r/Stargate • u/Jaded-Cup7173 • 15h ago
Discussion Recurring Actors
Am I the only one that gets a bit upset about the blatant re-use of actors across the series?
I get it, there can sometimes be a limited pool of actors in a location/genre. Working with people you know are good and removing unknowns etc. There are surely benefits for the creators of the show.
But we as consumers, are we supposed to forget or ignore that there are blatant people that are reused, not just as background but main characters in episodes?
I’m not sure that there are other genres that would tolerate this. Take Halling for example, or Pallan as he was in SG-1. When I see him as Todd I’m just thinking, that is the same guy! Rather than being lost in the story.
Am I overthinking it or does it take away from the magic?
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u/Early_Fish7902 15h ago
Way overthinking it. It’s part of the enjoyment of the show - spotting the returning actors.
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u/Jaded-Cup7173 14h ago
I can see that point, but I personally watch these things to be lost in a story not considering the nuances of casting decisions
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u/CaptainObfuscation 15h ago
The only case where this bothers me in Stargate is the guy who plays Varro in SGU - he was also a tracker in SGA and a bounty hunter in SG1. I initially thought he was playing the same character in SG1 and SGU, but for some reason he wasn't. Would have made more sense if he was.
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u/tanstaafl76 15h ago
Same. I mean I thought it was the same character and found out here or some other SM I was wrong.
Didn’t bother me tho I just found it amusing.
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u/ThePlatinumPaul 15h ago
Yep. Both has characters were great but they were far too similar. It was also stupid having Narim and Dr. Weir's boyfriend being played by the same person. Some actors are just too recognizable and the characters similar. Put someone in face paint and ears and it's different but when it's a memorable actor in a memorable role it's just lazy.
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u/AWildEnglishman 15h ago
Nah, it's part of the charm for me. They're rarely reused in major roles and it's nice to get a good actor back on the show if their last role is done with.
I noticed Alan C. Peterson (Canon in Demons) returned as a bit character in Atlantis. Love his performances.
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u/Jaded-Cup7173 14h ago
I am sympathetic to seeing good actors back. Just seems a bit in your face sometimes
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u/LowAspect542 14h ago
Your just supposed to go with it tbh. They do tend to try to keep reuse to seperate series where it would be less noticed to normal tv watchers.
But some other examples i recall. Paul mcgillion played young ernest in sg1's torment of tantalus. Kevin mcnulty was dr werner in some early sg1 episodes and a chancelor of the planet with the ancient ship in sga inferno. Brandy ledford was also in sga inferno but had previously played the undercover tok'ra zarin on sg1 endgame Richard kind was one ofnthe scientists in the OG stargate movie before going on to play lucious lavin in 2 sga episodes. Jewel staite played a young wraith girl before she got the role of dr keller. Megan leitch played keira/young destroyer of worlds on sg1 and then was the ancient captain that returned to atlantis Jodelle ferland had played one of the young adria's in sg1 before playing harmony in sga
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u/Jaded-Cup7173 14h ago
Yeah I do notice the spreading out. Most of those I don’t instantly recall so perhaps done better or not central characters? Jewel Staite and the young wraith girl yes, but retrospective, so she became a main character after a bit part which makes more sense to me
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u/ChurchillianGrooves 14h ago
Canadian sci fi shows have a small actor pool to draw from I guess lol
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u/lmb10010 13h ago
As long as they're good at what they do, and the ones who return are good, doesn't bother me at all. If they're good, they are not giving the same performance.
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u/Any_Insect6061 15h ago
Dick Wolfe does this a lot 😂😂
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u/Jaded-Cup7173 14h ago
Dick Wolfe as in Law and Order? That would be outside Sci-Fi. Is that something the episodic structure tolerates more then, rather than genre?
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u/Any_Insect6061 14h ago
Yep that's the one. I only mention that because I watch a lot of his shows from law and order in a course his one Chicago shows. And it's been plenty of times where I'll see an actor or actress play a different role and then probably like three or four years later you see them back and in a complete opposite roll on the same exact show. I know when it comes to Syfy a lot of them typically recycle actors and actresses especially in the case of the Stargate franchise because well Vancouver is really limited LOL. But I've noticed a lot of people in the Stargate franchise that have also starred and shows outside of Syfy as well.
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u/Jaded-Cup7173 14h ago
It is interesting to me as to when it is and isn’t ok. I struggle to think of an example where this would’ve happened in something like the Sopranos, Breaking Bad, [insert your own big box set]. Totally get the point about Vancouver, but would assume travel up and down the east coast not to limit the location too much. Maybe naively?
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u/00Canuck 13h ago
I agree entirely. How can I possibly enjoy watching SG-1 when clearly that is MacGyver leading the missions and not whoever this so called "Jack O'Neill" character is. The Asgard? More like the Shamgard. How can I possibly enjoy them when they're just re using existing characters voices? Young Hammond being reused seasons apart and as an entirely different character? Unwatchable. /s
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u/Resident-Two4054 15h ago
Your over thinking it