StargateLand
Mar. 11th, 2005 09:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tenayaAnother decent episode out of Atlantis. Teyla used to good advantage, for the most part. I'm glad to see the whiney whistleblower is still around, too. I do like seeing Rodney and Zelenka together, and enjoyed them betting on things. They were both wearing blue shirts, which made me go to that Trek area of the brain where all science personnel wear blue. Of course, Weir was wearing her usual red top...which gave me a nice moment as I remembered what happened to the redshirts. *eg*
SG-1: The good, the bad and the ugly: It was good to see them delving into the whole ascension thing and finally answering some questions. Of course, I'd be happier if I thought that the writers were all working from a show bible about what 'the facts' are; instead, there are a lot of contradictions. Good thing I'm not one of those fans that likes to point out all that stuff, eh, or I'd be here all night. I liked that the Daniel's diner was the same one that they use in Dead Like Me (if it's not, then it's a little eerie.) A diner for those caught between life and death/other. I liked that Daniel was still trying to reason and convince even though his audience was all powerful and indifferent. I liked that he figured out that guy was Anubis. I liked how familiar Anubis was to Daniel, slapping his knee, courting a relationship, making the guy beg for more infomation. That made him *really* creepy. And of course, Daniel's decension was pure gold. Veery happy smile here as I consider all the angles. The flag pole action was obviously a displacement activity. *eg* Somebody is going to get a wonderful welcome home pressie later that night! I think Daniel must of have chosen to ascend, then to take human form. He chose Jack's office for his reappearence, and he had to have stopped the self-destruct. Why he chose nekkid (too subtle, Jack?) and why he doesn't remember helping out isn't really explained.
Small digression here as I complain about the writers. Daniel helps them defeat the replicators, but he'll never get credit for it. Daniel helps to get rid of Anubis and stop the self-destruct, but will never get credit for it. Sam's emotions allowed for the Replicarter to get inside info to get immune to Jack's cool replicator gun, but is told repeatedly that "it's not her fault." Sam treats Pete like shit and gets a quick absolution from him and told there is none better than her. Pete's eyes have unshed tears in them, but Carter is actually critical of his reaction to being dump, like it was lacking. What? She wanted more condemnation? More hysterics? What the heck did she want from the guy? That was just ugly, ugly, ugly. I really, really dislike that the writers are telling us we need to interpret Carter's actions in a certain way. They are writing her in an increasingly destructive way, but we are told through various characters that she is still wonderful. I ain't buying it.
And Jack had a hot CIA babe who was emotionally mature, someone who they both agreed that they were good together. And Jack lets her go. Hello! Fannon tends to paint Daniel as the one that is romantically passive as he waits for others to make a move. I'm thinking it's canon that this is actually Jack. Jack lets her walk out and still can't give Carter an inkling. Of course, in my mind his issues are he's waiting for Daniel to come back (and bless him for being in such denial about him being gone. *smooch*) Jack had moved on; forcing Jack to regress to the status quo of the last 4 years was tiresome in the extreme for the viewer and unbelievable for Jack and just plain bad. Interesting that the hot babe was advising him to retire (who does she work for again? I'm thinking that's very bad advice!) Interesting that Jacob was advising Sam to quit the military which actually makes better sense. Carter can be a civilian advisor like Daniel. Functionally, how much difference would there be? She wouldn't have people saluting her, and of course, she wouldn't be able to shelve her morality due to the chain of command....
I take it Oma is forever in locked in battle with Anubis, thus preventing him from causing unmeasurable mayhem? She should have done this before, but I think it was Daniel's speech/pleading that got her up off her butt. I wonder if two ascensions is enough of a dry run for Daniel and that he now knows how to do it on his own? The writers kill him off so much that the boy needs an Oma ace in the hole to get him back.
I love Teal'c but I have to say that I would agree with Bra'tac. Teal'c needs to move on to being a Jaffa leader/statesman. They need his wisdom, and he needs to get out of that damn mountain. I wouldn't think that he'd even need to think about it--unless he has a deep emotional attachment to someone back at the base (it's got to be Daniel. Jack doesn't go off world anymore so Teal'c's the only one left to watch after Daniel.)
Sam. She looked pretty bad with how she treated Pete, but she looked even worse when she went to Jack's house unannounced. There was Jack's date looking sleek and sophisticated and sexy...and I swear Sam looked like a teenager from the 50's when she fled. That sweater, that skirt! What a horrific comparison for the director/costuming folks to draw attention to. Sam is not a woman; she's a confused teenager. And it didn't help that the A plot was all about Sammie's luv life, while the B plot was about dead Daniel and how he's willing to give up an enlightened everafter to save the galaxy. Why the writers insist on pairing up the storylines like this insane if they want us to respect Sam. "Go pick flowers." Jeeze louise!
Another digression is a niggling plot bunny. I've read a few of those 'Sam is a bunny boiler' stories but felt they were unfair and had no foundation, but this season, I'm slowly changing my mind. The first moment I saw was when they were in Jack's office. Daniel is woking on a notepad as he sits across from Jack's desk. Sam comes into tell Jack something, but before she leaves, she gives Daniel a suspicious glance (Thor beams up Jack later in the ep so she was jealous of the wrong person. *g*) A couple of times now (Icon, Threads) Sam was kinda pressuring Jack to give up on Daniel and he wasn't having it on either occasion. Sam was really pushing that Daniel had been on a replicator ship and therefore must be dead (as he was.) The creepy part comes into play in that she has said a few times she knows what Replicarter would do because it was what she'd do. Unfortunately, it follows in my mind that she knew Daniel was dead because that was what she'd do (without any inhibitions.) She didn't look too pleased that Daniel was back. He was only without a shirt, really, so she didn't really need to look away. A more sisterly reaction might have been to laugh with joy that he's back and somewhat embarassed. I can't stop thinking that along with her cruel treatment of Pete, her stalking of Jack, that she could be a danger to Daniel.
And I used to really like Sam, too. What a difference a few years make.
SG-1: The good, the bad and the ugly: It was good to see them delving into the whole ascension thing and finally answering some questions. Of course, I'd be happier if I thought that the writers were all working from a show bible about what 'the facts' are; instead, there are a lot of contradictions. Good thing I'm not one of those fans that likes to point out all that stuff, eh, or I'd be here all night. I liked that the Daniel's diner was the same one that they use in Dead Like Me (if it's not, then it's a little eerie.) A diner for those caught between life and death/other. I liked that Daniel was still trying to reason and convince even though his audience was all powerful and indifferent. I liked that he figured out that guy was Anubis. I liked how familiar Anubis was to Daniel, slapping his knee, courting a relationship, making the guy beg for more infomation. That made him *really* creepy. And of course, Daniel's decension was pure gold. Veery happy smile here as I consider all the angles. The flag pole action was obviously a displacement activity. *eg* Somebody is going to get a wonderful welcome home pressie later that night! I think Daniel must of have chosen to ascend, then to take human form. He chose Jack's office for his reappearence, and he had to have stopped the self-destruct. Why he chose nekkid (too subtle, Jack?) and why he doesn't remember helping out isn't really explained.
Small digression here as I complain about the writers. Daniel helps them defeat the replicators, but he'll never get credit for it. Daniel helps to get rid of Anubis and stop the self-destruct, but will never get credit for it. Sam's emotions allowed for the Replicarter to get inside info to get immune to Jack's cool replicator gun, but is told repeatedly that "it's not her fault." Sam treats Pete like shit and gets a quick absolution from him and told there is none better than her. Pete's eyes have unshed tears in them, but Carter is actually critical of his reaction to being dump, like it was lacking. What? She wanted more condemnation? More hysterics? What the heck did she want from the guy? That was just ugly, ugly, ugly. I really, really dislike that the writers are telling us we need to interpret Carter's actions in a certain way. They are writing her in an increasingly destructive way, but we are told through various characters that she is still wonderful. I ain't buying it.
And Jack had a hot CIA babe who was emotionally mature, someone who they both agreed that they were good together. And Jack lets her go. Hello! Fannon tends to paint Daniel as the one that is romantically passive as he waits for others to make a move. I'm thinking it's canon that this is actually Jack. Jack lets her walk out and still can't give Carter an inkling. Of course, in my mind his issues are he's waiting for Daniel to come back (and bless him for being in such denial about him being gone. *smooch*) Jack had moved on; forcing Jack to regress to the status quo of the last 4 years was tiresome in the extreme for the viewer and unbelievable for Jack and just plain bad. Interesting that the hot babe was advising him to retire (who does she work for again? I'm thinking that's very bad advice!) Interesting that Jacob was advising Sam to quit the military which actually makes better sense. Carter can be a civilian advisor like Daniel. Functionally, how much difference would there be? She wouldn't have people saluting her, and of course, she wouldn't be able to shelve her morality due to the chain of command....
I take it Oma is forever in locked in battle with Anubis, thus preventing him from causing unmeasurable mayhem? She should have done this before, but I think it was Daniel's speech/pleading that got her up off her butt. I wonder if two ascensions is enough of a dry run for Daniel and that he now knows how to do it on his own? The writers kill him off so much that the boy needs an Oma ace in the hole to get him back.
I love Teal'c but I have to say that I would agree with Bra'tac. Teal'c needs to move on to being a Jaffa leader/statesman. They need his wisdom, and he needs to get out of that damn mountain. I wouldn't think that he'd even need to think about it--unless he has a deep emotional attachment to someone back at the base (it's got to be Daniel. Jack doesn't go off world anymore so Teal'c's the only one left to watch after Daniel.)
Sam. She looked pretty bad with how she treated Pete, but she looked even worse when she went to Jack's house unannounced. There was Jack's date looking sleek and sophisticated and sexy...and I swear Sam looked like a teenager from the 50's when she fled. That sweater, that skirt! What a horrific comparison for the director/costuming folks to draw attention to. Sam is not a woman; she's a confused teenager. And it didn't help that the A plot was all about Sammie's luv life, while the B plot was about dead Daniel and how he's willing to give up an enlightened everafter to save the galaxy. Why the writers insist on pairing up the storylines like this insane if they want us to respect Sam. "Go pick flowers." Jeeze louise!
Another digression is a niggling plot bunny. I've read a few of those 'Sam is a bunny boiler' stories but felt they were unfair and had no foundation, but this season, I'm slowly changing my mind. The first moment I saw was when they were in Jack's office. Daniel is woking on a notepad as he sits across from Jack's desk. Sam comes into tell Jack something, but before she leaves, she gives Daniel a suspicious glance (Thor beams up Jack later in the ep so she was jealous of the wrong person. *g*) A couple of times now (Icon, Threads) Sam was kinda pressuring Jack to give up on Daniel and he wasn't having it on either occasion. Sam was really pushing that Daniel had been on a replicator ship and therefore must be dead (as he was.) The creepy part comes into play in that she has said a few times she knows what Replicarter would do because it was what she'd do. Unfortunately, it follows in my mind that she knew Daniel was dead because that was what she'd do (without any inhibitions.) She didn't look too pleased that Daniel was back. He was only without a shirt, really, so she didn't really need to look away. A more sisterly reaction might have been to laugh with joy that he's back and somewhat embarassed. I can't stop thinking that along with her cruel treatment of Pete, her stalking of Jack, that she could be a danger to Daniel.
And I used to really like Sam, too. What a difference a few years make.
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-12 07:09 am (UTC)I like your appraisal of Threads and I pretty much agree with it. My husband watched it with me and his reaction was to applaud Pete for walking away and taking the sold sign off, wondering what the writers are smoking if they think that Jack is even midly interested in Sam actually what he said was that what he saw was a Jack that's worried and a bit afraid of Sam like she could be dangerous to him. He also noticed the flagpole stroking and had me rewind it when I didn't see it (Love Hubby!) and his comment to that scene was "interesting!".
(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-14 01:19 pm (UTC)Hubby is a marvel and just the bestest ever. Bless his heart for pointing out the missed bits to you. *g*
I also think he's right about Jack being worried/afraid of Sam. It's nice to hear from an adult male perspective on this (since the writers are about 14 emotionally.)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-12 04:04 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-14 01:24 pm (UTC)It's sad that the writers love Sam the best and as a result, have totally destroyed an otherwise wonderful character.
I think the fact that we rarely get stories to do with all 4 characters anymore has done a lot of destroy that feeling of team, and that probably is one of the roots to fans retreating to their own separate characterfanlands.
Teal'c's righteous crusade is rather scary, and strangely, I find that part interesting. I like those glimpses of Scary Teal'c. But I love him protecting Daniel so much more. :-)
I took another look at Jack in Threads and have upped my opinion of him, re the last entry on my lj.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-18 06:44 am (UTC)I'm fine by that though, because if Daniel can bet RepliCarter, he can take down this one. The only issue will be him realizing she is a threat.
I thought her being embarassed at the end was just another example of how kind of prudish she is, and why I couldn't believe she was sleeping with Pete after kind of just meeting. She seems so uptight. But I can see your idea as well.
I used to have a massive crush on Sam, now I just see Lana Lang when I look at her.
I think part of Teal'c staying is his devotion to Daniel, but I think some of it is for what is coming next with Sg-1. I can see Teal'c wanting to get some back for all the crap his people have been through. Sorry, I left that vague in case you aren't spoiled.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-19 11:07 pm (UTC)I had the impression that she and Pete knew each other before we saw them in the coffee shop. If that was their first meeting, that would be too unbelievable. Sam is never that spontaneous.
You are too right about the Lana Lane comparison. Both have come to depend on a few pat expressions. I suppose one could wonder if the directors are so enraptured by the actresses that they think these expressions are wonderful and keep directing them to do that, but is that realistic?
I'm curious about your Teal'c comments. I've not yet seen the last episode, but I don't mind spoilers. I haven't sought them out, but I don't mind hearing them. What do you mean about "Teal'c wanting to get some back for all the crap his people have been through."
Thanks for your comments.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-20 05:48 am (UTC)Oh, that would make more sense then, maybe it just seemed rushed to me because he said something about it being a set-up thing didn't he? I suppose I need to rewatch a couple of eppys.
That is exactly what is happening with Lana. Those guys have been insane about her since day one. I'm going to say the same with AT as well as it appears AT can act.
Well, next season they are supposed to be going after the Ancients. Which is what I figured, it seemed like the next logical step for Daniel. The way I see it, a large amount of the fault for Anubis was the Ancients. They let all these people suffer just to teach Oma a lesson.
So I can see that Teal'c might want to help Daniel destroy them in order to rectify some of the damage they have let loose/ignored/etc.. over the years. Teal'c manta so far has been dead false gods but if the "real" gods are just as bad? Why not get rid of them as well? I could incorrect through in what I read as Teal'c motivations.
He may simply be staying with Daniel. Which I would understand and completely support. It's unclear to me how much Teal'c still feels he owes Daniel, but I still think Daniel could pretty much tell him to jump off a cliff and he might do it.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-21 12:09 pm (UTC)It does sound like they are going to deal with the Ancients. The trouble is, they've introduced them as beings that can destroy life on a planet with great ease. That type of power would be hard to fight against. And unfortunately, the writers invariably weaken the villians to the point where there is no threat to our heroes when they conflict. Michael Shanks seems excited about the new season so perhaps it will be better than I fear.
I hadn't thought about Teal'c having issues with the Ancients, but you're right. He has more right than the others at being annoyed at their actions.
Totally agree with you about Teal'c and his feelings for Daniel. I think he feels he can never repay Daniel for his actions and will be forever in debt to him. Plus the fact that he adores Daniel. He respects and cares for Jack and Sam, but he respects, worships and adores Daniel. *g*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-22 05:23 am (UTC)Oh yeah, I really wish they would leave Daniel with all his ancient knowledge intact and kind of admit, yeah when we said that humans aren't advanced enough? We didn't mean Daniel, because seriously, he might be. Jack, yes, not so much.
I'm trying to trust Shanks' instincts about Daniel and where he wants him to go. Well I just see that as Teal'c motivations because I hold grudges. For years. And he's going to be 108?
I love Teal'c's love for Daniel. I shipped them first. Damn you Jack. *sobs* Yes, total worship of Daniel. And the staring at naked Daniel in the flag. He'd crawl over glass for that.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-24 09:03 pm (UTC)Actually the first SG story I started (which is big and still sitting on my hard drive) was a Teal'c and Daniel story, because to me as a new viewer, that was the most compelling relationship. I still intend to finish it. Like you, I was distracted by the pretty that is J/D.
"crawl over glass" LOL!!! You are so right. It takes one's breath away to think what he's like to do at that moment. *g*
As for the Ancients story line, Daniel appears to be worthy of being ascended. Oma mentioned that there are many levels between life as we know it and the Ascended plain. They appear to not care less about us, and the havoc they wrought was really just about teaching Oma a lesson. We are very insignificant. Why we'd want to go after them and mess with god knows what is worthy of concern, I think. What happens if they do start taking down the Ancients? Are they destroying beings that have earned the right to be immortal, destroying their souls? I hope the writers have thought this out.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-25 05:20 am (UTC)Really? Yes, please finish it. *bats eyelashes* Yeah, I started watching and was all oh, Teal'c/Daniel blah blah and my fandom pimp, who MADE me watch the show was like, no, J/D. And I keep watching because I am a frelling idiot and yes, Jack and Daniel pretty much can't be denied.
*coughs* Shanks looked good. I had some thoughts and I don't swing that way.
See, that I'm not sure about, I think he got OMA's attention because she felt he was worthy of her help. [and like everyone else in the universe has a crush on Daniel. He was going to ascend Jack and she took all of Abydos, etc..] I get that they exist on a level where we are small and not important, and that as "god-like" figures time for them is completely different.
It's a matter of how does god see. I guess for me, the main reason I was always a non-believer, even when I was little and in Catholic school was I disagreed with that. If we are little and insignifigant and nothing I do matters to god, then why should be matter to me? I feel the same way here. I think that is how Daniel feels as well.
Whether we are talking about grand beings or people here, certain things should be wrong. To let lose a being like Anubis on the universe simply because Oma made a mistake is wrong. I can see that they would not see it that way, but from all points, I feel it is.
I think it was phrased that they were only going after certain ancients. Of course, the writers have not thought this out. That will almost never happen. Shanks got the coolest story line by default. As for beings that deserve to be immortal, I don't know. I don't think that is how they became immortal.
They showed on Atlantis that they had been experimenting with energy creatures to see how they worked. Not to mention, if we are so unimportant, why did they make us? And obviously, they were still messing with us just a few thousand years ago? We're like a science project where they all went, oh fuck it.
Plus, that energy weapon where they could destroy all life? Makes me think at least a few Ancients went, hey, in case we fuck up here, perhaps we should have a back-up plan. Or they wanted to take everyone with them. Granted, those could be the ones who didn't ascend. I'm probably giving this too much thought. Not to mention, all of my bitterness over religion is showing up.
And this is now the longest reply in history. Heh.