SGA: season 1, eps 11-20
Sep. 15th, 2012 10:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cahnSo people gave me fic recs and they were awesome and this has really slowed down my SGA snarfing, but then D poked me to clean up the papers that have been accumulating for weeks while I've been doing, um, other stuff, and SGA is perfect to have in the background while doing that.
"The Eye": So there was a lot of rain, and everyone got really wet? I dunno, I admit I watched this in thirty-second increments while getting work done, but I think it was supposed to instill more emotion in me than it actually did.
"The Defiant One": Um, I don't think I was supposed to laugh every time the Wraith said something. Also, OH RODNEY.
"Hot Zone": I will watch any scene with Zelenka. THAT IS ALL. Beckett figured out it was a virus before McKay did THROUGH INFORMATION GOING BACK IN TIME, apparently. And hey Atlantis has transporters! Did we know this? Did I totally miss this because I've only been paying half attention?
"Sanctuary" and "Before I Sleep": I "watched" these while toddler-wrangling and house-cleaning, so I really have very little idea what happens in them, but I got the distinct feeling I didn't miss much; so in Sanctuary, Sheppard falls for a girl who isn't what she seems, and "Before I sleep" seems to have been the writers trying to make Weir more interesting and instead just making her whiny. Did I get that right?
"The Brotherhood": Didn't we just do this in Sanctuary, only now with McKay instead? McKay doing flirting is AWESOME. "You're smart!... and oh yeah attractive and all that." I AM SWOONING HERE, MCKAY. No really, I am; this has been a historically-successful way to sweet-talk me. Um, what? However, I have to say that of my acquaintances, the smarter the person, the less likely s/he's in Mensa, or at least less likely to admit the fact. So I dunno, my estimation of McKay's intelligence went down a bit? Maybe it's different in Canada. Also, Beckett and Weir continue to be complete wastes of time. Seriously, I don't think it's SPOILER that's going to bother me, it's the fact that SPOILER became necessary because of their complete and utter waste of the character.
"Letters from Pegasus": SGA does SGU-kino. Or, I guess, the other way around chronologically, but I liked it in SGU better (with one exception which should be clear). Which isn't saying a whole lot. Anyway, this really brings home to me that I CANNOT STAND Beckett. Still. And that Zelenka talking in Czech is, like, infinitely more interesting to watch than Beckett talking in English. (Actually that whole scene was intensely moving, possibly my favorite yet. Zelenka, despite the fact that I had no idea what his name was until being force-fed a fic about him, is like MY FAVORITE EVER.) Hey, Weir FINALLY gets something to do. That's a nice change. But really, my impression of this episode is something like "Huh, they only had half an ep worth of material, so they decided to do some flashbacks. Also ZELENKA FOREVER."
"The Gift": Weir turns out to be a linguist? Did we know this? Is she ever going to display the Power of Language again? (My bet's on no.) Also, I thought it was hilarious they were all "Teyla... you... have... Wraith DNA!!" like it was a big deal. In other breaking news, humans share DNA sequences... with... monkeys. NOOOOO! Also, you will be super-surprised to hear that I think Rachel Luttrell has been totally wasted -- when she started speaking Wraith-tones I was all who is this actress she is awesome!
"The Siege Part 1": Please tell me McKay and Zelenka get more scenes together. A LOT more scenes. Because every time they have a scene together I am SO HAPPY. Hm, on watching the rest of this ep I suspect the writers have also realized Zelenka is PURE GOLD. Basically even McKay I've stopped being so enamored with, but ANYTHING with Zelenka I will watch. Um. Also, angsting over the Wraith coming to destroy Atlantis and Peter's tragic death and stuff. But also Zelenka angsting over Peter's death! Am I maybe not focusing on what I was supposed to, here?
"The Siege Part 2": Huh... that... was a plot twist I wasn't expecting. That's pretty cool. Wow, that guy is smarmy. Love it. Also, no, seriously, McKay and Zelenka, they could be talking about nothing at all, sort of like they do for a couple of seconds here, and just LOVE. But when they talk about science, even better! (I love especially Zelenka's look back at Smarmy!Colonel, like, "Oh, you're still here?") The ending was... surprisingly tense. I... actually liked it. And McKay continues to break my heart in just offhand camera shots, simply through the excellence of David Hewlett's acting.
"The Eye": So there was a lot of rain, and everyone got really wet? I dunno, I admit I watched this in thirty-second increments while getting work done, but I think it was supposed to instill more emotion in me than it actually did.
"The Defiant One": Um, I don't think I was supposed to laugh every time the Wraith said something. Also, OH RODNEY.
"Hot Zone": I will watch any scene with Zelenka. THAT IS ALL. Beckett figured out it was a virus before McKay did THROUGH INFORMATION GOING BACK IN TIME, apparently. And hey Atlantis has transporters! Did we know this? Did I totally miss this because I've only been paying half attention?
"Sanctuary" and "Before I Sleep": I "watched" these while toddler-wrangling and house-cleaning, so I really have very little idea what happens in them, but I got the distinct feeling I didn't miss much; so in Sanctuary, Sheppard falls for a girl who isn't what she seems, and "Before I sleep" seems to have been the writers trying to make Weir more interesting and instead just making her whiny. Did I get that right?
"The Brotherhood": Didn't we just do this in Sanctuary, only now with McKay instead? McKay doing flirting is AWESOME. "You're smart!... and oh yeah attractive and all that." I AM SWOONING HERE, MCKAY. No really, I am; this has been a historically-successful way to sweet-talk me. Um, what? However, I have to say that of my acquaintances, the smarter the person, the less likely s/he's in Mensa, or at least less likely to admit the fact. So I dunno, my estimation of McKay's intelligence went down a bit? Maybe it's different in Canada. Also, Beckett and Weir continue to be complete wastes of time. Seriously, I don't think it's SPOILER that's going to bother me, it's the fact that SPOILER became necessary because of their complete and utter waste of the character.
"Letters from Pegasus": SGA does SGU-kino. Or, I guess, the other way around chronologically, but I liked it in SGU better (with one exception which should be clear). Which isn't saying a whole lot. Anyway, this really brings home to me that I CANNOT STAND Beckett. Still. And that Zelenka talking in Czech is, like, infinitely more interesting to watch than Beckett talking in English. (Actually that whole scene was intensely moving, possibly my favorite yet. Zelenka, despite the fact that I had no idea what his name was until being force-fed a fic about him, is like MY FAVORITE EVER.) Hey, Weir FINALLY gets something to do. That's a nice change. But really, my impression of this episode is something like "Huh, they only had half an ep worth of material, so they decided to do some flashbacks. Also ZELENKA FOREVER."
"The Gift": Weir turns out to be a linguist? Did we know this? Is she ever going to display the Power of Language again? (My bet's on no.) Also, I thought it was hilarious they were all "Teyla... you... have... Wraith DNA!!" like it was a big deal. In other breaking news, humans share DNA sequences... with... monkeys. NOOOOO! Also, you will be super-surprised to hear that I think Rachel Luttrell has been totally wasted -- when she started speaking Wraith-tones I was all who is this actress she is awesome!
"The Siege Part 1": Please tell me McKay and Zelenka get more scenes together. A LOT more scenes. Because every time they have a scene together I am SO HAPPY. Hm, on watching the rest of this ep I suspect the writers have also realized Zelenka is PURE GOLD. Basically even McKay I've stopped being so enamored with, but ANYTHING with Zelenka I will watch. Um. Also, angsting over the Wraith coming to destroy Atlantis and Peter's tragic death and stuff. But also Zelenka angsting over Peter's death! Am I maybe not focusing on what I was supposed to, here?
"The Siege Part 2": Huh... that... was a plot twist I wasn't expecting. That's pretty cool. Wow, that guy is smarmy. Love it. Also, no, seriously, McKay and Zelenka, they could be talking about nothing at all, sort of like they do for a couple of seconds here, and just LOVE. But when they talk about science, even better! (I love especially Zelenka's look back at Smarmy!Colonel, like, "Oh, you're still here?") The ending was... surprisingly tense. I... actually liked it. And McKay continues to break my heart in just offhand camera shots, simply through the excellence of David Hewlett's acting.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-16 06:52 am (UTC)Beckett: basically a waste of space and better science options.
Weir is canonically a polyglot negotiator recruited into the SGC in SG-1 S7. Originally played by Jessica Steen, recast and played very differently by Torri Higginson in SG-1 S8 and SGA.
Transporters came up pretty early and also faded into the background as Magic Elevator Device nearly as fast.
But also Zelenka angsting over Peter's death! Am I maybe not focusing on what I was supposed to, here?
IDK, do you really think they're going to blow up Atlantis? Because clearly, what this show needs is more science time. And more Rachel Luttrell. (Okay, the only reason I might sort of suggest watching Critical Mass when you get to S2 is for the Teyla subplot about coping with her dying foster (grand?)mother. There's singing.)
The key part of "Sanctuary" relevant to your interests is Sheppard falling for the semi-Ascended Ancient girl who never shows up again, seriously show, I am filing this in the Ideas Rolodex. There's also a Bechdel pass when she and Weir are interacting, but that's about it. "Before I Sleep" is, yep, failing at making Weir an interesting character. Also, is there a time-travelling puddlejumper somewhere in there?
Why is SG so good at end-of-season cliffhangers, and so dicey on, well, almost all the rest of the writing? Including the 35 minutes leading up to the cliffahnger? Maybe it's good directing, rather than good writing? Obviously this is all thinking out loud.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-18 11:12 pm (UTC)I was kind of surprised by how much I cared about the cliffhanger after caring very little about everything that came before it, yeah, good direction maybe? But such bad direction for everything else! I don't know.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-19 06:55 am (UTC)Which is sort of how I felt about the end of SGU S1? Either people are wired to like cliffhangers, or the SG-verse production gestalt has that one thing down pat? Except I didn't care about the SGA S2 cliffhanger, there goes that hypothesis.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-16 02:39 pm (UTC)I think we get Weir-the-linguist from her introduction in SG-1, where her diplomatic chops are really on display. But yes, did you say something about uneven characterization on SGA? Shocked! Shocked!
And yes, I will affirm your enjoyment of Rodney-flirting. And all things Zelenka. Such honeys they are. (You know something is wrong with a show when it's the boys I'm attached to.)
no subject
Date: 2012-09-18 11:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-16 06:12 pm (UTC)Hate Beckett? *sniff* I won't deny he's far less developed than, well, any other major character, really. But he's cuddly and I enjoy him when he's there and don't miss him when he's not. :P
"The Eye": [..] think it was supposed to instill more emotion in me than it actually did.
Yeah - it was a "end in the same place where we started" sort of episode. But it did have some great moments between Rodney and Weir out in the rain. I couldn't help going, "Damn, the actors must have hated shooting this - a week under rain machines!" every time they cut to outside :P
"The Defiant One": Um, I don't think I was supposed to laugh every time the Wraith said something. Also, OH RODNEY.
OH RODNEY! The only really smashing thing about this ep, imo, was Rodney begging John for instructions by shouting past the wraith he was trying to kill...and John shouting them right back, as pedantic as McKay would need him to. D'aawww!
"Hot Zone": I will watch any scene with Zelenka. THAT IS ALL. [...] And hey Atlantis has transporters! Did we know this? Did I totally miss this because I've only been paying half attention?
*snort* yes, you did!
"Sanctuary" and "Before I Sleep": I "watched" these while toddler-wrangling [...]
Bwaa ha ha ha - been there, best way to have done that. You wanna know how often I've rewatched ALL of Firefly that way?
"Before I sleep" seems to have been the writers trying to make Weir more interesting and instead just making her whiny. Did I get that right?
Pretty much :p "Sanctuary"=there are still living Ancients in Pegasus. All ya need to know. "Before I Sleep"=a really slick retcon for 'Why Atlantis didn't fail the moment they powered up the lights." Whiny? Hmm. Might have a point there.
"The Brotherhood": Didn't we just do this in Sanctuary, only now with McKay instead? McKay doing flirting is AWESOME. "You're smart!... and oh yeah attractive and all that." I AM SWOONING HERE, MCKAY. No really, I am; this has been a historically-successful way to sweet-talk me. Um, what? [...]
ROFLMAO!! *high five*
"Letters from Pegasus": [...] I CANNOT STAND Beckett. Still. And that Zelenka talking in Czech is, like, infinitely more interesting to watch than Beckett talking in English. (Actually that whole scene was intensely moving, possibly my favorite yet. Zelenka, despite the fact that I had no idea what his name was until being force-fed a fic about him, is like MY FAVORITE EVER.) Hey, Weir FINALLY gets something to do. That's a nice change. But really, my impression of this episode is something like "Huh, they only had half an ep worth of material, so they decided to do some flashbacks. Also ZELENKA FOREVER."
His developing relationship with Rodney is one of the best parts of the show, imo.
"The Gift": Weir turns out to be a linguist? Did we know this? Is she ever going to display the Power of Language again? (My bet's on no.)
Tsk tsk - this was in the set-up for Atlantis, way back in SG1 :D She and Daniel bond over being able to speak more than 5 languages each.
The thing that bugs me about Weir, is that they recast her *so* completely. The initial actress cast was Jessica Steen, and aside from "basically genuine and kind," the characterizations the two actresses chose to portray couldn't be more different. Steen played the doctor in the cancelled-but-fucking-awesome Earth 2, and I found her riveting to watch - there's sooo much going on under the surface, there! I was really excited to see her cast as Weir and anticipating five delicious seasons of SGA with her at the helm. She can do so much with so little, she comes across as very nuanced even without being given a lot to work with. GREAT! said I. .....and then she was gone. And while I think the actress playing Weir is a good "honest carpenter" actor, that sense of depth manifested out of the ether...just isn't there.
[...] Also, you will be super-surprised to hear that I think Rachel Luttrell has been totally wasted -- when she started speaking Wraith-tones I was all who is this actress she is awesome!
LOL - agreed. I think she's shaping up a lot as a character in S2. They're starting to let her have emotions other than 'tolerant.' Seeing her get mad or scared once in a while!
"The Siege Part 1": Please tell me McKay and Zelenka get more scenes together. A LOT more scenes. Because every time they have a scene together I am SO HAPPY. Hm, on watching the rest of this ep I suspect the writers have also realized Zelenka is PURE GOLD. Basically even McKay I've stopped being so enamored with, but ANYTHING with Zelenka I will watch. Um. Also, angsting over the Wraith coming to destroy Atlantis and Peter's tragic death and stuff. But also Zelenka angsting over Peter's death! Am I maybe not focusing on what I was supposed to, here?
*dies laughing* YES, WE GET LOTS MORE ZELENKA, NO WORRIES. He's even sharper and more engaged in S2 - can't wait to see where his character goes.
"The Siege Part 2": Huh... that... was a plot twist I wasn't expecting. That's pretty cool. Wow, that guy is smarmy. Love it.
My only objection is that he is de-smarmed so quickly (though I find the constant push & pull between the military and the science contingent tedious, if you're gonna give me a bastard, let him be a bastard for a while!).
Also, no, seriously, McKay and Zelenka, they could be talking about nothing at all, sort of like they do for a couple of seconds here, and just LOVE. But when they talk about science, even better! (I love especially Zelenka's look back at Smarmy!Colonel, like, "Oh, you're still here?") The ending was... surprisingly tense. I... actually liked it. And McKay continues to break my heart in just offhand camera shots, simply through the excellence of David Hewlett's acting.
Hewlett is one of those actors who never stops acting - it doesn't matter whether he has dialog or the camera depth-of-field even includes him. There's always something going on in there. Delightful. I was just talking with my partner about where McKay's arc has to be going. Clearly they gave the character room to develop. Starting off with a brilliant scientist so blinded by his emotional damage that his brilliant science is often screwed up by it, they are very very slowly working their way around to a man who realizes he's essentially in a closed system and not only needs but wants the regard and trust of those around him. Getting into season 2, it's painful (deliciously deliciously painful) to see him screw up, lose people's trust and grit his teeth and figure out how to regain it. I APPROVE.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-16 06:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-18 11:14 pm (UTC)I don't really hate Beckett, it's kinda that I feel his character is a bit of a waste, kind of cliched and with no depth to him -- and, okay, this is dumb and random, but my real problem with him is Robert Carlyle's accent. So Carlyle's accent is the real thing, right, even if toned down for an American audience, and next to him McGillion's accent just strikes me as so totally what an American thinks a Scottish accent sounds like that it drives me bonkers. :P :) (I know Gillion is Canadian and has Scottish roots, I don't blame the actor at all, I just mean that I feel like he was directed to sound like he had an accent that an American audience would accept. Whereas I feel like Carlyle was all "Um, no. I'm going to keep my real accent, thanks" -- informed also by seeing an interview where he talks about his history of fighting to keep his accent.)
by shouting past the wraith he was trying to kill
Yeah, I loved that!
Hewlett is one of those actors who never stops acting
Yeah, this is what I love so much about him.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-21 05:50 pm (UTC)Yeah, ITA - their chemistry does *not* suggest slash. It suggests dueling intellects. Adorable adorable dueling intellects.
I was lucky enough to have two science-partners-in-crime in college, one of which I eventually started dating, the other of which I never did, and the former burst into flames and the latter continued to be awesome through grad school
LOLOL - compatibility in one area (intelligence, physical chemistry, life goals, sense of humor, work, leisure....) is a TERRIBLE predictor of enough compatibility to have a healthy, functional, joyful relationship :D And yet...all the fairy-tale relationship myths our culture takes for Truth really screw up our understanding of that reality :P
That being said, the Zelenka/McKay fic that was recced to me, Secret Lives of Scientists, is still seven kinds of awesome and I totally recommend it to you.
*types stuff* IT'S FROM JULAD??? ON ME LIST! (one of Res's long time betas :D)
and, okay, this is dumb and random, but my real problem with him is Robert Carlyle's accent. So Carlyle's accent is the real thing, right, even if toned down for an American audience, and next to him McGillion's accent just strikes me as so totally what an American thinks a Scottish accent sounds like that it drives me bonkers. :P :)
YK, it may be dumb or random...but acting/directing do count - and they matter to me quite a lot. I've also been bugged by that - esp after SGU and Carlyle *insert possible drooling here*
I feel like Carlyle was all "Um, no. I'm going to keep my real accent, thanks" -- informed also by seeing an interview where he talks about his history of fighting to keep his accent.)
I'm sure! Scots, of all English speakers, are asked not to use their native accent. Apparently it scares the Americans :D
I'm involved in The Dead Isle podfic project, and when throwing my abilities in the hat, I listed a few accents I could pull off with a little practice - but declared Scots OFF LIMITS. It might be one of the hardest accents ever to imitate :P
Hewlett!!!! *high five*
no subject
Date: 2012-09-21 09:43 pm (UTC)Heh, yeah, tell me about it. I wasn't super smart as a teenager/young adult about relationships, but the one smart thing I did was to realize that it would be an unmitigated disaster to date him, even though we were (and are) great friends (and were awesome partners-in-crime). There are certain things I need out of romantic relationships because of the way I was raised (e.g., I need a complete lack of judgement or pressure) that it was really clear to me he couldn't provide; and vice-versa as well (e.g., a constant sense of vibrant challenge).
I'm sure! Scots, of all English speakers, are asked not to use their native accent. Apparently it scares the Americans :D
It does! That and northern England (which is similar accent-wise to Scots) is like anathema to Americans. I had a friend who hailed from around there, and it seriously took me half the year to understand anything she was saying (fortunately, she's a really nice person and didn't mind too much having to repeat herself a lot).