There’s a small but extremely vocal minority of fans who are unhappy with the new direction of the “Stargate” franchise. This group of fans have been extremely critical of “Stargate: Universe” since its debut a month ago.
Now an actress and a writer on the series are responding via their blogs.
Actress Julie Benson, who plays 2nd Lt. Vanessa James on the series, has started a blog and has responded to the critics.
“As an actor, Stargate Universe has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. The producers have created the best atmosphere! I love going to work. I love the character I get to play, I love the people I get to act with, and I love the crew. I am now introduced to the fans. What an amazing franchise that so many people out there are so passionate about our show. It is a gift to be involved in something that people have opinions about,” she writes.
Benson goes on to address a certain controversy among fans about whether or not certain parts of her are real or not.
“For all the talk about my natural (and believe me they are 100%) assets I promise you that there is much more to my character. Who knew that a tank top could cause such a stir. LOL!! Our show is about people and people have sexuality. The creators are not exploiting it, they are exploring it. That is what writers, actors and directors do,” she writes.
In fact, the scene in question is raising such a furor among fans that producer Joseph Mallozzi wrote a post responding directly to the fans.
“STOP MAKING IDIOT COMMENTS. Note I didn’t say idiotic comments because that would imply that the lion’s share of the idiocy lies with the comment itself rather than the commentator. No, I mean: STOP MAKING IDIOT COMMENTS,” he writes in his blog, responding to some fans who keep posting negative comments.
“For example, say you have a problem with the James scene in Darkness in which she threatens Riley and Eli after they try spying on her with the kino. You can go ahead and make an argument for the scene being sexist (although I’d argue that there’s a difference between the scene being sexist and the characters in the scene acting inappropriately, especially given that a clearly disappointed Young admonishes both men), but if, in the body of your comment or any subsequent comment, you refer to the James character as Lieutenant Rack or McBoobs, then you’re a hypocrite who has successfully undermined their argument by demonstrating you can’t be taken seriously. Also, you’re an idiot,” he continues.
Mazolli went on to say that the huge amount of negativity being leveled at the show is causing many of the series producers and stars to shy away from the Internet and the fans, something stars and producers of other incarnations of the series openly embraced.
“Sadly, the negativity has also taken its toll on one-time regular Sherry, proud mother of actor Brian J. Smith, who, surprised and saddened by some of the hostility here, has elected to no longer read the blog,” he said. “Also, after several months of connecting with fandom online, Brian is stepping away from his popular twitter account for much the same reason. Some of the very same fans who he was kind enough to open up a dialogue with in the run-up to the premiere started leaving him nasty comments as though he was responsible for the show’s creative direction… [R]ealize – if it hasn’t become apparent by now – that we love our cast and are very protective of them. Trust me when I say that there’s no better way to guarantee a character’s long and fruitful stay on a show than to insist we get rid of them.”
Mazolli had one final thing to say to the fans.
“SGU is NOT SG-1 or Atlantis. It’s a different show in terms of tone and characters. If you’re expecting flawless people, square-jawed heroes, and stories that set up and deliver all the answers over the course of a forty-five minute episode, you WILL be disappointed. And DON’T expect that to change,” he writes.
“Stargate: Universe” airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on SyFy.
Here! Here! I love sci-fi through and through but sometimes a small but “vocal” minority of fans really tick me off. They are nerds of the highest or lowest order (depending on your point of view) and do nothing but whine when their “universe” is upset even in the slightest way. Now granted with SGU, it’s not just one or two minor changes, it’s quite a few changes. I can understand that this latest incarnation of Stargate may be uncomfortable for some fans and that’s ok. Not everyone likes the same thing but complain about the show, not the actors in it.
Some of the more vocal critics of SGU are displaying some truly disgusting behavior. I know there’s a lot of anger over the direction of the franchise, but ripping into the cast for those high-level decisions is ridiculous!
” STOP MAKING IDIOT COMMENTS”-I love it!
This show is NOT SG1. It is NOT Atlantis. And as much as I loved those shows, I am THRILLED to see that this show IS different.
Sure, they are borrowing a little from the success of BSG with the shooting style. Even some of the music has evoked memories of that show. But that’s fine with me.
When this show was announced we were all worried that it would just be Voyager with a stargate. It’s turned out to be so much more.
People should just shut the f–k up and relax a little, and give the show some time to get going. These first episodes are exactly what they should be about. All these people have been literally thrown into an environment they are totally unprepared for. The ship they are on has some issues. It’s not all clean and ready to use like Atlantis was. So it makes sense that the first episodes (note that I said EPISODES) are about survival. If they had wrapped everything up in the pilot that would have upset me. These shows have allowed us to get to know the characters as they really are-how they deal with pressure (some worse than others-like real people!).
I love the show and it’s good to see that it’s producer isn’t going to put up with any crap. And if any of those of you harassing the people who make this show are reading this-SHAME ON YOU!
My main problem with SGU is that the characters don’t seem to like each other, and that is making it difficult for me to like them. Good science fiction is more than state-of-the-art special effects; it’s the story. So far, I don’t feel very invested in the crew’s story. I hope that changes.
“There’s a small but extremely vocal minority of fans who are unhappy with the new direction of the “Stargate” franchise.”
I guess I’m part of that group. I can’t tell you how much of a disappointment this new series is. I can’t believe they canceled a perfectly good series to replace it with THIS.
“The huge amount of negativity being leveled at the show is causing many of the series producers and stars to shy away from the Internet and the fans.”
They already shied away from fans by making this series. It’s like they went out of their way to alienate fans.
“SGU is NOT SG-1 or Atlantis.”
That’s for sure.
“If you’re expecting flawless people, square-jawed heroes, and stories that set up and deliver all the answers over the course of a forty-five minute episode, you WILL be disappointed. And DON’T expect that to change.”
Then expect me to stop watching. Because if something doesn’t happen soon, I may do just that. It’s just too slow and boring. And I can’t believe I just said that, because “SG-1” and “Atlantis” were some of the best sci-fi shows out there. Believe me, it pains me to see the “Stargate” franchise sink to new lows.
I really like SGU. It provides the viewer with an almost Real World look at a Stargate series. These people are forced to band together. This doesn’t mean they have to like each other. They have to work together to survive. In a scenario like this it will take time and experience to learn to trust each other. Most of the frustrations stem from not having a strong central character that we as an audience can grab on to. Instead we grab on to parts of characters, pardon the pun. We like Eli’s wit, Young’s strength and resolve, Rush’s genius, and other pieces of the puzzle that make a whole team. In time the passengers will come to accept that Destiny is their home for the time being and they will gel together a lot better. In the interim I’m enjoying the friction between the groups.
Sit back, relax, have a beer or another type of relaxer of your choice and enjoy the ride or get off the train, do not ruin it for the rest of us that are at least enjoying it so far by complaining and distracting them. I think those type of comments need to be ignored and the people making them marginalized. I agree to break off ties with all the rabid negative fans and ignore them like the tea baggers that want to drown out discussion and only have their point of view expressed. They do not speak for me.
I like it and people have to get to know each other as these are a bunch of strangers pushed together with limited resourcses. Do you expect them to be best of friends from Day 1???
It also cracks me up as I saw the same comments on Atlantis when it started, and which to me was and still is a bad rip-off and I did not care about that show at all compared to the first one even now. SG-1 had run it’s course but I wold have loved that to go on for another season or 2.
There are still people who hate the new BSG becuase it was so different and refuse to appreciate it for what it is. It is time for the Luddites to dissapear into the ether!!!!
It is also up to us that like the show to drown out the complainers. I see these so called fans bashing shows that they have never even seen just to be busy posting thoughts. This truly shows that the internet is just a modern version of the bathroom wall for all the morons to write their mindless opinions.
Will I like this show, I do not know for sure. I have enjoyed it and like some of the characters but only time will tell and that is the key- Time. Let’s see where it goes and quit being so petty.
Talk about breasts- Doll House is nothing but T&A and is going nowhere but heaven forbid you talk bad about the God Joss!!!!! Not that I am complaining as I like Eye Candy too but as to story—– put plain people in those roles and watch the ratings drop!!!
Yes, it is a little slow to get started but most of your best shows always are. You have to be exposed to people to get their full personality.
GO SGU!!!!
Bill T. – “My main problem with SGU is that the characters don’t seem to like each other,”
They are a random bunch of people all there by mistake… No wonder they don’t like each other. They don’t even know each other. What I think will be interesting about this season is how some relationships will form over the next few episodes. Consider Chloe and Eli for example. You can also see this with Scott and Young (though these two presumably knew each other in the SG program).
Overall, I love this show and the music in particular. Goldsmith’s music reminds me of Vangelis’ synth score for Blade Runner, which I also adore.
I think they’re doing a fine job and that they should tune out the Internet Fools. I watched “Atlantis,” but wouldn’t really call myself “a fan” of that show. I watched it because there was little or nothing else in terms of sci fi to watch. In truth, I was very much of the “take it or leave it” mind-set with respect to that prior SG series. SG-1 lost me after two seasons, when I simply tuned out because I could no longer tolerate what it stood to offer. SGU is the first “mature” “Stargate” series for the franchise by comparison, and I applaud the guts of the creative team for this show for taking it in a bold new direction and feel they’ve been doing a mostly wonderful job so far and would encourage them to keep it up, and to Hell with the Internet mind-numbed drones. They don’t know what they’re talking about anyway obviously.
One thing I’ve notice about a lot of people that really like the show is that we weren’t big fans of the previous incarnations. I stick with the idea that SGU appeals to a more adult audience and the people that don’t like it are the younger low attention span folks. Atlantis was really starting to look like a video game a lot of the time and that bored me more than anything else.
Oh and while I’m at it. SG-U is the BEST Stargate show/movie ever! I feel its the best Sci-fi on TV at the moment.
SGU-Writers, DON’T GIVE IN TO THE NOISY NAY SAYERS. KEEP UP THE COMPLEX AND COMPELLING WORK! AND THANK YOU!
I don’t mind the direction SGU is taking, though I hated the lack of lead-in to the Chloe-running-hand-through-Scotts-hair + sex scene + almost-I-wuve-you.
I was not a fan of either of the other series. I really just liked the movie. What I like about this show is how it’s not about aliens in other worlds and constant conflicts. I like right now that the show is about surviving on a ship. I think they do a great job of acting and portraying EXACTLY what it would be like to be on that ship day to day…challenge to challenge.
Bit of advice for the fans of previous incarnations…GO back and watch the DVDs…again and again.
And again.
Count me as a new SGU fan who pretty well ignored the previous incarnations. I watched and liked the movie and the first season or so of SG but didn’t keep up. As far as unlikeable or disagreeable characters go we need the dynamic. If we liked everyone equally it would be boring. Not to say I really dislike any of the characters in SGU. Unlike other shows where I spend half the show saying they should put a cap in a particular character’s ass. Sometimes that is a good thing though. It means you have some passion about a character. Sometimes I am in awe of an actor that can portray someone in such a way they gain an emotional response from me.
I still have a problem with the characters dislike for each other, especially when one considers that these people have been all working together for months on that planet before they had to jump through the stargate. Eli is the only newbie. Everyone else shoould have had enough time to work out their differences before the planet was attacked. If they haven’t, then why should I expect them to start getting along now?
And, in regards to the last episode, those few chunks of ice did not solve their water problem even if they did get rid of those little aliens.
A falling out is easily explained even for people living and working together for months. A new stressful “thing” happening will fracture the best of friendships and may lead to a re-aligning with new friends. Look at what a death, or birth , or marriage can do to families. Look at divorce. Those people loved each other once. That fact the some people do not get along is just group dynamics.
I’m a fan and pretty much everyone I get to watch it ends up liking it too. I know some people who don’t like it and were very loyal to SGA, but at least they have the sense not to be obnoxious and haunt the actors/writers/fans for the new show. There is enough other good tv out there to watch if you don’t like it. Dedicating your life to being a killjoy is a waste of time and is probably embarrassing for those involved in the first two shows as they catch wind of it. It is a small world and word gets around. You’re being no hero to them. No one wants to be associated with out of touch, crazy fanboys and fangirls.
Put me down as someone who liked both SG-1 and Atlantis and I still like SGU. Yeah, it’s darker in tone than the previous versions, but the franchise needed to evolve and go in a new direction.
You know why the Star Trek franchise died (until JJ Abrams revived it, that is)? Because Rick Berman kept insisting that Voyage and Enterprise just recycle the same ideas that NextGen had already done and almost always had done better.
The last thing the Stargate franchise needed was another SG-1 clone.
I just think SGU is boring. And I wasn’t a fan of the previous versions. I prefer Sanctuary.
Perhaps if the writing was better, people wouldn’t be complaining? Perhaps if the idiot producers hadn’t taken a moronic idea from the episode 200 and turned it into an actual series, people wouldn’t be complaining? Dunno, maybe it’s just me – and every single person I’ve spoken with about it – but it sure seems like they are relying on the Stargate name, and a bit of T&A in place of actual writing?
As I’ve mentioned on other SGU items here on SoSF, I’m a fan of the entire Stargate franchise. And while the new series hasn’t sucked me in completely yet, I do like it, and it’s definitely shown a lot of promise. The first season of any show can be a little rough. It takes a while for the writers, actors, etc. to settle in with new characters and situations. But what I’ve seen so far on Universe makes me confident that it will really take off soon.
(Oh, and Kyle? For the gajillionth time, Atlantis was not canceled in favor of Universe. It simply wasn’t renewed by the network and the studio, for a number of reasons. They were going ahead with the new series no matter what. The timing of the two announcements was just very poorly timed, and the producers have said as much on several occasions.)
These are the same producers who said Daniel Jackson wouldn’t be returning after they killed him off? Right. I’ll trust them.
I never watched any of the previous shows … but I *like* SGU
What I don’t understand is why folks don’t want to see “slow” episodes. In this age of video games .. real life isn’t all slam bam, thank you mam all the time .. or even most of the time .. and TV shows are the same.
I’d much rather see a slow episode than a bad episode.
Interesting that this show is causing such an uproar. I have seen all three, and prefer SGU to 1 or A. And the sex thing? Only a big deal if you a) aren’t old enough to get it (and you therefore shouldn’t) or b) are old enough and still don’t get it. This is the way people are. And as far as the cast not liking or trusting each other? Imagine a random sampling of your co-workers, school mates, neighbourhood, thrown together in a desperate situation. While not brilliant (how can a ship that has a air leak in ep. 1 and then sail though the sun in ep. 5) there are some interesting tensions there, and some pretty cool effects (the ship looks awesome in HD). My wife and I both like it. And as for the tank top scene, if you have ever been a teen, or had teenage kids, you know that this is exactly the kind of stuff they get up to, given the right opportunity and technology. So real people? Yes. Real plots? Probably not. Real fun? Damn straight.
This show is IN FACT, Voyager with a Stargate. Give me a break. We are going to be strung along for 3, 4 seasons so in the end, we can have an anti-climatic ending.
People WANT reboots of SG-1 and Atlantis. There is a REASON those shows were so successful. I have been disappointed with SG-U so far. I will keep watching for 1/2 a season or so to give it a chance, but so far it doesn’t hold the interest.
Like Trek, the producers are changing the premise. In Trek, it was the exploration and true sci-fi plots that captivated fans. Then Voyager came along and made it into a Soap Opera.
The same thing is happening here with SG-U. More emphasis on the drama, less on the Archeology and Mysticism. SG-U will fall flat on it’s face if it doesn’t cater to those of us, geeks, who like that stuff. I will give them a chance to work it in, but these characters have not won me over so far. Too Bad.
Better find a way to work Shanks (Daniel) into this. He can save you SG-U. The new geek is just a computer hacker. Whoopeee.
Are you kidding me? More Michael Shanks? Really? If you want more of that then please PLEASE go watch SG-1 again.
The reason SG-1 and SG-A were successful doesn’t have to be the reason for SG-U to be successful.
I don’t want more of the same, I want different.
I was never a big fan of the other two series. They never seemed (to me) to get across the seriousness of exploring other, sometimes dangerous worlds, or the very real threat of alien invasions.
What I love about SGU is that the show so far has been about survival. A bunch of relative strangers thrown together in a situation where even when they acheive a victory (regaining power, or fixing the life support), everything isn’t happy and hunky dory in the end. They’re still on a ship countless light years from home with no way back and the ship is still out of their control. And they manage to keep the seriousness of that coming through on the screen.
I mainlined the last three episodes because I have a Tivo issue, and was on the edge of my chair wondering if they were really going to kill some folk, or leave them behind.
Maybe I’m not the best authority on all thins Stargate, but I think it’s for that exact reason that the show will do well. I know very little about the setting, and I was able to jump in with both feet and enjoy the ride. That kind of involvement doesn’t come easily to me from a TV show, and I’m heartily looking forward to where it’s going next.
QUOTE
What I love about SGU is that the show so far has been about survival. A bunch of relative strangers thrown together in a situation where even when they acheive a victory (regaining power, or fixing the life support), everything isn’t happy and hunky dory in the end. They’re still on a ship countless light years from home with no way back and the ship is still out of their control. And they manage to keep the seriousness of that coming through on the screen.
I mainlined the last three episodes because I have a Tivo issue, and was on the edge of my chair wondering if they were really going to kill some folk, or leave them behind.
QUOTE
That is great. I agree – interesting premise. However, SG-U is marketed at the SG-1/Atlantis FAN BASE. THAT’s the problem. SG is a Franchise, and you are CHANGING the secret recipe. So throw all these people on a ship and call it something else — Don’t market it as Stargate – Because It’s not Stargate. You are exploiting the Stargate Fans trying to win people to a new show. Rather than putting the idea out there to stand on its own. When I go to McDonalds (okay IF I go to McDonalds) I want THE SAME THING I got last time. If I turn on STARGATE I turn it on for a reason, I want a certain kind of show.
So that’s the problem with these Series — The producers fail to understand the concept of Franchise, and how to apply the same formula successfully.
SG-U might be a great show on its own, but please don’t pass it off as Stargate.
What other franchise has done what you suggest? Star Trek had TNG and DS9. Two very different shows in the same universe. It was fine. Both were good shows. There is no bate and switch here. Stargate hopefully doesn’t always have to mean cheesy and dorky. It can also be serious and dark.
I remember back when I was sticking my nose up at BSG because I was convinced money was used on it instead of making more Farscape. Glad I didn’t hold on to that grudge very long.
Star Trek and TNG are an excellent example. TNG was a proper reboot of TOS. It was essentially a re-imaging of the same show. I had the same complaints WAY back in the early 90s about DS9 as I do now about SGU. Voyager was awful, DS9 was a good show, but it wasn’t Star Trek. I’d compare DS9 to Atlantis though. It still had the same heartbeat if you can follow my meaning.
I have to wholeheartedly disagree with you about the bait and switch. I will give you that the producers were very clear about this being a completely different SG. But its on in the same time slot. It’s after the same audience. This show has nothing to do with the Stargate Universe. If they fix that, great. If they don’t… How does it go? Meh.
I have to say that I find the writing for SGU has sunk to a new low for the franchise. Darker, you say? Perhaps. But it seems every movie and TV show these days wants to be “Darker” and more “realistic”. Too often I find that Darker means melodramatic crap, like BSG. While realistic never really enters into the picture. One of the things that stands out to me is the glaring inconsistencies between SGU and the rest of the StarGate universe. The most obvious being that the ship isn’t even remotely old enough for the Ancients to have launched it from Earth. Also, the plots are soooooo thin and horribly predictable.
I dunno. I was expecting more from them than this. Maybe it’ll turn around.
Star Gate Universe meets whiny Soap Opera. ew…I wont be watching it any more. Very dull.
Ms. Benson I have news for you: The “small” but vocal group of critics are growing. What may dismissed as a small but vocal group may be the very factor of there being no season 2. SG and SGA were good for a reason because the appeal to intelligence with other worlds, races, weapons, technology which captured more than just a “geek” audience. SGU has taken the concept of SG and “dumbed” it down to cliched plots, teenage angst and a bunch people who really have no business in a classified area let alone a piece of Ancient technology.
Let it stand on its own but Stargate it is NOT
I think all the complaints about SGU are silly, it’s certainly breathed life into the franchise for me. I lost interest in the space opera like first and second attempts. So far this one is keeping me around. I like the cast and I love that the writers don’t hold anything sacred. A couple of geeks trying to spy on Julia’s character is exactly what would happen. She’s strong and sexy so they’d be intimidated to talk to her face to face and objectify her they way they did. It’s up to the writers now to flesh her character out (no pun intended) and show how those boys develop respect for her, I mean she is a kick ass commando after all, she just has to save their bacon once and they’ll look past their primal urges.
I hope this show gets rewarded for it and not punished by a cancellation because of losers… they’re probably the same people complaining about the engine room in the reimagined star trek..
I’ve said too much already…
I really liked SG1 and Atlantis. I’ve seen every episode, yadda yadda: not to the degree of many, but that’s a lot of shows to watch and -not- at least know what’s going on.
SG1 and Atlantis are Star Trek. I love them for it, and despite it. They have the same basic character structure, the red shirts, the campy riddles and antagonists, and so on. It’s great.
That said, I’m thrilled to see SGU be grittier science fiction – more in line with something like Alien, where commentary is being made, the characters are real, and the story takes some time to develop.
SG-U is not amateurish. Atlanta was predictable in places. SG-1 was also predictable in many episoess. I like the fact these people have to co-exist. The beauty of the show is that it si about forging a team. IF you the minority that don’t like the show can’t realize reality is the same, forging friendships and teams takes time…then quit watching.
SG-U is developing and so far, I’m pleased with the general direction.
Having been a survival instructor, these are dramatized situations – contrived, to be sure for the sake of a one-hour weekly presentation. Having said that, the issues being dealt with – cooperation, competition, separation, reaction to threats, faith, distrust, survival needs, etc., are all very real in a survival situation.
From my perspective, so far the writers are doing an excellent job.
Keep it up and I’ll keep watching unless it goes stale.
– Bud
This is the first Stargate series that I’ve watched faithfully. I don’t care what the so called ‘fans’ are saying…this is the first Stargate series that I’ve watched faithfully, and that’s saying something. Sure Universe is a bit drama heavy and I would have personally slapped half the crew already for not working together, but the fact that it’s kept my attention for 25 episodes and counting says a lot. I’m very critical of my sci-fi.
Keep ’em coming.
And for the record, Actress Julie Benson has a neck that would make Audrey Hepburn weep with jealousy.