Warning! This page may contain spoilers for any seasons up to and including Season Seven

Wild Horses’ Interview with Joe Mallozzi
Article by SelDear, HW Why Not?

With Stargate SG-1 Season Seven already in production and many of the episodes scripted out; a successful Season Six behind him and a promising Season Seven ahead, Joe Mallozzi, writer and co-executive producer of Stargate SG-1, graciously took the time to answer a few of Wild Horses’ questions.

According to Joe, the creative team is ahead of schedule, with plans in place for a two-part finale. Robert C Cooper, the new show-runner for Season Seven, is doing a great job with the show and the mood on the set among the cast and crew is light-hearted and enthusiastic.

WH: Do you know how many RDA-less episodes there will be yet?

JM: No firm idea of the number of RDA-less episodes yet.

WH: Does this make it hard to write then?

JM: It makes it trickier to write them, not necessarily hard. The scheduling is the hard part.

WH: Will we see an episode that reveals more of Jack’s background/family?

JM: Nothing on his background/family.

When Wild Horses inquired about the recurring or guest characters that might be seen this season, Joe said that Yu had survived Anubis’ parting shot to the System Lords, and that Osiris would be back. When asked if the return of Daniel’s one-time colleague and friend could have romantic implications for the character, Joe would only admit that it was ‘possible’. He also admitted to a soft spot when it came to the Goa’uld Osiris, largely because of her devilish accent. But she is, he added, his favourite villain.

Fans of the Sam-Jack relationship may be delighted to hear that there are presently no plans in place to feature a return of Laira (a.k.a. ‘She Who Must Not Be Named’). However, they may be less pleased to discover that Joe Faxon – Sam’s husband in ‘2010’ and the Ambassador to the Aschen in ‘2001’ – may make a return appearance.

Wild Horses had some questions about the much-publicised ‘Black Widow Carter’ episode. When asked whether there really was a need to address this ‘issue’ given that all of SG-1 has had spectacularly bad relationships through the series, Joe admitted there was no specific need to address the ‘Black Widow’ issue, and that it would just be a fun episode.

WH: Will the ‘Black Widow Carter’ episode focus on the present or one of Sam’s past relationships? Will it involve a new character or someone we will recognize?

JM: It will involve a new character.

WH: You said season 7 would have subtle, shippy moments like previous seasons. Will there be an episode like in previous seasons where it’s a little more shippy than the rest? While we know there won’t be any closure for the Sam and Jack relationship, will we still get to see moments like in Metamorphosis where their feelings for each other show through?

JM: Hmm. Interesting you should ask that. There is potential for just such an episode. We discussed the possibility late Friday. More on this in the weeks to come.

WH: Just a quick clarification, Joe: the potential episode is for a kiss or for tender moments?

JM: Potential for both.

A quick run through of episodes and the character(s) they focused on showed that the Seventh Season of Stargate will not be all Daniel as most advertising and spoilers have indicated.

JM: The two-parter (‘Fallen’ and ‘Homecoming’) focuses on Jonas and Daniel, ‘Fragile Balance’ on Jack, ‘Orpheus’ on Teal’c and Daniel, ‘Revisions’ is a team episode, the Unas story is Daniel, Chris’s script is Teal’c, the ‘Black Widow’ episode is Carter, ‘Space Race’ is Carter, ‘Heroes’ is the team, ‘Lifeboat’ is Daniel, ‘Crossfire’ is Carter - off the top of my head, that’s what I recall.

When asked about whether Jack will be retiring this year, the answer was ‘No’. But when Wild Horses inquired about whether the writers felt Sam is ready for command – the response was overwhelmingly positive – they just need a suitable situation.

For those deploring the lack of our favourite Colonel in the Season Seven line-up, Joe did mention that there would be an episode that would show Jack in full command-mode, a la ‘The Fifth Man’, but didn’t name the episode. He also named Jack as his favourite character to write for – largely because he connected with Jack’s sense of humour.

WH: Do you know which episode Amanda will be directing and will it affect her appearance in the prior episode?

JM: I’m not sure which episode she will be directing but it will definitely affect her appearance in the prior episode, as she will need the week to prep.

He also noted that the character of Sam will get no less screen time than she did in Season Six, and that there would be an episode in Season Seven where Sam gets to show her emotional side as she did in ‘Paradise Lost’.

Wild Horses also addressed the topic of the epithet ‘Super Sam’.

WH: There has been some discussion on Sam being less interesting in later seasons and being too much ‘Super Sam’. How would you respond to that?

JM: The fact is, we’ve tried to do a variety of different stories, exploring a variety of different aspects of our respective characters. Sam is our tech whiz and she is the one who will necessarily have to step up and solve those specific types of problems. Ultimately, it’s all about the type of story you’re telling (and, consequently, the type of solution you need).

One of the staff at Wild Horses wanted to know if Teal’c will still do kel no reem without Junior, and if not, would he have a candle sale? The answer was ‘yes’ for kel no reem, which implies ‘no’ for candle sale.

Another staff member inquired about Teal’c and Bra’tac now being reliant on the tretonin and how that will affect the storylines in Season Seven. Joe’s response was that the 'Changeling' ramifications will be felt through Season Seven, but the means and methods by which the Tok’ra manufacture the drug will not be examined.

The interview also took a few looks back at Season 6.

WH: If you had written FC what would you have done something different? a) Thinking it was the finale and b) thinking there was another season.

JM: I see many have complained that FC would have been a terrible way to end the show. Well, the fact is the episode would have ended the series but there was always the intention of continuing the show through features, either theatrical or special event.

WH: What were your favourite and least favourite S6 episodes to work on?

JM: Favourite - 'Nightwalkers'. Least Favourite - I don’t know if I have a least favourite but if you put a gun to my head and made me choose I’d have to say 'Disclosure'.

When asked about the cut scene between Sam and Daniel in ‘Full Circle’– giving a slightly more satisfying reunion between these two characters than what was actually shown – Joe said it was a terrific scene but didn’t make the final cut. He also doubts the scene will show up on DVD.

Apparently there is one scene that was shot during the filming of Season Seven’s ‘Orpheus’, featuring a dancing Jaffa. Unfortunately for fans hoping to see the Jaffa grooving to the beat, the scene is most likely to end up on the cutting-room floor.

There was one fly of discontent in Joe’s ointment regarding a storyline he hadn’t been able to pursue. With Season Seven, they were wrapping up all the stories they wanted to get done, but Joe had always wanted to do a story featuring the Egyptian crocodile god Sobek and that idea was given the thumbs down.

For those looking for presents for Joe, Wild Horses discovered he’s always wanted a working zat with which to smite his enemies and hide the bodies.

Many thanks to Joe for giving up his time, and the staff at Wild Horses wish him all the best in getting Season Seven up and running!

 

Interview/Chat held on 03/29/03.
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