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Article by Wolfen Moondaughter
Wolfen Moondaughter is on the editorial board for the comics industry webzine Sequential Tart for which she has written since late 2001. She's also written for Newtype USA, contributed to Andy Mangel's book Animation on DVD, self-published a novel (Memory of the Brightwing), and one of her short stories, "Chase", is due to be published soon as the title story in an anthology from Wapshott Press (under the pen name Anastasia Witchazel). She's an artist, too, having done spot illustrations for Dragonlance, a few panels for Barb Lien-Cooper's webcomic series Gun Street Girl, and private commissions. In her spare time, she's a fanficcer/fanartist. See more of her work at her site, Wolfen's Webworld. 8 Comments
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Cool review! :O) Loved the episode too!
I gotta admit the opening scene bugged me too – mainly because they tried to play it off as a joke when it really wasn’t funny. And also like you noted it’s a bit of a backslide for Rodney with the way he was all “everyone else gets to hold him why can’t I??” (though it could be that he’s more upset about having dropped Torren than even he wants to admit so he’s hiding it by being extra snarky and obnoxious). I also spent the entire episode dreading the fact that they wouldn’t do anything to resolve it and they’d leave it as a joke against Rodney – and not just because of how badly fandom would have taken it. It’s not really even that they did it that was the problem – just the way they decided to play it.
On the other hand – I do think it’s possible for Rodney to have dropped the baby. My thought was that the baby had been sleeping and he was moving to sit down or something and the baby woke up hungry and screaming and startled Rodney who fumbled a bit maybe not really dropping him but coming close enough to scare Teyla. And it does set up a really cool B-plot with tension between Rodney and Teyla throughout the whole episode.
Worst part is they could have easily changed the way it played out by changing a few lines and taking out the extra attempts at being funny (which is their problem – they try to hard to be funny and it doesn’t work out as well as they think it will). I’ve even got an alternate scene running in my head that goes like this:
[Everything's the same up to the point where John points out that Rodney dropped Torren]
Rodney: “I did not drop him he woke up screaming for food and he startled me! And … and Teyla caught him! So it’s not like he hit the floor or anything! I said I was sorry.] [Still playing it off as "not a big deal" but also making it clear that Torren hadn't actually been hurt...]
[John would still comment that Rodney doesn't even like kids so why does he care?]
Rodney: “It’s Teyla’s son… ” [And both of them would freeze - Rodney because he hadn't meant to admit that much and John because he really had just been trying to lighten the mood and hadn't expected Rodney to say that even though he knows it's true. And when Chuck calls out they have a contact they both jump for the optertunity to forget the conversation ever happened because FEEELINGS! OH NO!]
Basically changing it so that HOW Rodney almost dropped Torren is what was funny, not the fact that he dropped him. Also making it clearer that Rodney isn’t just whining because he’s feeling left out.
Anyway now that I’ve taken up a page talking about that scene I’ll move on to the rest of the episode.
Gotta admit the episode had a bit of a “let’s make the characters do something stupid so the plot works” element to it with them getting on the ship once they knew their version was safe on Earth. They would have been better off leaving it alone. Of course it’s John and Rodney – the most curious boys in the galaxy – always needing to know what’s going on! :O) And it did make for an awesome episode! Loved all of it really! Just going to comment on a few things so this doesn’t end up being 20 pages long or something…
The duplicates being there was a bit weird – they don’t really explain how they died and the way they’re sitting/laying didn’t make much sense. Sure it added more tension to the plot but it wasn’t well though out I don’t think. Oh well – it made for some good scenes between the other characters and how they reacted to it.
Rodney stops him, pointing out that the dead were them, and they failed. “No, they’re not us — we’re still alive. Let’s go!” John orders.
I loved John’s line here because he’s right. Just because the other team died doesn’t mean they’re going to. And also later Ronon’s line to Teyla about her worrying about all the Torren’s – I love it when he cuts right through the BS and says exactly what needs to be said. Teyla may at times be the voice of reason for the team but Ronon has his moments of taking a complicated situation and making it simple and to the point.
I did love that they had Teyla knowing a lot about the ship and how to run it and that she had been taking lessons. Though having Ronon not know anything was a little awkward – he’s the one who has said in the past that he’d like to know more about science… plus he’s always fiddling with things trying to see how they work behind Rodney’s back. And it would have been nice to see him be able to shot some of the enemy ships.
Oh well it did again set up another cute scene between Rodney and Teyla in engineering. Loved their interactions throughout the episode – you could tell there was tension between them but they were still working together to save the day.
On their way to the hangar bay, Rodney’s eyes are on his tablet; he opens a door without actually looking, and doesn’t note and alien beyond it, down the corridor, until it’s too late. He gets shot in the arm with the alien blaster, his sleeve catching on fire.
Any other show – any other character – that would have been a head shot! But since this is Stargate and it’s Rodney he gets shot in the arm! :O) Which of course is a good thing but still… Anyway I loved that it was Teyla that shoved him out of the way – making it clear that even if she IS mad at him for dropping Torren she’s going to keep him as safe as she can.
Did you notice in the scene where Ronon and John are standing over the alien you can see Teyla in the background covering both of them? Just thought it was a cool bit that they added in there.
LOVED that they had Lorne and Zelenka go pick them up! You gotta love the B-Team for always being around to save Team Sheppard after they get themselves into trouble. :O)
I absolutely loved the last scene – both for the John and Rodney moment and the fact that Teyla came into let Rodney hold Torren. I do think Teyla made the decision all on her own – because Rodney didn’t give up and also because he almost died. I also think she may have realized she was being a bit to hard on Rodney and offered Torren as a peace offering. And I think even Rodney could pick up on the message she was sending – that she does trust him with her son.
Rodney warns, “You gotta watch out, they wiggle!” – I MISSED this line! And it’s not on the Gateworld transcript! But it’s cute. :O)
Another thought I just had was that the whole dropping thing is something that may have actually happened to David with Baz. I mean there have been times where something David has said has ended up as a joke on Rodney at some point. And they COULD have done the first scene the way they did because they really were just trying to be funny with the whole “he dropped the baby! OH NO!!” joke – not really meaning for it to be taken that seriously.
Either way I was glad they put a scene in there were Teyla let’s Rodney hold the baby – it made the first scene worth it and less of a “pick on Rodney for the sake of a joke” moment – which yes, even I think gets old after a while.
Jen said …
(though it could be that he’s more upset about having dropped Torren than even he wants to admit so he’s hiding it by being extra snarky and obnoxious).
I like the way you think!
And I defintely prefer your version of events — you should post it as a drabble at Wraithbait or smething! 
I missed Teyla covering them — will have to watch it again …
RE: the B-team, isn’t it funny that Riodney spoke so derisivley of them in The Seed, but like you said, Lorne & Zelenka are always having to save Sheppard & Co’s butts … XD
re: the wiggle line, yeah, you have to listen close, but I definitely heard it, and it totally made me go Awwwww.
Anyway, if they hadn’t had Teyla have him hold the baby. I totally would have thought David ad-libbed the dropping thing because of a personal experience, but since she did have him hold it, I’m thinking it was all McCollough (or another of the writers), and done entirely for charcaterisation’s sake rather than based on a true happening with David …
My thinking that John suggested it was because when he saw Teyla, he had kind of a satisfied look on his face, like he was totally expecting it, and I thought it would make perfect sense for him to at least let her know how upset Rodney was about the whole thing (she could have decided to bring Torren herself, but based on Johns bringing it up). But maybe she brought it up and told John in advance what she was going to do ….
I like the way you think!
And I definitely prefer your version of events — you should post it as a drabble at Wraithbait or smething! 
Thanks. Nah, not going to actually post anything – I’ve sworn off writing fanfic anymore for a number of reasons that has to do more with my feelings about fandom than anything else. And I wouldn’t want people to use my version as another reason to attack the show and the writers –
Just because I think they could have done a better job or think that they aren’t paying enough attention to what they’re saying when they try to make jokes – it doesn’t mean I think they suck or hate them for doing it that way. *shrug* I just think it’s the way they are and I’ve come to accept it from them because I do think for the most part they do a good job with the show – they just have these “what the heck were they thinking!” moments.
RE: the B-team, isn’t it funny that Riodney spoke so derisivley of them in The Seed, but like you said, Lorne & Zelenka are always having to save Sheppard & Co’s butts … XD
Well that’s not so surprising considering he wanted to be there himself rather than stuck in his room with nothing to do.
It was less about what he thinks of them and more about his own need to be involved.
My thinking that John suggested it was because when he saw Teyla, he had kind of a satisfied look on his face, like he was totally expecting it, and I thought it would make perfect sense for him to at least let her know how upset Rodney was about the whole thing (she could have decided to bring Torren herself, but based on Johns bringing it up). But maybe she brought it up and told John in advance what she was going to do
Hmmm… that does make sense. I guess I thought you were implying that she ONLY did it because John talked to her. Which wouldn’t really have been fair to any of them.
Just because I think they could have done a better job or think that they aren’t paying enough attention to what they’re saying when they try to make jokes – it doesn’t mean I think they suck or hate them for doing it that way. *shrug* I just think it’s the way they are and I’ve come to accept it from them because I do think for the most part they do a good job with the show – they just have these “what the heck were they thinking!” moments.
Just curious – is that your experience with why ficcers write fics? For myself, I can honestly say that even when I write a “correctiove” fic (which isn’t often), it’s never done with malice or as a slam to the writers. I don’t even think about the writers at that point, just doping it for the sake of the characters and making myself more comfortable with an outcome (and, by proxy, sometimes making others more comfortable as well). I think there’s room for those millions of alternate realities Riondey told Ronon about without them necessarilly being considered “better” on the whole, just “alternative” in general and preferable to some. Even when I like a fic better than canion, I don’t use it to slam the show’s writers and can’t recall ever seeing anyone doing so.
Well that’s not so surprising considering he wanted to be there himself rather than stuck in his room with nothing to do. It was less about what he thinks of them and more about his own need to be involved.
Good point.
Hmmm… that does make sense. I guess I thought you were implying that she ONLY did it because John talked to her. Which wouldn’t really have been fair to any of them.
Oh no, I definitely felt she *wanted* to, not that she felt *obligated* to/was coerced into it.
Just curious – is that your experience with why ficcers write fics? For myself, I can honestly say that even when I write a “correctiove” fic…
This is a conversation probably best had privately in email (or maybe even IM so we can talk in real time…). Though honestly it’s a whole combination of things and isn’t just about Atlantis fandom in general… We’ve come close to talking about fan fiction at times but never really had a good in depth discussion about it (probably because I’m usually just mouthing off about something I think is bad about fan fic). It might be good for me to have one just to get the other pov so to speak – if you’re willing. And I really should be working right now… *sigh* it’s a crappy work day…
@Jen ~ well, if you really want to, you have my email addy.
Sorry you’re having a crappy work day. 
The email address I had for you doesn’t seem to be working – can you send me an email and I’ll reply back?
@Jen ~ email sent!