Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Wrightwood, California, Earth
Posts: 14

Sam and Ellie, spiritual kindred?

"SG-1" first appeared on Showtime in 1997 about the same time that the movie "Contact," starring Jodie Foster as Ellie Arroway (basically Carl Sagan with a sex change) appeared in theaters.

Has anyone noticed a kind of psychological similarity between Sam's character and Ellie's? Both of them hold Ph.D.'s in physics/astronomy, both are involved in the search for extraterrestrial life, both of them struggle to hold their own in predominantly male environments, and both of them undergo amazing journeys through alien stargates (though the "journey" is ambiguous in Ellie's case).

In fact, if "SG-1" had premiered a year after "Contact," it would almost seem as if the series had cribbed ideas from the movie. Samantha in any case represents the ideal of personal fulfillment that eludes Ellie.

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: London.
Posts: 6137

Sam doesnt struggle to do anything in this mans army.
She holds her own and can beat O'neill in an arm wrestling match anyday.

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: South, US
Posts: 2379

ARGH! I want to see that movie again! I haven't seen it in a long time and can't remember it, I just remember it being really good.

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 2928

I had a lot of problems with 'Contact', and as much as i love Jodie Foster, i disliked her portrayal of her character, or maybe i just hated the character herself? That courtroom scene reminded me of some dark age inquisition, and it frustrated me to a point where i couldn't watch the film objectively any longer. I haven't seen it since.

Sam actually reminds me more of Scully from X-Files, or Meg from JAG, if you're going to get into that 'strong female in male dominated profession' thing.

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