trinityofone

Well. It was really too much to expect continuity from last week, wasn't it? *sigh*

Aaaaanyway: this was all right. Again, like 'The Ark,' it felt filler-y, but I liked it better than 'The Ark.' The plot was less predictable and Teyla genuinely had something to do besides spout a boring speech. (And now I'm going to do numbers again because it means I don't have to think coherently.)

1. I like the combination of Teyla's vulnerability and strength in this episode—the contrast between how frightened and upset she was in the first moment she comes back to herself after being possessed, and then later, once she regains composure. I think it's clear that Teyla is really, really hard on herself, harder than she likes to let people know. It takes effort for her to be as calm as she usually is. Self-control. One of my favorite Teyla moments is in 'The Gift,' when she finally loses it and elbows Bates in the face. [Er, that was 'The Gift,' right?] I think there is a lot of suppressed violence and anger in Teyla, and that she genuinely has it under control. Most of the time.

(Oddly, it was thinking a lot about Puddlejumpers' Teyla that really made me realize this. I really want to finish the 'Jumpers story I've been working on that's from Teyla's POV!)

2. "I should have listened to Teyla." Yes, Rodney, you should have! Please learn that lesson for reals. Or do something that'll convince me I can write Rodney/Teyla that's plausible.

3. The ~~red~~blueshirts. First, let me say that while I do blame Rodney for not listening to Teyla, I have total sympathy for him getting people's names wrong. I am awful with names, so for most of that I was going, "Dude, I feel your pain." (Seriously, we hired a new events coordinator recently, and I spent something like three weeks occasionally drawing my other co-workers aside and saying, "So, is her name Brittany?" Co-workers: "NO." Apparently, it's Whitney. Ooops?) I also thought the Dick Grayson thing was really funny. Rodney, you are such a cute dork. HOWEVER...I really wish they'd done something more interesting with Graydon. I was interested in his "my boss can't remember my name and he may have hired me by mistake when he meant to hire somebody else" angst. That was interesting angst! But instead he's all dead now. Damn.

4. John? Your rambling about The Abyss? JUST as dorky as Rodney talking about Batman all the time. *heart*

5. Radek looked very scruffy and cute in this episode.

6. Hotness prize does have to go to John for this one, though: it is way, way too hot to get to watch him go down on his knees like that for the Wraith queen. I just...damn. I mean, I think it's partially the kneeling in general, but also just something about John/Joe's face...like this is the repression cracking? Like he secretly wants it?

Yeah, I need help.

7. Luckily, the underwater pressure suits were like a cold shower. Dumbest looking things ever.

8. I wanted to say something interesting about Elizabeth, but...erm. Because of the way they structured this, with the same "we's foolin'!" trick as "Return Pt. 2," I can't even be sure of how much of what she was saying to Teyla was general supportive/cautionary talk, and how much was act. (I mean, what she said in the quarters was obviously real, just not very interesting.) Um. Well, at one part I thought they were going to a very femslashy place with Elizabeth tucking a strand of hair behind Teyla's ear, but actually I think it was just Teyla's arm at a weird angle. Oh well.

9. Is it wrong that I really don't think any of them are clever enough to pull of these kinds of tricks? I mean, I think Rodney's smart enough, but not necessarily good enough at trickery and subterfuge. (Unless,

_inbetween_, he really is a superspy...) It's not that I want to think they're dumb—I don't! I like it when they're clever!—but if they can come up with these cool plans, why are they also often so stupid? Seriously. I'm looking at you, 'Coup d'Etat.'

10. Asian scientist who isn't Miko! You have a name! Hi, Dr. Coleman! Stick close to Radek and try not to die!

11. So we have proof once again that Teyla can totally kick Ronon's ass. He has bad luck with possessed teammates, doesn't he? You'd think there'd be some serious trust issues there by now, especially with the damage to his vulnerable bits. Also I'm trying to figure out exactly what was his reaction when possessed!Teyla your-friendship-is-very-important-to-me'd him and touched his shoulder. Does he have a thing for her or not? I used to think so, but with this and 'Sunday,' I'm starting to think not. Oh, Ronon—what is going on in that head of yours?

And...yeah. That's about all that's in my head about this ep. I think, if I'm feeling a bit 'eh,' it's because I really, REALLY wanted some fallout from 'Sunday,' and we're just not getting it. *grumble*

And now I have to get ready to interview the president of Cartier. Yikes!