SGA 3.17: Sunday
Jan. 16th, 2007 10:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trinityofoneUm. Okay. I'm not really sure how to approach this. There are a lot of little things that I'm actually more interested in discussing. But, uh.
Okay, I knew it was going to happen. I try really hard to stay unspoiled, and actually in my experience people were pretty good this time. But you hear one innocuous thing, and you put it together with another innocuous thing...and you just know. Especially when it's telegraphed from the beginning that there's going to be some rather major fishing-related guilt going on.
As for Carson being, well, dead (I seemed to be heading toward euphemism earlier), I, like John, am not really feeling anything yet? (And did he really say what I think he said? "I'm looking forward to feeling something"? Jesus. Therapy, John. Therapy. <--By which I mean, I love you so much more when you are fucked up.) I mean, I feel bad, but not devastated—if, say, Zelenka had died? I would be incoherent right now. So, actually, I'm having an appropriate reaction to the death of a TV character. This is uncharacteristic of me! Either I am maturing as a person, or...well, I'll admit that Carson was never my favorite character. I liked him best when he was being comically frightened—my two favorite bits were "It could be lunch-related" and "I wish I weren't bloody here!" I never really got his friendship with Rodney, because it never seemed like much of a friendship to me. Carson always seemed so surprised when Rodney did something good! (Like his shock when Rodney was nice to the wounded Marine in 'Phantoms.' What was with that?) So, yeah, I'm feeling a bit blank on this right now. Don't hate me.
Aside from the BIG SHOCK there were a lot of little shocking things in this episode. Like:
1. John was MARRIED? MARRIED? See, I don't know what to make of this. Either it's true, and we're about to start seeing a lot of stories where John's wife left him because he was clearly gay (What? That was my first thought. You weren't very good at marriage BECAUSE YOU ARE GAY), or it's not true, and John is lying. I can see that, too. John is weird.
2. Speaking of: Joe, were you meaning to look hopeful when you asked Ronon if he'd been dating a man? Hopeful, and then disappointed? 'Cause that's how it came off. Just so you know.
3. Ronon, why're you pushing Teyla at John? I thought you had a crush on Teyla. Or on Elizabeth? Or is it Rodney now, you slut.
4. I didn't really get the Teyla/John thing in this episode. I get, and could even like, Teyla/John in general, but the combination of 1) Teyla's conversation at the beginning, 2) the scene where Teyla backs out of the golf game, and 3) Ronon and John's conversation didn't really make sense to me. I mean, we were supposed to think that Teyla was talking about John at the beginning there, weren't we? (Or not? Maybe it's Teyla's Marine from M&MM? Or maybe Rodney OH MY GOD PLEASE YES.) I don't really see how John could be oblivious about some sort of undercurrent of attraction between him and Teyla. I mean, there have been, among other things, that retrovirus induced kiss; with John/Rodney I can imagine obliviousness (because those denial blinders would be up like whoa) but with John/Teyla? I've tended to see it more like, "We obviously like each other, but John, dear, you gotta try to be a little less messed up first." But maybe that's just me.
So I also don't understand why Teyla was so awkward in the scene with John and Ronon. Was she really that embarrassed about blowing off golf?
5. However—OMG,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
liviapenn! Teyla almost started talking about Athosian sexual beliefs and practices! So, so close! But hey, her hesitance is something to work with, at least. Teyla pr0n, coming right up! (Heh. Punny, eh?)
6. This should have been number 1: DRESS BLUES OMG. With hats absent; I am unsurprised.
7. Rodney? Also hot in his suit.
8. Elizabeth apparently was not kidding when she complimented John's beard in 'Epiphany.' I wish she and cute beardy scientist had better chemistry, but all things considered, I think she should be pleased he didn't die.
9. I can't believe they seriously went with the 'Lorne paints' thing. Kavan, you are adorable, but you look really silly holding a palette.
10. Zelenka wins at chess. I want a John/Radek chess-off NOW.
11. Dr. Biro = Dory the fish?
12. James Watson, the discoverer of the structure of DNA, works on Atlantis? And he's junior to Rodney? Harsh, man.
13. I didn't hate Katie Brown in this! I actually rather liked her—she showed a little more backbone (though she could hardly have shown less), and she seemed less like she has no idea what she's getting into with Rodney, as she did in 'Duet.' If she genuinely is willing to look past his admittedly many many faults and see the humor and the sweetness and the really really great shoulders, then more power to her! I really liked how they played the fern-sitting scene (and how much do I love fern-sitting? I have never been on a date that involved anything as awesome as fern-sitting!); I loved how it went back to Jeannie, and how Rodney was honestly concerned about his personality flaws, and marriage! (!!!) That was awkward, but believable, and if Rodney ever gets married and has kids, I think I will die of happiness.
...And yet at the same time I still want to ship McKay/Sheppard above anything else. SHUT UP THIS IS NOT CONTRADICTORY.
14. Guilt. Oh, man. That's the worst thing about this for me. Rodney's going to feel responsible and guilty forever, which is awful, because this is genuinely not his fault. It's like when I sometimes worry that the one time I'm too short with either of my parents on the phone and don't say "I love you" before I hang up will be the time when they get in a car accident and die before I can talk to them again. Ouch. Gero, you bastard.
15. I did like how the episode was structured. Going further back each time, then also pushing farther forward—nice. Though the last scene, unfortunately, didn't really work for me. I wish they'd framed it better: clearly showed that Rodney was dreaming or whatever. Because otherwise it just seems a little...weird. Faux? I dunno.
Anyway, I thought it was a well-done episode, although one that left me scratching my head on several points. One thing I'm curious about: does anyone know any Doylist, or production-related, reasons why they killed Carson? We're they (and I mean you, Gero!) just desperate to kill someone, and they (THANK GOD) answered my prayers and didn't whack Zelenka? And have I been hallucinating the rumors that Paul McGillion is going to be back a little next year? (And yeah, I know: Paul McGillion doesn't necessarily mean Carson, and of course what Rodney said in the dream sequence automatically made me think, "Alterna!Carson!")
In conclusion: "It's all Heightmeyer's doing"? AHAHAHAHAHA. She's totally EVOL!!! I knew it!
Okay, I knew it was going to happen. I try really hard to stay unspoiled, and actually in my experience people were pretty good this time. But you hear one innocuous thing, and you put it together with another innocuous thing...and you just know. Especially when it's telegraphed from the beginning that there's going to be some rather major fishing-related guilt going on.
As for Carson being, well, dead (I seemed to be heading toward euphemism earlier), I, like John, am not really feeling anything yet? (And did he really say what I think he said? "I'm looking forward to feeling something"? Jesus. Therapy, John. Therapy. <--By which I mean, I love you so much more when you are fucked up.) I mean, I feel bad, but not devastated—if, say, Zelenka had died? I would be incoherent right now. So, actually, I'm having an appropriate reaction to the death of a TV character. This is uncharacteristic of me! Either I am maturing as a person, or...well, I'll admit that Carson was never my favorite character. I liked him best when he was being comically frightened—my two favorite bits were "It could be lunch-related" and "I wish I weren't bloody here!" I never really got his friendship with Rodney, because it never seemed like much of a friendship to me. Carson always seemed so surprised when Rodney did something good! (Like his shock when Rodney was nice to the wounded Marine in 'Phantoms.' What was with that?) So, yeah, I'm feeling a bit blank on this right now. Don't hate me.
Aside from the BIG SHOCK there were a lot of little shocking things in this episode. Like:
1. John was MARRIED? MARRIED? See, I don't know what to make of this. Either it's true, and we're about to start seeing a lot of stories where John's wife left him because he was clearly gay (What? That was my first thought. You weren't very good at marriage BECAUSE YOU ARE GAY), or it's not true, and John is lying. I can see that, too. John is weird.
2. Speaking of: Joe, were you meaning to look hopeful when you asked Ronon if he'd been dating a man? Hopeful, and then disappointed? 'Cause that's how it came off. Just so you know.
3. Ronon, why're you pushing Teyla at John? I thought you had a crush on Teyla. Or on Elizabeth? Or is it Rodney now, you slut.
4. I didn't really get the Teyla/John thing in this episode. I get, and could even like, Teyla/John in general, but the combination of 1) Teyla's conversation at the beginning, 2) the scene where Teyla backs out of the golf game, and 3) Ronon and John's conversation didn't really make sense to me. I mean, we were supposed to think that Teyla was talking about John at the beginning there, weren't we? (Or not? Maybe it's Teyla's Marine from M&MM? Or maybe Rodney OH MY GOD PLEASE YES.) I don't really see how John could be oblivious about some sort of undercurrent of attraction between him and Teyla. I mean, there have been, among other things, that retrovirus induced kiss; with John/Rodney I can imagine obliviousness (because those denial blinders would be up like whoa) but with John/Teyla? I've tended to see it more like, "We obviously like each other, but John, dear, you gotta try to be a little less messed up first." But maybe that's just me.
So I also don't understand why Teyla was so awkward in the scene with John and Ronon. Was she really that embarrassed about blowing off golf?
5. However—OMG,
liviapenn! Teyla almost started talking about Athosian sexual beliefs and practices! So, so close! But hey, her hesitance is something to work with, at least. Teyla pr0n, coming right up! (Heh. Punny, eh?)6. This should have been number 1: DRESS BLUES OMG. With hats absent; I am unsurprised.
7. Rodney? Also hot in his suit.
8. Elizabeth apparently was not kidding when she complimented John's beard in 'Epiphany.' I wish she and cute beardy scientist had better chemistry, but all things considered, I think she should be pleased he didn't die.
9. I can't believe they seriously went with the 'Lorne paints' thing. Kavan, you are adorable, but you look really silly holding a palette.
10. Zelenka wins at chess. I want a John/Radek chess-off NOW.
11. Dr. Biro = Dory the fish?
12. James Watson, the discoverer of the structure of DNA, works on Atlantis? And he's junior to Rodney? Harsh, man.
13. I didn't hate Katie Brown in this! I actually rather liked her—she showed a little more backbone (though she could hardly have shown less), and she seemed less like she has no idea what she's getting into with Rodney, as she did in 'Duet.' If she genuinely is willing to look past his admittedly many many faults and see the humor and the sweetness and the really really great shoulders, then more power to her! I really liked how they played the fern-sitting scene (and how much do I love fern-sitting? I have never been on a date that involved anything as awesome as fern-sitting!); I loved how it went back to Jeannie, and how Rodney was honestly concerned about his personality flaws, and marriage! (!!!) That was awkward, but believable, and if Rodney ever gets married and has kids, I think I will die of happiness.
...And yet at the same time I still want to ship McKay/Sheppard above anything else. SHUT UP THIS IS NOT CONTRADICTORY.
14. Guilt. Oh, man. That's the worst thing about this for me. Rodney's going to feel responsible and guilty forever, which is awful, because this is genuinely not his fault. It's like when I sometimes worry that the one time I'm too short with either of my parents on the phone and don't say "I love you" before I hang up will be the time when they get in a car accident and die before I can talk to them again. Ouch. Gero, you bastard.
15. I did like how the episode was structured. Going further back each time, then also pushing farther forward—nice. Though the last scene, unfortunately, didn't really work for me. I wish they'd framed it better: clearly showed that Rodney was dreaming or whatever. Because otherwise it just seems a little...weird. Faux? I dunno.
Anyway, I thought it was a well-done episode, although one that left me scratching my head on several points. One thing I'm curious about: does anyone know any Doylist, or production-related, reasons why they killed Carson? We're they (and I mean you, Gero!) just desperate to kill someone, and they (THANK GOD) answered my prayers and didn't whack Zelenka? And have I been hallucinating the rumors that Paul McGillion is going to be back a little next year? (And yeah, I know: Paul McGillion doesn't necessarily mean Carson, and of course what Rodney said in the dream sequence automatically made me think, "Alterna!Carson!")
In conclusion: "It's all Heightmeyer's doing"? AHAHAHAHAHA. She's totally EVOL!!! I knew it!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-16 07:15 pm (UTC)Once I saw the entire ep, it came across to me as John is interested in Teyla. She doesn't reciprocate, but does regard him as a close friend and so feels awkward about backing out of spending time with him.
However, that doesn't jibe with the rest of canon where John seems to be attracted to her, but only in the sense of "wow, she's gorgeous."
While I like the deliberate ambiguity that lets us read whatever we want into things, the Teyla bit at the beginning was a little too coy. Personally, I think she was talking about Carson.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-16 07:22 pm (UTC)But yeah: as much as I like ambiguity, I don't like it to the point of confusion. Or the point where it makes people seem OOC. I could see a John/Teyla relationship developing, but the hints in this episode didn't relate to how I would see such a relationship at all. So was it about something else? I'm confused!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-16 07:25 pm (UTC)I'm confused!
You're not the only one.
Continuity is not their strength. OTOH, it leaves things wide open for us to play most of the time.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-16 07:38 pm (UTC)...
Date: 2007-01-16 07:58 pm (UTC)Re: ...
Date: 2007-01-16 08:14 pm (UTC)I was blinded by all the CARSON IS GAY signals I kept picking up, possibly, but that kinda comes out of nowhere for me. XD
Re: ...
Date: 2007-01-16 08:25 pm (UTC)Re: ...
Date: 2007-01-16 08:28 pm (UTC)Oh, alright. I admit I'm a sucker for anything involving Rodney. Like, at all.
Re: ...
Date: 2007-01-16 08:34 pm (UTC)I've been thinking I want to hold a Rodney hetficathon, but I'm worried my fellow slashers would shun me. *sad*
Re: ...
Date: 2007-01-16 08:41 pm (UTC)Green Wing actually surprised me because I was a full-blown supporter of the main het romantic pairing in that, see.
I personally would totally be in favour of a hetficathon, absolutely, but that's mostly because I will read anything with well-characterised Rodney, and the more of that there is available, the better, as far as I'm concerned.
Re: ...
Date: 2007-01-16 08:47 pm (UTC)Plus, the idea of Rodney/Teyla just delights me in some undefinable way.
Re: ...
Date: 2007-01-18 03:52 am (UTC)Here via the newsletter
Date: 2007-01-18 04:13 am (UTC)Re: ...
Date: 2007-01-19 04:26 pm (UTC)But I'm very pleased to hear you are interested! I may actually do it!
Re: ...
Date: 2007-01-17 08:26 pm (UTC)Except John never sees it coming.
But I really think it was Carson she was referring to too. I've felt Carson/Teyla vibes ever since Duet, and he, the big Mama's Boy, would be oblivious too.
Re: ...
Date: 2007-01-17 08:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-17 02:45 am (UTC)