“a wise decision on the part of the show’s producers?”
Yes.
a wise decision on the part of the Department of Homeworld Security/International Oversight Advisory ?
No.
I was intrigued when Carter was put in charge of the expedition, but the role she has played has continually disappointed me. She has never had the leadership presence in Atlantis that Elizabeth did, and it seemed as though Amanda were sleepwalking through the part. Her hair was always a mess, too.
I think that having Woolsey in charge will set up some great tension and conflict, and perhaps a bit of comic relief.
I agree with Paul. It does seem like Amanda, one of my favorite actresses, is just calling it in everyday, sort of just showing up to finish out her final year Stargate contract with MGM. Perhaps with Chris Judge showing up next week she will be a bit more lively and like her old self, having a more familiar face to work with.
At any rate, having Robert as a regular on the show each week next season will be an interesting supposition that can lend itself to all kinds of different avenues for the command center and the SGA team lead by Flanigan.
Yeah I agree. I was excited at first when I heard she was signing on, but she really just doesn’t, what’s word I’m looking for? Gel I guess. She doesn’t seem to gel with the rest of the crew the way Michael Dorn did when Worf joined DS9, or when Chris Noth joined Law & Order CI. In fact, Worf fit in so well on DS9 there were times when I forgot that he’d been a Next Gen character at all. I’m not getting that with Carter on Atlantis.
I’m not sure if “wise” is the word I’d choose, but I don’t hate the decision. I’m sure it will make for some interesting dynamics among the Atlantis team. Woolsey is always good for initiating conflict (not usually intentionally) in his efforts to do the right thing. Given how much they like Picardo as a person and an actor, I’m sure the writers will have fun coming up with storylines for him.
I don’t think Amanda Tapping has been “phoning it in” this season, so much as trying to find her place among a new cast after ten years on SG-1. She has said that, both as an actor and as a character, she is making a big adjustment from go-to technobabble soldier to being in charge of the entire base. It’s a lot like when O’Neill had to go from being leader of the front line team to being in charge of the SGC, except that Carter was put in charge of a base full of personnel she (mostly) doesn’t know yet. She didn’t even have the same level of familiarity with the daily operations or the support of her former teammates to fall back on, as O’Neill did. Of course, Tapping was dealing with this transition while simultaneously filming the two SG-1 movies, getting Sanctuary up and running, and raising a toddler. Personally, I think that’s a little bit remarkable. {Ahem. Getting off the soapbox now. 😉 }
When Joe Mallozzi first hinted on his blog about a familiar face taking over, I was expecting Col. Caldwell (the talented Mitch Pileggi), since there’s always been a nice friction between him and Sheppard. And the rest of the main team, for that matter. We haven’t really seen Woolsey interact with much of the expedition except Carter and Weir. The two big appearances he had, he was butting heads with the women about their leadership decisions, and tagging along with O’Neill while running from the Genii. His most interesting episodes to date have been on SG-1.
I was disappointed for a long time in how Elizabeth just seemed to fade away into the background, and come out here and there with a bit part. In the beginning she was great and showed command presence. I was hoping that her and John Sheppard would have some romantic tension like Sam and Jack did, but it didn’t happen.
Now when Sam moved to Atlantis, I knew not to expect another SG-1 and always felt that with her science background she was a poor choice to lead the Atlantis team. It made for awkward moments between her and Rodney in that she was now her superior and he HAD to shut up, lol.
I’d like someone like Elizabeth back in the role, and have a prominent position.
V says
“a wise decision on the part of the show’s producers?”
Yes.
a wise decision on the part of the Department of Homeworld Security/International Oversight Advisory ?
No.
Paul Wren says
I was intrigued when Carter was put in charge of the expedition, but the role she has played has continually disappointed me. She has never had the leadership presence in Atlantis that Elizabeth did, and it seemed as though Amanda were sleepwalking through the part. Her hair was always a mess, too.
I think that having Woolsey in charge will set up some great tension and conflict, and perhaps a bit of comic relief.
Sam says
I agree with Paul. It does seem like Amanda, one of my favorite actresses, is just calling it in everyday, sort of just showing up to finish out her final year Stargate contract with MGM. Perhaps with Chris Judge showing up next week she will be a bit more lively and like her old self, having a more familiar face to work with.
At any rate, having Robert as a regular on the show each week next season will be an interesting supposition that can lend itself to all kinds of different avenues for the command center and the SGA team lead by Flanigan.
Arkle says
Yeah I agree. I was excited at first when I heard she was signing on, but she really just doesn’t, what’s word I’m looking for? Gel I guess. She doesn’t seem to gel with the rest of the crew the way Michael Dorn did when Worf joined DS9, or when Chris Noth joined Law & Order CI. In fact, Worf fit in so well on DS9 there were times when I forgot that he’d been a Next Gen character at all. I’m not getting that with Carter on Atlantis.
Robin says
I’m not sure if “wise” is the word I’d choose, but I don’t hate the decision. I’m sure it will make for some interesting dynamics among the Atlantis team. Woolsey is always good for initiating conflict (not usually intentionally) in his efforts to do the right thing. Given how much they like Picardo as a person and an actor, I’m sure the writers will have fun coming up with storylines for him.
I don’t think Amanda Tapping has been “phoning it in” this season, so much as trying to find her place among a new cast after ten years on SG-1. She has said that, both as an actor and as a character, she is making a big adjustment from go-to technobabble soldier to being in charge of the entire base. It’s a lot like when O’Neill had to go from being leader of the front line team to being in charge of the SGC, except that Carter was put in charge of a base full of personnel she (mostly) doesn’t know yet. She didn’t even have the same level of familiarity with the daily operations or the support of her former teammates to fall back on, as O’Neill did. Of course, Tapping was dealing with this transition while simultaneously filming the two SG-1 movies, getting Sanctuary up and running, and raising a toddler. Personally, I think that’s a little bit remarkable. {Ahem. Getting off the soapbox now. 😉 }
When Joe Mallozzi first hinted on his blog about a familiar face taking over, I was expecting Col. Caldwell (the talented Mitch Pileggi), since there’s always been a nice friction between him and Sheppard. And the rest of the main team, for that matter. We haven’t really seen Woolsey interact with much of the expedition except Carter and Weir. The two big appearances he had, he was butting heads with the women about their leadership decisions, and tagging along with O’Neill while running from the Genii. His most interesting episodes to date have been on SG-1.
I’m cautiously optimistic.
TB163 says
I was disappointed for a long time in how Elizabeth just seemed to fade away into the background, and come out here and there with a bit part. In the beginning she was great and showed command presence. I was hoping that her and John Sheppard would have some romantic tension like Sam and Jack did, but it didn’t happen.
Now when Sam moved to Atlantis, I knew not to expect another SG-1 and always felt that with her science background she was a poor choice to lead the Atlantis team. It made for awkward moments between her and Rodney in that she was now her superior and he HAD to shut up, lol.
I’d like someone like Elizabeth back in the role, and have a prominent position.