SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD! Be aware that I'm just the messenger here.
Remember the time, only a few weeks ago, where a supposed Replicator version of Dr. Elizabeth Weir appeared during the final minute of the Stargate Atlantis episode 'Be All My Sins Remember'd'? And, do you recall the debate that went on here and in the Interwebverse on what that meant? And, didn't it excite you just a bit to see Weir back and being primed for a potential return to the series either late in the fourth season or sometime in the fifth?
Well, as they said in many Shakespearean plays -- tain't happenin'! (That would be Rudy Shakespeare of Pennsauken, New Jersey, that is). That's because Tori Higginson, who portrayed Dr. Weir, has up and quit the show according to an article at the Gateworld website. This announcement especially stinks since Weir was going to be a potential player in a major story arc for season five. That's right! Weir's mysterious appearance at the end of 'Remember'd' was going to be addressed in a future episode which, in turn, was going to become a recurring story arc.
Higginson's reasons for not coming back for another Atlantis season are unknown. A possible reason could have been Weir's removal from the cast list after signing a 6-year contract back in 2004 and relocating to Vancouver, BC. The producers, in what seems like a fairly cold statement, said that they were being quite gracious in keeping on Weir after that happened. Either way, it is unsure at this time if the rogue Replicator storyline, minus Weir, will re-emerge.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-09-2008 @ 9:11PM
Eileen Donovan said...
That sucks. I don't like Carter, at all. I heard the guy from Star Trek: Voyager was going to take over Atlantis--is it Robert Picardo? But I was hoping they'd find a way to bring her back.
I certainly can't blame her if she signed a 6 year contract in 2004 and they kicked her to the curb! I'd leave too!
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2-09-2008 @ 9:38PM
Blair Mitchelmore said...
Good Riddance. I never liked her acting, and I hated the character. Of course, Atlantis is worthless compared to SG-1. They canceled the wrong show.
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2-09-2008 @ 9:39PM
LC said...
They could really confuse everyone and bring back the original Dr. Weir to play the replicator.
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2-09-2008 @ 10:43PM
BC said...
Yes, I've thought it would be quite funny to bring back Jessica Steen. I liked Tori Higginson, but I always wondered how Dr. Weir went from being a blond hottie to a sober brunette--possibly to be taken more seriously? With regard to Higginson, unless she can't find other work there's no reason for her to help out people who treated her badly. Shows how much the producers communicate with the writers, too.
2-10-2008 @ 3:43PM
Earl said...
I agree that it would be a smooth move to bring back the original Weir. I didn't have a problem with Weir 2, but I thought the original was just better. Plus it would be even better if there is a voice over that says "Now playing the role of Dr. Weir..." It would complete the transformation to a soap opera set in space.
2-09-2008 @ 10:14PM
Oreo said...
I'll just copy and paste. :)
Tori Higginson had a 5-6 year deal to be on the show, she moved to Canada to do the show and they fired her after 3 seasons. She was only in 4 episodes this year, and that was a mistake. The writers wanted to rehire her as a recurring guest and she said no. And I say good for her. She seemed to have been treated like shit on the show and now the writers will have an obvious storyline just dangling forever.
When will the writers learn, don't kill off characters just because you are too lazy to do something with them.
She wasn't the greatest actor, but that might have something to do with the writing.
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2-10-2008 @ 11:26PM
Chuck said...
"Tori Higginson had a 5-6 year deal to be on the show, she moved to Canada to do the show and they fired her after 3 seasons. She was only in 4 episodes this year, and that was a mistake. The writers wanted to rehire her as a recurring guest and she said no. And I say good for her. She seemed to have been treated like shit on the show and now the writers will have an obvious storyline just dangling forever."
Amen brother, the quality of the show has slipped big time already and this didn't help, I find my tivo's fast forward button awfully handy watching these days. i will miss, well if I'm watching, Tori Higginson's character and Tori herself.
2-09-2008 @ 10:58PM
izanhoe said...
Weir never should have been let go just to make room for Carter. So often this season Carter seems to speak as if the dialog she’s been given was written for Weir. Other times her dialog seems like she is channeling McKay. She is a bad fit for Atlantis and they should have just kept Weir.
I was pleased that they were trying to keep the actress by creating a new replicator role for her, but I can’t blame her for saying no. I just wish she had told them this before they created the whole cliffhanger. The powers that be have gone a long way to mess up a reasonably entertaining sci-fi show.
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2-10-2008 @ 1:19AM
Tringa said...
I thought Higginson was one of the best actresses on either show - IMO only Claudia Black was better. I very much enjoyed with she did with the Weir character, and I wish the writers had seen the potential there instead of writing her out at the end of S3. The show's been missing something vital since she left.
I'm disappointed that she won't be back, but seeing as how her part in this "major story arc" was apparently going to be limited to one episode, I'm not surprised. And I wish Torri the very best in whatever she does next. From everything I can tell, she's a very classy lady.
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2-10-2008 @ 3:38AM
Jake said...
I thought she was the most boring part of the show, but I think part of that blame should fall on the writers. It's on them to make interesting characters. Instead, they have just flat out dropped characters they don't know what to do with. So good for Higginson to at least force them to be creative to explain why a major character will never be on screen again. And shame on them for killing interesting characters like Beckett. This whole series is beginning to feel like amateur hour.
I think it's becoming very clear that the writers are really killing the SG universe, and this show in particular. Nearly every plot this year has been predictable and rehashed. I mean, ANOTHER replicator storyline? It was weak on SG-1, so the fact they even brought it back here shows an utter lack of creativity. To borrow from the Star Trek Universe, it would be the equivalent Starfleet defeating the Dominion on Deep Space Nine, then on Voyager the crew encounters a force called the Dominion, complete with shapeshifters and Jem-Hadar, and they aren't at all related to the ones on DS9.
Wasn't this show supposed to be about the wraith and exploring the Pegasus galaxy? Instead, it seems like every chance they get, they go back to the already established Milky Way galaxy, with its replicator enemies.
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2-10-2008 @ 5:27AM
gooby said...
In all honesty I don't think the problem was ever Tori, it was the character or rather the position. Much like SG-1, the role of the leader isn't as significant as the main team's (well at least screen time wise). They tried making the character more part of the team originally by making her a solid negotiator which on paper would be very useful skill to have when you go on a mission like the Atlantis mission, but since it's mostly an action show, it doesn't end up offering her much to do.
I think they should have originally cast the leader of the expedition to a much smaller role, I think that was the mistake.
Because when you look at the way this season's gone, the same thing's happening to Amanda Tapping's Carter. And we all know she's a solid actress and had a significant role on SG-1, but now on this show ... the role of the leader of the expedition just isn't as significant and is wasted on people like Amanda and Tori. And McKay is basically what Carter used to be on the other show so signing her to a different role is wasting her abilities. It was a bad move. And I hated seeing her character and Amanda's talent wasted like that.
I was really excited about this new possible return of Tori ... it looked to be a much more meatier role (it's always more fun to play the villan than the hero) but I have to say, if they shafted her the way it's suggested, well then good on her.
This season's been lacking... something and the show's been somewhat of a yawner to watch. It doesn't have the same kind of fire as it used to. And I have to say, too many big cast changes was one reason, at least for me. Don't fire people if the writing isn't working, hire better writers or make the ones you have write the characters better!!!!
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2-10-2008 @ 11:28AM
Liberty said...
I am pretty much in agreement with you. It is unrealistic to have the administrative leader in the field. I was unsure about moving Carter to Atlantis. It seems I was right. She was just Weir in a uniform. And they never let her be Sam. Or have much of a role to play at all.
Still I have enjoyed this season. I was never a Weir or Tori fan. But I do miss Carson! I would not mind the original actress back to play repli-Weir. She was interesting.
Wellsley as the administrator makes sense, plenty room for him to grow without too much of an offworld presence necessary.
2-10-2008 @ 7:08AM
Dave said...
Well for this been the best season so far, I mean killing characters is all good fun in my eyes.
And from what the producers/writers said, it actually seem like they treated her well compare to how some producers treat their actors, may be she being a bit ungrateful.
Not only that but they spent the few episodes they had with her in season four to actually set up a descent character/storyline for her.
But it seem the changes are doing nothing but good for the show anyway the rating are overall up, the stories are better than ever. So for me the series is going swimmingly, I say the first actor that goes strike should be the next one that is killed on screen.
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2-10-2008 @ 8:29AM
Scott said...
I didn't like weir. I prefer carter over weir. I think the show is better without weir.
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2-10-2008 @ 10:37AM
Philip said...
Final nail in the SG coffin. Good luck to Torri!
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2-10-2008 @ 10:44AM
Ricardo said...
izanhoe said...
Weir never should have been let go just to make room for Carter[...]
I strongly agree, they should'nt do that... I think that it is the same thing that they do to Corin Nemec back in SG-1.
At that time, I was glad to get Jackson back, but I kind of feel sorry for the actor.
I can’t help but think that was wrong, in both cases.
They have treated people like Kleenex in the past, and will do so in the future.
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2-10-2008 @ 5:13PM
LC said...
Well, bringing Jackson back did free up Nemec to star in Mansquito.
2-11-2008 @ 7:36AM
FalconHorus said...
As a proud member of the Save Elizabeth Weir campaign, I support Torri's decision to not reprise the role of Weir on Stargate Atlantis' new season for the full 100%.
Good luck to her in her further career!
Falcon H.
SEW member
http://www.saveelizabethweir.com
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4-13-2008 @ 5:58PM
BGS said...
izanhoe said...
"Weir never should have been let go just to make room for Carter."
She wasn't. The producers apparently wanted to make the commander a more of a supporting role. They had been slowly reducing Higginson's screen time and participation in the main plots during Seasons 2 and 3. Higginson informed them that she was not happy with what they were doing with her character. So they decided to reduce her character and bring in someone who would be happy playing a more supporting role. They made a short list of candidates (including Tapping and Picardo) and ultimately chose Tapping. Now that Tapping is bowing out, they went to the next name on the list - Robert Picardo.
I don't think the producers handled the situation well, but they obviously had their reasons and they have said time and time again that it had nothing to do with "making room" for Carter/Tapping.
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2-10-2008 @ 1:25PM
Jimmy said...
It's always interesting how producers think they're being gracious when actually they're screwing someone over. The fracked up when they let Higginson go. Carter never really had the chance to fit in since she was only part of a few episodes overall, and now she's gone so Tapping can star in Sanctuary (which I look forward to). It's a shame something couldn't be worked out so the Replicator storyline could continue, but you should never say never. What I wonder is if Atlantis can survive yet another cast change.
By the way, after seeing Higginson's guest spot on NCIS and her wonderful chemistry with David McCallum, I would like to see more of her on that show. A different character entirely and she was great.
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