SGA 5.03 - Broken Ties

[tielan]

Okay, shot in the first five minutes...looks like that's Teyla's appearance for the episode.

Once again, mentioning Kanaan, but no actual showing.

Good grief! They're actually using Pegasus natives they've used in the past! For all of five seconds!

LOL. I do love that they start off without asking. And that the doors open automaticall to John. Nice moment with Teyla's choice.

Aww. John, that was MEAN! Leaving Woolsey in the room.

Interesting: Atlantis as the perceived enemy.

New actor for Solen Sincha. Differences between Satedan philosophy and TAthosian? Survive at all costs, vsdeath before dishonour. This would be the point to tell Tyre that he's been through the withdrawl before.

That's not Todd, is it?

The Yorkie! And Teyla's expression is just, uh, oookay. And Woolsey is cute.

You know, it would figure that this story would pretty much both confirm and wreck my Big Bang premise. The feeding-rejuvenating cycle? Now I'm feeling like I didn't put enough of the enzyme withdrawl in. And you just know that someone's going to come along and whine, "You didn't do it right! In 'Broken Ties' it shows that..."

Okay, so the John/Teyla shippers are in the cold for the moment. But, you know, Kanaan is a thousand, thousand times better than Pete. At least he's not a stalker! And I like that he's supportive and encouraging to her - it fits with what (little) we know of Kanaan - that he's a quiet leader who isn't inclined the same way as Teyla.

Oh, Rodney, you talk a lot. Too much. I keep expecting them to use Teyla in some way regarding the Wraith. It's kinda depressing that they never do.

Brilliant acting by Jason; and I do love the final montage. Teyla and Kanaan and their son; Rodney and his bathtub, John and Ronon and the sword. (Was it Tyre's sword or Ronon's?)

I guess that now, in addition to "Teyla decides to leave the expedition after 'The Return'" for Big Bang 2009, we can expect, "Teyla decides to be a full-time mother to her son after 'Broken Ties.'" Naturally, these shall be the only two options that mention Teyla at all. Apparently Teyla staying in Atlantis and doing significant, action-oriented stuff is quite completely out of the "what if" options.

It would be nice if Teyla's "B-plots" involved the city a bit more. Her B-plots are always more about the division between Atlantis and her people than about something that concerns the city. Hell, it would be nice if Teyla had B-plots more often.

I'm really not huffed about Teyla/Kanaan. I mean, I still prefer John/Teyla and I'm not about to go all "YAY! Teyla is now totally in love with someone who isn't John forever and ever forever in love with one man and if she dares rest her eyes on anyone else she is a terrible slut subverting her true nature!" But I can accept a guy for her who's got her interests at heart. I was never inclined to particularly like Pete Shanahan in SG1, but I was willing to accept him until his introduction turned me completely off the idea. BLECH.

But Kanaan is lovely. (So far. I don't trust TPTB not to make him manic at some point. Oh the dwama.)

Darlings, I'll take Kanaan for Teyla over Pete for Sam anyday! Plus, we got Sam/Jack in the end. There's always hope! :D

Incidentally, which interview mentioned a John/Teyla/Kanaan love triangle? Did any of them? I remember reading it somewhere, but I don't remember where.

I had other thoughts on this episode, but I've forgotted them.

On the whole, I thought it was a good ep. The 'Ronon' eps usually are, I've noticed. They only have one a season, but they but their belly and gut into it, and by God, it shows! Now if they'd only put another episode in there in addition to the one-Ronon episode, one-Teyla episode that they feel they 'must' do each season - I'll call it the "Teyla and Ronon save the day because they're Pegasus natives." I'll have one of those, thanks - something even more obvious than Tabula Rasa.

Comments

[ratcreature]

I think that was Tyre's sword. Ronon's (at least the one the Wraith handed to him) had cut-out gaps in the metal of the blade, but if I saw right the one at the end had a solid blade, and no such pattern.

[tielan]

Well, there's always the rewatch. :)

It makes sense that it was Tyre's sword.

[yappichick]

I believe the love triangle you are referring to has to do with Rodney/Jennifer/Ronon. That has been confirmed. :D

[tielan]

Oh, I know about that one. But I thought someone had mentioned that there'd be a conflict for Teyla regarding the matter of John and Kanaan.

Maybe not.

[azure-horizon.livejournal.com]

Yep. I heard that too, though can't remmeber where.

Some good infor, apparently, coming comic-con :)

[tielan]

Some good info, apparently, coming comic-con :)

Anything John/Teyla perchance? (Hey, I can always hope.)

[azure-horizon.livejournal.com]

Apparently they address the issues and the 'thing' between them. *shrugs* but you know what they're like.

[tielan]

*g*

Yes, I know what they're like. Still, I think it's a good thing that they're addressing it in some way. It may not be as significant as we'd like it to be, but that's always been the way with the Stargates.

Trust me, I have seven years of experience with the Stargate PTB and their idea of 'shipping. I know what to expect! Three years after RDA left SG1, the Sam/Jack shippers are still waiting for 'incontrovertible proof'.

In the end, though, I suspect that John/Teyla will be the pairing of the PTB's choice, even if it's never a fan favourite.

[azure-horizon.livejournal.com]

I liked the ep. It was MEATY. Lol. Bleh. It was a quick watch though - I know, how can the same 43 mins be a quick watch one day and not-a-quick watch the next... Didn't really process but here's the breakdown.

-Liked Kanaan, though the Teyla/Kanaan scenes seemed quite... Forced. Not the one where she's rocking Torren, but the one at the end just screamed of "LOOK AT US, WE'RE BATTLING THE ODDS!"
-LOVED Woolsey. All of him. Even the scene at the end where he's in his suit. Especially loved him taking a while to answer after John asked if they had a go.
-RONON. JASON. Loved him so much. The scenes where he's in withdrawl... the bit where he's like "Hey buddy...when ya goin' to let me out?" Was just like... Waaa---ooooo.
-Loved John telling Teyla to make a decision. A lot of folks have isssues with it, but I think A) what he said is true and B) Teyla needed to have someone say "No, you need to make a decision" or she never would.
-Tyre. I knew he would sacrafice himself at the end and the look between him and Sheppard makes me believe that Sheppard knew as well.

[tielan]

It was a solid ep. I rather like the Teyla/Kanaan scenes, the sequences with all the team doing their various things. A kind of "this is the way Atlantis is right now...before we fuck it all up next episode!"

Yes, I am a cynic!

I think one of the things that disappointed me about the John/Teyla conflict was that TPTB let John off the hook as far as facing up to his actions. The same thing happened in Spoils of War.

I don't think Teyla was wrong to vacillate, she had her reasons; I don't think John was wrong to challenge her on her vacillation. But it would have been nice to have John turn to Teyla in the scene in the hallway with Woolsey and say, "We're going to get Ronon. Make a choice, now." Something to show that he might be willing to understand her reasons for not coming back to the team, but that he still wants her there.

If Teyla hadn't chanced along at that moment, would John have even told her?

The same thing happened in Spoils of War: John never had to face the consequences of sidelining Teyla and what it could have cost them, because Teyla took herself off the team before he said a word out on the balcony.

It's an easy out for John, writing-wise, and any blame is effectively pushed upon Teyla.

[fishphile.livejournal.com]

The episode was better than I thought it would be. Jason always does a good job in these episodes.

I like Kanaan. I mean, sure, I'm not going to stop being a John/Teyla supporter, but I like Kanaan because he seems levelheaded and together. He is a good balance to Teyla. And you have to respect anyone who would help save you when they are all half wraithy and stuff. I hope they don't kill him off.

I don't know if tptb are purposely setting up a John/Teyla/Kanaan triangle, but it certainly comes across that way. In fact, I buy that trio quicker than Rodney/Keller/Ronon any day.

[tielan]

The 'triangle' is more obvious in the context of Teyla and Kanaan being a family with their son, and Teyla's desire to be back on the team and John's challenging that, yes.

I'm hesitating about saying that TPTB intended the opening scene to signal John's interest in Teyla, while now going on to show Teyla with Kanaan, and setting it up that way. I have trouble believing they're that foresightful - although, they've been quite good about a little more emotional continuity from episode to episode lately.

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

I liked this ep too. The Ronon eps really do rock (and didn't he get two last year? 'Sateda' and 'Midway?') because both Ronon and Jason are made of awesome. TPTB are stupid for not utilizing him more.

I think my feelings about Kanaan are more mixed than others' seem to be. On the one hand, yes he is a thousand times better than Pete "Restraining Order" Shanahan. I was fine with his introduction and in fact I was happy he was Teyla's baby daddy, rather than have it be some Wraith-y/mystical/mystery sort of cliche. I do like that he's supportive of Teyla and doesn't even consider implying that because she isn't spending every minute of her day with him and the baby that she's a bad woman/mother. The perverse side of me also likes that it's bringing out John's jealous side. In that little argument scene with John, I agree with azure_horizon that Teyla needed someone to force her to make a choice and I think the same thing is happening with John in a slightly more subtle way. He needed someone (who turned out to be Kanaan) to force him to make a choice about Teyla. He could have stayed forever in that holding pattern of "I like her, but I'm not acknowledging it or doing anything about it" as long as he perceived her to be available. But the revelation about Kanaan was a wakeup call for him and now his feelings are bubbling to the surface, whether he likes it or not. So we get his jealousy bleeding through, like with that little argument in this ep, and his possessiveness when hovering over Teyla and the baby in 'Search and Rescue.' Sooner or later, he's going to have to fully acknowledge these feelings and do something about them, one way or the other. And from listening to the S4 commentaries, TPTB have acknowledged explicitly that Rachel's pregnancy forced them to make a decision on the J/T front and more or less confirmed that the decision is in our favor. :)

That said, I don't actually like Kanaan as a character. Maybe it's unfair of me to make such a decision when he's had so little screen time, but honestly Ronon didn't need much more screen time to make me like him when he first came on. Kanaan is so bland and completely non-proactive. While I appreciate that he's supportive of Teyla, doesn't he have any thoughts, activities or priorities of his own? She named their baby after another man! How does he react to that? While I do have these questions, I don't actually want them to waste time in the series answering them. I feel like Kanaan was brought in as a plot device to explain Teyla's pregnancy, he added some texture to her character, gave her and the audience an individual touchstone for the Athosians making their disappearance more personal than just a faceless mass of people, and now he's served his purpose and it's time for him to go.

Anyway, on the non-Teyla or Ronon-awesomeness front, my two other favorite things about the episode were:

1. John: "You know what would be really creepy and unexpected? If you kneel instead." HEE!

2. Chairman Tyre returns! "Today's secret ingredient is...DOUBLE BETRAYAL!!! So with an open heart and empty stomach mind, I say unto you in the words of my uncle...ALLEZ COMBAT!!" Too bad he died, because I'd love to have Mark Dacascos back. Besides being delightfully campy on 'Iron Chef America,' I and the eight other people who watched 'The Crow' tv series agree that he was great there, too.


Also, the previews for next week look FUCKING AWESOME!

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

Oh, also: The doors of the conference room not opening for Woolsey? Hilarious! The doors will open for people without the gene, so that's not the problem. My personal fanwank is that Atlantis was picking up on John's irritation with Woolsey at the moment and was punishing him in her own sneaky little way. John/Atlantis OTP!

[tielan]

LOL. When they opened as John stood up, I thought that was great...and then they closed in Woolsey's face! That was awesome.

I guess we have confirmation that Atlantis has a certain amount of sensitivity to mood...

[yappichick]

ROFL, I had to laugh at the ICA reference. "Double betrayal" *snicker* I'm so sharing that with my hubby. LOL

[tielan]

Is Marc Dacascos the American Iron Chef? O_O

[yappichick]

He's the chairman...here:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TDLkUVte6Ag

If you go to about 3:00 you can see what Raksha is talking about. He's mainly in the beginning--he's quite over the top and entertaining. :D :D

[tielan]

LOL. I've seen the original Japanese Iron Chef, but I don't think I ever paid attention to the American version. They're both a little OTT in the presentation.

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

It's totally OTT! I'm such a sucker for camp (witness my love for the televised crack that is The Tribe (http://www.tribeworld.com)).

How do you suppose the production meetings for Iron Chef America went when they were first developing it? "You know who we really need to host this show? An award winning martial artist!" How do you even come up with that?

[tielan]

How do you even come up with that?

By the power of amazing crazy. It does incredible things...

[tielan]

And from listening to the S4 commentaries, TPTB have acknowledged explicitly that Rachel's pregnancy forced them to make a decision on the J/T front and more or less confirmed that the decision is in our favor. :)

Have they? Which episode commentary? Most of the commentaries reviews I've heard have been from disgruntled John-fans who were looking for character insights and got technical discussions of sound of lighting instead.

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

I believe it was in the commentary for 'Quarantine' where they were talking about one of the early John/Teyla scenes (either the scene right before or right after the lockdown went into effect) and they said Rachel's real life pregnancy forced their hand as far as John and Teyla's relationship went. They had to make a decision. So that was the explicit confirmation that they had to make a decision yes or no about romantic feelings between them. Then the pro-J/T implication comes from both that commentary and the Mission Directive feature on the ep when Martin Wood was talking about the concept and staging of the ep and how it was about how people relate to each other one-on-one. He said that it was important to him that Katie/Rodney, Sam/Zelenka, and Jennifer/Ronon be in as close confines, physically, as possible. So, small rooms, lots of plants, making it claustrophobic. But not John and Teyla. He said it was important that they had this big room and that they could move apart, but it was significant that they didn't and it said a lot about their relationship. Then in another commentary, I forget which one, they were talking about the significance of seating arrangements in the conference room and "of course" John would sit with Teyla (he nearly always does, if you notice).

And there might be even more, so I'll let you know as soon as I get the chance to go through the rest of the DVDs.


Most of the commentaries reviews I've heard have been from disgruntled John-fans who were looking for character insights and got technical discussions of sound of lighting instead.

Heh. Yeah, the commentaries are such a mixed bag. Anything with the actors, Martin Gero, or Martin Wood are usually pretty good. When I found out that Martin Wood was moving with Amanda Tapping over to Sanctuary this season, my first thought was "No! We're going to end up with more Mikita or Cooper commentaries, I just know it!" Because I watch all of the commentaries, even if they're dead boring. What can I say? The emphasis for my master's degree was in pop culture representation, and even though I've come to loathe academia with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, that kind of behind the scenes stuff still fascinates me intellectually even when they don't entertain me.

[tielan]

It's interesting that they mention the 'room to move' while putting John and Teyla physically together, while the other characters were in close quarters and so couldn't escape each other. We often give the writers a hard deal, forgetting that episodes are more than just the writing.

Yes, I've noticed that John often sits next to Teyla in the briefing rooms and when they're eating as part of a team. I would notice that, though.

Mikita and Cooper tend to be very technical, I've heard. Cooper because he's a complete geek; and I think that Mikita is more into the directing/producing side of things than the writing - he looks at the technical stuff, while the writers and actors are more likely to look at it from a story/character perspective.

Thanks for the heads-up! I shall have to see if I can find anyone willing to put the Quarantine commentary up!

[ratcreature]

I think that was Tyre's sword. Ronon's (at least the one the Wraith handed to him) had cut-out gaps in the metal of the blade, but if I saw right the one at the end had a solid blade, and no such pattern.

[tielan]

Well, there's always the rewatch. :)

It makes sense that it was Tyre's sword.

[yappichick]

I believe the love triangle you are referring to has to do with Rodney/Jennifer/Ronon. That has been confirmed. :D

[tielan]

Oh, I know about that one. But I thought someone had mentioned that there'd be a conflict for Teyla regarding the matter of John and Kanaan.

Maybe not.

[azure-horizon.livejournal.com]

Yep. I heard that too, though can't remmeber where.

Some good infor, apparently, coming comic-con :)

[tielan]

Some good info, apparently, coming comic-con :)

Anything John/Teyla perchance? (Hey, I can always hope.)

[azure-horizon.livejournal.com]

Apparently they address the issues and the 'thing' between them. *shrugs* but you know what they're like.

[tielan]

*g*

Yes, I know what they're like. Still, I think it's a good thing that they're addressing it in some way. It may not be as significant as we'd like it to be, but that's always been the way with the Stargates.

Trust me, I have seven years of experience with the Stargate PTB and their idea of 'shipping. I know what to expect! Three years after RDA left SG1, the Sam/Jack shippers are still waiting for 'incontrovertible proof'.

In the end, though, I suspect that John/Teyla will be the pairing of the PTB's choice, even if it's never a fan favourite.

[azure-horizon.livejournal.com]

I liked the ep. It was MEATY. Lol. Bleh. It was a quick watch though - I know, how can the same 43 mins be a quick watch one day and not-a-quick watch the next... Didn't really process but here's the breakdown.

-Liked Kanaan, though the Teyla/Kanaan scenes seemed quite... Forced. Not the one where she's rocking Torren, but the one at the end just screamed of "LOOK AT US, WE'RE BATTLING THE ODDS!"
-LOVED Woolsey. All of him. Even the scene at the end where he's in his suit. Especially loved him taking a while to answer after John asked if they had a go.
-RONON. JASON. Loved him so much. The scenes where he's in withdrawl... the bit where he's like "Hey buddy...when ya goin' to let me out?" Was just like... Waaa---ooooo.
-Loved John telling Teyla to make a decision. A lot of folks have isssues with it, but I think A) what he said is true and B) Teyla needed to have someone say "No, you need to make a decision" or she never would.
-Tyre. I knew he would sacrafice himself at the end and the look between him and Sheppard makes me believe that Sheppard knew as well.

[tielan]

It was a solid ep. I rather like the Teyla/Kanaan scenes, the sequences with all the team doing their various things. A kind of "this is the way Atlantis is right now...before we fuck it all up next episode!"

Yes, I am a cynic!

I think one of the things that disappointed me about the John/Teyla conflict was that TPTB let John off the hook as far as facing up to his actions. The same thing happened in Spoils of War.

I don't think Teyla was wrong to vacillate, she had her reasons; I don't think John was wrong to challenge her on her vacillation. But it would have been nice to have John turn to Teyla in the scene in the hallway with Woolsey and say, "We're going to get Ronon. Make a choice, now." Something to show that he might be willing to understand her reasons for not coming back to the team, but that he still wants her there.

If Teyla hadn't chanced along at that moment, would John have even told her?

The same thing happened in Spoils of War: John never had to face the consequences of sidelining Teyla and what it could have cost them, because Teyla took herself off the team before he said a word out on the balcony.

It's an easy out for John, writing-wise, and any blame is effectively pushed upon Teyla.

[fishphile.livejournal.com]

The episode was better than I thought it would be. Jason always does a good job in these episodes.

I like Kanaan. I mean, sure, I'm not going to stop being a John/Teyla supporter, but I like Kanaan because he seems levelheaded and together. He is a good balance to Teyla. And you have to respect anyone who would help save you when they are all half wraithy and stuff. I hope they don't kill him off.

I don't know if tptb are purposely setting up a John/Teyla/Kanaan triangle, but it certainly comes across that way. In fact, I buy that trio quicker than Rodney/Keller/Ronon any day.

[tielan]

The 'triangle' is more obvious in the context of Teyla and Kanaan being a family with their son, and Teyla's desire to be back on the team and John's challenging that, yes.

I'm hesitating about saying that TPTB intended the opening scene to signal John's interest in Teyla, while now going on to show Teyla with Kanaan, and setting it up that way. I have trouble believing they're that foresightful - although, they've been quite good about a little more emotional continuity from episode to episode lately.

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

I liked this ep too. The Ronon eps really do rock (and didn't he get two last year? 'Sateda' and 'Midway?') because both Ronon and Jason are made of awesome. TPTB are stupid for not utilizing him more.

I think my feelings about Kanaan are more mixed than others' seem to be. On the one hand, yes he is a thousand times better than Pete "Restraining Order" Shanahan. I was fine with his introduction and in fact I was happy he was Teyla's baby daddy, rather than have it be some Wraith-y/mystical/mystery sort of cliche. I do like that he's supportive of Teyla and doesn't even consider implying that because she isn't spending every minute of her day with him and the baby that she's a bad woman/mother. The perverse side of me also likes that it's bringing out John's jealous side. In that little argument scene with John, I agree with azure_horizon that Teyla needed someone to force her to make a choice and I think the same thing is happening with John in a slightly more subtle way. He needed someone (who turned out to be Kanaan) to force him to make a choice about Teyla. He could have stayed forever in that holding pattern of "I like her, but I'm not acknowledging it or doing anything about it" as long as he perceived her to be available. But the revelation about Kanaan was a wakeup call for him and now his feelings are bubbling to the surface, whether he likes it or not. So we get his jealousy bleeding through, like with that little argument in this ep, and his possessiveness when hovering over Teyla and the baby in 'Search and Rescue.' Sooner or later, he's going to have to fully acknowledge these feelings and do something about them, one way or the other. And from listening to the S4 commentaries, TPTB have acknowledged explicitly that Rachel's pregnancy forced them to make a decision on the J/T front and more or less confirmed that the decision is in our favor. :)

That said, I don't actually like Kanaan as a character. Maybe it's unfair of me to make such a decision when he's had so little screen time, but honestly Ronon didn't need much more screen time to make me like him when he first came on. Kanaan is so bland and completely non-proactive. While I appreciate that he's supportive of Teyla, doesn't he have any thoughts, activities or priorities of his own? She named their baby after another man! How does he react to that? While I do have these questions, I don't actually want them to waste time in the series answering them. I feel like Kanaan was brought in as a plot device to explain Teyla's pregnancy, he added some texture to her character, gave her and the audience an individual touchstone for the Athosians making their disappearance more personal than just a faceless mass of people, and now he's served his purpose and it's time for him to go.

Anyway, on the non-Teyla or Ronon-awesomeness front, my two other favorite things about the episode were:

1. John: "You know what would be really creepy and unexpected? If you kneel instead." HEE!

2. Chairman Tyre returns! "Today's secret ingredient is...DOUBLE BETRAYAL!!! So with an open heart and empty stomach mind, I say unto you in the words of my uncle...ALLEZ COMBAT!!" Too bad he died, because I'd love to have Mark Dacascos back. Besides being delightfully campy on 'Iron Chef America,' I and the eight other people who watched 'The Crow' tv series agree that he was great there, too.


Also, the previews for next week look FUCKING AWESOME!

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

Oh, also: The doors of the conference room not opening for Woolsey? Hilarious! The doors will open for people without the gene, so that's not the problem. My personal fanwank is that Atlantis was picking up on John's irritation with Woolsey at the moment and was punishing him in her own sneaky little way. John/Atlantis OTP!

[tielan]

LOL. When they opened as John stood up, I thought that was great...and then they closed in Woolsey's face! That was awesome.

I guess we have confirmation that Atlantis has a certain amount of sensitivity to mood...

[yappichick]

ROFL, I had to laugh at the ICA reference. "Double betrayal" *snicker* I'm so sharing that with my hubby. LOL

[tielan]

Is Marc Dacascos the American Iron Chef? O_O

[yappichick]

He's the chairman...here:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TDLkUVte6Ag

If you go to about 3:00 you can see what Raksha is talking about. He's mainly in the beginning--he's quite over the top and entertaining. :D :D

[tielan]

LOL. I've seen the original Japanese Iron Chef, but I don't think I ever paid attention to the American version. They're both a little OTT in the presentation.

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

It's totally OTT! I'm such a sucker for camp (witness my love for the televised crack that is The Tribe (http://www.tribeworld.com)).

How do you suppose the production meetings for Iron Chef America went when they were first developing it? "You know who we really need to host this show? An award winning martial artist!" How do you even come up with that?

[tielan]

How do you even come up with that?

By the power of amazing crazy. It does incredible things...

[tielan]

And from listening to the S4 commentaries, TPTB have acknowledged explicitly that Rachel's pregnancy forced them to make a decision on the J/T front and more or less confirmed that the decision is in our favor. :)

Have they? Which episode commentary? Most of the commentaries reviews I've heard have been from disgruntled John-fans who were looking for character insights and got technical discussions of sound of lighting instead.

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

I believe it was in the commentary for 'Quarantine' where they were talking about one of the early John/Teyla scenes (either the scene right before or right after the lockdown went into effect) and they said Rachel's real life pregnancy forced their hand as far as John and Teyla's relationship went. They had to make a decision. So that was the explicit confirmation that they had to make a decision yes or no about romantic feelings between them. Then the pro-J/T implication comes from both that commentary and the Mission Directive feature on the ep when Martin Wood was talking about the concept and staging of the ep and how it was about how people relate to each other one-on-one. He said that it was important to him that Katie/Rodney, Sam/Zelenka, and Jennifer/Ronon be in as close confines, physically, as possible. So, small rooms, lots of plants, making it claustrophobic. But not John and Teyla. He said it was important that they had this big room and that they could move apart, but it was significant that they didn't and it said a lot about their relationship. Then in another commentary, I forget which one, they were talking about the significance of seating arrangements in the conference room and "of course" John would sit with Teyla (he nearly always does, if you notice).

And there might be even more, so I'll let you know as soon as I get the chance to go through the rest of the DVDs.


Most of the commentaries reviews I've heard have been from disgruntled John-fans who were looking for character insights and got technical discussions of sound of lighting instead.

Heh. Yeah, the commentaries are such a mixed bag. Anything with the actors, Martin Gero, or Martin Wood are usually pretty good. When I found out that Martin Wood was moving with Amanda Tapping over to Sanctuary this season, my first thought was "No! We're going to end up with more Mikita or Cooper commentaries, I just know it!" Because I watch all of the commentaries, even if they're dead boring. What can I say? The emphasis for my master's degree was in pop culture representation, and even though I've come to loathe academia with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, that kind of behind the scenes stuff still fascinates me intellectually even when they don't entertain me.

[tielan]

It's interesting that they mention the 'room to move' while putting John and Teyla physically together, while the other characters were in close quarters and so couldn't escape each other. We often give the writers a hard deal, forgetting that episodes are more than just the writing.

Yes, I've noticed that John often sits next to Teyla in the briefing rooms and when they're eating as part of a team. I would notice that, though.

Mikita and Cooper tend to be very technical, I've heard. Cooper because he's a complete geek; and I think that Mikita is more into the directing/producing side of things than the writing - he looks at the technical stuff, while the writers and actors are more likely to look at it from a story/character perspective.

Thanks for the heads-up! I shall have to see if I can find anyone willing to put the Quarantine commentary up!