SGA 3.01 -- *almost* coherent thoughts

[trinityofone]

Okay, so because I'm the coolest cool kid to ever walk the face of this cool earth, last night I watched the SGA premiere with my mom.

And it was pretty cool. I loved the episode, even though the big season openers/closers are far from my favorite type. But my boys are back! (As for the girls...well, more about that later.)

Okay, so this is from memory and thus probably not very coherent, but here are my scattered thoughts:

The first half of the episode went almost exactly as I expected it to go. Not just the Boba Fett/Han Solo thing that I TOTALLY CALLED, but also the whole Michael bit--oh course he would feel ostracized, and of course he would provide the key help they needed. (Gero and I? We're like this. Or else that was the obvious way for the plot to go, whatever.) However, if the plot always continues to go exactly the way I want it, I'm fine with it being a little predictable. (Next episode: John and Rodney have sex. And Teyla and Michael, too. And how about some Weir/Caldwell? This was a good episode for that.)

Besides, there were some little touched that I really liked: the Queen calling Michael "Michael"--like an insult, clearly. And even more interesting that he continues to respond to it, that he's allowed himself to be so named. John keeps trying to name the Wraith; here he finally succeeded. *suddenly starts wanting John/Michael* *slaps self* I really, REALLY hope they keep Michael around. There are just so many interesting ways that could go. Yum.

And it doesn't hurt that Connor Trinneer? Also yum.

ETA: More specifically, now that Michael has allied himself with Atlantis, is he going to voluntarily take the retrovirus? Can he continue to work with them if he does not? Not long term: he has to eat, and unlike on Buffy, he can't take his blood life force in bags. So is he even intending this to be a long-term alliance? Beyond staying alive, what does he want? Does he even know?

(And okay, yeah, I really do want Michael/everybody. Or at least, Michael/Teyla, Michael/Ronon [that would be explosive], and all right, bring on the Michael/John, too. Michael/Rodney is actually the least interesting to me. Huh.)

Besides all the explosions, there were some interesting character moments in this. I loved the Weir/Caldwell scene--she called him Steven! At that point I turned to my mom:

Me: Oh, she's so using the fact that he has a massive crush on her.
Mom: He does? How?
Me: She called him Steven. In this universe, using someone's first name can be the equivalent of second base.

So yeah, let the Weir/Caldwell commence!

Also striking was the easy trust and cooperation between Elizabeth and Teyla. They work well together. I guess the Elizabeth/Teyla should commence, too! Although I really wish there'd been more Teyla in this episode. I like Teyla.

I did think that Elizabeth did well in this episode. I want to believe that she really is competent and kick ass at her job. But I also hope they give her some sort of personal storyline that doesn't suck this season. Preferably something that doesn't have to do with a baby and/or a man, as those seem to be the only storylines men can write for women. Or something about a dying relative. Or a pet! Yes, no storyline about how Elizabeth's dog is dying. Thank you.

But something other than the same old "Is Elizabeth really a good leader? Is she?" I, I don't know, want her to find an Ancient library or something and become obsessed with translating it. And Radek can help her and be very concerned and cute, and then some other stuff will happen that I don't know what it is. But an Ancient library would be cool.

ANYWAY. Isn't it fun how the more heterosexual they try to make John look, the gayer he seems? How is that possible? charlidos said that in the mess hall flashback, she thought at first that John was looking at Rodney. I did, too. I was like, "Whoa, John! Not in public!" But of course it's Random Chick We Will Never See Again. Don't you think if John were really interested in that girl, or any other, he'd do something about it? And maybe we are meant to think that he's some intergalactic slut who's working his way through Atlantis in his down time, but I don't. I think he flirts and flirts--very casually, no more than those smiles--and then does nothing. Whatever the reason ("repression" is good, and I still like "emotionally closed off"), poor John. *pets him*

That scene also made me want to write a ridiculous high school AU (John's the "floater," and he eats with the geeks), but I feel that smittywing has the AWESOME high school AU covered, so.

Okay, this is getting rambly and I'm actually supposed to, you know, start moving today, so just a few more things.

*I loved all of Rodney's doooooooooooooom dialogue. Oh, David Hewlett. I missed you. And the Rodney/Ronon relationship is really fun. (Er, I mean that in a non-slashy way, but it's all good.) I think there's genuine affection, or at least respect under it. A little, anyway. And hey, do we have a vote on where we think Ronon was hiding the knife this time? I want to say hair, 'cause I loved the way his dreads were sticking out when he broke free, but I think it may actually have been somewhere lower. That sounds wrong.

*I loved Lorne and Zelenka, although I'm very upset about the Orion. Rodney just got John that spaceship! Now he's going to be like, "See? See? This is why we can't have anything nice!" But anyway, back to Zelenka. Oh man, I love him. I'm impressed with his bravery even getting on the ship, because you know he's not as naturally gung-ho as Rodney, and when you're not as naturally gung-ho as Rodney, you do not want to be flying a spaceship into battle. But he did! So I liked the little bit of cowering and fleeing he did, because it makes it an arc of progress, not a jump from point to point.

*Lorne, I was really scared was going to die by the Wraith Queen, which would have sucked, 'cause I would have had to break up with Gero. But he didn't, hurrah! And I loved Rodney helping him up, and Lorne accepting. I know it's a simple gesture, but I do think that relationship's come a long way since the start of last season. (Lorne/McKay, anyone?)

*Actually, it's interesting that Rodney went with that first team into the hive ship at all. They didn't really need him, but he was all, "I have a P-90!" What level of weapons competency have we decided McKay is at this week, writers?

*_inbetween_ mentioned John and Rodney's non-reaction when they saw each other. I don't know why I like that, but I do. I mean, I really can't explain why it works for me--if I try, this is going to devolve into some flowery thing about how their souls are connected so of course they knew that neither of them was dead, and of course Rodney never doubted that John would come for him and John knew Rodney would stay alive and be waiting for him and now I'm going to barf up my toast--it just does. It's them. They're weird about each other.

I also want to briefly share something my mom said when we were stuck in traffic and I was explaining two years of SGA to her. Somehow we got to the subject of women who have flirted with Rodney, and I was explaining the whole 'Inferno' thing.

Me: And then John totally cockblocked him!
Mom: What's 'cockblocked'?
Me: Er, cockblocking is when one guy stops another guy from getting a girl, by flirting with her or just getting in the way or otherwise interfering.
Mom: Oh. *pause* That sounds kind of gay.

Heh.

Oh, and siriaeve? It is downloaded and burned and I am sending it to youuuuuuu!

Comments

[siria]

*shields eyes from rest of post* Yay! You are the awesomest! It is making me very sad that I cannot read most of my flist. Stupid living-in-Ireland.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

*volunteers to kidnap you*

[shusu.livejournal.com]

Responding in icon form (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v126/shusu/l-j/icons/lj-sga3-cooltable.jpg).

(All and sundry: please do not use as an icon until August.)

[wychwood]

The, the *hands*!

*stares*

[melagan.livejournal.com]

Your post gives me so much glee.

John and Rodney's non-reaction

It works because they're the Kirk and Spock of the Pegasus Galaxy. :)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Their love is a manly love, and thus needs no emoting. *g*

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

I would *rather* there be a storyline about Elizabeth's dog than one about How She Wishes She Had a Man.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Yes, but in the dog story she'd just end up having boring UST with her vet. Or something.

What about a story where She Wishes She Had a Dog? And she bonds with Rodney, who misses his cat?

(Seriously, we ought to be able to think up something good for Elizabeth!)

[zoerayne]

O.o

You talked with your mom about cockblocking?!

You are a braver woman than I. Of course, I imagine your mom is closer to my age than to my mother's age, so that might have something to do with it.

I do think that relationship's come a long way since the start of last season. (Lorne/McKay, anyone?)

*koff*
casspeach and I totally called it. *g*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

My mom's 55. And when she gets drunk, she tells me waaaaaay too detailed stories about her old boyfriends, and about the time she helped her gay best friend "make sure" he was gay in college.

You did totally call it. And now I call, "More! More!" (Although I think too much McKay/Lorne would make me start feeling bad for John.)

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

see, the difference between you and i is that when I explain that scene to my mum, I make sure to describe how gay it is when Rodney gets cockblocked. I spare her no slashy gooodness (though I doubt she sees it that way, she's probably wondering what sort of drugs I'm on).

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Well, I later tried to explain to her why John reads as so gay, but I think she will require more convincing. Where's my copy of 'Duet'? It's time to bring out The Lean.

[damson.livejournal.com]

ANYWAY. Isn't it fun how the more heterosexual they try to make John look, the gayer he seems? How is that possible? charlidos said that in the mess hall flashback, she thought at first that John was looking at Rodney. I did, too. I was like, "Whoa, John! Not in public!"

:laughs:
It was when John started to hear Rodney's echoing voice that had me going "Woah, What?! How 'Ghost' is that." until the flashback cut in and yeah... but before I was grinning and thinking, of course John would hear Rodney's voice in his head during such moments. :loves:

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

*nods* John got WWMD knitted into his Wristband of Angst.

OMG I *totally* loved the Michael parts

[lillian78.livejournal.com]

I'm usually a McKay/Sheppard fan but I could go for Michael/John anytime. I thought really that the best scenes involved Michael. John calling him "Mikey" was hilarious. I wasn't so hot on the Rodney/Ronan stuff primarily because I just don't see the same chemistry between them as I do John/Rodney. Hey, Ronan just seems irritable to me while John is irritable/charming/endearing you know? Plus I got a little sick of Rodney's internal dialogue. Since last season I split with the writers over the way they portrayed him. It seems to me that Rodney got "seasoned" and wasn't so much a chicken little but this episode brought that all back with a bang. Now I'm not saying that our Rodney wouldn't have babbled but *never* would he have given up, given in with his brilliance. I do wish the writers would drop this whole "Rodney as self-involved clown" bit which, at this point, I think they've overdone. Elizabeth's part meh. I found it typical and boring. Though I did like her calling Caldwell, Steven. Nice touch that. I do hope they decide to keep Michael or have him a ongoing basis though just to tick off Ronan. It seems obvious that it's not so much that he was/is a wraith as Teyla *likes* Michael and Ronan is very jealous and terratorial over her. And the newly turned "humans" formerly wraiths? Woobies. Seeing that one wander over to the soldiers in a confused, childlike manner had me right there. What's to become of them? And, also so very glad Lorne survived the Queen. Love him. He needs his own romance. And, why aren't the Queens affected by the drug? That's the million dollar question. :-D

Re: OMG I *totally* loved the Michael parts

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

1. Michael/anyone and everyone. The ship of the future!

2. Rodney/Ronon. Doesn't really work for me as a romantic pairing, although people have written some really good stories. I like them as teammates, though. The dichotomy is fun.

3. I don't think this episode was backsliding for Rodney at all. He didn't have a weapon and he didn't know Ronon had a weapon (although when doesn't Ronon have a weapon?), so there was really nothing for him to do when stuck in tha cocoon. Why not complain? And as soon as Ronon got him out, he was instantly, "Now there is hope!" And yes, he wanted to escape rather than blow himself up (but who wouldn't? Mitchell made the same call in the latest episode of SG-1), but I think he would have sacrificed himself if that had been the only way to save Earth/Atlantis. Furthermore, the thing with the masks on the Daedalus? Yes, it was presented in an amusing way, but he was right: it did makes sense for the people who were still working to use them. So I had no problem with Rodney's characterization in this.

4. I do wonder if the reason Ronon hates Michael in particular so much is because of Teyla. I bet it is.

5. And yeah, poor Wraith. This should be nicely fucked up. *g*

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

I loved the Weir/Caldwell scene--she called him Steven!

Oh, yes! and you should totally write us a Weir/Caldwell story. ::nods:: yes, you should. You can have a litte McKay/Sheppard on the side, of course. We can't stop you....

Also striking was the easy trust and cooperation between Elizabeth and Teyla.

Did you note that Elizabeth left Teyla in charge of Atlantis in her absence? (much as she did the last time she was on Earth, btween Season 1 & 2). NOT a scientist, NOT a member of the military, NOT someone from Earth, but the other female Leader of Her People. YAY! Teyla!

And I agree with you that Zelenka's moments of (understandable) terror and wanting-to-flee were comforting in that we see it's a character arc for him getting (believably) braver and more willing to take risks, not suddenly being Super!Radek...

And they let Lorne be captain of a spaceship! (before he got it blow to smithereens) Maybe they'll even give him a first name this season....(unless that means they're gonna kill him. because, then, naw, we can live with Nameless!Lorne...as long as he get to Live.)

You did, completely, utterly, call Shep's Han Solo moment! Too bad they didn't do the ep the way your story went. ::grins::

wags, springwoof

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

If I can think of a way to do interesting Weir/Caldwell, believe me, I will! *encourages the rest of fandom too*

I loved that Elizabeth put Teyla in charge. AndI love that I'm utterly confident (as Elizabeth is) that Teyla would do a fantastic job.

As much as I'd love to see an episode where Radek gets superpowers, yeah, I'm thrilled that they're giving him a realistic arc. I just wish they'd make him a regular so I don't have to live in terror of them killing him!

Same with Lorne. Please name the Lorne only if he is allowed to live. Otherwise, yes, he can remain nameless, and we can all pretend that his embarrassing secret is the fact that he only has one name. You know, like Madonna.

ahem, sorry to intrude

[intermezzo]

n this universe, using someone's first name
...
(Lorne/McKay, anyone?)

Lorne called McKay "Rodney" after the Queen tried to killed him. *coughs*

PS: do you mind if strangers (but loyal readers) randomly comment to your posts?

Re: ahem, sorry to intrude

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

You mean, as opposed to McKay? Has he done that before? Either way, it's probably a habit he's picked up from Sheppard.

I wonder what other habits he's picked up from Sheppard... *g*

Everyone's always welcome to comment. ;-) (Sometimes I kind of suck at responding, though. Sorry.)

[quettaser.livejournal.com]

Isn't it fun how the more heterosexual they try to make John look, the gayer he seems?

God, it's so true. To me, the undercurrent of the scene was: heterosexual flirting endangered John's life. It's really hard to get gayer than that. And then John vows to listen to Rodney more, which means no more lunchtime flirting at all and only watching Rodney. Which is GAYER.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Hee! Now I can picture John doing a PSA.

"I used to engage in flirtatious heterosexual activity, and it almost cost me my life. Fellow repressed gay men, don't flirt with women. Stare at a pretty man today."

[randomeliza.livejournal.com]

Dude. I agree with pretty much everything you just said. And my first instinct with the "staring at girl in cafeteria and not listening to Rodney and Zelenka" scene was totally, "Wow, way to try and fail to make John less gay, Atlantis writers." Because any straight man would not have then turned back to his friends and kept talking to them while an attractive woman was basically inviting him back to her place for sex. Which that girl was totally doing. Especially if he had no reason not to accept. I think it's more so RODNEY thinks John is some sort of intergalactic slut.

Also, I liked Elizabeth in this episode! Shocking. I barely ever like Elizabeth these days.

And the Ronon/Rodney conversation was fabulous. I love their dynamic so much. And we so rarely get to see things be just the two of them, so that was really fun.

*hugs Atlantis* DON'T EVER LEAVE ME AGAIN!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

YES. John's interest in women seems so cursory, like something he practiced a few times in front of the mirror and now does out of habit. Like every day he gets up and he has to remember to brush his teeth, and fail to tame his hair, and flirt with some chick, and take his vitamins. Poor gay John!

I of course want more Rodney/John this season, but I'd also like more episodes with Rodney chatting with Ronon or chatting with Teyla. Or more dorky team moments; those are always fun.

*clings to Atlantis tight*

[nemesina77.livejournal.com]

Ya know what's funny? I thought the same thing about Ronon's knife-hiding place!

I don't consider this spoilery, but your comment about an Elizabeth episode without a baby or a man coupled with your Buffy comment reminded me that Gateworld.net has small blurbs about the episodes and one of them is an Elizabeth-centric episode, that to me at least, feels very reminiscent of a certain Buffy episode (if you read the blurb, or even wait till the episode happens, you'll know what I mean).

[nemesina77.livejournal.com]

Oh, and because I forgot to mention how utterly jealous I am of you before, it is pretty cool that your Mom watched with you. No one will watch any of my SciFi shows with me and that makes me jealous of anyone with show buddies (it turns out my fiancee watched the BSG mini, but apparantly never thought of mentioning to me that he did, and now refuses to rewatch it with me, I don't know why, I'm not ridiculously fangrrlish towards anything before the writers decided Buck and Apollo just shouldn't talk for a year without any explanation or anything...).

Stepping away from the keyboard before my intense rage breaks it...

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

Okay! That last post didn't work, so I deleted it. Trying again.

I want to say hair, 'cause I loved the way his dreads were sticking out when he broke free, but I think it may actually have been somewhere lower. That sounds wrong.

OK, seriously. I have seen a show (Doctor Who) in which a naked character pulls a weapon out from behind him. The bad guys question him about this, and he says, "You really don't want to know." So really? I can buy Ronon pulling a gun or knife or what have you from anywhere. *snicker*

[everysecondtues.livejournal.com]

I love Jack, and the fact that he always has a gun. That was one of my favorite scenes with him (and not just because he was naked *g*).

[everysecondtues.livejournal.com]

Hee. I giggled my way through most of this review. I'm totally waiting for Lorne/Radek fic, myself. And maybe some John/Michael (it seems so wrong, but *flails* I can't help it) and Ronon/Rodney (the snark!).

As for the first name thing, did you notice that Teyla called Elizabeth by her first name a few times? *glee* And, okay, it was kind of weird that she was left in charge of the city, but I was happy about it, even if I kind of hoped she would get more screentime.

[lonespark.livejournal.com]

John/Michael: It's not wrong. It's just tricky.

[klo-the-hobbit.livejournal.com]

Eee! *does gleeful dance* Loved it so much. There was really nothing I didn't love, even Elizabeths relatively boring Earth bits gave her character soemthing to actually do for once
John is going to be totally broken up about his lost spaceship. Maybe Rodney can fix the hive ship up nice for him. Sure, John won't be able to fly it with his mind, but it will be way more stealth if he has to go into enemy territory. I really hope they don't kill off Lorne. We need a military 2IC to stick around for more than a season. And hes coooooool. I love the way he was consistently behind Johns shoulder during the Daedalus bridge scenes. Firstly when John was in the pilots seat, and then when they were on sitting on the floor.
J/R are so weird about each other, I love it. And Rodneys huge eyes and the studied casualness, kinda like the end of Lost Boys (thats the one I mean right, where Rodney takes the enzyme?). Except this time, didn't bug me. Rodney needed validation last time dammit! Anyway.
I'm just rambling now. I have a neckache and have to go to work and didn't sleep enough because I typed up a massive recap ramble thing that was probably so unfocused and drivelling no-one read it. But it was enjoyable nonetheless!
*klo*

[thekynicist.livejournal.com]

John and Rodney's non-reaction when they saw each other. I don't know why I like that, but I do.

I would've been disappointed if they hadn't done that. It feels like a Stargate thing to me: "oh, we know you were missing and in a situation nobody else could ever get out of, but you're here because clearly, death got nothin' on you."

The first name = second base thing made me laugh really hard.

[lonespark.livejournal.com]

Dude, I haven't read your whole post yet, but I want John/Michael very, very badly. Michaelfic of all varieties, but they have a very unique...something going on.

[strifechaos.livejournal.com]

I loved the John/Mikey walkie-talkie scenes. I am hoping that Michael does end up sticking around for a bit. Love how John's name for a wraith finally stuck, though I do feel bad that he was all ostracized from his 'people'. Is it ok that I feel bad for someone who not a few episodes ago almost ate Teyla? *blink blink*

Ronon and Rodney trapped in the hive amused me; Rodney's doom speech was fantastic. David is brilliant. *fawns*

Hopefully they will do something interesting/original with Elizabeth this season. I found I rather liked her in this past episode; she grew on me a bit. Plus her calling Caldwell his first name had me squeeing loud enough for people in the room next to me to hear. ^.^; Of course so did Landry hitting on her.

Now he's going to be like, "See? See? This is why we can't have anything nice!" *dies* That was hilarious. I could just hear him saying it, which just made it perfect. *giggles*

The Lorne expanded parts made me bouncy. Freaked me out as well at the end when I thought the wraith queen was going to suck him dry (it would be just like them to tease us with lots of him and then just BOOM kill him off.) Although I just knew a wraith would pop up and try to get someone. Him calling Rodney by name and accepting his hand left me in fangirl ecstasy.

I hadn't thought of the Zelenka arc quite that way, but I like it. It makes sense that he would move slowly from being totally freaked instead of just making giant leap to intergalactic explorer.

You did totally call the Boba Fett/Han Solo move. *grins* *offers cookie* It would have been just lovely if your way was how the episode ended.

Oh that reminds me, I just died when I saw the Buffy reference because that's is EXACTLY what I was thinking when I was watching! Spike was exactly what sprung to mind when I saw it. *bounces* Great minds think alike.

The lunch scene between John, Rodney and Radek was hilarious. I just died when I heard Rodney's catty comment about him not listening.

The way that Ronon's dreads were sticking up was comical, hee. My hair did that once . . . of course I had bits of a hanger helping me out.

I hadn't realized until I was watching yesterday just how much I'd been missing the show. *smiles* And whoa I just rambled on forever didn't I? Sorry. ^.^; *grins* *glomps* *waves*

[volari.livejournal.com]

::shifty eyes::

I may have just written Michael/Sheppard (http://volari.livejournal.com/10193.html)

Also, I agree with just about everything you said! But it's after 3 am and I'm going off to bed, so chances are I'll reply in better detail tomorrow. Later today. Whatever.

Good night!

[shiny-starlight.livejournal.com]

So I wasnt the only one to see the Rodney/Lorne? Good to know. Considering Lorne just called him McKay before, its practically an anouncement of their hot, unconventional love.

But there's also John Rodney in this ep. I agree with you on the whole not running-through-the-fields-into-each-others-arms thing did totally work. They so have a special bond that way. And John hearing Rodney's voice in his head? I swear, Gero is just reading slash fanfic to get his ideas.

And Elizabeth is a big, mean user to trade on Caldwell's strange and misguided feeling feelings for her by using his first name. Really liked Caldwell in this episode. *huggles Steven*

[sinclair-furie.livejournal.com]

Dude I love Michael SO MUCH. Obviously, Michael/John is an awesome pairing, but John totally flirts with everyone and has UST all over the place.
My new OTP may be Michael/Teyla, though. She's the only one who understands him! Their love is star-crossed, angst filled and interspecies, and damn it, I hope he becomes a human. And then discovers, you know, the fun things humans can do because there's more than one female and they're not, you know, space vampires. [has dirty thoughts about Michael's first time...]
And yes, Elizabeth caused much happiness with calling the Colonel "Steven." Smart woman, she is.