SGA - 4.03 - Reunion

[tielan]

Okay, this episode I really enjoyed - probably because it was Ronon-centric for a change.

Nice action, nice exposition, the twist was predictable, because Ronon had to stay or go and he couldn't go, so the Satedans had to be bad. The problem with this show is that there are some things that are constant and those constants make things predictable. The core team can't die or be permanently split up, long-term cross-cultural relationships are anathema to the writers, and there has to be a 'personal' baddie for the team to fight against and the Wraith just don't cut the mustard.

I rather liked that Teyla fights against Ronon blindfolded for a challenge. Now, if they'd only make something of that in the plot, and not just in the sidebars...

Again, like Sateda, they needed to do this episode two seasons ago, to show more about Ronon and his people - even to display the insight into Teyla and how she sees her separation from her people. In fact, they should have address Teyla and her people a lot more in the previous two seasons, and I'm still not convinced that they're going to be able to do anything to rectify that now.

Episodes like this only reinforce my belief that the show's been concentrating on the wrong characters for the last two years. Teyla and Ronon's individual stories could take the show places that it's never been in SG1.

Unfortunately, TPTB are still trying to impose an Earthnocentric view on a galaxy that doesn't have anything to do with Earth - the only enemies worth fighting are those that have Earth in their sights, the only people worth worrying about are the people who are from Earth, the only characters worth writing stories about and dialogue for are Earthlings.

Fandom only reiterates this. Which is probably why I'm ambivalent about the show and really dislike fandom.

Now, I'm still waiting for those episodes about Teyla that I've been promised.

Doppelganger tonight.

*sighs*

Comments

[unanon.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, TPTB are still trying to impose an Earthnocentric view on a galaxy that doesn't have anything to do with Earth - the only enemies worth fighting are those that have Earth in their sights, the only people worth worrying about are the people who are from Earth, the only characters worth writing stories about and dialogue for are Earthlings.

THIS is why I'm fascinated by fanfiction in which Atlantis secedes from Earth, cuts ties with the SGC...rebels. Sadly, this is a v.shallow pool of fic indeed, from what I've seen. *sigh*

[tielan]

*sigh* I was writing something like that back last season - a kind of VS3.5 where they get the city back after Return II but Earth is pretty much, "You're not getting anything from us unless it directly pertains to the safety of Earth. You're on your own."

And then Atlantis would have to go out and make long-term allies that plot and connive and politic, and try to keep their heads above water dealing with both the Asurans and the Wraith and...

I got about one scene into the first 'episode' and realised it was too big an undertaking for one person.

Got any recs? Preferably ones that actually acknowledge Teyla and Ronon as useful, interesting, valuable members of the team with something to offer Atlantis from a Pegasus perspective, and don't just focus on how awesome and wonderful Rodney, John, and Elizabeth are...

[unanon.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I don't know of many fics like that. One I did like was this one (http://cesperanza.livejournal.com/174095.html), because it was written in a style I enjoy and I liked some of the politics of it. BUT it is largely John/Rodney...even though there IS a John/Teyla scene. However, it's also a fic in which you could easily bypass the smut because it's not a central aspect of the story. Also? No Elizabeth. Teyla & Ronon aren't main characters, sadly, but they're instrumental to the plot and their skills are valued.

Woe, for I think you would have written an awesome one. ;)

[tielan]

I've just gone through the notes of the first story. I'm writing too many other things right now - ficathons, trying to finish stuff, write new ideas - but I'll see what I can get done for Christmas. Maybe. :)

[thelana.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the twist was pretty obvious. I was still surprised how gruesome Ronon's endfight with them was. Pretty gory way to make a break with your past.

Blindfold!Fighter!Teyla? Sublimely hottest thing ever.

[tielan]

I can see him being furious at the betrayal - I mean, these people he used to run with, trusted - his friends - turned to the dark side. And after he spent so long on the run from the Wraith too - that had to hurt.

I'm still not sure he would have killed them off the bat, though. Maybe I'm being idealistic here, but he waited until the big guy killed the woman before he stabbed him, and he let the other guy run off rather than slaughter him.

But, yes, a ferocious fighter.

I think they pushed the whole "Ronon leaving Atlantis, we must stop him" angle a little too hard with Sam. And I was really surprised by the exchange where he basically asks, "Are you going to stop me by force if I try to leave, given that I know a lot of Atlantis' secrets?" and Sam pretty much says, "If I have to."

[madjm.livejournal.com]

This one was definitely my favorite so far. It was obvious that his friends would turn out to be baddies, not only for the reasons you stated, but because the Evil Promo Bastard revealed that in the preview the week before. I hate when they do that. I loved that Teyla had a lot to do. That's one of the reasons I didn't care for the first two episodes this season.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to tonight's episode. I might be the only person in the world who didn't download it from itunes when someone put the wrong episode up. Heh.

I'm hoping for some plot bunnies ...

[ladyjax.livejournal.com]

I liked this ep as well, if only for:

1) Teyla's various expressions during her initial encounters with the other Satedans and then watching Ronon step in being all hunky dory.

2) Teyla fighting. How could I not be pleased by that??

3) The basic premise of the story. The betrayal I could sort of see coming but working directly for the Wraith? That still took me by surprise.

4) Ronon. Even though I felt some things were over the top, overall, I was glad to get some more of his story.

Things I didn't like:

1) Rodney talking. A lot. Did they make him more neurotic this season? He just seems really off somehow.

2) Sam. I don't know if it's more about how Amanda is settling into the role or just how she's being written (what else is new?) but she feels a little stilted to me. I'd love to see her being open to working a little more outside the rules, which SG-1 was known for. On the other hand, it made me happy that she went along on the rescue mission so maybe there's hope.

[tielan]

Someone's pointed out that Ronon's choice to stay with Atlantis would have had so much more meaning if his 'friends' hadn't turned out to be evil.

And, yes, they've upped the amount of time per episode for Rodney to declare OHNOES! I'm getting really very tired of it.

Actually, I'm beginning to think that sending Sam in with the troops was a bad case of shoehorning. We have the premier team in Atlantis captured by the Wraith. Now, we're sending in the fourth member, the expedition's new leader, and the second-most-prominent scientist to fetch them? Honestly, all they needed to add was Caldwell or Lorne and they've got all their redundancies totally screwed if things go wrong...

[ladyjax.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm beginning to think that sending Sam in with the troops was a bad case of shoehorning. We have the premier team in Atlantis captured by the Wraith. Now, we're sending in the fourth member, the expedition's new leader, and the second-most-prominent scientist to fetch them? Honestly, all they needed to add was Caldwell or Lorne and they've got all their redundancies totally screwed if things go wrong...

You've made a really good point here. Although, a pending future conflict: will the city still get handed off to Teyla if Sam's not around? That could be something explore.

[tielan]

Oh, I hope so. I really, really hope so.

I think that they might look at it in Tabula Rasa. Or, at least, I've heard they're going to look into the Teyla-as-a-leader-in-Atlantis thing in an S4 episode.

[unanon.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, TPTB are still trying to impose an Earthnocentric view on a galaxy that doesn't have anything to do with Earth - the only enemies worth fighting are those that have Earth in their sights, the only people worth worrying about are the people who are from Earth, the only characters worth writing stories about and dialogue for are Earthlings.

THIS is why I'm fascinated by fanfiction in which Atlantis secedes from Earth, cuts ties with the SGC...rebels. Sadly, this is a v.shallow pool of fic indeed, from what I've seen. *sigh*

[tielan]

*sigh* I was writing something like that back last season - a kind of VS3.5 where they get the city back after Return II but Earth is pretty much, "You're not getting anything from us unless it directly pertains to the safety of Earth. You're on your own."

And then Atlantis would have to go out and make long-term allies that plot and connive and politic, and try to keep their heads above water dealing with both the Asurans and the Wraith and...

I got about one scene into the first 'episode' and realised it was too big an undertaking for one person.

Got any recs? Preferably ones that actually acknowledge Teyla and Ronon as useful, interesting, valuable members of the team with something to offer Atlantis from a Pegasus perspective, and don't just focus on how awesome and wonderful Rodney, John, and Elizabeth are...

[unanon.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I don't know of many fics like that. One I did like was this one (http://cesperanza.livejournal.com/174095.html), because it was written in a style I enjoy and I liked some of the politics of it. BUT it is largely John/Rodney...even though there IS a John/Teyla scene. However, it's also a fic in which you could easily bypass the smut because it's not a central aspect of the story. Also? No Elizabeth. Teyla & Ronon aren't main characters, sadly, but they're instrumental to the plot and their skills are valued.

Woe, for I think you would have written an awesome one. ;)

[tielan]

I've just gone through the notes of the first story. I'm writing too many other things right now - ficathons, trying to finish stuff, write new ideas - but I'll see what I can get done for Christmas. Maybe. :)

[thelana.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the twist was pretty obvious. I was still surprised how gruesome Ronon's endfight with them was. Pretty gory way to make a break with your past.

Blindfold!Fighter!Teyla? Sublimely hottest thing ever.

[tielan]

I can see him being furious at the betrayal - I mean, these people he used to run with, trusted - his friends - turned to the dark side. And after he spent so long on the run from the Wraith too - that had to hurt.

I'm still not sure he would have killed them off the bat, though. Maybe I'm being idealistic here, but he waited until the big guy killed the woman before he stabbed him, and he let the other guy run off rather than slaughter him.

But, yes, a ferocious fighter.

I think they pushed the whole "Ronon leaving Atlantis, we must stop him" angle a little too hard with Sam. And I was really surprised by the exchange where he basically asks, "Are you going to stop me by force if I try to leave, given that I know a lot of Atlantis' secrets?" and Sam pretty much says, "If I have to."

[madjm.livejournal.com]

This one was definitely my favorite so far. It was obvious that his friends would turn out to be baddies, not only for the reasons you stated, but because the Evil Promo Bastard revealed that in the preview the week before. I hate when they do that. I loved that Teyla had a lot to do. That's one of the reasons I didn't care for the first two episodes this season.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to tonight's episode. I might be the only person in the world who didn't download it from itunes when someone put the wrong episode up. Heh.

I'm hoping for some plot bunnies ...

[ladyjax.livejournal.com]

I liked this ep as well, if only for:

1) Teyla's various expressions during her initial encounters with the other Satedans and then watching Ronon step in being all hunky dory.

2) Teyla fighting. How could I not be pleased by that??

3) The basic premise of the story. The betrayal I could sort of see coming but working directly for the Wraith? That still took me by surprise.

4) Ronon. Even though I felt some things were over the top, overall, I was glad to get some more of his story.

Things I didn't like:

1) Rodney talking. A lot. Did they make him more neurotic this season? He just seems really off somehow.

2) Sam. I don't know if it's more about how Amanda is settling into the role or just how she's being written (what else is new?) but she feels a little stilted to me. I'd love to see her being open to working a little more outside the rules, which SG-1 was known for. On the other hand, it made me happy that she went along on the rescue mission so maybe there's hope.

[tielan]

Someone's pointed out that Ronon's choice to stay with Atlantis would have had so much more meaning if his 'friends' hadn't turned out to be evil.

And, yes, they've upped the amount of time per episode for Rodney to declare OHNOES! I'm getting really very tired of it.

Actually, I'm beginning to think that sending Sam in with the troops was a bad case of shoehorning. We have the premier team in Atlantis captured by the Wraith. Now, we're sending in the fourth member, the expedition's new leader, and the second-most-prominent scientist to fetch them? Honestly, all they needed to add was Caldwell or Lorne and they've got all their redundancies totally screwed if things go wrong...

[ladyjax.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm beginning to think that sending Sam in with the troops was a bad case of shoehorning. We have the premier team in Atlantis captured by the Wraith. Now, we're sending in the fourth member, the expedition's new leader, and the second-most-prominent scientist to fetch them? Honestly, all they needed to add was Caldwell or Lorne and they've got all their redundancies totally screwed if things go wrong...

You've made a really good point here. Although, a pending future conflict: will the city still get handed off to Teyla if Sam's not around? That could be something explore.

[tielan]

Oh, I hope so. I really, really hope so.

I think that they might look at it in Tabula Rasa. Or, at least, I've heard they're going to look into the Teyla-as-a-leader-in-Atlantis thing in an S4 episode.