SGA 3.19: Vengeance

[trinityofone]

Eeeeeeeee. Yes! Now that is a team episode! THAT is a team! Everyone was so awesome in this. Weren't they awesome? Yesh.

Now, I saw this last night when I was totally burnt out, so I'm probably going to completely forget much of what I wanted to say, but in brief:

1. Ronon and Rodney training together! Or really, Rodney training at all! That was a piece of fanon that I wanted to be true, but didn't think actually was. And it is! (Okay, really I had fantasies of him training with Teyla, but this makes that more plausible, I think.) Man, with this and 'The Game, a.k.a. John and Rodney really do hang out together ALL THE TIME' they're really all about the wish fulfillment this season, aren't they?

Also, I love the fact that Rodney is a yellow belt. When I took karate (shut. up.) that's as far as I got, too! WE'RE LIKE SOUL-BONDED AND STUFF.

2. I liked the continuity from 'Inferno,' but I'm sad there was no mention of Norina, the lady Rodney had a crush on and John...pretended to have a crush on. (Cockblocker!) Especially after everyone was revealed to be dead, I would have liked to at least have a word for her. Too much to expect, I know...

3. "I really hate those things" is getting to be almost a catch phrase for John. He said it, what, twice in this episode? I do think that Joe's flat delivery is very amusing on that.

4. Alien! Oh, man. That cracked me up. Especially because when John said, "Well, some of them survived" you know he was thinking, "I am TOTALLY Ripley." I bet you John had a huge crush on her and attempted to use this as evidence of his heterosexuality. *pets John* I'm also surprised John and Rodney haven't already discussed the Alien movies at length. You know they're just the type to have arguments over whether Alien or Aliens is better. (Rodney: Alien. John: Aliens. Although I think that secretly, they each prefer the other.)

5. Dude, Ronon got to make a speech! And it was a good speech! Man, I love him more and more all the time. I think, like Rachel Luttrell, Jason Momoa is doing a lot with very little. (The "Actually, I was going to say blow it up, but your plan's better" line—So. Much. Love!)

6. Possibly my favorite moment was when Rodney tells Ronon to aim at the belly, and it's smart, good advice, and Ronon listens, and Ronon saves Rodney's life. Teamwork! Bliss.

7. I also loved the little bits of conversation Rodney and Teyla were allowed to have. First, Rodney agreed with her plan! (Possibly just because he was scared, but it was the best plan at that time, so.) And then they discussed morality! Teyla complimented him! She also got to be sarcastic, and Rodney recognized it (eventually)! I am FULL OF YAY.

8. I do wish Teyla's conversation with Michael had been a little more illuminating...or really, that they'd acknowledge that there was some sort of something there, that their relationship was very different from Michael's with John or Michael's with Carson or Michael's with whoever. However, I like that they're finally really acknowledging how fucked up the whole retrovirus thing was. And yet...I think they wussed out a little bit. At first, I thought Michael had actually turned Norina's people into those bug creatures, and that is genuinely terrifying to me. It's also closer to being equivalent to what the Lanteans did to Michael and the other Wraith. In comparison, Michael's plan of killing people and using their DNA to genetically modify Iratus bugs seems kind of tame.

9. The show down between John and Michael...dude, was John supposed to be the scarier one in that match up? Yikes. He seemed seriously imbalanced/psychotic/like a Replicant. And yet he's also the guy making the dorky Alien references. I LOVE that. I mean, it's kind of disturbing in that I don't think TPTB have any idea of the mixed messages they're sending, but for us, for giving us the opportunity to spin the text however we want, it's awesome.

[shallow]

10. John's hot shirt of hotness returns! Yay!

11. I liked Teyla's black top. Her people look well!

12. Rodney continues to look hotter and hotter with each passing episode. How is that even possible? But just...the line of his jaw, his skin tone in this... Yow.

[/shallow]

13. I don't really have anything to say about the Elizabeth parts, except this: Torri, you seem like you'd be a lovely person to go shopping with, so please don't take this the wrong way. You are playing an American. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as an American accent—yes, even if you're not from the South! And when you say "sorry" in such an incredibly, distinctly Canadian way, you are not doing an American accent. You are doing a Canadian accent. And unless Elizabeth has been spending way more time with Rodney than we thought (Hmm. Is this evidence of a secret McKay/Weir affair?), there is no way that she would say "sorry" like that. I know it's a little thing. But, well...it's a little thing. One word. Please get it right.

14. Poor Chuck!Tech. He finally gets to deliver a good batch of lines, and it's all lies. Lies, I tell you!

But never mind all that. My real point remains: I love my team. And they were such a good team in this. I am filled with OT4 love. Only not in that way. (Although maybe I could be persuaded.)

ETA: And how could I forget? Rodney's line about not knowing how the Wraith breed! John's "eww" reaction! I take this to be CONCRETE PROOF that everything I posed in 'Missionary Position' was 100% CORRECT! *nodnodnod*

Comments

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

YAY YAY! Word to everything you said-this would be my review of the ep EXACTLY. Though seriously, I was bowled over by Ronon-love this ep; I was yelling at Merry that, okay, giving EVERYTHING up and JOINING THE CULT OF RONON just BECAUSE.

RONON is SO AWESOME.

But yeah, after that--just--TEAM! Rodney was totally kick-ass, and really right up there with John most of the time. Wonderfully balanced all around. If I have one complaint, it's that Teyla was sort of made to be the damsel in distress, and I kept telling myself that they had Michael snatch her because of the complexities of their previous relationship but...(yeah, I don't really believe it. I think they snatched the girl so that the three boys would go nuts.)

But hey! She had lines and stuff! So, um, take what we can get, eh? and the three boys looking for her all deperate WARMED my TEAMSHIPPY HEART.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

If I have one complaint, it's that Teyla was sort of made to be the damsel in distress, and I kept telling myself that they had Michael snatch her because of the complexities of their previous relationship but...(yeah, I don't really believe it. I think they snatched the girl so that the three boys would go nuts.)

I had the exact same conversation with myself! I said, "Self, it only makes sense that Michael capture Teyla, they had the deepest connection. It has nothing to do with nice her people look when she's all laid out and tied to a table."

Although really, they should all get to take turns being captured. And they kind of do? The only problem is the way they get out of it tends to be different. Like, John will always escape, but the others (especially Teyla and Rodney, which in the former case REALLY doesn't make sense) will need to be rescued...

But whatever. Team!love makes up for everything. And the Cult of Ronon! *joins too*

[newkidfan.livejournal.com]

The team was indeed excellent in this episode. So many perfect moments. We've been very spoiled this season.

I can't wait for the season finale.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

We have! And I'm so glad, because I thought S3 got off to a rather shaky start, but it has improved into a whole new realm of AWESOME.

I'm nervous about the finale. Some bad shit is coming down, I'm afeared.

[mirabile-dictu.livejournal.com]

Oh, we are in complete agreement! I loved the entire episode, from start (the close-up of Ronon's face! and he was training Rodney!) to the end -- which in the download I saw was a bit mystifying. Was it only my download, or did Elizabeth look up at something/someone unknown, and then it all faded to black? Maybe she was just checking out John's hot shirt of hotness, which I certainly did.

*happy sigh*

Good stuff. Bless Carl Binder, even if he did make Teyla the damsel in distress, because the creepiness of that bug on her beautiful, beautiful breasts -- brrrrrrrrrrrr. I was clutching at my own bosom in sympathy.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I'll have to watch the end again. I didn't see that she was looking off at anyone in particular (or at John's shirt of hotness, although I can see why she would); I think I just thought she was looking contemplative and deep, in a sort of smell-the-fart kind of way.

Yeah, the crawling over the boobs skeeved me. That's a sensitive area! Leave Teyla's people alone!

[ahab99.livejournal.com]

13. I don't really have anything to say about the Elizabeth parts, except this: Torri, you seem like you'd be a lovely person to go shopping with, so please don't take this the wrong way. You are playing an American. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as an American accent—yes, even if you're not from the South! And when you say "sorry" in such an incredibly , distinctly Canadian way, you are not doing an American accent. You are doing a Canadian accent. And unless Elizabeth has been spending way more time with Rodney than we thought (Hmm. Is this evidence of a secret McKay/Weir affair?), there is no way that she would say "sorry" like that. I know it's a little thing. But, well...it's a little thing. One word. Please get it right.

Hahaha! I had the exact same thought: "Man was that a Canadian sorry." But it made me giggle, actually, so I kind of forgave her.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

It is funny, but like someone else said below, I can't believe no one was willing—or sufficiently aware of it—to ask her to say it again. I mean, they've made jokes about the Canadian "sorry" on the show! Amanda Tapping faked a sufficiently American one! C'mon, guys!

[fairestcat]

Yay team!!! I'm kind of torn on the episode, but I loved loved LOVED how very Team-centric it was. Especially the Rodney/Teyla bit and Ronon's losing his temper at John.

Speaking of Rodney/Teyla. lovelokest and I are looking for a couple people to brainstorm logistics type stuff with re: the Rodney/Teyla Thing-a-Thon. You going to be around any evening this week/weekend and interested in helping us decide what exactly we're doing here *g*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes-yes-yes! I would love to be a part of that. Tell me when you wanna chat, and I'll try to make myself available. (I have some nasty dental stuff to do on Saturday, and of course work until 6 p.m. PST during the week, but other than that...)

[lallybroch.livejournal.com]

You are playing an American. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as an American accent—yes, even if you're not from the South! And when you say "sorry" in such an incredibly , distinctly Canadian way, you are not doing an American accent. You are doing a Canadian accent.

This is why we must pretend that Elizabeth is from International Falls, Minnesota! TAKE MY FANON. TAKE IT! *g*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Heh. Okay! *takes it and runs*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I thought he was going to scoop up Michael, too, but by mistake. Though you're right—it would have made some tactical sense, even though it could have led to a messy situation on the other end.

John's getting to be quite the Wraith dart expert! *ruffles his hair*

[miscellanny.livejournal.com]

If John is Ripley, does Rodney get to be the cat?

I'm feelin' deep this evening, obviously. Thoughtcrimes is possibly numbing my mind. :D

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Or maybe Rodney's Michael Biehn? *brain breaks*

Actually, if Rodney's anybody in Aliens, it's probably Private Hudson. "We're all going to die, aren't we? Oh, man." Except somehow he survives, which I'm all for, because I love Private Hudson. And Vasquez! Okay, I not-so-secretly I love Aliens a lot.

[raiining.livejournal.com]

you know he was thinking, "I am TOTALLY Ripley." I bet you John had a huge crush on her and attempted to use this as evidence of his heterosexuality. *pets John*

hehehehe. So.True.

I love point 6 about Ronon saving Rodney after he makes the 'belly' suggestion and Ronon listens to him: it was the big strawberry on the team love chocolate ice cream for this ep. Loved it!

About the 'sorry' comment ... I'm going to have to go back and hear that again: how do American's say 'Sorry'? How can it be that different? Is it ... more nasal, or something? (I don't even have any american cousins I can call, lol. the fact that I thought about it is scary enough, though ;-)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Um. The best approximation of the difference between how Canadians say "sorry" and how Americans say it is Canadians say "soary" and Americans say "sawry." Thought that's probably poorly depicted; I'm not a linguist. Now I want to do something ridiculous like make recordings of myself saying "sorry." (I have a fairly typical American coastal accent, with a bit of California in it, as I am, well, Californian. I say "Dude" a lot. *blush*)

That totally was the strawberry, and a luscious one at that!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_divya_/]

Drive-by comment from friendsfriends just to say YES about Elizabeth's accent. Between that "sorry" and the way she says "been" ("bean" omgwtf? say "bin," Torri), I flail a little.

But yes, teamlove omg. ♥

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

It shouldn't bug me, because I know American actors massacre more accents than probably the rest of the world combined. BUT IT DOES.

And the rest of the time, it amuses me. *g*

[aurora]

TEAM LOVE! It was such a team-y ep. *adores Binder*

I'm pretty much gonna add a bit WORD to everything; especially the Norina thing. Was it so hard to write in one line about her.

Also, I am deeply ashamed to admit that I've never seen Alien and its sequels. *hides*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Was it so hard to write in one line about her.

Everybody now: "I GUESS THAT'S WHAT FANFIC IS FOR!"

You should really see the first two Alien movies. They're both awesome, in different ways. (The ones after that suck though.)

[graycastle.livejournal.com]

I also loved the little bits of conversation Rodney and Teyla were allowed to have. First, Rodney agreed with her plan! (Possibly just because he was scared, but it was the best plan at that time, so.) And then they discussed morality! Teyla complimented him! She also got to be sarcastic, and Rodney recognized it (eventually)! I am FULL OF YAY.

yes! me too! man, I am so pro Rodney/ANYONE EVER, but the gentlemanly-rodney way that he called Teyla "my dear"? awwww! I love it when those two have screen time and it's not wasted.

which, and I am probably not getting over this anytime soon, is nicely paralleled by the bitchy-rodney way he called John "butch." BUTCH. like. for serious. especially because, as is painfully obvious, John is a big nelly queer who isn't even butch when wearing combat boots and shooting things. not getting over it!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Er...I thought he meant Butch as in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. 'Cause there's a line in that movie that's something like, "Think ya used enough dynamite there, Butch?" THOUGH I LIKED YOUR READING ALSO!

I think Rodney/ANYONE EVER is also my OTP.

[volari.livejournal.com]

The show down between John and Michael...dude, was John supposed to be the scarier one in that match up?

Yes!! I felt that exact way. And yes to everything else you mentioned! I love this episode so much.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

John Sheppard: Not, actually, someone you'd want to meet in a dark alley. But in a neat way!

[anatsuno.livejournal.com]

I did wonder if they were going to make the Aliens reference, and yes, good - because them NOT making it would have been implausible for me (one of my favorite John bits ever is whern he pilots the dart in Lost Boys and the autopilot engages and he worriedly nervously goes "Artoo, I need you to disengage the autopilot" ... "worth a try" *sigh*).

About "I really hate those things", I believe the first time is a direct reference to Indiana Jones and - um, that would be the third one, with his Dad - when Indy finds a roomfull of Nazis and goes, flat-ly "Nazis. I really hate those guys." And, now that I thought of it, in general, I am starting to see more and mroe how Flan's delivery often makes my subconscious blink and think of Harrison Ford's... Interesting.

Other than that, you said all I wanted to. God, is Rodney sexy and competent and all. And. I started craving your OT4 work at about, oh, minute three? Go team, got OT4!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

About "I really hate those things", I believe the first time is a direct reference to Indiana Jones and - um, that would be the third one, with his Dad - when Indy finds a roomfull of Nazis and goes, flat-ly "Nazis. I really hate those guys." And, now that I thought of it, in general, I am starting to see more and mroe how Flan's delivery often makes my subconscious blink and think of Harrison Ford's... Interesting.

OMG, you are so right! About all of it! I knew that flat, drawly reading was pinging me for some reason. You're a GENIUS.

And you know Harrison Ford's a hero of Joe Flanigan's, so it's totally, totally inentional. *heart*

Man, this was one of the most glorious pop culture filled eps ever.

[mymatedave.livejournal.com]

Just saw the episode, and one of my favourite bits was after they find the gate crystal missing and decide to go back to get the marines, the grin on Ronon's face is so huge. He's almost bouncing with the thought of "ooh, I get to kill things. Yay!" It's on screen for about 2 secs but I liked it.

But one bad thing, no Radek, not even a cameo. I want my muttering Czech.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I do wish they'd make Zelenka a regular. But really, as long as they use him as much as possible and DON'T KILL HIM, I'm happy.

I must look for Ronon's happy-deadly-puppy expression when I rewatch.

[aphelant.livejournal.com]

I also loved the little bits of conversation Rodney and Teyla were allowed to have.

YOU NOTICED THAT HE CALLED HER 'DEAR', RIGHT? I DIED A LITTLE, INSIDE. *squishes them together, hopes for babies*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

RODNEY/TEYLA BABIES WOULD BE THE CUTEST, SMARTEST, MOST KICKASS BABIES EVER!

[teaphile.livejournal.com]

13. Hee! Yes. What's even funnier, though, is in McKay and Mrs Miller, when Sam pokes fun at their Canadian pronunciation, AT says "sorry" in exactly the same Canadian way. And it's not meant to be mocking.

[mangst.livejournal.com]

The show down between John and Michael...dude, was John supposed to be the scarier one in that match up?

Well if what Teyla and Rodney were hypothesizing is true, and Michael is a scientist, (not that scientists can't be scary) he may not be as gifted as John is at being physically intimidating. (and John did come off kind of psycho, because I was almost rooting for Michael there).

All in all I loved this episode (Karate Rodney!) I only have one beef. Would it have killed them to mention Carson's name when discussing his experiment. I wasn't looking for a soliloquy about him, but to not even mention his name seemed weird to me.

[merryish.livejournal.com]

I am with you about a hundred gazillion percent. (and did you see the BUG in the CANISTER!? HEE!) My first viewing I fell in love, and screeched about Alien, and Aliens, and John and Rodney; my second viewing (when Ces made me stay up until 2 am to watch it with her, grar!) I was able to catch all the subtle references that went with the huge shout-outs.

LOVE!

I don't know what I loved best, really; the fact that it was a total, acknowledged Aliens rip-off, or that it was simultaneously a rip-off of Jon Coulton's Skullcrusher Mountain. =)

[wychwood]

Chuck!Tech said "aboot"! I thought that was a vicious lie about Canadians, but he did!

Otherwise, my love for this episode cannot be textually rendered. TEAMLOVE. ♥