Sometimes you just need to pack up and make the break clean
Confession time: I'm kind of a hypocrite when it comes to being a 'good' fan. Yes, for all of my cheerleading and determinedly positive approach towards SPN, I too have been guilty of the following:
- Ignoring canon backstory
- Knowingly rewriting characters to fit my personal preference
- Willfully sidelining a main character because I'm just not that interested in them
- Completely ignoring later show canon
- Not sure I've ever actually said it, but I've certainly thought very loudly that the writers don't seem to care very much about the story they're telling. Or even really have one to tell
- Being silently derogatory towards the show's production values
...Well, except that's all true of Stargate: Atlantis. Which is probably why it bugs me so much when I see these sorts of things directed towards SPN--because a) SPN so consistently blows SGA out of the water on every front that it's almost laughable, and b) even at my most bitter moments as a fangirl, I tried not to rain on anyone else's parade. I suspect I did at some point (I was younger and more foolish then), but if I knew I'd injured someone else's ability to enjoy the show, I would've felt pretty bad about it. Mostly I just withdrew from that fandom and tried to apply the "AU" tag wherever appropriate. Even now, I will cheerfully disclaim that at this point I have no idea how much of a resemblance my version of John Sheppard has with his canonical counterpart, because I have no interest in rewatching the show to find out.
Is SGA terrible TV? No. If you enjoy a bit of banter and wacky SF hijinks, it's entertaining enough. If, like me, you have a very limited ability to suspend your disbelief when it comes to Marine combat-readiness and--well, let's just say there's a decided lack of even a gesture towards consistent security measures, especially towards the end of the run. Which is absolutely inexcusable when the whole premise is that this is a small expedition in the middle of a galaxy full of aliens that want to find the expedition and force them to give up the location of the Earth--so they can come here and chow down on the inhabitants.
(Argh. Sorry, everyone--apparently I'm still not over "Midway". *shakes tiny fist* Curse my inability to follow MST3K's advice and "simply just relax"!)
I feel like I ought to have a point here, but I can't really think of one. "We've all been there, so be kind to one another"? "Sometimes it really is best to just walk away"? "Everyone has different criteria for enjoying media and you should probably try to avoid imposing yours on someone else"? "Brat is apparently a McRanty-pants today"?
Probably that last one.
- Ignoring canon backstory
- Knowingly rewriting characters to fit my personal preference
- Willfully sidelining a main character because I'm just not that interested in them
- Completely ignoring later show canon
- Not sure I've ever actually said it, but I've certainly thought very loudly that the writers don't seem to care very much about the story they're telling. Or even really have one to tell
- Being silently derogatory towards the show's production values
...Well, except that's all true of Stargate: Atlantis. Which is probably why it bugs me so much when I see these sorts of things directed towards SPN--because a) SPN so consistently blows SGA out of the water on every front that it's almost laughable, and b) even at my most bitter moments as a fangirl, I tried not to rain on anyone else's parade. I suspect I did at some point (I was younger and more foolish then), but if I knew I'd injured someone else's ability to enjoy the show, I would've felt pretty bad about it. Mostly I just withdrew from that fandom and tried to apply the "AU" tag wherever appropriate. Even now, I will cheerfully disclaim that at this point I have no idea how much of a resemblance my version of John Sheppard has with his canonical counterpart, because I have no interest in rewatching the show to find out.
Is SGA terrible TV? No. If you enjoy a bit of banter and wacky SF hijinks, it's entertaining enough. If, like me, you have a very limited ability to suspend your disbelief when it comes to Marine combat-readiness and--well, let's just say there's a decided lack of even a gesture towards consistent security measures, especially towards the end of the run. Which is absolutely inexcusable when the whole premise is that this is a small expedition in the middle of a galaxy full of aliens that want to find the expedition and force them to give up the location of the Earth--so they can come here and chow down on the inhabitants.
(Argh. Sorry, everyone--apparently I'm still not over "Midway". *shakes tiny fist* Curse my inability to follow MST3K's advice and "simply just relax"!)
I feel like I ought to have a point here, but I can't really think of one. "We've all been there, so be kind to one another"? "Sometimes it really is best to just walk away"? "Everyone has different criteria for enjoying media and you should probably try to avoid imposing yours on someone else"? "Brat is apparently a McRanty-pants today"?
Probably that last one.