SGA 4x15: Outcast

[sholio]

Still not feeling like doing long reviews, so itty bitty comments instead!


BATES!!!!! I was totally unspoilered for that ... and thrilled to death to see him, and find out what he's been doing over the last couple of years.

I liked the episode a lot. Sheppard's early life ... REVEALED! *g* I was a little bit spoilered for this, to the extent that I knew he had an older brother and that his dad was (probably) dead -- but I really loved those bits, and I ended up liking his brother a lot more than I was expecting to at first. The plot was pretty good this time -- Terminator, not exactly a new idea, but I didn't expect the twist with the female scientist and I loved how they solved the problem, in the end, using actual science! Score! (I'm really fond of clever uses of the technology they have. The whole thing with the knife-beacon and beaming an enemy into re-entry -- that was smart!)

I did really love that we got a little scene at the beginning with Rodney making a stab at being comforting and wanting to go along for moral support; I think I would've been very disappointed if the episode hadn't had anything along those lines. Having said that, I do like the way that they've been mixing up the characters this season into different combinations -- last week, we had a ton of Rodney/John interaction, so it was nice to get Ronon/John this week, for balance.

And I do love, love, love how we're getting a deeper understanding this year of who John is. Last season basically did that for Rodney, and this season is doing it for John. One thing I find really interesting, after this episode, is how much of his isolation pre-Atlantis is apparently self-imposed. What I mean is, it's not that he didn't have people who liked him and cared about him -- it's that he pushed them away. It wasn't just John, of course; it takes two to have a fight -- but I really liked that aspect of this episode, that we saw it was at least as much him walking away from them, as them walking away from him. It makes him much more human, and less of a woobie victim than he's often written in fic that deals with his past.

Yep, liked the episode very much. Want tags now. :D

Comments

[susnn.livejournal.com]

I immediately jumped to the older brother position too. Coming from a large family, the body language in their scenes, for me, really did seem to have John in the younger brother slot. I could also see Dave being ticked off that he did as was expected and when John's turn to step up to the plate came along, he blew Dad off. Someone on GateWorld posited that Dave resented John because he though his father thought that younger brother was a better fit for the business despite John's willingness to follow his heart. I liked that idea. Could put a different spin on the money angle as well. Dave's been doing the job, yet Dad regretted the estrangement between himself and his younger son and might have wanted to make amends after death. Or if he really was as controlling as some have suggested, try to shoehorn John into the business on his deathbed. In that case, Dave could be less concerned among the money angle than about the notion that Dad still isn't giving him his due as regards taking care of family finances as well as Dad. Could also be why Patrick apparently knew that Dad had regrets and yet never bothered to inform John of that fact until it was too late for John to do anything with the information except heap guilt upon regret. Who knows? I actually like a little mystery, leaves more wiggle room for fan fiction.

As for actors' ages, unless the producers make note in canon, that is, on screen, I just don't give any credence to personal data as being biographical for the characters.... well, other than height, weight, etc. and even that is subject to change in Hollywood. After all, we've seen lots of 20 somethings playing teenagers and Estelle Getty played the mother of a woman years her junior. LOL

Speaking of Moms, I like the notion that John's Mom was Patrick's second wife and she up and left one day without any advance warning. Dave was old enough to have bonded with his step-mom after losing his own mother. I think the first Mrs. Patrick could have died so that was a leave taking that was beyond her control, whereas the second Mrs. P just left. Dave could have felt abandoned by her as well as by his brother. Puts John's "rebellion" and leave-taking in a different light. Typical of John or also typical of John and Mom?

Of course, in my fangirling heart, I see a scene where Dave admits to John that his mother had left something for John and their father never gave it to him. It was the little egg shaped stone that Patrick was always playing with but never allowed John to touch. So now, David gives it to John and, of course, it lights up. Cue credits.

[darkrosetiger.livejournal.com]

Of course, in my fangirling heart, I see a scene where Dave admits to John that his mother had left something for John and their father never gave it to him. It was the little egg shaped stone that Patrick was always playing with but never allowed John to touch. So now, David gives it to John and, of course, it lights up. Cue credits.

Okay that? Is an awesome idea. Do you mind if I steal it? I promise to treat it nicely.

[susnn.livejournal.com]

Oh, please do. Shall it be gen? Subtexted? May I know when you are finished?