The mind is its own place...

[trinityofone]

...and in itself / Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. --John Milton, Paradise Lost*



Okay, first let me just say: I am GLEE. (TM princess_bunny.) I loved this episode so much. But then, I love Rodney, so. More episodes that are ALL ABOUT HIM? Bring 'em on!

Second, allow me to be arrogant for a moment: I totally called it. I mean, my first fic in this fandom was called Control, and even if there weren't a bagillion other things to love about this ep, I would love it for confirming that I have been reading--and thus writing--Rodney correctly all this time. Baby's all about control--having it, keeping it, needing it. (And so's John, but that's a separate issue.)

Third, I want to try to talk seriously about Rodney's issues, which were on glorious, messy display here. One major realization that I came to seems kind of obvious in retrospect (hindsight’s 20/20, right?): that same voice that Rodney uses to berate his underlings, that voice that screams at them for being idiots, worthless, incompetent--that's the voice that Rodney hears in his own head all the time. Subconsciously (heh) I think I already knew this, but it was shocking to see it so plainly: when he's yelling, "You IDIOT!" at himself; when he's saying, "Can we at least do that, please?" to his inanimate friend, but to himself, too--he's turning his own familiar invective inward, and it's pretty clear that this is always his mental sountrack; we're only just now getting to see and hear it because of his head wound. Rodney is definitely his own best publicity agent, but he's also his own worst critic, and there must be a constant war going on between those two perspectives in that beautiful brain of his. And I think that, besides making it so that DH didn't have to talk to himself for the whole episode, the device of McKay subconsciously splitting himself off into Rodney-Rodney and Sam-Rodney was a really effective way of illustrating this. Rodney is probably constantly engaged in a dozen different arguments--with himself, within his own mind. Part of that, I think, is just the price of being a genius; part of it is something else.

I think that Rodney is secretly an optimist. We saw lots of examples of this in this episode: that he wanted to believe he was actually back in the infirmary, that he wanted to hold onto the idea that hitting the ground was a good thing, even that he didn't think to do what Griffin did--issues of bravery aside, he still thought that he could save both of them. But despite this secret, buried optimism, Rodney is also really, really smart--he comprehends exactly how screwed they are, all the time. This would make looking on the bright side difficult, to say the least. Further, I think he's someone who's had what little rays of optimism he's shown beaten down pretty firmly in the past. Sam is again a good example of this: he sees, quite clearly, how he could win her, how they could work ("We make a good team, you and I"), but--smart boy--he also sees all the flaws in himself that would ruin it, tear it apart, destroy it before it could even take place. (And, if one wanted to get super psycho-analytical about it, destroy it in order that it can never take place, because the relationship that never quite happened is perfect in a way that one that did and failed is not.)

It's interesting to note that Rodney tells hallucination!Sam, "You think what my subconscious tells you to think" right after she lists off his triumvirate of flaws--"you're petty, arrogant, and you treat people badly"--and even rejects his suggestion that "you do find me attractive--physically" with "Let's stick to working on my idea." It seems ridiculous to suggest that Rodney McKay has low self-esteem, but again I think it's a case of him being the man with two brains: one side shouting "You rock!" while the other tries to scream "You suck!" at an even louder pitch. Or: Rodney thinks he's fan-fucking-tastic, right up until the moment that he doesn't. You can see this written all over his face, in the way his eyes and chin and mouth rapidly make the transition from hard, narrow arrogance to wide, open vulnerability. (I just have to pause here and say: I love you, David Hewlett.) Rodney wears his heart on his sleeve, and I think that's part of the reason he's as loud and as pushy and as BIG as he is: because that's his only defense--distraction.

There are a lot of cool parallels between this episode and 'Epiphany,' although in general this was a far stronger hour of television. (Note to Stargate writers: tight little plots that are just about the characters and a little about the technology--good. Rambly ridiculousness with aliens with terrible fashion sense and stupid Ascension shit--bad.) But it's interesting to see how Rodney and John react to having their support structures ripped away. John assumes that he's been abandoned; Rodney, that it doesn't matter, because no one will be able to help him anyway. These are both trust issues, but of a different sort; and I can't help but think that Rodney's at least embrace a realistic concern. Just supports my theory that John is secretly even more fucked up that Rodney is. *eg*

Another thing I noticed: When John yells at himself in the third person, he calls himself John. Rodney, on the other hand, calls himself McKay. No idea what this means, but, uh, I noticed it.

ANYWAY...this was such a rich episode, and Rodney's such a complex character, that I could go on forever, but I want to save some of it for the slew of post-ep fics that I really hope are coming. So, just two more things about Rodney. First, his comment to Sam: "You're wiser." I like that, I can see that, just as I understood and felt what he meant when he told her she had art. Rodney's far from perfect, and I'm sure that weighs on him terribly, the long catalogue of his mistakes, every entry known in detail. But, but: he's still learning. Sam's had a lot more practice, saving the world, being strong and right and brave, and as hard as it is, Rodney needs to give himself a chance to catch up. Wisdom comes with time. He's made remarkable progress in a year and a half, and he'll make more. I'm sure he'll screw up more, too, because with Rodney--as with all people--learning's a bit of a two-steps-forward, one-step-back kinda deal. But he will learn. And unlike Sam, he's got a cute boyfriend to help him.

Second, Rodney's comment about Griffin: "He was a brave man...and I..." Oh God, that just broke my heart. Because Rodney is brave--he's The Bravest Coward in the 'Verse (and yes, I would like an icon that says that *eg*). And his is an incredible kind of bravery, because it's not flashy, it just gets things done. It's utilitarian bravery: like in 'Aurora,' when Teyla says, "Are you sure you want to do this?" (meaning go in after John), and Rodney says, "I really, really don't." And then he does. Just like that.

Unfortunately, as much as I want Rodney to realize that he has courage, I think his particular brand of it depends on him being mostly unaware of its existence, of leaving it to Subconscious!Sam. If he knew, he'd overthink it, just like everything else. And as someone who is all about the brain, he can't ever really aspire to Griffin's (John's) kind of courage, which depends on not thinking, on just doing. And maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I love that bit of naming: Brave, heroic, but poorly thought out act = Griffin = Gryffindor. *g* (And don't even get me started on my theory that John is a secret Slytherin and Rodney the world's most reluctant Gryffindor, because then we'd be here all night. But, uh, yeah. It's true.)

A few small notes on other characters:

•John. Oh, how I loved you in this. You were so SMART. You came up with so many ideas, you implemented them with grace, you said "ain't" in a way that was very cute and reminded me that we need more Firefly crossovers. You showed that you're an optimist, too, but in a really aggressive, fucked up way. I loved that growled, "They MADE IT," as if just by saying it, John could make it real. It reminded me of his assurances at the end of 'The Hive' that Ford is a tough kid whom they very well may run into again. I mean, since this is a sci-fi show, they really might run into Ford again, but to me that just pulsed with a sort of wonderful, fierce denial--the same kind of thing that made John go against orders to go back for those men in Afghanistan. Ooh, John, you are such an interesting puzzle; I will keep trying to put you together even though so many pieces are blank.

I also really loved the three-way scene (almost left out the word 'scene' there...) between Elizabeth, John, and Zelenka. The one with this bit of dialogue:

ELIZABETH: I'm not going to order you to go--
JOHN: I will!
ELIZABETH: ...All I'm saying is that if Rodney can't turn to you, who can he turn to?

This is fantastic because a) Elizabeth gets to be a capable, effective leader for once, and b) John's willing to cross any and all lines to get Radek to help rescue his (John's--or their, I guess *eg*) boyfriend! And also, of course, because Zelenka gets to prove that he's also in the running for Top Five Bravest Cowards in the 'Verse (Beckett and a few others are also making a good showing, although not in this ep [really not in this ep!]). I love that the final idea with the shield was Radek's (because pretty much all of the others were--wow--John's), and that Radek went into the downed jumper to get Rodney when he could have just as easily stayed behind where it was relatively more protected. Little things like that really count, so props, Gero.

Finally, my post-ep fic wish list:

1. Obviously, the story where John comforts a shaken Rodney. I can count on lamardeuse to give us a terrific established relationship story as part of her "Getting to Know You" 'verse, so how 'bout some first time fics, guys? Bonus points for ones where Rodney echoes his line to Sam: "I can't tell what's real and what's not."

2. A really good Rodney/Radek friendship piece. When Rodney was in the belly of the whale (metaphorically, thankfully, though it was touch-and-go for a few minutes there) he was clearly pretty pissed at his 2IC, and Radek did mess up, though he worked really hard to make it right again. I'd love to see them talk about it--or better yet, talk around it. Throw some Weir/Zelenka in there, and I will LOVE YOU FOREVER.

3. Some Rodney & Sam stories, friendship or shippy. I really loved agentotter's recent fics (if you haven't already, GO READ: this one is Sam/Rodney in Antarctica, and - ex gratia - done as a favor - is Sam/Rodney/John--mmmyes), and would love more along those lines. Or just some sort of "Back at the SGC for a debriefing/before leave, Sam and Rodney have a brief and awkward conversation in which they flirt and insult each other, but Sam also manages to say something that makes Rodney feel a bit better about himself, and maybe gives him enough courage to go proposition John" kind of thing. Except, y'know, not sucky.

And speaking of fic:

I posted a new story for sga_flashfic's Shark Challenge: The U.S.S. Indianapolis, McKay/Sheppard, experimental style, lots of Jaws references. And Rodney with issues--gotta love that. ;-)

*I love the juxtaposition of pretentious quotes and episode squee. And while we're quoting, here's another I really love (and almost used): "With curious art the brain, too finely wrought / Preys on herself, and is destroyed by thought." --Charles Churchill, Epistle to William Hogarth

Comments

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Heh, I just went and checked my e-mail, and there was this comment and your two e-mails. I'd been otherwise involved (with important pursuits like writing episode commentary, apparently) but I'm gonna nuke myself something and beta it pronto. Yays!

(BTW, can you tell me--are my icons showing up normally? They're all freaky on my computer...)

[coreopsis.livejournal.com]

Rodney wears his heart on his sleeve, and I think that's part of the reason he's as loud and as pushy and as BIG as he is: because that's his only defense--distraction.
Oh yes, yes. Also, the bit about Rodney's control issues--get out of my braaaaain. (well, I didn't say it about this episode because I got it out of my system with Duet, but still true.) And also the bit about how Rodney is the bravest coward in the 'verse but it only works because he doesn't know he's brave.

So yeah, basically I'm just here to nod along and say "word!" a lot. *g*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

the bit about Rodney's control issues--get out of my braaaaain. (well, I didn't say it about this episode because I got it out of my system with Duet, but still true.

Yeah, 'Duet' was what made me twig to that in the first place, but I wasn't, y'know, "in fandom then." (Was lurkin'. *eg*) 'Trinity' made me even more convinced and inspired the fic, and this episode? This one basically had me dancing around my room doing the dance of, "So right. So very very right!" It was rather Elliott-from-Scrubs-esque, minus the stethoscope. ;-)

Rodney is the bravest coward in the 'verse but it only works because he doesn't know he's brave.

I was about to say that Rodney's bravery = Schrodinger's cat, but I realize that that doesn't actually make sense. But something like that, yes. It's very profound. ;-)

So yeah, basically I'm just here to nod along and say "word!" a lot. *g*

This is becoming our Tuesday tradition: write long posts, exhaust all our deep thoughts, go comment on the other person's post with "word!" I think it works for us. *g*

[inthekeyofd.livejournal.com]

I've always thought that part of the way that Rodney treats others is because of his own insecurities, he lashes out first so they don't get the chance to lash out at him. You know the old, make the first move before anyone else does.

David really was fantastic in this episode, but then again, should we really be surprised by that?*smile*

And I have to say again (i've mentioned this today already) that I loved that John had the ideas, that he really showed off his techinical skills not just his tactical ones.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I've always thought that part of the way that Rodney treats others is because of his own insecurities, he lashes out first so they don't get the chance to lash out at him

Yeah, that's a good point: if he starts in loud and long enough, nobody else'll be able to get a word in edgewise. It also gives them something--a very specific something--to bitch about behind his back. They'll blast him for arrogance and rudeness, and not any of the faults--lack of art, lack of wisdom--that he truly cares about.

And I'm still at the point where I can be surprised and overjoyed every time at how good DH is. It's wonderful.

As for John: yes yes yes. He's clearly so smart--out-thinking even Radek for a lot of this episode, which surprised me. So you know what this means: Rodney's brain + John's brain = OTP. *vbeg*

[shetiger.livejournal.com]

Word.


Sorry, just finished watching, and reading your thoughts just prolonged the happy, happy goodness that much longer.

I'm sort of amazed that they have such rich, deep characterization going on here. This ep really reminds me why I have so much love for this show.

*happy sigh*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I've already watched it twice. I may watch it a third time before I go to bed. (Yes, I have no life. But it's gap week and I have no exams! And other pathetic excuses.) There is definitely prolonged, happy goodness to be had, and I'm glad I could help with that. ;-)

I'm amazed by the characterization, too. It's almost like...DH is so good, they just have to write this stuff for him. 'Cause they're certainly not doing it for the other characters--Epiphany should have been like this, man! But ack, before I rain on our collective parade...soso good. Soso much love. My inanimate friend and I both think so. =D

[wychwood]

...I would totally agree with all your points in a very serious fashion, but I am *way* too busy dancing around going "GLEE! GLEE! RODNEY I LOVE YOU!" right now.

GLEE!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

That does about sum it up.

That, and an eager-puppy-bounce, "Where's the fic?"

[mirabile-dictu.livejournal.com]

Wonderful, wonderful analysis of Rodney. I won't see this ep until it shows here in the States, but I must say that your analysis of Rodney fits beautifully with my (necessarily more limited) understanding of him. And you explain exactly why I have fallen so in love both with Rodney and especially with DH.

Thank you!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! I'm glad my ramblings made sense. I love Rodney, too--a truly scary amount--and this episode was terrific because it put all of Rodney's flaws RIGHT OUT THERE, put him pinned and wriggling on the wall in the most dramatic sense, and it only made me love him more. I think I relate to him and love him--I think a lot of fandom relates to him and loves him--because we share a lot of the same bad qualities, but Rodney manages to rise above them (and without realizing it!) in ways that we can only imagine. And be really snarky and cute about it, too.

BTW, you may know about this already, but since I didn't until recently, I thought it might be worth mentioning: stargate_eps. Join and the new episodes are put up ever week, plus the whole second season up to this episode is now available, thanks to isiscolo. It's a marvelous, marvelous thing. *g*

[lamardeuse.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, yes to everything you said, and thank you for pointing out a couple of things I either hadn't noticed or hadn't thought of. I love that this show will actually give you a 44-minute character study; it's just wonderful to see that in an SF show.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I know! I'm still kind of flabbergasted that we were given such a divine, glorious thing.

Now I would say, "Now where's the John backstory ep, dammit?!" except I'm almost at a place where I prefer him as an enigma. (Means I get to keep writing him dark--whee!) One or two more solid hints wouldn't hurt, though.

[kuwdora.livejournal.com]

I don't have any Sam/Rodney friendship or shippy fic (I leave that to the fic writers) but I am gonna be whoring a basket of icons around fandom in the next couple days (...if someone starts posting caps to GUP, that is). I already made a batch of Sam/Rodney from 48 Hours/Redemption, but uh, I totally can't post Sam/Rodney icons without a few from last night's ep.

and I love everything that you said.


I just want to cuddle Rodney. David Hewlett is seriously the bestest actor in the whole wide world ten times over.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Iconses are good! I'll be looking forward to that!

David Hewlett is seriously the bestest actor in the whole wide world ten times over.

I've definitely been asking myself, "How did I live 21 years without carnal knowledge of this man?" Or, "Where has he been hiding all this time?" And then I'm like, "Oh, Canada."

"Oh, Canada" is a good catchphrase, actually, when said with fond affection. 'Cause we mock them, but they've given us so many good things. Like David Hewlett! And, hey, Nathan Fillion! Cold air must produce hot men; who knew.

[dar-jeeling.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes and yes. Instead of posting a review of my own, I should just link to your posts, methinks.

Rodney the world's most reluctant Gryffindor
But he'd want to be a Ravenclaw. Desperately.

Also, clicky (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b108/dar_jeeling/icons/sgaMcKBravestcoward.png)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Ow, wow. I love you so much right now. Like, scary much. I hope the vaguely-stalkerish vibes aren't traveling across multiple countries to freak you out.

*does the dance of a shiny, pretty thing*

But he'd want to be a Ravenclaw. Desperately.

Oh, yes. He'd object strenuously--as strenuously as Draco does in some of those AU sorted-into-anything-but-Slytherin fics. In his 7th year, he'd still be going, "What is wrong with you foolish, reckless people, and why am I in this house?" And then he'd do something brave almost without meaning to, and Slytherin!John would laugh at him in a way that meant, "I'm on to you, and secretly, I'm glad you're all right." And then they'd go make out in the Potions' cupboard. OMG, and there'd be ties.

*whimper*

[astolat]

Can I join in the tradition? Because, word! to all of it. *g* Also, to your wishlist can I add John is a secret Slytherin and Rodney the world's most reluctant Gryffindor? Because that would be spectacular.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Of course you can join! We welcome newcomers! Step right over there and someone will teach you the secret handshake; and, oh--don't forget to try the babka!

Also, to your wishlist can I add John is a secret Slytherin and Rodney the world's most reluctant Gryffindor? Because that would be spectacular.

Oh no. No. See, 'cause I'm already writing "John and Rodney are North America's Crowley and Aziraphale," and I really need to stop writing cracked-out AUs and...

...And Rodney would make the funniest Harry, wouldn't he? "You're all only interested in me as an agent of prophesy and not for my fabulous [all caps] BRAIN." Not to mention John as fanon!Draco, with lots of slouching and leaning and whoa, daddy issues. And Ronon and Teyla as a much prettier Crabbe and Goyle. And Elizabeth and Zelenka as Hermione and Ron (although really, Radek should get to be Hermione). And...and Carson as Neville! *dies*

You know, my brain actually used to be good for something. *sigh*

[lordelessar.livejournal.com]

All that stuff you said about Rodney, I completely agree. Except that you're totally wrong and stupid and how could you possibly think that stuff about Rodney? Yeah, Rodney sucks.

Who's Rodney? :-p

Wish I had TV so I could at least check out this show you love. Is it as good as Firefly? I followed you there. I wonder if I would follow you to SGA as well.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Heh. RODNEY IS WHOEVER I TELL YOU HE IS. RODNEY IS GOD.

SGA is, admittedly, not as good as Firefly. But the characters are wonderful, especially our boy McKay here, and I honestly do think you would like the show. It's consistently fun, snarky, self-aware sci-fi. With--I was about to say "pretty boys," but as that's less of a draw for you...pretty girls! Well, I think Teyla's pretty hot. She fights with sticks! She bares her midriff gratuitously!

Seriously, though--I would love to have some of my RL friends be into this show. And hey, the first season is available on DVD. And the second's downloadable if you join stargate_eps...

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

Nothing much to add, except that I really like your insight that Rodney hears that berating voice in his head all the time.

I think his arrogance is actually an attempt to push back against that voice.

And, yeah, this was a great ep. DH was so damned good in it.

I have such a weakness for smart!John.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I really like your insight that Rodney hears that berating voice in his head all the time

Thanks; I'm actually surprised that I didn't think of this sooner, because, I mean, I hear a version of that voice in my own head all the time. Last night I did something mildly stupid and almost lost the toothpaste cap down the drain, and seriously my first thought was, "Oh, nice job, genius!" And it's gotta be even worse for Rodney, 'cause he's snarkier and for him there's a lot more at stake than toothpaste caps.

I think his arrogance is actually an attempt to push back against that voice.

Yeah, it'd be a hell of a way to drown it out, to force a lot of that frustration outward. It's interesting, because there was probably a time when he was young, before he'd learned to wield that inner voice as an outside weapon; it'd be interesting to read something about him discovering that tool, and even recognizing it for the double-edged sword it is.

I have such a weakness for smart!John.

Me, too. As, I bet, does Rodney. ;-)

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

I totally called it. I mean, my first fic in this fandom was called Control, and even if there weren't a bagillion other things to love about this ep, I would love it for confirming that I have been reading--and thus writing--Rodney correctly all this time.

Having just read that story, here's your feedback: Yes, you called it. You've been "inked" or canonized (the opposite of "jossed"), and your story is basically still perfect, especially the Rodney half.

I think that's only partly because you're brilliant. The other part is David Hewlett, so let's pause to worship him for a moment, shall we?

*worships*

*wipes drool* The thing is, DH is the best of the regular cast by a considerable margin, and part of that is that he has a very clear sense of who Rodney is and has been conveying that consistently all along. And then that helps make Rodney the writers' favorite chew toy, which gives DH more to do and express, which makes him even more their favorite, in a positive feedback cycle.

By comparison, your Sheppard section of "Control" is much less of a "hey! she called it!", partly because we still know amazingly little about Sheppard (given that he's, like, the *lead*), and partly because it's the nature of his character to show less of himself, especially compared to McKay. But I also don't get the feeling that JF has as much of a solid sense of who Sheppard is as DH has about McKay.

Leonard Nimoy talks about how on a TV series where the scriptwriters and directors are always changing, the bedrock continuity for a character has to come from the actor, because s/he's the only constant. This means the actor has to be prepared to struggle with the writers/directors/showrunner, to say "my character wouldn't *do* that" -- but to say it only when absolutely necessary, and so tactfully people don't get offended (Nimoy himself was only fair at this part).

Anyway, I don't yet have a sense that JF has such a clear vision of Sheppard that he's starting to put his oar in the water, to stear the character in a particular direction. It'll be interesting to see what happens when he does.

My, I do go on.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I've been inked! Thank you; that is too cool.

I am all for worshipping David Hewlett. In fact, come with me to the tasteful shrine I have erected to him in my living room...

Seriously, though, I think you're right about the positive feedback cycle, and I can only hope it continues (as all good cycles should). As for JF, though...I dunno, I get a very strong--I guess you could call it a vibe?--from him, of something, something dark, and while I fully accept that I could be completely hallucinating and/or projecting, it's enough for me for now. We definitely do not have anywhere near as strong a sense of Sheppard as we do of McKay, but I also don't look at John and see a blank--there's there there, even if I--if none of us--know exactly what that is. So until they completely contradict what little sense I'm getting and tell us that Sheppard used to raise puppies when he wasn't serving as vice president of the college glee club, I'm happy. Not satisfied, but happy. Ambiguity gives us all more room to play, anyway. *eg*

My, I do go on.

Cool by me. ;-)

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

John is a secret Slytherin and Rodney the world's most reluctant Gryffindor

*mind-control beams of fic enablement*

You've read Clarke's Law (http://isis.arithmancy.net/clarkeslaw.htm), right? Among other things, it lays out some damn good evidence for putting HP & SGA into the same universe, one where Carson Beckett went to Hogwarts (Hufflepuff, natch).

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I have read that story; it's fabulous. The universe that isiscolo creates--or rather, the binding of the two universes--is so believable that it seems almost head-slappingly obvious. Of course that's the way it works! *g*

However, I still want J & R in robes and stripey ties. ;-)

[soupytwist.livejournal.com]

Oh my GOD yes. :D

I would comment more, but, er, there's only so much ridiculously chirpy agreement that you can take before it starts sounding kind of ridiculous, so feel free to imagine me going "DUDE DUDE DUDE YES EEEEE SO TRUE OMG" after, like, everything.

And John is a secret Slytherin and Rodney the world's most reluctant Gryffindor: eeeeeeeeeeeeee! I hadn't - unusually for me - Sorted them yet, but it's so true. Rodney's Hermione, in that he looks like a Ravenclaw and sounds like a Ravenclaw but underpinning all that, in the most fundamental ways, is his true Gryffindor bravery. He uses his knowledge and intelligence like a weapon, to fight for good. (And I totally think that he sees gaining knowledge and intelligence as inherantly good, that he really does place a kind of moral value on it - so when he says he's against stupidity, that to him also means everything bad about the world.) And omg is John a Slytherin. Absolutely and without question. That just describes his entire approach to fights; if you can, beat your enemy before he even knows that there's a fight going on, and doing that with charm or bribery is often better when it means you might actually win. Yeah. :D

I'm now wondering what Elizabeth is, though. Hmm.

[seekergeek.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth is Slytherin, definitely Slytherin. She's smart, yes, but also ambitious enough to have thrown away her relationship with Simon for a chance to lead the expedition.

[the-moonmoth.livejournal.com]

I love your brain. Great write up.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Aww, thanks! My brain (and the rest of me) are very pleased. ;-)

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

Ahh, tm me? That cracks me up. Thanks!

ITA about John as a secret Slytherin, though obviously I can't support Rodney as a Gyffindor, since I just want them all in mu house! :D

This was such a fantastic hour of television. My journal name has never been truer. DH looked so pretty all wet and I kept staring at his hands. Man.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

That was you, right? Best Zelenka line ever? I was too lazy to look it up, and boy, if I'm wrong, do I owe somebody an apology... ;-)

Everybody can't be in Slytherin; you need some inter-house tension, dontchaknow. But seekergeek's convinced me that I can let you have Elizabeth. =P

OMG, yes: DH's hands. And his eyelashes. And actually, his receding hairline, when wet, is sort of oddly adorable.

Wow, you know I'm really screwed when I start fetishizing male pattern baldness. But... !!! That's really all I have to say; he's reduced me to punctuation.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

First let me just say that I really enjoyed this review.

This is such a good point, “ that same voice that Rodney uses to berate his underlings, that voice that screams at them for being idiots, worthless, incompetent--that's the voice that Rodney hears in his own head all the time.”

I should have known that but it took this episode and your review to clarify it. So yes thank you. Also? Loved your comparisons to HP.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed my blathering. I could go on and on about this episode...you may have noticed. ;-)

And somebody totally needs to write that HP crossover/fusiony/whatever. Before I do it. Yikes!

[fluffyllama.livejournal.com]

Hi *waves*. Great post, I'm here via the newsletter, in case you couldn't guess ;-)

that same voice that Rodney uses to berate his underlings, that voice that screams at them for being idiots, worthless, incompetent--that's the voice that Rodney hears in his own head all the time.

You make a good case for it, but I definitely have my doubts on this.

What I love about these two is that (to generalise horribly) instead of the introvert scientist and the extrovert hero, we get the introvert hero and the extrovert scientist.

I think Rodney needs an audience, at some level, or he'll shrivel up and die. If there's nobody to talk to, he'll talk to himself, or inanimate objects, and if there's nobody to berate, he'll do that to himself as well. He just needs that bouncing around of ideas and insults to spur him on. It's a nice contrast to Epiphany, where Sheppard apparently shuts himself away even though he's surrounded by people, just because they're not *his* people.

On a different note, I loved that the essential message of the ep we could take away was that Rodney *thinks* he needs Carter, but what he really needs is Sheppard *grin*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I think Rodney needs an audience, at some level, or he'll shrivel up and die. If there's nobody to talk to, he'll talk to himself, or inanimate objects, and if there's nobody to berate, he'll do that to himself as well. He just needs that bouncing around of ideas and insults to spur him on

No, I totally agree with this, but I don't think that precludes the idea that whether he has people to berate or not, he's got a similar soundtrack running in his head. Rodney may be really (even unnecessarily) hard on other people, but I think we've seen plenty to prove that he's equally hard on himself. The frustration lashes inward as well as out.

That said, Rodney's definitely the extrovert of the two, by far, although I think John works pretty hard to make people think otherwise. I love that about him. *g* But you're right also: in 'Epiphany' he wasn't even trying, and he was pretty damn isolated amongst all those people. Even with boring half-ascended chick, with whom he was supposed to share some sort of "destined connection," it was pretty clear that he never really connected at all. That John and Rodney have had several moments of genuine connection only serves to further convince me of what I'm, uh, already very convinced. *g*

I loved that the essential message of the ep we could take away was that Rodney *thinks* he needs Carter, but what he really needs is Sheppard *grin*

He needs Carter to tell him he needs Sheppard! She's passing the torch! Go Subconscious!Sam!

[seekergeek.livejournal.com]

Loved this review and *seeths* with jealousy that this ep hasn't aired yet in the US (and my computer has no love for me so downloads have been unhappy failures. ).

Also, you invoked my SGA/HP crossover kink with :

(And don't even get me started on my theory that John is a secret Slytherin and Rodney the world's most reluctant Gryffindor, because then we'd be here all night. But, uh, yeah. It's true.)

God, I soo want to read this fic!. Somebody, please, please, please write this! (Yes, I read Clarke's Law. I'm such a slut that I want more!)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I'm a slut, too. I want it baaaad.