SGA 5x04

[sholio]

I'm starting to really wonder if my "meh" reaction to Seed really did have a lot to do with just being stressed-out and unhappy, because the rest of this season is totally knocking it out of the park. We're now four-for-four with strong team episodes, in which everyone gets something to do, the characters get to pair off with their teammates (YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN) in all kinds of interesting ways, and stuff blows up! With extra bonus feelings and teamy squishiness!

The most squeak-and-flail moments in the episode:

- RODNEY AND BABY. (And John: "There are FEELINGS happening here!" *flees*) As adorable as the introductory scene was -- yes, I'm SO easy; stick Rodney and John in a room and let them snark at each other, and I roll right over like a fangirl puppy -- I felt sad for Rodney, not getting to hold Teyla's baby. And then ... BABY!

- Rodney and Teyla! Doing technical stuff! Together! I had so much love for techie-Teyla in this episode that I could EXPLODE.

- Speaking of explosions, John and Ronon blowing stuff up! Ronon and his railguns. Awww. And John fanboying himself! (Much as Rodney was doing earlier with his alt-self's science.) Oh, DORKS.

- Ghost ship! I love derelict ships and abandoned space stations/top-secret facilities of all sorts. I mentioned I'm an easy sell for this stuff, right?

Extra bonus love for the team running the whole ship by themselves. Which, well, logistically, I tried not to think about too hard, really. But the whole theme of the team stranded, alone, forced to rely on themselves and each other, having to improvise and figure things out in a hurry -- that's really the core of what I love most about Atlantis, right there.

And so far, the season is four-for-four with delivering teamy aftermath scenes in the infirmary, too! DID I MENTION HOW EASY I AM? Every single episode, someone's been hurt and the episode wraps up with the characters, in different combinations, having a team moment around the bedside of the hurt one. I don't know whether to be thrilled or slightly worried, because this is pretty much what started burning me out on Supernatural -- it was fun for a while, and then it was just too much. Not that I'm complaining in the meantime, though.

Comments

Longer than I'd planned...oops!

[with-apostrophe.livejournal.com]

I don't think my levels of squee were quite as high as yours. Sure I appreciate a team ep with extra added Lorne, Zelenka and Chuck, and I love AU eps, but it seemed a little flat. I suppose I was disappointed that they didn't get to see more of the alternate realities, meet their alternate selves, alternate Atlantises (Atlanti?).

Having said that:

Rodney - and the baby! Aww. Somewhat like Woolsey's reaction "Oh look at the baby, wow!.... Oh crap, now what do I do? Help!". Also, DH - you must have worked SO hard at this ep. So much technobabble!

Teyla - season 5, you're saving Teyla from being stuck as the Athosian who said "my people" way too much, and whose storylines were all to so with the stupid Wraith gene. I love that Major Marks taught her the Daedalus systems (and that Ronon couldn't be bothered to learn) and how utterly competent she is, even to the point of knowing something Rodney didn't. Ha! My hopes for season 5 was some good Teyla stuff - it's not disappointed yet.

John - oh yay! The opening and closing discussions about the baby were great, and there was so much snark! Plus, he DID get some interaction with his alternate self. Loved him singing his own praises - it may not be anywhere near the size and health of Rodney's, but the man's ego ain't gonna die any time soon.

Ronon - behind a Daedalus console. Cool and wrong at the same time. And he had a genuine Chewie moment! I did think it odd that he heard noises, went to investigate, had his gun out, but not aimed as he opened that door. Really didn't seem right. Ronon's usually the first to be up and aiming.

The aliens. Cool ship. Fun space fight - if a little long. The aliens themselves? Oh dear. Not a good first impression if they're going to return (and if anyone confirms or denies this to me outside of Mallozzi's blog, I will not be happy!).They looked like robots mixed with Cardassians, with the animalic roaring that the Wraith do, which BUGS me. Still, if they are going to be around, it'd be interesting to know who they are, where they came from, what they want, and if they're going to confound my first impressions I'll be happy. I can't help thinking they might find a way to jump realities and come after our guys, unless they exist in "our" own. We'll see.

So, IMHO - a good episode, but not going into my top ten.

Re: Longer than I'd planned...oops!

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Not a good first impression if they're going to return (and if anyone confirms or denies this to me outside of Mallozzi's blog, I will not be happy!).

Yeah, I agree -- I fully expect we'll see them back, and have no clue beyond random speculation that we WILL see they back, but they don't give me great hopes for a fun and interesting new enemy. (On the other hand, the Replicators had all kinds of potential as an enemy, and I found the whole idea of the Wraith -- at least past the first episode -- pretty dull, but the Wraith have turned out to be quite interesting, at least IMHO, while the Replicators fizzled. So who can say.)

I did think it odd that he heard noises, went to investigate, had his gun out, but not aimed as he opened that door. Really didn't seem right. Ronon's usually the first to be up and aiming.

He also just blundered blindly into that ambush last episode. Oh, Ronon. XD I do think it's one of those situations, like Elizabeth and her non-existent diplomacy skills, or Teyla with her uber-woodcraft building a fairly obvious fire, at night, while being pursued by enemies -- the writers really do try to make him badass but they don't cover all the possibilities.

On the other hand, I am very easily distracted by shiny. And this episode was very shiny!

[argosy.livejournal.com]

I loved this episode! And I don't remember the quote and I'm too tired to find it, but didn't DH say something about this being the season of people in bed? :D

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

*g* He did say something about people spending a lot of time in the infirmary, didn't he? So true! I will not complain if this trend continues. XD

[naye]

Yes, yes, yes! I'm kind of incoherent right now, because I spend the last - oh, I don't know, doesn't matter, but I posted my episode reaction right now and so did you and I have so much love for this episode! (See. Incoherent!)

RODNEY AND BABY! After all, we've already seen John with the baby. Now we NEED Ronon and baby. Need, need, need. Erm. Yes. Slightly obsessed with that but - it's so cute!

Am so loving the teaminess of this season! Team stuck together in different realities, relying on each other to get back, and they all believe in Rodney, but they need all of them. Teyla's technical knowledge make me squeak, too! So happy. ♥ And then Ronon and Teyla, and Ronon and John, and - ohh, Ronon calling the others for backup, because he knows his team will come save him! That's something he's had to relearn, I'm sure, after all those years alone...

Maybe I'm easy too, but I am so happy with our show. ♥ Our show and TEAM and they're genius dorks that fight back to back through dimensions!

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

This has been SUCH a teamy season! Though ... it's not like we haven't gotten team episodes in past seasons ... I think I'm just really enjoying how they're doing it, the way they're integrating Teyla's personal life and the team's little downtime moments into the whole tapestry of explosions and aliens, as they've been doing quite well since last season. And they've been doing really well at picking up some of the character relationships that were given short shrift last season (Teyla and Ronon, Rodney and Teyla). Obviously, it's not possible to feature every character relationship in every episode, but they've been doing an awfully good job of giving us those little bits and pieces this season, and I love it!

[naye]

Also - heee at the beautiful summary of what was going on with John, there:

"There are FEELINGS happening here!" *flees*

Oh, John. ♥

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

That's so totally what he appears to be thinking! "This is getting mushy. MUST RUN AWAY." Oh, John, John. You DORK.

[wneleh.livejournal.com]

:-)

My main reaction was, hey, this is a Science Fiction show? I really like Science Fiction! Neat! I don't think this is an episode I'll rewatch a dozen times - I don't think there was a lot of nuance - but that's perfectly fine.

I'm still having Teyla-as-mother issues, but there's 95% me. I love how she's growing in technical knowledge - like somehow over the past six months (when she wasn't busy getting kidnapped) stuff that had been floating around in her environment just went 'click'. Maybe she put in some effort into getting really proficient with written English and that's coming through? Anyway, I find it very believable, and very interesting, as I do Ronon's frustrations (I think I'd be with Ronon - buttons ARE NOT MY FRIENDS.)

- Helen

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

It was a wonderfully science-fictiony episode, wasn't it? And not really in the B-movie-homage way of "Seed".

They've given strong implications in past episodes that Teyla's pretty good with computer stuff, but this is the first time they've ever been overt about it. Which delighted me!

[ldyanne.livejournal.com]

Oh, I thought this was a fantastic episode! I thought it was quite chilling when we came on that alternate team and they were all dead. I thought it was quite telling (of something) that the alternate team was all together, pretty much touching, when they died. What really are the chances that they'd die at the same time in the same location? *shivers*

I love techy Teyla. It so works for me that Teyla is going to learn anything and everything she can that will give her people and her team an advantage. And Ronon's more of a doer and banging on the controls just made me laugh.

I really loved that Lorne didn't wait on any confirmation that Team Sheppard was actually on the ghost Daedalus, he just took Radek and went.

All in all, it was such a good adventure, team story. I love, love, loved it!

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

I thought it was quite telling (of something) that the alternate team was all together, pretty much touching, when they died.

I know; I noticed that, too. Like I was commenting at someone else's journal this morning, it's hard for me to believe that they died of starvation - I just can't believe that they'd go down that easily. If worst came to worst, I think they'd abandon the Daedalus, give up all hope of getting back and take the jumper down to the planet. Rodney might have to be dragged away from the ship, but it's hard to believe John wouldn't have made them all leave rather than watching them slowly die. It makes more sense to me that they were killed by something in one of the realities that they came to -- radiation, enemies, something. But, whatever got them, they were all clustered together at the end, and I loved that.

[leesa_perrie]

Definitely full of great team moments - and oh, Rodney dropped the baby! But at the end there, he gets to hold Torren and then kinda like, 'what now? Take him back'!!! Oh Rodney!! And John - that line about Rodney as a father being the scariest thing ever cracked me up - so much so I missed the 'feelings' line!! Shall have to go back and rewatch that bit!!! LOL!

I also loved how Rodney says he had to try and not think like himself and he figured Sheppard was about as far from that as he could - and John takes that as a compliment!! LOL! Oh boys!! *g*

And yes, the self-complimenting by John also cracked me up! Ego, much?!! *g*

Kinda intrigued by the new aliens...maybe not the best introduction to them, hopefully they will seem less borg-like when we meet them! I'm not sure why they reminded me of the borg as the lights on the forehead are about the only borg-like thing on them, but they did!!

The only thing that bugged me slightly (well, two things I guess) was how long they seemed unsure of what was happening. I mean, once they got confirmation that their Daedalus was in the Milky Way, then surely the first two things to come to mind would be time travel or AU, what with their previous experiences? Maybe they didn't want to jump to conclusions, seeing as there could have been other explanations I guess...or I could just put it down to a plot device! Or that I'd already been spoiled for the AU bit and if I hadn't it would have seemed just fine!!

And why did Sheppard tell his AU self that it was a long story? Surely it wouldn't have taken long to say 'we're from an AU'?!!

But those are very, very minor things and aren't going to spoil my squee!!!

Rodney-whump and baby!!! *goes off squeeing into the distance...*

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

It wasn't just you, I said OMG the Borg! as soon as the aliens attacked. With their blank faces and flashy-light implants, yeah...

And why did Sheppard tell his AU self that it was a long story? Surely it wouldn't have taken long to say 'we're from an AU'?!!

This is so true! I love how crazy their lives are. Presumably in all universes!

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

And John - that line about Rodney as a father being the scariest thing ever cracked me up - so much so I missed the 'feelings' line!!

Oh, no, he didn't actually say that; that's just my take on the look on his face and his immediate departure from the scene. *g* (Because, really, the only other explanation that makes sense for his obvious discomfort and fleeing is that he's jealous of Rodney holding the baby, which wouldn't make much sense.)

And why did Sheppard tell his AU self that it was a long story? Surely it wouldn't have taken long to say 'we're from an AU'?!!

*snort* I know. Especially since his alt-self almost certainly picked up on the fact that he was talking to "himself". And I agree about how long it took them to figure out the alt-reality thing -- I was going "Alternate reality or time loop!" as soon as the Daedalus showed up! *g*

[spike21.livejournal.com]

great review. The episode was great fun.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[sp23.livejournal.com]

I loved the Flying Dutchman Daedalus, but felt awful about the dead Alt-Team. Oh, Alt-Rodney, you so should have been able to figure out the solution. :-(

But I loved Ronon telling Teyla that she couldn't worry about all the other Torrens in all the multi-verse.

John, oh, John. I'm not sure if you push Rodney to perform greater miracles or if you just sound like a screeching fishwife.

But, my Rodney got them home!!!! Yay, my Rodney!

And David + Babies = AWWWWWWW. :-)

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

The Flying Dutchman plot was great! I am a total sucker for that plot on any and all shows. And oh, poor alt-Team. I'm not really convinced that they actually starved to death; it's just hard to believe that our team would simply lay down and die like that. They'd (accidentally, of course!) blow the ship up before they'd give up. I prefer to think they were killed by some other reality's dangers (radiation, enemies, etc) before they were able to fix the drive. Obviously, I'm handwaving here. *g*

And, oh, Rodney and baby. So lovely.

[wildcat88.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed it too. I love where they're taking Teyla, and now that I think of it, they started last year (that I noticed) with Tabula Rasa and Quarantine - showing her proficiency with technology. Last night I thought, "Duh. Of course Teyla would want to learn everything she can about everything." She adapts, and she's been around long enough to know that the Wraith won't be defeated with bantos rods.

The banter is back! Loved the opening (and pretty much everything else) with Sheppard and McKay. And I completely adored Teyla letting Rodney hold Torren. But more than that, I was ecstatic that Rodney wanted to. He's come so far. And I giggled at the fact Ronon found a gun (ok, a railgun) that he couldn't use very well.

Tons of fun.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

I love Teyla's technical proficiency and the fact that they're actually developing it. There have been several episodes that showed or implied she's pretty good with technology, and now she's actually graduated to helping Rodney fix things -- I was so delighted to see that! And, yes, SQUEE for the return of the Sheppard/McKay banter! This episode was just full of generous helpings of good things.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

This season is shaping up marvelously - such a fun ep! And oh, I love Alan McCullough's Teyla so very very much. He likes to have her actually DO stuff (much to Rodney's astonishment). And his Ronon's also very smart, which I also highly approve of (loved when Ronon was discussing AUs with Teyla, referring to what Rodney says about them - he actually listens!)

Easy sell, hee - for me it was the AUs. Even if it didn't do much with them, I just am so very very in love with the concept of the multiverse that I was bouncing and squeeing for half the ep about that alone.

Also, the 4th ep of every season apparently has to put Rodney in the infirmary. I am not complaining!

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Also, the 4th ep of every season apparently has to put Rodney in the infirmary.

*snicker* They DO, don't they? And the 3rd ep of every season is a Ronon ep.

I honestly don't pay a whole lot of attention to which writer does which episode (except for a bit of squee when a Gero episode comes up because he focuses more on people than on explodey stuff); I tend to see them all as one big blended mass. So I hadn't specifically noticed that he gives good Teyla and Ronon, but I do approve! I'd love to see more of this rendition of them!

[greyias.livejournal.com]

I must be easy too, because at the end of every episode this season I've just been "*FLAIL*LOVE*FLAIL*". I mean, it can't last forever, but I'm enjoying it so much. RODNEY AND BABY was adorable. Rodney and Teyla, the techie dynamic duo was also full of love!

Awww. And John fanboying himself!

Haha, and ROdney rolling his eyes at John fanboying himself. Actually, I think the whole team sort of did a group eyeroll at him.

(And John: "There are FEELINGS happening here!" *flees*)

*DIES* YES!

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

I'm all about the *flail* *love* right now (except for Seed, as noted, but I do think my state of mind at the time had a lot to do with it). This season has been wonderful! I think they've finally hit the perfect note on the team dynamic -- snarky, dorky, loving, not too sappy and not too distant from each other, with everyone on the team having their part to play.

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this episode too, and felt that it had the perfect team balance. It had a few problems (e.g., I didn't find it plausible that Teyla knew something about the Daedalus's systems that Rodney didn't), but the alternate realities and the ghost-ship aspects more than made up for those moments.

I like your explanation of why and how the alt-team died! It definitely makes more sense than starvation or incompetence.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

With the Teyla and Rodney scene, I got the impression that it wasn't so much she knew things he didn't; it was just that she was thinking more clearly than he was. He was stressed and in that mode people get into when they focus on one task for too long. And Rodney really doesn't have to do a task that complex by himself very often -- he usually has other scientists to bounce ideas off of. He was getting very stuck in one mental track and needed to be bounced out of it, and Teyla knew enough about what was he was doing to offer intelligent, helpful suggestions, which was basically what he needed at the moment.

[melibabe.livejournal.com]

Now I need a missing scene fic from someone, starting from the moment they realize they are cut off from the jumper until they get back to the infirmary. Ideally, it'd include:

• John coming up with the suits idea (a la Midway)
• the team helping Rodney get into his because of his wound (and figuring out how to secure the tablets and guns and whatnot...)
• figuring out how to fit Ronon in his
• Getting out the airlock and discussing how far away from the ship they needed to be not to get sucked along
• Maybe some Rodney-passing-out stuff as they are waiting to get into and then un-suiting in the back of the jumper (mm, smell of burnt flesh!)
• The usual trip to the infirmary stuff

Yeah, I'm not asking for much. ;)

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

*g* I definitely felt somewhat cheated by that last scene (like the final scene of "Misbegotten" -- okay, it wasn't by any means the ONLY thing that was wrong with that episode, but it was one of them!). It's not like we're genuinely afraid the team would get killed, so why not see the escape? It's just a false buildup of suspense that resulted in, basically, cutting away to a different set of characters at one of the most intense parts of the episode.

In other words, tags would be very nice, yes indeed. *g*

[sheron]

Only one thing that I found was a little strange and that's the way John's decision to fire at the unknown ship was handled. He more or less said, ok, let's pick a side and blow them up to hell. He got lucky that it turned out well for him later but that decision could have cost them their lives. I understand that it's supposed to be another one of his "gut instinct" things, but if we get full arcs on why Rodney shouldn't always be allowed free reign despite being a genius, the least they could do is acknowldge the extreme risk John took in essentially jumping into a war within a minute of being in it's presence. Woolsey might bring it up.

Other than that, I loved the episode. I don't like them getting hurt too much either, I'd rather there be a point to it, like if someone's hurt something happens, etc. Not just as a way to induce fuzzy smarm feelings...although they are induced in me, they are definetly induced! *g*

[parisntripfan.livejournal.com]

I liked this episode as well. Not as much as you seemed to, but I thought it was a good solid episode.

Some high points...

The nice mix up of the pairings. We saw Ronon and Teyla, Teyla and John, Teyla and Rodney, Ronon and John, and John and Rodney.

Ronon listens to Rodney. And remembers some of what Rodney has told him. And he uses that to comfort a friend. I love Ronon "Try not to worry about the things you have no control over" world view.

I also loved the conversation between Teyla and Rodney...and Rodney's promise to get her back to Atlantis. Rodney may not best people person they have, but he does care about some of them. A lot. He just does a bad job at showing it most of the time.

The baby stuff. I like how they are working that into the story. We don't need to see the baby every week - as long as the mention him from time to time. I did like that Rodney is irate that Teyla won't let him hold Torren...not because he wants to hold him, but because he wants Teyla to trust that he can hold him. (It does make me wonder - would David let Rodney hold Baz?)

I liked how different the universes were. Some changes were small - others big. It was a nice touch.


I didn't like the John and John exchange at the end as much as some others seem to. I thought it went on a bit to long. It felt like they ran short and needed to fill some time. I didn't mind Rodney's stuff as much - in part because it was shorter and also more spread out. Also Rodney would fan-boy himself. John - not so much. Mostly because be would be to weirded it out by the idea to do to much)

So all in all a good episode.

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

I finally watched it. I loved Rodney whining about not holding the baby and his screeching when he got shot but I felt it was a bit..flat is the only word I can think of. Lorne and Zelenka weren't really much use. But much teaminess and I'll look for the next episode :D