Talk:Vala Mal Doran

Early comments

There's apparently some confusion as how to spell Vala's full name. I'm going with Mal Doran, as that's how it's spelt on Gateworld. I had to edit Stargate SG-1 to comply with this discision. Simple for now, I'll try and keep this updated as this new season progresses. -b 10:56, 25 July 2005 (UTC)

So I rewrote, added, elaborated, edited the Stargate character template added the profile, etc. Fixed a few incorrect statements. Negative Bee 08:07, 2 August 2005 (UTC)

That's a terrible terrible pic! We need a better one. — Ilγαηερ (Tαlκ) 03:24, 8 September 2005 (UTC)

Recurring or regular?

It's horrible to call her both. -b 09:06, 16 January 2006 (UTC)

Regular as of season 10. Kashami 01:24, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Memory

Why isn't Vala evil or insane? (Absolute Power) Kashami 01:24, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

It's totally her personality mate. -b 04:04, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

EYE COLOR?

Ok, what is up with the eye color field not being visible on the page? I checked the source code and there is an eye color variable but it's not showing up. Why is this?

Faris b 06:12, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Removed personal opinion

"in real life, the name Vala is of an old German meaning of singled out. Mal is an English prefix for bad. The name Doran is of Irish and Gaelic origin, and that means fist, stranger, or exile." This phrase represents a personal opinion and is not supported by any third party statement. Consequently i removed it. No one can prove the name Vala Mal Doren is in either way related with the Earth languages mentioned.89.32.1.82 20:31, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

Its not an opinion, and it is supported by internal cites. Matthew Fenton (contribs) 20:35, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

The show does not suggest in any way that her alien name is related to several Earth languages. Therefore it is irrelevant to guess the meaning of her name by relating it to Earth languages.89.32.1.82 11:02, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

Theres bo suggestion involved, more like a comparision. Matthew Fenton (contribs) 11:14, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

This a character bio and not a language lesson so there is no reason to make such comparisons especially when they imply the fact the words vala mal doran are the same with the one in the movie(the editor says "in real life" suggesting the words from the movie are the same with the one in reality). Thus, the vala mal doran name is utterly different form the vala mal doran words as explained whereas the editor suggest they are the same as in real life. This does seem to be original research and is irrelevant to the biography.89.32.1.82 13:53, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

The explanation of such terms implies the name has the same meaning (it mentions that Vala Mal Doran name MAY be alien in orgin). But as there is no mentioning in the show of such relation, this interpretation appear as a redundant and useless linguistic explanation with no firm reason to be inserted here. And let me assure you, user Fenton i too am in position to report you for abuse and preferential use of the accusation of vandalism.89.32.1.82 13:57, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

Therefore, until you can provide a solid evidence of the fact that the writers of the show based on Old English or Irish the character's name, i will remove this reference. I recommand that editor Fenton should add references to prove that the Vala Mal Doran name is identically to Vala Mal Doran words from earth languages before reverting.89.32.1.82 14:20, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

Why an English Accent?

One prominent detail about Vala which does not appear in this article is regarding her Accent. It is quite distinctively an English accent but there is no reference to any significance of the accent which is surely improvised by Claudia Black who is Australian. Canderra 21:19, 5 March 2007 (UTC)

It's not English it's Australian...Million_Moments 22:42, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

Um, no it is English. Claudia Black may be Australian, but the accent she uses in Stargate does not sound Australian at all.

OK maybe it's a modified accent. It has been my experience that Australian accents when next to US ones do sound more British, but it's not an english accent. I'll ask around some of UK fans as I assume we know our accent best :p Million_Moments 20:04, 1 December 2007 (UTC)

Her accent is apparently a mioxture of English and Australian due to her Enghlish grandmother who tried to make her speak properly as a child :p. She herself calls it to Australian to be British and to British to be Australian. Million_Moments 13:25, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Do you have proof of this? Vala M 04:56, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

Well in the episode where vala meets her father, they say "what's with the accent?" and she says that she got it from her mother... Jb2005 (talk) 20:53, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

Character genesis

I'd like some behind the scenes information about this character. How was she created? Did the writers create her to be recurring? How was Claudia Black chosen? What impact of casting her had on adding Ben Browder to the show? --72.202.150.92 05:28, 24 June 2007 (UTC)

Adria Link

The link, Adria, mid-page, is linking to something non-relevant to SG1, instead of the character. Someone please edit.

Amoral Vandal

What does mean that? its relevant?? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mr.Amonra (talk • contribs) 09:39, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

Further good sources

• http://www.gateworld.net/news/2005/01/black_talks_stargate_experience.shtml
• http://www.gateworld.net/news/2005/05/black_vala_is_naughty_and_irreve.shtml
• http://www.gateworld.net/news/2005/05/black_season_nine_shows_the_real.shtml
• http://www.gateworld.net/news/2005/08/black_to_return_for_season_nine_.shtml
• http://www.gateworld.net/news/2005/11/claudia_black_joins_isg-1i_cast.shtml
• http://www.gateworld.net/news/2006/02/blacks_vala_returns_to_isg-1i_...shtml
• Audio commentary Prometheus Unbound with Claudia Black
• Other audio commentaries of Seasons 9 and 10 (without Black)
• http://www.gateworld.net/sg1/s8/812.shtml#production (and other gateworld production pages)

(To be expanded) – sgeureka ^t•c 03:11, 7 January 2008 (UTC)

"Immaculate conception" of Adria??

Vala's pregnancy with Adria, by the Ori, is referred to in this article (and others) as an "immaculate conception". AFAIK, this is a misuse of the expression, since the Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Mary, not Jesus. Can anyone come up with a better way to describe the process by which Vala became pregnant with Adria? Unfortunately, I don't think we can call it a "virgin birth", since it's quite evident that Vala wasn't a virgin either before or after being made pregnant by the Ori. Richwales (talk) 20:39, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

The transcript says "You have been impregnated without copulation?", but I changed the wording from "immaculate conception" to "immaculate pregnancy". If this doesn't work, I also have the idea to just say "miraculous pregnancy" or "mysterious pregnancy". – sgeureka ^t•c 21:47, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

I changed it to "miraculous pregnancy" just now. This should describe the situation adequately without resorting to a misnomer. Some might quibble about describing the actions of the Ori in the language of divine intervention, but "miraculous" is sufficiently generic to encompass unusual, apparently unexplainable things even if a (true) deity is not involved. Richwales (talk) 00:52, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Good Article review

After reviewing this article, I think that it meets all of the Good Article criteria. One note: the source Past Winners Database, used for nominated for a Saturn Award in the category "Best Supporting Actress on Television" in 2006 does not have Saturn Award information for 2006. This source can be used instead. Bláthnaid 12:47, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

GA review – see WP:WIAGA for criteria

1. Is it reasonably well written?

   A. Prose quality:

   A very well written article with lots of real world information. It is accessible to readers who are not familiar with the show Stargate (eg me).

   B. MoS compliance:

2. Is it factually accurate and verifiable?

   A. References to sources:

   Meticulously sourced.

   B. Citation of reliable sources where necessary:

   C. No original research:

3. Is it broad in its coverage?

   A. Major aspects:

   B. Focused:

4. Is it neutral?

   Fair representation without bias:

5. Is it stable?

   No edit wars, etc:

6. Does it contain images to illustrate the topic?

   A. Images are copyright tagged, and non-free images have fair use rationales:

   B. Images are provided where possible and appropriate, with suitable captions:

7. Overall:

   Pass or Fail:

Thank you very much for your review. You are right about the award (they only list the Saturn Awars of 1972–2004), and I couldn't find a better source than your suggestion, so I used your source. – sgeureka ^t•c 15:02, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

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