OT: Stargate

Fyron · #1 March 7th, 2004, 01:30 AM

How do they qualify as soap operas?

Randallw · #2 March 7th, 2004, 03:16 AM

I would guess they can be called soap operas because they have multi story arcs and characters and events in one episode turn up again in another episode, and you watch to see what happens to someone from a previous episode. Unlike "non-soap operas" where each episode is unconnected to a previous one except they have the same cast. I like Star Trek, but I have to admit at least with the old series the crew goes from planet to planet and nothing they did before has any relevance to later episodes. With NG you at least had the occasional "Worf" episode developing his character.

edit: second thought. Also with a soap opera you might miss a few episodes and when you watch it again the characters keep referring to something that changed the show, and you might think to yourself "hang on, did i miss something important?". Whereas a non-soap opera you miss a few episodes and come back and its like you didn't miss a thing. By the way I don't watch "soap operas" so I'm just going on what I think the term means.

[ March 07, 2004, 01:20: Message edited by: Randallw ]

Narrew · #3 March 7th, 2004, 03:33 AM

this my opinion of course, but I consider them in the same league as Soap Operas because I HAVE to see the next episode, I am addicted to the show its-self.

I had thought that Soap Operas were lame, that people that got into "the story" were a bit shallow to get into them, BUT here I was HOOKED on Babalon 5 and SG-1, I had to see next weeks episode, I was connected to the characters in a way that I had to honestly say that there were no difference between me and the Soap Opera watchers.

Perhaps my definition is not perferct, Randallw's was better. Are the soap opera shows the same as the sci-fi shows I mentioned, no they are different, it was just how I had looked at the shows that changed.

Suicide Junkie · #4 March 7th, 2004, 04:05 AM

In my mind a soap opera is defined by continuous, drastic and overcomplicated plot twists at the expense of the "good" literary devices your english teachers tried to get you to learn...

Caduceus · #5 March 7th, 2004, 04:35 AM

I think of pro wrestling more as a "soap opera for boys" than SG-1.

Wilcard

Randallw · #6 March 7th, 2004, 10:00 AM

We had an episode of Futurama here a while ago. They were showing an ad for the Robot Soap opera "All my Circuits", out of about 5 plot twists 4 of them were. Amnesia, Amnesia, does anyone here not have Amnesia?, and "when i tell you this you may well have an attack of explosive amnesia". All I know about real soap operas is that if a season rates badly they just say someone was dreaming and they go back to the start. Also Last time I saw Days of our lives someone was possessed by the devil.

Edit: boy, is this thread getting off topic.

[ March 07, 2004, 08:01: Message edited by: Randallw ]

Lord_Shleepy · #7 March 7th, 2004, 10:36 AM

Hee...hee!!! Nothing like a good off-topic, off-topic thread.

Quote:

Originally posted by Randallw:
...Also Last time I saw Days of our lives someone was possessed by the devil.

Edit: boy, is this thread getting off topic.

Yes...it seems that they've been big on possession, witchcraft, aliens, and the like lately. Desperate for a little whiz-bang I guess...tho it's still the same ol' melodramatic, let's-stretch-one-episode-into-twelve routine.

Quote:

Originally posted by geoschmo:
They did one in the pilot. Major Carter was talking about some rig job they did hooking up the Stargate and she said they "MacGyvered it"...

Awesome! I guess I'll have to give the show another half star...or half thumb...or whatever.