Chicken Coup*

[trinityofone]

Okay, let's just get my two major annoyances out of the way, shall we?

1. The ZPM. OF COURSE IT WAS DEPLETED. HONESTLY. And you can't seriously expect me to believe that no one thought to check for that, that MCKAY didn't think to check for that. I mean, I know he was distracted by all the shiny weaponry, but to me that's still a continuity flaw on the level of him sitting down to a nice meal of lemon chicken with a refreshing glass of lemonade and a big piece of lemon cake for dessert. SERVED ON A TABLE SHINY WITH LEMON LYSOL AND SPRINKLED WITH CONFETTI MADE FROM LEMON ZEST. Sheesh.

2. 1 + 1 = ? By which I mean: there are two odd things happening at around the same time. NO ONE thought to say, "Hmm, do ya think these two might be related?" There are a lot of veeeeeeery smart people in Atlantis. Not ONE of them?

Y'know, in the past I've reflected sadly on how I could never go to Atlantis because, well, it's not real, but also and more importantly because I have no useful skills. But book me passage on the Daedalus, baby, 'cause it turns out they need me after all. TO POINT OUT THE BLEEDING OBVIOUS. Sheesh x 10 million.

But, uh, other than those two headdesk moments? I actually kind of enjoyed it. I was nervous for Lorne even after I saw Kavan Smith's name in the credits and even though "identified the body by the dog tags" is as likely to mean dead as a bludgeoning or a bullet or a bit of poison is likely to signify the end for Rasputin. But the fear, the fear was good. As was the snarking with Sheppard in the prison cell, because now I am cemented in my loveLorne state (please, direct the tomatoes this way) and I want many more scenes with him, especially with him and Shep or (pleasepleasePLEASE) him and McKay. And I can still write the two Lorne fics I had ideas for, yay.

Also yay to 1) Elizabeth getting to do something, sort of, well it was better than 'The Long Goodbye' anyway; 2) Teyla and Ronon playing Good Cop/Bad Cop; and 3) Rodney and John, John and Rodney, RodneyandJohn. Allow me to surprise positively no one and say, I LOVE THEM. I love my adorable, dorky boys. I loved the visit to the Genii homeworld, I loved John helping Rodney wake up in the prison cell, I loved Rodney's "It might be rigged to blow up in your face!" and John subsequently looking really nervous, I loved the "Have I joined a rock band or am I welding something?" glasses, but more than anything else, I loved the expression on their faces when Cowen reveals that EVERYONE knows that Atlantis is still around. "Shit! Does this mean we're also this transparent about the fact that we're sleeping together?"

Yes. Yes, it does. And also: yes, you so, so are.

One other little--quibble? question? moment-of-wha? Rodney and guns. It's not that I mind, exactly, when he's inept with or about them: it's cute, it's (mostly) in character, and hey, it's only the second season--give him time. But...I am confused. Because his level of skill seems to be all over the place. Maybe I'm leaning too heavily on 'The Defiant One' as an example, but he did pretty damn well for himself there. Have I let my glee at kickass!McKay get in the way? Is that episode the inconsistency, and does the rest of canon pretty much support: Rodney = bad with firearms? Somebody please explain.

Also, if the above is true, we totally need more stories about Rodney struggling with this. I adore laceymcbain's Care in the Holding, and yes, yes--we need more of that. Because I think--I KNOW--that Rodney must have a really hard time accepting that there are things he's not instantly good at, not to mention things he's not good at AT ALL, not even with practice. I mean...actually, I wrote this, this was part of one of my many stories that died a Sad, Unfortunate Death, but here, this part was good, this part is what I mean:

***

The problem with being a genius was that it messed with your expectations. If you’re speaking in complete sentences when everyone else in the sandbox is still struggling with “mama” and “dada,” it’s bound to throw your worldview--and your self-image--a little out of whack. Rodney knew how to read by he time he was three; after that, when something didn’t come easily, naturally, didn’t come right away, it never failed to rock him like a slap to the face.

The physical stuff was the worst. His brain did everything he asked of it, and quite a bit more; that his body refused to be equally accommodating was a source of continual surprise and frustration for him. In the classroom he could outthink everyone, including the teacher; on the playground he was left panting, knees speckled with gravel, mouth filled with the taste of dust or ice shavings, arms red from the smack of the dodgeball against delicate skin.

So he learned, early on, that there were two ways he could deal with his potential inadequacies: he could continue to feel each failure like the scrape of knuckles against his jaw, or he could treat those activities that fell outside the realm of his natural gifts with the contempt they so obviously deserved.

So. Contempt it was, then.

***

There. Expand on that, someone. *g*

*Ha! I couldn't resist making a bad pun, and it doesn't even make sense! Well, it sort of does. BUT WHATEVER. At least I know to check if the ZPM is depleted, hmm?

Comments

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I tried to comfort myself with the "don't know it's a TV show" logic, but the two things were happening AT THE SAME TIME, yes? That should have been, I don't know, a HINT?

I'm still worried about him being this season's Grodin though.

I am concerned about this also. Like, him or Chuck!tech--one of them is DOOMED. Just...not Zelenka. Oh God, oh God.

In other news - Rodney and John - gay like a rose-tinted romp through a meadow.

Hee. Yes. They are approaching tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide levels of gay.

Carson continues his quest to make me his bitch.

He was pretty cute in this. But they need to do something different with him soon--I'm not sure what.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

*plots other obnoxious things she can say so that you will return*

Um. John/Liz 4eva!!!!11!1

[coreopsis.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of veeeeeeery smart people in Atlantis.
After last week, I'm starting to doubt that.

Yeah, I keep hoping the inconsistency of Rodney and guns will somehow make sense but it never does.

So. Contempt it was, then.
hee. Indeed. I'm sorry that story died because it sounds like it would have been great.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Secret end of season plot twist: everyone has been on stupid pills! It's the Wraith's new evil plan! OH NOES!

Yeah, I keep hoping the inconsistency of Rodney and guns will somehow make sense but it never does.

I haven't watched much SG-1, but I assume they're trying to make sure they don't just xerox Daniel Jackson's "rising level of competence" arc (that was an arc, right?). But they've got to do something--they have to address it somehow. I can only fanwank so much!

I'm sorry that story died because it sounds like it would have been great

Thank you, but you're not missing much. Honestly, after those first four paragraphs, it disintegrated pretty quickly into ranting and bad Broadcast News jokes. ;-) But someone should write something about this...just not me, 'cause I have to write Lorne fic, and ooh, your puddlejumper story...

[amireal.livejournal.com]

I had a theory that because it was an energy weapon (higher tech and all that, less bullets etc) Rodney was instantly more comfortable. Which helps explain away *some* of the inconsistantcies.

Also yes, I kept having this like... congnitive dissonance moment during them ep where I was like "Thing B is related to thing A! Really! I swear!" But I *suppose* you could say it wasn't *really* all that obvious a connection other than it happening at the same time. But really, Mr. Suspcious Wookie, and I Am A Competant Solidier This Week Sheppard should have had a throw away sentence about it.

[anitac588.livejournal.com]

The first two points annoy me too much, bc some stuff that they are allowing to happen is just not possible with so many 'brilliant' scientists and highly trained officers. I mean, it should not be possible, that is.
I liked Elizabeth, but seriously, couldn't she say, let's wait what Beckett has to say about those bodies? Yeah, not putting two and two together.... Stooopid. I am curious thou, how would Rodney be able to scan if the ZPM is still full? What send a ZPM MALP - see if lights up?
I have a feeling they are messign with Rodney's ability to handle weapons. I mean in The Defiant One he could aim quite good and in Seige 2 he carried P90 with confidence. It is in this season that he is made into a sort of a clown in this regard. Or maybe if he has a situation to deal with, he forgets his discomfort and panic; it makes him more concentrated and focused.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I am curious thou, how would Rodney be able to scan if the ZPM is still full? What send a ZPM MALP - see if lights up?

I'm not exactly sure how, but the possibility that it might have been only partly charged or completely depleted should at least have been MENTIONED. Instead of the "Oh my gosh! What a surprise!" reveal, which was ridiculous with a side of lame.

Or maybe if he has a situation to deal with, he forgets his discomfort and panic; it makes him more concentrated and focused.

That used to be my fanwank, but lately, even high-pressure situations haven't had him shooting well. I don't really care which way they decide to spin it, I just wish they'd make up their minds.

[anitac588.livejournal.com]

the possibility that it might have been only partly charged or completely depleted should at least have been MENTIONED. See, this is what I mean - they keep telling us how everyone is so brilliant and mensa material; I'd much prefere I'd see it with my own eyes.

The idea of using sick people struck me much more creative, if ultimately immoral, but... I mean, the Genii delegation came through looking quite shaky, couldn't they at least suspect it a little?

They really need someone to point the obvious, Peter Grodin and his talent sure would come in handy.

[kalikahuntress.livejournal.com]

I think most TV shows have those annoying things you mention in your first two pints but I loved this ep regardless, all the characters were used well and I didn't have any overwhelming WTF moments.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I know that TV is, well, TV, but that doesn't stop me from wanting SGA to be the bestest, shiniest, most competent TV that it can be. And those two things were totally fixable. Especially the first one: all they needed was one little mention. Like:

(Plotting to go after the ZPM)
Rodney: ...And there's always the chance that it could be depleted.
John: That's a risk we're going to have to take.

See? Was that so hard? Huh, Gero?

I think he just must not have been thinking straight because he was still sad that he didn't ACTUALLY get to kill anyone. Well, except Cowen. ;-)

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Well, they were originally told it was the ZPM from "The Brotherhood", and Rodney knew that one had power left in it, if I remember correctly. And considering Koyla's involvement in that ep, it makes some sense that he'd end up stealing it from the monks. So Leydon(?)'s story was plausible, and if they decided to believe his story, they'd believe it was a charged ZPM.

As for Rodney and his gun-totin' abilities? I think he gets nervous in front of his boyfriend. He totally wants to impress John with his prowess. No, not that kind of prowess, John's already very impressed with that. *g*

I enjoyed this ep a whole lot. Everyone got to do something, Rodney and John got to touch each other and look dorky and cute, and those "Most Wanted" photos were hilarious.

And now you should totally finish that fic. It doesn't have to be dead! It's too fabulous to die!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Ahh, good point about 'The Brotherhood.' But--shouldn't they have at least tried to check? Or wondered about it? 'Cause I was going "It's going to be depleted, it's going to be depleted" for at least twenty minutes before it was--surprise!--depleted.

Or maybe I have watched too much X-Files. Trust no one!!!!

He totally wants to impress John with his prowess

This is very, very true. I think I need to watch the Scene of the Glasses again and again and just...giggle.

(Still doesn't explain, say, 'Siege III' in comparison to 'The Defiant One,' though. Okay, okay--I'll shut up.)

And yes, the wanted posters! John and Rodney's expressions in those were PRICELESS--especially Rodney's. *does not totally want some sort of wacky Western AU now. really*

I did enjoy the episode, honestly. I just can't help...picking at everything. Perhaps it is the English major in me? I'll pull apart Stargate episodes with as much--no, more!--ruthless enthusiasm than I would Moby Dick.

And now you should totally finish that fic. It doesn't have to be dead! It's too fabulous to die!

Thank you, but it's really not. I'm fooling you all by extracting the only good part. ;-)

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

(Still doesn't explain, say, 'Siege III' in comparison to 'The Defiant One,' though. Okay, okay--I'll shut up.)

Oh, I agree. It hasn't been entirely consistent. I like to think that Siege III was the anomoly. With enough hand-waving I can explain that one away with a lack of sleep and an overdose of stimulants. I like waving my hands. It makes a nice breeze. *g*

I think I need to watch the Scene of the Glasses again and again and just...giggle.

So cute! It's totally giggleworthy. How do that manage to look so silly, yet so hot at the same time? And I'd pay to see the cast's reaction the first time they put them on.

[inthekeyofd.livejournal.com]

You know I love John and Rodney as well, I think they really do make the perfect team, and Rodney pointing out that it might be a trap and that it could explode..that look on John's face after that, and John being so hesitant.

And don't forget the hand signals too. *smile*

I can totally see Rodney not being proficient with a gun, he's a scientist, and I don't think he realized what he signed up for, and in a way I like that he has to depend on others for that. Like I said, between the both of them (John and Rodney) they compliment each other so well.

*See I thought "The Defiant One" was more instinct on Rodney's part, look at "The Siege Part 3" he had a bit of a problem with it there, but I understood that, nerves and lack of knowledge and use of a gun could do that to him. He's smart, very very smart, a genius, so in a way it's good to see him faulter with something else.

Plus, John picks up the slack so very very nicely. *smile*

[drlense.livejournal.com]

Rodney and guns- I thought about this too, but what struck me was that he seemed to do much better with the stunner in that storming scene than he does with guns. I wonder if that's significant- if it's easier for him to use the stunner because he knows there's no death involved? Or am I reaching?

[kalikahuntress.livejournal.com]

I don't think your reaching at all, remember how uncomfortable he looked when John killed the Wraith in fron of him in 'Aurora'?

[desdema.livejournal.com]

i seem to remember that at some point in the past rodney had to get the zpm back to atlantis to do the tests that would determine how much power it had, but it's possible they've come up with some portable device since then that has been used in other eps that i'm not recalling at the moment. i definitely agree that it would have been nice to see someone at least mention that they could be going after a dead zpm, but my big question is how do the *genii* know whether the thing had any power or not?

mckay's ineptness with soldierly things seemed like a step back to me as well. i thought he'd been doing pretty well with that stuff for quite a while now.

also, i'm so excited that you're planning some lorne fics! i can't wait to read them. :)

[tikiaceae.livejournal.com]

Lorne! Yeah, I was pretty nervous too even though I was telling myself it's a good thing the body was burned so it was recognisable. Yay! Lorne!

Also, lemon cake! Yum...

Another thing. I gave up trying to explain away McKay and his guns. (eeee! mckay and his guns! *is twelve*) I let go and became one with myself. I am calm... OMG! The Siege! WTF was that about with clips? Aurora? Why the hell was he not looking where he was shooting?! The simple military hand signals? Why the fuck doesn't he know that yet! Huh? Hunh?!

yeah. i lied.

[daughtershade.livejournal.com]

Also had a little rant of my own in my journal just a few minutes ago. The worst part is I just watched Grace Under Pressure through to Coup D'etat all in one go to catch up from being behind. And the stupidity in those four eps just seems that much worse when you watch them all together. Like someone has already said, where's Grodin or for that case Kavanaugh when you need them. Sheesh! I also have some other quibbles about this ep. I totally think it was a rewritten Kolya ep, which might have something to do with the stupid... who knows?

[cetpar.livejournal.com]

LALALALALALALALA. I can't hear you. ::covers ears...uhm eyes::

Uhm, sorry. I loved this episode. Minor details aside. And, okay, you are 100% correct about the ZPM. I would have made testing the ZPM part of the initial bargaining plan. Although (like someone mentioned above) they may have needed to bring it back to Atlantis for testing, and I don't see Ledon letting that happen. But otherwise the good in this episode far outweighs any quibbles I had. ::handwaves them away:: I am much happier with this episode than the last few.

now I am cemented in my loveLorne state (please, direct the tomatoes this way) and I want many more scenes with him, especially with him and Shep or (pleasepleasePLEASE) him and McKay. And I can still write the two Lorne fics I had ideas for, yay.

Yay, more Lorne fans! No tomatoes from me. And you really, really should write those Lorne fics. ::nods:: Yes, you should.

[someinstant.livejournal.com]

That quick snippet-- regardless of what it was originally a part of-- is wonderful. My mother has this picture of me at six which she thinks is utterly adorable: I'm sitting on the piano bench with my face all red and squished against the keys-- in the middle of throwing some godawful tantrum because I can't do it-- I can't make my fingers match up to the notes the way I know they should. Mom thinks it's a cute picture, and maybe it is, but I just remember how awful and frustrating it was to not be immediately good at something.

So, yeah. Contempt. I completely understand that.

[reginabellatrix.livejournal.com]

One other little--quibble? question? moment-of-wha? Rodney and guns. It's not that I mind, exactly, when he's inept with or about them: it's cute, it's (mostly) in character, and hey, it's only the second season--give him time. But...I am confused. Because his level of skill seems to be all over the place. Maybe I'm leaning too heavily on 'The Defiant One' as an example, but he did pretty damn well for himself there. Have I let my glee at kickass!McKay get in the way? Is that episode the inconsistency, and does the rest of canon pretty much support: Rodney = bad with firearms? Somebody please explain.

Not so much explaining here, as joining you in confusion. I'm starting to lean towards the explination of The Defiant One being the outlier, but it irritates me to no end. What did tbtb do? Watch The Defiant One and decide then that they couldn't have McKay be good with guns & resolve to make him do the bumbling comic relief with them ever after? If they wanted his skill to evolve, that's fine, but they should have done it from the outset. Giving him skill & then taking it away is just sloppy.

On a happier note, the John/Rodney -ness was just delightful, wasn't it?

[not-sally.livejournal.com]

Yep. Thought about this too. But know they hadn't killed Lorne. Still totally freaked worrying about John, so...
Anyway, falling into Ye Olde Fandom Formula: Don't think about the plot inconsistencies. Look at the pretty!!! Teyla's new top and 'do, John's 'I'm very tied' abs, Rodney and 'OMG I almost totally shot that guy' face, RONON BABEEEEY!!!1!!
Who needs plot anyway? We got fanfic for that.

[iamtheenemy.livejournal.com]

I am also confused by Rodney's fluctuating weapons skills. I've chosen to read it like this: the only time (correct me if I'm wrong) that we've seen Rodney profiecient with a gun was in "Defiant One." Therefore, I think that Rodney shoots correctly when it's Sheppard's life on the line.

Also from a more pragmatic perspective, in that same episode the Wraith wasn't focused on him when he shot it the first time. When it did finally turn and see Rodney, there was enough time for John to talk him through what to do. The other times we've seen him shoot (Siege III, Aurora, The Long Good Bye and this episode spring to mind) were during chaotic combat situations with either an immediate threat to himself or lots of noise and action to make him nervous. I think he can only shoot well when he has enough time to focus and aim.

Personally, though, I prefer the first option.

[iamtheenemy.livejournal.com]

I spelled proficient incorrectly on purpose. I was just testing you.

[kalikahuntress.livejournal.com]

Its kind of interesting that TPB would show it that way isn't it? And your explaination hold true for both the first and the second season.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I like that second option and the idea that Rodney could be deadly under the right circumstances. Ie. when he's in an understandable amount of personal danger, when the risk seems likely that he'll walk away with minor injuries at most, Rodney can easily be heroic and efficient. When it's chaos and confusion and he could possibly be killed, the adrenaline kicks in and he panics (even though he doesn't mean to).

I mean, here, I'm thinking of the Defiant One and Hid And Seek, which both had Rodney going off and doing a fairly heroic thing on his own, but both were circumstances where he could assess the risks and knew he had a better chance of surviving if he acted.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

So. Contempt it was, then.

*loves* Because, really, don't most of us do that? As you hit the upper years in primary school, you're already assigning worth to things -- and the "valuable" things are the things that are fun, that are easy, that you *get* as opposed to the stuff you have to work hard for and trudge to achieve.

Is that episode the inconsistency, and does the rest of canon pretty much support: Rodney = bad with firearms?

I don't know, but it always cracks me up that Rodney's as good/sometimes better at aiming when he's *not looking* at the target. Seriously. In Aurora, when he's actually *looking away* from the Wraith he's trying to shoot, he manages to hit it at least half the time.

I think... under good, ideal conditions -- and when there's no one else but him -- he's a good shot (in the Defiant Ones). I think when he's amongst a group of military guys (as in this last episode) he doesn't try as hard/doesn't need to.

And The Seige III, I think he was probably working on about ten hours sleep over the last week (he'd gone without sleep for three days prior to Letters From Pegasus, and then we get the Seige and he's up, up, and using Carson's amphetamines to stay up, up, up for the next three episodes) and the fact that he was even awake enough to stand up straight is pretty impressive. Hitting the wrong trigger/switch/whatever is a pretty mild mishap when you're sleep deprived and being relied on to save The Entire City.

[history-gurl.livejournal.com]

Just sneaking in here to comment on Rodney and firearms, otherwise known as the kiss of death to continuity.

I had a theory about Rodney's skill, or lack thereof, with firearms. I popped over to Gateworld to check it. Imagine my shock when I discovered that Rodney's inability to use firearms properly is directly correlated to Martin Gero penning the script. I should also note that I find a direct correlation between Gero's writing and Rodney's blatant buffoonery, a slightly more nasty edge to the John/Rodney banter, and the sudden sensation that Rodney has reverted to a one note character that served as a foil for the "nice" people on SG1.

Rodney wielded a P90 in Suspicion; he may not have been thrilled about it, but he did so competently. He was quite competent in the Defiant One with a 9mm. And he was more than comfortable with the P90 in The Siege II. Yet, for some reason, Gero feels compelled to write Rodney as the little dog running around Sheppard saying "Am I doing it right? Eh, Spike? Eh, Spike?" This irks me.

I can handwave the stupid most days. I can rationalize the clumsy attempts at shipping. I can even grit my teeth and look for the humour in all the Shep-as-Kirk crap tptb throw at us, particulary when it gives us lines like "Wow, I never see this coming". But, I find myself struggling not to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to send Gero a note explaining that character development implies forward motion. Incompetent!Rodney is simply not amusing to me.

and may I say thank you for presenting me the opportunity to vent a little? I think I may have some issues here. *g*