*Snicker* I get that alllll the time. XD Really, though, the surname “Moondaughter” is one word, not a middle name an a surname, so simply WM works.

“Do you think she would have stalled him in this *particular* instance, though?”

Not by then end of their relationship, no, but during the first half of season one (which this is for Woolsey) Weir and Sheppard were constantly adjusting their hierarchical relationship and boundaries. Woolsey doesn’t have a day-to-day rapport with the established personnel yet, and he doesn’t engender the automatic deference afforded to the military leaders in their respective command positions (i.e. Carter, Caldwell, and Emerson). He’s trying to assert his new authority, and I can’t really fault him for that.

Point condeded.

“I have a feeling Who is going to shatter my heart before Atlantis starts”

Oh, I KNOW! I’ve been trying to avoid spoilers, but it’s gotten nigh on impossible to be involved in the fandom and not hear things. I suppose it’s only fair. Fans in other countries have had to deal with the U.S. airing things months or years before foreign distribution all along, so having to wait a month for Doctor Who isn’t really so drastic as all that. Still, what little I do know already is making me very anxious.

Heh, I remember when we had to wait a year for Who eps, when I was a kid, so yeah, I can’t complain about he month-long risk of spoilers. XD Of course, there also was no internet back then, so without British penpals, there wasn’t a high risk of spoilers over the longer wait ….

Thankfully my heart wasn’t quite as broken as I feared, but while I’m pretty pleased with the fairly happy end-result for Rose & the Doctor, I prefer *my* version of events, as I fic’ced them a while back. Not to mention I find it depressing that she’ll never see Jack or Mickey again. I really didn’t see a need plot-wise to force them to go back to the other dimension, rather than just bringing the baby and her father bak to this reality, just because the Doctor didn’t want his other self around — oh, so force the guy on the other reality?? …

Oh dear, I just got woefully off-topic on my own article. Sorry, folks! XD

Not by then end of their relationship, no, but during the first half of season one (which this is for Woolsey) Weir and Sheppard were constantly adjusting their hierarchical relationship and boundaries. Woolsey doesn’t have a day-to-day rapport with the established personnel yet, and he doesn’t engender the automatic deference afforded to the military leaders in their respective command positions (i.e. Carter, Caldwell, and Emerson). He’s trying to assert his new authority, and I can’t really fault him for that.

“…he wasn’t the one who came up with the planet…”

Fair point. Admittedly, I’ve only watched the episode once, so I didn’t connect that particular detail.

“I have a feeling Who is gling to shatter my heart before Ataltis starts”

Oh, I KNOW! I’ve been trying to avoid spoilers, but it’s gotten nigh on impossible to be involved in the fandom and not hear things. I suppose it’s only fair. Fans in other countries have had to deal with the U.S. airing things months or years before foreign distribution all along, so having to wait a month for Doctor Who isn’t really so drastic as all that. Still, what little I do know already is making me very anxious.

The only thing that bothered me was Lorne being back on active duty already. There must’ve been quite a time jump between ‘The Seed’ and ‘Broken Ties’. Either that, or his broken leg from ‘Search and Rescue’ wasn’t as broken as we were led to believe. As far as I know, it would’ve taken 6-8 weeks in a cast and then several weeks of physical therapy to be in good enough shape for active duty. Maybe the ATA gene allows him to heal faster?

Ooh, hadn’t even registetred that — good catch! Maybe they now have an Ancient bone-knitter. Or s0mething form the Asgaard.

“Chastened (but also a little annoyed, I think, seeing as it never would have been an issue with Weir or Sam)…”

I would’ve, actually. Weir often made a point of reining Sheppard in when he tried to go haring of without permission, and he instinctively asked Carter because she was Air Force and outranked him. (Granted, Carter often anticipated his plan, so her giving the okay was sometimes just her saying, “Yeah, go” before he actually explained it. Which allowed for some nice storytelling without a lot of exposition.)

Do you think she would have stalled him in this *particular* instance, though? In other circumstances maybe, but I think, by the end of their time together, the fact that she would give the mission a go would have been a given, and he would have known that. At least, it seemed to me like it happened that way often enough after the first season …

“Rodney McKay admitting he — well, they, but still — can be wrong?”

David Hewlett often makes a point of using “we” rather than “I” when admitting mistakes, because of McKay’s need to deflect the blame. (It was pointed out in one of the season four commentaries.) Similarly, he often excludes others (mostly Zelenka) when reporting success. He’s getting better about it, though.

True, bvut in that particular instance, he wasn’t the one who came up with the planet — it was John who decided to use Solen, and Lorne who had informed them of the intel — so his saying “We” actually had him accepting blame where he wasn’t actually at fault! (And only *potential* blame, no less!) *That* was what had amazed me …

Less than a day wait left! I have a feeling Who is gling to shatter my heart before Ataltis starts — I hope I’m not too reeling/distracted …

The only thing that bothered me was Lorne being back on active duty already. There must’ve been quite a time jump between ‘The Seed’ and ‘Broken Ties’. Either that, or his broken leg from ‘Search and Rescue’ wasn’t as broken as we were led to believe. As far as I know, it would’ve taken 6-8 weeks in a cast and then several weeks of physical therapy to be in good enough shape for active duty. Maybe the ATA gene allows him to heal faster?

“Chastened (but also a little annoyed, I think, seeing as it never would have been an issue with Weir or Sam)…”

I would’ve, actually. Weir often made a point of reining Sheppard in when he tried to go haring of without permission, and he instinctively asked Carter because she was Air Force and outranked him. (Granted, Carter often anticipated his plan, so her giving the okay was sometimes just her saying, “Yeah, go” before he actually explained it. Which allowed for some nice storytelling without a lot of exposition.)

“is Ronon like a collector’s item?”

Among the Wraith leadership, absolutely. He’s the Runner who eluded them for seven years. That pesky Dex guy is just as much of a prize to his enemies as the members of SG-1 were/are to the Goa’uld and Ori.

“Rodney McKay admitting he — well, they, but still — can be wrong?”

David Hewlett often makes a point of using “we” rather than “I” when admitting mistakes, because of McKay’s need to deflect the blame. (It was pointed out in one of the season four commentaries.) Similarly, he often excludes others (mostly Zelenka) when reporting success. He’s getting better about it, though.

“…Tyre grabs Teyla and holds her at knife-point. (Hmm. Rodney seemed like the more logical choice for damsel in distress…”

The last two times Tyre and Ronon chanced upon each other, Ronon was with Teyla, so she made the most useful hostage for that situation. Also, Mark Decascos is kinda short, so putting David Hewlett in a choke hold might’ve been trickier.

“Sheppard, in the foreground, takes a sip of his coffee and makes funny faces into the cup.”

I noticed that right away. Partly because it’s somewhat reminiscent of O’Neill’s briefing room coffee antics (or “business” as those in the industry refer to unscripted background acting), and partly because my brain immediately started hoping that he might someday bond with a certain visiting archaeologist over the sad state of military caffeination.

This was a fantastic, emotional episode. It really let the cast show their range and let the characters grow. I’m pretty excited about next week’s episode, though. Bring on the pseudoscience and technobabble!

True true – and you’re right about John not needing to yell as much any more at Rodney to get him do do something.

BUT I think you need to consider that maybe in the past Rodney DID need to be yelled at to get him to even listen – he was much more stubborn and obnoxious in the first few season and would talk right over anyone who disagreed with him until they snap at him loud enough to get him to listen.

It’s not just John that’s matured.

I have this idea that the team and the rest of Atlantis celebrate Ronon’s birthday at a date they fixed, like the day he first arrived on Atlantis or something like this. Because I do agree that it would be nearly impossible to keep count otherwise.

*nods* That’s probablly it. Or else the scientists were able to sus out what the current date is on Sateda thanks to records of Atrological events on the planet, cross-referenced with current planetary positions …

I think Teyla is searching for confirmation, and what Woolsey does is the perfect thing. He doesn’t influence her in any way, just offer full support whatever she decides, which is what people should do instead of offering their point of view a lot of the time .

Aye, I was really impressed with him for that!

Seeing as Rodney has had a tray full of fruit multiple times in the past (Tao of Rodney amongst others), I thought we were supposed to understand that he’s got no appetite because he’s so worried, hence the no sleeping thing too.

Doh! I feel stupid for not considering that; I’m sure you’re right!

I was completely cracked up in front of my screen for this scene, and when I read Joe Malozzi’s blog I actually snorted my tea through my nose, so hard I was laughing !!! For years we’ve been living on clues and things left unsaid, but now they’re just giving it to us for free !!!! I’m so happy that the writers finally see slash as a ship as normal as any other het pairing. (I’m still squeeing inside, I can’t help it !!! ).

You and me both!! I think Xena and Gabrielle, and now Jack Harkness on Torchwood, have really set a precedent for characters with non-raditional relationships. Of course, there was that lovely bit in “200″ with Daniel and Jack waiting at the altar, and Daniel quipping tyaht people were going to get the wrong idea if Sam didn’t show up, too … And I can’t fathom how anyone can watch the scene where Rodney says he wants to feed himself to Todd in “Miller’s Crossing”, with John’s reaction there, or even just watch them interact in “Adrift”, and not see something deeper than regular old friendship between them ….

Yep, all agreeing with you on the whole Kanaan Scene. I’m happy they gave Teyla a happy ending.
And just like with the slash entering the norm, I love that a stay-at-home-dad is also considered normal .

Hear, hear!

“Is Ronon’s faux pas a sign that Ronon is faking it? Or just that he hasn’t been completely turned? Could he fake it?”

See I think this is a scenaristic mistake, why have Ronon say that if they have no plan on acting on it ? I t makes no sense. It’s like they’re giving us a clue that Ronon hasn’t been fully turned and yet he has… What’s the point ?

I hate to think it, but you’re probably right. Well, I guess we call allow a fe flaws in such a great ep.

See to me this is perfect. It feels like the torch for socially awkward has passed from Rodney to Woolsey. And after all this time it would (finally !) be normal. Rodney is at home on Atlantis, he’s surrounded by friends and family, people who have learned to like him the way he is, why should he be the one to keep reacting awkwardly ? Now Woolsey is the new guy, the outsider, the one that needs to make a place for himself in the established group, and that’s where socially awkward becomes believable again to me.

I hope so! I mean, not that IO don;t still want awkward moments now and ten for Rodney, but I would like to see him have more “sweet”, sincere moments. He’s had plenty of opportunity to be the butt of jokes — it’s always nice to see other avenues of his character explored, and watch him grow as a person!

I think it’s only Ronon and Rodney. The 3 of them have taken to call each others that. I love it. Not even taking in account my slash goggles, I love that those guys are giving each other a nickname that is so telling. For me this “buddy” is like : I love you, you’re part of my family, are you alright… It’s one word but it means so much more than that.

*Nods emphatically*

Strangely it didn’t even cross my mind that this was not a fake turn-around. I felt it was really obvious that he had to do something or risk being put in a cell with all the others. And it seems that the Wraiths are not really aware that you can recover from being an addict, so in their misguided superiority feeling, they just would not see it coming. But well, maybe I’m a bit too used to all the betrayal and deceptions we see everywhere .

No, like I said, I felt stupid for not having realised it myself — I *should* have, I think.

The whole cell time was a perfect exercise one how to write John and Rodney interacting (to be honest I was happily surprised that Mr. Malozzi would deliver on this as it has not been one of his strong point in the past). A bit of humour, a bit of friendship, understanding, support… all that make the boys who they are (and they are lovely ! ). I was really happy with this scene.

More importantly, it shows that John doesn’t need to actually yell at Rodney, as he did so often in the past. In fact, I think this still-firm but calm approach was more effective — it put Rodney in a much more positive frame of mind, rather than him bitching and moaning. Like the old adage about catching more flies with honey. I do think that Mallozzi did really well, overall, with their interaction in “The Last Man”, so I think that this is just continuing the upward trend, really. But considering that a sizable chunk of the prize-winning McShep moments have mostly come from Gero (“Adrift, “Miller’s Crossing”, “Harmony”), I’m surprised Gero advised him to leave that one McKay line out!

This whole scene reminded me of something, which I didn’t catch the first time around. It’s only when re-watching it that it came to me. John’s tone is very similar to the one he used in Miller’s Crossing, to convince the guy to sacrifice himself. So was it done on purpose or not, I don’t know, but there is definitely a similarity in the tone (kind of a ‘let’s talk to the crazy person while being emotionally too involved’ maybe ?)

Hmm. I think I need to rewatch “Miller’s Crossing”. But I think I get what you mean, I could see a touch of that too. I just couldn;t shake the “Angry/dissappointed parent with a kid having problems with drugs” feeling, though ….

“he’s drinking something (sherry?) and he’s dressed in a suit,”

Well this is a wine glass and he kept smelling it (as they do for wine), plus there was a wine rack in the background, so I would say that it was wine more than sherry . Although I’m not an expert as I don’t drink, but well, being French I’ve seen more than my share of people appreciating a glass of wine .

Ah, okay. Not terribly famiiar with alchohol myself, but I’ve only ever seen people drink sherry or bourbon in a glass that big, so I just assumed …. Heh, of course, in my family everyone insists on switching hands with their forks (hold to cut with one hand, and euse to eat with the other) and other odd things ….

Jen said ….

Though this is of course a topic that can be debated forever and never get a clear answer because the show contradicts itself a few times I think. :O)

Verily, like how exactly the ‘Gate works … XD

I LOVED that scene because of the way Rodney participated in it! Tough guy Rodney is AWESOME and adorable!

And how!!

“Mallozzi offers up another insight in his blog: there was a line in the first draft that had John telling her that he needed to know that his teammates were committed to being on the team for the long haul. Which I don’t quite get — commitment to a specific mission, I can see, but as Teyla said before, sometimes unexpected things happen. So why that level of commitment?”

Look at it from John’s pov – right now he doesn’t have a clear answer either way and that’s starting to bother him, not just as the team leader but as her friend. I’m betting he’s hating the idea of having to put another person on his team – he’s used to the team he’s got and doesn’t want to change things. I think the “need to be committed for the long haul” was more about his needs than the needs of the team in general. Which is why I’m glad they left it out – it WOULD have made the conversation to much about him; when it isn’t actually about him at all. Remember Mallozzi also mentioned in his post that John came across a lot harsher in the first drafts and even some of the takes they did. I thought this scene was great in terms of showing that John just wants Teyla to tell him once and for all what her decision is and stop dragging it out.

Ah, good point — it’s human for John to be a bit irrational/self-centered about it. But like you, I am still glad that bit was left out.

I absolutely loved this scene too – and I didn’t ever really care that much about Kanaan before now. Though this scene made me love him too – especially since they went in the direction of having Kanaan support her in her decision and even encouraging her to stay with the team. They could have made him the “bad guy” but making him hate that she would dare abandon him and their son to join the team – And I’m so glad they didn’t do that. Though I have a feeling we’ll probably never see them again after a certain point.

Agreed. I’m always hearing writers saying that you can;t have a good story without conflict, which is true to an extent, but a story gets tiresome when the conflict is constantly internal (as in between members of the same side) all the time — it’s nice and refreshing to see characters be super-supportive of each other now and then! There are plenty of bad guys on the ooutside to fight still, you know? But yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if Kanaan and Torren fade into the background with the rest of the Athosians — whichw as why I was deliriously happy to see Halling again last year ….

Loved this scene too! I’m not sure but I kind of interpreted this as a “test” on Teyla’s part both for herself – to prove to herself that she COULD leave her son behind and trust others to take care of him. And maybe also to prove to Woolsey that she would be okay with others taking care of her son.

It’s a nice thoought, but I think all that was on her mind at that moment was a depserate need to help Ronon, and therefore needing to make sure that Torren was looked after without having any time to do anythng *but* hand him over to Woolsey — not that I tink she had any objections to doing so, though. Which leads to my reply to your next point …

As I was reading over your comments about the first discussion between the two of them – where you were talking about the dog being as much a child to Woolsey as an actual child I thought about this scene again and I wondered if maybe in a way Teyla DID understand how Woosley felt about the dog at least on some level and handed her son over to him because of that discussion? Some level of trust that was there only because they had that talk?

Either way there’s something important about that scene – I don’t think it was done just for the obvious joke of having Woolsey run around Atlantis with a screaming baby.

Perhaps unconciously, yeah — not sure that it necessarily had to do with the dog specifically, but I think that conversation as a whole did lay some groundwork for her for instinctual trust regarding him.

“John tells him patiently but with hard tones, in no uncertain terms, that they will. Get. Ronon. Back. Rodney finally backs down.”

I have to admit that the way John does that is starting to get a little creepy – the way he insists that everything is going to be fine. It’s just bit too… well delusional is the wrong word but I don’t know what the right word would be. But it paints a picture of a guy who really can’t handle losing anyone else. (And people worry about how Rodney deals with loss…).

Especially after re-watching “38 Minutes” today where there was a similar instance, in which John was also gung-ho about being positive/nobody’s gonna die/you’re going to get us out of this — but he was much more forceful/agressive about it back then. Same with Trinity – he wouldn’t let McKay talk like a defeatist, but he was almost fanatical about his optimism, to the point where he was yelling. Of course, as you’ve pointed out — and as Rodney himself even admitted — it worked for getting Rodney to get the job done, so there was another purpose story-wise for him acting that way, and he’s been doing it all along. But I do agree with you that it seems to serve another purpose story-wise, as a sign of him having a problem with denial. I think it’s just that he’s mellowed out that has made the problem-side of this habit more noticable, whereas before the focus was more on him getting Rodney to get the job done. As I said to Lysambre, though, as far as Rdney is concerned, I think this is actually a more effective way for John to go about it, and see it as a sign of John maturing in that respect, even while I still worry that it could be a problem for him one of these days. I have always thought that another loss would crush John even more than Rodney, really — Last Man kind of proved that Rodney is more resilient than peole credit him for. Niot that he didn’t get nuerotic in his own way with all the loss, but he managed to use the grief to get the job done, while I think John would just fall apart.

I admit I saw that coming a mile away – but the scene itself still made me almost cry – I think mainly because he managed to redeem himself in the end, in the best way possible – Saving Ronon (and the others) AND taking out an entire Wraith hive in the process.

*nodsnods* Exactly how I felt.

The ending scenes with Ronon coming down from the drug/brainwashing were another that nearly made me cry! Did you notice that when John was sitting with Ronon he was a few feet away (or that’s what it looked like) but when RODNEY was sitting next to him he was RIGHT next to him? I would have thought it would be the opposite, but that’s Rodney for you – always a surprise.

Oh, I hadn’t considered that — nice observation!

“(Did this make anyone else think of the bit in the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, where Raph wakes up after being unconscious for days and asks for food? I loved that bit, and I love this one even more!)”

I DID!!! And it’s been YEARS since I saw that movie. Though really that kind of scene is pretty cliche – but still adorably Ronon (and Rodney).

True, true, I’m sure I’ve seen other similar scenes, but that one really leapt out at me. Of course, it helps that I have a ginormous photo-button of that TMNT scene right behind me, so I see it on a daily basis. But yes, it was adorable! *G* And we get so few *really positive* moments between them (really, can you recall Rodney ever smiling *at* Ronon before? I mean so genuinely, rather than out of confusion?), so it was extra special!

Woolsey has the gene but don’t seem to use I; John’s purposefully shutting the doors on him with his superior ATA; or Atlantis doesn’t like him. Well, we’ll see if he keeps having that problem anyway — it’d make a great running gag for the season!

It’s a funny gag for now but I think it would get old for me pretty quick – not in sense that I’d feel bad for Woolsey but simply because it’s a joke that doesn’t make much sense in the long run. Neither Elizbeth or Sam had the gene and the doors never did that to them. Now yeah you could make the argument that John is shutting the doors on Woolsey with his mind but I’m still not convinced that people with the gene have THAT much control over things with their minds… Otherwise we’d see John and others with the gene opening other doors without swiping their hands over the sensors in other places… Though this is of course a topic that can be debated forever and never get a clear answer because the show contradicts itself a few times I think. :O)

(I like that all three of them sort of gang up on Solen, even Rodney, rather than it just being Sheppard doing the talking. …

I LOVED that scene because of the way Rodney participated in it! Tough guy Rodney is AWESOME and adorable!

Teyla goes to see Woolsey; before she gets to why she came, we learn that there’s still no news of Ronon’s possible whereabouts…

I have to say this: I absolutely loved this scene between Teyla and Woolsey – it’s one of the scenes that nearly made me cry! :O)

“I’m not taking a bath with you,” John tells him. (Of course I let out a supersonic McSheppy *squee* of rapture at the fact that the notion had even crossed John’s mind, even in jest. And according to Mallozzi, he originally intended there to be another wonderfully McSheppy line, a reply from McKay, right here: “I’m both relieved and slightly disappointed.”

Loved this entire scene but especially that part of it. I do actually wish they’d kept that line in! :O)

Mallozzi offers up another insight in his blog: there was a line in the first draft that had John telling her that he needed to know that his teammates were committed to being on the team for the long haul. Which I don’t quite get — commitment to a specific mission, I can see, but as Teyla said before, sometimes unexpected things happen. So why that level of commitment?

Look at it from John’s pov – right now he doesn’t have a clear answer either way and that’s starting to bother him, not just as the team leader but as her friend. I’m betting he’s hating the idea of having to put another person on his team – he’s used to the team he’s got and doesn’t want to change things. I think the “need to be committed for the long haul” was more about his needs than the needs of the team in general. Which is why I’m glad they left it out – it WOULD have made the conversation to much about him; when it isn’t actually about him at all. Remember Mallozzi also mentioned in his post that John came across a lot harsher in the first drafts and even some of the takes they did. I thought this scene was great in terms of showing that John just wants Teyla to tell him once and for all what her decision is and stop dragging it out.

Teyla is rocking Torren’s (lovely) cradle when Kanaan comes in and marvels that their son is already asleep, when it takes him much longer to put him down.

I absolutely loved this scene too – and I didn’t ever really care that much about Kanaan before now. Though this scene made me love him too – especially since they went in the direction of having Kanaan support her in her decision and even encouraging her to stay with the team. They could have made him the “bad guy” but making him hate that she would dare abandon him and their son to join the team – And I’m so glad they didn’t do that. Though I have a feeling we’ll probably never see them again after a certain point.

There’s a cute moment where Woolsey is smiling and rocking Torren as he talks to the baby, when Torren suddenly starts to cry; Woolsey hurries off to find the cafeteria, seeming a bit lost and panicked.

Loved this scene too! I’m not sure but I kind of interpreted this as a “test” on Teyla’s part both for herself – to prove to herself that she COULD leave her son behind and trust others to take care of him. And maybe also to prove to Woolsey that she would be okay with others taking care of her son.

As I was reading over your comments about the first discussion between the two of them – where you were talking about the dog being as much a child to Woolsey as an actual child I thought about this scene again and I wondered if maybe in a way Teyla DID understand how Woosley felt about the dog at least on some level and handed her son over to him because of that discussion? Some level of trust that was there only because they had that talk?

Either way there’s something important about that scene – I don’t think it was done just for the obvious joke of having Woolsey run around Atlantis with a screaming baby.

John tells him patiently but with hard tones, in no uncertain terms, that they will. Get. Ronon. Back. Rodney finally backs down.

I have to admit that the way John does that is starting to get a little creepy – the way he insists that everything is going to be fine. It’s just bit too… well delusional is the wrong word but I don’t know what the right word would be. But it paints a picture of a guy who really can’t handle losing anyone else. (And people worry about how Rodney deals with loss…).

John gives the call over the radio, saying that they’re clear. The commander insists that Tyre is not beyond forgiveness, that it’s not too late for him; “yes it is — for both of us, Tyre replies, clicking the detonator.

I admit I saw that coming a mile away – but the scene itself still made me almost cry – I think mainly because he managed to redeem himself in the end, in the best way possible – Saving Ronon (and the others) AND taking out an entire Wraith hive in the process.

The ending scenes with Ronon coming down from the drug/brainwashing were another that nearly made me cry! Did you notice that when John was sitting with Ronon he was a few feet away (or that’s what it looked like) but when RODNEY was sitting next to him he was RIGHT next to him? I would have thought it would be the opposite, but that’s Rodney for you – always a surprise. I also loved that it was Rodney who got to be with Ronon when he woke up – made for a really cute scene with the “like I want to hit someone” bit. :O)

(Did this make anyone else think of the bit in the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, where Raph wakes up after being unconscious for days and asks for food? I loved that bit, and I love this one even more!)

I DID!!! And it’s been YEARS since I saw that movie. Though really that kind of scene is pretty cliche – but still adorably Ronon (and Rodney).

And finally the ending montage – I loved every moment of it! A lovely picture of the people of Atlantis once the day has been saved!

An AWESOME episode! Yay! :O) And I’m really looking forward to next weeks!

I have this idea that the team and the rest of Atlantis celebrate Ronon’s birthday at a date they fixed, like the day he first arrived on Atlantis or something like this. Because I do agree that it would be nearly impossible to keep count otherwise.

(Funny, it sounds like she’s actually already decided — isn’t that why she’s there?
I think you’re right, it sounds like she’s already decided. But I think that like many difficult decisions you like to hear what others think of it, even when you have in fact already decided inside what you want to do. I think Teyla is searching for confirmation, and what Woolsey does is the perfect thing. He doesn’t influence her in any way, just offer full support whatever she decides, which is what people should do instead of offering their point of view a lot of the time .

After giving the breakfast items in the mess an unenthusiastic glance (probably unenamoured of all the fruit),

Seeing as Rodney has had a tray full of fruit multiple times in the past (Tao of Rodney amongst others), I thought we were supposed to understand that he’s got no appetite because he’s so worried, hence the no sleeping thing too.

“I’m not taking a bath with you,” John tells him. (Of course I let out a supersonic McSheppy *squee* of rapture at the fact that the notion had even crossed John’s mind, even in jest. And according to Mallozzi, he originally intended there to be another wonderfully McSheppy line, a reply from McKay, right here: “I’m both relieved and slightly disappointed.” I think if McKay’s reply had made it in, I wouldn’t be writing the column right now — I’d have died and gone to the Summer Country! I’m practically about to asphyxiate from joyous laugher as it is ….

I was completely cracked up in front of my screen for this scene, and when I read Joe Malozzi’s blog I actually snorted my tea through my nose, so hard I was laughing !!! For years we’ve been living on clues and things left unsaid, but now they’re just giving it to us for free !!!! I’m so happy that the writers finally see slash as a ship as normal as any other het pairing. (I’m still squeeing inside, I can’t help it !!! ).

Wow. Mallozzi applauded Momoa’s choice to play up Ronon’s vulnerability here, saying that that moment amazes him, and I have to say that I heartily agree! It definitely makes Ronon a more interesting and believable character, seeing him break down like this, hearing the anguish in his voice and the tears in his eyes. Momoa’s performance was exceptionally poignant and heartbreaking — moreso even than the incredible scene last season

This scene gave me shivers the first time I watched it, and almost made me cry the next few times. Jason Momoa did a fantastic job.
Which ironically makes me all the more disappointed to see him look so bored in other episodes. I do agree that his role could sometimes be a bit more present, but there is no excuse for bad acting once we’ve seen how good he can be. Please Mr. Momoa, do act even when you are not the central character, I’ll love you all the more for it ! .

Anyway, I do really like that Kanaan is being a stay-at-home dad!)

Is Ronon’s faux pas a sign that Ronon is faking it? Or just that he hasn’t been completely turned? Could he fake it?

See I think this is a scenaristic mistake, why have Ronon say that if they have no plan on acting on it ? I t makes no sense. It’s like they’re giving us a clue that Ronon hasn’t been fully turned and yet he has… What’s the point ?

There’s a cute moment where Woolsey is smiling and rocking Torren as he talks to the baby, when Torren suddenly starts to cry; Woolsey hurries off to find the cafeteria, seeming a bit lost and panicked.

See to me this is perfect. It feels like the torch for socially awkward has passed from Rodney to Woolsey. And after all this time it would (finally !) be normal. Rodney is at home on Atlantis, he’s surrounded by friends and family, people who have learned to like him the way he is, why should he be the one to keep reacting awkwardly ? Now Woolsey is the new guy, the outsider, the one that needs to make a place for himself in the established group, and that’s where socially awkward becomes believable again to me.

Heh, I love it when he calls Ronon or Rodney “buddy”! Come to think of it, does he use that for anyone else?

I think it’s only Ronon and Rodney. The 3 of them have taken to call each others that. I love it. Not even taking in account my slash goggles, I love that those guys are giving each other a nickname that is so telling. For me this “buddy” is like : I love you, you’re part of my family, are you alright… It’s one word but it means so much more than that.

At any rate, for the moment, I’m disappointed that Tyre pulled a double-cross and proved Woolsey right, though it makes prefect sense for him to have done so. In hindsight, I should have had more faith, but I guess I was still expecting Ronon to be the one to turn out to be fooling the Wraith. I’m glad I turn out to be wrong in both cases!

Strangely it didn’t even cross my mind that this was not a fake turn-around. I felt it was really obvious that he had to do something or risk being put in a cell with all the others. And it seems that the Wraiths are not really aware that you can recover from being an addict, so in their misguided superiority feeling, they just would not see it coming. But well, maybe I’m a bit too used to all the betrayal and deceptions we see everywhere .

John’s gives Rodney a comforting pat on the arm as he follows after Tyre. (Awwwwww! And poor Rodney looks a little lost and scared.)

after shooting Ronon a hopeless glance, John looks up at the Wraith, seeming genuinely scared. (The look on Flanigan’s face is priceless!)

Yeah, I think that like Ronon, John would rather be killed than turned, hence the fear. They can face a feeding with jokes and defiance, but the turning is much more frightening as it means loosing control.

Ronon immediately quiets, getting all serene even as he’s wild-eyed. “Hey, buddy!” he says sweetly to John. (”Buddy?” I say, noting his use of John’s phrase.) “Buddy?” John says warily.

This whole scene reminded me of something, which I didn’t catch the first time around. It’s only when re-watching it that it came to me. John’s tone is very similar to the one he used in Miller’s Crossing, to convince the guy to sacrifice himself. So was it done on purpose or not, I don’t know, but there is definitely a similarity in the tone (kind of a ‘let’s talk to the crazy person while being emotionally too involved’ maybe ?)

he’s drinking something (sherry?) and he’s dressed in a suit,

Well this is a wine glass and he kept smelling it (as they do for wine), plus there was a wine rack in the background, so I would say that it was wine more than sherry . Although I’m not an expert as I don’t drink, but well, being French I’ve seen more than my share of people appreciating a glass of wine .
And I loved how in character is was to see him wear a suit and declare it being more relaxed ! Hehehe.

I love it when a story doesn’t end abruptly after the day is saved, when we get a chance to see the fallout with our own eyes rather than just hear about it second-hand later. Even many of my favourite stories have had endings where it seemed like the writer said, “Okay, uh, I guess that’s enough,” and just quit, without really finishing the story. So it means a lot to me when I come across one that winds down more slowly, one that satisfies me. Thank you, Joe Malozzi!

Yep, it’s brilliant when they have a bit of time to show the “return to normal” feeling. I do understand that they are often short on time and that it’s very Stargate trademark to end a bit abruptly and it made this montage all the more precious in my eyes.

Fantastic episode, like you I was not seduced last week, but this week made me (once again) fall in love all over again with the show .