1. (Written in February, shortly after learning of David James Elliott's upcoming "dismissal" from the show at the end of the season.)
What I feel most right now is frustration - with DPB, with the writers, but mostly, because TPTB never took full advantage of all the potential they had at their disposal.
In the first few seasons, JAG was packed with action, humor, and storylines that were both riveting and heartwarming. Mr. Bellisario oversaw everything, and the writers KNEW the characters. But ever since Mr. B decided to create NCIS, our beloved show has gone downhill... 95% of his attention was occupied by his "new baby", and he took at least half of the JAG writing staff with him to the spin-off, leaving the JAG powers that be scrambling for new writers. Coincidentally, this happened at the same time CB was expecting Gemma. Add a distracted creator, plus brand new writers, plus a pregnant co-star all together and you get... the Paraguay trilogy. What burns me up the most about the three final episodes of Season 8 (and Season 9's premiere) is that it could've been a FANTASTIC story arc! But no, after Lawyers, Guns, and Money, the writers let the storyline flop. Webb became someone no one could recognize, Harm had to get "involved" (even if only to save Mac) with yet another blonde, and in the end, another rift was put between Harm and Mac. And then, it took AN ENTIRE YEAR to "recover" from the effects of the Paraguay mission.
TPTB have seemed content to throw us mediocre plots for the past year and a half, with no desire to use their fantastic actors and potential storylines to the best of their ability. Harm and Mac have spent hardly ANY time together this year, which I was willing to forgive until the news broke on February 4th. They've known for HOW LONG, and they've made no effort to make the most of DJE's last year?!
Which leads me to...
Hurt. I'm offended, as a fan, that DPB sees fit to treat me like a robot who has no feelings or opinions about the show and its future. Excuse me, Mr. B, but if it weren't for die-hard JAG nuts like us, your show would've bit the dust after its first season! We support you and your work for TEN years, and this is how you repay us?!
But most of all, I'm hurt for DJE. He's dedicated a whole decade - one-fourth of his entire life! - to making JAG a success, eliminating several other projects and obligations (The Mask of Zorro, numerous golf tournaments, and the FL IronMan come to mind) to accommodate the show's demanding schedule, and DPB kicks him to the curb because he thinks he's not "young" enough? EXCUSE ME?! If it weren't for David, there would be no Harm, who was originally who the show was ABOUT, remember? Harmon Rabb, Jr., the confident, loyal, patriotic, passionate fighter pilot-turned-lawyer who stopped at nothing to expose the truth and fight for justice? Now, the writers have resorted to giving him lame B-plots before dismissing him at the end of the year. The man gives 200% for ten seasons, and this is what he gets in return? How insensitive is that?!
JAG did not become one of television's longest running shows because it was "hip". Fans enjoyed the sharp, precise feel of it. Why mess with success?
Now, TPTB, you're trying to get us to accept this new cocky, immature boy toy with absolutely no morals whatsoever? I think not! He stands for everything the JAG crew has fought AGAINST for so long. He's underhanded and slimy and a disgrace to the uniform. He's everything a hero is NOT, and I refuse to welcome him or enjoy his character.
I'm disappointed that after JAG's glorious ten-year run, things have come down to this. Whenever I imagined the series ending, I always thought it would be with us fans tearfully but contentedly saying goodbye to the characters and personalities we've come to hold so dear. And after all this time, we DESERVE a happy ending! DJE deserves an honorable final salute, as do all the characters! WE DESERVE BETTER, MR. BELLISARIO!
- DJEgirl
