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SGA 4x17: Midway
I normally try to write my reactions before I read other people's. That way, I don't care that I'm repeating what everyone else has already said...
I had a very mixed reaction to this episode. I absolutely loved it as a whole, but there were little thing about it that bothered me. Nothing plot-wise, for once, just some character notes that I found a little disappointing.
While the Ronon/Teal'c stuff was inevitable and yes, did work, I found myself getting annoyed with Ronon. Maybe I was meant to! The guy's trying to help, and Ronon literally sneers at him. I take notes while I'm writing, and at one point put "Ronon is very young. Teal'c is very old. It shows." I kept wanting to hit Ronon, but again, maybe I was meant to. Not sure about that. But the watching the DVD together on Midway was priceless, and I liked the way the 'bonding over killing' worked. Oh, and the fight was excellent, especially Sheppard's face. And Carter's. Hee.
Someone I absolutely loved in this was Bill Lee. He manages to be bumbling and competent, all at once. Obviously terrified but trying not to be. He makes such a great contrast to Rodney - he's not an idiot, and in many ways is a nicer guy, but I love his tendency to ramble and get distracted. And OH GOOD GRIEF, I did NOT recognise Kavanagh. Better hair. Same twit. For me, one of the best scenes in the whole episode was the argument about how to shut down the stargate. Usually, in that kind of set up, you've got the lone 'voice of reason' who gets sick of not being heard and so just gets on and saves the day. You assume that Lee and Rodney are ignoring him for (effectively) comedy value, and there's the moment when he gets the better of him. Then it all goes wrong and you remember why Rodney's in charge. Also, did anyone else notice that he said to Sheppard 'We [made a mistake' (can't remember it exactly]. Not 'Kavanagh screwed up'. I liked that - Rodney's gained such a sense of responsibility - he should have been in charge, should have stopped Kavanagh. But he didn't, so it's kind of his fault.
My second favourite scene was, of course, the atmosphere venting. That whole sequence just worked. Rodney calling him 'John' never, ever, ever gets old, and his reaction was pitch-perfect. They know the realities of what they do, death being kind of an occupational hazard, and I adored the way Rodney just stepped up and took charge, herding thelost sheep scientists, leading the way, knowing what he's doing with the gun. (okay...I need a moment here...Rodney looking competent with a gun is highly distracting...er...right, I'm done now) It's the way he pushes it to one side so that he can do his job. It's awesome.
Also, the Sheppard vs the Wraith fight was so well directed. I loved that it was a scrappy, messy fight, pushing and shoving and slapping, which was such a contrast to Ronon and Teal'c's smooth techniques. This was down and dirty, no finesse, just survival. Very Sheppard. And the spacesuit bit was brilliant :)
Uh...I wrote down a ton of other stuff which I shall have to reduce to list form, or I'll be here all day.
- The way McKay fitted into the strike force was brilliant. We think of him as being reasonably competent, which he is, but I loved putting him in the middle of actual marines and seeing the contrast. The way he kind of hides in the middle really worked. Oh, and the bit where he hides behind the bulkhead until Sheppard says the control room's clear? Spot on.
- Yes, Rodney, clearly the worst thing about this situation is that Todd hacked your computer. *pets him*
- Sheppard's reflexes. Yes, they deserve a point all their own. Sheppard's a pilot, not a marine, and he's so quick. Not shooting Lee, turning the corner and taking out the Wraith, it all happened so fast. Also, I would have backed him against a station full of Wraith. I'm just sayin'.
- The three-way scenes with Sheppard, McKay and Carter worked so well. They bounce off each other perfectly, and really, the Sheppard/McKay friendship could not feel any stronger. And yes, he locked Rodney in with the scientists at the end - just because he's his friend, doesn't mean Rodney wouldn't be really annoying in a confined space over a few days. "You're my friend, but if you stay in here, I'm going to have to kill you and I have nowhere to put the body..."
- It was such a nice touch to have Ronon call Teal'c on the 'Indeed' thing. Atlantis' sense of humour is often sharper than SG-1's was, and I love it.
- I loved that Midway staff have their own patches.
- All Wraith tech is stun-based. Of course, but it was a nice touch.
- Teal'c does the twirly thing, just like Ronon, when he picks up the Wraith stunners on Midway.
- TEYLA! That was such a wonderful scene. Even in Stargate-reality, people are people, and they are mean and nasty and human. And Teyla handles it with poise and a good deal of annoyance. They're handling the 'what's going to happen' so well - hints at what she might want, which are different to what Sheppard wants. That look that passes between them is priceless. Oh, and Sheppard's such a gentleman - he stands up when Teyla does! Again, subtle but telling.
ETA (because of course I wasn't done):
-Sheppard sleeping was completely adorable. I would have said it was the most adorable thing in the whole episode, except the way Ronon woke him up was almost impossibly adorable. Again, sweet, funny and so, so telling about the characters.
...and I'm done now... Overall, I loved this. It was character driven with lots of plot, action, humour and peril. I seem to have changed my mind from when I started writing this - because really, what more could I want? ;)
I had a very mixed reaction to this episode. I absolutely loved it as a whole, but there were little thing about it that bothered me. Nothing plot-wise, for once, just some character notes that I found a little disappointing.
While the Ronon/Teal'c stuff was inevitable and yes, did work, I found myself getting annoyed with Ronon. Maybe I was meant to! The guy's trying to help, and Ronon literally sneers at him. I take notes while I'm writing, and at one point put "Ronon is very young. Teal'c is very old. It shows." I kept wanting to hit Ronon, but again, maybe I was meant to. Not sure about that. But the watching the DVD together on Midway was priceless, and I liked the way the 'bonding over killing' worked. Oh, and the fight was excellent, especially Sheppard's face. And Carter's. Hee.
Someone I absolutely loved in this was Bill Lee. He manages to be bumbling and competent, all at once. Obviously terrified but trying not to be. He makes such a great contrast to Rodney - he's not an idiot, and in many ways is a nicer guy, but I love his tendency to ramble and get distracted. And OH GOOD GRIEF, I did NOT recognise Kavanagh. Better hair. Same twit. For me, one of the best scenes in the whole episode was the argument about how to shut down the stargate. Usually, in that kind of set up, you've got the lone 'voice of reason' who gets sick of not being heard and so just gets on and saves the day. You assume that Lee and Rodney are ignoring him for (effectively) comedy value, and there's the moment when he gets the better of him. Then it all goes wrong and you remember why Rodney's in charge. Also, did anyone else notice that he said to Sheppard 'We [made a mistake' (can't remember it exactly]. Not 'Kavanagh screwed up'. I liked that - Rodney's gained such a sense of responsibility - he should have been in charge, should have stopped Kavanagh. But he didn't, so it's kind of his fault.
My second favourite scene was, of course, the atmosphere venting. That whole sequence just worked. Rodney calling him 'John' never, ever, ever gets old, and his reaction was pitch-perfect. They know the realities of what they do, death being kind of an occupational hazard, and I adored the way Rodney just stepped up and took charge, herding the
Also, the Sheppard vs the Wraith fight was so well directed. I loved that it was a scrappy, messy fight, pushing and shoving and slapping, which was such a contrast to Ronon and Teal'c's smooth techniques. This was down and dirty, no finesse, just survival. Very Sheppard. And the spacesuit bit was brilliant :)
Uh...I wrote down a ton of other stuff which I shall have to reduce to list form, or I'll be here all day.
- The way McKay fitted into the strike force was brilliant. We think of him as being reasonably competent, which he is, but I loved putting him in the middle of actual marines and seeing the contrast. The way he kind of hides in the middle really worked. Oh, and the bit where he hides behind the bulkhead until Sheppard says the control room's clear? Spot on.
- Yes, Rodney, clearly the worst thing about this situation is that Todd hacked your computer. *pets him*
- Sheppard's reflexes. Yes, they deserve a point all their own. Sheppard's a pilot, not a marine, and he's so quick. Not shooting Lee, turning the corner and taking out the Wraith, it all happened so fast. Also, I would have backed him against a station full of Wraith. I'm just sayin'.
- The three-way scenes with Sheppard, McKay and Carter worked so well. They bounce off each other perfectly, and really, the Sheppard/McKay friendship could not feel any stronger. And yes, he locked Rodney in with the scientists at the end - just because he's his friend, doesn't mean Rodney wouldn't be really annoying in a confined space over a few days. "You're my friend, but if you stay in here, I'm going to have to kill you and I have nowhere to put the body..."
- It was such a nice touch to have Ronon call Teal'c on the 'Indeed' thing. Atlantis' sense of humour is often sharper than SG-1's was, and I love it.
- I loved that Midway staff have their own patches.
- All Wraith tech is stun-based. Of course, but it was a nice touch.
- Teal'c does the twirly thing, just like Ronon, when he picks up the Wraith stunners on Midway.
- TEYLA! That was such a wonderful scene. Even in Stargate-reality, people are people, and they are mean and nasty and human. And Teyla handles it with poise and a good deal of annoyance. They're handling the 'what's going to happen' so well - hints at what she might want, which are different to what Sheppard wants. That look that passes between them is priceless. Oh, and Sheppard's such a gentleman - he stands up when Teyla does! Again, subtle but telling.
ETA (because of course I wasn't done):
-Sheppard sleeping was completely adorable. I would have said it was the most adorable thing in the whole episode, except the way Ronon woke him up was almost impossibly adorable. Again, sweet, funny and so, so telling about the characters.
...and I'm done now... Overall, I loved this. It was character driven with lots of plot, action, humour and peril. I seem to have changed my mind from when I started writing this - because really, what more could I want? ;)
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Plot bunny, anyone?
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