Tori Higginson (Dr. Weir) and Stargate Atlantis go their separate ways

A great pity - but understandable given the shoddy way Higginson was treated. "Weir" wasn't the stereotypical blonde cutie; she was intelligent, tenacious, and believably maintained a position of authority over rambuctious military types like Caldwell. Even the fact that the character was written as edging towards 40 in contrast to the younger Sheppard was actually realistic. Higginson was messed about outrageously for no good reason than to shoe-in Carter (and I'm surprised Amanda Tapping did such a thing); there was no chemistry between Sheppard-Carter as there was Sheppard-Weir (and what about Teal'c, Daniel and Cam, just left twiddling thumbs at SGC - plot plausibility people!). Being disloyal to someone you've signed a contract with and still expecting them to dance to your tune doesn't work. Someone needs to give the producers/writers of SGA a kick up the backside - they recognised their idiocy in killing off McGillion (enter the clone, how original) and Rodney, instead of developing nicer qualities (if only slightly) seems to have jerk-reset button at the end of each episode; a show that isn't 'in-universe' plausible won't last; the show needs to tighten up on it's characterisation and let some of the underdogs - Zelenka, Major Lorne, Colonel Caldwell - shine rather can continuously inventing new baddies/disaster of the week chasing ratings. First, make your bricks, then build the house!

I felt that Torri Higginson added a lot of credibility to the show. While the stories generally did not overly challenge this fine actress, she had a real presence. I cannot believe that they would put one of the worst actresses I have ever seen in her place - has anyone ever seen Amanda Tapping really act? Hearing that I also have to listen to Daniel Jackson's rapid-spluttering again has finished the show for me completely - it has now become what SG-1 became - the same boring basic stories over and over. New enemies - same stories.

"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."

Yes, they worked so hard all season getting us to like him, and having the crew constantly telling him he is an incredible valuable and cared about member of the team, then BaM then send him home. He got interesting and once he lost teh wide eye excitement and innocence he was even quite a good looking sexy character. They also hinted at a deeper relationship with carter and then sent him on his merry way.

I will say that Elizabeth annoyed me quite a few times, she fell for some obvious traps and I just did nit warm to her at all. I do agree that having Carter as the administrator is a bad idea. Neither her or Elizabeth I feel are meant to be the pencil pushers. Definitely not Carter as I know what she is capable of doing in the field.

Just Another Captain Janeway

Dr Weir was Atlantis' "Captain Janeway", with the strong woman leader thing going on, and that's why we (guys) all wished her away. In fact, SG-A is the ST-Voyager of the Stargate franchise with too many strong, emasculating women and too many relationship storylines. We're so tired of relationship filler episodes like the past two weeks' have been. If they weren't returning to the Wraith or Replicator arcs this week I was dropping them just like ST-V. But I'm sure they'll give me another chance to drop them real soon....

Would you please check your facts? Torri Higginson- note, *Torri* not Tori- did not quit. From all interviews and accounts of conventions I've seen, she's always been very enthusiastic about working on the show.

The producers decided to reduce her status to recurring at the end of season three. They also, as mentioned above, only offered her one episode for season five, which she declined. I think it's a good decision, considering we were promised a Weir arc and four episodes in S4, which basically turned out to be two: in 'Adrift' she's unconscious during most of the episode and in 'Be All My Sins Remember'd' she gets a five second appearance.

And I'd be wary about any promise of an arc by TPTB. Teyla's 'arc' (missing Athosians) appeared in one episode, has not been explored since, and there are how many episodes left? Four? I know it'll be explored soon, but still... Wow, what an arc.

Bitter? Why, yes I am. With the spoilers about the new commander of Atlantis in season five and a certain character upgraded to regular soon... Well, I've just lost interest in SGA. Shame.

First Torri didn't quit. She was offered one episode in s5 and she declined. She is not under contract so she can't quit the show, however she was fired in s4. Torri has said that she would love to come back if the storyline was right, obviously she didn't think the storyline was right or maybe she had scheduling problems, but I doubt it since JM would have mentioned that in his blog.

I really don't like how you are implying that they had this huge Weir storyline in s5 when that is not the case. It was one episode possibly to be aired in the second half. When was this arc going to take place? season 6?

There was no reason to replace Weir with Carter. Carter had her time on SG1 and now she's a null entitiy on Atlantis-- no relationships with other characters, no scientific genius anymore-- that's McKay's territory and rightly so. The same problem with the new doctor.

And I could not believe we were treated to yet another "we're stuck in the elevator" story on Friday. They just did that a couple of weeks ago-- then it was stuck because the city's in lockdown-- now it's stuck cause we fell in a hole on another planet! How embarrassing.

I loved the ensemble cast of Atlantis of the first three seasons, but then they killed off Carson, and then one of my other favorite characters, Weir, a few episodes later. I've tried watching this season and it just is not the same without Torri's strong, compassionate Weir. To offer her one episode in season 5, which "might" have led to a potential arc--and might not have even featured further appearances by her--was a bad move. There was a lot of excitement generated by that reveal of Weir, and the producers should of capitalized on that. I read in an interview that Torri would come back if the story was right, and I'm speculating that this story was not right in her opinion. I'm very sad to see her leave entirely, but I totally support her decision and wish her all the best.

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.

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.