SGA Progeny

[scribblinlenore]

Could I have loved this episode more? *considers* I don't think so! I've watched it four times now, and enjoyed the hell out of it each time.

I care about SGA in the same way I care about Supernatural. Plots? Whatever. It probably helps that I haven't watched SG-1 for years, so I only saw the replicators when they looked like mechanized bugs. I never saw them in human form. In any event, I'm all about the characters and their relationships, and Progeny was chocked full of team-connecty goodness.

--Rodney and Ronon should have their own comedy show. Seriously. They're so delightfully funny together. That look on Rodney's face when Ronon moved him away from the food? Hee! And the little bit where Rodney expects Ronon to be his muscle and dispatch with the frozen angry machine in his way...the look on Ronon's face. Priceless! Hewlett is great with his expressions and body language, but I don't think I give Jason Momoa enough credit for how wordlessly funny Ronon can be.

--Elizabeth and Teyla, dudes, I'm really becoming a shipper. All those significant looks between them during the John/Rodney bickering scenes were 1) hilarious but also 2) had such a feeling of sympathetic understanding in them. As if Teyla is saying, "I, too, have difficult ones amongst my people, Elizabeth. I admire your patience." And Elizabeth is saying, "As endearing as their obnoxious affection for one another is, Teyla, I don't envy you having to put up with them all the time." I love the idea of them bonding over the difficulties of leadership, finding in each other a safe haven where they can let down their guard for a little while. I love that Elizabeth asks Teyla for her read on the situation with the angry machines, that she respects her instincts about people...or things, as the case may be. Also, they both had totally mussed hair, as if they had to roll out of bed and throw on some clothes and run to the gate room for the mission. I'm just saying! *g*

--Even though McShep is my OTP, I do think Rodney is really sweet with women, and I love his little moments of concern for Elizabeth that mirror his protectiveness of her in The Storm/Eye, his worry for her when the replicator guy wants to show her what happened with the Ancients, his "I'm so sorry" at the end. Dudes, when has Rodney ever said he was *so* sorry? My heart was all a-melty. We know that Rodney and Elizabeth have known each other in the past. My own personal fanon is that they were involved once upon a long time ago, and then various work pressures made their relationship infeasible, but they managed to stay friends and still really care a lot about each other. The fact that Rodney has such unambiguous, overt respect for her charms me and actually makes me like her better.

--Of course, the John/Rodney moments were my favorites! TPTB said they wanted to show more of their friendship this season, and they're doing a marvelous job. The little exchange about wanting to meet an Ancient race that invented cars. Hee! The Ancienty/Unancienty playfulness. Rodney getting all cranky when John is trying to rush him through rewriting the angry machine code. "You applying pressure is not going to-- Oooooh!" *laughs so hard* Yes, yes, Rodney, whatever you need to tell yourself. We all know that John applies pressure JUST RIGHT for you. And then the bickering over the amount of time. Oh, I could die of the cute. And John watching over Rodney's shoulder, and Rodney looking back for him when he wants to tell him something, knowing he'll still be there. Really, I just want to hug them both.

--And then, not to forget my favorite threesome, there is that lovely little McShepka moment, like it was framed just for me, as a friend I was watching it with said. The look between John and Radek when Rodney says, "there's nothing more annoying than people who won't admit their mistakes." Hee! I hope we get more Zelenka. I love him so.

Re: John's mind probe. I began to figure out that this couldn't really be happening when another FIFTEEN hive ships showed up, but, man, was that still painful. That sequence underscored some things we already knew about John. The way he expects Ronon just to know what he's planning when the angry machines show up with food and lower the force field of the jail cell mirrors how certain he is in No Man's Land that Ronon will want to do as much damage to the hive ship as possible and Rodney will know how to accomplish it. That little moment when Rodney disables communications between the jumper and the gate room shows how implicitly John relies on Rodney's smarts. The fact that John volunteers to go up with the city or that he expects to die alone aren't particularly surprising, either. But that he believes Rodney would at least offer to stay behind himself shows a respect for Rodney, a regard for his courage that usually stays hidden beneath their sarcastic banter.

When John closed his eyes as the city was about to blow...dudes. That just about killed me.

Re: the rest of the mind probes. I was deeply disturbed by what might have happened to Rodney and Teyla. The fact that Rodney doesn't want to recount the details of what was done to him is always a danger signal, and his use of the word "intimate" was really unnerving. I didn't necessarily think it referred to rape, although I did feel there might have been a lot of humiliation involved. But then the way Rodney reacted to John's throwaway line about "as long as that was all that was probed," made me think they were trying to suggest rape, which is just deeply, deeply disturbing. Since there's no real way of knowing, I'm going to just pretend it was something else. La-la-la-la-la. Teyla's reaction was also very upsetting. I've never seen her so off balance, and the way she had her arms wrapped around herself...it was the body language of having been violated in some way. And, of course, they all HAD BEEN violated, having their thoughts taken from them like that. But still. Very, very unsettling.

Re: how the Ancients can be surprisingly Rodney-like, in other words human. So we've now seen the Ancients have two huge technological failures, the energy source in Trinity and these nanites last night. In both cases, their determination to accomplish a goal (develop a powerful new tool in their fight against the Wraith) drove them onto shaky ground, dabbling in powerful technologies that they couldn't predict the outcome of, blinded by their own arrogance and desperation, much as Rodney himself was in Trinity. It makes me think yet again that the Ancients were somehow responsible for the creation of the Wraith, more so than simply visiting the wrong planet. We know that one of their most cherished goals was ascension, and a pattern is clearly being developed that the Ancients would go to any extreme to accomplish a cherished goal. The angry machines themselves noted that the Ancients always looked to technology to solve their problems. So perhaps when they were researching ascension, they started with what they knew, looking for a technological rather than a religious way to accomplish this goal. The Wraith feed on energy, on life force, the very thing that the Ancients wished to become. It doesn't seem like too big a leap to imagine that another one of the Ancients' experiments went awry in their quest to ascend, and they inadvertently created the Wraith, tried to destroy them as they tried to destroy the nanites, and similarly failed.

Dudes, the Ancients sucked really, really bad!

Random asides:

--Part of me wishes Elizabeth would go on more missions, because it gives her character a sense of purpose and authority that is generally lacking. Another part of me wants the team to stay just the way it is!

--The angry machines' city was super cool! As was the flying city!

--I've watched that gratuitous ass shot of Ronon more often that I should admit to anyone. Also, leather!

--They need to get Elizabeth a jacket that fits her better.

--Where the hell is Lorne???? He's got, like, one line an episode on The 4400. I think he can handle both shows!


Re: preview for next week's ep. Why must every show have a send-up of that Buffy episode? Why?

Comments

[barely-bean.livejournal.com]

dude the line about Rodney offering to flip a coin-- that was in *John's* head-- that just about killed me with joy b/c John does have a high regard for Rodney and you know how much it drives me crazy when people are all like John is disdainful of Rodney cause no. I flailed and I missed you guys so much. Totally brunch when I get back.

Also. The first thing I said when I saw the previews for next week is OMG STOP STEALING FROM BUFFY!

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

We missed you so much! But we will definitely have brunch next week, and I would love to have another episode get-together. McKay and Mrs. Miller is supposed to be on the Friday before Labor Day. If people are going to be around, I'd love to do it then.

Of course, I totally agree with you about that scene of John's delusion. It really does show John's true estimation of Rodney. Awwwwww!

[anitac588.livejournal.com]

But you know what was also in John's head? The food thing.
*g*
He cannot hide that he likes watching Rodney eat.

[anitac588.livejournal.com]

You know that scene when Ronon rolls over after the replica bad-ass boss tosses him on the flor? Not sure if that was JM or his stunt -- it was impressive. Yeah, Ronon/Rodney duo kind of works for me.

I'm glad that the last trio scene worked for you -- I found it contradicting canon a little -- Rodney admits mistakes and says It was my fault -- it's that when he thinks he's right -- he'll insist beyond reason. At least that's impression I got.

I love how Rodney is all protective of Elizabeth, too. *g* Actually, if you think about it -- Torri Higginson has nice chemistry with many of her co-stars. Hmm. And the way Rodney and John bickered? -- I'm so with you on rewatching this eppy again and again. Somehow it is menage of all possible Team 1 OTPs. John flirting with Ronon at the begining, then his You're the boss to Lizzy, etc. Yeah.

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, that scene where Ronon does that roll thing...that's what I'm calling the gratuitous ass shot, because man! Yeah. I enjoyed it. *g*

re: Rodney and his mistakes. You know, I think canon is a little mixed on that. Because he does take responsibility for it when members of the science team get hurt. At the same time, he really did suck at saying he was sorry in Trinity, although clearly he did feel bad. Mostly I just liked seeing my OT3 together in that scene. Yay for that! :)

Really, just yay for the whole thing. It really was so very, very enjoyable.

[anitac588.livejournal.com]

OH, and you know what was the best part for me? Sort of geeky and nothing of hot -- but THE CITY FLIES!!! They actually have all needed ZPMs and they power it up and they fly!!! Ok, so it is not actually Atlantis, but how cool will it be when it is and Rodney and John get to do it.
(Remember in Coup d'Etat -- I think it was one of the first eppies you saw? With hot Ronon and Teyla? At the beginning Rodney teases John a little with we might be able to light up the engines and get the city to fly, just to see John's eyes light up when he asks Really?. *awww* You just feel it how they discuss this option and fantasise about it in bed together at night)
*watches Rodney and John discussing arbitrary numbers for teh upteenth time* *loves*

[carta.livejournal.com]

OK, I don't even remember the preview for next week. I think my mind blanked out after the fantasticness of that episode.

And I wanted to say in my journal everything that you said here, but I didn't have the words! Because I suck, and because I had a FFXI gaming date, so I am also a geek. *g* But yes to Rodney and women, yes to Rodney and Ronon, yes to Ancients as sucky, and yes yes yes to everything else.

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

That was a totally fantastic episode, wasn't it? I mean, I *did* watch it four times. Hee!

They really seem to be on a roll, so many good episodes.

[bentrumors.livejournal.com]

Lorne!! It's not like he's really traveling back and forth from Atlantis to Seattle for the gig. ;)

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Hee! Exactly. There's no drain on the ZPM! Bring back Lorne!

[ladycat777.livejournal.com]

There is so much love for this ep. The writers are really making it work, which is just so nice to see.

Why must every show have a send-up of that Buffy episode? Why?

Well, to be fair, Buffy probably wasn't the first. I can't think of anything else that's done it, but I think that's more me not being well-versed enough than Joss really creating that one out of whole cloth.

That said: WORD. I love Buffy, I think next week is gonan be cool, but they need to actually give a Whedon/Buffyverse shout-out for it to sing.

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

I agree! The writers are doing a great job with the team chemistry. I'm blowing a kiss in their direction. :)

Re: that ep of Buffy. Yes, yes, I'm sure you're right that Joss wasn't the first to do something like that. I mean, there is that episode of classic Twilight Zone where you think a woman in a hospital with bandages on her face, supposedly horribly disfigured, and all the doctors and nurses are always shot in shadow, and finally you get the reveal that they're the ones who are monstrous looking and the patient is actually a good-looking blonde, and this is a crazy upside down world where she's the outcast. That's got that same mind-fucky "nothing is the way it seems" quality to it, even if it's not exactly the same storyline.

It will be interesting to see what SGA does with it! I'm very excited about this season of SGA so far. Good stuff!

[aurora]

Re: preview for next week's ep. Why must every show have a send-up of that Buffy episode? Why?
Ugh, I know. I'm kinda curious about the SGA interpretation, but still.
Also, if they're gonna steal from Buffy, I demand SGA: The Musical. Asap! :)

[carta.livejournal.com]

"Jinto! He's just a booooooy!"
- as sung by Torri on the "Hide & Seek" commentary

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Totally! I think I'd like to hear John sing "I'm So Pretty" from Westside Story. *eg*

[bibliotech.livejournal.com]

1. I miss Lorne (yes, this is important).
2. I think it's written into everyone's contracts that every sci-fi show has to do the "You're in a hospital, you dreamed up the entire thing!" show that turns out to be Not A Dream and the heroine heroically chooses the So-Called-Dream over Not-A-Real-Life.
3. We didn't even have Major NotALorne from last week's episode! Give us some kind of Lorne, people.
4. I know there was plot and cool stuff that happened on this episode, but right now all I got from it is that they are all very cute and I would like to claim them for my own and send them out on random missions that require them to live in very small spaces together and maybe hug to keep warm. Yes, I'm shallow.

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Lorne!!!!! Seriously. We just...need him back.

Also, I love the way you're shallow! The small spaces and need to hug to keep warm, those are classics! There should be WAY more of that. *nods* Yes, yes, I'm in completely shallow agreement. *g*

[khohen1.livejournal.com]

First of all... Commentary on Parsus is now done (http://community.livejournal.com/dvd_commentary/11045.html), and it was exceedingly fun to do, and thank you so much for allowing me to!!!

-- Rodney and Ronon so totally DO need to have their own comedy show. They are soooo wonderful together. I'm, glad the writers seem to be catching on to how wonderfully they bounce off each other. And dude, Rodney asking Ronon to move the dude, and Ronon just topping him over? SO fuckin' funny.

-- Elizabeth/Teyla. Hmm. YES! Because they need to get some too, and they should get it with each other. Ronon can play too!

-- Rodney/Elizabeth is so my het otp in this fandom. It didn't used to be, it used to be John/Teyla or Teyla/Ronon, but now it's totally Rodney/Elizabeth, because Rodney is just so so so different to Elizabeth than he is to anyone else... Respectful, kind, protective. I love it so much. It's so sweet to watch.

-- The McSheppiness of this episode was so freakin' stellar. SO good. Someone (I'll find the link later if you want) compiled a list of all the writers/directors and what eps they did, and trhough studying it we've come to the conclusion that Gero gives the best McKay (duh) and therefore the best McShep, but Binder gives the second best... and Binder wrote this one. So woo, Carl Binder! (and the applying pressure/oooh moment was sooooo phone sex)

-- I loved John's mind-probe, in the "I love torturing my guys" kind of way, and so much wonderful insight came out of it. How much he loves and respects his people, specifically Rodney... j ust wonderful. And the eyes closed thing? OH. That hurt my heart. Even though I knew it wasn't real at that point (because we know that John's not dead), it still hurt.

-- I really really don't think Rodney's probe was him being sexually violated, I think it was much more embarrassing than it was "hideous" and violating. Probably something along the lines of him being either humiliated or seduced into giving up info. Something along those lines. But Teyla's worried me... I've never seen her look more vulnerable and off her game than the moments after the probe.

-- I really, really, really think the Ancients were responsible for the Wraith. I really think that'll be revealed one day, and people like Elizabeth, who has such awe and respect for them, will be CRUSHED. And I will LAUGH cause I so saw it coming. LOL.

-- I wish Elizabeth got more of a plotline, because while I adore Tori I am sort of ambivalent towards Elizabeth... they need to develope her character much better than they have thusfar.

-- Tell me of this gratuitous Ronon ass shot, because I fear I missed it! I CAN NOT MISS THE HOTASS!

-- I miss Lorne dearly. COME BACK TO US LORNE!