My TV viewing has declined considerably over the last few months — there just seems to be less and less on that I want to watch, and I have more than enough to do and view (eg podcasts) without subjecting myself to dross.
[Spoilers ahead.] The photo below shows Amanda Tapping speaking at a sci-fi con in Wellington, November 2002.
I like sci-fi and have long enjoyed watching Stargate SG1. Like most other shows, it’s light on the meaningful female roles, but Amanda Tapping as Samantha Carter has always been excellent. It’s rewarding to see a strong, competent woman who also happens to be an astonishingly brilliant astro-physicist. I don’t think she’s ever twisted her ankle, though she has survived what should have been fatal battle wounds.
Way back in July I watched the Season 9 DVDs, but over the last few days I’ve finally caught up on Season 10 — the final season.
Somewhere around Season 9 Claudia Black joined the show as Vala Mal Doran, a con artist. Claudia was a main character on Farscape, a show that started with excellence, but which I found sometimes difficult as it went along.
Later seasons of Farscape became rather dark and were far too much about John Crichton, played by Ben Browder. I found the whole Scorpius plotline just too long and weird. Claudia Black though played a staunch warrior throughout.
Anyway, Season 10 of Stargate took itself much less seriously and was quite a lot of fun. The Vala character contributed a great deal of lightness and laughter. She was likeable, clever and swift-talking, as well as irreverent and well able to look after herself. It was really enjoyable to see Claudia Black playing such a fun part.
Next I’m moving on to Season 3 of Battlestar Galactica, but I’ve decided don’t want to spend these gorgeous summer days indoors watching DVDs, so it may be a while before I find out what’s been going on in that universe.
Oh, and one final thought: we paid good money for the Stargate DVDs, brand new from the DVD shop. Getting to actually watch the content though was a trial, as we had first to fight our way through the piracy warnings and the ‘don’t copy this DVD warnings’ (and then the menus). Sigh. I bought the darned things with good money from a legitimate outlet. Must they really treat me like a criminal?
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I’m also a big fan of StarGate and am very sad to see it end. I like watching the earlier episodes and seeing how the characters develop. I own the first two or three seasons.
I did not like the Vala character when she first came on the show. In fact, I disliked her so intensely that I stopped watching the show for a while. But either I got used to her or they toned her down and made her a bit more human and a bit less self-centered. She’s come a long way, but the Sam Carter character is still one of my favorite television characters.
Odd that if you download the stuff you don’t get bothered by these ads. It’s like Microsoft making it really hard for people to register their legal products. Installing a cracked version is so much easier. Luckily I use a Mac and things are much easier.
Maybe it’s time these megalomaniac companies rethink their position a little. Maybe make products more affordable so that downloading/cracking becomes less interesting.
Cheers Oliver
P.S. Since moving to the Mac I have spent a lot of money for good and cheap software. That’s how life should be! It makes fun paying money for something that is worth it.
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