SGA: Enemy at the gate

[tenaya]

It was okay. As I had avoided all spoilers, I was relieved that Bridge didn't screw it up too badly.


So, things I liked:

I liked seeing all the supporting characters: Zelenka, Lorne, Carson, Major Davis, Walter, Caldwell, Ellis, and Kavanaugh (how long as it been since he was last seen?) And the only reason I can think of that Davis is still a major is that O'Neill is punishing him for wanting--or succeeding in--nailing Daniel. Said seduction can probably be narrowed down in the timeline by figuring out when Davis should have been promoted and wasn't. I really liked seeing him again, in any case. I was glad to see that Ellis survived the episode as Bridge likes to kill off any toys remaining in the toy box at the end of the show (like the Ancient's chair.)

Amelia was there, too. I don't get her. Seems like she and Ronon were thrown together because Bridge thinks that's the way it should be. TBAB are dipshits but we knew that already. It felt wrong to have her in the final shot but not Zelenka or Lorne.

I like that a moment was taken to mention Don S. Davis' passing by making it canon that Hammond had died. That was sad. It makes me sad to even write this. Having said that, shouldn't the ship be called the George Hammond? There was a new aircraft carrier was commissioned recently and it's called, the USS George H.W. Bush. And why did they say that Hammond was off world when he died? He rarely went off world.

I also liked the throw way line that SG-1 was on the "Odyssey" and it was on a secret mission. Odd that Carter isn't there with them. I would be hopeful that this means there won't be much J/S ship in the next film but it probably just means they will go AU or something. Blah!

Onto the 'well, that could have been better' catagory:

Killing off Ronon sucked (though Momoa died very well.) And he did it saving Rodney. There was lovely stuff there for the McKay/Ronon shippers. I was glad he was brought back, but honestly, that sort of writing shenanigans is like painting by numbers. Mullie wrote this but I think there must have been extensive outlining and even more in depth detailing because he usually turns in lack luster scripts and this was better than that. The plot was choreographed, particularly over this plot point. Ronon gets killed, Ronon gets revived. Writing by the numbers. I did like the acting when the Teyla tells Sheppard he was dead, and McKay's very tense "I'm on it!" Rodney's got big issues with this.

Once Atlantis had established a wormhole to the Wraith ship, just throw a nuke in! But if they had done that, the show wouldn't have lasted the full hour.

Once Sheppard gated to the SGC, I turned and said, "Looks like Sheppard will go on a suicide mission and McKay will fiddle with technology and save him." I was close, very close. John needs therapy for his suicidal tendencies.

Wormhole drive, eh? That certainly changes travel for this universe. I had both my eyebrows raised, Teal'c style, that Zelenka and Beckett would attempt something that McKay hadn't fully vetted and would require the skill of Sheppard to pull off. I guess this is where the hand wave comes in and all those silly little details dissipate like smoke. On the other hand, I imagine the Beckett fans are full of pride that their guy--that they brought back from the dead--was essential here in the last episode. Well done, SaveCarsonBeckett!

After that big space battle, I imagine that the folks of Nevada and California noticed all the fireworks though the schematics have them re-entering over Japan and landing off of Hawaii.

Carter's puffy wig and her way too generous makeup. Ronon's wig is and has been horrible.

Things that make me want to throw a shoe at the tv:

Keller. Could she looked any more feckless or incompetent? Her insecurity is paralyzing. I suppose she can't be the "little woman" that needs a shoulder to lean on if she is a competent CMO. Oh well, as long as she gave the writers wood, that reason enough to keep her on the show.

And speaking of the writers and their worthlessness at writing women characters...how about that Carter? Okay, the law of Super Sam says she can handle anything, so I suppose that's why Bridge didn't bother getting in Landry or O'Neill. Still, it makes my head hurt that she was in charge of Earth's defenses. Later, when Sheppard explains how he will take the nuke to the enemy to save the Earth from untold destruction, Carter 'can't order him to do that.' Then when he asks for her to tell his team goodbye for him, she's all big eyed and barely holding back her emotions. I have to say, if that had been O'Neill, or Landry or Hammond, they would have solemnly thanked him and told him that they would pass along his message, maybe even thrown in a "god speed." They had no choice and he would and could do this act to save the planet. He should be acknowledged for his bravery.

Lastly, on that last shot with most of the cast at the railing, couldn't they at least have given Teyla and Beckett a line to say? I think Teyla was a bit shafted in this episode. Very sad.

Well, at least the writers can't screw it up any further. I hate it that, all things considered, it was time to put this show to bed. That's really too bad.

Comments

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

Kavanaugh (how long as it been since he was last seen?)

He was last seen in "Midway" that episode where Teal'c guest starred.

I've been saying Davis must've pissed someone off in the promotions office. Of course *I* never thought of your slashy explanation but it's making me grin.

Somebody asked at a forum I haunt the same question as you about the "George Hammond" v "General Hammond" (and I wondered the same thing myself.

One of my buddies there responded with this list of several ships being commissioned with "General" in their name (including the "General Sherman". He's retired military himself and I love him as a guru on Stargate military things.

Now mind you, most of the WWII era ones had first name (or initials) and last, but still, there is precedent.

Of course, you and I have very different reactions to Sam. Personally, I was just giddy she was WEARING HER SG-1 PATCH.
(I'm such a pathetic dorky teamy goodness fan. You know the rest of the team was on "Odyssey" (maybe with Jack because why else wouldn't he be Ancient chairing?) for that supersekrit mission. Otherwise, they'd have so taken care of saving the planet...er, with team Atlantis, of course.)

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

I think it was *Carter* who was off-world when Hammond died.

I don't remember it mentioned specifically that it was *SG-1* on that super secret mission. If so, what were they doing in Pegasus and not doing whatever in the Milky Way? Weird. But if they were mentioned, it was just a way to keep them out of the action on Earth.

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

I'm just incredibly grateful they didn't pull a Quantum Leap or Xena ending. I get very nervous when it comes to series finales, because so often TPTB take every opportunity to screw things up.

>>>Amelia was there, too. I don't get her. Seems like she and Ronon were thrown together because Bridge thinks that's the way it should be. TBAB are dipshits but we knew that already. It felt wrong to have her in the final shot but not Zelenka or Lorne.

That was just wrong - she didn't belong there at all.

>>>After that big space battle, I imagine that the folks of Nevada and California noticed all the fireworks though the schematics have them re-entering over Japan and landing off of Hawaii.

LOL! I gave them the benefit of the doubt and assuming they kept travelling past the point when we last saw the schematic.

>>>Keller. Could she looked any more feckless or incompetent?

She's on my short list of one of the worst female characters ever. Boring!!!

All in all, could have been a lot better, could have been a lot worse.

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

You're right, the rest of SG-1 was never mentioned in the episode, so we don't know why they weren't around when Earth was in crisis. That's just a fanwank.

All that was said was :

MCKAY: Wait a minute. I've got an idea. How many ships do we have available?

CALDWELL: Aside from ourselves, there's the Apollo and the Sun Tzu.

SHEPPARD: How about the Odyssey?

CALDWELL: Mmm, it's on some secret mission even I'm not supposed to know about.

MCKAY
Then two will have to be enough.

Yeah, it was Sam who was offworld when Hammond died (I presume with her team...because that's what I tend to do. I'm so pathetically teamy oriented when SG-1 is concerned).

*sniffle* Hammond.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

I'll admit I was bummed that they also killed Hammond off on the show to make it canon. :-( I wanted him to live on. Oh well. In my mind, he always will. I was so sad and upset when I finally heard about Don Davis' death. I still am. He was such an *alive* person who *loved* life, you could tell just from watching him on the stage.

Okay, I gotta go off and cry for a few minutes now. Crap.

[margec01.livejournal.com]

While I don't mind Amelia with Ronon, I also thought it was bad they didn't have Radek and Lorne in the final shot. Probably those actors weren't scheduled that day and they were too cheap to pay them to come in. Or, since they kept promoting that "somebody will die" in the Sci Fi promos, perhaps they wanted there to be a question in people's minds.

I'm still bummed the show is cancelled, but I'm less bummed now that we've actually HAD the five seasons. Also, this season had great moments, but enough stupidity that I'm afraid next season we might have WISHED we didn't have a season 6.

How about that final promo for SGU? Bastards.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Davis did have lots of medals on his chest. I suppose a proper Davis fan could tell us if those have increased since last we saw him. Another explanation for him still being a major is that he likes his job just as it is and refused promotions. He likes hanging out at the SGC (for reasons already mentioned. *eg*)

That was very interesting about naming ships with General. Mainly troop transports and ships of the civil war era and before. That explains why I couldn't come up with one off hand. I still kinda think it should have been named the George Hammond in keeping with modern usage. I think it's just the writers again. They should have taken a moment and asked an expert, the same way they should have paused a moment and thought to give Davis a promotion. The writers fall down on the details a lot.

I think I was projecting that SG1 was on the secret mission on the Odyssey. The next movie is suppose to have O'Neill in it, and we know Carter's in it, so it doesn't make sense that SG1 would be on the ship. Perhaps they just said it was on a mission so they wouldn't have to have it damaged beyond helping with Earth's defense. Actually, it's an improvement from the SG1 days when they would blast the ships to smithereens immediately after being commissioned.

I can appreciate your joy at seeing Carter's SG1 patch. I would have been quite annoyed if she didn't have it on. But having said that, where do you put the year she spent on Atlantis in the SG1 timeline? And when she's in charge of the General Hammond, she won't be on SG1. It's kinda odd to move her in and out of command like that.

In a way it's a bit of a slam to SGA to just not mention SG1 during this attack. It's like if SG1 was there, they would have handled it, so we won't mention them at all. How about mentioning them, thereby showing that the SGA team was the team that was needed to save the day even if SG1 was there.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

You're right. I was projecting, assuming that SG1 was the team on the super secret mission on the Odyssey. SG1 was just not there to step up to the plate.

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

I really need to finish that tag to Search and Rescue that's totally written in my head!

Atlantis S4 is between Ark and Continuum (there's even a nod to that within Search and Rescue). Carter is used as a tool by IOA so best to keep a low profile within SGC and is protected there by her allies (including Jack's) machinations. And in the meantime is back on the team (Mitchell was promoted the same time to full colonel since he's actually been time in rank longer) because she has to be *doing* stuff.

And when she's in charge of the General Hammond, she won't be on SG1. It's kinda odd to move her in and out of command like that.

Lalalalala I can't hear you! Lalalala ;-) No, just kidding. It's a bit odd, but considering SG-1 is more a special adjunct team anymore rather than a normal little unit, I let it slide about the in-and-out-of-command thing. So the General Hammond can be their little sandbox.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Thank you for explaining that it was Sam off world, not Hammond. And I was hallucinating about SG1 being mentioned. Oops!

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Yep, I was just grateful they didn't leave the fans screaming with outrage over something they thought was clever.

Keller is horrible. I haven't felt so much antipathy towards a character in ages.

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

>>>Keller is horrible. I haven't felt so much antipathy towards a character in ages.

I object to her on so many different levels I don't know where to start...! She does not belong on Atlantis; I don't even buy her as a doctor.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

From what I know of those actors? They would have probably come in on their own time to be included in the last shot.

I know having them all together out there on the balcony was supposed to be teamy, but what with the way they paired up McKeller, and Teyla and Sheppard had their arms crossed defensively, the image didn't project that much togetherness. A shame.

If Mallozzi could have been deep sixed, then Season 6 would have been worthwhile especially since they were thinking of having Daniel back again.

SGU. :::shrug::: I'm afraid all my outrage at Bridge trampling on 'my' show in their eagerness to promote their new toy was burnt out when SG1 was continually coopted for years for SGA's benefit. Bridge never appreciates what they have and honor it. It's just an annoying product they have to put out to get their money.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Her totally wrongness in being a doctor set me off immediately. She acts like a insecure first year nursing student, not a top notch doctor and CMO. I liked the actress as Kaylee in Firefly, but she can't even get the medical lines out--you can tell they've dumbed the dialogue down for her. Her whole body language projects, "hey, this has nothing to do with me!" when faced with a medical issue.

And I don't think it worked to shoe horn in a romance for McKay. Blech.

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

>>>>Her totally wrongness in being a doctor set me off immediately.

She doesn't project any kind of credibility or professionalism. I wouldn't want to see her for a hangnail.

And while I'm all about the McShep, I'm not always a OTP person and I occasionally read het. Just - blech! - not with her. Ugh.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that would work. Have her in command of the Hammond and have it transport the rest of SG1 for their mission. The important part would be that the group is together, even if O'Neill is taking a trip away from his post in DC and Carter is actually assigned to the ship.

I doubt Vala will ever show up again in the SG universe, so that leaves the team that goes out and does stuff to be Daniel, Teal'c and Mitchell. And if they go by ship then Carter, too. But no Stargate then.

So, there was AoT, then she was assigned to Atlantis. Then she was brought back and while there, when to witness Ba'al's removal, has been hanging with SG1 in the meantime, and was officer in charge while Landry was gone and dealt with events in Enemy at the Gate.

It really would have been better for her timeline if they hadn't moved her to Atlantis. Oh well.

SG1 is the unit that comes together when they are needed. That's kind of mythic, isn't it? *g*