SGA: Trinity

[eretria]

My mind may have exploded, because while there was an extreme amount of squeeing over the apparent depth of John's and Rodney's friendship, I simply cannot get over that Rodney destroyed a good portion of a solar system and we don't get any remorse. A fucking SOLAR SYSTEM.

Despite that, the writer of this episode should get an award or a raise or shares of MGM, because that was one brilliant episode. And I didn't even forward throught the Ronon & Teyla bits, which is saying something. (However, the weapon should have been a bit bigger, because to believe that something this small can destroy a whole planet and part of a system as well is asking quite a lot)

But what really stands out are the acting skills of both Hewlett and Flanigan. My god. My heart was quite literally pounding in my ears.
Just before they abandon the outpost, it's interesting to see that it's not so much John' s words that get Rodney out of his obsessive state of mind but the slap to the table, the burst of violence John lets slip through his usually so tight walls. Yes, the words registered, too, but the sudden violence? I think scared Rodney more than he'd admit.

Yet I simply don't understand why it seems as if John has already forgiven Rodney. Because that's how this final scene plays out to me. A SOLAR SYSTEM. The fuck? The killed scientist. The FUCK? And Rodney still goes on and on about how he was right? Or at least, how he didn't exactly destroy 3/4 of a solar system, but 5/6? (Yes, that was in a scene with Elizabeth, but it doesn't matter, he's thinking it, that's what matters) What kind of difference does it make?
And yes, while I know that he was only joking and trying, grappling for a way to connect to John, who usually respond well to humour, the remark about the "not being right all the time" was simply ... Too blasé to believe.
I'm sorry, but John should have slapped him around the face and turned and left. Yes, that may have been overly dramatic, but it would have been a much more human thing to do in the light of things. Especially with knowing how Rodney's mind works, but being goal-oriented with not thinking about the collateral damage? Simply isn't the way to go, as Radek was trying to make sure Rodney understood. (Oh, Radek. So. Much. Love. Especially with the wet hair in the debrief, the little geek!gasm smiles and the intense concern  about Rodney and Sheppard)
Now, don't get me wrong, it was right after all to return to the project, because otherwise the death of the scientist (Collins?) really would have been pointless and a waste. But a SOLAR SYSTEM? And there is no remorse? Of course, it's "only" planets. Maybe they're uninhabited. But do we know that? This is disaster on an epic scale, and there is no other fallout than the discussion of losing Sheppard's friendship and trust?
I'd like to step away from the personal relationship for once and see what this does to the people individually.

What else will it take for Rodney to understand what exactly it is he has done?
A solar system. Jesus.

Elizabeth yelling was something I didn't find out of character at all, simply because at least she showed that she understood what had happened here, even if Rodney didn't.

Speaking of Elizabeth, Caldwell's comment about her putting the Ancients on a pedestal may have been a cheap shot, but I'm thinking he hit bull's eye with it. They all put the Ancients on pedestals, most likely think them to be perfect and infallible. I would love to see an episode in which they realise just how wrong they are. Fluffy and nice, the Ancients were not.

Of course, now every single McShep fan is going to fall over and hyperventilate (and yes, it was quite obvious this time), but I fear that reducing the events to "how long will Rodney have to sleep on the couch" and "let's see loads of making-up sex" in fic isn't going to satisfy my needs for psychological fallout. Sex isn't going to mend this. Can't mend this. This is nothing to be sugar-coated or forgiven easily.

This is the moment where I look at Rodney and wonder if there was a quiet moment in his quarter that we didn't get to see on screen in which he understands the enormity of what he's done and breaks down. Otherwise I wonder how much of his behaviour is to be blamed on shock, because I simply refuse to believe that he just doesn't care.

The one scene that absolutely killed me, because it showed just how much was gone and how very clear John was making it was this one:
"Can I come in?"
"No."
And the subsequent looks on both John's and Rodney's face.
That one did me in. That was a knife to the heart and twisting, worse than almost everything else after.

Comments

[tinny]

"Can I come in?"
"No."

Oh yes, that scene gave me goosebumps!

I honestly didn't like the rest of the episode much.

I was tempted to forward through the Teyla/Ronan bits, but I'm glad I didn't, because she so rightly busted his ass. Go Teyla!

I thought there was too little plot and too much drama. It was a bad idea to go about it this way - it was apparent from the beginning that the weapon did all that damage. I don't like how Rodney is so unconcerned about everything. I guess hearing that he apologized was supposed to be good enough for us. Not really... .

I thought the episode would give us a plot that calls for quick action, but here Rodney maneuvered himself right into it without much reason for it. I would have preferred a more external plot.

I don't share the concerns about the solar system - of course I assume it is uninhabited, as usual. But he could have left a "tear in the fabric of space time", as Rodney so nicely put it himself. I don't know, that part is not really worth thinking about any more.

I definitely could have done without the last scene:

a) I don't believe Rodney would actively seek out John and then put his finger right on the wound -> that he needs to make up lost trust. I don't think Rodney would be aware of social etiquette enough to realize that that was the problem. He'd be stung and guilty for being ignored by John, but I don't think it would register exactly what he'd have to do to fix it.

b) John was way too forgiving.

I loved the shippy stuff, the "no" and the trust and John being sold on Rodney's plan to go back. When they were alone in that bunker, I couldn't imagine any other way than John actually putting his hand to Rodney's face and convince him gently. :) Ah well, violence worked, too. :))

I'm with you on the makeup sex scepticism. I love conflict between them, but nobody seems willing to write it. It's all external and the two of them live in their little bubble of porn. I'm tiring of it - or rather, I should make the time to look for other writers. It's got to be out there. Right?

[eretria.livejournal.com]

Indeed. I was mightily impressed with Teyla in this episode. If only because angry!Teyla is always worth seeing, and because despite her anger she was honest.

I don't like how Rodney is so unconcerned about everything. I guess hearing that he apologized was supposed to be good enough for us. Not really...

Too right. In the scene with Elizabeth yelling at him, he does seem to hang his head, but he's still trying to talk his way out of it, and that just bothers me. I know that Rodney's Rodney and that he's stubborn and likely only thinking about the scientific aspect, but at the end of the day, that can't be all that moves him.

(Sorry, just got a visitor, will finish this later)

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

I was mightily impressed with Teyla in this episode. If only because angry!Teyla is always worth seeing, and because despite her anger she was honest.

Yes, yes, and yes!

[eretria.livejournal.com]

Right, where was I?

I don't know, that part is not really worth thinking about any more.

*cough* This, for me, is what makes the mistake so terrible - if it had only been the planet, I might have dealt with it, because quite obviously it was already dead, but the solar system? With possibly other inhabited worlds? That's not something I can just ignore and be on my merry way.

He'd be stung and guilty for being ignored by John, but I don't think it would register exactly what he'd have to do to fix it.

Oh, I don't know. I think Rodney's perception is different when it comes to John, because he quite obviously wants John in his life. So, social ineptitude aside, I do buy that he sees where the issue lies. And he's too Rodney to go on ignoring it.

b) John was way too forgiving.

I'm glad your interpretation matches mine, because other reviews I read saw John being ice-cold, his last words sarcastic, already having written Rodney off (not exactly the words of the reviews, but to that effect). And while I could understand that, and I could imagine that very well from John, I simply didn't see that kind of emotion.

It's all external and the two of them live in their little bubble of porn. I'm tiring of it

*sigh* Yes. There are attempts, but in the end it boils down to handling / solving almost every difficult issue with sex (be it angsty! sex or fluffy making up!sex), and while that's certainly a possibility, it can't possibly be the solution to every problem, right?

[tinny]

*cough*

OK, for you. ;)

I believe the writers are stupid and negligent and whatnot. But, if there had been a potentially inhabited planet other than the one with the Stargate, and Rodney did kill a whole population, Elizabeth would have mentioned it in her rant. This would not have gone over unnoticed.

Not to mention that a second habitable planet is unlikely, since the Ancients only used planets with conditions similar to Earth, and it's almost impossible to have two of those orbiting the same sun.

So: by backwards deductive reasoning the only possibility for me is that there was no other habitable planet in the system.

What I really meant is not that it wouldn't be a big deal, but that if the writers really fucked up this bad, I refuse to think about it.

And he's too Rodney to go on ignoring it.

I see your point. :) He'd go on poking until he found the wound, by accident or on purpose.

And while I could understand that, and I could imagine that very well from John, I simply didn't see that kind of emotion.

Yes, I expected much harsher reaction from him and was angry at the writers for making it so 'conflict-free'. But the longer I think about it (and read the wanks of others about that topic) I'm beginning to see how John could indeed react as friendly as he has. He's not through with getting his emotions in order, and 'friendly' and 'superficial' are his default settings. So maybe that's what's happening. I am sure that the big fallout is yet to come, probably not in canon (hear me snark), but in my head and I hope in fic.

There are attempts, but in the end it boils down to handling / solving almost every difficult issue with sex

I haven't read *any* stories with conflict between the two of them lately. If you have any recs (even if they solve it with sex), I'd be glad to hear them!

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

This is the moment where I look at Rodney and wonder if there was a quiet moment in his quarter that we didn't get to see on screen in which he understands the enormity of what he's done and breaks down. Otherwise I wonder how much of his behaviour is to be blamed on shock, because I simply refuse to believe that he just doesn't care.

We know he generally does care, see Siege as the most prominent example...but some things, I think, just blind him in a way that lets him forget about everything else, and as good as he is about abstract concepts of physics, the abstract value of life -- or at least the fact you have to weigh it in, carefully -- is a mystery to him sometimes.

As for the concrete concern, I think he is intellectually aware of it -- when he says he'll have to live with it for the rest of his life -- and aware of the pain he has caused as well as his responsibility. As for an emotional impact, though...not sure it has hit him yet, at that point; I'm with you on the shock theory: Rodney is still running on adrenaline, fear, disappointment, filled up to the brink with his own response.

I do hope the writers dealt with the personal fallout; I'll go home and watch s'more now. *g*

And yeah -- just sex? Hope not; this is nasty and complicated and, seriously, not just about John and Rodney but about Rodney, his choices.

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

With concrete concern, I mean the death of the scientist from his team.