Atlantis marathon, part the first

[kageygirl]

Or, to be more specific, the pre-Atlantis marathon. Today I watched, in order:

48 Hours
Redemption 1 & 2
Lost City 1 & 2
New Order 1 & 2

48 Hours: Introduction to McKay! And, y'know? I'm not sure they ever actually called him "Rodney" at any point, here or in Redemption. I was kinda looking for it, but I'd have to scan the transcripts to say for sure. McKay is sure as hell a cocky sonovabitch here. Also pretty matter-of-fact unsympathetic about being convinced that "Teal'c is toast." He's essentially a one-dimensional asshole here, just there to bitch at Carter and be all unappreciative about seeing the Stargate in person for the very first time. Although I've of course grown to adore him, it was hard not to cheer at the look on his face when he's informed that they're sending his ass to Russia. (and then he runs out of the room exactly like he's off to whine at someone about it. adorable, in an asshole kind of way. *g*)

Redemption: More McKay! (and, y'know, other plot. whatevah.) More fun, 'cause McKay's got a personal stake in it now (as, of course, everyone on Earth does). He's pretty much unhelpful in the first part--I think his major contribution is telling them that the X-302 naquadria hyperdrive ain't gonna work. Which, of course, it DOESN'T, but still. Part 2, he gets to fuck them up with the EM pulse generator idea that doesn't work, but that leads to--note the episode title--his awesome infirmary scene with Carter. He makes up for a lot of his bitchiness just by being absolutely candid about having fucked up, and realizing that he's not going to be the one who solves this. Aww.

Interestingly, when the X-302 fails to clear the atmosphere, McKay suggest that O'Neill go into a nosedive to dump the gate into the ocean before it blows up. He's just trying to minimize the damage, though Earth would still be screwed. It's essentially the same kind of thing Kavanagh will suggest in "38 Minutes"--mitigation, instead of the bigger-risk Hail Mary play to save everyone. (sorry about the Cliche Fandom Metaphor, but it's totally apropos.) Then he gets to help Carter with the hyperdrive subroutine, in a way that's less emphasized than Kavanagh with blowing the rear hatch, but, hey, McKay didn't take time off to bitch in the middle of a crisis, so he needs less redeeming. (credit to the recent discussion on McShepSlash.)

Then, y'know, cute little hallway kiss from Carter. Aww.

Lost City: The Not-Weir, useful mainly for character background, not so much characterization. International relations geek, speaks 5 languages, didn't actually seek out Hammond's job so we don't have to hate her. *g* We get the recovery of the (as yet unnamed) ZPM (with the first glowing blue chair), and the discovery of the Ancient outpost in Antarctica, with the second chair, and the spiffy glowy gold Goa'uld-busting drones. Boo-yah. [point of interest--when Jack's got the Ancient knowledge in his head (and he MUST have the ATA gene, though, do they ever actually say that?), he can heal Bray'tac with his hand. I want Atlantis fic where Shep somehow ends up able to do this. I will bake you cookies and send them to you if you do this, so I don't have to do it myself.] Did I miss anything Atlantically relevant? I keep zoning out partway through this double ep because the build-up is SO. DAMN. LONG.

New Order: New and Improved PermaWeir! Much though I like Jessica Steen, I've grown to like Torri Higginson better as Weir. I'm not sure Steen's mildly neurotic Weir would have worked so well for me in context with the other wacky Atlantis kiddies, and it's only as I type this that I realize that Weir provides a nice calming balance. Kind of a thankless job, really, and harder to play than the "looser" characters, in a way. Of the SGC personnel, we only get to see her interact in any meaningful fashion with Daniel and Sam and Teal'c, and it's really mostly with Daniel (though I love her getting blackmailed in kind by Sam). Weir's a bit more animated here than she has been on Atlantis [and while I could go into it being the actress's first time playing the character, it's way more fun to analyze her in-character.] On Atlantis, she's the reigning queen of an entire group of fishes-out-of-water, so maybe she feels she has to put up a good front to hold them together. In the SGC, she's stepping into some mighty big shoes, and she's out of her depth, so she's fairly candid about asking Daniel for help. I like that. It's good that she's aware of her limitations, and of the resources at her disposal.

Playing hardball with the System Lords is great fun to watch, too. Particularly the reaction shots of Daniel when she gets really wacky ("we want Baal's territory." "um, we do?"). *g* And at the end, of course, she's packing to go to Antarctica, and she's all psyched--for which I gotta like her, because she's happy to be going to the place that will send them all to my happy place, Atlantis. *g* And it's only at the end of this ep that the Antarctic expedition actually gets off the ground (anyone have a notion how long they're working down there before they have the Daniel breakthrough/Sheppard revelation? I'm fudging it in a fic, but I'd like to know what people's gut reactions are. secret message: damn, maching_monkey, I think I'm screwed, but I'll work around it somehow. *g*)

Tomorrow: "Rising" through "The Storm!" More completely random gestalt commentary!

Comments

[brightbeak.livejournal.com]

McKay's come a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG way since "48 hours" there's no doubt. he's been knocked down a few pegs, got hoisted on his OWN petard (hehe, to russia w/ NO love), and well, had to admit he wsan't able to solve a BIG honkin' stinkin' crisis. I think those are what combined nicely to make his character less irrascible in Atlantis. He still ahs his edges (no doubts about THAT) but they're not quite so pointy & "haughty" as they were before. He's a lot more 3D than he was in 48hours, and certainly at least in redemption, he was 2D - which was an improvement.

i think you nailed it w/ weir being more comfy at the SGC than at Atlantis. She's one of a larger cog at the SGC, w/ a myriad of folks at her disposal, etc. In Atlantis, for all intents & purposes - the buck stops w/ her. Of course the military stuff is w/ Sheppard, but ultimately, it's HER! She's the leader, she's the one they're going to look at for a guiding nod yea or nay on just about all they do. She has to be the voice of reason, AND the one willing to order others to take chances. Them's some mighty big footwear folks.

as for "rising" to "storm" methinks thine brain might spring a leak :)

bb- note to self, GET CAUGHT UP wench! :)

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

I think those are what combined nicely to make his character less irrascible in Atlantis.

That, and I think being on a team--being valued not just in isolation, but as part of a greater whole--is good for him. And not just the exploration team, but being part of the Antarctic expedition, too. I think McKay might have had a lot of "leave the brilliant scientist alone in a room and see what happens" in his career, and when smart-weird people are left alone too long, they tend to get even weirder. *g*

as for "rising" to "storm" methinks thine brain might spring a leak :)

In fact, it might have. But I recorded the damage for posterity! *g*

[brightbeak.livejournal.com]

yeah, that lovely "leave the brilliant... alone in a room and see what happens" thing starts QUITE early. as a child who was frequently put in the back of the class w/ a couple of her peers (also rather bright lasses) i know EXACTLY the kind of impact that has. you develop social skills for dealing w/ ppl as smart as you are or smarter, and no one else is worth much of anything (b/c that's essentially what it teaches you - you don't need the teacher to do this work, you can progress at your own rate, while the teacher HAULS the rest of the class, kicking and screaming the entire way)... so yeah, insular, weird, 'eccentric', etc., are among the kinder of the adjectives one may employ!

yes you did record it, and i'm keeping my eyes on that one for when i've caught up

bb

[fanaddict.livejournal.com]

He's essentially a one-dimensional asshole here, just there to bitch at Carter and be all unappreciative about seeing the Stargate in person for the very first time.

Don't forget he got to call Carter a dumb blonde. Man, I actually remembered him from that ep enough that when he showed up for Redemption I remembered who he was and that he had dissed Sam. And then! Pianist! OMG! I loved him after Redemption and wanted him to come back often.

runs out of the room exactly like he's off to whine at someone about it. adorable, in an asshole kind of way.

Did you watch Babylon 5? McKay got the G'Kar treatment. In first season B5, G'Kar was introduced as vaguely bad and prone to stalking off in a huff when his plots were discovered/stopped. Kind of an OTT villain. Yet, by the end of the season and on, he became much more understandable - a tragic, flawed hero. It was a real conversion, not of personality, but of the audience realizing where he was coming from and why.

So, anyway, McKay got shunted off to Russia after 48 Hours and probably most viewers cheered. And by the end of Redemption, he got a kiss from Sam and probably most viewers cheered again. His character was... characterized, given dimension, explained in a way he hadn't been before.

credit to the recent discussion on McShepSlash.

That was fun. We should have done it on wraithbait, in retrospect, because then it would have been appropriate and the discussion of Bates could also have taken place, rather than it all getting shut down.

and he MUST have the ATA gene, though, do they ever actually say that?

I'm not sure. I agree it seems logical, but it also could have something to do with brain wave patterns - the ATA gene could affect that, but also getting the Ancient library downloaded into his head coul d have made Jack's brain waves more Ancient and thus applicable. We know there certainly is a mind component to controlling function, because by concentrating Sheppard and Beckett were able to control things, so it seems likely that there has to be some brain wave pattern involved.

On Atlantis, she's the reigning queen of an entire group of fishes-out-of-water, so maybe she feels she has to put up a good front to hold them together.

Cool theory! I do think she feels she has to put up a calm facade on Atlantis because she's the leader and people take their cues from her.

Playing hardball with the System Lords is great fun to watch, too.

This is why she should negotiate and not Sheppard. She totally can play hardball, whereas he empathizes too much with the other people and ends up giving them whatever they want.

anyone have a notion how long they're working down there before they have the Daniel breakthrough/Sheppard revelation?

I want to say 6 months, but... I have no good reason for that. Long enough to find the ATA gene, which is why I feel like it should be months, but... Who knows. Weir, McKay and Beckett all appear to know each other pretty well and work together as a team, and that also suggests a while.

Tomorrow: "Rising" through "The Storm!" More completely random gestalt commentary!

Whoo hoo! I'm enjoying your random gestalt commentary so far! :)

Also - love your icon! Although not sure if it's a Dicken's shout out or Trek...

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

Did you watch Babylon 5? McKay got the G'Kar treatment.

Omg, you're so right. Yeah, I adored G'Kar by the end, though he first seemed like a naughty schoolboy.

I'm not sure. I agree it seems logical, but it also could have something to do with brain wave patterns - the ATA gene could affect that, but also getting the Ancient library downloaded into his head could have made Jack's brain waves more Ancient and thus applicable.

Maybe so--I was just figuring that the mental component was in addition to having the gene, as in: the gene boots it up, but the mental component is when you tell the gadget what you want it to do.

This is why she should negotiate and not Sheppard. She totally can play hardball, whereas he empathizes too much with the other people and ends up giving them whatever they want.

It's going to be so interesting to see how "The Eye" plays out like that. *g*

Long enough to find the ATA gene, which is why I feel like it should be months, but...

In "Rising" (as I've just reminded myself *g*) Weir tells O'Neill she's "been picking members for the expedition team for months." So--your guess is as good as mine.

Also - love your icon! Although not sure if it's a Dicken's shout out or Trek...

Thanks! And the answer is "yes." *g* I quote from the movies way more than I should, given that my husband is usually the only one who gets the reference, and then only because he knows me too well.

Secret Message Response from Agent Monkey

[maching-monkey.livejournal.com]

I was figuring they'd been there a month or two, though not much more than that. Can't say why exactly, either, except that it didn't seem like Jack had been popsicled that long, and it was because of him that they knew about the Antartic stuff in the first place. I agree that they'd been there long enough to know each other well--Rodney calls Carson by his first name, and Elizabeth too, as far as I know (pretty sure he does in "Rising, Part 2"). Ford's obviously been there doing military stuff (and possibly shunting back and forth between the labs and McMurdo), and the whole goal is to get folks to where Atlantis is, but they can't do that until Daniel (who'se probably been there for a week or so at this point, is my guess), figures it out.

And then poor Shep walks into the middle of this...

Does that help?

I got your message last night, by the way, Kagey. I'll beta your fic this evening, and respond to what you wrote.

Quick response to fanaddict:

That was fun. We should have done it on wraithbait, in retrospect, because then it would have been appropriate and the discussion of Bates could also have taken place, rather than it all getting shut down.

You know? Why don't I just post my original McShep post on Wraithbait? Hopefully it'll garner some interest... Thanks!

Leah

Re: Secret Message Response from Agent Monkey

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

Does that help?

It does! My fix is not super-time-critical, I just need a ballpark that sounds right in other people's heads. Between you and fanaddict, "a few months" seems good.

[ane.livejournal.com]

I also rewatched the SG1 episodes a couple weeks ago. I saw Redemption before I saw 48 Hours, since I saw the first 5 seasons a year behind in syndication. So I never saw McKay as a total asshole. I was definitely pro Carter/McKay, they were cute together.

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

I think poor McKay was utterly not used to not being far and away the smartest one in the room--and in a way, so was Carter, though she's much less obnoxious about it.

McKay was always awesome for me, because he let Carter be wildly more snarky than we saw her 95% of the time (I can only off the top of my head come up with her ripping into Maybourne in "Foothold" like that--"You're an idiot every day of the week--you couldn't take one day off?")

Neat Point!

[maching-monkey.livejournal.com]

...the smartest one in the room--and in a way, so was Carter, though she's much less obnoxious about it.

You know? I hadn't thought of that, but that is so cool! And it makes perfect sense, too, to imagine Carter's past like that. Certainly her dad would have appreciated and encouraged her brains, but I'll bet it was hard for her growing up as a brilliant, tomboyish girl.

Now I'm thinking that of course she had to be attracted to McKay--he's probably the only guy she's ever met who could really challenge her intellectually, and who wasn't awed by her brilliance, nor threatened by it because she's a woman (at least outside of her team, though that may be mitigated by the fact that Jack doesn't really understand her). McKay was jealous of her brians, but not threatened by them. Cool.

Leah