SG1 and SGA: Insiders and Sateda
Aug. 5th, 2006 02:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eruthrosOkay, I'm out of the habit of writing episode reviews, but I had to say just one little thing about Sateda. And then it kinda... grew. So. Spoilers for both Stargates, comments on both eps.
SG1 10x04 - Insiders
Okay, overall: the Ba'al clones plot concept was hilarious. But it ended up feeling like it had been stretched too much to fit the episode.
Problem: the Ba'als relied on being able to capture Sam in particular (do we know, even now, how they knew that she would be in the right place at the right time?)
Problem: no-one at all notices a huge alien ship crashlanding near Cheyenne Mountain? Please.
Problem: Sam was an idiot. (Sorry, Sam, but dude: Landry's wrong. You screwed up, and you should have known it: the Ba'als had to have another plan, couldn't be planning on just shooting their way out, and you could have at least stalled better. If the SGC won't negotiate for you, then you've got to know that everyone there is expendable if you're trying save Earth. So just suck it up, recognize that bad things are going to happen, and sit and wait.) (And, really, at this point, why does't the SGC computer system have an SOS code that accesses only fake information?) I was so incredibly pissed off by this Sam, and then! then! Landry actually saying "no, no, you did your best!" No. Fucking. Way. Incursions in the past have led to the self-destruct being activated with all of SG-1 in the mountain. Sam has armed said self destruct. She should so know better, she should be a better officer, and ... yep, still irked. (I can see that she might be traumatized at the thought of yet another man who has expressed an interest in her being offed, but still.) Actually, lots of 'em were idiots, and why does Dr. Lee still work there? I'm always unhappy when my enjoyment of an episode with a decent premise is sabotaged by sloppy writing.
Good: Cam admitting that he's totally not in charge at all. (Oddly, the fact that Daniel's a civilian and Teal'c's an alien didn't slow Jack down, but we'll give that a pass: Hammond was better about being in charge than Landry is, and anyway Jack could train Daniel up instead of inheriting him.)
Good: I will admit to a certain amount of "yay!" when I saw Jack in the "previously, on Stargate..." I was, of course, sad when I remembered that a) Jack would not be in this episode and b) even if he were, it wouldn't be Snarky Smart Early!Jack.
Good: Landry calling Walter "chief." I dunno why, but this made me giggle.
Unsure: Vala knows the hand-codes by the end of the episode, apparently. But ignores them at the beginning of the episode after they ring down. Has she... had training? Does she not get a big gun because Cam's feeling unsure of her, or because she hasn't qualified with it? I need more data on Vala, because I can't work out what position she has at the moment. (However, the "only Daniel can control her. Sometimes." bit was funny. And she was kinda cute when she was excited upon learning that Landry had talked to Daniel.)
SGA 3x04 - Sateda
First: "I'm terrible at talking about ..." "feelings?" And, and social skills! And that's why he was flying helicopters in the remotest part of his world! And the you are my family bit! The "give up my life for my friends" bit! The awkward hand pat where he can't even look at Teyla! It's like my favorite interpretation of Sheppard's lack of affect, right there and on screen and funny. I had to rewind and watch it again. Because hand pat! Because "thank you for everything you meant to say!" Because even when Sheppard's trying, he just can't quite manage to say it. (I find this oddly endearing. Dear John: you are so fucked up. Awww.)
Okay, back to the beginning. I enjoyed the bit before the credits, but I wish Rodney hadn't been written quite so... high pitched after getting shot. Still, "I always feel like that -- like something horrible is about to happen" "how do you live like that?" Heh.
And the bit where Ronon held the knife to himself: kick. ass. How can you not love Ronon in this episode? Racked with guilt, trying to come to terms with Sateda, admitting that John and Teyla are good people. Awww! He's so cute and cuddly for a man wearing body armor.
And when Rodney's on morphine, he's out of it, but he wants his family: the military guy with the messy hair, the pretty girl, and the caveman. Also, apparently, he wants a pretty horse.
I do wonder why the Wraith in the big chair is male. Wouldn't it match what we know (admittedly very little) of Wraith social structure if the Big Bad Wraith was a chick? Is this just because we can't imagine chick!wraith hunting? Also, why does Big Bad Wraith look like the Master on Buffy, but with wisps of hair? I think it woudl've been much cooler if BBW had been one of those oddly red-headed Wraith Queens. (I mean, seriously: why is boy!Wraith in charge here?)
And gorgeous set for Sateda, very well lit and ... fogged.
Rodney doing his work lying down! And John sitting down next to him with a bad joke. Awww.
Carson: Why'd you come? ... On this mission? ... People wouldn't think any less of you. Rodney: You think that's all I care about? What people think of me? ... I am a very caring person! Okay, maybe it's not always obvious to everyone, but... Carson: You care about what happens to Ronon? Rodney: Of course I do! What makes you think I wouldn't? Carson: Oh, I don't know, the fact that you refer to him as "the caveman" behind his back? Rodney: That is a nickname. Buddies have nicknames for each other. (So, clearly, Rodney cares, he's just whiny and weird.)
Also, nicely done flashbacks. And "they're all dead." And seeing some things, like that bombing, twice, because its a flashback. And Ronon deciding not to leave this time because of the deal and then Ronon can't go until he kills the Wraith in charge.
And John! "Come on, let's go kill some Wraith." It's his way of saying "you're family." Except with killing Wraith and brining Ronon his gun.
And, and, Rodney: "it's twenty-five to three!" and Carson counting the twenty-five down until "twenty-one to three" and Teyla "and Ronon appears to be quite angry" because yes, yes he is, and it does make a difference. And Carson and Rodney arguing about who is going to go help! And Ronon doing the John Woo two-gun slow-mo lunge. And John and Teyla doing the eyebrow thing after Ronon explains the killing the Wraith big bad thing. "Do you really think Ronon would kill me?" "I think he wouldn't forgive you." But it's okay, because Rodney and Carson save the day! In the cloaked jumper! and blast the big bad away! with guns. And then there is hugging! Whee.
In short: I *heart* this episode. John cares, he's just fucked up! Rodney cares, he's just whiny and afraid! Ronon cares, he just can't say it any other way than holding a knife to his own throat! They're practically a perfect set of characters for any slasher who wants to write a story in which the words "I love you" never appear (not that this is a surprise). (Teyla, of course, can actually say she cares. She just worries that other people don't. Teyla: apparently the only emotionally stable person in the entirety of Atlantis!)
Other people probably noticed way cooler things, but I'm satisfied to sit here going "squee!"
SG1 10x04 - Insiders
Okay, overall: the Ba'al clones plot concept was hilarious. But it ended up feeling like it had been stretched too much to fit the episode.
Problem: the Ba'als relied on being able to capture Sam in particular (do we know, even now, how they knew that she would be in the right place at the right time?)
Problem: no-one at all notices a huge alien ship crashlanding near Cheyenne Mountain? Please.
Problem: Sam was an idiot. (Sorry, Sam, but dude: Landry's wrong. You screwed up, and you should have known it: the Ba'als had to have another plan, couldn't be planning on just shooting their way out, and you could have at least stalled better. If the SGC won't negotiate for you, then you've got to know that everyone there is expendable if you're trying save Earth. So just suck it up, recognize that bad things are going to happen, and sit and wait.) (And, really, at this point, why does't the SGC computer system have an SOS code that accesses only fake information?) I was so incredibly pissed off by this Sam, and then! then! Landry actually saying "no, no, you did your best!" No. Fucking. Way. Incursions in the past have led to the self-destruct being activated with all of SG-1 in the mountain. Sam has armed said self destruct. She should so know better, she should be a better officer, and ... yep, still irked. (I can see that she might be traumatized at the thought of yet another man who has expressed an interest in her being offed, but still.) Actually, lots of 'em were idiots, and why does Dr. Lee still work there? I'm always unhappy when my enjoyment of an episode with a decent premise is sabotaged by sloppy writing.
Good: Cam admitting that he's totally not in charge at all. (Oddly, the fact that Daniel's a civilian and Teal'c's an alien didn't slow Jack down, but we'll give that a pass: Hammond was better about being in charge than Landry is, and anyway Jack could train Daniel up instead of inheriting him.)
Good: I will admit to a certain amount of "yay!" when I saw Jack in the "previously, on Stargate..." I was, of course, sad when I remembered that a) Jack would not be in this episode and b) even if he were, it wouldn't be Snarky Smart Early!Jack.
Good: Landry calling Walter "chief." I dunno why, but this made me giggle.
Unsure: Vala knows the hand-codes by the end of the episode, apparently. But ignores them at the beginning of the episode after they ring down. Has she... had training? Does she not get a big gun because Cam's feeling unsure of her, or because she hasn't qualified with it? I need more data on Vala, because I can't work out what position she has at the moment. (However, the "only Daniel can control her. Sometimes." bit was funny. And she was kinda cute when she was excited upon learning that Landry had talked to Daniel.)
SGA 3x04 - Sateda
First: "I'm terrible at talking about ..." "feelings?" And, and social skills! And that's why he was flying helicopters in the remotest part of his world! And the you are my family bit! The "give up my life for my friends" bit! The awkward hand pat where he can't even look at Teyla! It's like my favorite interpretation of Sheppard's lack of affect, right there and on screen and funny. I had to rewind and watch it again. Because hand pat! Because "thank you for everything you meant to say!" Because even when Sheppard's trying, he just can't quite manage to say it. (I find this oddly endearing. Dear John: you are so fucked up. Awww.)
Okay, back to the beginning. I enjoyed the bit before the credits, but I wish Rodney hadn't been written quite so... high pitched after getting shot. Still, "I always feel like that -- like something horrible is about to happen" "how do you live like that?" Heh.
And the bit where Ronon held the knife to himself: kick. ass. How can you not love Ronon in this episode? Racked with guilt, trying to come to terms with Sateda, admitting that John and Teyla are good people. Awww! He's so cute and cuddly for a man wearing body armor.
And when Rodney's on morphine, he's out of it, but he wants his family: the military guy with the messy hair, the pretty girl, and the caveman. Also, apparently, he wants a pretty horse.
I do wonder why the Wraith in the big chair is male. Wouldn't it match what we know (admittedly very little) of Wraith social structure if the Big Bad Wraith was a chick? Is this just because we can't imagine chick!wraith hunting? Also, why does Big Bad Wraith look like the Master on Buffy, but with wisps of hair? I think it woudl've been much cooler if BBW had been one of those oddly red-headed Wraith Queens. (I mean, seriously: why is boy!Wraith in charge here?)
And gorgeous set for Sateda, very well lit and ... fogged.
Rodney doing his work lying down! And John sitting down next to him with a bad joke. Awww.
Carson: Why'd you come? ... On this mission? ... People wouldn't think any less of you. Rodney: You think that's all I care about? What people think of me? ... I am a very caring person! Okay, maybe it's not always obvious to everyone, but... Carson: You care about what happens to Ronon? Rodney: Of course I do! What makes you think I wouldn't? Carson: Oh, I don't know, the fact that you refer to him as "the caveman" behind his back? Rodney: That is a nickname. Buddies have nicknames for each other. (So, clearly, Rodney cares, he's just whiny and weird.)
Also, nicely done flashbacks. And "they're all dead." And seeing some things, like that bombing, twice, because its a flashback. And Ronon deciding not to leave this time because of the deal and then Ronon can't go until he kills the Wraith in charge.
And John! "Come on, let's go kill some Wraith." It's his way of saying "you're family." Except with killing Wraith and brining Ronon his gun.
And, and, Rodney: "it's twenty-five to three!" and Carson counting the twenty-five down until "twenty-one to three" and Teyla "and Ronon appears to be quite angry" because yes, yes he is, and it does make a difference. And Carson and Rodney arguing about who is going to go help! And Ronon doing the John Woo two-gun slow-mo lunge. And John and Teyla doing the eyebrow thing after Ronon explains the killing the Wraith big bad thing. "Do you really think Ronon would kill me?" "I think he wouldn't forgive you." But it's okay, because Rodney and Carson save the day! In the cloaked jumper! and blast the big bad away! with guns. And then there is hugging! Whee.
In short: I *heart* this episode. John cares, he's just fucked up! Rodney cares, he's just whiny and afraid! Ronon cares, he just can't say it any other way than holding a knife to his own throat! They're practically a perfect set of characters for any slasher who wants to write a story in which the words "I love you" never appear (not that this is a surprise). (Teyla, of course, can actually say she cares. She just worries that other people don't. Teyla: apparently the only emotionally stable person in the entirety of Atlantis!)
Other people probably noticed way cooler things, but I'm satisfied to sit here going "squee!"
