The Blog to Nowhere

So I spent my weekend at the local comic book and entertainment expo. A lengthy title for what's basically a convention at heart. The media guests are the main draw but there are tons of comic book artists and other exhibitors that are also part of the package. This year was the biggest one they've done by far and no offense to the organizers, who were all wonderful and very patient, but they seriously under estimated how many people would come through the doors.

The main reason? Leonard Nimoy, Mr. Spock himself, was the big main media guest. Last year, Edward James Olmos showed up, and that was a big deal, but it was so last minute. This year, the expo people knew since January Leonard Nimoy was coming and they had been advertising like crazy. Maybe too crazy because I swear, the entire population of Alberta showed up to get his picture and his autograph.

( Crazy expo going experiences behind the cut )

Oh, also saw some great costumes. Obviously, more Star Trek costumes than I could count, and anime stuff I didn't understand, but I saw some Mass Effect 2 costumes and some Doctor Who costumes. I saw a Fourth Doctor, a guy dressed like the Master from "The End of Time" (though my sister joked, "Are you sure he wasn't just a hobo?"), a lady dressed as a Time Lord in a robe, but minus the funny hat, and a girl dressed like Ten. I can dream that one day the expo will get someone from Doctor Who. Russell lives in LA now; how hard would it be to get him to fly up?

Long story short: long weekend, long lines. I want to spend next weekend taking a nap.

Thursday was the first official day of the con. On Wednesday you had the chance to pre-register and I swear like half of the con going fans arrived Wednesday night. The line was super long, snaking down one hallway and up again and then finally down the stairs. When my mom and I finally made it up there, we received our shiny passes, our wrist bands, chose a time for the set tour, and we each received a free Stargate Atlantis bag. I was horrified to hear my mom say she was going to use her for groceries. As you saw, I ended up using mine to get autographs. I had actually brought my copy of Stargate Continuum from home, thinking I would get it signed, but then we got the bag and then I saw the con had an official poster, so sufficed to say, I ended up spending more than I had planned. More on that later.

Anyway, Thursday. Stuff didn't start until the afternoon, which was nice, because it let me sleep in. It's funny how they set up the con. Minor actors open it up and the regular actors close it out. I don't know if it's like that every year, but that's how it went this year.

( Many a con photos behind the cut )

So that was day four and five. All through the con I saw posters from Gateworld. You could tell they were from Gateworld forums because they had name tags with their user name on it. So this way people could see each other in person. There were a lot of Gateworld people. It was a little strange seeing an on-line part of fandom out in the real world. I'm so used to interacting with just words. To see real people discussing a show I only talk about on-line, it felt out of place.

Next up: Day Six and Seven. Stargate set tour (whoo!) and autographs aplenty.

And I thought last week's episode was cracktastic. I can only assume they had to re-write the ending once they heard Atlantis wouldn't be renewed. I suppose that's slightly easier than coming up with a whole new episode, like SG-1 did.

( Spoilers for SGA 5x20 )

Well, Stargate Atlantis, you had half the life of your parent show, but you still had a good run. Now it's DVD movie time! Yes, a crossover movie if you please. That would be a great way to kick off things.

I think I need an icon that says "TV fiend". :-)

I found the unaired pilot for US Life on Mars and wow, the actual pilot seems brilliant compared to it. The unaired pilot actually had more original elements while keeping the basic plot, but it was executed so clumsily. The actors playing Gene, Annie, and I assume it was Ray, weren't that great (sorry Colm Meaney). Though, the unaired pilot did keep Sam standing on the roof of building, contemplating jumping. The move from L.A. to New York City was also a wise decision. L.A. seems too bright and not gritty enough to match the era. So copying the UK pilot practically word for word resulted in some good.

And just some quick thoughts about SGA's mid-season two parter. So stupid how Sci Fi is just off loading these episodes. Yes, there was only a week between parts this year, but at this rate the series will be done by December. I don't see what the rush is. When BSG comes back in January, it'll be ending, too, so Sci Fi won't have any good shows come the summer. But anyway...

( Spoilers for SGA 5x11 )

And I forgot to talk about Sanctuary last week. I had seen the webisodes a while back and was wondering how they would redo the pilot now that they had more money. It seems the luxury of a bigger budget and being an actual TV show now allows for more character development. Things are revealed much more slowly or not at all. It was a bit weird how they reused some of the footage from the webisodes and inserted it into the episode. And now with episode two done, they can move on to original stories, though it was nice to see the story from the second half of the webisodes resolved. In the webisodes, it just ends with everyone in peril.

Some user on some site commented how Sanctuary was just a rip-off of Torchwood. I admit the concept of the shows are similar and there are some similar character roles, but it's not the same show. Sanctuary's a Canadian production through and through. :-)

Oh Joss. The Whedon clan is a talented bunch.


I'm also loving the theme music. I know people out there have been making mp3s of the songs. Can anyone direct me to some? I hope they release a soundtrack; I'd buy one. I already have a Captain Hammer shirt on the way. Now I'm tempted to dress up like Captain Hammer for Halloween. The costume would be fairly easy. Hammer t-shirt, cargo pants, army boots, and some gloves. A trip to a thrift store or an army clothing place and you're set.

And now, for something completely different. Well, different show. Still with the thoughts and stuff.


And yay, another week or so and Stargate Continuum is out! I've been hearing random tidbits about it thanks to the Stargate Atlantis season four DVD commentaries and I can't wait.

Snagged from kefira.

<------- Hooray, I finally got myself a Stargate icon!

This was my kind of episode. Not the "we need a cheap episode so let's set it on Earth with minimal effects" aspect, but the delving into a character's past aspect. Sure, a bunch of stuff was revealed out of nowhere, but I suppose there's good reason for that.


And I agree with kefira; John and Ronon in suits and civilian clothing is hot. :-D

While I'm glad there's only a month between new Stargate Atlantis episodes, I have to say their usual mid-season two parter makes me angry. Not that it sucked or anything. To the rant!


Since I'm too lazy and too afraid of spoilers to go look myself, can anyone tell me if the character I've been ranting about above is returning for more episodes past this one? If it's just episode eleven I will be mad because that's just a re-hash of season two.

My love for Stargate seems to be an understated one. I don't gush about it constantly, like with Doctor Who or Buffy, but I'm totally a fan. So, much ranting about Stargate Atlantis' premiere.