The Kindred, Pts. I and II
Mar. 2nd, 2008 02:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
annundrielSGA - "The Kindred, Parts I and II"
A couple of weeks ago when SciFi started airing the previews for the first part of "Kindred" with their declaration that "You won't believe the last five minutes!" followed by Carson made me wonder what the hell was going on in their heads. But then I thought, well, maybe that's just to trick us and something else crazy will happen after that. Unfortunately, no. And I don't mean unfortunately in the sense that it was unfortunate that they brought Carson back; I mean that it's unfortunate that they ruin the good stuff by telling us there is a surprise and then showing us what it is.
WTH?
Anyway. Things from the two episodes. Some of it shallow; some of it not.
- Rodney and his disinfectant. Even after being in a hazmat suit. I know how you feel, Rodney!
- The scene with Rodney and Teyla just about killed me. First, he brought her a pre-baby present. Granted, it was ego-filled, but at the same time it was touching and he meant well. A nice combination of the things that make up McKay. Then, if that wasn't good enough, he noticed that she was out of sorts and sat down to talk to her about it! Much like he tried to be there for John in "Outcast."
I really liked the bit where she called him on doubting her and he listed all the crazy stuff he's been through with an added, "Who am I to judge?" But then we get a cut to him walking with John and saying Teyla's basically nuts.
- Carter asked John if he believed what Teyla was claiming with the visions. John replied without hesitation, "Doesn't matter. It's Teyla and we owe her one." Aw.
What made me really happy about this episode was how much Teyla we got and how wonderful she was with her determination and her kick-ass-itude. (I can't think of an actual word; I'm sorry.) And the trust that the team has in her, even when they're all looking at her a little askance and wondering if she's gone off the deep end. Just more proof that the team will do anything for the team.
- The team walking in the field was lovely. And Teyla explaining the exchange of trinkets and how they show admiration and respect.
RONON: Hey, maybe I'll pick you something out while we're there.
McKAY: Really?
RONON: ...No.
And then they kept kinda glancing at each other. Heh.
- Teyla cutting John off and saying that she'll make for the 'gate at the first sign of trouble. John's being a bit protective and Teyla's not going to put herself in too much danger. I don't think. Her judgment could be a little faulty at the moment, the closer they get to finding Kanaan and the Athosians. (Hmm. Kinda sounds like a band.)
- Hoff. I always hear Hoth and then wonder when we slipped into Star Wars.
- John's "Let's go, Rodney." I like that the last few episodes we've seen more of John insisting that Rodney come on missions that they don't necessarily need him on because he's part of the team. Reminds me of "Suspicion" and their little conversation before Ford explains C4 or whatever and Rodney's all, "I'm part of the team. I'm doing this."
- Kanaan has the Gift, too. Doesn't that mean that their kid will have twice the Wraith DNA that his parents have?
- Teyla's "I do not need your permission, Colonel" when Sam looks like she won't let her go back to the market. A nice reminder that Teyla is there because she wants to be and follows orders and things because she chooses to, not because she actually works for them.
Followed by Carter's "Call me Sam."
- John's sunglasses fill me with glee. Or something. And Rodney's fluffy hair.
- Lorne talking about strolling flea markets on Sundays in the Bay Area. Heee. Oh, Lorne. I don't even know what to do with you anymore except flail. I have all sorts of ideas for Lorne backstory now.
- It's just kind of funny hearing the characters refer to the Wraith by their "given" names sometimes. Todd. And poor Rodney not even getting lunch.
- Teyla and her big stick knocking that guy out. Fantastic. And her whole "I am wearing no uniform." I love when she's dangerous and kind of scary.
- I love when the team is in sync and competent, like John, Rodney, and Ronon all training their weapons on Todd.
- There's a whole bit in the conversation with Todd where Rodney's positioned behind John and slightly over a bit and the two of them seem very aware of each other. This isn't the only time this has happened, but it was the first one in the episode that I noticed and I just thought it was interesting. John would start to turn toward Rodney and Rodney would look to him and there was just this...knowledge that the other was there.
- Todd's "You always say that, but you always come around." It's true. Atlantis denies Todd things, and then they decide that maybe they should work with him.
- Michael's totally behind it all. Plus, they just had to put his name at the beginning and ruin that, too.
- Rodney's eyelashes really caught the light in Sam's office. Just had to point that out.
- John being all intent and watching Rodney explain things.
- Lorne's face of "oh man, I fucked this up" when he comes through the 'gate without Teyla.
- So Michael wants to exterminate the Wraith and create a new dominant species.
- RONON: Maybe we just came to kill you.
TODD: Did you?
SHEPPARD: Unfortunately, no.
TODD: Well, there's always next time.
Did Todd sound kind of hopeful?
And then the way John says "Rodney."
- Michael's "I care a great deal" with regards to Teyla's well-being.
When the news first came out that Teyla was going to be pregnant, I really thought it would be interesting it the child were the result of something Michael had done. Now it's not, but Michael does have an interest in it and he's part of that plot, so that makes me excited.
That's probably a little weird, but I always found the two of them interesting together and Michael's always had this fascination/obsession with Teyla. So I'll be interested to see how this plays out. Especially with all of the "I have great plans for him" talk.
And the similarities between Teyla and Michael.
Michael is the loneliest Wraith in the universe.
- John and Ronon watching Rodney eat.
- Michael using Kanaan to appear to Teyla in visions. "I reached across 10,000 lightyears of space and touched your mind. There is more of a bond between us than you know. Once the child is born the bond will grow even stronger."
I really enjoyed the Michael/Teyla stuff and, for me, it felt sometimes almost as though I was watching a completely different show. A little odd.
- "The child will serve the cause." Great and creepy, but I couldn't help thinking of Vala and the Ori and Adria.
- Caldwell!
- I find myself curious about Lorne's team. Who are these guys? Where are they from? Do they get along, or is there one in the group that no one really likes?
- John pulling his gun on the guard was kinda like, "Whoa, Sheppard. Close enough?"
- Rodney covering his ears. The team working together.
- Carson! And, seriously, they couldn't have kept that out of all the previews? Would that have been so hard?
*
- Rodney's sad, considering face looking down into the isolation room.
- So Carson's not a Replicator. Good to know.
- "Another day in outer space." Getting used to it, Sheppard?
- Michael using Carson. Okay, so I kind of hate to say this, buuuut sometimes I kind of think maybe Carson deserved it. A little, tiny bit. Because what Carson and Weir did to Michael (and the other Wraith) was pretty awful. So maybe it's not that Carson deserves bad treatment, but that I don't entirely blame Michael for using the people that used him.
- Rodney and Carson's handshake. Aw.
- So Carson was a prisoner for two years. I was wondering how they were going to explain this. The clone angle works for me. And it works even more for me that this Carson is the clone and the one that died in "Sunday" was the original. Put it the other way and I have a greater desire to roll my eyes and feel cheated and say, "pfui."
Sometimes when they kill of a character and then bring them back later it feels too much like they're toying with us, no matter how good it is to see the character again.
- Rodney went to the memorial service with Carson's mom. Aw.
- Oh, geez. Rodney's face when Carson wants Weir.
- Athosians! Halling! Who...kind of looked a bit like Christopher Eccleston.
- Carson's one of the best friends Rodney's ever had. Would have been nice to see that a bit more.
- Again, John stares intently at Rodney as he explains things.
- "You're not rusty, Doc. You're just not very good at this."
- "Just in time for happy hour."
- John and Ronon rolling over the bar. Niiice. Rodney making sure Carson's covered. Which he does again later, before Carson runs off.
- That dude from "Missing." Nabel?
- Oh, necrosis. You ruin all the fun.
- I liked Carson and Keller working together.
- They should freeze Carson like they did O'Neill when his head got filled with Ancient stuff the second time.
- Teyla and Kanaan. Oh, man. That's just really sad. :(
- Would they really send Nabel to the Milky Way?
- Wraith ultrasounds. Weird.
- "Genetically unique" son. Of course, what with the Wraith DNA of the parents. Though surely two people with the Gift have procreated before?
- I wonder what Michael was like as a regular Wraith, before all of this. Was he this smart? What has he had to teach himself since his encounters with Atlantis?
- John always stands kind of funny. Like he does with his hands hooked in the front of his belt and his knee slightly bent. Ha.
- "Easy, Rodney."
- "Don't stand there and pretend you wouldn't do the same thing if you were in his place." John knows Rodney well.
- The whole thing with Rodney accusing Carson of not being the "real" one and then telling him, "You don't have to prove anything, certainly not to me." Aw.
- Rodney shooting blindly around a corner.
- SHEPPARD: I'm tired of getting shot at with our own guns.
BECKETT: I'm generally not fond of it regardless of the weapon.
- Did John call Halling "my friend"?
- Baby Flanigans! And the younger one looking back and up at his dad. Aaaaw.
- McKAY: You think Teyla?
SHEPPARD: No, I don't think so and you don't think so.
- Teyla and Carson and her disbelief. Michael's been messing with her head quite a bit. Can't blame her.
- Carson being open to Michael's influence. Not good. And Michael's "Anyway, you've served your purpose."
- SHEPPARD: Those things look like gas containers?
RONON: Yup. Worth a shot.
- The lighting has been really pretty in some of these scenes, and I like the profile of John running with the light to his side.
- Ronon manhandling Carson like he does Rodney.
- And there goes Teyla. Yet this is not a "to be continued" episode.
- I thought this earlier, but the ladies on Atlantis wear some really tight pants. Wonder if they hate them.
- Rodney's breathy little catch-laugh when he tells Carson they'll fix him.
- I thought it was a little weird that Carson called Carter "Samantha." But it was nice that he's got a letter to send to his mother.
- The goodbyes. John's manly shoulder/arm squeeze. And Ronon's hug after the cold shoulder.
RONON: This is exactly what I was afraid of.
BECKETT: I know, big man. I'm sorry.
omg. :(
- Rodney programming dreams. John's faaace. Rodney's faaace. ::flail::
I think there are some interesting editing choices sometimes. Here you've got Rodney and Carson having a moment, Rodney rambling about dreams and what he and Carson agreed on in whatever that was at the end of "Sunday," and then we've got a cut to John looking between the two of them, watching Rodney and looking concerned and sad.
And, I mean, I know why it's there. Filler. Or because they're both friends of John's and he cares about both of them and will have to deal with the aftermath of this. But at the same time, I want to know why it's there.
There's a weight to it, I feel. Because John's going to have to deal with a broken Rodney after he dealt with Carson's death the first time. He's concerned, wondering just how hard this will be. And it really seems like he wants to step in, stop Rodney from making himself so vulnerable emotionally.
It all kind of goes back to their awareness of each other. It's just...interesting.
Plus, it made me think of "The Long Goodbye" when whoever was in John's body told Teyla "He cares for you more than you know" and they cut to Rodney of all people. His is the reaction shot we get.
Like I said, interesting.
I enjoyed both of these episodes. Part one a little more than part two, if I'm honest. After seeing the preview for next week's episode before watching these two, I was actually a little wary of viewing them. I have very mixed feelings about that preview and they kind of carried over how I felt before I sat down to watch today. Luckily, I got over that. Still have mixed feelings about the preview, though. But they like to mess with us, so we'll see.
A couple of weeks ago when SciFi started airing the previews for the first part of "Kindred" with their declaration that "You won't believe the last five minutes!" followed by Carson made me wonder what the hell was going on in their heads. But then I thought, well, maybe that's just to trick us and something else crazy will happen after that. Unfortunately, no. And I don't mean unfortunately in the sense that it was unfortunate that they brought Carson back; I mean that it's unfortunate that they ruin the good stuff by telling us there is a surprise and then showing us what it is.
WTH?
Anyway. Things from the two episodes. Some of it shallow; some of it not.
- Rodney and his disinfectant. Even after being in a hazmat suit. I know how you feel, Rodney!
- The scene with Rodney and Teyla just about killed me. First, he brought her a pre-baby present. Granted, it was ego-filled, but at the same time it was touching and he meant well. A nice combination of the things that make up McKay. Then, if that wasn't good enough, he noticed that she was out of sorts and sat down to talk to her about it! Much like he tried to be there for John in "Outcast."
I really liked the bit where she called him on doubting her and he listed all the crazy stuff he's been through with an added, "Who am I to judge?" But then we get a cut to him walking with John and saying Teyla's basically nuts.
- Carter asked John if he believed what Teyla was claiming with the visions. John replied without hesitation, "Doesn't matter. It's Teyla and we owe her one." Aw.
What made me really happy about this episode was how much Teyla we got and how wonderful she was with her determination and her kick-ass-itude. (I can't think of an actual word; I'm sorry.) And the trust that the team has in her, even when they're all looking at her a little askance and wondering if she's gone off the deep end. Just more proof that the team will do anything for the team.
- The team walking in the field was lovely. And Teyla explaining the exchange of trinkets and how they show admiration and respect.
RONON: Hey, maybe I'll pick you something out while we're there.
McKAY: Really?
RONON: ...No.
And then they kept kinda glancing at each other. Heh.
- Teyla cutting John off and saying that she'll make for the 'gate at the first sign of trouble. John's being a bit protective and Teyla's not going to put herself in too much danger. I don't think. Her judgment could be a little faulty at the moment, the closer they get to finding Kanaan and the Athosians. (Hmm. Kinda sounds like a band.)
- Hoff. I always hear Hoth and then wonder when we slipped into Star Wars.
- John's "Let's go, Rodney." I like that the last few episodes we've seen more of John insisting that Rodney come on missions that they don't necessarily need him on because he's part of the team. Reminds me of "Suspicion" and their little conversation before Ford explains C4 or whatever and Rodney's all, "I'm part of the team. I'm doing this."
- Kanaan has the Gift, too. Doesn't that mean that their kid will have twice the Wraith DNA that his parents have?
- Teyla's "I do not need your permission, Colonel" when Sam looks like she won't let her go back to the market. A nice reminder that Teyla is there because she wants to be and follows orders and things because she chooses to, not because she actually works for them.
Followed by Carter's "Call me Sam."
- John's sunglasses fill me with glee. Or something. And Rodney's fluffy hair.
- Lorne talking about strolling flea markets on Sundays in the Bay Area. Heee. Oh, Lorne. I don't even know what to do with you anymore except flail. I have all sorts of ideas for Lorne backstory now.
- It's just kind of funny hearing the characters refer to the Wraith by their "given" names sometimes. Todd. And poor Rodney not even getting lunch.
- Teyla and her big stick knocking that guy out. Fantastic. And her whole "I am wearing no uniform." I love when she's dangerous and kind of scary.
- I love when the team is in sync and competent, like John, Rodney, and Ronon all training their weapons on Todd.
- There's a whole bit in the conversation with Todd where Rodney's positioned behind John and slightly over a bit and the two of them seem very aware of each other. This isn't the only time this has happened, but it was the first one in the episode that I noticed and I just thought it was interesting. John would start to turn toward Rodney and Rodney would look to him and there was just this...knowledge that the other was there.
- Todd's "You always say that, but you always come around." It's true. Atlantis denies Todd things, and then they decide that maybe they should work with him.
- Michael's totally behind it all. Plus, they just had to put his name at the beginning and ruin that, too.
- Rodney's eyelashes really caught the light in Sam's office. Just had to point that out.
- John being all intent and watching Rodney explain things.
- Lorne's face of "oh man, I fucked this up" when he comes through the 'gate without Teyla.
- So Michael wants to exterminate the Wraith and create a new dominant species.
- RONON: Maybe we just came to kill you.
TODD: Did you?
SHEPPARD: Unfortunately, no.
TODD: Well, there's always next time.
Did Todd sound kind of hopeful?
And then the way John says "Rodney."
- Michael's "I care a great deal" with regards to Teyla's well-being.
When the news first came out that Teyla was going to be pregnant, I really thought it would be interesting it the child were the result of something Michael had done. Now it's not, but Michael does have an interest in it and he's part of that plot, so that makes me excited.
That's probably a little weird, but I always found the two of them interesting together and Michael's always had this fascination/obsession with Teyla. So I'll be interested to see how this plays out. Especially with all of the "I have great plans for him" talk.
And the similarities between Teyla and Michael.
Michael is the loneliest Wraith in the universe.
- John and Ronon watching Rodney eat.
- Michael using Kanaan to appear to Teyla in visions. "I reached across 10,000 lightyears of space and touched your mind. There is more of a bond between us than you know. Once the child is born the bond will grow even stronger."
I really enjoyed the Michael/Teyla stuff and, for me, it felt sometimes almost as though I was watching a completely different show. A little odd.
- "The child will serve the cause." Great and creepy, but I couldn't help thinking of Vala and the Ori and Adria.
- Caldwell!
- I find myself curious about Lorne's team. Who are these guys? Where are they from? Do they get along, or is there one in the group that no one really likes?
- John pulling his gun on the guard was kinda like, "Whoa, Sheppard. Close enough?"
- Rodney covering his ears. The team working together.
- Carson! And, seriously, they couldn't have kept that out of all the previews? Would that have been so hard?
*
- Rodney's sad, considering face looking down into the isolation room.
- So Carson's not a Replicator. Good to know.
- "Another day in outer space." Getting used to it, Sheppard?
- Michael using Carson. Okay, so I kind of hate to say this, buuuut sometimes I kind of think maybe Carson deserved it. A little, tiny bit. Because what Carson and Weir did to Michael (and the other Wraith) was pretty awful. So maybe it's not that Carson deserves bad treatment, but that I don't entirely blame Michael for using the people that used him.
- Rodney and Carson's handshake. Aw.
- So Carson was a prisoner for two years. I was wondering how they were going to explain this. The clone angle works for me. And it works even more for me that this Carson is the clone and the one that died in "Sunday" was the original. Put it the other way and I have a greater desire to roll my eyes and feel cheated and say, "pfui."
Sometimes when they kill of a character and then bring them back later it feels too much like they're toying with us, no matter how good it is to see the character again.
- Rodney went to the memorial service with Carson's mom. Aw.
- Oh, geez. Rodney's face when Carson wants Weir.
- Athosians! Halling! Who...kind of looked a bit like Christopher Eccleston.
- Carson's one of the best friends Rodney's ever had. Would have been nice to see that a bit more.
- Again, John stares intently at Rodney as he explains things.
- "You're not rusty, Doc. You're just not very good at this."
- "Just in time for happy hour."
- John and Ronon rolling over the bar. Niiice. Rodney making sure Carson's covered. Which he does again later, before Carson runs off.
- That dude from "Missing." Nabel?
- Oh, necrosis. You ruin all the fun.
- I liked Carson and Keller working together.
- They should freeze Carson like they did O'Neill when his head got filled with Ancient stuff the second time.
- Teyla and Kanaan. Oh, man. That's just really sad. :(
- Would they really send Nabel to the Milky Way?
- Wraith ultrasounds. Weird.
- "Genetically unique" son. Of course, what with the Wraith DNA of the parents. Though surely two people with the Gift have procreated before?
- I wonder what Michael was like as a regular Wraith, before all of this. Was he this smart? What has he had to teach himself since his encounters with Atlantis?
- John always stands kind of funny. Like he does with his hands hooked in the front of his belt and his knee slightly bent. Ha.
- "Easy, Rodney."
- "Don't stand there and pretend you wouldn't do the same thing if you were in his place." John knows Rodney well.
- The whole thing with Rodney accusing Carson of not being the "real" one and then telling him, "You don't have to prove anything, certainly not to me." Aw.
- Rodney shooting blindly around a corner.
- SHEPPARD: I'm tired of getting shot at with our own guns.
BECKETT: I'm generally not fond of it regardless of the weapon.
- Did John call Halling "my friend"?
- Baby Flanigans! And the younger one looking back and up at his dad. Aaaaw.
- McKAY: You think Teyla?
SHEPPARD: No, I don't think so and you don't think so.
- Teyla and Carson and her disbelief. Michael's been messing with her head quite a bit. Can't blame her.
- Carson being open to Michael's influence. Not good. And Michael's "Anyway, you've served your purpose."
- SHEPPARD: Those things look like gas containers?
RONON: Yup. Worth a shot.
- The lighting has been really pretty in some of these scenes, and I like the profile of John running with the light to his side.
- Ronon manhandling Carson like he does Rodney.
- And there goes Teyla. Yet this is not a "to be continued" episode.
- I thought this earlier, but the ladies on Atlantis wear some really tight pants. Wonder if they hate them.
- Rodney's breathy little catch-laugh when he tells Carson they'll fix him.
- I thought it was a little weird that Carson called Carter "Samantha." But it was nice that he's got a letter to send to his mother.
- The goodbyes. John's manly shoulder/arm squeeze. And Ronon's hug after the cold shoulder.
RONON: This is exactly what I was afraid of.
BECKETT: I know, big man. I'm sorry.
omg. :(
- Rodney programming dreams. John's faaace. Rodney's faaace. ::flail::
I think there are some interesting editing choices sometimes. Here you've got Rodney and Carson having a moment, Rodney rambling about dreams and what he and Carson agreed on in whatever that was at the end of "Sunday," and then we've got a cut to John looking between the two of them, watching Rodney and looking concerned and sad.
And, I mean, I know why it's there. Filler. Or because they're both friends of John's and he cares about both of them and will have to deal with the aftermath of this. But at the same time, I want to know why it's there.
There's a weight to it, I feel. Because John's going to have to deal with a broken Rodney after he dealt with Carson's death the first time. He's concerned, wondering just how hard this will be. And it really seems like he wants to step in, stop Rodney from making himself so vulnerable emotionally.
It all kind of goes back to their awareness of each other. It's just...interesting.
Plus, it made me think of "The Long Goodbye" when whoever was in John's body told Teyla "He cares for you more than you know" and they cut to Rodney of all people. His is the reaction shot we get.
Like I said, interesting.
I enjoyed both of these episodes. Part one a little more than part two, if I'm honest. After seeing the preview for next week's episode before watching these two, I was actually a little wary of viewing them. I have very mixed feelings about that preview and they kind of carried over how I felt before I sat down to watch today. Luckily, I got over that. Still have mixed feelings about the preview, though. But they like to mess with us, so we'll see.
