I was watching SGA the other afternoon and it was a flashback episode.
I don't recall the title. It reminded me that the season ender, The
Last Man, was also a flashback. Then on SG-1 a few days later, was
another flashback episode.

After giving it sopme thought, there have been many, many flashback
episodes on both series. I think this is the used and over used plot
device the writers employ.

This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
anyone on either show had amnesia?
Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.

Tom

Tom wrote:
> I was watching SGA the other afternoon and it was a flashback episode.
> I don't recall the title. It reminded me that the season ender, The
> Last Man, was also a flashback. Then on SG-1 a few days later, was
> another flashback episode.
>
> After giving it sopme thought, there have been many, many flashback
> episodes on both series. I think this is the used and over used plot
> device the writers employ.
>
> This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
> anyone on either show had amnesia?
> Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
> fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.
>
> Tom

No bumps on the head, but there was an entire episode where EVERYONE
except Teyla and Ronon had alien childhood illness-induced amnesia.

Tom wrote:
> I was watching SGA the other afternoon and it was a flashback episode.
> I don't recall the title. It reminded me that the season ender, The
> Last Man, was also a flashback. Then on SG-1 a few days later, was
> another flashback episode.
>
> After giving it sopme thought, there have been many, many flashback
> episodes on both series. I think this is the used and over used plot
> device the writers employ.
>
> This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
> anyone on either show had amnesia?
> Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
> fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.
>
> Tom

Vala (sp?) lost her memory when she was kidnapped and the device her
kidnappers were using to interrogate her got EMPed by a Zat. Great scene
when a couple of guys came in to rob the dinner she was waitressing in!

In the sacred domain of alt.tv.stargate-sg1,
Tom <drsoong@aol.com> didnst hastily scribble thusly:
> This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
> anyone on either show had amnesia?
> Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
> fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.

The entire CITY gets amnesia in atlantis for one episode.
--
__________________________________________________ ____________________________
| spike1@freenet.co.uk | |
|Andrew Halliwell BSc(hons)| "ARSE! GERLS!! DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!!!" |
| in | "THAT WOULD BE AN ECUMENICAL MATTER!...FECK!!!! |
| Computer Science | - Father Jack in "Father Ted" |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The most over-used plot device is the "go throgh a Stargate" thing ...
I mean, why do that in almost every episode. ;-)

"RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.net> wrote in message
news:hBwEj.12619$KJ1.9780@newsfe19.lga...
> Tom wrote:

>> This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
>> anyone on either show had amnesia?
>> Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
>> fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.

Of course not. You have amnesia.
>
> Vala (sp?) lost her memory when she was kidnapped and the device her
> kidnappers were using to interrogate her got EMPed by a Zat. Great scene
> when a couple of guys came in to rob the dinner she was waitressing in!

Nit-pick: "Diner."

The concept is derivative, though I never complain about the writers'
effective use of an existing idea (can you spell Groundhog Day? Many fans
call that the best-ever SG, and if they aren't right, they're close.)

If you liked Vala's diner scene, get thee to a video store at once and rent
the BOURNE trilogy of films.
--
Atlas Bugged, 5:22 am Friday, March 21, 2008
SERENITY/FIREFLY FAQ
http://snipurl.com/FF_FAQ "One page, all you need to know, referenced."
CRITICAL EVALUATION:
http://snipurl.com/RATINGS "Evaluation of all eps, the film, the books,
comics, with reasons."
TROLL/RAT/BASTARDS:
http://snipurl.com/TRB_PG "Want to know why a single notice always morphs
into a stupid thread?"
WHO IS ATLAS BUGGED?
http://snipurl.com/buged "Attorney, activist, atheist, and yes, I confess,
others that start with an 'A!'"
TIM MINEAR SAYS, AND BUGGED GETS IT:
http://snipurl.com/minerq "...I'm kind of lazy, and I'm old."

[Dexter's friend and co-worker who's been watching "Oprah"]
ANGEL:
"Don't forget, just *tell the universe what you need!*"
DEXTER:
"I need to kill someone."
-From Showtime's DEXTER, 2x01

Atlas Bugged wrote:
> "RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.net> wrote in message
> news:hBwEj.12619$KJ1.9780@newsfe19.lga...
>
>>Tom wrote:
>
>
>>>This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
>>>anyone on either show had amnesia?
>>>Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
>>>fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.
>
>
> Of course not. You have amnesia.
>
>>Vala (sp?) lost her memory when she was kidnapped and the device her
>>kidnappers were using to interrogate her got EMPed by a Zat. Great scene
>>when a couple of guys came in to rob the dinner she was waitressing in!
>
>
> Nit-pick: "Diner."
>
> The concept is derivative, though I never complain about the writers'
> effective use of an existing idea (can you spell Groundhog Day? Many fans
> call that the best-ever SG, and if they aren't right, they're close.)
>
> If you liked Vala's diner scene, get thee to a video store at once and rent
> the BOURNE trilogy of films.
> --
> Atlas Bugged, 5:22 am Friday, March 21, 2008
> SERENITY/FIREFLY FAQ
> http://snipurl.com/FF_FAQ "One page, all you need to know, referenced."
> CRITICAL EVALUATION:
> http://snipurl.com/RATINGS "Evaluation of all eps, the film, the books,
> comics, with reasons."
> TROLL/RAT/BASTARDS:
> http://snipurl.com/TRB_PG "Want to know why a single notice always morphs
> into a stupid thread?"
> WHO IS ATLAS BUGGED?
> http://snipurl.com/buged "Attorney, activist, atheist, and yes, I confess,
> others that start with an 'A!'"
> TIM MINEAR SAYS, AND BUGGED GETS IT:
> http://snipurl.com/minerq "...I'm kind of lazy, and I'm old."
>
> [Dexter's friend and co-worker who's been watching "Oprah"]
> ANGEL:
> "Don't forget, just *tell the universe what you need!*"
> DEXTER:
> "I need to kill someone."
> -From Showtime's DEXTER, 2x01
>
>

Your village called again Bugged. They want their idiot back.

FM...

Hey, you morphed through my killfile!

Aren't you such a GOOOOOD dog!

Here boy! Here boy! Now, play dead! OK! Now for real!

"(^c^}Flipper Mike..." <5Rings4theSteelers@Pittsburgh.com> wrote in message
news:wvUEj.24$Oj5.6@trnddc06...
> Atlas Bugged wrote:
>> "RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.net> wrote in message
>> news:hBwEj.12619$KJ1.9780@newsfe19.lga...
>>
>>>Tom wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
>>>>anyone on either show had amnesia?
>>>>Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
>>>>fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.
>>
>>
>> Of course not. You have amnesia.
>>
>>>Vala (sp?) lost her memory when she was kidnapped and the device her
>>>kidnappers were using to interrogate her got EMPed by a Zat. Great scene
>>>when a couple of guys came in to rob the dinner she was waitressing in!
>>
>>
>> Nit-pick: "Diner."
>>
>> The concept is derivative, though I never complain about the writers'
>> effective use of an existing idea (can you spell Groundhog Day? Many
>> fans call that the best-ever SG, and if they aren't right, they're
>> close.)
>>
>> If you liked Vala's diner scene, get thee to a video store at once and
>> rent the BOURNE trilogy of films.
>> --
>> Atlas Bugged, 5:22 am Friday, March 21, 2008
>> SERENITY/FIREFLY FAQ
>> http://snipurl.com/FF_FAQ "One page, all you need to know, referenced."
>> CRITICAL EVALUATION:
>> http://snipurl.com/RATINGS "Evaluation of all eps, the film, the books,
>> comics, with reasons."
>> TROLL/RAT/BASTARDS:
>> http://snipurl.com/TRB_PG "Want to know why a single notice always morphs
>> into a stupid thread?"
>> WHO IS ATLAS BUGGED?
>> http://snipurl.com/buged "Attorney, activist, atheist, and yes, I
>> confess, others that start with an 'A!'"
>> TIM MINEAR SAYS, AND BUGGED GETS IT:
>> http://snipurl.com/minerq "...I'm kind of lazy, and I'm old."
>>
>> [Dexter's friend and co-worker who's been watching "Oprah"]
>> ANGEL:
>> "Don't forget, just *tell the universe what you need!*"
>> DEXTER:
>> "I need to kill someone."
>> -From Showtime's DEXTER, 2x01
>
> Your village called again Bugged. They want their idiot back.
>
> FM...

"Tom" <drsoong@aol.com> wrote in message
news:4f4cc890-2560-4913-8bd1-f3e6a91ee356@q78g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>I was watching SGA the other afternoon and it was a flashback episode.
> I don't recall the title. It reminded me that the season ender, The
> Last Man, was also a flashback. Then on SG-1 a few days later, was
> another flashback episode.
>
> After giving it sopme thought, there have been many, many flashback
> episodes on both series. I think this is the used and over used plot
> device the writers employ.
>
> This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
> anyone on either show had amnesia?
> Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
> fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.
>
> Tom

A simple flashback episode (such a thing?) doesn't get me too riled up...
it's the flash-back-in-*time* episodes that makes me pull the hairs on my
bald head completely out.

I've long been gettin' kinda sick of the back-in-time-to-*correct*-time
jumps, or the put-me-back-to-the-future-in-stasis-for-10K -type of episodes
that's been used a bit too freely lately, as both shows have gotten long in
the tooth.

While eps like "1969" and "Before I Sleep" worked for me to a degree, I have
to admit that both "The Last Man" and "Moebius 1&2" had me reaching for that
unabridged Webster to toss at the flat screen (the former, a lot less so
than the latter, to be real honest...)

SJ

"Anybody" <anybody@anywhere-anytime.com> wrote in message
news:210320081027049843%anybody@anywhere-anytime.com...
>
> The most over-used plot device is the "go throgh a Stargate" thing ...
> I mean, why do that in almost every episode. ;-)

damn ratings whores... <hehehe>

SJ {ratings pimp?}

Tom wrote:

> I was watching SGA the other afternoon and it was a flashback episode.
> I don't recall the title. It reminded me that the season ender, The
> Last Man, was also a flashback. Then on SG-1 a few days later, was
> another flashback episode.
>
> After giving it sopme thought, there have been many, many flashback
> episodes on both series. I think this is the used and over used plot
> device the writers employ.
>
> This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
> anyone on either show had amnesia?
> Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
> fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.

In one episode, an entire planet had amnesia!

whodunit wrote:

> Tom wrote:
> > I was watching SGA the other afternoon and it was a flashback episode.
> > I don't recall the title. It reminded me that the season ender, The
> > Last Man, was also a flashback. Then on SG-1 a few days later, was
> > another flashback episode.
> >
> > After giving it sopme thought, there have been many, many flashback
> > episodes on both series. I think this is the used and over used plot
> > device the writers employ.
> >
> > This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
> > anyone on either show had amnesia?
> > Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
> > fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.
> >
> > Tom
>
> No bumps on the head, but there was an entire episode where EVERYONE
> except Teyla and Ronon had alien childhood illness-induced amnesia.

Michael: Michael the Wraith is converted into a human via a virus and gets
amnesia.

"Atlas Bugged" <atlasbuggedBYspam@gmail.com> wrote in
news:BIKdnc1YdfLy437anZ2dnUVZ_sKqnZ2d@comcast.com:

> "RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.net> wrote in message
> news:hBwEj.12619$KJ1.9780@newsfe19.lga...
>> Tom wrote:
>
>>> This got me to thinking about the most under used plot
device. Has
>>> anyone on either show had amnesia?
>>> Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a
good
>>> old fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone
having
>>> amnesia.
>
> Of course not. You have amnesia.
>>
>> Vala (sp?) lost her memory when she was kidnapped and the
device her
>> kidnappers were using to interrogate her got EMPed by a Zat.
Great
>> scene when a couple of guys came in to rob the dinner she was
>> waitressing in!
>
> Nit-pick: "Diner."
>
> The concept is derivative, though I never complain about the
writers'
> effective use of an existing idea (can you spell Groundhog Day?
Many
> fans call that the best-ever SG, and if they aren't right,
they're
> close.)


Saw that one (finally) the other day. Haven't laughed like that
in ages. That was *truly* funny. RDA is extremely
talented.....:o) as are the writers of that ep. Wish they could
do something like that with Atlantis.
"
I guess they tried with "Trio", where Carter, Keller and McKay
get stuck in a hole and try for the whole ep to get out. They
had the right situation, the right music, just not the right
people. Problem is, Carter and Keller are NOT funny and are
(well Carter in this series), boring. David Hewlitt, for all his
attempts to make the ep funny and he is very funny at times, just
didn't have anyone to work with unfortunately. NOW, had it been
Weir and Zelenka or Weir and Teyla...

Gisele

On Mar 21, 11:31�pm, Tim Bruening <tsbru...@pop.dcn.davis.ca.us>
wrote:

> Michael: Michael the Wraith is converted into a human via a virus and gets
> amnesia.

Indeed. That was actually a fairly creative use of the old, tired
amnesia plot device. Usually it's the central characters who have
amnesia and bumble about unable to tell who's a friend/good-guy or
enemy/villain. In this case, it was the good-guys where were the
enemy in a very morally twisted way. I'm usually allergic to amnesia
stories, but this one worked.

The disease induced amnesia story also worked better than usual since
it was more of an alzheimer's plot as we saw the characters lose
themselves little by little.

I mention this because using really tired plot devices is generally
annoying, but it's not fatal. It is possible to ring in new spins on
old plots. Actually, you pretty much have to since I don't think
there really are any new plots.

himiko

On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:17:52 -0700, Tom wrote:

> I was watching SGA the other afternoon and it was a flashback episode.
> I don't recall the title. It reminded me that the season ender, The
> Last Man, was also a flashback. Then on SG-1 a few days later, was
> another flashback episode.

I'd like them to do a show where there are a series of flashbacks within
flashbacks, ending in the team back where it started at the beginning of
the show. Then a white rabbit comes by, checking its watch and hurries off
so as not to be late.

[Default] Thus spake Tom <drsoong@aol.com>:

>I was watching SGA the other afternoon and it was a flashback episode.
>I don't recall the title. It reminded me that the season ender, The
>Last Man, was also a flashback. Then on SG-1 a few days later, was
>another flashback episode.
>
>After giving it sopme thought, there have been many, many flashback
>episodes on both series. I think this is the used and over used plot
>device the writers employ.
>
>This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
>anyone on either show had amnesia?
>Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
>fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.
>
>Tom


The Reset Button is probably the very worst. Last Man kind of went in
that direction. The "everybody died when you left" gave me some
problems.

Of course, developing a cognizant, heuristic AI in 25 years is
unrealistic to me. When I graduated with a BS in CS 30 years ago, AI
was "just around the corner". It still is. Big assed corner.

"Dillon Pyron" <invaliddmpyron@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:bikau3t7b3imd7gkjb8korvecp58pmune8@4ax.com...
> [Default] Thus spake Tom <drsoong@aol.com>:
>
>>I was watching SGA the other afternoon and it was a flashback episode.
>>I don't recall the title. It reminded me that the season ender, The
>>Last Man, was also a flashback. Then on SG-1 a few days later, was
>>another flashback episode.
>>
>>After giving it sopme thought, there have been many, many flashback
>>episodes on both series. I think this is the used and over used plot
>>device the writers employ.
>>
>>This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
>>anyone on either show had amnesia?
>>Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
>>fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.
>>
>>Tom
>
>
> The Reset Button is probably the very worst. Last Man kind of went in
> that direction. The "everybody died when you left" gave me some
> problems.
>
> Of course, developing a cognizant, heuristic AI in 25 years is
> unrealistic to me. When I graduated with a BS in CS 30 years ago, AI
> was "just around the corner". It still is. Big assed corner.

I think McKay modified one of the Ancients' AI holograms to match his
appearance, personality, etc. and added the capability for the hologram to
appear anywhere in the city. The latter part could be based on the Asgard
tech.

On Mar 23, 11:05 am, Dillon Pyron <invaliddmpy...@austin.rr.com>
wrote:

> The Reset Button is probably the very worst. Last Man kind of went in
> that direction. The "everybody died when you left" gave me some
> problems.

Depends on what they do with it. All we saw was that they used the
info to boobytrap themselves...was the whole time travel thing
Michael's plan or was the finding of Teyla just a later version of the
same plan? That could be interesting if Michael actually planned it
out, I guess. I can't say I'm too thrilled though.

Another possibility is a round of character arcs. Sheppard lied to
Rodney about his hair loss, but will he tell the truth about his
relationship with Kellar? Only to have poor Rodney watch Keller romp
off with Ronon or Zelenka?...either of whom would crack me up. Will
he tell them all about Ronon and Todd's strange alliance, and what
effect will that have on how Ronon sees Todd the next time they
meet...if they do? Would knowing of her heroic going down with her
ship alternate act affect Sam? None of these would be big plot
points, but they could be interesting.

With that said, I'm not a big fan of the reset button either, but time
travel stories, when announced to be that in advance aren't as bad as
other types where people step out of showers after an entire season.
At least you know from the start that you're watching an alternate
time line that will be changing.

himiko

"Tom" <drsoong@aol.com> wrote in message
news:4f4cc890-2560-4913-8bd1-f3e6a91ee356@q78g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>I was watching SGA the other afternoon and it was a flashback episode.
> I don't recall the title. It reminded me that the season ender, The
> Last Man, was also a flashback. Then on SG-1 a few days later, was
> another flashback episode.
>
> After giving it sopme thought, there have been many, many flashback
> episodes on both series. I think this is the used and over used plot
> device the writers employ.
>
> This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
> anyone on either show had amnesia?
> Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
> fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.
>
> Tom

Except, of course, "The Last Man" was no more a flashback than "200" in that
the episode does not "flashback" to previously-seen eps. Hopefully I'm not
alone in noting this.

As for most underused plot, it would be the one-off episodes.

-- Ken from Chicago

"Dillon Pyron" <invaliddmpyron@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:bikau3t7b3imd7gkjb8korvecp58pmune8@4ax.com...
> [Default] Thus spake Tom <drsoong@aol.com>:
>
>>I was watching SGA the other afternoon and it was a flashback episode.
>>I don't recall the title. It reminded me that the season ender, The
>>Last Man, was also a flashback. Then on SG-1 a few days later, was
>>another flashback episode.
>>
>>After giving it sopme thought, there have been many, many flashback
>>episodes on both series. I think this is the used and over used plot
>>device the writers employ.
>>
>>This got me to thinking about the most under used plot device. Has
>>anyone on either show had amnesia?
>>Not thru possession by an alien or anything like that, but a good old
>>fashioned bump on the head... I can't recall anyone having amnesia.
>>
>>Tom
>
>
> The Reset Button is probably the very worst. Last Man kind of went in
> that direction. The "everybody died when you left" gave me some
> problems.
>
> Of course, developing a cognizant, heuristic AI in 25 years is
> unrealistic to me. When I graduated with a BS in CS 30 years ago, AI
> was "just around the corner". It still is. Big assed corner.

Considering Rodney's a genius and he has access to ... advanced alien
technology ... it's not quite so incredulous.

-- Ken from Chicago