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[merelyn]

Okay, when I first heard the idea for this episode, I was pretty horrified. It sounded like a crappy fanfic come to life. I was convinced it was going to be this awful, forced, embarassing romantic piece o' shite.

And then, later, when I found out about the Rodney/Carson make-out-ness, I was kind of excited, because hey, Rodney and Carson make out.

Then, as Season 2 commenced, I went back into dread mode, fearing that this would just be another nail in Rodney's character-assasinated coffin. The way I figured it, the ep could go either way- great or awful, or a combination of both, as only SGA can serve up.


Can I just say that I *loved* it? LOVED IT. It was like a fabulous (slashy!) fanfic come to life. Points:

*Rodney's back to normal! Rodney's back to normal! THANK GOD. *sigh of relief* So granted the entire episode was on crack (at least it's not just the SGA fans who are on something), but I felt like we were finally seeing Rodney again, and he got most of the episode to himself and yay. *huggles Rodney*

*I genuinely liked Cadman, she was cool and competent in the field and totally snarky once she got in Rodney's head ("Seen it." HAH!). She should come back. She and Rodney were just cute, and yay on them for not making it cheesy and romantic. I liked that Rodney came down off his arrogant science pedestal at the end to tell her she was important. That was a good moment.

*DH was v. good at switching back and forth between Rodney and her (the pose DH struck when she woke up after Rodney went to sleep? Priceless.) It seemed like he was having a lot of fun with it all.

*Rodney waking up naked. HAH. Also, fanon has been confirmed, yes, Rodney does drool when he sleeps. It's nice to know. Also, Rodney's bedroom, which we saw for the first time, was the greatest thing ever. He has a picture of himself looking smug with a diploma! *heart* Full of those lovely random touches SGA is great at- like the box labeled "TRANSPORTER BITS" heh. (Also, on another note, I couldn't help but compare Cadman's room, full of pictures of her family and friends, to Rodney's, which only had degrees and asshat-ish pictures of himself. *sad*)

*Rodney's date. The most awkward thing ever. Yesssss. (Seriously though, redheaded girl was cute, and definitely served her purpose in the episode, but I hope she doesn't come back much. I'm not ready yet to start mentally writing out the girlfriend in this fandom. Besides, would Rodney date a botanist? Pul-eeze.)

*Zelenka. Loved him being all jittery in the field, loved him and Rodney fighting. The part where Radek tells him to leave? Most heart-wrenching scene in the episode. Rodney's brain not working for him was just awful to watch; it was far and away a better way to show McKay out of his depth and not in control, you know, as compared to some earlier episodes this season. I also loved Radek and Rodney making up at the end. *happy geeky sigh*

*Carson- You know, from Season 1, he was never exactly my favorite. Even with the Scottish accent, I didn't warm up to him much at all. I don't know why. However, with this season, my opinion has changed. He was pretty cool in Runner last week, and this was a great episode for him. I kinda really like him now. *scuffs foot* Also, anyone else feeling the Zelenka/Beckett from the opening? They're a recent ship to me that occupies a tiny little place in my heart.

*Ronon. I heart him, I must say. He kicks ass. He has great hair. What's not to like? The whole Ronon/Shep/Teyla triangle is interesting. Ronon and Teyla sparring: v. hot. (My prediction is that Ronon and Teyla are *so* gonna get it on, Shep's going to be jealous, but won't really acknowledge it or say anything and then...who the hell knows where it will go. Sort of looking forward to it, actually.)

Although I was amused by the Ronon/Shep interactions (is it just me, or was the dining hall scene totally like Beauty and the Beast?), I'm getting vibes that their relationship is going to overshadow the Sheppard/McKay stuff, of which there has been SO LITTLE this season. Boo. (At least they paid lip service to the fact that John shot down the dart Rodney was beamed into. I felt like that was a hard decision for John to make- though not as hard as my slashy heart would have thought. That bit was the only part that felt a little off to me. Still, of course John feels responsible, and of course Rodney doesn't really care.)

*Lastly: Rodney and Carson making out! Wooo! Wooo! I thought after the date when it didn't happen that they had chickened out, but then right at the end they DID IT! I'm gonna go watch it again. (I *so* wish I was a McKay/Beckett shipper right now.)

This was a really fun episode, fluffy and silly. SGA has generally been darker than this. But hey, no glaring character inconsistencies = happy Mere. I feel better about this show now. :)

Comments

[morena-donn.livejournal.com]

What you said! Too many points of agreement to point them all out, so I'm just going to add my own little mini-essay.

Huge sigh of relief. When I first heard about this episode, between seasons, I was very excited - *boykissing!* and shades of Tanya Huffs excellent Quarters series.

My unease began with the behind the scenes show. I took one look at Rodney's expression when he touched Carson's face and thought oh, god, they're going to play it for laughs and it's going to be horrid And then the season started, and Rodney was so off, and unease turned to dread. (The kids were pretty excited though. Not quite sure what to make of that.)

And then the show started. And, other than Sheppard and McKay being separated, again, it was what I fell in love with last season. "Yes, with a woman!" - loads of slashy potential in that comment alone. I would have been happier if Sheppard had looked distraught, rather than determined, when he shot them down, but he made up for it later. Loved the "you're still up?" scene: shades of "Sanctuary" and who's jealous now?

And the date was lovely and believable, if uncomfortable for all. Poor sweet, confused Carson. I really liked Katie Brown, and I sincerely hope I never see her again!

DH was brilliant! I knew he was good, but this was beyond good. It could so easily have been overplayed and have been campy and condescending and stereotypical and just plain awful, but it wasn't, it was perfect: funny and touching and above all believable. I only got lost once. Even after two viewings (which is all I get because the VCR broke *sob*) I'm not sure if he slapped Cadman or if she slapped him.

The kiss itself. Too short, but lovely. And their reactions? This is where it could have gone from bad to worse, and it didn't. Ideally, of course it would have gone something like this:

Carson, looking stunned and touching his lips. "Rodney? Was that you?"

Rodney, looking equally pole-axed "No, but this is"

Followed by another, longer kiss.

But what we got wasn't bad. They didn't look disgusted! I was so scared they were going to play up the "ew, yucky gay kiss" angle. But they didn't. They looked startled, and a little embarrassed and a little worried, as if wondering what this was going to do to their friendship, but things were back to normal in their next scene, so no problem there.

Sheppard looked a little...disturbed, but only a little (It was a much milder version of the truly disgusted "is he supposed to be all naked?" look from Intruder). And let's face it: JF looks *good* with that face. And, in my slashy little world, Sheppard wasn't upset that Rodney was kissing another *man* : he was upset because he was kissing *another* man.

(In fact, I woke up at 4 am and wrote a little scene where he admits as much. I'm trying to turn it into a full story, but it's resisting.)

Hmm, this is not quite as mini as I'd intended. Sorry about that. I wonder if I'll have to post it in two parts?

[merelyn.livejournal.com]

Oh, I forgot the "Yes with a woman!" line. Also great. I love my Gayer-Than-It-Looks show.

I really liked Katie Brown, and I sincerely hope I never see her again!

Word. She seems waaaay to sweet and nice for Rodney. I don't think, from what we saw of her, that she would be able to take belligerent, arrogant, asshole!Rodney at his finest. You know he'd trample right over her in any fights they'd have. The people closest to Rodney, the ones he cares about, are mostly the people who can stand up to him, like Elizabeth, John, and, as we saw in this ep, Radek. By the end of it, Cadman qualified too.

I only got lost once. Even after two viewings (which is all I get because the VCR broke *sob*) I'm not sure if he slapped Cadman or if she slapped him.

Me too! That was the one scene where it was confusing. I've re-watched it a bunch, and it still doesn't make sense. I'm inclined to believe that she slapped him, though, on just a character basis.

Carson, looking stunned and touching his lips. "Rodney? Was that you?"

Rodney, looking equally pole-axed "No, but this is"

Followed by another, longer kiss.

Heheh. *hearts you*

You're right about Sheppard's reaction to it. I definitely got shades of "WTF Ew!" from him when I first watched it, but then Shep is all concerned about Rodney dying, and what he does is narrow his eyes in this kind of death glare way. Soo jealous. *g*

So yes, very relieved by this episode. Now if only they would put back the John/Rodney interaction, all would be well.

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

Shep only got that look after Elizabeth looked at him. That was total posturing. Shep is still the gayest. *firm in belief*

[merelyn.livejournal.com]

Yes. Yes he is. As is clearly evidenced by this screencap of him from the episode:

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

Muhahaha. Yes, the gay leaning, even gayer than that hands on hips pose. Why does he turn into Ultra-gay man around Ronan? Is it the alpha thing?

Actually, it probably is, it seems to be the reason he likes Rodney. *ponders*

[morena-donn.livejournal.com]

Here's my theory: John sometimes feels crushed by the burden of his responsibilities, so he likes to hang out with men who are stronger than him. That way, there's at least the possibility of sharing the load. The only problem is, in order to share the load, he has to learn to relinquish control...

[merelyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I have a feeling it'll be nice for John to have someone else who can be depended on to kick some ass when the team gets into trouble. (Not to say that Teyla and Ford aren't/weren't perfectly competent.) Of course, Ronon doesn't have the stealthy, sneaky, craftyness of the Shep. He seems to favor the sledge hammer approach to armed conflict. :)

[morena-donn.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah. Rodney's genius, Sheppard's craftiness, and Ronon's strength - they'll be unstoppable. Especially since Teyla isn't exactly chopped liver!

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

By being tied up and used like a rag doll?

I am so behind that theory you would not believe it.

Even in a non-slashy way.

[morena-donn.livejournal.com]

By being tied up and used like a rag doll? Ooh, I want to see that fic. Write me that fic?

And you don't have to be a slasher to see the chemistry between John and Rodney, and figure out the reason behind it - it just makes it more fun.

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

Ah...I can put it on my list? Though there is a clear risk of me melting my own brain with images.

Actually! Yes, I can write that for you, no problem.

*already ded*

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

Also, is this Rodney and Ronan trading off? Because I'm fine with that if you are....

[morena-donn.livejournal.com]

Yay! You'd do that for me? *hugs*

Also, write it however you want. I'm easy. (Maybe not the smartest thing to say when discussing Porn?)

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

I would! Yes, for you. *shifty eyed*

Bwhaha! No, no, the smartest thing to say when talking about porn. People more likely to give you stuff if you offer to put out....

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

Okay, I wrote a small part to see what you thought here:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/princess_bunny/248981.html

Let me know?

[morena-donn.livejournal.com]

Ooh, nice cap. I gotta admit, watching the episode, I thought he was leaning because Ronon had beaten the crap out of him and it was the only way he could stay on his feet.

But, looking at this...well I see you're point.

[morena-donn.livejournal.com]

That wasn't posturing, that was jealousy. Check out the screencap here

(You'll have to scroll through a few pics of the kiss itself. Such a chore *g*) (http://www.livejournal.com/community/beckett_mckay/69555.html)

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

Such a chore! I weep from it!

*hugs you a bunch*

And ooh, it totally looks like jealousy.

[morena-donn.livejournal.com]

She seems waaaay to sweet and nice for Rodney

Oh, I agree, I think she'd be better off with Radek, or Carson. Someone more...sensitive than Rodney. (Not to mention someone who doesn't belong to John!)

Now if only they would put back the John/Rodney interaction, all would be well.

Here's hoping! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they hit the low point with The Episode That Shall Not Be Named (2x3) and it's all looking up from there.

Also: Squee! You used the penguin icon! *hearts you back* You know, the really funny thing here is, my dad wrote a book about penguins, so there are penguins all over my folk's house. And every time I see them, I think of John and Rodney.

[merelyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, SGA has totally turned me into a pervy penguin fancier. :) So much so, that, as you can see, I made an icon for it, because a girl really needs two penquin icons. *shakes head at self*

[morena-donn.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's cute. And there's no such thing as too many penguin icons *g*