"This Mortal Coil" Initial Ep Reaction

[greyias]

Well, I can't say two of the big twists in this episode I figured out before they aired.

Spoilers below the cut.

As soon as I saw stills from the promos they released, and noticed that Rodney was in his original costume in some (and then noticed it on other people), I knew what was going on. Well, not that they were humans with nanites, but that they weren't the original team. So I guess I didn't see that coming. The tower not being the real Atlantis... well there's no way they could fix that, and they'd mess up all their pretty establishing shots. I thought it was going to be Asuras for a while (until I noticed it was Ancient ship, then I remembered that Larrin has an Ancient ship, but then I was like... well, it was a cycling of thoughts). So I sorta knew, but I guess I didn't know.

That said, it's always an interesting concept. I liked that they never used the word "clone". It's a very dehumanizing term (just like Replicator. Why can't they call them Asurans? That's who they are!). One thing bugged me though... was this supposed to take place as if Atlantis had escaped ala "Lifeline" and "Adrift", and thus that's why Elizabeth was sequestered in a different section of the city? And speaking of Elizabeth 2.0, I don't recall seeing her in the jumper in the end, nor did she come through the gate. Exactly where did she get herself off to? Guess we'll see in the next episode.

Was disappointed Team Shep 2.0 (probably) did not survive the episode, as I think it would make interesting fic fodder of the nanite-Atlanteans as they try to make their way in Pegasus. Guess there's always AU, but I've got so many already. No more bunnies, please! (sholio you are partially responsible for this. Curse you and your awesome Texas AU!)  ...but I digress.

Favorite moments:

The two Sheppards rolling their eyes as the Rodneys start talking over each other, their pitch and speed picking up exponentially.

The disgruntled Ronons, not liking each other. Apparently "there can be only one"!

Radek and Rodney's talk, the fact that Carson's death has finally been acknowledged. Thank you JM!

Oh, and of course, John coming to check up on Rodney at the end, and try to make him sleep (but I think understanding that throwing himself into his work is Rodney's way of dealing, or rather, not dealing until a more convenient time). The fade to black, pause, "beepbeepbeepbeepbeeeeeeeep" "Oh. Crap." was also nicely done. There's a cliffie that won't kill me with suspense, although seeing as how I was bouncing up and down around yesterday for new episodes, I don't think it's cliffhangers that keep me coming back.

Okay, off to read and respond to others!

Comments

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

I think the emotional punch to the gut for Rodney and John at interaction with Elizabeth knowing she was gone was so emotional. John saying he was going to pack up her stuff and ship it.....the loss is just WOW.

On a shallow note, John's new and improved stick fighting skills was awesome and come on, let's have an eppy where we see him throw down!

[greyias.livejournal.com]

John's stick fighting skills are very nice. I'd really like an episode to see him use them against bad guys, rather than just his teammates. I can just see it, our three warriors in front, kicking ass, taking names, and in the back you have Rodney waving a sword around wildly, one arm covering his face shouting, "Not in the face! Not in the face!"

The end was so sad, John going to pack up her things. The look on his face... oh, it made me want to give him an Awkward Sheppard Hug™. However... I don't know. It makes sense for Oberoth to kill the real Elizabeth, but at the same time, I'm just having a hard time believing it, perhaps because it's just referenced in dialogue, and not actually seen.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

friendshipper you are partially responsible for this. Curse you and your awesome Texas AU

LOL ... if I take this to mean that you have a plot bunny for the Texas AU-verse, you are entirely welcome to write it, you know! Or in a tangentially-related AU ... you know ... whatever. I would certainly love to get to read more Texas AU stories without actually having to write them. *g*

I already went into my reactions to the episode in great detail over at my journal. I was fairly disappointed in a lot of it, but I did like some scenes very much (oh, and in my list of scenes I liked, forgot to mention that one with John coming to check up Rodney! I did so like that ... although if he'd also brought him food or coffee, I might have exploded in a cloud of squee).

[greyias.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's... I'm not sure exactly how I got from your Texas AU to that point, but I did. It's sort of a tangent, in my mind I'm setting it in my hometown, just to see if it works. Mostly I think it's your ideas on Rodney's government work (and the strings he can pull because of it) that inspired it. But trust me, if an idea comes for me for that AU, it shall be written, it's just so awesome not to. Teyla as an Aggie makes me giggle.

...although if he'd also brought him food or coffee, I might have exploded in a cloud of squee

That would've been tragic (mostly because I might have joined you). It was very well done. As much as I'm kinda meh on JM's scripts, it does seem that as a producer, he's trying to give the fans more team interactions and the kinds of friendship scenes we want to see. (I was going to say the kinds of scenes "fans want to see", then I remember how much he loves torturing the shippers). I'm always so flip-floppy about him...

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

That is the problem with Joe M.....he really does try to give the 'fan's more team moments and so much desired character devlopments and heck he sneaks in whump when he can.

He's just a poor writer who reads too much sci-fic and rehashes everything without a sense of pace.

I like show runner Joe M but not the screen writers. And yes on having the Team kick major ass in some big throw down!! Why spar all teh time?

[greyias.livejournal.com]

I do give him points for the whump, and especially the team moments. But I definitely did not enjoy "Travelers" this season, but I think part of it was casting, but that episode had a lot of problems, not just Larrin. I think I agree with you, I like JM the show-runner. As a screen writer... meh. His blog amuses me more than it should, so I don't know why it doesn't translate on screen.