SGA...10 Years Later, fest : Friday Nights

[melagan.livejournal.com]

I say, never let a good idea go to waste.

mezzo_cammin posed the question, What's your gateway fic?

sgamadison ran with that and made This Post

(if you like to comment there and post a link to your comment here, that would be marvelous)

I'mma gonna ask, "when did Stargate Atlantis become your show? The show you worked your schedule around?

I know we all came to the show at different points.



I had the days marked down on my calendar up to the show's airing. I knew David Hewlett was going to playing the role of Dr. Rodney McKay and wild horses couldn't have dragged me away.*

But I'm not ready to claim this as my show. Not yet. I've been burned by sci-fi and tv a few times. Rising is getting a - okay cool, I'll watch this again vibe.

They walk into the City of Atlantis. The stairs light up. Even then I'm holding something in reserve until - two geeky, adorable, and delighted scientists turn to each other and say, "space ships!"

Aw, man. I have no resistance to that, and Stargate Atlantis has just made an inroad to my heart that I never recovered from.



*That John Sheppard turned out to be both adorkable and hot was icing on my very fine McKay cake.

Comments

[logans_girl2001]

I had watched SG-1 off and on over the years (my parents don't believe in paying for movie channels so I could only watch it in rerun on broadcast TV) until Skiffy bought the rights when Showtime canceled it. Because of that I was looking forward to SGA so I could be in on the ground floor of a new show.

I only knew David Hewlett from his guest spots on SG-1 (hated the character of McKay for how he treated Sam) and had never heard of Joe. But I was willing to give it all a watch. No harm done, right?

I fell in love with the whole show at first. It wasn't until Hide and Seek that I looked at John and Rodney and went, 'Oh, yeah, they are so doing it!'

I cannot remember the first fic I read in the fandom (there have been so many over the years) but I do know it was most likely slash or gen.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

Watching SG-1 was exactly the same for me. We simply couldn't get the station it was on.
It wasn't until Hide and Seek that I looked at John and Rodney and went, 'Oh, yeah, they are so doing it!'

Yes! Yes! It was exactly the same for me! When a beaming Rodney says about about John, Oh, believe me, that's not the first thing we tried.

[goddess47]

I have been an SG-1 fan from almost the beginning and, like many, followed it from Showtime to Skiffy...

I think I ran my life around SG-1 at that point. "Stargate Monday" (SG-1 was on for like a 3 hour block! heaven!) was required watching in my house and by the time Atlantis came along, I was so ready for just more!

And I had been dabbling with slash things by the time SGA came on that I instantly 'saw' McShep -- I have always watched Atlantis with my 'slash goggles' on...

I liked Rodney McKay and when Sheppard turned out to be hot himself, it was perfect!

Those were the days!

[melagan.livejournal.com]

by the time Atlantis came along, I was so ready for just more!

I understand this feeling. Atlantis came along at a perfect time for a lot of us.

[mezzo-cammin.livejournal.com]

I think 3 episodes had aired before I started watching the series. I was juuuuust getting into LJ at the time, so it was a sort of double whammy for me. Not only had I just discovered FANDOM, I found the show I wanted to be fannish about. Yay!

So, 38 minutes. That was the one that grabbed me. I saw the last part of it, then re-watched it when they showed it again in an hour, and I was just enthralled. The John/Rodney subtext was strong in that episode, hoo boy! I started back at the beginning, got caught up, and then it became a regular Friday night thing. I was off on Fridays, and M. and I would order pizza and have a beer and watch Atlantis. Then go out to the moon garden, have a few more, and look up at the sky, on good nights.

I really miss doing that. :)

[melagan.livejournal.com]

A double whammy indeed. I knew about fandom but wasn't an active participant, so I know exactly what you mean.

My goodness, the looks Rodney throws John in that episode.*g*

For me, 38 minutes will always be that pivotal episode where Rodney moves beyond his SG-1 past and begins to get what it really means to be part of a team.

[3virgos.livejournal.com]

Great question. I just discovered the show and the fandom last year.
I saw a multifandom vid on youtube that had a very quick clip of SGA.
I took one look at Joe Flanigan and had to find out who he was and where I could see more of him! After a little research I figured it out and discovered this great fandom and show.
The first fic I remember reading was Beautiful Lifetime Event and it just solidified the love.

I'm terrible with links, but you can find the vid in youtube if you search for multifandom vid 'He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother'

Very jealous of all of you who were in on this from the beginning. I still haven't done a total watch of all episodes.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

This vid? MmmMMmmmmmm.



Beautiful Lifetime Event is the story that got me too. Hee. Oh man, I'm a little jealous of you too, with episodes ahead to still see. I will be happy to rewatch some episodes and squee with you - and I bet I'm not the only one.

[3virgos.livejournal.com]

Yup.. That's it!
The only reason I watched that vid was I was feeling a little nostalgic for Starsky and Hutch and saw the vid linked on one of the S&H comms.
It was the little 4 second clip of the Defiant One of Joe in the desert that has led to a year of consuming this wonderful fandom 😊
I really don't know what I'm waiting for as far as watching all the eps. I think I just like having something to look forward to. I would gladly do a watch/squee along !

[melagan.livejournal.com]

Let me know what you're watching next and I'll watch it too. We can toss up a discussion post for it here. :)

[tdancinghands.livejournal.com]

I remember getting as far as 'Hot Zone', in season 1, and then having to move to somewhere where we didn't have cable, and so had to wait a year till it was broadcast locally, to pick up where I left off. 'Hot Zone had piqued my interest, but in 'Letters from Pegasus', the little Czech guy stole my heart. The first really good Zekenka fic I read, which totally set my brain of fire with regards to Rodney/Radek, was The Secret Life of Scientists (http://archiveofourown.org/works/1786948) by Julad.

Shortly after that I discovered mice1900 and sgatlantislight, who inspired me to push my own boundaries as a writer.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

He's a little heart stealer for sure. I loved David Nykl's portrayal of Radek and always felt that he had a special understanding/expertise with the puddle jumpers.

[scarym1.livejournal.com]

I have liked other shows before but STARGATE SG1 was the first time I really fell in LOVE with a show!! I discovered it in 2002 and that was my first time participating in an online community.

I was quite excited to hear that the spin off would be airing in Canada but was disappointed it was only going to air on a pay movie channel. Fortunately I was able to convinced my roomies to add the channel to our cable package so I could watch it. : ) Everyone knows of my love for STARGATE.

With Atlantis, I loved John & Rodney right from the start. The banter between them was brilliant. It was great to watch their friendship grow over the years. One of my fave scenes is from THE SHRINE when John takes Rodney out for beers on the pier.

I have become a huge fan of David Hewlett and continue to follow him in whatever he does.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

Beers on the pier is one of my very favorite moments. h*

You don't have to be around me long to find out I too am a huge fan of David Hewlett and a Rodney McKay girl through and through. It makes it all the sweeter that Flanigan and Hewlett have a real life friendship with that same kind of banter.

[falcon-horus.livejournal.com]

I watched Stargate SG1 but didn't really look for any fan-related forums or places to discuss the show. It was a show, a good one. And I dabbled - and became a member of Gateworld in May of 2004 -- and forgot I was a member until Stargate Atlantis was airing.

SGA was the first show, and probably also the last one where I'm actively involved in the fandom. Where I searched for and found people to discuss it with to the nth degree. A show that I loved so much that I got myself into more trouble than I could ever have imagined (making it into a Mallozzi blogpost, however, might not have been my proudest moment in hindsight, but I rebelled against season 4 and 5 of Atlantis so it was bound to happen).

I invested, and still do, a lot of time in SGA so I will always cherish it. And I still play in its fandom, even though most of my kin have moved on, and fics are scarce.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

A show that I loved so much that I got myself into more trouble than I could ever have imagined...

I bet that's an interesting story. *g*

I invest far more time in SGA than I ever expected too and I see no sign of it waning.

[esteefee]

My gateway post.

I never worked my schedule around SGA, just because I'm a downloady kind of person. :) But GOD, did I shotgun this entire show when I discovered it. I mean, I put my entire life on hold for days at a time to watch ep after ep. I was seriously addicted and I had *four seasons* to catch up on. :))) and yeah, SPACE SHIPS.

I can't believe how seriously lacking television is right now: there are NO SPACE SHIPS. why? Why?

[melagan.livejournal.com]

But GOD, did I shotgun this entire show when I discovered it

This comment made me grin from ear-to-ear.

And you're absolutely right. Where are the spaceships?!

[imwithrebel.livejournal.com]

I know I am late to the party, but I hope you don't mind me sharing my story. I also apologize for the length of it - brevity has never been my strength. :)

I first learned about Atlantis from my best friend (at the time). We had met online thanks to Aladdin fandom, but really bonded through this random role playing game that we created. It wasn't based on a show or anything, we just had characterized versions of ourselves in random circumstances.

She wanted to introduce a love interest for her character and chose the name "Rodney". I could tell she was embarrassed about the origin of the name and bugged her until she told me about SGA. Of course she gave me the disclaimer that "Rodney is mine - you can have Sheppard." One look at John and I was okay with that arrangement. ;)

I still was skeptical and really didn't think I would be interested in the actual show, but my friend was persistent. She showed me several music videos and a fanfic or two and I found my curiosity growing. I come from a large family where getting control of the tv was challenging. It took me a full MONTH after I decided I wanted to watch it before I was able to actually catch it on tv. It was during the reruns of season one before season two came on.

My first episode was The Defiant One. I will never forget that feeling of awe as I watched John and Rodney coming to life on my tv after hearing, reading, and seeing so much about them. It was surreal and I was hooked.

It has always amazed me that my friend randomly "assigned" me the perfect character. I see so much of myself in John and I learned a lot about myself from watching him. I have never related so strongly to a character, and doubt I ever will again.

When I started dating my husband (sometime during season 3), I can't tell you how happy it made me that he knew about SGA and had seen parts of it.

My friend and I were incredibly active in the fandom. We obsessively discussed everything and shared every fanfic, video, pictures, etc. we found with each other. Even our role playing games were suddenly set in Atlantis. We played prime / not prime with each other and actually got quite good at it.

Unfortunately, our relationship fell apart around the beginning of season 5. I found I couldn't enjoy the fandom without feeling sad about the loss of the friendship, so I withdrew. While I understand why I did what I did, I do have a feeling of sadness about the things I missed when the fandom was still in its prime.

However, SGA has never stopped being important to me. I recently started missing it terribly again and am trying to get involved with what is left of the fandom. I have even considered trying to publish and complete some of the SGA stories that my friend and I started back then, but I am not sure how they would be received.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

It's never to late to share the love.

I have friends (here's looking at you sgamadison) who waited a long time before they would watch the last episode because that meant it would be really over.

I can't ease the bittersweetness of it. I wish I could. But I can tell you fandom may have slowed and mellowed but we're still here. Be assured your love for it, your passion, your squee and your stories are very welcomed.

[imwithrebel.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your kind words. Sharing my story and having someone listen to it is therapeutic in itself. I am trying to change those bittersweet feelings into happiness again, primarily through watching the whole series beginning to end with my husband (who sadly is not interested in fandom) and getting back involved in the fandom and discovering new fanfics, people, etc.

Do you know where a lot of the fandom activity is going on these days (on LJ or elsewhere)? I was/am a member of many SGA LJ communities from before, but most of them seem to have died off. I am still sorting through them to try to find out which ones are still around.

I completely understand how your friend feels. I still have not seen all of season 5. I did see the first episode, the last, and a few of the stand alones. It is weird to imagine what it will feel like watching the last new to me episode.

I would love to share what we wrote because I feel it really explores some different things than what I have seen done before. Though my friend helped a lot, the main concept was all mine, so it is my "baby". It is unfinished at the moment. However, there are several roadblocks to completing and sharing it (it uses an original character - I know that's a turn off for many, I struggle writing a convincing John, and what's already written needs some serious editing).

Once I get settled back into the fandom, I am seriously considering trying to find someone to help me bring it to life. I want to tell this story, but only if I can do it justice (and hopefully have a few people appreciate it for what it is).

[melagan.livejournal.com]

Try sga_saturday and sga_newsletter Both active comms.

My tastes run to John/Rodney slash and if that's your cup of tea there's mckay_sheppard. Keeping an eye on sga_newsletter, which posts daily, should led you to other communities as well.

sgastoryfinders and sgagenrefinders are both still active. Apologies if I'm repeating something you already know. The first is for finding a specific story, the 2nd is for finding any stories in a particular genre. There are useful links on the profile page of both.

Hope this helps and hope to see you here often!