sholio: sun on winter trees (Team Love)
Sholio ([personal profile] sholio) wrote2007-01-30 12:33 pm

SGA 3x19: Vengeance

I'm feeling my SGA-love again. Also, I've quit locking my episode reactions, and went back & unlocked the most recent ones. Because really, why?

I haven't read any episode reactions for this one yet, and for this one I just might not, because I'm sure that a lot of people aren't going to be able to get past the Carson issue. And yeah, it *is* a strange decision that they're dealing with Carson by simply not mentioning him. It was very nearly blatant in this episode; there were times when they practically had to write the dialogue around that. Again it makes me wonder if there might be behind-the-scenes factors at work here.

But you know what? I'm not going to let it bother me. Deliberate decision. I can see now how they're going to deal with the Carson issue, and like next season's (and this past season's) casting spoilers, I could either stress about it, or just relax and enjoy the squee-factor of my show.

I choose to relax and enjoy.

Because this ... THIS is why I watch this show. Episodes like this one. Excitement and monsters and genuine danger; bickering and banter and "straight out of fanfic" scenes like Ronon trying to teach Rodney to swordfight. (Heeeeee!) Team-ness and pairing the characters up in various combinations and everybody getting to be brave and competent in their own way. (And speaking of competence, or lack thereof, I see that Rodney continues to suck at bandaging his own injuries, judging from the bandage on his face at the end. And notice he didn't complain once about being genuinely hurt? Aww, Rodney.)

Ronon was AWESOME in this one, from the scene in the beginning with Rodney, to actually getting to use his sword (squee!), to the way he stuck to his guns with Sheppard and actually stood up for himself as a person with opinions and not just the big guy who shoots stuff. And he called Sheppard John! Again!

Remember what I said earlier about feeling the lack of danger in some episodes this season? THIS is what I think they should have had all along: the sense of genuine darkness, with the massacre of the townspeople (and nice reference back to the earlier episode, too!) and the acknowledgment of the Atlanteans' role in it. The scene with the bug skittering up Teyla gave me genuine chills -- and I'm not even a person with bug issues! All the running around in the catacombs was exciting and scary. Oh, sure, it was a total Aliens ripoff (and even acknowledged as such) but it was fun as hell. Frankly I could care less if there's any sort of socially redeeming value to episodes like this one. They're shooting monsters in the dark! In tunnels! And bickering while they do it! It's pure B-movie unadulterated glee!

Considering how similar this episode was to last week's, I do think that an awful lot of my dissatisfaction with the show last week was just being unhappy with the show in general and needing reassurance. And I think I'm basically past that. I don't really watch this show to be mentally challenged; I watch it to see pretty boys (and girls) blowing stuff up and making me laugh. Continuity and believability are but minor considerations.

They did basically use one of my fanfic ideas, though. AGAIN. Tazmy and Kodiak will know which one I mean, because they've been beta-ing it. However, I think the canonical stuff about Iratus bugs and human DNA in this episode actually works reasonably well with what I was going to do anyway.

And one more episode left in the season -- yikes!

[identity profile] eretria.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
*clings* Finally, someone who steps up against the whole negativity in fandom.

[identity profile] atlantis-fan.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 10:20 pm (UTC)(link)
IT WAS SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!! :O)

I just finished watching it (was able to find a smaller file so I got it faster)! AWESOME! :O)

On Carson - to be honest I'm almost glad they didn't mention him in this episode because the few times they could have would have ended up making him look really bad. Take the scene where Ronon is telling John that it was a mistake from the begining - he COULD have said Carson was wrong from the begining.

Or take the whole fact that the reason why Micheal knows so much about sicence now is because he took all the knowlage from Carsons brain - at least that's my theory.

So what are the options? Say nothing about Carson or totally trash his character when he isn't there to defend himself? I think they went with the better option.

[identity profile] kodiak-bear.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 10:47 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL, they so did!

But, I will say this, I have one huge nit with this episode and it really did take away from my enjoyment of it.

The amtosphere-- there. Wonderful atmosphere. The dialogue, perfect. Jason delivered, the boy has chops and it was great to see. Michael, I love this character. The actor repeatedly delivers believability in what he is going through.

But, and here's the big downer, these bugs are really nasty pieces of work...and they did some serious tossing and attacking, yet, the team barely had a scratch. At one point, Sheppard was grabbed from behind and thrown (more than once), then you see him being viciously clawed and not even a shredded shirt????

This is where the 'playing it safe' really bites at me. The danger wasn't *there* because they came up against these bugs repeatedly and didn't suffer for it. It's not realistic. It really detracted from the sum total for me.

Also, I had just a petty peeve that it was Teyla strapped down with the bug crawling up because, come on, if that'd been Sheppard, the boy would've been practically leaping out of his skin and freaking out. And that would've been awesome.

But the pacing in this was better than submersion and it wasn't full of plot holes. And you give me an episodes with nasty critters hunting the team and I'm there.

I just really really wished they'd been more realistic and beat the guys/gal up from those bug encounters. It would've made the danger a lot more tangible.

[identity profile] atlantis-fan.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
This is where the 'playing it safe' really bites at me. The danger wasn't *there* because they came up against these bugs repeatedly and didn't suffer for it. It's not realistic. It really detracted from the sum total for me.

Um... when have they EVER showed realistic injuries on this show?!?!?! And I mean for both Atlantis and SG1??? How many times have the good guys gone through something that would kill anyone else only to live (and heardly be injured) because they ARE the main characters?

*shrug* I have to admit, I think you're expecting a bit to much from this show...

[identity profile] kodiak-bear.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
I suppose so. It has felt that way lately.

[identity profile] leenys.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Ronon teaching Rodney to swordfight??? Seriously???

[identity profile] melibabe.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Someone needs to write the "what really happened!" version where they're all bruised, bloody and limping by the time they get home. Plus, I would love a missing scene of Shep letting them out of the dart - loads of possibilities for J/R snarkage as well as "yay we all survived" teamy-goodness there. :D

[identity profile] atlantis-fan.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay I'll admit that sometimes it IS a little silly how easily they get through things without injury... but I for me I've always watched to have fun and laugh and all of that so it never really bothers me. *shrug*

Yeah I can see and somewhat understand how it can get annoying and seem unrealistic for others, but for me it's just part of the insanity that is Stargate. There's a ton of other things that I usually end up laughing at while others are complaining. Guess I just watch it differently...

[identity profile] atlantis-fan.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
And I just replied back aknowlaging that you both actually have a point - it's just that it's one more thing that I usually end up LAUGHING at rather than thinking it's a bad thing... *shrug*

[identity profile] anniehow.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 11:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Fun classic horror b-movie-type-of-episode! Totally with you on this. Loved Ronon. Loved Michael! Very very curious about your fic idea now!

I have to say I'm with Kodiak_bear on the "lack of bruises". When the uber-bug attacked Sheppard you could cleary see it slashing visciously (I had a *oh noes! John* moment) and then Ronon killed it and Sheppard got up and he wasn't even dishlevelled. A little bruising can go a long way to create tension (not that this episode lacked tension, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time) and it does play right into the h/c fangirl button.

[identity profile] leenys.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw. I always wanted a scene with Shep teaching him to fight but you know? I like the idea of Ronon even more! Those two characters together just work for me, talk about being different! Waiting for the realization to hit that they have something in common so they can both freak out a bit.

[identity profile] kodiak-bear.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I think where my disappointment stems from is that they have tended to handle it better in the past. I watch SGA for two things. I love the humor and the banter, but I also like that adrenaline rush of 'oh crap'. The former has definitely been very good and consistent this season, it's the latter that hasn't for me. I haven't felt that for a majority of the second half and I'm surprised because not even in season 2 was there a long spell that left me disastisfied. There were episodes scattered in season 2 (Condemned and Hive) but I'm pretty easy to please, hey, I liked Tower and Sanctuary! So I guess I'm as surprised as anyone to be feeling disappointed, but it just hasn't had that believable 'danger, holy crap, we're in DANGER' feel.

[identity profile] kodiak-bear.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh, maybe that's my problem, other than what I've beta'd, I haven't been reading fanfic! :)

[identity profile] with-apostrophe.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Ronon was AWESOME in this one, from the scene in the beginning with Rodney, to actually getting to use his sword (squee!), to the way he stuck to his guns with Sheppard and actually stood up for himself as a person with opinions and not just the big guy who shoots stuff. And he called Sheppard John! Again!

YES! YES! YES! That man has such physical presence - and the sword.. I'd been wondering where that had gone... I thought the way he argued with John was vaguely (and I mean vaguely) reminiscent of Daniel/Jack - complete with use of first name. However, Ronon dear - a little less with the silent sneaking away my dear. You'll turn John prematurely grey! They're really getting the hang of writing Ronon now...

I love any scene with him and Rodney in - and WOW! A first - Rodney in the gym.... was anyone else thinking that the martial arts gear was more than a little reminiscent of 'A Dog's Breakfast'? At least John was nice enough to make some sympathetic noises at him when he got whacked in the stomach again - but then John's been there and done that...

I was pleasantly surprised when John held back from hunting down the source of the lifesigns and sided with Rodney and Teyla. It showed that while Ronon can push his buttons (and Ronon is fully aware of that), John's behaviour isn't inherently predictable. That man is such a mystery... And Ronon's little 'told you so' gesture when it turned out the trip back to the Stargate was a waste of time - so very 12-year-old, so very him.

Yeah, the lack of references to Carson were obvious and strange. I was watching the scene between him and Teyla and thinking how that could have worked if it were Carson. But good to see Connor again - and I loved the make-up.

The episode was exciting - with real peril and consequences - good to see Elizabeth feeling the guilt over their meddling. And it opens up so many avenues for the future. Because they don't have the personality of the Goa'uld, it would be easy for the Wraith to get boring, but they've upped the ante with this one! Monsters may not be something I like to read about/watch usually, but that was great.

(Oh and I sung a little chorus of 'here come the red shirts' when Lt Thingybob and pals turned up.)

[identity profile] kodiak-bear.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes! OMG, if they'd just gotten some roughed up to them it would've made it feel so much more real. It was a really solid episode but for the lack of 'holy crap, Sheppard just got threw across the corridor...and they fired like how many clips into that thing while it was holding Ronon so close they could've kissed and there goes Sheppard *again* LOL, yet he popped back up not even looking very shaken, darn it. The missed opportunity had my eyes crossed but I think that's because I'm deprived lately LOL!

[identity profile] kodiak-bear.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
True, I usually don't nit the science stuff because I have no problem thinking 'okay, it's just sci-fi, they can play loose with the rules'...and there are enough times I'm too clueless to know better anyway. :)

[identity profile] alipeeps.livejournal.com 2007-01-30 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm with you on so much of this. I've also taken the decision to not let the concern for the future of the show get me down and just enjoy it for what it is. I too noticed the way they almost semed to have to deliberately avoid mentioning Carson in this ep, which did seem odd to me, but it is what it is and I'm not one of those folks who feel TPTB are disrespecting Carson's beloved memory by not referencing him... it just seemed a little odd given the context of the ep.

Overall I loved the ep - adored the Aliens homage (cos oh, it SO was! All they needed was to find a small blond girl who'd survived the massacre by living in the air ducts.. *lol*), loved the sense of tension and danger and the team getting to play real-life Doom! My only quibble with that aspect of it is the lack of whump. Now admittedly, I am a whump-whore and so am biased but having said that.. they were going up against these creatures that are supposed to be vicious killers, almost impossible to kill etc etc and they get into physical fights with them on several occasions and yet the only resulting injury is McKay's little scratch? It kinda detracted from the danger element for me a little...

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