A bit... annoyed

[Jobeth]

I know how you feel Webmouse. When I sat down to watch "Meridian" I felt sorry for CN because I knew that a lot of people would hate him on principle and I resolved to keep an open mind about the character. Halfway through the ep I found my self wondering "Am I supposed to LIKE this guy?" and by the end I detested him. This might have had something to do with the fact I had re-watched the movie several days earlier and couldn't help but compare Daniel's bravely hurling himself in front of a staff blast, sacrificing himself to save Jack's life, with Jonas' actions.

I'm not blaming the actor in any way. It certainly isn't his fault the writers chose to introduce him in such a poor manner.

I tried to give him another chance in 'Redemption' but he lost me for good when after admitting he had no scientific training, he spotted a design flaw in the glider that had eluded both Sam (with all her years of training and research) and the scientists who had worked for years on the project. I literally snorted and said "yeah, right". Yeesh, what a Mary Sue.

Dave, you make some good points too.

I've seen posts comparing Jonas replacing Daniel to all the character replacements on M*A*S*H. However, TPTB on M*A*S*H had the good sense to wait until Henry, Trapper and Frank were gone to introduce their replacements, and the new characters were nothing like the old ones. I can only imagine the fan reaction if Col. Potter had been the one who made Henry get on the doomed plane or if Charles had tried to act just like Frank. I doubt M*A*S*H would have lasted as long as it did in that case.

[Marty's Mine]

why are you all being s tough on jonus?!?! hes not daniel and he never will be, danny woz a great character but jonas is different. please stop judjing him! so what if he ws given a bad introduction to the show, but just like tel'c he betrayed his entre world to honour dannys name. whats so wrong about that??

[webmouse]

I don't feel that we are being "tough" on Jonas. Yes, we are all judging him. We are supposed to, just as we have formed opinions about every other character, plot, and prop in the show.

An intelligent program wishes to speak to an intelligent audience. If we are prepared to accept every change out of blind loyalty and without consideration, then the producers can save their money. They can hire hack writers, ham actors, produce a totally cheesy scifi show, and expect us to go along happily.

If I am critical of Jonas, that doesn't mean I don't LIKE him. In fact, quite the opposite -- I like him enough that I want to see more of him and am dismayed that the writers can't decide what to do with him. He was given a poor introduction and an implausible acceptance into a top secret program. It is hard to care about his character in the same way we care about the others.

Jonas is not a replacement for Daniel, because you can't replace people -- not even fictional ones. He is a different character and we need to get to know him better. There are many posters here and on gaters.net who are very harsh in their views of Jonas. They resent his place on the team and any screen time given to him is too much in their view.

But Jonas IS part of the team and should garner as much screen time as that devoted to Jack, Sam & T'ealc. There should be entire eps that revolve around Jonas, just as there have been eps that revolved around Daniel.

I want to like Jonas and am willing to accept him as part of the team. I miss Daniel, but cannot change decisions that were made months ago. I enjoy watching SG1, but not without thought. I point out where the flaws are, not to be mean, but because I care enough to think about it.

[Penguin]

Not every fan who likes Daniel bashes Jonas. That's a sad part of this fandom is that so many generalizations and fans are always locked into little boxes (you're a Daniel fan, a jack fan, a Jonas fan). Why can't people just be plain old fans?

Anyway, Jonas doesn't do much for me. Mostly becuase he's a vastly underdeveloped character.

What do we know about him? Producer/writer says he's got a photographic memory. Okay, and? I've seen a number of fans practically short out their keyboards drooling over how hunky he looks in a tight t-shirt (fans do that with every male character, I swear <G>). He was an ethical advisor to his country's president.

On base, he reads books, watches the weather channel, and collects lava lamps and other earth kische. But if a rogue elephant stomped on him tomorrow, I woudln't really miss him as there's not much to miss. We're at the 11th episode and the writers have done precious little to give him any kind of distinguishable background. I really don't think too much of "Shadow Play" as the "beautiful mind" ripoff was so annoying I tuned out.

I also think they should have brought ina new character after Daniel bit the big one because I saw that kind of production disaster occur with War of the Worlds. All that executive decision did was, basically, to **** off the fans.

[webmouse]

The writers have passed up every opportunity to give Jonas a proper introduction. The first chance was with "Meredian" where we should have seen much less of him and focused solely on a mysterious accident that cost Daniel his life. The following ep should have been about Jonas, his world, his place in it and how he changes because of what happened in the lab accident. We should have seen the change and the machinations he goes through to steal the naquadria and get to Earth with it -- not knowing what sort of reception he'll get.

Having missed that chance of an intro, the revisit to his world in "Shadow Play" could have covered much of that ground instead of ripping off a movie plot. We may have learned more about Callonan politics, but nothing really about Jonas and his beliefs. What was he to that government and what is he now?

Just sticking Jonas with a magic memory (and how did he learn to read in English so fast ?) plus a few buzzwords about ethics and science -- it just isn't enough to add up to a fully formed character.

And Corin Nemec can't do it alone. It isn't solely in the hands of the actor, but spread amongst writers, directors, and producers long before the actor has his input.

Now that Nemec has signed up to appear at Gatecon, I just hope the fans are merciful.

[Penguin]

It's *very* rare that fans yell at actors at conventions. Corin will probably do fine. For one thiing, he's got some pretty rabid fans who will probably ask all the questions anyway!

But yes, Jonas' characterization rides in the hands of the creative staff, who haven't really done much. I could accept this for the first few episodes, but now, at the halfway mark, pretty much nada has occurred. I'm not asking that Jonas take over the show, but giving him 'quirks' (eating, etc.) isn't characterization. Supposedly we'll see something further on down the line, but further on down the line, I may be watching another show as we''ll have a four month hiatus till new eps air.

[webmouse]

My concern about a GateCon appearance stems from recalling what happened to Wil Wheaton at an early STNG convention when he was booed by the audience. Tough thing for anyone to handle and CN doesn't deserve blame for what is a fault at the creative writing level.

Professional writers say "Show, don't tell." But with Jonas it has been all telling and very little showing. The actor is certainly up to the task; it's the writers who have just created his character out of a line here and a line there. I want to see what Jonas feels about his life on Callona and about what happened to Daniel and what being part of SG1 means to him. I want to see what his qualifications and skills are -- not just be told he reads fast, is observant, can do whatever Daniel did, etc. Why? How?

Show me.

[Penguin]

Yes, that's correct. Show, not tell! And there's also so much exposition to bring 'new viewers' up to speed that it annoys the long-time viewers. When Teal'c has to explain to SG1 what an Ashrak is, it's time to reassess how they're writing the show.

[Piglet_Of_Oz]

I am really looking forward to seeing Corin at Gatecon, he's made the already great line-up into an even better one.

I am just hoping that Corin gets the warm reception he deserves. His character of Jonas is great, but if people don't feel the same way then they should act sensible like an adult and stay quiet. Any booing is uncalled for and very child-like, but I seriously don't think there will be any problems at the con. People at Gatecon are all extremely friendly and there for the fun, not to cause problems.

Adele
xox
http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/Jonas_Quinn:alienooh:

[webmouse]

I shall trust then in the overall polite nature of Canadians to have a saluatory effect on any anti-Jonas sentiment.

[Penguin]

I think some folk are making a mountain out of a molehill I'm positive CN will receive a warm welcome from fans. Virtually all fans know that CN is just an actor. THey make not like the character, but they won't take it out on the actor.

[webmouse]

I've read some vicious posts about both character and actor -- not necessarily here though. It always concerns me when I see that the two are being confused -- or the one blamed for the other. I'd like to believe the best of all people, but I am old enough to have also seen the worst.

But for GateCon I'll put my trust in the fans and the general pleasant temperment of Canada -- a country of which I am very fond.

[Anni]

I have no doubt that the Gatecon fans will be very welcoming to Corin having seen their welcomes for myself! I have no particular issues with him as an actor, however I feel that the writers have made him very one-dimensional. He is doing the best he can with the small amount he has been given to work with. I also believe that he was introduced badly. It was almost as if they just shoved him in quickly and I can't understand why they felt the need to do that. The viewers would have been patient and waited for some kind of character/plot development.

I have watched the episodes, and all in all have never felt that he was prominent, despite their best efforts to make him so. He's just 'there', sort of hovering around and not really contributing much at all. But I don't blame the actor or the character for this, I blame the writers for not giving him enough to work with.

Having said all of that, there are a few episodes where RDA is just coasting along and not really contributing anything except a few nervous twitches and face grimacing, but then of course, as the star of the show, he doesn't really need to do much more to get the approbation of the fans, does he?

Jonas is okay.....he'll pass in the dark with a push!

[imported_Sandman]

Nice to see you around again, Anni:wave:

[Anni]

Thanks Sandman! I have been in Egypt for the last 10 days, cruising the Nile and visiting temples and tombs. It was absolutely wonderful! I had a whale of a time, but have come back with a swollen throat and Egyptian tummy!

Oh well, guess you pay a high price for hedonism!

LOL