DarKush, Ronan ended up having more personality than most of the other characters on the show (other than McKay) so that kind of throws your theory out the window.
What was the idea behind Aiden Ford?
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I'm sorry but that does no such thing. For one, the Ronon character fits the Other/alien category of character like Teal'c and Teyla that the Stargate writers found more easy to write for than regular, human characters of color and to be fair some other white characters too. That being said, the Stargate writers were able to come up with interesting white leads and also ancillary characters, moreso than characters of color. Also, we don't know how much of Ronon's 'personality' came from the actor or the writers. Similar to how I described Greer earlier. Jamil W. Smith did more with his nonverbals sometimes to convey his character in a way the writing lacked. I don't know how much Jason Momoa's nonverbals or ad libs might've fleshed out his character when the writing didn't.
Now just reducing this to the lack of development among black characters, Jason Momoa isn't black. He's half-Hawaiian/half-white. So Ronon's development would not apply there. Teal'c and Teyla would, however, I think it must be recognized that both are alien characters portrayed by black actors, allowing the writers to bypass human black experiences/cultures, for made up ones.
I want to thank the poster for mentioning that Judge might have written some Teal'c material himself. I can see that happening. That makes more sense to me about his evolving development, vis-a-vis leaving it solely in the writing room's hands. To their credit, if that's the case, they did let his ideas take root.
I think an argument can be made that with Stargate character development wasn't always great period. However, when you look at the characters who did get that focus, who did get that push (whether it succeeded or failed), the vast majority were white. The only black characters who got that push were alien (their humanity tenuous),which reinforces the idea of blacks/non-whites as exotic, alien. Why I think that's so is because the writers, producers, and people behind the scenes were largely white. This was another example of ethnocentrism IMO.
I'm sorry but that does no such thing. For one, the Ronon character fits the Other/alien category of character like Teal'c and Teyla that the Stargate writers found more easy to write for than regular, human characters of color and to be fair some other white characters too. That being said, the Stargate writers were able to come up with interesting white leads and also ancillary characters, moreso than characters of color. Also, we don't know how much of Ronon's 'personality' came from the actor or the writers. Similar to how I described Greer earlier. Jamil W. Smith did more with his nonverbals sometimes to convey his character in a way the writing lacked. I don't know how much Jason Momoa's nonverbals or ad libs might've fleshed out his character when the writing didn't.
Now just reducing this to the lack of development among black characters, Jason Momoa isn't black. He's half-Hawaiian/half-white. So Ronon's development would not apply there. Teal'c and Teyla would, however, I think it must be recognized that both are alien characters portrayed by black actors, allowing the writers to bypass human black experiences/cultures, for made up ones.
I want to thank the poster for mentioning that Judge might have written some Teal'c material himself. I can see that happening. That makes more sense to me about his evolving development, vis-a-vis leaving it solely in the writing room's hands. To their credit, if that's the case, they did let his ideas take root.
I think an argument can be made that with Stargate character development wasn't always great period. However, when you look at the characters who did get that focus, who did get that push (whether it succeeded or failed), the vast majority were white. The only black characters who got that push were alien (their humanity tenuous),which reinforces the idea of blacks/non-whites as exotic, alien. Why I think that's so is because the writers, producers, and people behind the scenes were largely white. This was another example of ethnocentrism IMO.
More personality? Sure you weren't just watching the trailer for the new Conan film?
Ronan had a few good lines & looks here & there...and a couple of decent episodes....but i think he proves our concern about lack of development.
i think Zalenko, heck even Kavenaugh were better written.
The "race issue" is magnified by the other factors we mentioned....such as why Weir didn't seem to work as base commander , while Hammond in SG-1 was excellently done.
Zelenka is a nerd who stuck because he played off McKay very well. Kavanaugh was an asshole because they needed an asshole for more than one episode. Both are one-note characters and pretty much remained as such for their whole run - season 1 Zelenka is very much the same as season 5 Zelenka. SGC also had Walter and Siler.
You could say the same for Volker, Brody and Park, as the show's resident background science nerds. They are only used as such and for the resulting comic relief in playing off of the MAIN cast, who have so much drama and negativity swirling around them that they need one-notes around THEM who add back a lot of levity that they wouldn't otherwise have. I quite enjoyed this aspect of Universe, using the background nerds to give us fun, light-hearted and more "Stargatesque" moments while the main cast could skip much of it and thus not have to do it without seeming out of character. A good choice.
Doesn't solve the underutilitzation of much of the main cast, though, or that they're not that likeable in the first place. :P
Mark
You could say the same for Volker, Brody and Park, as the show's resident background science nerds. They are only used as such and for the resulting comic relief in playing off of the MAIN cast, who have so much drama and negativity swirling around them that they need one-notes around THEM who add back a lot of levity that they wouldn't otherwise have. I quite enjoyed this aspect of Universe, using the background nerds to give us fun, light-hearted and more "Stargatesque" moments while the main cast could skip much of it and thus not have to do it without seeming out of character. A good choice.
Doesn't solve the underutilitzation of much of the main cast, though, or that they're not that likeable in the first place. :P
Mark
Honestly, no - with the arguable exception of Lisa Park, who started off established in the background as the ship's resident easy girl but then jumping into a less nebulous position of "the girl between Volker and Greer". Even then though, nothing she did really contributed to a given plot on any regular basis until the finale, really.
The other two developed into their background nerd roles, but that's a relatively minor promotion from the "regular extras" they started out as. IMO it's more a case of them being given more to do as one-note characters than changing how it's done.
Not to diss their actors, of course. Their one-liners and lame attempts at laymanizing scientific concepts were one reason I kept tuning in.
Mark
The other two developed into their background nerd roles, but that's a relatively minor promotion from the "regular extras" they started out as. IMO it's more a case of them being given more to do as one-note characters than changing how it's done.
Not to diss their actors, of course. Their one-liners and lame attempts at laymanizing scientific concepts were one reason I kept tuning in.
Mark
Given that Volker went from being afraid of Rush and almost going insane at the thought of staying on the ship any longer, to someone who volunteered to stay on board and now goads Rush openly, I'd say he's changed quite a bit. The criticism might be fair for Brody though, beyond being a bit more comfortable with the rest of the crew and cracking a few jokes now and then, he hasn't changed much at all.
Yeah, I'll give you that. However, I'll stand by my notion that the background nerds have had more ESTABLISHED about their characters instead of DEVELOPED.
In any case, I was always getting the feeling that Brody, Volker and Park were being somewhat groomed to take the place of one or more main characters should their actors have ever left the show. If Carlysle decided to go back to England for example, they'd have more likely killed off his character and "promoted" one or more of the nerds to regular character status rather than try some convoluted way to bring another name actor to the show. At least I hoped so... The three of them together probably cost less than Carlysle as it stood!
Mark
In any case, I was always getting the feeling that Brody, Volker and Park were being somewhat groomed to take the place of one or more main characters should their actors have ever left the show. If Carlysle decided to go back to England for example, they'd have more likely killed off his character and "promoted" one or more of the nerds to regular character status rather than try some convoluted way to bring another name actor to the show. At least I hoped so... The three of them together probably cost less than Carlysle as it stood!
Mark
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