thegrrrl2002 | My Love For Aurora (SGA S2.E09), Let Me Show You It

thegrrrl2002

I caught "Aurora" on Scifi this morning during their SGA mini-marathon. Oh, the love! It's one of my favorite episodes, full of teamy goodness, snarky Rodney, dorktastic John, adorable John/Rodney bickering, sly Teyla and a goofily implausible plot. Oh, and ridiculous costumes. And an exasperated Caldwell. It has everything I want in an SGA ep.

John's face lighting up at the thought of an ancient warship. Or, a dinner date with Rodney. I'm not sure which.

Elizabeth: How long before it gets here?
Rodney: Well, given that it's at the edge of the Pegasus galaxy, let me see ... carry the four ...

Forty-two million years. Should we go wait on the porch?

And then Elizabeth convinces Caldwell to take her flagship team on the mission. (Otherwise known as "Team Dork"). I just get the feeling they're having a heck of a lot of fun filming this ep.

Another reason to love this ep:

John is unconscionably pretty in it.

Maybe Rodney is bringing out that special glow?

I think so. Because if any look says "I can't believe I let you do that to me in bed last night", this one does.

And then there's the bickering over who is going to go into the VR environment...

John brings out the Determined Face.

Then Teyla helps out: Between the two of you, if something were to go wrong, which would be the greater loss?
Rodney: Well, I've never thought of it that way but ... (he looks at John) she's right. You should go.

Oh, John.

And then:

Rodney:Now, I should be able to monitor your EEG patterns, so in the highly unlikely event that something anomalous should present itself, I should be able to, uh, disconnect you manually.
John: Good.
Rodney: ... without permanent brain damage.
John: Rodney?
Rodney: Well, the opportunity to speak to a living Ancient is worth the risk, hmm? Now, when I close the lid, the pod system should activate. Ready?
John: I was!
Rodney: Good!

They could do this for an entire episode and I'd be a happy happy fangirl.

Did I mention John being unconscionably pretty?

And dorky?

And pretty?

But, oh John,

Trying to work the Sheppard charm on second-in-command-secret-wraith girl maybe was not your best move.

Secret Wraith Chick: You seem sincere.
John: Yes, I am. Uh, very sincere. I would be very, very grateful.

Um, grateful enough to do what? Really John, we want to know.

And then, John's in trouble! Because...he's John! When is he not being stunned unconscious?

And Rodney goes in to save him. Why? Because: "You see, the thing is, Colonel Sheppard and I have sort of gotten into this habit of saving each other's lives, and it's my turn."

Obligatory Stunned John pic.

Rodney: I came to help you.
John: I feel better already!

Meanwhile, Teyla and Ronon stall for time, explaining how Rodney had to check the biometrics receiver and reconfirm the frequencies of the neural feedback loop.
Because Team Dork sticks together!

So. Cute.

With the bickering:
Rodney: The communiqué's been erased.
John: Why would the Wraith do that?
Rodney: Well, it says right here: “I, the Wraith, delete this important information to keep you from seeing it”!

John: There are Wraith ships on the way?!
Rodney: I'm-I'm sure I mentioned that.
John: No, you didn't.
Rodney: Well, it ... it-it-it threw me when she was so hot!

And, at the end, a rather touching moment as they honor the crew of the Aurora.

Aside from the John/Rodney goodness, I really did love everything about this ep, the storyline, the pacing, the humor and how it made me genuinely feel for the captain of the ship when he found out what was actually going on. Season Two probably isn't my favorite season overall, but this ep still makes me downright gleeful.

More selected caps (about 130 of them) can be downloaded here, if anyone else is feeling gleeful!