u/Capable-Relative6714

Or maybe even a bit more. As we all know, South Africa and Morocco are already through, Ghana and Egypt de facto as well (both on 4 points) and Côte d'Ivoire/Algeria need just one point to be in a good position to qualify. Then there are DR Congo, Cape Verde and Senegal. They all need a victory to have a chance (a point could be sufficient for CPV), and they all have equal opponents in their last games. I think we're realistically speaking about 6-8 African teams in the knockout stages which is a huge success given their number of allocates slots. Africa already had an exceptionally good World Cup in 2022 (all African teams won at least one match, plus the first-ever semifinalist of course), but 2026 seems like even bigger step-up with regards to the continent's overall competitiveness.

Ak áno, ako zatiaľ vnímate turnaj? Zvládate to časovo? Ktoré zápasy sa vám zatiaľ páčili, na ktoré sa tešíte a komu fandíte? Kľudne sa podeľte o hocijaké postrehy a názory.

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Ja som zatiaľ veľmi milo prekvapený, tieto MS sa mi páčia oveľa viac než Katar. Chamtivosť FIFA pri naceňovaní vstupeniek je síce otrasná, ale pokiaľ sa bavíme čisto o kvalite hry, solídny turnaj. Najlepší zápas za mňa Holandsko - Japonsko, veľmi príjemne prekvapili Austrália a Nový Zéland, najlepšie výkony zatiaľ Švédsko, Maroko a hlavne USA. Dúfam, že ďaleko dôjde nejaký africký tím, zatiaľ ukazujú veľmi slušný potenciál (fandím hlavne Slonom).

Just my two cents into discussion - Kimi seems to be riding the same wave that Jenson Button was in 2009. Never putting the foot wrong, being spotless even in chaos, but mostly winning in a pretty dominant way. Just one victory of someone else in the first 6 races (back then it was Vettel in China). If the season was as short as it was back then, I think we'd already be discussing whether Antonelli already has one hand on the trophy.

I would love to express some love regarding this project since I've read a lot of criticism online before and after I gave this show a go. Just a brief description of my relationship with Stargate:

- I saw the SG1 and Atlantis some 20+ years ago when it was on air over here in Europe. It was basically the series of my childhood, we loved it with my dad and we spent many afternoons glued to TV watching SG1 crew and others. I rewatched first two seasons of SG1 this winter, it was perfect trip down the memory lane. And I have to say it still holds in terms of quality of sci-fi. Those seasons and many episodes are timeless, you get totally immersed in the fascination of dialing the 8th chevron, going with Daniel to alternate universe (There But for the Grace of God is *the* best Stargate episode in my eyes), or having a blast with Urgo.

- I didn't know about existence of SGU. It probably came to my attention some time in the last decade but I wasn't that much into sci-fi then. When I was rewatching SG1 in the winter, I felt like I would try something new but SG related. So the SGU felt like a natural step.

(Btw, sorry for the long introduction that reads like American online recipes, I'm getting to the heart of the matter now).

- I grew to love SGU so much. Of course, it's quite different to previous shows and I get criticism and dissatisfaction coming from the older fans. I just find it so wholesome and endearing. To give it some kind of form, I will just write it out as bullet points:

Strengths:

- it's different, and different in a great way. I feel like this format gives characters so much depth. I really enjoyed all backstories, the way characters interacted and, despite some plotholes, their interactions with people back home. I know many fans were criticizing the show for too much focus on people drama but honestly, I found it an integral and the strongest part of the whole project.

- having one continuous storyline. It's great that screenwriters tried something like this. It generally works in my opinion. In the context of all Stargate TV shows, it's a great and unique addition that expands the Stargate universe (ba dum tss) in an interesting way.

- characters and their weaknesses. I've read a fair amount of criticism regarding this aspect. Some were even saying they liked Stargate for being a "competency p*rn" and they couldn't stand how helpless or incompetent the characters in SGU sometimes were. Again, I found it much more relatable and insightful. Considering the fact that this show was made 17 years ago, it's remarkable how well it still holds in depiction of psychology, relationships, motivations etc. There is a reasonable amount of helplessness, desperation and showing weakness and maybe that's why it resonates with me so much. It's not like any other series that brushes off trauma or hardships inflicted on the characters like it's nothing. SGU felt like you go through these things with characters together for a long time.

- related to that is inclusiveness. This will probable read strange to some and might be a cultural thing, but I think SGU did a unique job in showing how people with different needs deal with stuff. One example: Amanda Perry. Showing how appreciative she was for having a chance to live a "normal life* for a short time on the ship, and on the other hand, showing all the issues caused by her state when Camille Wray lived in her body - made you think about people with disabilities in a different way. In a much more empathetic and genuine way.

- I grew to love pretty much all the characters. But special shoutout to colonel Young, doctor Rush and sargeant Greer. One of the best characters in the whole franchise.

- the episodes Time and Cloverdale are one of the best in the whole franchise as well.

Drawbacks:

- the time travel in the second season (which basically created the doubles of everyone in the crew) was...definitely a choice. I didn't like the implications of it and the way it ignored previously established lore, but the way screenwriters dealt with it and expanded on it was strong emotionally. Showing characters living their lives as they would be back home (starting families, working for the community, using their intelligence and strength for greater good) felt like a poetic end to their stories. I will get back to it in a later paragraph.

- communication stones were a cool idea, but maybe a bit overused. First I thought it will ruin the immersion for me but then I got used to it. It's probably just my preference, but concepts like these defeat the idea of the vastness of space and time a bit.

- aliens and drones always figuring Destiny's location out, despite traveling between galaxies. Related to the previous one. I know you need some antagonists and it'd be boring if the ship just floated through the space without any action, but I can't help myself here. Universe is huge. More than huge. Being always there to be Destiny's pain in the a** and having the same capability for FTL travel is just...improbable. and one of the sci-fi shortcuts I dislike.

- still not sure what was the role of the blue aliens and their relationship to Chloe. Guess we'll never know.

- there were only two seasons. However, I think the creators of the project were well aware of that, and in the end tied (almost) all the loose end. The last 4 or 5 episodes really felt like a slow wrap up and there wasn't much left to be told, apart from the ultimate destiny of the mission and the crew. This is where I hope the new show give us some final clue, or maybe even bit more. Maybe we'll meet Eli Wallace who's now a big hero and got everyone back to Earth safely. Maybe they were able to establish a successful bridge between the Earth and Destiny and now they monitor the mission and send people back and forth sometimes. Maybe it'll be an unsolved mystery that gets mentioned once or twice - who knows. But as a standalone show, I feel like it's made a full circle. It's a great addition to the franchise and I think I'll rewatch soon.