I guess the book has answers
So, the Stargate Atlantis Season 3 Official Companion came in the mail today. I admit I pretty much only read the parts concerning Beckett and Weir. It was nice that Paul McGillion wrote the foreword for this one. I also appreciated the honesty of all who were interviewed about certain characters' departures. Well, some were as honest as they could get while still being vague.
Basically, it looks like the plan was to phase the Weir character out for the same reason Ford was removed after season 1. TPTB really, really didn't know what to do with her. I had thought season 3 started out with such promise for Weir, so I wonder why they couldn't continue with what they were doing then. I know the writers/producers try their best, but I stil think they were too eager to use the reset button route. There were other avenues they could've pursued that would have given Weir a chance to do things other than be an administrator stuck in the city. (I must say, what an impressive set of blinders TPTB have on...sorry, couldn't resist the mini-rant.) Unfortunately, it also looks like Torri Higginson was getting too frustrated with her character's lack of development. She might not be that keen on returning, even if given the opportunity, especially after the way the situation was handled. I don't think she asked to leave though.
Poor Beckett. Sounds like that character is just another casualty in ridiculously convoluted studio money-crunching and attempted strategizing. Naturally, no one said it in those words, but that's what I gathered. Unkilling Beckett in season 4 was a nice gesture, but I doubt TPTB will bring him back full-time. Based on recent comments, it sounds like they love their new line-up too much.
I'm afraid I'm too biased to truly enjoy season 4. Carter was fine on SG1, but I don't know if I can warm up to her on Atlantis. I'm not excited with the concept of putting it under military command in the first place. It's even less likely that I will learn to like the character of Dr. Keller. Nothing against Jewel Staite, as I've liked her other work. She just seems miscast and her character simply can't compete with Beckett. Maybe if she were 5 years older and had been there from the start, I'd like her. Can these two characters in their respective positions really contribute anything that Weir and Beckett couldn't do?
Fanon, here I come.
Basically, it looks like the plan was to phase the Weir character out for the same reason Ford was removed after season 1. TPTB really, really didn't know what to do with her. I had thought season 3 started out with such promise for Weir, so I wonder why they couldn't continue with what they were doing then. I know the writers/producers try their best, but I stil think they were too eager to use the reset button route. There were other avenues they could've pursued that would have given Weir a chance to do things other than be an administrator stuck in the city. (I must say, what an impressive set of blinders TPTB have on...sorry, couldn't resist the mini-rant.) Unfortunately, it also looks like Torri Higginson was getting too frustrated with her character's lack of development. She might not be that keen on returning, even if given the opportunity, especially after the way the situation was handled. I don't think she asked to leave though.
Poor Beckett. Sounds like that character is just another casualty in ridiculously convoluted studio money-crunching and attempted strategizing. Naturally, no one said it in those words, but that's what I gathered. Unkilling Beckett in season 4 was a nice gesture, but I doubt TPTB will bring him back full-time. Based on recent comments, it sounds like they love their new line-up too much.
I'm afraid I'm too biased to truly enjoy season 4. Carter was fine on SG1, but I don't know if I can warm up to her on Atlantis. I'm not excited with the concept of putting it under military command in the first place. It's even less likely that I will learn to like the character of Dr. Keller. Nothing against Jewel Staite, as I've liked her other work. She just seems miscast and her character simply can't compete with Beckett. Maybe if she were 5 years older and had been there from the start, I'd like her. Can these two characters in their respective positions really contribute anything that Weir and Beckett couldn't do?
Fanon, here I come.