{ Stargate 10x13-14; Atlantis 3x18-19. }
Feb. 2nd, 2007 09:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
delgaWow, this episode was the bastard love-child of all the quantum mirror episodes and Absolute Power or whatever that episod is called when Daniel's wife's son shows Daniel what the world would be like if he had too much power (it ended in Daniel trying to obliterate Moscow. I bet Russians are glad that there's new ethnic scapegoat in the world).
Stargate has never been good at doing moral stories without being completely didactic. They were awful at it in the first season and since the Orii plotline, they've goneback to being dismal. This episode is no exception. I liked the idea of a Sam-centric plot but... look, apart from the Obvious Message, I didn't get how this was her episode at all. I mean, it could have been any one of SG-1 who realised that the world was corrupt and whatever. So, it fell a bit short, which was a shame, because I was really looking forward to some old school on this one.
I have to say, though, I really liked AU!Rodney and I LOVED seeing Lorne. I was so happy when I saw him. Yay.
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JACK O'NEILL FOR THE FUCKING WIN. I didn't quite get why he was there? But whatever. He has great chemistry with Shanks, even though it would have been nice to see him with Teal'C (and CARTER!) but I guess that would have detracted from Cameron's status, so whatever. It was just nice to have him around.
Considering I hated her as Inara in Firefly, my love for Morena Baccarin as Adria is pretty insane. Just the entire concept of the character, and the way she plays her. Wonderful.
It was an interesting plot and yay for getting back on topic but-- well, I'm just not sure I care enough about the Orii story. I remember back in season 4 when SG-1 was dealing with the Tok'ra and the Jaffa rebellion and the Goa'uld and the Replicators and their government and international governments and... I just feel like this plot is slow! Stargate was always good with layering plots and none of that has come through this time. I hope that changes, I really do, because I do enjoy the episodes when it comes to basic character interaction. I don't think the show has the guts to do anything with the plot other than to have them win out against the Orii because it's that kind of show, it's coming to a close and the issues with the Orii can't be allowed to interfere with the Atlantis plot. So, I don't know. I guess Merlin's weapon will be the be all and end all but it's just so convenient. So I hope something else transpires.
I also hope that there aren't any gratuitous deaths. They really annoy me. SO CHEAP.
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The more that I think about this episode, the more I get confused as to what about it irked me. Because I was so pleased that Teyla had something to do and I loved the plot resolution (especially because it was kind of like 3x13 but then wasn't at all and thus qualified as a double fake-out) but then I was also maybe irrationally a little annoyed by the fact that all of Teyla's stories endup being about the 0.02% of her that is wraith? It's a silly thing to be irritated by, especially after 10 seasons of Stargate where all of Teal'C's stories were about the Jaffa rebellion, but still.
That said, I kind of love that Teyla spoke using contractions in her fake-back? It was hilarious, and John was magically whooshy. Not just that, I was glad that Lutrell got the chance to flex her acting muscles and that we got that usual playoff between her and Weir, but so far removed from The Gift. In fact, this was really a continuation of that episode, showing how much Teyla is now a part of the Atlantis expedition, so that was nice. I just want her stories to be broader. Is that too much to ask for?! lolz. I'm an idiot.
On a completely other note: I LOVE YOU, ZELENKA. (I really love that scene at the beginning when possessed!Teyla cuts out the lights, Sheppard reports it and Rodney and Zelenka bicker abou whether or not something is wrong at Zelenka's console and John is all, "No, WE don't have power!" That was funny!)
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MICHAEL. MICHAEL CAME BACK. This whole episode was fabulous. So plotty and awesome! And it totally started to tackle the ethics of the retrovirus experiment. I say 'started' because the only person to tackle the idea of right or wrong was RONON of all fucking people and there was no consideration of the whole thing being the Atlantis expedition's fault past Weir being annoyed that they trusted Michael that second time. But no complaining about that because I figure we're supposed to take that all in stride (and weren't supposed to complain about it the first time around, but WHATEVER) and other than that, the story was amazing. Teyla + Michael = fucked up mini-OTP, and the whole bug-human plot was fuck scary. The idea that Michael has been out there since the beginning of the season with no mention at all is fantastic. He's been plotting away in the background and now - BAM! In yer face. lolz. I love that so much.
Ronon beating Rodney with that stick seemed like overkill? The previouslies, though, had me. They showed that FABULOUS clip where John threw Elizabeth up against the wall and their leader-subordinate/friend relationship was in trouble. I loved that scene and that episode, regardless of my being a shipper. I liked it as an instance where shippyness didn't even come into play. But that was ages ago. (Still. Giddy when it was in the previouslies!)
Still sad that Carson is in the credits and that he is not getting any mentions in the episodes. Sigh. Also: FINALE NEXT WEEK WTF. That went crazy fast!
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Going to watch the season 4 premiere of L&O: CI on a real telly! Yay.
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Date: 2007-02-03 06:26 am (UTC)RE: Atlantis - Ronon *squee* I loved it that he brought it up. I LOVED THAT. SOMEONE FINALLY MENTIONED THE MORAL ISSUES. Pity it wasn't like...Sheppard or Weir. Cos really it's not like them to do something like that....but yes don't get me started on Atlantis *is still cranky at it*
Except Ronon!! *loves him*
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Date: 2007-02-03 08:58 am (UTC)JACK! O'NEILL! FTW!