Love her or hate her, Vala Mal Doran on Stargate SG-1 was introduced as a strong and vibrant character who was able to take advantage of great numbers of people or any situation. She used sex and sexual innuendo to keep people off guard, but she was also clever, intelligent, and shrewd. Her relationship with Daniel was adversarial, but also one of equals.
Now that she’s on the show full-time, in the latest episode (Morpheus) she’s suddenly acting childlike, mischievous, eagerly helpful, and vulnerable-even to the point of wearing two pigtails and being almost in tears twice in one episode over small things. Daniel and Landry were both treating her with a condescending affection as though she were an annoying little sister. In the case of Daniel and Vala, this put their relationship off balance, unequal.
Does this childlike behavior make her a more acceptable woman to have around: childlike, subordinate, more submissive, vulnerable?
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I think most shows should be canceled after 3 seasons, no matter how heart-breaking I find it when it happens. Actually, I prefer the British approach where they often take a season off after the third series, and then later if they come back, it’s because they’ve looked at it from a creative perspective and decided they have more story to tell, and everyone feels inspired.
American TV has but one goal: keep limping ’til you hit that 100th ep. Then, that 200th ep. Whoohoo.
Jennifer Kesler(Quote) (Reply)
LOL–I completely agree with you on the BBC arrangement of filming series. Less filler, more *story*…and in general, most series here in the USA do tend to run out of fresh ideas after 3 seasons.
But since this system isn’t changing anytime soon, I think kicking out stale writers and producers is a good though imperfect, way to go.
Gategrrl(Quote) (Reply)
It would be – but unfortunately, that’s also part of the system that isn’t going to change. You get a whole lot more in residuals if you are credited for 100 episodes rather than 99, under the American system (no other country does it this way). So it’s in every writer’s and producer’s interest to stay in for the long haul, and TPTB don’t often fire writers and producers from a successful show because it’s difficult to justify as long as the money’s still coming in.
Jennifer Kesler(Quote) (Reply)
I’m not sure three seasons is the magic number or anything, but it would be nice to have more shows with a definite beginning, middle and end. There are too many procedurals that drag on and on and ON (L&O or CSI, anyone?), when I think people might really respond to a well-plotted and well-told tale.
No tossing in romance to spice things up, or no pregnancy , or no “ha ha, that was all a dream!” twist.
sbg(Quote) (Reply)
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