SGA 2x6 "Trinity"

[thegrrrl2002]

Okay, this is going to be incoherent, because, because, well--my brain went kerblooey.



There was more John/Rodney in this ep than my brain could handle, obviously. I probably should wait for a second viewing to make any comments at all, because right now all I can say is OMG! So in LovE!

Ah-hem.

Seriously, this was one fabulous episode. There were some bits I didn't like, like the entire B plot, which suffered largely from being paired with the slashiest greatest A plot of all time. Okay, maybe that was overeaching, but it was a damn exciting A plot. I loved the very opening--an ep that starts with them going through the gate on an Adventure. How cool is that? Rodney being a 'veteran' of gate travel, and telling Ronon not to eat lunch before traveling, LOL. I love the recurring food theme with those two. It's highly entertaining.

And then it's all about Rodney. And John. John smiling his great big "I love my brilliant, brainy boyfriend so damn much" smile. Rodney, Zelenka and John being ridiculously cute and excited. And John being smart, surprising even his smart boyfriend with his smarts.

Plus--The Montage! Oh, how Atlantis loves The Montage. This one had Zelenka and McKay arguing fiercely, though, so it was a good montage. Better than the Siege II one. Or the "Poisoning the Well" Science! montage.

Then we have disaster, the Dead Scientist thing happens, and lo, we get to see emotional fallout for once! Yay! And woobie Rodney breaks our hearts. Well, mine at least. We move on to Rodney being totally, utterly focused on getting this power source/weapon up and running, convinced he can succeed where others, i.e. the ancients, have failed. I loved it. I can absolutely see Rodney being totally convinced that he's right. As a scientist, we've seen that he's capable of doing amazing things, and his ego is right in line with that.

The scene where he goes to see John, to convince him that he can make the power source work, is absolutely wonderful. I think I melted at the 'trust me' part. I'm pretty sure John did, too.

I knew things were going to go all wrong at the end, but still, I hurt for Rodney during it. (But he and John went there together! ::squee::) I loved the fighter pilot thing John tells Rodney--I like that John understands some aspect of how Rodney feels about it, that he recognizes the intensity and focus and total lack of perspective.

What I didn't get was John's emotions at the end. ( I also didn't like Weir yelling at Rodney, because I just don't think that's in character for her. And come on, there are plenty more planets in the galaxy.) I'm going to have to watch this ep again, (well, duh) but when Rodney catches up with John, and they talk--John's certainly not happy, but I wasn't getting a 'totally pissed' vibe off of him. Disappointed? He trusted Rodney, put his ass on the line but we really don't know how Rodney's failure is going to affect him, and his relationship with Weir. He must have known it was risky going in, despite Rodney's assurances otherwise. Was he being totally sarcastic? Was he upset with himself, in that he didn't rein Rodney in? His last line, I can't remember it exactly, is that Rodney can earn his trust back if he really wants to, seemed kind of positive, unless I'm reading it totally wrong.

Bah.

I think I was too distracted by Rodney being so utterly, heartbreakingly sincere to really get a read on John.

So where do they stand now? Will this be totally forgotten by time the next episode rolls around? Considering SGA actually understands the meaning of continuity, I suspect not. I'm really interested in seeing how their relationship plays out next week. And how Rodney reacts to having failed in a big, big way. Failed John, failed himself, and let's not forget Zelenka. He's got to be a little irked by Rodney's attitude there at the end.

I think I need to go watch this ep again right now.

Comments

[ilexa.livejournal.com]

Oh, god. So heartbreaking. David was amazing. OMG so amazing. he just smooth ripped my heart out and was vain and endearing and *guh*.

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

This ep broke my heart, cause Rodney lost the trust of EVERYONE. Radek, John, Lizzie, the entire expedition.

And we know from Letter From Pegasus that, damnit, he loves them all. They're his family. And now he may have lost them.

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

it was very nice to see them portray the connection between emotions and experience. and rodney's acknowledgement that he will have to live with the consequences felt vital.

thank you for your perspective and your review. *g*

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, and yes. I swear, I get more amazed by DH's abilities each and every time I see him. I can't believe how endearing and vulnerable he can be while being so obnoxious and vain and arrogant.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Well, I think everyone is shaken up by it, but I can't see how this can negate everything else Rodney has accomplished since they've gotten there. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out down the line.

[coreopsis.livejournal.com]

His last line, I can't remember it exactly, is that Rodney can earn his trust back if he really wants to, seemed kind of positive, unless I'm reading it totally wrong.
See, it seemed positive to me too which is why I'm a little surprised that all the comments I've seen so far seem to be focusing on how brokenhearted Rodney was. I mean, yeah, it was not a happy time for him, but I got the impression that he saw that John is going to give him a chance to get back in his good graces and he was good with that because (in his inimitable way) he knows he can do it. John obviously can't resist him. *g* I still can't get over them practically outing themselves to Zelenka in that 'look at him' scene. hee.

But anyway, I agree that it'll be very interesting to see how everyone is getting along next week. And Ronon and Teyla looking at them and going "WTF is y'all's problem? We go away for a couple days it all goes to hell." *g*

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

LOL, did my review make any sense whatsoever?

I did very much like that the consequences of Rodney's actions were acknowledged. So many people have died on Atlantis up to this point, and I feel like a lot of times the emotional impact is overlooked.

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

I need to watch it again, too, but first I need to sleep. I was too caught up in the squee to get a good read on John at the end. And you know John chose to go. He can't act like this is all Rodney's fault. After the conversation with Zelenka, JOhn is the one who says we'll call you after the test.

Hmm, I think he's disappointed not in Rodney's overreaching but that Rodney can fail too. John has put so much faith in Rodney, over and over again. They've put a huge amount of faith in one another, but John has voiced his faith in Rodney repeatedly. And Rodney failed. I think that troubles John in ways and on levels he may not even be consciously aware of. Rodney's let him down. Rodney isn't his Big Science Hero anymore, he's a man. John has always known that, but I'm not sure he believed it. In fact Rodney's character flaws would have only made him that much more larger than life.

Okay, I'm off to sleep and ponder this. Assuming I can get to sleep. Because damn. /g/

Although it's strange to have them go so close to making something canon and be just shy of it. It makes me expect things to go differently than they do on screen and creates an odd sort of dissonance.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Yes, thank you! I like your take on it, and I see it myself. I thought Rodney actually looked kind of relieved afterward.

I still can't get over them practically outing themselves to Zelenka in that 'look at him' scene. hee.

LOL, that was a fabulous moment, wasn't it? They may as well had been holding hands at that point.

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

Thinking about Elizabeth, I think maybe she felt backed into a corner by Rodney and Caldwell and forced to act against her better judgment. Then when it all fell apart, she was angry. Plus, Rodney did refuse to listen to Zelenka, treated him horribly, and put their lives at risk unnecessarily.

I'm not sure Rodney gets that his life matters to more people than just himself. He talks about his own importance, sure, but I'm not certain he feels it in a responsible for these people way. I'm not sure John does either. They're willing to risk their lives for Atlantis, but I don't think they understand that Atlantis can't afford to lose them. That they have a responsibility not to risk their lives unnecessarily because other people need them.

Elizabeth understands that, and I think she's angry that they don't.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

LOL, you're not in bed yet, are you?

BTW, I made a new porny icon.

That's a good point about Weir, I hadn't thought of the Caldwell angle. He basically yanked control of the situation from her, and that's got to have pissed her off. (I love the way MP played that scene, was he smug or what?) And the thought of almost losing two of the most important members of her expedition, yeah, maybe the yelling wasn't totally OOC.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I like that idea, that John is realizing Rodney isn't superman. I think they put an enormous amount of pressure on Rodney, in that 'of course Rodney can fix it' kind of way. I'd love to think that played into Rodney's determination to make the power source work.

[sp23.livejournal.com]

His last line, I can't remember it exactly, is that Rodney can earn his trust back if he really wants to, seemed kind of positive, unless I'm reading it totally wrong.

For me, it was more the expression on John's face more than his words that convinced me that he was going to forgive Rodney. I worry though about how this will affect Rodney's ability to pull miracles out of his ass. If he loses even a little confidence in himself, it could have serious repercussions for the Atlantis mission.

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

I'm not! You know me so well.

I love your porny new icon. Rodney shouldn't have said he wanted John to fuck him so hard he'd feel it the next morning, because he's clearly feeling it.

MP was very smug. I wanted to hit him and I wasn't even in the room. And even Elizabeth gets to lose it sometimes, and maybe she gets to lose it this time because this time they came back and next time they might not.

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

They do put alot of pressure on him, and in a way this was a chance to do something that wasn't immediate life or death and that would help them tremendously. Plus, he was simply so enchanted with the science itself. He really does love science and discovery and figuring things out.

[ilexa.livejournal.com]

That? Is talent. Damn hot Canadians and their insane talent. Dammit! I don't stand a chance.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm still giggling over your icon. It's fucking hilarious.

But that arm, good lord, that man is hiding some major muscle under those shirts. When are we going to get that all-naked ep? Without the damn sheets?

I so loved that 'cool!' reaction everyone had to the science, too. Because seriously, that's what drives most of them. Not fame or money. There's a hell of a lot of easier ways to get rich.

[sunn-doyouknow.livejournal.com]

I really liked that Elizabeth got angry and had a meltdown. I mean, we only see her as cool and collected, but she can't be like that all the time. I can just see her going back to her quarters and screaming at the top of her lungs. I'll bet John and Rodney aren't the only ones who're glad the walls are soundproof! I thought her little temper tantrum was very realistic and it made her more human, IMHO anyways.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Yes! Exactly. John had a little smile on his face when he said it, sort of smirky but not totally.

I remember a comment from Martin Wood, I think, about this ep. He said that DH and JF struggle a bit with how to play some of the scenes, and I'll bet this is definitely one they struggled with.

I'm sure we are going to see this affecting Rodney. It's going to be interesting, because even with clumsy writing, DH has a way of making it all work. *g*

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I hadn't shown you that one. I'm so glad it made you laugh, because it amused me greatly.

I never, ever felt that Rodney was in science for anything other than the love of science. Yes, he considers himself brilliant and wants to be recognized as such, but if that's all that's motivating him then he should definitely have entered a different field. First the science, and then the fame. Whenever he gets a chance to share some science, and lives aren't on the line, sometimes even when they are, he gets that air of pleased excitement about him. He gets so much pleasure from it. I'm babbling. I need to resist the urge to watch again and go to sleep.

And we totally need an all naked ep.

And those arms... /breaks off some tape and hands you the roll/

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

::hands tape back::

I think I'm just going to go with the wallpaper paste this time.

And the science thing, yeah, think about his explanation in BIS, how cute and excited he was about alternate universes and time travel. (As long as no one mentioned any flux capacitors.*g*)

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to watch the ep again (what hardship) but yeah, I'm starting to see that she was pretty upset, plus the stuff with Caldwell must have pissed her off in a big way. So maybe not so much OOC.

[orange852.livejournal.com]

I see John's "reaction" at the end as wholly the invention of writers attempting to de-slash the relationship. How can viewers see subtext when the text is so chilly and distant and awkwardly at odds?

Pity the pro writers. They don't understand that slashers LIVE to bridge the distance! Warm the chill! Awkward sex can be the best!

BRING ITON!

[seikaitsukimizu.livejournal.com]

Wow, after commentary like that on the episode, I'm not sure what else can be said. Between the slash potential and the end yelling (strangely similar to lines that have happened in one of my fics) and the angst and the GREAT fic that'll come of it........you know, I've forgotten where I was going with that sentence. *sweatdrops*

But I will point out two things:

1) McKay has now at least matched if not exceeded Carter's record.

2) Did anyone else notice the Gateroom controller...is Canadian? I kid you not. Obviously, Rodney chewed out all the military dweebs until he got one that he personally approved. ^-^

[rivier.livejournal.com]

I just watched it!!!!! I came straight here to plotz.

I think the ending, considering what has happened before, was totally upbeat! Maybe my slash coloured glasses but I think not. Rodney is trying so damned hard not to let this whole thing overwhelm him emotionally - like with his 'joke' with Elizabeth about how much of the solar system he destroyed. I think if Sheppard let him get back in his good graces without a thought - and I believe *he* is totally ready to forgive and move on - but the risk is that Rodney really won't understand that their friendship and the mutual trust are an incredibly valuable, incredibly worthwhile thing, and a tangible thing, built on experience. Not just unconditional blanket approval, because that would be shallow and illogical.

Rodney understands empirical reasoning, he understands that he screwed up. Sheppard needs to show that he shares that understanding, and the huge pressure that put their trust and friendship under. So yes, I think he has to say the hard words, and to behave reserved enough to make Rodney chase him all round the city to actually deliver his apology. But then, the way he says that last line is quiet and trusting and affectionate - a total contrast to the warning Telya gave Ronon. And he smiles, and though Rodney looks chastened, he's clearly not left without hope.

Man, I'm sounding like such a loony here, but I adored this right down to and including that last moment. Hewlett is a god - and Flanigan was right up there with him! This was more honest emotion from Sheppard than I can think of, when he's been around people. Oh God, they so brought it home.

I am in love love love love LOVE! in case that wasn't clear.