SGA 1x15, "Before I Sleep," aka: the ep that ate my brain.

[kageygirl]

I've seen this episode so many times that it's almost troubling. And by "almost troubling," I mean "borderline obscene." And yet? Can still babble about it. Freak.

::watching the teaser. Boy is wandering through living room to get a beer from the kitchen::
Rodney: "... preferably one with a balcony, but I'm not married to it."
Boy: Who's the gay guy?
kagey: ::falls off sofa, giggling madly:: He's not, but we like him with the head military guy there.
Boy: Wait, he's not supposed to be overtly gay?
kagey: ::falls off sofa again. wonders why she bothered getting back up.:: No, no, he's not. He's just, uh, emphatic? ::tries and fails to think of a way to explain Rodney in ten words or less.::
Boy: He just said "married to it." ::gives kagey a dubious look, but she's giggling too much. wanders back into bedroom with beer::

Also--the Time Jumper! It only took me six or seven viewings to get it. John says he could do with an "instruction manual," and touches the panel, and bam! The ship takes him...

... back to the time where he can find the guy who built the thing.

So, all right, it's like a 3-candlepower lightbulb I've got here. But it's mine.

The Atlanteans say they found her ship on the ocean floor. I'm telling you, they were all dead, and the Atlanteans (who built the tech the sarcophagus was based on, yes?) brought Elizabeth back. But only her.

...

::facepalms. beats head against handy apartment wall.::

Okay, um, three different fics and four icons (no, five, I got one from mmmchelle) from one episode are really more than sufficient, and I'm going to go drink until I decide that the idea I just had is unnecessary. And it can go join the other BIS idea that I've been resisting. They can keep each other busy while I attempt to incur enough brain damage to forget them.

Comments

[shetiger.livejournal.com]

I'm telling you, they were all dead, and the Atlanteans (who built the tech the sarcophagus was based on, yes?) brought Elizabeth back. But only her.

I got that very impression while I was watching the ep. The Ancients re all about the curiosity despite the consequences, aren't they?

And oh--the wonderful banter. The sitting next to each other with feet up and arms crossed. So hot and in love. Guh.

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

The sitting next to each other with feet up and arms crossed. So hot and in love. Guh.

God, this ep was just full of armporn and handporn and legporn... Total guh. *g*

[ane.livejournal.com]

He did say no one survived so I've always thought that she was formerly dead as well. Either that or really bad phrasing.

And Rodney wanting John to find them better quarters... *snicker*

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

And Rodney wanting John to find them better quarters... *snicker*

Right in front of everyone, too. That's just not close to subtle. *g*

[rivier.livejournal.com]

Gay, gay, oh so gaily McGay! You tell the Boy he's right on the money. I actually found this one slashier than Sanctuary, since that was all about the hurtyness of cheating and heartbreak, and this one was all about reconciliation and fundamental meant-to-be-ness. And they sleep together right there in front of us! About as slashily good as main-time TV is ever likely to get. If they don't have reunion sex snogging on-screen at the start of S2 I'll fry my brains!

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

God, yes, this episode is so incredibly slashy, with the looks and the banter and the completely being in each other's personal space. And the on-screen sex.

If they don't have reunion sex snogging on-screen at the start of S2 I'll fry my brains!

Oh, seriously. I want my public displays of affection, dammit. Big, slashy, and public.

[miera-c.livejournal.com]

The other night I watched the avi file of this episode. Even knowing full well it was on the big(ger) screen this week. I just wanted to see it again. And I *still* got choked up when old!Elizabeth says, her voice breaking for a reason other than age, "I have years ahead of me still." *sniff*

so, not just you.

Also--the Time Jumper! It only took me six or seven viewings to get it. John says he could do with an "instruction manual," and touches the panel, and bam! The ship takes him...

... back to the time where he can find the guy who built the thing.

Hmm. Interesting explanation. That's bugged me since my first viewing, since they made a big deal about how the jumper seems to read John's thoughts and shows him what he's thinking about. Then I figured the time ship was just modified compared to a regular jumper.

The Atlanteans say they found her ship on the ocean floor. I'm telling you, they were all dead, and the Atlanteans (who built the tech the sarcophagus was based on, yes?) brought Elizabeth back. But only her.

Well, yeah. Janus says "No one survived." Either she was the one who'd been dead the shortest amount of time and thus was the only one they could bring back or he cloned her, which would explain why she goes from Rising Elizabeth with the straightish hair to having curly hair. ;)

Okay, um, three different fics and four icons (no, five, I got one from mmmchelle) from one episode are really more than sufficient, and I'm going to go drink until I decide that the idea I just had is unnecessary. And it can go join the other BIS idea that I've been resisting. They can keep each other busy while I attempt to incur enough brain damage to forget them.

no! put the blue alcohol down and step away! we neeed more kagey!fic! Especially about this episode. There can't be too much fic about this episode.

and dammit now I remembered there was an icon I wanted to make from this ep but I was waiting until it aired. So you're fault.

[kyrdwyn.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah. Janus says "No one survived." Either she was the one who'd been dead the shortest amount of time and thus was the only one they could bring back or he cloned her, which would explain why she goes from Rising Elizabeth with the straightish hair to having curly hair. ;)

I blame atlantis itself for that - I mean, come on, all that humidity has got to be frizzing her hair out.... :)

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

LOL.

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

or he cloned her, which would explain why she goes from Rising Elizabeth with the straightish hair to having curly hair. ;)

LOL. I like that explanation. *g*

and dammit now I remembered there was an icon I wanted to make from this ep but I was waiting until it aired.

Bwahaha. ::enable enable enable::

[reedfem.livejournal.com]

My hubby was snoring on the couch or I daresay I'd have heard the same thing from him. Heh. Esp when Shep follows that up with "Shut up a minute" while he goes to see what Ford is so upset about.

Married. Married.

I've watched this on a lot too. So no more talk of insanity. Hey, whose jacket is this?

The whole jumper thing troubled me too. I decided they cut it for length, leaving out the part where the jumper gives John a video tutorial. But I like your explanation too.

You are resisting the call of more fic? Noooooo! Put that damned liquor down and get thee to a keyboard! Please.

Say, how is the whole "blue drink" thing treating you? I haven't heard. Have you said?

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Esp when Shep follows that up with "Shut up a minute" while he goes to see what Ford is so upset about.

I think it's so cute that Rodney calls him while he's working. *g*

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about the size remark when they're apartment hunting. Is Rodney afraid he's going to have to sweep and mop?

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

Esp when Shep follows that up with "Shut up a minute" while he goes to see what Ford is so upset about.

And Rodney just totally takes it in stride.

Say, how is the whole "blue drink" thing treating you?

I hit the first one on my list (I have notes *g*), and then my week went totally weird. But I've got supplies for the coming week, and high hopes. *g*

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. This ep is simply too much fun. The spouse watched with me and kept laughing at the Rodney/John interactions. The same one's we love--DeLorean, flux capacitor, the failure remarks, the bickering in the hospital room.

Me? I kept thinking, "hey, that's been capped and iconed a zillion times and so has that, and that," while simultanesouly enjoying the heck out of the ep.

Don't resist the story ideas. Resisting story ideas is a bad thing. Very bad.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

John just can't leave Rodney alone, can he? He always has something to say, just to get a rise out Rodney.

He likes getting Rodney all worked up.

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

He always has something to say, just to get a rise out Rodney.


And it starts as soon as they meet. By the time they're in Atlantis he's already saying, "obviously" in a droll voice in response to Rodney. John just can't keep from poking Rodney. If Rodney had pigtails, John would be dipping them in inkwells.

He likes getting Rodney all worked up.

Who wouldn't?

Of course, John's less happy when other people get Rodney all worked up.

Hmmm, there needs to be a story in which Rodney starts developing a bantering friendship with someone else and John gets jealous, because if anyone is going to banter with Rodney it's going to be him, damn it.

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

Me? I kept thinking, "hey, that's been capped and iconed a zillion times and so has that, and that," while simultanesouly enjoying the heck out of the ep.

Oh, so true. That, and I've got the running commentary going. "Oooh, hands. Arms. ARMS. So married! Guh, do that again..."

[coreopsis.livejournal.com]

Boy: Wait, he's not supposed to be overtly gay?
hee!

I never really gave much thought to the "no one survived" line--just assumed it was an unfortunate phrasing--but your Elizabeth Was Dead interpretation makes a lot of sense. But the fact that they left Sheppard and Zelenka dead gives me another reason to hate the Ancients, and I'm not sure I needed any more. They piss me off so much, it's embarrassing. *g*

Don't fight the story ideas. Give in! :-)

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

They piss me off so much, it's embarrassing. *g*

We have to find out that the Ancients are just kinda negligent assholes. 'cause they're just not looking good at all.

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

bwahaha! i think it's probably impossible to describe rodney in ten words or less.

i think you're right about everyone being dead. interesting layer to just how creepy the ancients are.

and everyone is correct, give in, write the fic. *veg*

ps. i think you have more than a "3-candlepower lightbulb". i'm just saying. ;)

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

i think it's probably impossible to describe rodney in ten words or less.

And I just have no hope whatsoever of explaining to The Boy why Rodney's so endlessly attractive and fascinating, despite his... quirks. *g* I'm not even going there. I can see the futility from here. *g*

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

heh heh, some things are better left unsaid. or, as thoreau said "discretion is the better part of valor". ;)

[gurrier.livejournal.com]

Boy: Who's the gay guy?

My Boy hadn't seen Atlantis before, or heard me squee too much about it, but straight away his comment was "It's those two, right?" Ah, he knows me so well!

It was a very cute episode. The house-hunting, the "Back to the Future" references, Brave!Rodney in the flooded gateroom... Made up for the pointless SG1 episode before it. It's been fun, but I'm ready to say goodbye to SG1.

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

It pains me so that the thing I'm liking best about SG-1 is the Atlantis references. I mean, not that I'm unhappy about the Atlantis references, just that SG-1 used to be so very cool! And now... they're hardly phoning it in. Maybe emailing it.

[clarkangel.livejournal.com]

I love your boy. My boy doesn't watch. At least not with me. He'd be afraid of the McShep anyway.
THANK YOU for the PJ explanation. That confuzzled me to no end.
And Thank you also about the NO ONE SURVIVED! Not for nothing but I would have preferred Zalenka and Shep to be saved over Weir. I mean..HELLO! Would not the Ancients have preferred to meet the guy Who is their descendant? I know I would.

And just think, John doing what Weir did, or something more cool/Ancient-y to save his Rodney! SQUEEEEEE
Ahem...

Also..the McShep banter was divine. I didn't really see Rodney as being so heroic. I mean...it was pretty obvious there was no time left and I thought Grodin, who was still there was equally heroic. And Carson and Ford for trying to save people till they drowned and all.

Did I mention I loved the McShep? LOL

They were too adorable side by side with their feet up. And I loved Shep knowing to drag Rodney out of his shock at discovering he died/drowned. Shep knows what to do for Rodney. They're so good for each other. And loved Old Weir fondly shaking her head and smiling at their squabbling. Only..question. It was as if she had heard it before BUT, OLD Weir wouldn't have had a chance to see it, right? Cause they walked in and DIED before McShep had a chance to be born. Or am I more confused than I thought?

Loved the Sheppard pretty. He looked amazingly gorgeous and barely 30. Why can't I age like that?

Thought the teaser and tag scenes with Sheppard and Weir were nice. But she didn't thank him for the pot/urn. Then she used it for ashes. EW! And how could she not know who told John about her birthday? DUH Weir. Rodney would so tap into the computer files to get that info for his Sheppy! :D

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

Did I mention I loved the McShep? LOL

Oh, feel free to say it again. Any time you want. *g*

It was as if she had heard it before BUT, OLD Weir wouldn't have had a chance to see it, right? Cause they walked in and DIED before McShep had a chance to be born.

I had a couple of different thoughts about that. Either Shep and Rodney had already met back on Earth--which I can totally see, because Rodney's the head science guy and Shep was the second-highest-ranking military officer, and since they're headed to a whole 'nother galaxy they probably had some meetings before they left. At least a meet 'n greet. *g*

Or, Old Weir was just amused to see what had developed between them, once they'd been given the chance to get to know each other that they hadn't had the first time through. That thought also makes me sniffle a little. As much of the ep does. *g*

[bluestarmuse.livejournal.com]

First, let me say HI! because this is my first post on your journal. ^_~

Or, Old Weir was just amused to see what had developed between them, once they'd been given the chance to get to know each other that they hadn't had the first time through.

This is a good, if not sad, thought. Poor Old!Weir. I'm not an overly emotional gal, but man this episode with the Old!Weir and the Drowning!Rodney...I could feel it.

Your first thought [meet 'n greet hee!] is even easier to see. I haven't seen many people flesh the whole before-going-to-Atlantis part out much, but it's extremely possible that they got to get to know each other a little bit. I'm not just talking about Rodney and John either.

The way I figure it is that Elizabeth was asked to head the expedition, then she was helped in picking her heads for Science, Medical, and Military [Rodney, Carson, and Colonel Wraith!Food]. After that she, along with Rodney and Carson, picked out the rest of the members for the expedition. It makes sense that way because Rodney and Carson would know which people in their 'communities' would be best. Of course Colonel Wraith!Food picked out his team by himself, because he wouldn't see any reason for Elizabeth's input.

The reasons I see it that way is because while Colonel Wraith!Food respected Elizabeth, they weren't close or anything but you can tell that Elizabeth, Rodney, and Carson respect one another and are becoming friends by the time we first meet them in Rising Pt 1.

One more thing...I have a feeling that there is a time lapse of at least a month [I'm always thinking three months actually] between the time Elizabeth was asked to head the expedition and the beginning of Rising Pt. 1. They had to have time to set things up and have Daniel figure out the gate address, etc. Also, I'm guessing at least a week between meeting John and being at the SGC because they had to organize things and go over stuff and have meetings galore...most of which John was probably apart of to get up to speed. So that might have been the start of the McKay/Sheppard Snark. Also the start of the McKay and Sheppard rarely-lose-sight-of-one-another because man, they sure do stick to one another like glue, don't they? It's like they have homing beacons for one another....not that I'm complaining. ^_~

Okay, I've typed way too much here, so I'm going to stop now. Ta!

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

Hi back! *g*

After that she, along with Rodney and Carson, picked out the rest of the members for the expedition.

That's totally how I see it, too. Plus, you really wouldn't send people across the galaxy who'd never been in the same room before. At the very least, you need to know who to salute, and who to listen to for which orders. *g*

Your timeline works for me, too--in "Rising," Elizabeth tells O'Neill that she's been choosing people for her expedition team "for months," though you can fudge that either way and say that she was angling for the position as head of the team investigating the Ancient outpost while she was still head of the SGC. And it would probably take at least a week to ship all those supplies to the SGC--plus Rodney had to build his little ZPM battery pack.

Man, I need to finish my "Rising" missing scene--you just gave me some good ideas. Feel free to drop in anytime! *g*

[maching-monkey.livejournal.com]

I love your boy too. :-D

My take on why the puddle jumper went back to the time period it did was that it was pre-set to do so by Janus, precisely in the hope that some future explorer of the city would find it and turn it on, so Janus would get to meet him or her. I personally thought that all Shep did was turn the thing on, and it time-jumped on autopilot. But I really like your explanation, too.

I had also assumed that Elizabeth was alive when they found the jumper, but it makes more sense that they brought her back to life, possibly because she was 'less dead' or (urk), less mangled or burned.

I'm thrilled that you've got three fics going for this episode. It's one of my favourites, and I love that it's inspired you, because it means I get to read more about it. Which is awesome. ::g::

Leah

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

My take on why the puddle jumper went back to the time period it did was that it was pre-set to do so by Janus, precisely in the hope that some future explorer of the city would find it and turn it on, so Janus would get to meet him or her. I personally thought that all Shep did was turn the thing on, and it time-jumped on autopilot.

Well, I'm basing part of my theory on stuff I don't want to discuss in an open forum because of SG-1 spoilers, but I suppose that's possible. Though given what a rush they were in to evac the city, having time to set something like that up seems unlikely to me. Also, since he knew they were fucked right then with the Wraith coming, you'd think he would have set it to come back to a more fortuitous time. *g*

I was unclear--I don't have three fics going for this, I wrote three fics already. I do not need to write more. Really, I have enough other stuff on the plate. And on the table. And seeping into the tablecloth...

[maching-monkey.livejournal.com]

having time to set something like that up seems unlikely to me.

Hrm. This is true. Though maybe he set the machine up before the Wraith hit the fan... But yeah, it would be a bad time to return to. But then, why wouldn't the time-Jumper return to the period it was first built, if it was answering John's request for instructions on how to use it...

Very odd.

I was unclear--I don't have three fics going for this

No, my bad. I think I just got excited at the idea of Kageyfic and my reading ability shorted out. :-)

Leah