Did Stargate SG-1 ever jump the shark?
One could argue that the departure of RDA marks this turning point. But to be nitpicky, reducing RDA's involvement w/the show and thus dispersing the team dynamic should be considered as such, if at all one exists.
Successful shows tend to grow stale, therefore it's important they constantly challenge themselves. if you look at SG-1's growth, each season starting with S6 was unique in it's own right. And damn if hitting S10 isn't a tremendous accomplishment!
Look at powerhouse LOST. It had a groundbreaking S1, an understandably disappointing S2, since they've put the bar considerably high w/S1, but come S3 and I've completely given up on the show; and will forever treat it as a one season gem, just like Veronica Mars.
By the time SG-1 hit S3, it was still growing both in quality and complexity of it's storylines. Just like The X-Files, for which S4 marks the time that FOX moved the show to Sundays where it gained audience and soared in ratings.
For that show, just as for SG-1, one could argue that deciding to continue w/out it's leading man meant jumping the shark.
However, I was rather disappointed w/XF S7, whereas S8 was so emotional - every case felt personal as Scully juggled the skeptic and the believer now completely only within herself - and I've welcomed S9! unfortunately, it was too heavily re-tooled. they'd dropped the mythology arc in favor of more stand-alone investigation stories, which were more quirky rather than horror-like. if they would've left S8's format, it might have been more satisfying. ill-conceivably, they were trying to somewhat re-launch the show, sth that SG-1 did fluently and might-I-add flawlessly. new characters are intriguing and invigorated the show (:Vala), whereas in XF they were annoying and infuriating (:Reyes); but to give that character credit, she has the 2nd best line in XF's series finale.
REYES: What is the point of all of this? To destroy a man who seeks the truth or to destroy the truth so no man can seek it?
And even though RDA's absence is undeniably noticeable and changed the dynamic and feel of the show considerably, the execs successfully re-launched SG-1 and to be perfectly honest, it's surprising that SciFi chose to cancel it at this given point! I half expected it after S8 and even more so, I believe, after S9; but S10 proved they were still going strong & all the ingredients were still there.
I think I felt just about the same w/Sliders. I actually liked S3 up until they decided they needed to freshen up the show w/a sexy babe. and I wasn't all that surprised at FOX's decision to cancel it then. they didn't believe in the show. they never got the premise, the genius idea behind Sliders, which is not-so-different from the one behind Stargate; and look how that one soared.
I once thought that bc Stargate was a military show, it was easier for them to create stories within those limitations. Now I feel, support from the networks - first Showtime, then SciFi - stands behind the success of the Stargate franchise. Sliders was and forever will be the little show that could... I actually remember, my initial reservations for SG-1 were that it was a rip-off of Sliders, but since it was military-based, which for me then translated dumbed-down, more people were able to quickly get what was going on, and thus it was more enjoyable for a casual viewer. It wasn't until I actually watched an entire episode, that I realized that it is anything but simple.
SciFi's decision to pick-up Sliders was a gutsy move and one indicating their understanding of the show's premise. S4 did not lack in quality comparing to S3, but the entire season I couldn't forget a character that left the show in between these seasons (:Wade). S5 however, w/the departure of yet more characters, saw the show return to it's roots w/it's storylines (social changes & subtle alterations in all Earths) and family feel; and I was greatly disappointed that S5 turned to be this show's last. although, realizing that not continuing w/Sliders left SciFi w/a bit of extra promotion-money and knowing that about the same time Sliders' S5 aired a new show called Farscape premiered, I find a silver lining in it.
so did Stargate ever jump the shark?!
Successful shows tend to grow stale, therefore it's important they constantly challenge themselves. if you look at SG-1's growth, each season starting with S6 was unique in it's own right. And damn if hitting S10 isn't a tremendous accomplishment!
Look at powerhouse LOST. It had a groundbreaking S1, an understandably disappointing S2, since they've put the bar considerably high w/S1, but come S3 and I've completely given up on the show; and will forever treat it as a one season gem, just like Veronica Mars.
By the time SG-1 hit S3, it was still growing both in quality and complexity of it's storylines. Just like The X-Files, for which S4 marks the time that FOX moved the show to Sundays where it gained audience and soared in ratings.
For that show, just as for SG-1, one could argue that deciding to continue w/out it's leading man meant jumping the shark.
However, I was rather disappointed w/XF S7, whereas S8 was so emotional - every case felt personal as Scully juggled the skeptic and the believer now completely only within herself - and I've welcomed S9! unfortunately, it was too heavily re-tooled. they'd dropped the mythology arc in favor of more stand-alone investigation stories, which were more quirky rather than horror-like. if they would've left S8's format, it might have been more satisfying. ill-conceivably, they were trying to somewhat re-launch the show, sth that SG-1 did fluently and might-I-add flawlessly. new characters are intriguing and invigorated the show (:Vala), whereas in XF they were annoying and infuriating (:Reyes); but to give that character credit, she has the 2nd best line in XF's series finale.
REYES: What is the point of all of this? To destroy a man who seeks the truth or to destroy the truth so no man can seek it?
And even though RDA's absence is undeniably noticeable and changed the dynamic and feel of the show considerably, the execs successfully re-launched SG-1 and to be perfectly honest, it's surprising that SciFi chose to cancel it at this given point! I half expected it after S8 and even more so, I believe, after S9; but S10 proved they were still going strong & all the ingredients were still there.
I think I felt just about the same w/Sliders. I actually liked S3 up until they decided they needed to freshen up the show w/a sexy babe. and I wasn't all that surprised at FOX's decision to cancel it then. they didn't believe in the show. they never got the premise, the genius idea behind Sliders, which is not-so-different from the one behind Stargate; and look how that one soared.
I once thought that bc Stargate was a military show, it was easier for them to create stories within those limitations. Now I feel, support from the networks - first Showtime, then SciFi - stands behind the success of the Stargate franchise. Sliders was and forever will be the little show that could... I actually remember, my initial reservations for SG-1 were that it was a rip-off of Sliders, but since it was military-based, which for me then translated dumbed-down, more people were able to quickly get what was going on, and thus it was more enjoyable for a casual viewer. It wasn't until I actually watched an entire episode, that I realized that it is anything but simple.
SciFi's decision to pick-up Sliders was a gutsy move and one indicating their understanding of the show's premise. S4 did not lack in quality comparing to S3, but the entire season I couldn't forget a character that left the show in between these seasons (:Wade). S5 however, w/the departure of yet more characters, saw the show return to it's roots w/it's storylines (social changes & subtle alterations in all Earths) and family feel; and I was greatly disappointed that S5 turned to be this show's last. although, realizing that not continuing w/Sliders left SciFi w/a bit of extra promotion-money and knowing that about the same time Sliders' S5 aired a new show called Farscape premiered, I find a silver lining in it.
so did Stargate ever jump the shark?!