Following its tenth season in 2007, “Stargate SG-1” was cancelled by the Sci-Fi channel. A ten-season run is spectacular, although, particularly contemplating “SG-1” was nearly axed after season 8 to make approach for an additional sequence. By season 8, star Richard Dean Anderson had determined to step away from his position as Jack O’Neill on “SG-1,” and a brand new sequence appeared like the best way to go in his absence. A never-realized spin-off sequence, entitled “Stargate Command,” would have seen Ben Browder’s Colonel Cameron Mitchell and Beau Bridges’ Main Basic Hank Landry lead an all-new present that included components of the unique. In the end, nevertheless, the choice was made to proceed with “SG-1,” and concepts for “Command” had been built-in into the present’s remaining two seasons. However this would not be the primary time “SG-1” writers pivoted from their authentic plans.
All through the sequence’ 10-year run, there have been a number of adjustments and last-minute selections made that altered the course of the present. For instance, the unique community, Showtime, initially tried to shoehorn nudity into “SG-1” however that strategy was rapidly scrapped after pushback from the actors and writers. These on-the-fly adjustments additionally prolonged to particular characters. Such was the case with Claudia Black’s Vala Mal Doran, who was launched within the eighth season. Initially set to seem in that one installment, Vala truly got here again for a six-episode arc earlier than turning into an everyday member of the SG-1 crew.
Vala was initially presupposed to be a one-and-done Stargate character
Vala Mal Doran was a human with a Goa’uld background who first appeared within the season 8 episode of “Stargate SG-1” entitled “Prometheus Unbound.” She then returned in a recurring capability for season 9. In an interview with GateWorld throughout that ninth season, Claudia Black spoke about her return, saying, “I am stunned to have the ability to stroll onto a set and really feel so snug.” The previous “Farscape” actress praised the “social elements” of being on-set and recalled how the crew even informed her that she would most certainly be again after her character survived the occasions of “Prometheus Unbound.”
In line with the Australian actress, whose character in the end went on to grow to be a part of the primary solid in season 10, her preliminary debut on the present was shaky at finest. In truth, she revealed that she did not even assume she’d be capable to seem in “Prometheus Unbound” attributable to her commitments to “Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars,” which was capturing in Australia near the time she was attributable to seem on “SG-1” over in Canada. As Black defined:
“It was simply fortunate timing that I completed my post-syncs for ‘Peacekeeper Wars’ in time to get on the airplane with two days discover and get the Canadian work allow and get right here. Nicely, it was fortunate the Canadian authorities could be very variety to Australians they usually expedite the method as a result of we’re a part of the commonwealth.”
Black added that “Prometheus Unbound” was presupposed to be what she deemed a “bottle episode,” which she described as an episode with a “contained finances, nothing off-world, no costly areas” and “simply one thing that was character-based.” Black continued, “I favored that once I first learn it, that it was simply self-contained story, that I would not should get used to the entire world straight-away, and be overwhelmed by it, probably. After all, Black must get used to the entire world when she returned for her six-episode arc in season 9.
Claudia Black impressed the Stargate SG-1 producers
In her GateWorld interview, Claudia Black spoke about her causes for accepting the position of Vala Mal Doran, saying that the “Prometheus Unbound” script “was actually humorous.” She continued:
“I simply wished to be sure that they’d the identical intentions as I had inferred. And so I spoke to Andy Mikita and stated to him, ‘How far can I am going with the comedy, as a result of I see some nice potential for the character. And he stated, ‘Oh, go all the best way, honey! Do no matter you need.'”
As such, Vala was very a lot meant to not solely be a one-and-done character, however comedian reduction for a self–contained episode. Clearly, although, Black made an impression on the producers. In a separate GateWorld interview, “SG-1” co-creator Brad Wright and producer Robert C. Cooper spoke about how the actress “got here in and simply blew us away.” Futhermore, her chemistry with Daniel Jackson actor Michael Shanks — who beforehand left “SG-1” for a season – was a giant a part of why Black was introduced again. “We began instantly spinning, ‘How can we get her again and make her an even bigger half?'” stated Cooper. “As a result of what you do not need to do is totally soften her character and lose this dynamic that was so great, that Moonlighting type of factor.”
In line with Cooper, he and the opposite producers had been keenly conscious that Jack O’Neill actor Richard Dean Anderson would quickly be stepping away from “SG-1” and that meant they wanted a brand new addition to the “navy presence.” Bringing Vala again to grow to be a brand new member of the SG-1 crew was the right answer, including a complete new principal solid member to the sequence for its remaining season.
