This post is about Stargate Atlantis. It’s also about losing my purse. Don’t see the connection? Read on, my friend…
Last week, I opened by bag and discovered my purse was missing, together with all the cards in it. You know that horrible feeling when your guts turn over? And your brain is filled with a long wail of disbelief and horror? “Oh, nooo-ooo!”
There’ s a happy ending, I hasten to add. I’d left it in the Post Office (because I’m an absent-minded idiot), but there was a whole night of terrible tension before I could find out for sure. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t settle to anything. It was awful.
What to do to take my mind off it?
I watched five episodes of Stargate Atlantis, back to back. And it worked a treat. By the time we’d beaten off yet another Wraith attack, I was so tired I could actually sleep. Thank heavens.
And yah boo sucks to the snobs who frown on escapism in reading and entertainment. 
I LOVE SF/fantasy shows like Stargate. Don’t even get me started on Serenity/Firefly and its premature demise. Or the way Babylon 5 had to finish in a hurry. I was completely intrigued by the whole premise of Babylon 5. *sigh*
On the other hand, I’m very slow at catching up. I think I’ve said before, I watch very little TV. I did catch the original Stargate though and developed a close personal relationship with Daniel. What can I say? You all know I love intelligent geeky gorgeous men. 
So I’m only up to Season 2 of Atlantis. It’s kind of engaging, you know? First there’s Joe Flanigan playing John Sheppard. Excessively cute and he reminds me irresistibly of a young Harrison Ford, right down to his repertoire of handy-dandy expressions. See the photo above for a few of them.
I enjoy all the characters, especially Rodney McKay, who’s the Stargate version of Dr Smith in the old TV series of Lost in Space, and Teyla, the exotic warrior woman type. I like that she’s small and curvy and still hard-muscled and tough. It’s all very Boys’ Own Adventure crossed with space opera. And Beckett, the Scottish doctor - which makes a change from Chief Engineers. I keep expecting him to say, “I canna get more speed oota the medical hyperdrive, Cap’n.”
And of course, how can you go past the hubba-hubba addition of Jason Momoa as Ronon Dex? One of my writing buddies is so fixated on him, dreadlocks and all, that he’s the model for her current hero. There were loads of pics of him in costume, but I thought you’d prefer this one. He’s definitely gorgeous, but he’s also unusual, with those light eyes and dark skin tones and the dreads into the bargain. I think he’s Hawaiian. And he’s big - boy, is he a biiiig guy! He carries off the casual violence of the Ronon character very well and he looks like he’s enjoying himself.
What do you watch when you need an escape from daily reality? Have you ever been in a situation where book/movies saved your sanity and helped you get through?
Do you like SF/fantasy shows? Go ahead - a fangirl squee is completely acceptable on this blog. Do you like Stargate? BTW - no spoilers, please! I still have a way to go. Not to mention, I’ve only just discovered the West Wing. Blown away, but that’s a subject for another post.
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Did you know that Joe Mallozzi (One of the producers of SG1 & Atlantis) blogs regularly? He talks about the production of Atlantis plus discusses everything from his dinners out to his dogs to reading sci fi.
I’ve been a fangirl of SG1 and somewhat of Atlantis for years. I happen to be a very avid Sam/Jack shipper from SG1.
Thanks for that, Ann. It’s here - http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/ Lots of photos. Sadly, because I’m waaay behind, I don’t get all of the references.
Did you see the episode of Atlantis where Sam comes back as a figment of Rodney’s imagination? He’s trapped underwater in a puddle jumper. Was cute.
Sorry to rain on your SF parade but not really into any of those shows at all
Don’t have any issues with them, just not my thing.
But West Wing on the other hand…. Now there’s a show. I’ve watched it from the very first episdoe. I’ve followed it around to all the late night slots as successive channels dicked around with it for years. I was watching it on the night of 11 Sept when it was interrupted by footage from a burning World Trade Centre. And finally I followed it to the ABC who should have always had a show of such callibre gracing its timeslots.
My dh and kids bought me all the series on DVd for Xmas/Birthday last year and I’ve been rewatching them avidly every chance I get.
So yes, I understand how TV can be food for the soul and hate that some people judge others by what they chose to watch on TV (or read/write for that matter). It’s such intellectual bullshit snobbery at it’s worst. I happen to think that people who read and or watch a variety of mediums are much more intelluctally rounded than those who will only read obscure Russian literature and only watch SBS documentaries.
I have a whole raft of romantic comedy DVD’s that I’ve seen a zillion times over too but still pull out regularly cos they refill my inner well and give me that “ahhhhh” feeling.
I say bring on escapsim in reading and entertainment and long may it last.
I grew up with Captain Kirk. In fact he is my brother’s favorite hero. that is probably why he flies helicopters for our police department today. My whole family loves anything Star Trek. When I was growing up my dad and I watched shows like Buck Rogers,and the original Battlestar Galactica. I was obssessed with the Highlander Series and Adrian Paul(…..had to pause a moment to give myself a moment to collect myself, Adrian Paul, sigh) I loved Buffy and Angel as well as Firefly and Serenity. I just wish Joss Whedon was a little more gentle with his characters though. There is just something about alternate realities and alpha males (and sometimes females) that just captures my fancy. I have always found that these type of stories help me relax after a demanding day in my life. I agree with Amy, escapism is good.
I have the usual repertoire of human-type heroes. I love Star Trek, mainly the original and Next Gen. I even had a Next Gen costume party for my 40th birthday - what a great night. I used the same costume to go to the movies to see the last Next Gen movie too (some time ago now).
I love, love, love Dr Who. I love the intelligence and the insatiable curiosity, the indestructible optimism and off-beat humour, right from the original series to the present ones.
My favourite male-type heroes can’t be real, so I don’t focus on the actors (no real man can be hero quality) and often don’t even know who plays the part. My major life-long hero is the Phantom. I remember going out with a fellow once - well, more than once - just long enough to watch all of his Phantom movies - the original series, saggy knees in the Phantom costume and all. Brilliant. I have Phantom socks, Phantom t-shirts and Phantom fridge magnets.
Then there’s batman and superman - they’re on my keyring - and of course the wolverine from X-men.
But I don’t go to them to wind down - they all wind me up! To wind down and escape from reality, odd as it seems, I watch documentaries. They have to be about nature - the weather, climate change, storms, earthquakes, volcanoes - anything violent and beautiful but without the human suffering. I don’t want to see people, animals, birds or insects - just the earth changing and reacting or the stars evolving. These things take me out of myself and away from ‘life-as-I-know-it’.
I love Stargate SG1 and Atlantis, Firefly, Star Trek next Gen, Andromeda and Babylon 5. Ronin Dex is fabulous, I too am fixated with him. Now imagine him wearing leather (not much of a stretch) and riding a Harley Davidson and you have my Werebear character in my series. How hot is He.
Jason used to be in Baywatch and used to be engaged to an Aussie actress.
Oh dear Denise, the drool… I am wiping it off the keyboard…
I used to watch the Original Battlestar Galactica (when I was a very young tweenie) and loved it. Also seriously taken with Startrek the next generation, which has left me with a lifelong Patrick Steward fixation (the voice, the intent gaze, what can I say). Then Highlander came on when I lived in the States and I loved Adrian Paul… Come to think of it, I would like to lay my hands on some DVDs. But I have moved away, mainly because I now deliberately watch so little TV. I am sure there are great series out there but I don’t want to get sucked up in them. Not for any snobbish reasons, hey I read romances (yay!) erotic romances (double yay!) sci-fi and fantasy (also yay!) so there is no room for snobbish behaviour here. I just found that TV in general sucked up way too much of my time and energy and decided to cut it out. Instead I spend a bit of the time I get hanging out around here
At least there is contact -virtual though it may be- and a celebration of the things that bring us together, or even the things that keep us apart.
Watched the original Star Trek when I was 6-7……yep I’m that old.
Love anything sci-fi. Have to say Jason Momoa is yummmmmmmm *drools*
I have every season of Star Trek Next Generation (7 seasons), Stargate (10 seasons), Stargate Atlantis (4th season on order) and I have just bought the Star Trek Original DVD’s.
Once, when I shared accommodation, I knew a girl who had every VHS video of the Star Trek Original and she was a writer for the Australian Star Trek Club. About every two years she would go on a cruise in the US with Gene Rodenberry and the crew of Star Trek and Star Trek Next Generation.
I’ve visited the West Australian Star Trek Fan Club which has now become the Klingon Underground because the “official” Australian Star Trek Club getting the WA club blackballed. Originally there were only a few people but the last time I went there were about a hundred including small children with some in costume. There were also small stalls that sold merchandise during intermission.
Daniel was a bit of a hound-dog in Stargate (both on and off screen). Did you know that the actress that played the part of his wife gave birth to their child? Daniel always seemed to get the girls. I actually preferred James Spader from the movie in the part and that got me started on watching Boston Legal.
All the shows that I prefer are on so late at night that I have stopped watching commercial TV and now wait and buy the complete season on DVD. I will watch all the preceeding seasons and the new one in one big hit. You have to have a bit of escapism in your life and SciFi shows have such vivid imaginations.
Denise, Denise, Denise - you said the magic word - Stargate.
How much do I love this series? Both SG-1 and Atlantis. Brilliantly done. I love how they combine the action, the humour, the tech stuff, and of course various issues. I love the character interaction more than anything. And yes, I loved Daniel from the get-go. I think Michael Shanks did a brilliant job. And RDA as Jack - fantastic casting - both hilarious and very commanding at the same time. And yes these programs helped me escape the grunge of bad days, for sure. So have other programs - Battlestar Galactica (new version though I remember watching the original as a kid), Buffy, Angel, Farscape, Star Trek series…. can you see the sci-fi/fantasy trend here? As a kid, I loved cartoons - including ones with superheroes and then there was Buck Rodgers. Even then I wanted Buck to get the girl 
Amy, you go, girl! *applause* Doesn’t matter if you don’t like what I like. There’s loads of people who just don’t “get” fantasy/SF. So what? I tend to think it depends on how it’s packaged and what else comes with it. I know you read Gift of the Goddess for instance - and that’s fantasy, in every possible sense of the word.
And yes, doesn’t it drive you crazy the way TV stations put anything interesting on at some incredibly stupid, inaccessible hour. I used to stay up to watch Babylon 5, which shows how incredibly dedicated I was, and they’d mess around with the start time like they didn’t give two hoots. So if I set up the recorder, I’d often miss the beginning anyway.
Grrr…
Ah Clynax, Star Trek… Them’s were the days. I just loved it and I can remember what a treat it was to get out of homework to watch it. It was so incredibly different, wasn’t it? Looking back, I reckon I was wide-eyed the whole time.
As for Joss Whedon, the guy is some kind of genius. What an amazing storyteller! I’m so glad I already knew Firefly/Serenity was only eight episodes or whatever, otherwise it would have broken my heart completely to get to the end. As it was, I was prepared, but still deeply bereft. Ah, Cap’n Mal…
So yay, I’m with you and AA on escapism. LURVE it!
Elaine, it never ceases to amaze me how different we all are. Do the docos put life in perspective for you somehow?
As for the Phantom, do you realise he is the only hero without superpowers of some kind? (I’m willing to be corrected here.) It’s why he’s always been my favourite. (Though I do admit to a Jackman-inspired weakness for Wolverine.) It’s just him and his dedication and superb athleticism and the pygmy Bandu - and Hero and Devil. Plus the jocks on the outside of the purple suit. He’s cool. I must get me a skull ring…
Not sure I entirely agree about real men showing hero quality, but I think I know what you’re getting at. I don’t like to see faces on my covers, because I can never imagine my heroes’ faces in detail. And no real man could ever be “right” or beautiful enough to model for a cover of mine, because he couldn’t match up to my vague mental imaginings. Bodies, OTOH, no problem with imagining them, very VERY clearly.
Tracey, your Werebear guy sounds awesome! Can’t wait to read about him and his leathers! If he looks anything like Jason Momoa… *fans self*
I’ve loved SciFi/Fantasy as far back as I can remember because of the possibilities: the unlimited imagination of the creator, the boundaries that don’t exist and that can be pushed. I am just fascinated by what people can come up with, which is probably why I loved Tailspin so much and now will obsess until the Flame and the Shadow is in my hand, YOU DEVIOUS PERSON (*grumble* sending out that rotten newsletter six months ahead of release date!!!) When I feel the need, I normally gravitate towards this genre. I too, enjoy both Stargates, but there’s just something about those despicable Wraiths that’s addictive. Denise, if you haven’t already seen it, the episode where Sheppard (yum) is captured by the Genii and used for Wraith food to force Dr. Weir’s compliance, is probably my favorite. Then there’s Twohy’s Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick (Karl Urban - double yum). I’m just drawn to the TV and can’t move until they’re done. Of course, I’d never turn away from MOST of the James Bond movies either, particularly young Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan (snap) and now, Daniel Craig (double snap). Sometimes, clever comedies are the remedy: Are you being served?, Naughty Mr. Bean, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, History of the World Part I, Will & Grace, Spin City, Night Court and my new favorite: The Big Bang Theory. Ahhhhh…so many offerings, for so many moods and tastes…I’m talking about the shows/movies, of course.
Susan, as you probably know, or have guessed, I watch almost no TV at all. It’s partly a hangover from my kids were at school and the rule was no TV Monday to Thursday, inclusive. Only problem was, the little devils were irresistibly drawn to the damn thing, like moths to a flame. After a while, it was just easier to turn it off, rather than keep yelling.
Then I found I didn’t especially miss it. There are certainly some good shows on, but I can never manage to coincide the planting of my backside on the sofa with the time they’re on. Timing’s all wrong. *sigh*
Meg, looks like we have our statistically fair share of Trekkies! I always had a bit of a weakness for Mr Spock myself. Vulcan Mind Meld? Oh yeah!
Geez Linda, you really are a Trekkie! Do you have a costume, like Elaine? And no, I had no idea about the goss on Daniel. Well, well, well…
And yes, I’m doing what you do - watching the shows on DVD, in some cases, looong after the original air date - like where I am with the West Wing right now, only just finished Season 2. I really enjoy getting it in one big dollop. You can really wallow!
Eleni, one of the practical reasons I started writing fantasy was that it didn’t require that I create a credible American setting, given I’ve never been to the US. There are other reasons too, though - I’ve always loved the way fantasy worlds took me away from everyday life, but still had an internal logic of their own. I also love the unfettered freedom it gives my imagination. I get to play God(dess) and I absolutely adore it!
If I can imagine it and describe it, then I can make it work. For example, I read in a book about flight that for a human to fly, he or she would need a chest with muscles 6 feet deep! That may be true, but do I care? Nope. Does it matter? Not on Phoenix!
Marina, I love that the Wraiths are so incredibly obviously the bad guys - with their horrible dental problems and the white/green skin and weird eyes and hair. Great voices too! It’s kinda cute, in a hideous sort of way. And no, haven’t seen that episode yet. Only just finished Season 2.
And Blazing Saddles is still one of my favourite movies. Madelaine Kahn saying, “Everyzing below ze waist iz KAPUT!”
Always breaks me up.
Um, sorry about The Flame and the Shadow. Well, not really, I’m afraid. As you know, I don’t write fast (except for Kate) so it’s what I have coming out next and I intend to get you all worked up into a fever of expectation - if at all humanly possible.
So there’ll be more excerpts to come. It’s a full-length novel, after all.
If you don’t know what we’re talking about, then you need to join my newsletter list. http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/deniserossetti That’s always where I break the news. I love my newsletter family.
Or go the web page for the book and take a look. http://www.deniserossetti.com/flame.html
Battlestar Gallactica, StarTrek, Stargate, Stargate Atlantis - I love them all. I love a man travelling the universe in a uniform. Although Jason might make me rethink my love of space travellers. His Stargate uniform is fabulous. I love futuristic romance, and although these shows never really show romance, I sit and watch with hubby, and while he’s thinking “who’s going to get killed?”, I’m thinking “Who’s gonna get it on with who?”. And now I’ll sign off: “Live long and Prosper.”
Fi, I think Jason’s a wonderful advertisement for space travel - “Roam the galaxy and meet men who look like this!”
Do you think DH may be from Mars and you’re from Venus? (Where all the sensible people come from?)
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