For those of you who were gnashing their teeth over Samantha Carter's (lack of) administrative abilities on this season's Stargate Atlantis you can relax your jaws. Well, only for a moment, because you may not like who will be replacing her in the show's fifth season.
According to a press statement released today by MGM and the SciFi Channel, the newest administrator of Atlantis will be: I.O.A representative Richard Woolsey, played by science fiction veteran Robert Picardo. Ah, I see you're gnashing your teeth again. No surprise there, since the members of the Atlantis team aren't too fond of him, either. In fact, the SciFi release mentions that Colonel Sheppard and his team must adjust to Woolsey's leadership style. Look for some friction between the two sides as the season progresses.
The promotion of Woolsey to regular cast member status is just one of the many cast changes taking place during the fifth season of Atlantis. Current administrator Samantha Carter, played by Amanda Tapping, will be stepping down as a regular cast member (if she could be called that this season) but will still guest star in several episodes, including the season premiere. Her former SG1 teammate, Daniel Jackson, will also be showing up on Atlantis for an unspecified number of episodes.
Dr. Carson Beckett, who was killed off in the third season to the disappointment of many fans, will be appearing in five episodes. How he returns to life will be covered in the upcoming two-part episode "The Kindred" (and this was reported back in August, so it really isn't a spoiler). Meanwhile, Beckett's replacement, Dr. Jennifer Keller (Jewel Staite) looks to be promoted from a recurring to a regular character.
My opinions on this: I think making Woolsey the administrator of Atlantis is a good move to shake the series up a bit. Shep and the rest of the team have had pretty decent relations with the past administrators and we could use some conflict, as long as it isn't too heavy-handed. I also think moving Dr. Keller up to a regular is a good choice as she has shown some considerable growth in character since being introduced. Plus, if will give the Keller-Ronon romance a chance to bud (if it actually comes to fruition).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-05-2008 @ 12:58PM
Chuck said...
we have know who should really be coming back as administrator....
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2-05-2008 @ 1:13PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Little hard for her since she is a fricken replicator.
2-05-2008 @ 1:17PM
Akbar Fazil said...
At first I was confused by this choice. But logically from the story point of view it makes sense. It will add a huge amount of tension between Sheppard and Woolsey which I welcome.
I for one am enjoying the new Repli-Weir story line and cant wait to see what they do with it next season. So count me as one who does not mind Weir no longer being in command. But then, I was one who wished Picard stayed all Borgified back in the day.
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2-05-2008 @ 5:09PM
Joey Geraci said...
BLASPHEMY!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can not be serious! Don't look now, because the geek special forces will be neutralizing you before you finish reading this sentence!
2-05-2008 @ 5:14PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Are you referring to my desire to have Picard remain borgified? How cool would have that been? Maybe they were able to get him mostly removed but a bit of tech had to stay or he would die. Starfleet allowed him to stay Captain but many in command would have always questioned his loyalty and such. Think of how cool First Contact would have been if his tech got reactivated and he had to fight it along side of his personal demons.
2-05-2008 @ 1:18PM
Jake said...
The one thing about Atlantis that I never really cared for but tolerated was Torri Higginson's acting. She always got on my nerves. I love the Carter character, but I agree she was out of place as the administrator. The idea that conflict should exist at the admin position, however, is a really bad idea if Woolsey is the head guy. The way this show is written, it is going to be VERY predictable with Woolsey as the protagonist. He has already been established as a somewhat nerve wracking but ultimately good guy. Any viewer that has been watching Stargate writing knows that it whatever conflict comes of this will eventually be resolved. I would much rather see some jerk commander come in and really be ruthless, possibly leading to mutiny or some other real conflict the rest of the crew will have to work together to combat, preferably at the same time they are fighting a simultaneous Wraith/ Replicator attack, relying on a very tenuous alliance with the Genni.
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2-06-2008 @ 10:10AM
Nathaniel said...
Jake, that sounds more like a plot for a random episode between permanent base commanders to me. Like, if Carter were to leave, then there were a few weeks of this random guy, then Woolsey came in, that would make some sense as an episode.
2-05-2008 @ 1:26PM
Morjana Coffman said...
With Woolsey onboard for season five, I think the snarkicity level will rise...and rise...sort of like McKay's cactus!
:)
Morjana
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2-05-2008 @ 2:28PM
Robobagins said...
I bet the payroll office saw more of Amanda Tapping then we did this season. Her character hasn't added anything at all to the show. I think if you digitally inserted another character into her place, almost nothing would be off. Who's fault is this? The writers? The producers? Or the actors?
She's been more of a guest star this season anyway. Gah, missed opportunities I say. Making Carter the Administrator was bad idea. And then not user her at all? Worse. Hopefully they rectify this with Pircardo, but I'm not counting on it. Kinda feels like they'll end up pulling a Daniel Jackson with Dr. Weir.
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2-05-2008 @ 2:35PM
Lord Bodak said...
They just haven't used her this season. I don't know if it's the writers' fault or if it's due to Amanda Tapping's schedule, but she just seems to show up, make a comment, and disappear.
I wonder if the reason she's being dropped is because Sanctuary was picked up by Sci-Fi.
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2-05-2008 @ 3:00PM
Akbar Fazil said...
She is not being dropped.
She is star and exec producer on Sanctuary. That is going to require the majority of her time so she ultimately had to have less of a role on Atlantis. I am sure she had a clause in her contract to be able to go to a guest role if this happened.
2-05-2008 @ 3:00PM
Roo766 said...
I understand why they moved Carter to Atlantis, but she is not an administrator, just as much as she didn't fit as the leader of SG1. Woolsey is at least an established character, who has shown to be tough while also being a good filter between the I.O.A. and the SGC and/or Atlantis. Plus, Robert Picardo is plays Woolsey very well.
People complain about Dr. Beckett, but seriously...main characters dying now and then is more realistic than just red shirts.
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2-05-2008 @ 3:06PM
Oreo said...
Carter was moved to Atlantis just because the writers were lazy. Honestly there was no reason at all to have Weir leave nevermind charter showing up.
I think this would have been a great choice if I trusted the writers, but after what they did to McCay this season I do not. Still better than someone knew.
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2-05-2008 @ 3:15PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Lazy? So the fact that Amanda Tapping had a contract to be fullfilled so she had to be used somewhere. Convenient I will give you, but lazy? Hardly.
Moving Weir out of her command position and into the Replicator storyline was a decision made completely separate of Carter being put in charge. Why don't we wait and see in season 5 what exactly happens with Repli-Weir and the new story there before you assume there was no reason at all to have her leave.
2-05-2008 @ 3:20PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Also, the character is named "Carter" not charter. And McKay, not McCay. If you are going to be so biased and negative towards a show at least spell things correctly.
And what exactly have they done to McKay that upsets you so? Everything he has done (including his hypochondriac melt down in front of Katie a few weeks ago) have been perfectly inline for what McKay is.
2-05-2008 @ 3:28PM
Robobagins said...
Carter was moved to Atlantis to be a ratings bolster.
Also is Sanctuary any good? I saw the promo video on the website and well the first thing that came to mind was "Torchwood" and well the CGI looked downright crappy.
2-05-2008 @ 4:07PM
Oreo said...
She didn't want to do the show! Have you read some of the interviews she did before joining the show? She even said "It was in my contract so I'm going to Atlantis".
It was the writers fault because they don't know what the fuck to do with Weir so they ditched her and replaced her with Sam.
I wouldn't be "negative" (Oh no! Someone doesn't agree with me I have to call them negative and bitch at them! -Akbar) if the writers just did this in the first place. Sam is just Weir who doesn't show up for work.
This is a good move story-wise if they use it, and that has yet to be seen (because the episodes aren't even written yet). But God please forgive me because I don't agree with Akbar Fazil! I must be going straight to hell!
2-05-2008 @ 5:11PM
Akbar Fazil said...
I actually have not read any articles stating such. If you would like to actually supply a link to one please do so.
If Amanda didn't want to be on the show, she should have not signed a 2 year deal at the start of Season 10 of SG-1.
The writers did not know what to do with Weir? I think episodes like BEFORE I SLEEP, THE LONG GOODBYE, THE REAL WORLD and any other episode where she was more than just there to give the team orders proved that the writers did just fine with Weir. However, Weir's role has always been very similar to Hammond on SG1. Base commander and admin who plays a secondary role to the main team. Moving her character into the replicator world is a breath of fresh air to the character and is something that should be very interesting.
My point about your negativity is that you constantly seem to have a negative edge towards everything I see you post on here. Others (including staff writers here) have noticed it as well. It has nothing to do with agreeing with me one way or another.
2-05-2008 @ 5:07PM
penguendedektif said...
You know there is always the tool of character development. Remember the times we hated McKay? Woolsey has already showed that he could be somewhat be tamed, plus this The Doctor for god's sake, how long can we stay mad :)
Also I think that Jewel Staite's character should be worked as well, or else she could end up like Weir or Aiden Ford (anyone remembers? :) Don't get me wrong I adore Jewel Staite, she was amazing in Firefly (as were everyone on the show of course)...
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2-05-2008 @ 5:20PM
Akbar Fazil said...
I agree. When Atlantis first started I HATED McKay. His appearances on SG1 made me cringe with his wannabe Tarantino attitude and presentation. I was even ready to give up on Atlantis at the end of season 1 but kept watching because the wife enjoyed it. I am happy to say that the growth we had with McKay is what got me to enjoy the show and find it the enjoyable action scifi show that it is.