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.