sgareview: outcast s4e15

I would like to start with a letter to SGA writers. Then on to a level of squee I have not felt since Travellers. And that was alot of squee.

Warning: kind of long and rambly and--well, if you click, you'll see.

But first.



Dear SGA writers:

Thank you for giving us the very minimum amount of backstory humanly possible; I can it must have cost you blood to give us twenty lines worth of background. I understand your terror of giving anyone but Rodney anything resembling a comprehensible past, in that way I do not understand at all, unless this is a very, very long term set up for something hugely dramatic involving John actually being an Ascended Ancient and if you go that way? I apologize now. I just don't believe it.

Thanks for your time.
Seperis





I will get this out of the way right now; if I'd waited three months to get into this show, I'd have fallen into the John/Ronon ship and this episode reminds me of how very, very much I sometimes wish that. I cannot imagine them long term, just because two people who do not talk all that much, one of whom speaking in the language of obscure pop culture when pushed, can only end in them encouraging each other into greater feats of deathly silence and significant looks, at which time they might as well OT3 with Teyla so someone can translate for them full time. But if I OTP'ed them, I'd probably be able to think around that.

Anyway.

John and the Trials and Tribulations of Family

John, per usual, made me want to give him cookies, milk, and orgasms when his jaw went tight and he tried to remember how to breathe when Carter told him. I would like to vaguely know why information like this wasn't given in a more private setting, where one can collapse into a chair if necessary, but I suppose a hall in the middle of Atlantis works just as well. I do like Ronon was there to watch; of all of them, including Rodney, Ronon probably tends to read John best in what he doesn't say. Like I said, communication in significant looks. Teyla translates John's speech into human; Ronon tends to know the body language and acts accordingly.

Rodney and John in John's bedroom; I admit it, even if I were a John/Ronon shipper, that was amazingly sweet, especially since a.) I love Rodney, but I cannot imagine anyone I'd want to take to a funeral less and I can't imagine him so much as considering it, so wanting to is too cute for words; b.) that was very long term dating; c.) Rodney thinking they should talk about it, which I just--I kind of want to hug him and kind of wonder what he was thinking on that one. Again, my love of Rodney is legion, but how in the name of God would they talk about feelings?

I'm pretty sure Rodney's later activities included calling an emergency team meeeting "We can't let him go to earth alone! What if he gets lost? What if an Ancient shows up? What if he runs off with her while out of his mind from grief? What if--" and Ronon's "Been packed for hours, McKay." while Teyla gestates calmly and tries to pretend pregnancy hormones are not making her vaguely homicidal.

I do wish we'd seen some Teyla here, actually, considering the team-circles the wagons thing going on, but oddly, it felt like Rodney and Ronon were picking up the slack, and it made me warm and fuzzy they cared that much to check up on him and make sure someone could go with him, when it's not anything he would have asked for himself or even thought to. Rodney is a good choice for keeping John distracted and outward-focused (which I tend to think is why John functions very well under pressure or disaster), but Ronon's better at letting John have solitude without letting him feel isolated or alone. And canon tends to state John prefers the first and unconsciously needs the second, so that worked for me a lot.

I liked John's startlement when Ronon showed up; I think it still comes as a surprise to him that anyone cares that much about him. Epiphany might be a turning point for him in terms of his general belief that his only value is in his abilities and his disposibility, but uncertainty is there. I love that Ronon acted like this was totally the plan. "I could have sworn I emailed you," Ronon's wide eyes seem to say. "Not so much," John's eyebrow answers. "And thanks," John's hair mutters while dipping toward the floor. "No problem," Ronon's dreds answer, "Lets get pizza later, okay?"

Like, I said, body language.

John could have worn his dress blues. I'd like to thank whoever responsible for putting him in a suit. I really really like this, in ways that are both inappropriate and vaguely pornographic. Ronon's new and fascinating interest in shirts that show off long scoops of chest (I'm pretty sure I own a shirt like that) is something I am sure all fangirls are grateful for. And his very black ensemble pleased me. A lot.

The problem with being a slasher is that sometimes I am not sure I am seeing what the general public would see. However, wandering up to Large House (which completely confirms my vague suspicion John came from a significant amount of money) with a tall, deeply hot, well-dressed guy hovering close; I mean, someone said bodyguard and sure, I can go with that, but John!Brother's look of resignation makes me wonder if John's been bringing deeply hot and well-dressed men with odd titles home for a while. Enough for John!Brother to remember that time John brought home his "thesis advisor" and caught them researching the strength of the library table and how much weight it could actually hold. "Reserach," John says with wide eyes and not even bothering to button his shirt. "Pretty sturdy. What is this, mahogany? Good stuff."

Stanford or Harvard makes me laugh; taking it as canon amuses me, but also taking it as John's idea of rebellion makes me wonder. When John was a teen, all the bad to the bone kids wore their ties with the wrong knot and went to Stanford to show off their teen independence. I--don't even know what to do with that one. I just--keep thinking, how did we get John Sheppard Rebel Leader and Disobeyer of Orders from this? It's utterly fascinating in ways I can't even articulate.

(Does anyone but me have a severe moment of cognitive dissonance imagining John at Harvard Business and taking over the family business with an MBA and a deep sense of hatred for his life? I just--stop and blink and think of him meeting CEO Rodney and if they'd hate each other as much as I suspect they would. Especially if John went along with it specifically to please his father. It just boggles the mind.)

The vague hostility between them was interesting, in that way that makes me wonder what happened there. John decides, for whatever reason, that his life was not going to go that way and walks out; other brother steps up and lives the life that John was supposed to have.

It was nice funeral, with lots of food and a disapproving brother (it is far too much to ask to get an approving one). Interesting in a mirror idea of what Rodney did to Jeannie when she disappointed him; I wonder if John's work to repair Jeannie's relationship with Rodney was proxy for what he couldn't do with his own father. He was in her position and knows how much it sucks and how much resentment builds up, and he doesn't want that for anyone else.

Ronon picking up snacks while screwing around with them [canon dialogue: "This is free, right?"] while they nod appropriately and think, where does John get these "civilian contractors" anyway will never, ever stop being funny. Later, John stares at his cell after listening to a voicemail: "I was asked if you have any brothers who would like to go into the civilian consultation business," John says, bewildered while Ronon smirks and says to add extra cheese to their pizza order.

John's ex-wife: well, that was. Something. John's sudden panic (in his understated John way) at her approach was the sort of thing we often see John do when faced with women when he's not sure what they want from him. The hug was--very John Sheppard, in that way he's praying for all of this to stop, stop, stop, and also, stop, please. Ronon wanders off to look at horses, because let's all face it, this never stops being funny. The stilted, awkward conversation between them seems pretty normal for two people who probably didn't know each other all that well while they were married and aren't sure what the rules are now.

Ava showing up to talk shop was annoying; if she's programmed with social interactions, I'm probably going out on a limb and saying she was programmed with the social interactions of a fairly socially retarded scientist. Funerals are not where you want to try and do business with anyone under normal circumstances. However, this is John Sheppard and external focus is his favorite thing on earth. He didn't do a little dance and song at finally having something to think about that's not related to dead father, estranged brother, and people coming up to assure him they understand Don't Ask, Don't Tell but want to say how glad they are he's found such a "civilian contractor": "I, uh, thanks?" John says as Ronon leans against the bar and presses his shoulder against John's while staring at the questioner, "Nice to see you too."




Later, When They Go Home

(Later, back on Atlantis, the debrief with the team while John's sleeping goes something like this:

"It was fun," Ronon says, eating the last of the pizza they brought back. Teyla's eyes narrow and Ronon remembers abruptly that her sticks are within reach. "Nice house, good food." Ronon waits until Rodney takes a bite of pizza, then leans back against Teyla's couch. "Told me that I really had a keeper in John."

Rodney spits out the piece in a fit of coughing while Teyla pounds on his back. "What--" Rodney says, red faced, voice strangled, "does that mean?"

Ronon leans his head back and looks at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Mom'd be proud. She always wanted me to marry well."

Rodney's silently hates him for the rest of the night and kidnaps John the next morning to subtly play video golf and remind him that Ronon's very pretty, but Rodney's a genius and also an excellent match.

"Your family would like me," Rodney says intensely as John lines up a spot. John blinks at him. "Better than Ronon, right?"

John stares back and tries to figure out how to answer this conversational equivalent of Do these pants make me look fat? There's really only one answer here. "Um. Sure?"

Rodney hits his radio triumphantly. "Ronon? They totally would have loved me more. Radek fix that problem with your door yet? Too bad about that." Turning it off, Rodney smiles at John over the top of the laptop. "Let's play again."

John's kind of scared to even ask. Later, Teyla tells him tiredly that she is never hosting anything in her room again, and also, John needs to get her some ice cream. He obeys without question; she's cuddling her sticks.)





Back to the main point

John!Brother's bitterness was kind of palpable when John had to go, but I was less than impressed with his conclusion jumping that John was back to contest the will and John's flash of anger at that. There's not nearly enough backstory to figure out what actually happened, but I get the feeling John might have taken literally the "And do not darken my doorway again" of his father's reaction and his father never got around to rescinding that completely. It makes me kind of wonder, actually, about how much his marriage had to do with himself and how much had to do with trying to find some way to please his father if his career and life choices were such a disappointment. It also makes me wonder if the final straw was the divorce.

John's short check when his brother told him that his father regretted their estrangement hurt.

Plot A: The Return of the Replicators, again

I could have lived without it, or actually, with something that was directly related to his family; I was hoping for his family's company to be involved (PTB, please do this please do this) and there could have been family drama and hard choices, but whatever.

Peterson, Ava, and Replicator3 were interesting, though I still can't tell what the actual purpose was supposed to be. Bates showing up was awesome; apparently civilian life is very, very good for mood disorders, what with being all about the awesomeness of seeing John and Ronon eyeing Bates thoughtfully and wondering more and more about this civilian contractor business.

"I thought he didn't like you," Ronon says later as they wander through Barnes and Noble to update John's golf magazine collection. John shrugs. "Didn't think he did." "When I was a kid, Ronon says seriously, "I really liked this girl and I used to pull her hair until she tried to hit me. She really hated me." John nods absently while sorting through the magazines; Tiger Woods, he thinks, then rewinds. Frowning, he looks at Ronon. "Why did you want her angry?" "I wanted her to notice me," Ronon answers. "Huh," John answers, and Ronon suddenly completely understands Rodney. He wonders if Rodney and Bates are still in touch.

But yes, bringing Bates back was very, very awesome. The plot, not so much. They question the guy about his research, he doesn't want to give it, which first is Oooh Military Secret Bad Thing or whatever and John works out which buttons to push; I can't help but wonder how often he used to do interrogations if he can figure out a weak point that quickly and how much he hates that he's so good at it. It also reminds me, in a completely vague association way, of the thing with torture and Caldwell from season two.

Dragging the sunburned scientist in was funny as hell; I do like knowing the guy did, in fact, go outside and not hole up with World of Warcraft in the tropics. Though his unfamiliarity with sunscreen is a concern.

John's second interaction with his ex was a lot better than the first; John had a specific purpose and more comfortable with her when he can move it to a less personal level. She doesn't seem so much bitter about their relationship and its end as frustrated that John still doesn't seem to think it's something he needs to apologize for, nor something he regrets. He wants information and knowing about her directorship, moves in, as John is nothing if not good at using what resources are available. It makes me wonder why he couldn't get it from anyone else; seriously, he has access to the SGC and the IOA resources, but this was somehow blocked from them all? I'd have been happier if they'd implied some kind of vague conspiracy somewhere to at least explain why he couldn't use someone who wouldn't a.) need an explanation, as they'd know or know tehy wouldn't get one or b.) be a former personal relationship that ended badly.

Blah blah, try to catch Replicator, blah blah, guy dying, blah blah, John wonders why he always gets assigned these guys who can't shoot. It was interesting, and it became more interesting when Ava found out they were brekaing the code. Ava turning out to be a replicator was a genuine surprise. And here's why I get a little confused.

Ava, early in the show, has a search running to find out when John comes back, which blips at the death of his father. Okay, so, she wants John. Why? I'm not sure what to think on that one, except that I kept wondering if she got impatient, because the convenience of John coming back just when she needed him and for the one thing her social programming would tell her would force his attendance--hmm. How long would she have waited for this specific person to return?

Replicator in space and re-entering atmosphere? Awesome. Ava doing an Aurora. Fantastic compromise, except why not let her work on science, because replicator and smart. Then it occurred to me, thanks to astolat's fic Time in a Bottle that even a really good VR is still not Real World and might not follow the laws of physics, especially those that they don't know about yet. So--yeah. Plus, she might find out where she was, or what had , and program herself an internal interface or who the hell knows. So that works.

John going to see his brother was sweet, but I just--seriously. SGA writers. I'd like to know what the hell happened. Two, three lines, something. I'd like to think we'll find out eventually, but it does give food for thought in John's abandonment issues if his family rejected him for whatever reason, he went off to do super secret things (SpecOps, Black Ops, amused with John's protest he'd never been on secret missions to Somalia (But North Korea, sure)) and ended up all his friends dying in super secret ways he couldn't even talk about to anyone, blackmarked and sent to freaking Antarctica, in which John gave up on that entire connection with human race thing because he's getting very, very tired of losing people he cares about.

No wonder he didn't want to leave Antarctica--at least there, being alone was finally his choice, not his destiny.

Finally

I loved this so much. My loud squee is muted for respect for John's grief, but so there. It makes me wonder about when he visited his brother, what he was thinking: reunion, duty, last goodbye, trying to mend something. I'm not sure he could have done that before now, since as of season one, he'd still been, at least to himself, without a family to claim and to claim him, and who he didn't think would care either way if he died.

First season, he chose three people for his team, and in light of this, I wonder what he was looking for, or if he even knew himself what he was doing, why he chose them, what he thought they would be to him or if they'd be anything at all.

And that is your overanalysis of the day. Please come back again for the cookies.

God, writing this took me almost three hours. I want a cookie.

Comments

[samdonne.livejournal.com]

I've long awaited some back story on Sheppard, but I'm almost relieved there was so little of it in Outcast, because in a way it's too late. Too late for the writers to give me anything I want to hear. I would have worked with anything they chose to give earlier on, but I've got my own little Sheppard mythology now, and I'm attached to it.

I cannot imagine them long term, just because two people who do not talk all that much, one of whom speaking in the language of obscure pop culture when pushed, can only end in them encouraging each other into greater feats of deathly silence and significant looks, at which time they might as well OT3 with Teyla so someone can translate for them full time.

If you ever write this (OT3, not 4), I'll trade you a story of your choice.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

If I ever could, I will think of you while writing. Trying to negotiate three sets of dynamics to create a semi-stable relationship is a little awe-inducing. Esp with Teyla in the mix and her presumed child.

But fascinating, esp on earth. Hmm.

[thisissirius.livejournal.com]

THREE HOURS?

you deserve lots and lots of cookies!

*gives*

also? rodney would so kidnap john and demand to know that he's better than ronon :D

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*hee* Thank you! And yes, he totally would.

[nymphaea1.livejournal.com]

I cannot imagine them long term, just because two people who do not talk all that much, one of whom speaking in the language of obscure pop culture when pushed, can only end in them encouraging each other into greater feats of deathly silence and significant looks, at which time they might as well OT3 with Teyla so someone can translate for them full time. But if I OTP'ed them, I'd probably be able to think around that.

And that's the exact reason why I do think they'd work long term. I just don't think there's anything fucked up about John's introversion. Really, if fandom and I ever do break up, it's going to be over this idea that people like John need to be cured. Because not so much, no.

Ronon seems able to get people and specifically John without talking. Probably because he's not a talker himself. I find it kind of hilarious really that John's supposed to be this fucked up utra-repressed guy when seriously no one on his team ever talks much below surface emotions. Even Teyla the supposed emotional guru is far better at revealing other people's emotions not her own.

I'd like to thank whoever responsible for putting him in a suit.

Yes. I feel very strongly that we should have a mirror universe episode where our John has to meet business man John so we get to have an entire episode of John in black and John in a suit.

Interesting in a mirror idea of what Rodney did to Jeannie when she disappointed him; I wonder if John's work to repair Jeannie's relationship with Rodney was proxy for what he couldn't do with his own father. He was in her position and knows how much it sucks and how much resentment builds up, and he doesn't want that for anyone else.

Yes, yes, yes. I've seen the comparison to M&MM with this episode, with John supposedly being Rodney in that scenario. But I do think he's Jeannie--the one who made a life choice their family didn't approve of and ended up cutting ties just because no one deserves to be judged for that.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I was thinking he *was* Jeannie in this; he was rejected for his life choices like Jeannie was for hers. I"ll clarify.

Edited to add: nevermind, you were saying I did get that across. *facepalm* Sorry.

[amireal.livejournal.com]

I've got a post that says this more, but I think, despite how BAD Rodney would be at it, I think John wanted him to come. If you watch the scene, upon confirmation of Rodney not coming, he throws his bag off the bed. Why do that? Wasn't he about to leave? Picking your bag off the bed is certainly easier you know?

I think he wanted SOMEONE there with him. Who wouldn't question him, who would know him and understand things and wouldn't condemn him for doing his job.

I DO think he automatically went for Rodney first, but you know, I have priorities. *G*

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I don't think he really expected anyone to come along, to be honest, so Rodney coming by was a double of "Really?" and "Okay." John's never really struck me as someone who *expects* that kind of thing even when he should.

[loligo.livejournal.com]

"I could have sworn I emailed you," Ronon's wide eyes seem to say. "Not so much," John's eyebrow answers. "And thanks," John's hair mutters while dipping toward the floor. "No problem," Ronon's dreds answer, "Lets get pizza later, okay?"

This totally happened. I *saw* it!

[seperis.livejournal.com]

It totally was. I could hear their tiny voices.

[akacat]

she was programmed with the social interactions of a fairly socially retarded scientist.

Um, duh?

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*G* I guess that went without saying.

[nestra.livejournal.com]

When John was a teen, all the bad to the bone kids wore their ties with the wrong knot and went to Stanford to show off their teen independence. I--don't even know what to do with that one. I just--keep thinking, how did we get John Sheppard Rebel Leader and Disobeyer of Orders from this?

OH MY GOD, he's Lorelai Gilmore. If he'd been female, he would have gotten pregnant at sixteen and run off to Connecticut to run an inn.

[emrinalexander.livejournal.com]

Or gone off to the U of Colorado and spent 8 out of nine months of his freshman year either skiing or mountain biking *G*.

[janedavitt.livejournal.com]

That was an awesomely entertaining mix of fic and review; enjoyed it!

I love John and Ronon. I really do, even if I can't write them without zeroing in on the power dynamics between them, which this season seem more muted somehow. I can see McKay in the mix very easily, too, and sure, what the hell, Teyla as well. They're all that tangled up and close, just like SG-1 were.

And Bates was a bit of a humorless by the numbers guy but I still squeed to see him again, looking happy and settled.

Ronon looks six inches taller on Earth, I swear he does.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Bates made me very happy. And--yeah. Ronon grew, didn't he. I really think he did.

sgareview: outcast s4e15

[maxinemayer.livejournal.com]

This was a wonderful analysis of SGA "Outcast" - not that I agree with every single thing you say but I certainly agree with most of it! And I adored your little scenes (ficlets) throughout! Really lovely stuff! Would you separate the scenes out and post them as episode-related ficlets? Please? They are so good and there's so much fic coming out for this episode that really really *good* stuff would be welcome! Thanks for posting.

Love, max
P.S. - My Spoiler for this episode contains a teeny weeny ficlet at the end - the first fiction I've written in 7 years! So inspiring was "Outcast!" Squee! But your scenes are so superior, I wish you'd post them.... Looks yearning at your writing....

Re: sgareview: outcast s4e15

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*hee* Thanks!

[emrinalexander.livejournal.com]

You know, the hilarious part to me - because I'm a horrible, horrible woman - is that the entire replicator on earth plot idea? THAT was the Flan's concept. The stuff about his family? That was tacked around the plot by the writers, which is why he was down in Australia going "I never figured they'd give him a wealthy background...I didn't picture that for Sheppard in my own head..." (Poor Flan, he keeps trying to be like normal people who have bank balances they actually have to balance once in a while, but he just is never going to get the real essence of poor - the man matches his pocket handkerchiefs to his hand-tailored yet wrinkled blazers in real life, and if those boots he has on in a lot of photos cost a penny less than about three months of my salary, I'll eat my next paycheck with onions. But he drinks tap water 'cause he's cheap and green - I love him, I hope he never changes *G*).

Oh god, anyway. I liked the Stanford vs. Harvard thing - Flan's own teen rebellion was to haul his ass off to the U of Colorado, Boulder instead of going to USC or Stanford like his sister and step brothers *G*. Man, I want a story where John is at some California posh private school and runs into Rodney- as his youthful and very scornful physics tutor...maybe Rodney is picking up bucks while waiting for funding at JPL/CalTech to come through one year. They could practice tying each other up with John's Old School Ties.

I adore Ronon, but I don't get any slashy vibes from him and John. They're like two sides of the very same car. John is not a talky person, but I think he needs more ... OTHER in a partner than he'd get from Ronon. I keep picturing them being the kind of dear friends who could cheerfully not see each other for 20 years, and then there entire catch-up conversation would be "How're you?" "Good. You?" "Good." "Rodney?" "Same." "Great talking to you." "Yeh." And then John hangs up the phone and Rodney is looking at him like he's on fire, and John would be all "What?" "That's how you catch up on 20 years?" "He's doing good! What more do I need to know?"

[amireal.livejournal.com]

We've had this discussion *G*, but yes, Sheppard was at LEAST wealthy middle class to me, but once he repeatedly picked blazers to run around on earth in, it said upper class, and it COULD have been "this is all we have in your size" but then HE DRESSED RONON IN A BLAZER which says to me, this is is fashion sense, look good in case you need to make an impression, but I'm wearing jeans because suit pants suck.

And that, my friends, is habit. He's comfortable in his blazer. He's comfortable about it being a wardrobe choice. He's comfy in BUTTON DOWN SHIRTS. This speaks of years in them. Rodney goes to earth and he's like the poster child for the color blind, John? Could probably look only slightly out of place in court. And oh, the matching tie and hankie-- that-- just doesn't HAPPEN without spending extra cash. It doesn't. (Though by then yes he was being dressed with wealthy in mind so not the same sort of observation.)

[suzvoy.livejournal.com]

This entire post was awesome. Especially the ficlet :D

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[jujuberry136.livejournal.com]

Great analysis- and three hours? Have some cookies.

The Ronon and Rodney competition scene was just hilarious. Poor Rodney, he didn't get to meet John's family.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

And he's going to be carrying around that for a bit, I bet. Because John met his, and by God, fair's fair.

[lovelokest.livejournal.com]

*hearts this and hands you a cookie* This ep filled me with SO MUCH LOVE. SO MUCH. Cat, BiPagan and I looked at each other when John introduced Ronon to Dave with identical "Did we just see Dave thinking 'Oh God, John brought home another boyfriend'?"

Oh, John, you suck at emotions.

I may be playing around in my head with an idea that will never get written. It involves Dave, Nancy and the symbiote from a loose Ba'al. At the will reading.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*dies* Oh, symbiote! Yes! You should! You should.

[cottontail.livejournal.com]

First season, he chose three people for his team, and in light of this, I wonder what he was looking for, or if he even knew himself what he was doing, why he chose them, what he thought they would be to him or if they'd be anything at all.

I noticed that John's brother looks a lot like Lorne and I wondered if his choice of Lorne as second in command was subconsciously linked to that resemblance. Probably not, but I can pretend. :)

[eleveninches.livejournal.com]

I'm pretending the same thing!

[mz-bstone.livejournal.com]

The brother's assumption about contesting the will?

I believed all too easily. I have a friend who's mum died years ago. They were on the outs, but she made it back to say good-bye, and attend the funeral. A sister she had always gotten on with? Refused to leave her in the house alone so she wouldn't take anything.

People get crazy.

B

[seperis.livejournal.com]

True, and yeah. *sighs*

[spike21.livejournal.com]

great review. I love seeing episodes through other people's eyes most especially when they got more out of the ep than I did. In terms of loving SGA I'm easily swayed to the positive (don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Outcast and yet at the same time felt a sort of emotional flatness about everything except the Team love parts of Rodney and Ronon and their care and feeding of John which make me want to hug things and... I have totally forgotten my point here, but anyway, uh, good review! (this incoherent ramble brought to you by generic nyquil)

[codyne]

Me too! I was all kind of meh about the episode until I read this. Now I see a lot more in it than I did before. Great review!

[devin-chain.livejournal.com]

I agree with someone(s?) above who said they love your combination of both fic and review. Oh yes.

Couldn't wait to read your take on this ep. I kept hitting refresh in hopes you'd posted your thoughts.

And three hours, Jenn? You deserve several of those giant cookies with the icing smily faces they sell at the mall. A white chocolate macadamia nut one with no skimping on the nuts. Chocolate chip with the big, square chips. Oatmeal raisin with that hint of cinnamon that makes all the difference.... And to have them served warm, with ice cream.

John looks so out of place on Earth with those he knew before. It's clear to me his decision to leave all that behind, possibly forever, was absolutely right.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

My fingers were cramping up! IT was very, very surreal.

I agree; I don't think he ever expected to see or talk to any of them again.

Thank you!

[tex.livejournal.com]

Jenn for the win. Best review of an episode ever. Plus, when you said this --

(Does anyone but me have a severe moment of cognitive dissonance imagining John at Harvard Business and taking over the family business with an MBA and a deep sense of hatred for his life?

I couldn't help but think of the John in "As Wide as the Sky" which btw, I love with a deep, abiding passion. He might have gotten into politics as a way of making up to his father all his shortcomings but he hates all the bullshit and just lets the tide take him, until he meets Rodney mcKay and he shows John that he really can make a difference. *sighs happily* I need to reread that today.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

And yes, hmm. That actually would fit the backstory there too. *enchanted*

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

COOKIE!
because, oh God, YES....

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*nodnodnod*

[green-grrl.livejournal.com]

Thank you for giving us the very minimum amount of backstory humanly possible

Which at face value goes against the early bio that said his father was a Cold War colonel. Though I've decided he could have been a colonel in the early Cold War, then retired and gone into the civilian contracting side, made a pile, gotten onto a bunch of boards of directors ... For those who still want that military-flavored Dad background. I do kind of miss the military-brat, "John's so surface and charming because he moved a lot" background.

Again, my love of Rodney is legion, but how in the name of God would they talk about feelings?

Actually, they've gotten pretty okay at talking to each other in difficult emotional situations lately -- when Rodney was ascending, after John talked Wallace into killing himself, when John has to pack Elizabeth's personal items. In their, you know, slightly awkward and hurriedly-moved-on-from way. Which makes me squee to no end, of course!

Pretty sturdy. What is this, mahogany? Good stuff.

Bwah! ♥ God, yes, the reactions of everybody at the funeral, especially Dave and Nancy, scream that the failed marriage was the last straw for the family, and that John's predilection for hunky "civilian contractors" had something to do with it. Heh!

I just--keep thinking, how did we get John Sheppard Rebel Leader and Disobeyer of Orders from this?

Actually, I think that coming from a background of privilege allows John to do that. He doesn't have the bone-deep, visceral experience of hunger/poverty/lack of support that would make him hesitate before acting on principle. A Maslow's hierarchy of needs thing. He doesn't have to put up or shut up for his superior officers, because even if he does get kicked out, he's educated and intelligent and has options. (In the same way the Earthers as a whole came into Pegasus privileged, and didn't really get the millennia of oppression from the Wraith.)

Though his unfamiliarity with sunscreen is a concern.

You know Rodney will be sending a vat of his special SPF100, stat! Because he is not trusting the safety of his sister and niece on Earth to the SGC's lead alien tech scientist if he's going to be dropping dead from melanoma.

I'd have been happier if they'd implied some kind of vague conspiracy somewhere to at least explain why he couldn't use someone who wouldn't a.) need an explanation, as they'd know or know tehy wouldn't get one or b.) be a former personal relationship that ended badly.

Word. That was just poor, poor writing. Gen. Jack O'Neill is the President's direct advisor. Of course he could get a hold of the info. *eyeroll*

In conclusion? John inna suit. *drool*

Cookies for you!

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Actually, they've gotten pretty okay at talking to each other in difficult emotional situations lately -- when Rodney was ascending, after John talked Wallace into killing himself, when John has to pack Elizabeth's personal items. In their, you know, slightly awkward and hurriedly-moved-on-from way. Which makes me squee to no end, of course!

Definitely, but--again Dead, estranged father. I keep thinking Rodney would end up taking John shopping and communicate in teh language of skateboards or something.

Actually, I think that coming from a background of privilege allows John to do that. He doesn't have the bone-deep, visceral experience of hunger/poverty/lack of support that would make him hesitate before acting on principle. A Maslow's hierarchy of needs thing. He doesn't have to put up or shut up for his superior officers, because even if he does get kicked out, he's educated and intelligent and has options. (In the same way the Earthers as a whole came into Pegasus privileged, and didn't really get the millennia of oppression from the Wraith.)

Hmm. Yeah, but--the thing is, I still tend to linger on the fact he was probably special ops, one, and two, I'm not sure I buy an entire lifetime or rebellious behavior from him. There's a part of me that thinks that part was far more recent in his military career than the rest, maybe around the time that he tried to save that guy after the helicopter crash, but it bears thinking. Lots of thinking.

MMM. Cookie.

Thanks for this!

[cathalin.livejournal.com]

This was awesome. And totally what happened, when John and Ronon's body languages were talking to each other.:) Thanks so much for this chance to re-live the ep.

One small thing. I went back and checked, because I thought I had heard this line slightly differently, and I don't think we know where/if John went to college, based on his conversation with Ronon. This is what he days:

"It's just . . . my dad's idea of teenage rebellion was going to Stanford instead of Harvard."

So, again, we have the thing where he is saying what his *dad's* idea was -- not what his own idea was, or what actually happened. You could certainly think based off of this that that was what John did, but you also could think that it wasn't, that he got out of there as soon as he could, which would probably be around 18? Personally, I kinda think John's idea of teenage rebellion was a bit more than going to Stanford (and tying his tie in a different knot, lol:)). But I don't know - he could have gone to Stanford - it's ambiguous.

While I was at it, I replayed the Rodney/John scene (how could I not), and wow, what a wonderful, wonderful scene. I *heart* them. The love came through with every awkward word and cough, wow. I think even non-slash viewers would get from that scene that they are very, very close.

Re: Thanks for this!

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I kind of agree regarding college; I just like the idea of him thinking this is the big bad rebellion of his teenage years, "I'm going to Stanford and you can't stop me!" But mostly, the fact that was waht his father considered rebellion and that was, at the time, what John considered rebellion then--sort of. It's just a funny spec thought.

While I was at it, I replayed the Rodney/John scene (how could I not), and wow, what a wonderful, wonderful scene. I *heart* them. The love came through with every awkward word and cough, wow. I think even non-slash viewers would get from that scene that they are very, very close.

God yes. That was excellent from both of them, and I loved how protective and unobviously careful Ronon was with him. *happy sigh*

more cookies...gingerTeam!

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

ALSO, did no one remark upon the utter, complete lack of blood female relatives for John at said funeral? Where's John's mom? Auntie Em? Sisters: Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy? And the SGA writers seem to think it's so natural to only have male blood relatives that they didn't even do a one-liner handwavy explanation for it...

Did this only seem really weird to me? I kept expecting Ronon to ask: "where are the women of your clan? why aren't they conducting the funerary rites?"

It feels oddly like we're supposed to suspect John's a Replicator himself. Or a clone. Or hatched from an egg...or rather, a sperm....

Re: more cookies...gingerTeam!

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Did this only seem really weird to me? I kept expecting Ronon to ask: where are the women of your clan? why aren't they conducting the funerary rites?"

That would have been AWESOMECAKES!

So true, the lack of women. Huh. Oh, SGA writers.

[wneleh.livejournal.com]

Ava's the murderer in my personal canon. What else was she going to do? Keep on waiting for John to pop up?

Big question for me today is, why does an episode like this lead some to good fic and interesting meta, while I just wanted to give up halfway through and watch Zoey 101?

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I was wondering about that m'self. If she had.

*heh* Well, John's kind of my focus, so for me, anything that has him on his own is utterly entrancing. And I love getting more on his family. *happy*

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Loooved your review-slash-novel.

John/Ronon does not work for me on a very fundamental level, but I so enjoyed the beginning of the episode and all the John interaction, including the revealing scenes with his ex-wife.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*takes* Cookie!

I like JOhn/Ronon in a very frustrated not-shipper perspective. I cant' get there at this point, but darn it, I wish sometimes I could.

[beeej.livejournal.com]

*points to icon*

John going to see his brother was sweet, but I just--seriously. SGA writers. I'd like to know what the hell happened.

I felt this way too, at first. When the credits rolled, there was yelling and flailing at the TV here at Chez Beeej. But I've decided that I actually like it better this way. They gave us just enough John backstory to be able to see the big picture while allowing us to fill in the details on our own. It's almost like they know we're going to write our own versions of things, so they set everything up for us to do that. Quite nice of them, actually. ;)

[seperis.livejournal.com]

True. It allows for a ton of leeway in fic and that is definitely awesome.