'lantis poll

[wisdomeagle]

Inspired by: this post.

Because I know of only one way to figure anything out in this (or any) fandom. Please, be honest. Please pimp. Please make your answers to the questions about slash relate to your feelings about this particular show, not your tendencies in other fandoms.

Because there is always a typo, please read "My favorite pairing(s) is/are slash, but I like some slash, too" as "My favorite pairing(s) is/are slash, but I like some HET, too."

[Poll #505845]

Comments

[mice1900.livejournal.com]

I like Elizabeth just fine. My main "ship" is Carson/Rodney, but Elizabeth plays a role in my Moments Sacred and Profane series as a reasonably sympathetic and well respected character. I haven't shipped her with anyone because right now, I'm thinking she's just let go of Simon as of Letters, and it's only been a couple of weeks after that -- not exactly time for her to settle down and think about "okay, Wraith are coming, who am I gonna fuck this week?" ;)

While I write mostly slash, I'm actually quite bi-fictional. It's just that a het story, for me, has to be really strongly written to be interesting. Hell, I've even written het under another name, though not in this fandom. In my slash stories, I often have people in bisexual relationships (meaning that I do have explicit sex scenes sometimes with boys and girls as well as boys and boys together).

If season two gives me reason to, I might end up writing some Weir relationship stuff, but I'd have to see a good dynamic and a good reason for mutual interest first.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Okay so I couldn't answer the Weir question cause there's a choice missing for me. Like, there're characters I love, who are my favourite characters, and characters I really like and then there're the characters that are okay. And for me, Weir is the second category... but I can't check either box one or two cause to me, those are category #1 and #3...

[wisdomeagle]

Okay. Check whichever feels more appropriate (I'd go with "I really like Weir.") and I'll keep what you said in mind when tabulating the results. :)

[splash-the-cat.livejournal.com]

I like the character concept, but I'm just not clicking with TH in the role. I don't think she's bad, but I just don't really feel anything for the character now, whereas I adored her in Lost City when she was played by Jessica Steen.

I felt the same lack of connect for Teyal too at the beginning, but she's won me over completely, whereas I'm still cold on Weir.

[scrollgirl.livejournal.com]

I said "Weir is okay. I like other characters more, but there's nothing really wrong with her" and "My favorite pairing(s) is/are slash, but I like some slash het, too."

The funny thing about Weir is that I absolutely adored her in SG-1. Not just Blonde!Weir in "The Lost City" but also Brunette!Weir in "New Order". In SGA though, not so much. I still like her, but she didn't quite hold up to my expectations from the SG-1 eps -- much to my dismay, cuz I really was expecting to like her more. Not that I don't like her, but it's not the undying love I have for Teyla.

How much do I love Teyla? She's like Faith to me. Not in terms of personality, of course, but in terms of woobie factor and kickass character stuff. And Faith is my girl. (Well, so are Tara and Dawn, but Faith is my girl in the sense that I want her to have sex with everyone. Ditto Teyla. *g*)

It's no secret I'm a Sheppard/McKay slasher. That's my primary pairing, slash or het. But dear SGA writers, Teyla/Anybody is like a needful thing. *pokes Ari* Psst, feel like writing anymore Shep/Teyla? McKay/Teyla? Teyla/Bates?? Hee!

Weir doesn't grab me the same way, and so I don't really care about 'shipping her with anybody. It's not that I'm a slasher. It's just that I don't spare much thought for her.

[fenriss.livejournal.com]

I'm making a lot of "me too" posts today. I blame the sleep dep.

Just felt the need to nod emphatically at your list of fine, strong girls. I never noticed the Teyla-Faith thematic similarities before, but now that you mention it, it's so very true.

[scrollgirl.livejournal.com]

When I first started realising my omg undying and totally irrational love for Teyla, I realised there were some Teyla-Faith similarities going on. But I think Teyla's personality/character is much more like a mix of Buffy and Fred -- the good bits and some of the bad bits too, which make her interesting and well-rounded. But the Faith thing is still very much in evidence with the woobie factor and the omg sex factor ;)

[carolyn-claire.livejournal.com]

Dude, 100% ditto to everything you said, there.

[http://users.livejournal.com/oceana_/]

I checked "take or leave" though it's not quite true. I have "issues" with Weir, but not as strong that I'd say I really can't stand her. Let's just say that I wouldn't cry if she got hit by a tree while taking a walk.
I haven't quite figured out yet why I have these issues, maybe because she is just no fun, and she is so reasonable all the time, or pretends to be, because her decisions don't always seem reasonable to me. And she is too good. She needs a dark side, if she can't have fun.

I'd really like to see her in love with Teyla someone, really on love, so that she could finally lose control a little bit. Yes, I think that's what bothers me the most, the whole being in control and being so good about it thing. I suppose that's why they hired her, but really, can't she play with her power a bit more? *g*

[fenriss.livejournal.com]

I'd really like to see her in love with Teyla someone

Hee! So totally agree.

[fenriss.livejournal.com]

Just poking my head in to add my voice to those who are primarily slashers, but are also really quite fond of Weir.

You know, I've heard the occasional bit of misogyny from slashers here and there, but almost never in the Gateverse. I couldn't help noticing that by far the most common restriction people listed in the recent J/D ficathon was "no Sam bashing."

Maybe it's just on LJ, but it seems like most SG slashers are a pretty woman-possitive crowd. Anecdotally, at any rate.

[wisdomeagle]

Interesting. I kind of thought the huge number of people saying "no Sam-bashing" in the 'thon indicated that, well... we've all read fic that does bash Sam, and we don't want to see it here. Which isn't to say you aren't right, and that slashers on LJ are mostly yay girls!, but I wonder.

[carolyn-claire.livejournal.com]

I slash men, mostly, but I don't think that has anything to do with my not being pleased with what TH is doing with Weir. I was hot for JS's version and have been really disappointed with the switch, which isn't fair to the actress or the character, I know, allowing the comparison to influence how I see this version, but I do. And this Weir, I dunno--she doesn't seem like the woman the Pres would have sought out to take over the SGC and then allow to head the Atlantis mission, and JS's version did. I see too much uncertainty in TH's Weir, not enough strength and/or confidence, I dunno. On the other hand, I'm all over Teyla, now, and I wasn't to begin with. She grew on me while TH's Weir didn't, but there was no actor switch there to influence my view of her, so maybe that's part of it. And Teyla's way hot, in ways that Weir isn't, for me, and I can partner Teyla with pretty much anyone on the show and be happy, where, with Weir, I can only do that with Teyla or Zelenka and be happy. So, hmmm. Lots of stuff going into my view of her, apparently, but none of it having to do with my love of slash.

[scrollgirl.livejournal.com]

And Teyla's way hot, in ways that Weir isn't, for me, and I can partner Teyla with pretty much anyone on the show and be happy, where, with Weir, I can only do that with Teyla or Zelenka and be happy.

Yup, yup, yup on pairing Teyla with practically everybody. *g* The girl is H-O-T hot. Hee! You know what I want? I want Bates to get a crush on her. They don't have to make anything happen, but I want to see at least some conflict in him where he's all, I don't trust her, but damn, she's hot!

I can sort of pair Weir with Teyla, but if I have to 'ship Weir, I'd prefer Zelenka or Beckett. Which is interesting, cuz both of them are "beta" males. Mostly I like Weir in gen fic.

[scrollgirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I kind of got that too. It's kind of why I said no Sam-bashing -- because even though I think the vast majority of us wouldn't even dream of it, there's the tiny, tiny chance that a writer would take the easy way out.

[rosewildeirish.livejournal.com]

My answers contradict each other, omg.

Of the EXTENSIVE female characters on SGA, I like Weir best. I mean, we have her and Teyla for mains! And the extensive background characters of Dr. Simpson (seen once) Dr. Dumais (sp, seen once and dead), Marta the Athosian (seen once and now on the mainland), Dr. Heightmeyer (seen twice? Or was it only once?), Rodney's assistant Miko (seen once and played for comic relief). And Sora (seen twice? Three times?), who is EVAL. IOW, there are not enough female characters; Weir wins by default. Though I do like her at times; I just hate when she becomes Plot Advancement Tool.

[wisdomeagle]

My answers contradict each other, omg.

... I noticed. :p

[rosewildeirish.livejournal.com]

*ICON LOVE!*

OK. But they don't, really. I do like Weir and she is one of my favorite characters. But I like others better, and there are times when I can take or leave her. I pair loads of people and I do slash and het. (But not femslash. Sue me.)

I'll get consistant, sure. The show first, though. *g*

[beccaelizabeth]

I tickied boxes, but since I can take or leave all the characters on Atlantis (with the exception of McKay, who I'd really rather leave), and I currently have no plans to buy the DVDs, I don't know if I'm the kind of person you want answering. Because I watch, but I'm not a fan. Though I'm willing to say 'yet' and give it a chance, because the guy that plays Beckett is very nice, and went around the convention I was at saying 'it gets better' to everyone. And he was right. So it might get more better next.

[cdeacon.livejournal.com]

I think it's interesting that quite a few people have said that they've warmed up to Teyla but not Weir, the TH version anyway. I was just fascinated by this because I had exactly the opposite reaction: I can't *stand* Teyla, but I've definitely started to like Weir more.

Actually, this was one of the few times when just one episode has convinced me I was wrong about a character: I was put off by TH's portrayal and just didn't think much of Weir in general before I saw Before I Sleep, and after I saw it, I liked her. She convinced me that her character was interesting enough to devote a whole episode to, and I think it was one of the strongest ones they've done. I'm mostly comparing this to "The Gift," which was also more of a single-character episode than a team thing, and which didn't hold my attention for a second.

[scrollgirl.livejournal.com]

Really? Now this is very interesting, because I have the exact opposite reaction re "Before I Sleep" and "The Gift". Don't get me wrong, I thought BIS was a good ep and I felt for the older Elizabeth dying, but "The Gift" is one of the eps I keep watching again and again, beginning to end without skipping anything. The only other eps I do that with are "Hide and Seek" and "Sanctuary". (I'd add in "38 Minutes" and "Letters From Pegasus" but I skip a few scenes in both, and anyway, LFP is so heart-wrenching that I can't watch it too often. *g*) Anyway, "The Gift" is more single-character than the other eps I mentioned, which tells me that, yeah, Teyla is absolutely fascinating to me.

I think it does have something to do with the epic-ness of her story. Yeah, I love the guys for being slacker types and uber geeks, but I love my big damn heroes as well, and Teyla fits the bill perfectly. Gifted and cursed, loyalty pulled in two directions, a darkness inside that creates conflict, a father's legacy to uphold, a hated nemesis, courage that borders on recklessness, a see-sawing of fighting to survive versus risking her life for things (like friends, family) that make her life worth surviving. What's not to love? *g*

Heh. I'll shut up now. I can go on and on about Teyla for pages, I love her so much! And I do hope Season 2 will make me like Weir even more :)

[cdeacon.livejournal.com]

Just for the record, the only episodes I watch without ff'ing--or that I *will* watch, I should probably say, since I haven't seen them too often yet--are Letters from Pegasus, BiS, and The Defiant One, which I could watch every day. I would add The Storm/The Eye in there too, but the guest actress irritates me beyond anything I have ever seen, so I have to skip her. Hmmm. Maybe it's time for a poll on what episodes people watch all the way through.

Now, re: Teyla, I'm not exactly sure why she irritates me so much. I don't think it's Rachel Lutrell (sp), who seems very sweet and appealing. I think it's more that, IMHO, the writers can't deal with her as well as the other characters. Her dialogue is usually the most stilted, and I wish they'd give her better material to work with. As for her character, it's just that all the elements you mention above, right down to the father issues and the psychic powers, are very cliche for female characters on shows like this. I just don't see anything very new or interesting about her character. I hope you won't be offended by this, as I'm not saying you're wrong to like her or anything like that, just trying to articulate why she doesn't do anything for me personally.

[scrollgirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I do wish they had got a better actress for Sora. Still, I appreciate that we got her story in the first place -- and that Teyla was the Six-Fingered Man. *g*

I hope you won't be offended by this, as I'm not saying you're wrong to like her or anything like that, just trying to articulate why she doesn't do anything for me personally.

Not offended in the least! I do agree that it's a very cliched take on a female hero. There's no real twist to the character -- it's just solid, standard stuff. But I guess I don't mind that, I still find it fascinating even without a fresher, Jossian interpretation. I don't find her dialogue all that stilted, though I wish the writers would give her more snark and humour. Weir too. The SG writers don't give their female characters the same kind of quippy-ness the guys get, unfortunately.

[dirty-diana.livejournal.com]

I find it interesting that you and I, just by hanging out with a few different people, have vastly different views of the world. I also find it interesting that I don't think of the dislike surrounding her as an anti-woman reaction per se, but...I do think that some of the things that bother people, the bitchy leadership stuff, would be less annoying to some coming from a guy. Especially a good-looking guy.

Also, the 'ship question was hard for me. Because this fandom is so bizarre, it makes me want to turn to gen. Lots of rambling stories about pretty Shep and his pretty hair and lonely heart, and fuck the politics.

[sffan.livejournal.com]

I will concede the possibility that you might be right. In my defense, however, it's her decisions that I have the hardest time with - I find that the writers have done her a great disservice by claiming that she's a great diplomat and then making her about as diplomatic as the average 5 year old (your beliefs are STUPID, Jesus of Athosia, and no, I'm not going to let you even ask Teyla if she'd like you to perform your spiritual rite, because your beliefs are STUPID. Now go away little annoying, underfoot savages and grow food for us so much smarter and better than you) and I did like the other Weir quite a bit.

And just so you don't throw rocks at me...Shep's hair! ooooh Shep's so hot.

[dirty-diana.livejournal.com]

I think Liz might not think that she can keep her people alive and be overly diplomatic at the same time. But you know I think that. Mmmmmn Shep.

[wisdomeagle]

(your beliefs are STUPID, Jesus of Athosia, and no, I'm not going to let you even ask Teyla if she'd like you to perform your spiritual rite, because your beliefs are STUPID. Now go away little annoying, underfoot savages and grow food for us so much smarter and better than you)

I love Weir always and forever, but yeah, that makes me want to throw rocks at the screen.

I suppose it's that really, Weir isn't in a diplomatic situation. She's in a war zone, where there really isn't time for diplomacy and cultural exchange because lives are constantly at stake. Daniel knew instinctively how to make the transition from scientist to soldier (at least in that regard) and how to keep his diplomatic skills intact in high pressure situations; Weir doesn't.

But that's why I love 'Lantis. Because they're all SO bad at what they do. :)

[sffan.livejournal.com]

You're getting a texty answer for the slashy bit on this one...

I don't actually ship anyone on the show, but I do read one hell of a lot of Shep/McKay because a lot of the best SG1 writers are writing it. I like the comraderie between McKay and Shep and don't necessarily see it as anything sexual on the show, but I can totally see how it could be used well in slashy fanfic.

I probably should have just hit the "I ship nothing" box. But that felt a bit wrong to me.

[seldear.livejournal.com]

I don't know what crazy mode of linkage got me here, but now I'm here, I figure I might as well chime in.

Speaking from the pesky SJ-shipper side of SG-1 (who, incidentally, doesn't see Shep/Weir as the new Sam/Jack), I really like Weir. She's a bit like Hermione for me - slightly annoying at times, but good for the story and great for interaction.

I'm in agreement with several comments which have said that she's somewhat rather 'static' in the show: tied to Atlantis, playing Mummy to the boys. I have a severe and debilitating fondness for girls who can kick ass, which is why I adore Sam, Teyla, Faith, and Kara (my awesome foursome of fanfic).

Weir is a bit like Janet to me: she'll turn up in stories as a character around whom the plot doesn't spin, but who has the ability to turn the tide one way or the other.

And, incidentally, most of the slashers I've personally encountered are of the 'hate Sam'/'hate SJ ship' variety. Since I both love Sam and love the SJ ship, we don't get along very well. *understatement of the year*

[wisdomeagle]

most of the slashers I've personally encountered are of the 'hate Sam'/'hate SJ ship' variety. Since I both love Sam and love the SJ ship, we don't get along very well.

I used to be like that. Well, without the hating Sam part, since dude, Sam. But I got over it. This is like, the least bifictional fandom I've ever seen. So very, very polarized. *le sigh*

[seldear.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of the polarisation is to do with the way the show started out, and the way things tendered after they realised that they had a goldmine in Amanda Tapping's acting ability and started giving Sam her own storylines.

Not that I didn't see the possibilities of Sam/Jack from day one.

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

I love Weir. I adored the blonde original, and when TH took over the role, I was wary. It was only after the midseason break (The Storm/The Eye) that I really started to warm up to her. And Before I Sleep made me fall madly in love with her, because of the complete and utter dedication she had to the expedition. Good god, if she'd sacrifice herself for her people after five minutes in Atlantis, what would she do now?

It doesn't hurt that I'm an international security person - Weir is like me! On TV! Going to alien planets!

BIS cast a retroactive glow over the whole season. Now when I rewatch, I see a woman who is very unsure of herself in these new circumstances, because she really hoped that the expedition would be a cakewalk and instead finds against all odds challenges, but who can't let that uncertainty show. Her position as leader is tenuous (had Sumner survived, I have no doubts that Weir would have been ousted immediately after encountering the Wraith) and she needs to maintain her hold on her people by means of finesse when they have power, or threats when they have less.

[wisdomeagle]

I see a woman who is very unsure of herself in these new circumstances, because she really hoped that the expedition would be a cakewalk and instead finds against all odds challenges, but who can't let that uncertainty show.

Yes see that? Is why I love Weir. Oh yes.

I love Weir because she is in over her head, and trying so hard, and it shows... but I suppose that's why some people don't like her? Because she isn't good at her job, and doesn't always make the right calls... *sigh* But I love her oh so much. :)

[azarsuerte.livejournal.com]

I adore Weir because I see a lot of myself in her, or rather a lot of who I'd like to be. I know some people don't like her because she's "not kickass" but that's one of my favorite things about her, that we've never seen her pick up a weapon. That will probably change before the end of the series, but right now I'm enjoying having a character on TV who still does her best to solve problems WITHOUT violence. Like how she even wanted to try to negotiate with the Wraith! And the scene where she walks alone and unarmed into the hands of the Genii...and then talks her way out of it? I LOVE that scene because it, to me, epitomizes who she is.

And yeah, she's not always perfect at her job, but that makes her human and complex. And she's utterly committed to it, and that's what's important to me. :-)