Wednesday, June 20, 2007

'Sup Wit Dis Teal'c Fella?


When I was a kid on Okinawa, we used to watch Armed Forces Radio and Television Services (AFRTS). The programming was from the U.S. but it was usually two or three years old. I get the same kinda thing here in Panamá; we see some of the same programs folks watch in the U.S., but the programs are two or three years old, or in this case, almost ten years old.

TeleMax, Canal 9, has started showing Stargate SG-1, and I enjoy it. We are just now a few episodes into the second season. However, there are a few things I don't understand: why is it that the stargates on all the worlds are only located in arid deserts or in temperate zones? The Goa'uld simply can't take the tropical heat, or are they allergic to rum? Also, why the heck are the majority of the worlds only populated by white people? It seems that on almost every world, people of colour are in the minority. This doesn't make sense; people of colour are not the minority on this planet, so why would they suddenly be few and far between on the thousands of worlds on which the Goa'uld have visited and set-up housekeeping? Will the answer to these questions be revealed in other seasons, or am I the only person bothered by this stuff? I also don't understand why everyone speaks English, no matter where they go (well, if I switch off the SAP, it appears that everyone speaks español no matter where they go!).

Please answer these questions in the comments, unless you are from White Plains, New York; I'm pretty sure that this show isn't spreading hepatitis C or any other STDs.

4 comments:

June Butler said...

Padre, I can't help you. Ive never watched the show. Is it really true that the majority of peoples of the earth are not white? When I look in the mirror, I see a white person, but I have an African-American soul. How am I counted?

I want you to know that I've been tested, and this comment is disease free.

Padre Mickey said...

Grandmére Mimi, I have no statistics. But since the largest population on the planet is in China (non-white) and the populations in Africa and India being so large, I figure that, no matter what the movies and television tell us (and most television and movies are made in the U.S.), I think that people of colour are in the majority.
Actually, being a Public Enemy fan, I just assumed we live on a Black Planet.

morjana said...

Well...there's the logical answer (real life) and a possible series answer (fiction) answer to your questions.

(And I'm not from White Plains, NY - sunny California).

Okay...let's see:

1. Why is it that the stargates on all the worlds are only located in arid deserts or in temperate zones? The Goa'uld simply can't take the tropical heat, or are they allergic to rum?

A: Real life? The series is filmed in Vancouver, Canada, specifically during the NON WINTER months. During the spring, summer and fall, Vancouver is very temperate, and had at one time, some extensive sand dune beaches.

Fiction? The Stargates were placed by the Ancients, and when they ascended (you find out more about that in seasons...6 and forward), the Goa'uld took over most of the system. The Goa'uld enslaved humans, who, at the time they were enslaved, were mainly living in temperate areas on Earth. Apparently, the Goa'uld were fortunate enough to find planets that needed to have slaves that matched the slaves formers climate habitat.

2. Also, why the heck are the majority of the worlds only populated by white people? It seems that on almost every world, people of colour are in the minority. This doesn't make sense; people of colour are not the minority on this planet, so why would they suddenly be few and far between on the thousands of worlds on which the Goa'uld have visited and set-up housekeeping? Will the answer to these questions be revealed in other seasons, or am I the only person bothered by this stuff?

A. Real life: Vancouver's acting community apparently has a majority of white actors, with only a handful of minority actors available.

Fiction: As the seasons progress, more minorities to show up (mainly in the background), but they are there.


3) I also don't understand why everyone speaks English, no matter where they go (well, if I switch off the SAP, it appears that everyone speaks español no matter where they go!).

A: Real life: Saves time for the plot if everyone speaks the same language.

Fiction: At one point in time, the MGM Stargate site's FAQ indictated that when you stepped through the Gate, your brain was altered to be able to speak the predominant language of the Gate you arrived at. Or something like that.

Morjana

Padre Mickey said...

That's some mighty fine 'splainin, morjana! How the heck did you find us? And thanks for the info!

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