sholio | Quickie post on Tabula Rasa before bed

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episode reactions:sga

Quickie post on Tabula Rasa before bed

Must sleep! But first -- that episode was squee! Teyla and Ronon saved the day! And not in their usual "roles" either -- Ronon in particular, who basically saved the day with brains and with heart, two things that he's not in short supply of, but doesn't get to display much either...

We've been getting so much nice team-bonding lately that it actually made a nice change to have an episode that wasn't about the team as a unit, but rather, the characters as individuals. We got to see the characters interacting in lots of combinations -- Sheppard and Ronon, Ronon and Teyla, Teyla and Rodney, Rodney and Sam, Keller and Ronon, Sheppard and Lorne, Zelenka and Rodney and Sam, Rodney and Keller, Rodney and Katie ... it was just a really fantastic episode for the whole cast, even though Rodney got a bit more screen time than the others.

Of course, being me, I'm never going to complain about an episode that has the whole cast (well, most of them) sick and disoriented, plus Lorne hopped up on stimulants. :D And Rodney is a good boyfriend! That made me happy, because it just shows how far he's come as a person; and even though I'm not overly enthusiastic about romance on the show in general, I've thought that Katie was adorable, and she and Rodney were very cute together, since her first appearance in Duet. I honestly thought they'd killed her at the end, though, and I was all braced for poor Rodney to be devastated, but she lived ... and I really wonder where they're going from here, because they're actually serious now as a couple -- he fell asleep at her bedside! and she named a cactus after him! I really do wonder how this is all going to develop, and if it's going to affect the team dynamic at all...

The scenes with Ronon and John, in the jumper and on the mainland, were just fantastic -- Ronon steering around disoriented Sheppard and getting him to fly; the matter-of-fact use of the stunner to keep Sheppard out of trouble (okay, seriously, HOW many times has he shot Sheppard with that gun now?); and using their friendship to get through to amnesiac, ultra-paranoid John .... all together now, awwwwwwwww.

Little bitty squee moments, in no particular order:

Rodney's "Five bucks says you'll start losing your memory first!" to John. Oh, boys.

Zelenka in paranoid-commando mode! He must actually be pretty good at it, since he managed to elude a whole platoon of paranoid, ultra-alert soldiers.

Rodney pestering Keller ... with his tingling knees. Poor Keller. She has no idea what she's getting herself into with these people.

Ronon realizing that he and Teyla are immune to the disease! Seriously, Ronon having medical knowledge is canon now! Another bit of my personal fanon for him clicks into place!

John waking up with the world's worst case of bed-head, all sleepy and disoriented. Oh! And his little freakout when he realized that McKay wasn't with the others. (I also find it cute that he'd expected they'd all be together, and be there when he woke up. All together now, again: Awwwwww! But of course, they knew John would be okay at that point, and plus he had other people to stay with him, while Katie was badly ill, so I don't blame Rodney for being elsewhere.)

Teyla petting Rodney's arm when she's trying to encourage him. Have I "awwww'd" enough for this episode yet?

This isn't a squee moment, really, but I liked the scenes with John and Carter working together as leaders, and especially that moment where he tells her about arming Lorne's men, and she expresses her concerns before acknowledging the necessity of it. I thought that was a really interesting contrast with the way that "Hot Zone" (and similar episodes) played out between John and Elizabeth -- a very stark demonstration of what a different perspective Carter has on the whole matter of Atlantis defense than Elizabeth did. I'm not saying Carter's right and Elizabeth was wrong, or vice versa, but Carter's certainly MUCH more willing to entertain the military solutions that Elizabeth would have resisted. This is another area where I really wonder how things will play out over the remainder of the season.

Other random stuff: When the scene first flashed back from the present to the past, my first thought was "Oh, dammit, not AGAIN!" -- because they've done that before, and I'm NOT fond of the dramatic technique of jumping into the middle of the action and then cutting immediately to a flashback. (If you're going to plunge into the middle of the action right off the bat -- which, actually, I like -- for pete's sake stay there!) But ultimately, I really enjoyed the way they interwove the past and present in this episode, dangling the little mysteries of where each character had gone (I was really curious about Sheppard in particular, since he just seemed to have vanished!) and linking up the various plotlines. And Rodney, all confused and scared but doing his best anyway ...! I just liked how pretty much every character got nice scenes and had their moment in the sun.

I'm not gonna say too much about the disease, because, well ... I've been wanting them to address the whole issue of Pegasus vs. Milky Way microbes ever since the beginning, and while I'm glad they finally did, sort of, I'm not too happy with the way they did it, which made it out to be an isolated incident that required [x] [y] and [z] special condition to happen ... thereby neatly sidestepping all the bajillion real-world problems of isolated populations coming into contact and swapping germs ... But on the other hand, this is one of those things (like the thing with everyone speaking the same language) where you really CAN'T explain it away without having to basically rewrite the last four seasons -- so I'll just be happy that I got an epidemic episode and not worry too much about the HOW of it all.

Okay, aargh, I really have GOT to go to sleep now! But this episode cries out for missing scenes, it really does...

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*nods*
I also loved the ep for many of these reasons. I thought it was gripping and I was seriously worried for people at several points, especially Katie and Zelenka! But it also made me worry for the expedition as a whole -- it's all so fragile! There are so many places where fanfic could go quite dark with this ep.

Also I heart Rodney/Katie and their sweet and awkward lurve... *g*

Is it awful of me to say I wish they'd kill the Rodney/Katie storyline. I don't like the character at all, never have and I actually had hoped Rodney at her bedside would have been because she died. I know that's sounds mean but she's not a character I've ever been able to get to like.

You know, other than DG, I've been kind of lukewarm but I did enjoy this episode and for all the reasons you mentioned -- except katie brown. Her storyline is just meh for me. But then I'm a jealous brat and would've preferred not to lose screen time at the end to that scene and rather have Rodney with the others. *iz shameless* Though I've got to say, I'm glad they at least gave him a girl who *is* matched to him. They make a cute couple. I'd just rather they keep it 'off screen'.

*reads first line to see if you liked it* Yay! *scrolls down with eyes closed to post comment* Good. I'll be able to watch it later, good to know it's better than last week. :D

Oh total squee episode. Rodney scribbling clues on his arms with a black marker and leaving himself messages. Awww! And Lorne with his picture. "Lt. Col Sheppard. He is your commanding officer. TRUST HIM!" AWWWWW! And John so amnesic he doesn't recognize the controls of his own puddle jumper. His baby! Ronon had to show him where to sit! AWWWWWWWWWW!

Ronon and Teyla were awesome. I loved it that they got to save the day. It's too bad that most of the time they're limited to intimidating people or hanging back and waiting for instructions.

Yay. Great episode.

Very cool episode, and the first time I've not found Katie annoying, though I wish Rodney would just KISS her or something.

There were aspects to this that were very much like a film called "Memento" (a very, very good film - never seen anything like it) so I was desperately hoping that after Ronon compliments John on his idea about the Polaroid that it would be a "yeah, I saw it in this movie" moment. Very good movie - I highly recommend it - and no I've not spoilt the movie for anyone!

I was so happy that Teyla and Ronon were the heroes, and that we got to see Teyla working in sync with Rodney and showing that her covering in "Aurora" wasn't just a fluke, the woman has brains and education - whether on Athos, or that she's been learning since. Ronon - hmm not so much - I thought his realisation about the immunity was common sense, nothing else - sorry. And is it me or does Rachel just get more and more beautiful as time goes on?

Ronon was so chatty! Have we seen him talk so much at one time before? Very cool. I loved his "this never gets old" as he shot John and tied him up (hmm where have we seen that before?) though I think what he was wearing was still alive.

I liked that Carter was not one of the soldier group, and that they made it very clear that while Carter is in charge of the whole expedition, she is not the military commander. Lorne was fantastic - his second pseudo-psycho performance in three episodes, and Dr Z - I love him so much - hitting Marines over the heads with poles!

I'm beginning to like Keller - it takes time for me to warm up to new characters - particularly women, so I'm finally getting there.

And a whole load of canon vs fanon material! Heh.

I agree. It's like they put no thought at all into writing the character, gave her next to no personality, then hired the blandest actress with no chemistry with Hewlett at all that they could find.

And I know a lot of people think it's cute that they are so awkward with each other and everything, but I find it kind of weird. They've been seeing each other - even if it's been off-and-on - a really, really long time now! They shouldn't be awkward and shy with one another, they should be familiar and at ease. It's like the writers think, "Well, we've only written them together on camera about three times, so let's forget that *years* have passed with them dating or even just living on the same base, and write this episode like it's only the fourth time they've seen each other!" It's just a little stupid!

Haven't watched S4 yet (though I'm glad to see that so far, aside from last week's ep, it seems to be good).

But on the other hand, this is one of those things (like the thing with everyone speaking the same language) where you really CAN'T explain it away without having to basically rewrite the last four seasons
I think I saw the Gate being used as a universal translator in one of the SG1 novelizations... Maybe it also rematerializes the people without the germs they had been carrying?(though probably not, since that would kill them). Heh.

That's the beauty of Sci-Fi. You can put your brain on hold, and say, "The Ancients took care of it."

But I agree that it would be nice to see this adressed at some point. For all we know, they all have a fish in their ear...

Great minds think alike again! I'm kind of glad I posted my review before I read your bit, because I might have gone, "Shoot, mine isn't worth posting now!"

I too thought Katie was dead! (See my review for more details, if you want them.) I see a couple of commenters here don't like them, but I do. For me, Katie stays just this side of saccharine--and their interactions really work for me.

I think they could have been a little more consistent with the tricks from Memento--why is Lorne the only one with a Polaroid, and why doesn't he have one of Teyla or Ronon?--but on the whole I liked it.

though I think what he was wearing was still alive
:)

I'm glad I'm no the only one who's seen that film - it deserves more attention.

I'm just thinking out loud here... Rodney's message to himself and the photo from Teyla's personnel file was an electronic equivalent of Polaroids I suppose and he did write on his arms. Regarding Ronon - were running out of time (John got the idea fairly late on) and Ronon couldn't have come back to Atlantis without John to fly the jumper so they only needed the one photo - and as John is wearing similar clothes to Lorne rather than a half dead wildebeast it would make more sense...perhaps?

Yes, I can see the logic in photographing Sheppard because he and Lorne are dressed alike; clearly the military/civilian distinction was one everyone could hold onto no matter how little else they remembered (at least until they simply lapsed into a coma). I do wish Sheppard had had one of Ronon, though it was very nice to get a scene of Ronon having to use his skills of persuasion; he's got them, but mostly he doesn't bother, because he can beat the carp out of darned near anyone, so why waste time talking?

"half dead wildebeast"--snerk!

Oh yes, I definitely thought so!

Yeah, this could have been very bad! I think I'm just a terrible sucker for epidemic storylines in general. So many story possibilities! And they are so very isolated, and such a small community; there are so many things that could totally wipe them off the map. It's scary to contemplate, but I really enjoy getting episodes that remind us of that.

I find Rodney and Katie quite adorable; I've always had a secret kink for shy, awkward romance, and Rodney and Katie hit it hard. *g*

Oh, we're totally on the same page! So glad you wrote this, because now I don't have to! LOL! My only other personal fanon note, besides Ronon having medical knowledge, was Teyla being the one to distribute it to the city using the program Rodney set up. One took the medical side, and the other the technical side, and...personally fanon happiness mode! LOL!

Out of curiosity, what is it that you don't like about Katie? Is it a reaction to the actress, or something else? It seems like a lot of the complaints that I've seen about her seem to distill down to the fact that she's shy and sweet -- which just seems really sad to me; it seems like a lot of fans would rather see Rodney in a relationship with a tough, pushy woman (or with John *g*) but I'm happy that he's been paired off with someone who brings out his softer side and isn't likely to break his heart. Of course, my big romance-kink has always been for shy sweet romance as opposed to brash and bickering romance, which means that Rodney and Katie hit that button pretty hard. *g*

Watched it! Great ep :) So many good bits but mostly my squee was for Ronan - about time they showed him being able to do more than just shoot his way out of a problem. Loved, loved, LOVED the idea of Lorne having Sheppard's picture in his vest - that also showed that they're capable of thinking ahead and working out solutions, like good military officers should.

Yep, this was a good one. Good to see how our guys and gals react when they don't know who they are - some things still shine through it seems.

Ronon and Teyla were so awesome in this! It was really fantastic seeing them hold everyone together and save the day. And this is another occasion when we've seen Teyla helping Rodney with the technical stuff, so yay for personal fanon!

I think just in general, Ronon in this episode was written a lot more ... mature? than he normally acts. I love him with his hair-trigger temper and his Rodney-baiting, but I also really loved seeing that there is another side to him -- no one could survive what he's survived without being smart and cool in a crisis, and it was really wonderful to see that here.

And I'm probably going to be in an extreme minority of fandom, but I like Rodney/Katie; I think they're terribly cute! There is a wee little part of me that really wanted Rodney at Sheppard's bedside too -- but Sheppard isn't in any danger, and Katie is, so it does make more sense that he'd be there. Plus, Teyla and Ronon were there to sit with Sheppard and keep Rodney posted about his condition, but Katie didn't really seem to have anyone else. Like I've said in the past, I like how the main group of characters have independent lives and aren't joined at the hip, and as long as we keep getting episodes like Doppelganger that reassure me they aren't drifting apart, I'm perfectly happy to see that they have lives and ties outside the team.

Yes. On Katie and Rodney. Absolutely yes.

NT's big moment of squee was Sheppard's "Where's McKay?" at the end. People have died, and he asks worriedly, "Where's McKay?" It's the first thing he thought of. His sudden realization that McKay isn't there to bother him as well, and guessing that to mean that Katie is likely dead (or, perhaps even more scarily for John though it wasn't the more obvious answer, that McKay might be dead), was just so telling about who Sheppard cares about the most. I think, ultimately, his family is made up of three people--and the fear in his voice...God, how can you not love the stories this year?

But it's Rodney! I get what you're saying, but how at ease is Rodney, really, with any of the people he knows? He's even still socially inept with his team, especially when he's trying to deal with feelings.

I suppose that for me, Rodney and Katie just works; I have a longstanding "kink" for shy, awkward, slow-building romance, and I enjoy seeing Rodney paired off with a sweet, shy character in part because it brings out something different in him than we usually tend to see. If we want Rodney bickering with people, pretty much every episode and every other relationship in his life has that, but Rodney with Katie is gentle and awkward and kind of protective, and I find it massively endearing.

And she named a cactus after him! That cracked me up.

I find Rodney/Katie very sweet, but I certainly wouldn't want to see them all the time. The show, for me, is about the team, but I appreciate the touches that do imply that they have relationships and hobbies and lives outside the group. (Actually, one of the -- many -- things that really, really sold me on John was that we occasionally see him off by himself, reading. Drop-dead love for the character and the show, right there! Because you don't have to spend every minute with your friends/family, and I like seeing them do their own thing, too.)

Not that I didn't get a twinge of "Dangit, I wish Rodney'd been there when John woke up." I am just that shallow. *g* It makes more sense that he'd be with Katie at this point, since John's not in any danger and Katie is ... but yeah, I got that twinge!

(And Doppelganger was pure delight ... I think it's topped my favorite-episodes list, and that's really saying something!)

Ronon was incredibly awesome in this! I loved seeing a more mature side of him, because you know that in order to survive his years on the run, he would've had to have been able to think his way through problems and stay cool under pressure -- but we very rarely get to see it.

I do love the whole-cast episodes best of all, I think. Not that it isn't nice to see different characters get their turn under the spotlight ... but the episodes that are the ones that really cement my love for the show are the ones like this, or Doppelganger, where everyone gets to do their thing and be cool in their own way.

This episode was a squeefest! Rodney's notes all over his arms were simultaneously cool and sad and creepy -- there's just an insane-ward-patient kind of feeling to it. It was interesting how both Teyla and Ronon took essentially the same tactic with Rodney and John, reminding them that deep down they still know how to do what they do -- Rodney to fix the city, John to fly the jumper.

Actually the "soldiers" were only Lorne's team - there were Marines in the Mess Hall. It was everyone who didn't have stims vs Lorne's team, who did have stims - pretty amusing!

I see your point about Sheppard having one of Ronon, though Ronon does seem to have had a belief that Sheppard wouldn't forget him. Maybe Sheppard forgot that it would be a good idea t have one of Ronon and Ronon didn't think it was necessary? Plus, as you say, it was WONDERFUL to hear Ronon being persuasive and talking so much.

Ronon really needs to learn to tie people up so they can't escape. Sheppard's 2 for 2 on escaping from Ronon after being stunned and tied up! But seriously - what was he wearing?

I did think of Memento while I was watching this! I'm not sure if it was actually a deliberate nod to the film on the part of the writers or just a coincidence of plot similarity, though. (But I am quite amused that the characters might actually have come up with their tactics for dealing with their amnesia by watching the movie! Hey, it's Sheppard and McKay ... why not?)

Yes, not only Aurora but also in Phantoms we've seen Teyla working with technology. In fact, in Phantoms it was pretty evident that she knew more than just a little. I would LOVE to see a scene where Rodney or Zelenka teaches her something about how to fix broken tech; that would be so nifty!

Ronon's figuring out about the disease was certainly common sense, but wouldn't you need a fairly strong understanding of how disease actually works to realize that? Whether it's a nod to Melena or to the fact that Sateda was fairly developed and he would have been educated there, it's still a nice scene for him.

One thing I did find a bit odd was that Sam wasn't involved at ALL with trying to come up with a solution. She's a scientist too, but that seemed to be completely ignored here; granted, it's a medical problem not a scientific problem per se, but we've had "disease" episodes of SG-1 where she was actively involved with looking for a cure. And she could have helped Rodney with his programming. It just seemed vaguely strange to me. On the other hand, there was so MUCH in this episode that I'm not sure how they could have crammed in more.

And yeah, this episode gave you lots to work with on the canon vs fanon! I'm still enjoying it; I read your latest post, and now I need to hop over there and pick it apart ... after I'm done picking Tabula Rasa apart. *g*

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Quickie post on Tabula Rasa before bed

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