SoSF: Jason Momoa joined the cast in the beginning of season 2. Describe the impact his arrival has had over the last two seasons, especially from fan feedback with respect to his character and what he brings to the team?
MG: Jason [has] brought so much to the show. We really needed that very strong, physical presence that Jason brought. It wasn’t Rainbow’s fault that we moved on but the character wasn’t right with the team as well as the “Ronon” character does and he’s also just incredible, imposing and charismatic and [a] sexy, sexy guy, if I do say so myself (laughter) and I think the fan’s response has been excellent.
SoSF: Moving forward, will there be a better balance of character driven stories for season 4?
MG: A better balance, what do you mean?
SoSF: Character stories and development — season 1 through 3, not so much, and in 3 there was a lot of “Rodney” and “Sheppard”.
MG: Right, I see what you’re saying. I think that was not the case in season 3. In season 3 we did a “Weir” story, we did a “Ronon” story and “McKay” story and so season 4 kind of follows that format with a combination of team based episodes and then you take one off with like a “Teyla” story or “McKay” story or a “Sheppard” story and of course season 4 has a spectacular story arc heavily featuring “Teyla†and the missing “Athosians” — and I think it’s a huge arc and it’s the first time we really get to see “Teyla” have an arc of her own in episodes overall. One of my favorite episodes in the 1st ten is an episode called “Missing” with “Teyla” and “Dr. Keller” on the run and it’s really great.
SoSF: This new season now has Amanda Tapping and Jewel Staite. Describe the elements of the change in cast that has or will change the dynamics in terms of fan perception.
MG: That’s a tough question to answer; I mean I think Jewel and Amanda are amazing. For whatever reason we’ve had to change over a lot of cast members of the show and I think Amanda and Jewel bring a tremendous amount to it. They are not replacements but continuations. We’re not trying to replace “Weir”, and we’re not trying to replace “Beckett”. We’re trying to continue the story in a new and unique way this season and getting new and unique characters really helps expand the universe, expand the type of stories we can tell. Obviously Amanda’s not a new character but she’s so perfect in the role as leader of Atlantis. We have an episode called “The Seer” coming up and “Tabula Rasa” and “Reunion”, she’s made for that role and as for Jewel, if anyone had any doubt, if not gone, will be completely gone after an episode called “Missing”. She is phenomenal. I could not be more excited to have Jewel on the show.
SoSF: We know “Dr. Keller’s” character is much different from the role “Beckett” played. Fans cannot help compare one character to another in the same role. What direction will the writing take “Keller’s” character development?
MG: We’re going to develop her character like we would every character and as the season goes you learn more and more about those characters. Like I said there’s an episode called “Missing” where we really get to know a lot about her back story and we have an episode coming up in “Trio”. It’s nothing as calculated as we have to sit down and figure out how to separate her character from “Beckett’s”. It’s not really a concern. Comparisons are going to be made, absolutely, I’m not looking for her to be better than “Beckett” or worse than “Beckett”. When we’re breaking forward, it’s got to make sense for her to be in episodes and she’s got to deliver and Jewel’s a consummate professional and the warmth and brains that she brings to the show and I think she’s an awesome role model for young girls. I have friends that have just started watching the show in season 4 and they love her and people that are expecting “Beckett” are slower to embrace her, but again I have zero concerns and in the next couple of episodes, everyone’s going to be “Keller” fans, regardless of your thoughts on “Beckett”.
SoSF: Everyone wants to know about “Teyla’s” pregnancy and how the presence of a baby in Atlantis will work going forward?
MG: Well, it’s nothing we had to worry about in season 4 since it takes 9 months to have a baby. She doesn’t have her baby in this season. Let me put it that way.
SoSF: “Teyla’s” character is portrayed as a leader, a warrior, a diplomat in every sense. Why would the writing bring forth a secret beau rather than develop a budding romance with someone on screen prior to announcing she’s with child?
MG: Uh, no. (laughter) it’s not a concern. It’s going to be dealt with. You know we don’t get a lot of time with these characters and their personal lives. One of the reasons I wanted to write the story “Sunday” was kind of see them off mission and “Teyla’s” not a chatty Cathy who would let people know who she was dating even if she was, let alone members of the team. None of the team is the father, if that’s what the question is. It’s all explained. It is doled out very slowly and very controlled which is something we’ve planned very early on and really focused it into the season.
SoSF: In the episode “LifeLine”, “Dr. Weir” will probably make another appearance. How many, if any, episodes will we see Torri throughout Season 4?
MG: She’ll be in one more.
SoSF: We all know the fans’ response to the show losing Paul’s character “Dr. Beckett”. A lot of fans are a little disappointed in that transition but more so, wonder why you didn’t reintroduce his character prior to the end of season 4 since based on the decision to bring him back?
MG: Well, these shows have an arc to them and you can’t just bring him back and we wanted to do it in a way that would feel organic with what we were doing for the rest of the season and I don’t really know what the hurry is. I think the fans would prefer that they be great episodes then they be right now. They’ve waited this long, another couple of months isn’t going to kill them. All I’m going to say is we planned how we were going to bring him back at the end of season 3 and no one caught it and that’s how we would like it to stay and that story doesn’t come to a boil until the end of season 4 and that’s when we’re going to bring him back.
SoSF: The show stayed true to form by introducing new uniforms, and a different look to the set. Talk a little about the transition from season to season.
MG: Well, you always try to refine and at the end of every year you look back and say what we can do better. The actors were not crazy even [with] the comfort of those clothes so we have a new costume designer. Val came on from SG-1 this year and she’s trying to put her finger prints on the show and I think they look great, I think they’re much sleeker and much nicer and they make the guys look a lot better and they make the girls look a lot better. We have a joke about the old uniforms coming up in episode 10 that they did kind of bunch up under the arms. As for the set, it’s really hard to build more Atlantis when we’re shooting Atlantis. In the off season we just try to build another chunk to make it even bigger. In season 1 we had our foot print of what we called Atlantis and since the set has doubled so every year we get to kind of expand the city and give it a slightly different look here and there without affecting the core architecture, the gate room and surrounding rooms.
SoSF: With the news that the show has been picked up for a 5th season and I know you guys must be extremely delighted….
MG: Yes!
SoSF: What do you hope to accomplish that will continue to nurture the Stargate franchise success?
MG: Well, you know, if people stop watching, we’re out of a franchise so that’s what we do. For some reason there’s, I think, a vocal minority that has a sort of antagonistic relationship with the quote-unquote powers that be of the writers and they get all the air time because obviously they have beef, some legitimate, some not but for the most part all we’re trying to do is make the best show possible for the fans. Whenever something awesome happens we think “ah, the fans are going to love this” and there are times we do something when we know the fans are not going to be crazy about but, those are the production realities. We’ve never killed someone to just say well you know he’s a jerk and you know the fans love him, and this will hurt them. We’ve never done that. We just want to keep telling stories that people are going to like.
I find this show to be very exciting. I think this is the best year we’ve ever done. I think after 4 years we’ve really found a nice pace to the show, we’ve found a nice balance to the show on how to do kind of serialized episodes within episodes that seemingly stand on their own. I think there’s a balance that’s kind of rewarding those viewers that are going to watch episodes 1-20 and still being a fun show for a more casual viewer, you know. It’s a delicate balance to strike and I think we’re sort of slowly figuring out getting better at doing that. I really do think that the show’s gotten better every year and so going into season 5 we’ll look at some of the mistakes we made in season 4 and all the knowledge we have from seasons 1-4 and forge ahead and try to put together a little 20 hour novel that we hope the fans will love.
SoSF: Moving forward, especially after the cancellation of SG-1, what element do you think you need to bring forth, in your opinion for a long standing run, for SG:A?
MG: Well, we’re doing it. I don’t think it’s anything as tangible to say like “more guns in the episodes” you know, (laughter). It’s not a single thing that you can get your hands around. The show has got to grow and change organically and the landscape around it and who our viewers are and I think the show has legs. A lot of shows on television now are, especially a lot of the new shows, the question you ask yourself is “ah, that first episode is awesome, how to you do 20 of those or 200 of those”. Rob and Brad have created yet another show that could run indefinitely and so it’s really just about how long we can keep the show fresh and how long the viewers are interested and right now I don’t see that ending anytime soon so hopefully we’ll just keep doing more of the same.
SoSF: You were Creative Consultant on the SG-1 series for 40 episodes. How difficult was it to juggle the between the two?
MG: Well, the writers room, again those credits are kind of meaningless. Everyone does everything. If you’re a writer on the show back when we were doing two shows, I wrote more episodes for Atlantis than I did for SG-1, but I read every SG-1 script, I watched every SG-1 cuts, all the mixes, gave notes on everything and it’s just what we all did so it was made manageable by, you know, working a lot and certainly in season 4 and season 5 we have the luxury of just focusing on Atlantis. For the first 3 years of Atlantis, everyone working on Atlantis had to put [their] focus on both Atlantis and SG-1. Again, one of the reasons, I think that season 4 is so much better is we had the time to give it our full attention. We were used to doing 40 hours of television a year in this office and now we’re only doing 20. It seems like almost a vacation. It’s a lot easier not being bogged down with volumes and volumes of work. Making one television show is enough work, making two is close to impossible.
SoSF: Can you offer any news on Stargate Universe?
MG: (sly smile) No, sorry.
SoSF: Martin, thank you for taking the time for this interview and I wish you guys continued success, I love the show, personally.
MG: Oh, thank you very much. Glad you do, really. What would you like to see, what is the one thing we could do better.
SoSF: Oh gosh, I would like to see, I love the chemistry between Jason and Rachel on screen,
MG: Yes…
SoSF: I really do. She just gets along with everyone on the team, “Teyla” and there’s rumors about discord between “Carter” and “Teyla” I guess getting to know each other and I just don’t want to see too much of that. I want to see a smooth transition because they are both professionals.
MG: That’s what it is, they are both professionals and there are some really great “Teyla” and “Ronon” moments coming up this season
SoSF: Great I am looking forward to it.
MG: Me too thanks a lot.
Ditto on wanting to see more Teyla/Ronon interaction. The chemistry between those two is wonderful.
If Martin is hinting that they are going to kill off Teyla’s boyfriend and eventually get her together with Sheppard, I really wish they would reconsider. The chemistry between those two is nonexistent.
Very good interview. Martin Gero is certainly one of the best writers on the show.
I hate that they are keeping us in suspense with Teyla but I guess it’s a good thing for those of us who still hope that John and Teyla are simply wonderful onscreen.
Ronon and Teyla have a great chemistry as well and I can’t wait to see his reaction to her pregnancy as well as Rodney’s. I can only imagine John’s reaction.
Overall, Season 4 is just full of mystery and lots of unanswered questions. At the end of the season, I”ll make my own judgements and see if I like the new feel of the show.
GREAT INTERVIEW!
Thank you!
I respectfully disagree with Ellis. I think the real chemistry is between Sheppard and Teyla. I see Teyla and Ronon as friends – very good friends, but friends only. I love the little peeks we have gotten with Sheppard and Teyla (they are just so cute together!), but either way, whether they get together or not, it’s not the main focus of what I want for the show. I fear it turning into the Jack and Sam show, like Stargate, the only aspect of the show I absolutely hated.
And I’m sorry, Mr. Gero, but I cannot warm up to Samantha Carter being in Atlantis. We already have a strong military presence there. Dr. Weir provided a much-needed diplomacy angle that I do not see Carter ever being able to master as well as Elizabeth did.
And I, of course, have to put in my usual request for more of Major Lorne, please. I think there’s just so much that can be done with him. We got one little glimpse in “Sunday” of his personal life, but what about his relationship with people like Sheppard? It doesn’t seem to be strictly superior and junior officer – I think there’s an underlying respect and friendship that could be explored, especially since they are so far away from home, out in a strange galaxy, where they have to depend on each other. Not to mention the great scenes Lorne has with McKay – what a hoot those two are together!
More, please!
It was never implied Ronon and Teyla’s chemistry would be should be romantic, just a great chemistry as two people who have an obvious connection. There are still much to be learned about the fate of the wraith and it would be great to see more Athosian presence once they are found, hopefully.
I agree with Ellis in regards to Teyla/Ronon. They have so much chemistry, and understand each other in a way that the other members of the team don’t. Kind of like John/Elizabeth…too bad Elizabeth isn’t in the show anymore, she was really great. I miss her and just can’t get into Carter. She’s okay but I feel she hasn’t done anything that Elizabeth couldn’t have said.
Keller is well, I’m a nice person so I won’t say anything about her.
I wish Mr Gero had given us a little more hints of what is ahead for season 4. So far the sudden announcement of Teyla being pregnant seems just too far fetched. It’s a shame they couldnt have come up with something a little more exciting than her having some secret beau all along. Plus what’s up with giving so much Sheppard/Teyla hints then saying Teyla has someone else?. It doesn’t really reflect well on Teyla’s character so I’m worried this will ruin her character.
Rachel has great chemistry with all her cast members but Teyla’s relationship with Ronan never struck me as romantic, she has that with Sheppard definitely. I still miss Carson, and Kelller just doesn’t impress me a doctor at all. I can understand why they got rid of Weir but Carson still has me confused. I’d like to hear more from the producers as to why they thought this was a good idea.
I am going to have to agree with Lorne_ly. I have enjoyed the chemistry between Teyla and John – and would like to see more moments with them, though I am generally against the idea of a full-blown relationship – just a very special bond. If things progress too fast I believe it loses it’s magic – like what your doing with them so far, keep it that way! As for Teyla and Ronon they also have awesome chemistry, but a different kind. I see it more as a kinship or brother-sister relationship, not of the romantic kind. I really like the relationship of trust between these two – keep it up!
In regards to Carter, I too believe she doesn’t fit in with the chemistry of the rest of the cast – it’s simply not there. It just doesn’t work, and I was unhappy to hear of Elizabeth’s replacement. I disliked Elizabeth strongly in the beginning, but beginning in season two and through three as we saw her character developed I really begin to like her. I saw that she was in a challenging position, always under fire by the IOA/etc for troubles that have arisen while she was in leadership. However I don’t think Carter will recieve any of my empathy – she’s the epitome of Mary Sue perfection, it seems she could do everything and solve every problem. And that when she makes mistakes she’s not reprimanded or criticized as other characters might be. Also, I absoluely hate it when she is with Rodney, as it goes back to season one where everyone was “Ha ha, lets laugh at McKay!” I feel it’s undoing his character development. I prefer that you didn’t change the cast – the season 2 and 3 cast worked very well, and while I appreciate visits from SG-1 members (Looking forward to Daniel and Vala visiting) I would not like any as regulars; Atlantis has proved itself a seperate entity from the sister series. And I am going to scream bloody hell if you pair her up with ANYONE on Atlantis. Though if she got it on with a Wraith I might become a fan.
I really miss Carson – he is my favourite character, and in my opinion shows the most humanity. I really liked the stories that had to do with a moral or ethical dilemma and he had to make decisions that fell on him, as well as dealing with the mistakes he makes. He is also a great opposite to Rodney, I loved these two interactions with each other! I wish that you had put in more acknowledgement to his and Weir’s absenses, though. I love Jewel Staite, and though her character is nowhere as good as Carson I love her attitude about the whole thing – you can tell she’s making friends and coping, but she really is terrified and wants to get the heck out of there!
So far I like the path your taking with fleshing out Teyla – I hate it when people say she’s boring, but if theycould just see the character subtext she’s not really a tell-all person. So great job with that! And, I have been loving Lorne as well as the larger role Zelenka seems to have this season. Radek, like Carson is great with Rodney and these three have great interaction together. I like to hear from the producers on plans for bringing back characters like Ford, Sora, and Cadman as guest stars as we have not seen since seasons 1 and 2. And the new uniforms … I won’t get into that xP
As a part of a ‘minority’ audience (a female fan that normally dislikes sci-fi), I hope you acknowledge there are many other fans like me, as well as a VERY large female group that watches the show (…perhaps more than males?) Because there has been some allegations by fellow females of producers trying to appeal to the young male audience with more hot chicks. Be sure to satisfy those of a smaller demographic as well!
To wrap up the ungodly time I have taken to write this … [Will Gero even read this, I’m wondering] I am looking forward to the rest of the season, especially for Paul and Torri’s returns! And hoping to season five they’ll be regulars again.
It’s hard to know what to take out of that – I mean when you really analyse it, there is a hint of something for everyone, yet nothing of substance. Ooh season 4 is just like season 3 (a few character specific eps, plus some team eps) yet we have this whole arc planned (the so-called war arc, an arc for Telya [which we were forced into because Rachel is pregnant, and NOOO not more of those terminally boring Athosians, I mean they practically disappeared for three seaons and nobody really noticed!!]), the characters that we went to great lengths to rid ourselves of (Beckett, Weir) will return, albiet in slightly different roles. I don’t mean to sound like a downer but they keep going on about all this big stuff, but for me, they’ve totally missed the point about why I watch. It’s not to see the “new” characters (don’t get me wrong, I was Carter’s biggest fan on SG-1, but I don’t think she was the right fit for Atlantis if they wanted it to stand on its own two feet, and so far, she is just doing what Weir would have done; as as for Keller, puhlease, it seems like the only reason they brought her on was to be Ronan’s love interest). It’s not to see the “great CGI” although I do like it, I just see it as being peripheral to the actual plot. It’s not about the sexy new aliens. It IS about ATLANTIS, and it’s team (Sheppard, Weir, Rodney, Teyla, Ronan, Beckett, Zelenka, Lorne). This is the first time in 11 yrs I won’t watch or buy any Stargate product (DVD) because I feel it is drifting away. I used to like this show. I like Martin Gero. He is one of my favourite writers. I kind of think of him as kindred (which is silly, we are just the same age and like the show and SOME of the same things). But killing off/sidelining my favourite characters pushed me a bit too far, and I just don’t care about he show in the same way any more. It sounds hokey (believe me if you knew me you would say I’m wooden and unemotional) but the reason that I watched Atlantis was because it had an emotional edge and gave me a connection to the characters. Turning characters into robots or five year olds is something I could have written myself. I’m so invested (was) in this show, I can tell when it’s a case of character serving story or vice versa. I can watch a show and get a feel for when they change direction re a character arc.
I guess what it all comes down to in the end is “does it matter if people don’t care anymore about the show (ie have an emotional connection) as long as they are still watching it”? You can argue that people will still watch just to find out about stuff, but I guess the real proof is in the numbers/ratings, although they are a bit of a minefield.
Yeah I know I sound bitter. But I loved this show. IT was my break from reality every week. And “this exciting new arc we have planned” doesn’t really thrill me. I don’t want to go back to what it was, too late now at any rate. I just feel that there were all these external factors influencing the writing of the show, changing it to something other than what I originally tuned in for. That said, I guess there is an equal number of people who will really like the changes, which supports what I have always believed (ie don’t give the fans what they actually want, else there is no reason to watch any more), although again I bring you back to the ratings.
Sorry to go on like this, I have a lot of pent up emotion on the subject. Believe me I could have gone on four times as long, and still not said everything on my mind.