SGA number whatever: Sunday

[thegrrrl2002]

I have mixed feeling about this one. I wanted to be totally blown away by this ep, but somehow, I wasn't. Part of it was the lack of Sheppard/McKay interaction, which probably makes me a pathetic OTP slasher kind of girl, but it's one of those things that I've come to really enjoy about the show and I missed it here. The past few eps have spoiled me, focusing on their relationship. And now, here, we get nothing. It felt odd. Plus, it was very, very hard not to totally wince every time I heard the term 'exploding tumors'. I just couldn't get past that. Not that Stargate has ever been known for its spot-on science, but usually I'm good with the handwaving. Not so much this time. Just...no.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed Carson in this ep--it figures, I finally start warming up to character and they kill him off. I loved his interaction with all the characters, and he was so very warm and fuzzy and kind. But hey, leave the bomb disposing to the specialists! Darn you! Yes, I did get choked up at the end. Still, I wanted to see more comforting among the rest of the team. Some indication that they're there for each other, and supporting each other. And okay, yes, I'm hugely shallow--John in dress blues is a thing of beauty. And his sad, sad, wibbly face during the ceremony. Oh, John. The ending scene with Rodney and Carson's ghost was a nice touch. I hope in the following eps we get to see more of everyone's reaction.

Overall, I loved the glimpses of everyone's day to day lives. John teaching Ronon to golf was sweet and Ronon's "game" was a riot. And John asking Ronon if he had a girlfriend--or boyfriend, that was a nice touch. Then we get a huge slice of info on John: A failed marriage! Thank you, TPTB! Of course it didn't work, what with him being gay and all. Then there was Rodney and Katie, which made me a little sulky, even though the scenes were very sweet. Radek playing chess, Lorne painting (!), it was all very wonderful.

I was a little disappointed that we didn't get more interaction between Teyla and Elizabeth. I would love to see evidence of a growing friendship between them. Instead we get Elizabeth passing on a lunch with her in order to have lunch with Cute Guy. Even though I liked him, and like the thought of Elizabeth having a date, I would have rather have watched her and Teyla instead.

Any thoughts on who Teyla was talking about approaching in that first scene? I thought maybe Carson, or Lorne. I think we're supposed to think it's John, because of what Ronon said to John later, but I just don't get a shippy vibe between them. It may be the slash goggles I'm wearing. ::pushed them firmly up on nose::

I wonder if I'd have been more impressed with the ep if I hadn't been spoiled for it. Or if I was more fond of Carson as a character. Sorry to all the Carson fans out there--PM seems like a lovely, funny man, but the character never quite worked for me.

In the end...I don't know. I think I have to watch it again.

Comments

[tipsywitch.livejournal.com]

The Teyla thing - I think Carson - just coz of the way she reached for his hand when she was injured and not Johns.

I'm a Mcshep gal and I still cried at the end ( and not beacuse John and Rodney looked a purrdy dressed up... )

[drlense.livejournal.com]

I said the same thing!

For a really great episode, I'm a little conflicted. I also think they would have done better losing Carson in a Wraith related-finale, rather than a random accident stand-alone episode.

I didn't mind the lack of Shep/McKay stuff- we've had so much of it lately, and it was nice to see them interacting with other characters. But that final scene was written for Hewlett and McGillion, and not Rodney and Carson. That kind of bugged me a bit.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Oh, good, point, she did reach out for his hand, didn't she? I thought that was very touching. And their scenes together have always been very warm.

I felt sad at the end because everyone else looked so heartbroken. I liked Elizabeth's speech, too. That worked for me.

[tipsywitch.livejournal.com]

and thank goodness they didn't finish with Amazing Grace. I was cringing waiting for it...and it didn't happen.

[tipsywitch.livejournal.com]

Ahhh but...Has Carson ascended???

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

See, I'm spoiled, I want all McShep all the time. *g* Actually, I just wanted a few seconds of it, an acknowledgment of their friendship. It felt weird to watch an ep without them exchanging any words.

I think you're right about the ending--it was for the actors more than the characters. I've never gotten the impression that Rodney and Carson were great friends. Without my slash goggles on, I would think he's closer to Radek and John.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

As far as I recall, their bodies disappear when they ascend.

I had been wondering if that was going to happen, myself.

[sorchasilver.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the episode yet but managed to spoil myself for it this morning completely by accident, and am surprised by how little I am upset by Carson dying. Maybe it's just that I still believe they will bring him back in some way in the future (given previous comments by cast and the production team), but I don't feel that bothered by it. I like the character well enough, but clearly not as much as I thought I did. Or I'm in denial/repressing/something.

Really hope they don't try to ram John/Teyla down our throats a la Jack/Sam, though. One of the things I really appreciated about SGA was the lack of that sort of thing, which always bugged me about SG1.

[drlense.livejournal.com]

Exactly- although we've had some Carson and Rodney friendship moments, we haven't had nearly enough for Carson to be Rodney's best friend- that was a bit of a stretch.

Combine that with the "you could be back" and the "it's not your fault" stuff and it really felt like sop from the writers.

But I'm with you. As much as I liked Carson, he never clicked with me. I think they never should have made him a regular- it put pressure on them to shoe-horn him in places he didn't belong. (Sateda, anyone?)

[drlense.livejournal.com]

I don't think so. Plus, ascension is way overused, IMO.

[dvswraatins.livejournal.com]

Weird episode. It felt like the best episode ever and the worst.

[midnight-ink.livejournal.com]

I wanted to see more comforting among the rest of the team.

I'm going to be shameless for once (http://midnight-ink.livejournal.com/12216.html).

I also agree with tipsywitch: I think it maybe have been Carson Teyla saw, thus the desperate need to be there at his funeral.
Though, on the other hand ... didn't the messhall blow up? Or was it just a corridor? Because, if it was a (small, apart from the regular) messhall, then Teyla's love-interest would have been injured / killed as well, wouldn't he? Okay, even if it wasn't the messhall, she did see someone, and turned because of him, and the corridor blew up immediately afterward, so, it is possible that if it wasn't Carson, he is now either dead or injured.

[tipsywitch.livejournal.com]

I agree but it doesn't seem to stop TPTB.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

The John & Teyla stuff was only hinted at, I didn't find it to be blatant. I think TPTB have sworn off overt shipping ever since SG1.*g*

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. I like that they took a chance with something different, but I dunno. Not sure if it worked.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Ah, I will check it out, thank you! *g*

I think it was the corridor that blew up, not the mess hall itself. But I'm not sure.

[lamardeuse.livejournal.com]

I cannot WAIT to get home and DL the big version (hope it'll be up by then). I have been spoiled MASSIVELY for this ep (hey, I was there while they were filming the John/Ronon game) and I've been vibrating for MONTHS. I'm kind of looking forward to it and kind of not, because I'm concerned about the direction of the show after this, but ah well, that's what fanfic is for. I'd hate to be a McBeck shipper right now, though. :P

[inthekeyofd.livejournal.com]

was totally like..WTF? JOHN WAS MARRIED!!

But how good was the boyfriend comment seeing that John has one??

I guess that Sunday's are the day of revelations.

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

I knew you were on the set. But *that's* what you got to see them filming? Damn.

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

The exploding tumors.

I can't believe I found it easier to handwave a science thing than you did. /g/

[lamardeuse.livejournal.com]

Here's the post. I - yeah, it was very enjoyable. Was there any BARE HIP?

[cathexys.livejournal.com]

they would have done better losing Carson in a Wraith related-finale, rather than a random accident stand-alone episode. I was thinking about this all morning and decided I really, really liked that they didn't. I liked the fact that their lives are so much in peril that even a normal day can lead to death and that the danger is so random that it can happen in the middle of the city on the quietest of days. Somehow going into battle, fighting the Wraith, these are expected threats. But the thing about Atlantis is that it can always sneak up on them unexpectedly.... I kind of like that reminder a lot! There's a certain meaninglessness to the death (and I haven't seen anyone comment yet on whether Beckett's decision to operate was actually a smart one), and I like what that says about their lives...

grrrl, you might enjoy copracat's explanation (http://copracat.livejournal.com/331019.html?style=mine) of the exploding tumors. i laughed :-)

[sorchasilver.livejournal.com]

Oh thanks, that's good news. A couple of people I read earlier (having done the stupid clicking that lead to spoilage, I decided to read lots of them!) were making quite a big deal out of it, so I was a little concerned. But I trust you more than them so....

I stll don't get why I really don't care that Carson dies. But at least I can watch the episode without too much tramua!

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

Did you see bare hip? I didn't see any in the ep.

[amireal.livejournal.com]

I was feeling it too-- but the look of support in the funeral scene really helped. Both of them looking devastated giving mental hugs.

It helped.

Also I too thought it was Carson, between the hand holding and her deep loss lines.