SGA 3.20: First Strike

[trinityofone]

In order-ish:

1. Yay, Jewel Staite! I *heart* her. She really does have great comic timing. I hope they give her interesting things to do. I do wish they would let her be a little less made-up and more like a working doctor, especially since we all know she looks very hot covered in soot. HOWEVER. If this leads to an opportunity for someone—and by "someone," I mean "Rodney"—to call her Blonde Doctor...well, I will die of happiness! (Also, I intend to use that line in fic at the earliest opportunity.)

2. Rodney got a hot shirt of hotness to match his boyfriend's! They're already starting to dress alike. Freaky!

3. John "Naturally Lazy" Sheppard: of course he would fill out his evaluations that way. And Rodney would fret over his just the way he does. That was a brilliant little character moment.

"Do you want me to lie? Because I don't think leaders should lie, Elizabeth." <--John, you cheeky little brat! *heart*

4. CHUCK IS NAMED CHUCK! YAAAAAAAAAAAY!

I think from now on the opposite of being Jossed should be called being Chucked. Or being Martinized? *g*

5. Elizabeth: "I'm soary."
Trin: AGH! She did it AGAIN!

6. I hope they change the credits for S4. (And I'm sure they will.) Seeing Paul McGillion in them makes me sad. Every time I see him I think, "Poor dead Carson." I'm like a Disney character, in a way.

7. "Like poking a sleeping dragon" is my new favorite simile. Oh, Rodney.

8. How much do I love Rodney and Radek plotting sabotage together? SO much! PLEASE can we have the fic where Zelenka is a spy? Please?

9. That extended bomb dropping shot freaked me the fuck out. I tried to go to a funny Dr. Strangelove place but I couldn't quite get there. *angsts about the world*

10. They really should have dialed out the second they saw the satellite gate. Just sayin'.

11. I really thought the replicators were going to take out the Athosian settlement. Actually, I was upset that the Athosians weren't mentioned at all, especially when Atlantis takes off and LEAVES THEM THERE WITHOUT A GATE. Jesus Christ, people! I really hope 4.01 establishes they were all jumpered over to the city and just nobody mentioned it.

12. I was amused by Ellis' line about the history of Rodney's idea. Also, I would pay good money to read his autobiography.

13. "Yeah, I don't think that's your call." OMG RODNEY I LOVE YOU. That was awesome. Rodney clearly respects Elizabeth a great deal, and I think it was fucking terrific that he showed it. Man, I wish they'd explore their relationship more. Like in "The Eye"? The McKay/Weir dynamic could be really interesting! (Much more so than Sheppard/Weir, IMO, and that gets way more screentime.)

14. And may I say again how impressed I am that Rodney's able to do so much underwater stuff? You'd think what with 'Grace Under Pressure' and drowning in another timeline he'd be totally traumatized. Hell, I'm totally traumatized, and it didn't even happen to me! He's actually a pretty resilient dude. (And surprisingly patient, considering that so much of this episode—and many others—consisted of people barking questions at him and expecting him to know the answer right away. I mean, they expect him to fix EVERYTHING. INSTANTLY. I would have totally snapped already.)

15. Ronon wants to learn some science! Yes, please! Rodney, teach Ronon some science! Because how awesome would that be? Especially if Ronon gets really into it. (I want this fic right away, too.)

16. But what's the greatest thing in the history of all great things ever? John casting his team as the Fantastic Four. Because we play that game! We play that game all the time! The game of, "Who would they be if they did Star Wars? Zoolander? X-Men!" We play it constantly, and John does too, that fabulous, fantastic dork that he is. *overwhelming love*

I also love that Teyla decides to go super-literal. (Is she having him on? Who knows!) And that she calls him on why he gets to be Mr. Fantastic. Teyla wins. (She gets a real storyline next season, right?)

17. The line "You have done your best work under me" becomes a whole lot funnier in about ten seconds when...

John: Why don't you guys just make out and get it over with, huh?

!!!! x infinity

Okay, so first of all, I bet all the McKay/Zelenka people are exploding from glee. But second: jeeze, projecting much John? You're so transparent. In fact, what with this and asking Ronon if he was dating a guy in 'Sunday,' I bet John's even compiling a pamphlet: "101 Semi-Innocuous Questions You Can Ask Your Hot Male Friends to Discover if They're Gay." You know, John: you could just try kissing them. Also, remind me why you're in the United States military again?

In conclusion: I love John a lot, and I love my big gay show.

18. I also love that John and Rodney arrive at their idea together, and work it out in a series of sentences that's such a part of their own special language (which compliments their identical shirts? and possibly their secret handshake?) that even Radek can't keep up.

19. Lorne and his rambling "move the asteroid" instructions are very cute.

20. Ellis: "To be honest, I don't like you either."
Elizabeth: *suddenly wants to sleep with him*
Trin: No, Trin—now you're projecting.

21. Does the control chair really have to spin like that? It seems pointless and nausea-inducing.

22. Elizabeth, don't go stand by the window! Don't you know that with that and your earlier "I trust you with my life" comment, you're dooming yourself to doomy doom?

23. Rodney looks hot sort of randomly splattered with blood. Do you know what this means? RODNEY SHOULD FIGHT ZOMBIES. Hey, Siria! *g*

24. So...they're lost in space? Danger, John Sheppard, danger!

Anyway, I thought this was a really fun episode, with some FANTASTIC character moments, moments that fill me with GLEE. I know that their situation is perilous, but it's actually not the kind of perilous finale that makes me actively nervous. They'll get out of it somehow, those crazy kids.

But man, February to July or whenever is a LONG wait. *whimpers*

Comments

[siria]

Zombies indeed!

You do not want to know how much I squeaked, giggled and screamed (MAKE OUT, JOHN?) during the course of this episode. Oh, crazy space show. Never change. ♥

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

John is the worst fake heterosexual EVER. Have you seen this (http://community.livejournal.com/mckay_sheppard/1343244.html#cutid1)?

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

One line! One line was all that was needed in regards to the Athosians. "The Athosians have all been evacuated." There! Was that SO HARD?

Hmph. *is cranky*

I'm just waiting for the episode when John "accidentally" gets coated in glitter. Some of it gets stuck in his eyelashes. It's gonna happen, wait and see.

[trobadora]

I think from now on the opposite of being Jossed should be called being Chucked.

Hee! I'm totally going to use that. :-)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

*beams*

[in-interval.livejournal.com]

4. CHUCK IS NAMED CHUCK! YAAAAAAAAAAAY!

I shrieked when Elizabeth used his name. So so great!

And I'm totally there with you on the Rodney-love when he supports Elizabeth. Completely in character too - he's never a big fan of the incoming military. I wonder who is going to be in charge after the crisis is resolved. I assume Colonel Ellis was left behind?

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Ellis is presumably on the Apollo with Lorne. Maybe they'll rescue Atlantis? In some way I can't remotely figure out?

I think I do know who's going to end up in charge, but it's based on the one casting spoiler I know, so I'm not going to say it here.

I love when Rodney is supportive of Elizabeth, and I love when he questions the military. It's weird that Rodney should end up being the mission's moral voice, but he often is.

[summertea.livejournal.com]

Season 4 is a frighteningly long while away. D:

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I know! *hopes for lots of good fic*

[graycastle.livejournal.com]

I love this show SO MUCH. I especially love that, immediately after telling McKay and Zelenka to get a room, John turns to Rodney and immediately starts brain-making out with him. Jeez. I don't think this show could be any gayer.

Fantastic Four . . . we play that game!

yes! actually, when I saw the scene, my first thought was man, why didn't anyone in fandom already think of that? it's perfect! John gets an honourary fangirl certificate for that one.

Also, I want to squee with you over the McKay/Weird dynamic: hurrah for Rodney sticking up for the authority of people he respects! I was generally quite pleased with the Rodney in this episode, who is still bitchy and self-aggrandizing, but who clearly makes concessions for the people in his inner circle: he takes Zelenka's suggestion/opinion very seriously in the "should we sabotage the bomb?" scene, he defers to Elizabeth, he works with John to come up with a science-plan. I want to pat him on the head so much (along with the writers) because, look! McKay not only learns about himself in Very Special Episodes like The Tao of Rodney, he also doesn't forget about those things when it's no longer a Very Special Episode! We get to see confirming, consistent evidence of character growth! *swoon*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I don't think this show could be any gayer.

That's where you're wrong (http://community.livejournal.com/mckay_sheppard/1343244.html#cutid1). ;-)

John gets an honourary fangirl certificate for that one.

He totally does! One of us, one of us!

We get to see confirming, consistent evidence of character growth! *swoon*

Kind of? Yes? I mean, the continuity on this show has never been great, but I'm quite pleased, too. Also, Rodney is just SO CUTE. I know that's shallow and irrelevant, but...yeah, he makes it so my synapses stop firing. In a good way!

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

I thought the Athosians already moved? After/during Return?

And why didn't Rodney turn into a bug? What was that whole bug-scratch thing about, eh?

I cannot hear a Canadian accent, it just sounds normal to me. I think it's because of growing up in New England -- we even have Tim Horton's!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I thought the Athosians already moved? After/during Return?

Oh, man—I hope you're right. I thought for some reason that they'd moved back, or...I don't know what I thought. Phew.

I'm really glad Rodney didn't turn into a bug; I think that would have been too repetitive of 'Conversion.' And I think the circumstances of him getting scratched were totally different: John had had the Iratus bug sucking on his neck for a while, so. I think they just had Rodney get hurt because Rodney in peril is DRAMATIC!

I cannot hear a Canadian accent, it just sounds normal to me. I think it's because of growing up in New England

I grew up in New England, too. (Vermont.) But the Canadian accent sounds SO STRONG to me. Huh.

[not-sally.livejournal.com]

I think from now on the opposite of being Jossed should be called being Chucked. Or being Martinized? *g*
That has just become my new favourite phrase.

21. Does the control chair really have to spin like that? It seems pointless and nausea-inducing.
*dies laughing* I knew they wanted to go with the whole 'dramatic moment' thing, but... it just seemed silly. I sort of imagined John being childish and pushing the chair with his feet to make it spin, in order for it to be cooler.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

That has just become my new favourite phrase.

Yay! *does a little dance*

I sort of imagined John being childish and pushing the chair with his feet to make it spin, in order for it to be cooler.

Heh. Yes! And why was there a mirror there? Because John wants to look at himself in the mirror when he's playing with the control chair, that's why. He's FOUR.

[emrinalexander.livejournal.com]

"101 Semi-Innocuous Questions You Can Ask Your Hot Male Friends to Discover if They're Gay." You know, John: you could just try kissing them. Also, remind me why you're in the United States military again?

You should write that story, you neeed to write that story.

REALLY, you should write a story called "101 Semi-Innocuous Questions You Can Ask Your Hot Male Friends to Discover if They're Gay." I can see John typing away on his laptop, driving Rodney NUTS because he won't reveal what it is he's working on...

On a John/Rodney scale where 1 is the lowest McShep rating and 10 the highest, what would you give this episode?

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

REALLY, you should write a story called "101 Semi-Innocuous Questions You Can Ask Your Hot Male Friends to Discover if They're Gay."

Oh, God. I kind of should. *frets*

On a John/Rodney scale where 1 is the lowest McShep rating and 10 the highest, what would you give this episode?

Oh man, that's tough; I really suck at rating things. Is 10, like, the two of them actually making out on screen? Um. Maybe a 7?

What do you think?

[skylark-cee.livejournal.com]

RE: Athosians.

It's entirely possible that I missed something, but did Teyla or any other character ever mention that the Athosians were back on the mainland after Return 2? I assumed that they stayed on the planet where the ancients relocated them. I remember being sad that the writers were squadering another interesting, under utilized plot point.

Otherwise, yes! Next season is too far away *already*!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's what mecurtin said. Phew! Although it's probably not good that I just assume Our Guys are careless and stupid, huh?

[melagan.livejournal.com]

Because I have no resistance I had to peek and see your post even though I haven't seen the episode yet...and now I have all this Pre-Squee Love and no place to put it!

I love you for it even though it makes me even more of pathetic little fangirl.

*headdesk*

The icon is from this picture (http://community.livejournal.com/mckay_sheppard/1332409.html) I thought you'd appreciate it /g/

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Oh, man. John has SPIRIT FINGERS!

It's okay. We can be pathetic fangirls together. *g*

[miscellanny.livejournal.com]

Ha, I totally flailed in absolute glee at the Chuck thing, too. And I am so with you on the Athosians. They do this on way too many occasions, just don't think about things until there's a story based around it. The Pterry school of thought rather than the Gneil. XD

And now you have put Rodney getting into a bitchfight with Shaun (of 'of the dead' fame) and it's really making me unreasonably happy. Dammit.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Yes! Rodney and Shaun would totally flail at each other like the Angry Beavers. It would be awesome!

Rodney'd be a really weird participant in a zombie fight, though. Would he ever be able to get over the stupidity of it all? Who can say?

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I spend waaaaaay too much time wanting to scream at the screen, "OMG, shut up and let him THINK!"

Except for Radek, they really do expect him to fix everything. Jeeze, do they even ever let him sleep?

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I bet John's even compiling a pamphlet: "101 Semi-Innocuous Questions You Can Ask Your Hot Male Friends to Discover if They're Gay." You know, John: you could just try kissing them. Also, remind me why you're in the United States military again?

::giggles:: You're so fabulous.

Pretty much yes to everything you said, this ep fills me with glee and it was so much fun, in the way that Siege Part I was fun and filled with peril only with better character moments and matching shirt and superhero talk.

I am just filled with love for my geeky gay show.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Aww. *grins* *takes bow*

The character moments in this were so awesome! Plot, schmot—it was all about the little dorky interactions.

*is likewise filled with love*

[aurora]

Because how awesome would that be? Especially if Ronon gets really into it.
BEYOND AWESOME.

And a big word to everything. *hearts show*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

PLEASE, SOMEONE: WRITE RONON AS PROFESSOR SCIENCE!

*waits patiently*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I don't think it was ever actually mentioned on the show, but yeah, some other people have said they must be on that planet still. In which case I want to change my question: doesn't this concern Teyla at all? Or is she all, "Lantean now!"?

15: They certainly gave each other a Look. But I thought it was a "Those wacky earthlings" Look, more than a "Let's make out!" Look. Not that I object to the making out. *g*

Once the current crisis is over, you know John's gonna totally be like, "I flew a city. A CITY." He'll be utterly insufferable for weeks. ;-)

[untiemybinds.livejournal.com]

I don't know if someone's already said this, but didn't the Athosians move to another world during The Return Part 1? I don't even think they've been mentioned since then, so they must still be there. They must!

I kind of find it funny that everyone's mentioned Paul still being in the credits. They've never changed credits on Stargate this late into a season, I don't think. Obviously it hurts worse when the person's character died, but I don't really expect them to change credits when there's only three episodes left. Especially if there's a chance they'll have to change them again for season 4, as well.

And hey, at least they mentioned him in this episode. That's something!

[untiemybinds.livejournal.com]

Actually, what I'm wondering is if they left behind the people that were still on the drilling platform. Hopefully the Apollo can beam people up from underwater if they were.


Wait. Rodney did talk to people on the drilling platform right? I think I need to rewatch.

[raiining.livejournal.com]

I think from now on the opposite of being Jossed should be called being Chucked

:D

Rodney's autobiography would be hilarious and inventive, and since we know he *can* write long and in secret (Tao) he just might have a triple-saved copy banging around a laptop somewhere, huh?

Great review - thanks for posting!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Someone should really write Rodney's fake autobiography. Actually, I'm surprised excerpts from Rodney's Elizabeth bio haven't showed up in a fic yet. *looks about expectantly*

[ahab99.livejournal.com]

It's possible that the Athosians are still living on the other planet they were moved to....at some point in the past when Atlantis wasn't safe (I can't for the life of me remember which episode that was). I feel like we never heard for sure that they were moved back.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

It was 'Return 1 & 2,' and you're right, we never heard. I guess it's better to assume that they are safe there, although it's awful sloppy storytelling if they're just never going to MENTION them again.

Heh. Maybe they're visiting Sora?

[dogeared.livejournal.com]

hahahahahaha "101 Semi-Innocuous Questions You Can Ask Your Hot Male Friends to Discover if They're Gay." :D

[teaphile.livejournal.com]

Does the control chair really have to spin like that? It seems pointless and nausea-inducing.

My theory? That's Atlantis trying to deal with John's uncontrollable sexual energy. All that power has to go somewhere.

[wychwood]

Yeah, like everyone else said, I don't think the Athosians came back after the Return.

I bet John's even compiling a pamphlet: "101 Semi-Innocuous Questions You Can Ask Your Hot Male Friends to Discover if They're Gay." You know, John: you could just try kissing them. Also, remind me why you're in the United States military again?

*giggles*

I know! John has been all about the Gay these last few episodes. And not in a tacky way, either.

18. I also love that John and Rodney arrive at their idea together, and work it out in a series of sentences that's such a part of their own special language (which compliments their identical shirts? and possibly their secret handshake?) that even Radek can't keep up.

Yes! They're brainsharing more than Rodney and Radek, and how much did I love that?? :)

I see siriaeve already filled you in on the "Chuck" thing. Torri Higginson FTW! :)

[souliesoul.livejournal.com]

4. I feel like I must be the only person who managed to miss that. I also think that would be the best phrase for the situation :D

And surprisingly patient, considering that so much of this episode—and many others—consisted of people barking questions at him and expecting him to know the answer right away. I mean, they expect him to fix EVERYTHING. INSTANTLY. I would have totally snapped already. I would have snapped also, it's surprising Rodney didn't!

[tagore.livejournal.com]

5. Elizabeth: "I'm soary."

Hmm, maybe she's supposed to be from Wisconsin. They're all "aboat" that there.

[pollitt.livejournal.com]

Amen, sister. A. Men.

The make out line... that was spoken like a man who's in luuuuurve (and more than a little frustrated--Stupid Replicators and their Stupid laser beams--that *he* can't make out with McKay while they plan on saving the day)

I also love that John and Rodney arrive at their idea together, and work it out in a series of sentences that's such a part of their own special language (which compliments their identical shirts? and possibly their secret handshake?) that even Radek can't keep up.

But then they *do* come up with a plan and run off... to go make out.