Brain Storm & Infection

[annundriel]

SGA - "Brain Storm"

Considering the way I feel in general about the Keller/McKay relationship, I liked this one. Quite a bit, actually. This came as somewhat of a surprise. But I can't deny that the two of them are very cute together and that they make each other happy.

However, I still have some issues with it. For me, it just happened way too fast. I don't want to be all finger-pointy and call Keller a Mary Sue, but...She's young, cool, competent, beloved, attractive, brilliant...I'm not saying that this is a bad thing. I'm just, y'know, putting it out there. And what does that have to do with anything?

I only feel the need to bring up those qualities since she still is a relatively new character. I know she's been on the show for two seasons, but she's not really around all that much. And when she is, she's a little off-balance to me because different writers seem to use her for different things. Anyway, so I bring up those qualities because they're meant to make us like her, to make Rodney like her, but the loving happened too fast.

I liked the scene after Rodney revived her. I can't deny that it made me go "aww." But I think it would have been more significant had we seen more of their journey to that point. Not necessarily if it had taken longer, as I don't want to dismiss romances that don't happen gradually. But had she been on the show longer, we could have seen more of them interacting.

Meh. I don't think I'm being very clear.

And one thing I did not get was this: Why couldn't Rodney tell them that he's doing classified work for the US government? And that's why he hasn't published anything? Because if he told them, he'd have to kill them.

It works in fanfiction. And the show is really no closer to reality. Plus, I'd think you could get away with that.

But it does make me wonder about Daniel Jackson's current standing in academic communities. Is he still the crazy aliens-built-the-pyramids fruitcake guy that basically dropped off the face of the planet? And why does this make me want to write that SG-1/Angel crossover where he and Wesley meet in a lecture hall?

So, random things I enjoyed about the episode:

- John and Ronon in the very beginning. Ronon's over Keller apparently, but John is not over Rodney. Aw.

I think it would be interesting to look back over John's reactions to Rodney spending more time with Keller and less time being buddies with him (not that we've seen that much besides John showing up in Rodney's quarters to pout at him in the beginning of "Tracker"). Especially if one looked at those reactions in the light of what John knows from the events of "The Last Man." To me, John feels very much like he's become something of an outsider this season. Even with the team moments, and there have been some lovely ones, I feel like there's a lot of him on the outskirts observing.

- Bill Nye and Neil DeGrasse Tyson. "You know, from television." HA.

- I liked how Jennifer and Rodney were both mocking the presentation. And then she immediately picked up on Rodney's interest turning.

- "Not now, Nye." And how he kind of hunched in on himself all embarrassed. Seriously, Bill Nye was great.

- Surprise Walter! Unfortunately, he's not much use. But that's not his fault.

- I loved the whole "freeze lightning" naming. And Billy Nye being all, "That's a horrible name." It made me think of "Greased Lightning," which in turn got the song stuck in my head.

- Rodney being so very right and people acknowledging it, yea! And knowing he was in the right about the paper and wanting people to believe him. I love him and his ego and his defense mechanisms.

- TUNNEY: It's going to be impossible.
McKAY: Hey, I'm Doctor Rodney McKay, all right? Difficult takes a few seconds; impossible a few minutes.

Seriously. If these guys only knew. Oh, Rodney. ♥

- "I know I'm supposed to be humble, I know I'm not supposed to care, but I do, I really do and that's...well, that's something you should know about me."

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting recognition for your contributions.

- I like that Keller realizes how important Rodney's job is to him.

SGA - "Infection"

For me, this episode was another good example of way the people on Atlantis are really bad at planning ahead. You can't take away the way the Wraith are used to eating and just expect them to be able to handle it without providing them some follow up etiquette classes or something.

And just because they can't suck the life out of you with their hands, does not mean that they won't just try to eat you the usual way. Y'know. With their teeth.

- I love John. I missed him in "Brain Storm." And here he's all, "But we came all this way and even got dressed up" to visit the Wraith and Woolsey just can't say no.

- Rodney and Keller and the whole having hundreds of lives in your hands conversation. With the, "It helps to have a big ego." Yes, okay, you guys are cute.

- Keller telling Todd that John doesn't take lives, he saves them just like she does. He just uses different tools. I liked that. But it really kind of depends which side you're on, doesn't it?

- John's face. Whether it's ridiculous or serious. But mostly his face when he told Todd that he didn't owe him anything. And then Todd was going to feed and John didn't even flinch because, of course, Todd can't.

- The whole thing about John not owing Todd anything and then giving him his word that they'll let him go...I know things have been pretty messed up with Todd through the season, what with all the crossing and double-crossing and whathaveyou. But this feels like John owed him something "Common Ground" and maybe now that's been repaid.

- Ronon being set on just killing them all. The man knows what he wants and how he feels.

- Woolsey. Just 'cause. There was also a commercial during one of the eps tonight about Woolsey. Something about, "What lies beneath the something something bureaucrat? A something something bureaucrat." It made me laugh. Though I think Woolsey's got depths. Or at least he's gained some since he showed up on Atlantis. But I always liked him.