![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The Tracker, intial reaction
Okay, I actually went into this episode expecting to come away disliking it. Simply put, spoilers are evil and can taint my views on something that I have no idea if it's going to happen.
The main thing that I was expecting, and thank god it did not happen (or at the very least was low key), was love triangles. It is possibly one of my biggest pet peeves in television, and fiction in general. Especially love triangles between friends. Perhaps it's my own past experiences tainting things, but usually it happens between three very good people, the two "made-for-each-other" end up together, and a third party gets really hurt, and the two people I'm supposed to like and be happy for I usually want to slap the living daylights out of. It's ruined several shows for me, and I was really scared it was going to harsh majorly on my SGA squee.
Thankfully, it hasn't happened (at least yet).
Happily, for me, this episode wasn't about Ronon and Rodney fighting for Keller's affections as they fight Wraith and Runners, but hey, about Keller being kidnapped, being a medical doctor with ethics and savvy, and kicking a little ass. It also had a B-plot with Rodney and Ronon running around the woodslooking hot, and, of course, Rodney being the biggest damsel-in-distress in the episode (which is so how it should be. Yay show! \o/ ) Love Rodney's girly "Hello Wraith! Easy prey found here!" scream, still looking away and firing wildly with his pistol, and for the most part not being an action hero, even when he is. I really did enjoy his and Ronon's B-plot (and the fact that it was the B-plot?), because we just don't see much of a shake-up outside of the John + Teammate pair up, and it was nice to see an offworld adventure that defied the norm. It wasn't the Ronon/Teyla buddy adventure I was hoping against hope for on the Improbable Wish List, but it was still great fun. (With swinging logs! And Runner-built bear traps! ♥!).
And I really liked Keller in this. Even if she was "kidnapped in the woods", she didn't play the damsel-in-distress (once again, oh, Rodney) she rescued herself, and had that same attitude and presence onscreen that made me really enjoy her part in "Trio". Of course, now I have really confused myself, because my reaction to her parts in season five has been all over the place. Serisouly, I have no clue, maybe some serious viewer issues going on or something. I enjoyed her in "Search and Rescue", was kind of blah about the poor girl in "The Seed", have extremely mixed reactions on her for "The Shrine", kind of wanted her to be quiet last week, and this week I'm wanting her autograph. So seriously, what is wrong with me? I'd like to blame it on the writing, but I honestly don't think that's it.
(There's more I've written that's now going to go into a follow-up meta post, because it has nothing to do with this episode.) (ETA: On second thought, it became a bit ranty, so it's going on the private filter now :)
So, in summary: Kick-ass Keller (plz stay, i♥u), Rodney screams like a little girl (♥), and his aim with a gun drastically improves when he's trying to save someone else (♥), Ronon=Survival Instructor (♥), Hot Runner Ver. 2.0 is hot and fun (♥), little girl wants Rodney ejected from the infirmary (♥).
The main thing that I was expecting, and thank god it did not happen (or at the very least was low key), was love triangles. It is possibly one of my biggest pet peeves in television, and fiction in general. Especially love triangles between friends. Perhaps it's my own past experiences tainting things, but usually it happens between three very good people, the two "made-for-each-other" end up together, and a third party gets really hurt, and the two people I'm supposed to like and be happy for I usually want to slap the living daylights out of. It's ruined several shows for me, and I was really scared it was going to harsh majorly on my SGA squee.
Thankfully, it hasn't happened (at least yet).
Happily, for me, this episode wasn't about Ronon and Rodney fighting for Keller's affections as they fight Wraith and Runners, but hey, about Keller being kidnapped, being a medical doctor with ethics and savvy, and kicking a little ass. It also had a B-plot with Rodney and Ronon running around the woods
And I really liked Keller in this. Even if she was "kidnapped in the woods", she didn't play the damsel-in-distress (once again, oh, Rodney) she rescued herself, and had that same attitude and presence onscreen that made me really enjoy her part in "Trio". Of course, now I have really confused myself, because my reaction to her parts in season five has been all over the place. Serisouly, I have no clue, maybe some serious viewer issues going on or something. I enjoyed her in "Search and Rescue", was kind of blah about the poor girl in "The Seed", have extremely mixed reactions on her for "The Shrine", kind of wanted her to be quiet last week, and this week I'm wanting her autograph. So seriously, what is wrong with me? I'd like to blame it on the writing, but I honestly don't think that's it.
(There's more I've written that's now going to go into a follow-up meta post, because it has nothing to do with this episode.) (ETA: On second thought, it became a bit ranty, so it's going on the private filter now :)
So, in summary: Kick-ass Keller (plz stay, i♥u), Rodney screams like a little girl (♥), and his aim with a gun drastically improves when he's trying to save someone else (♥), Ronon=Survival Instructor (♥), Hot Runner Ver. 2.0 is hot and fun (♥), little girl wants Rodney ejected from the infirmary (♥).
no subject
I hate the 'two guys fighting over a girl' angle, I do, but competent Keller, and a hot new Runner and tough tracker Ronon and adorable Rodney with his non-existing combat skills and a new alien gadget and BEAUTIFUL Vancouver nature, it all made for a very enjoyable episode.
I can't pinpoint my reaction to Keller either. I like her, but I can't stop myself from thinking that she is too young to be Head of Medicine on an alien outpost. It keeps me from fully enjoying her character.
And about the love triangle. I don't understand why Rodney becomes so clueless and awkward when he likes a woman. Give me the overly-confident, acerbic Rodney who went after Carter in SG-1, over this stumbling, awkward guy any day. Ronon, however - oh, I love her with Ronon! I think they are adorable together - it shows Ronon's softer side and I love how he handles their friendship, very cool and low key.
no subject
A great big "YES!" to all the things you mentioned (I seriously loved the forest in this episode, so very pretty.) I wasn't exactly thrilled about it at first, but I have warmed to the idea of Ronon and Keller. I'm also not opposed to the idea of Rodney/Keller, but I had serious issues with the way it was dealt with in "The Shrine" that makes me hesitant to want to see it onscreen now.
I don't understand why Rodney becomes so clueless and awkward when he likes a woman. Give me the overly-confident, acerbic Rodney who went after Carter in SG-1, over this stumbling, awkward guy any day.
You see, I think Sam is a different ball game entirely *g* He sees her as being the same level as him mentally (and she completely beats him out in the physical and heroic aspect), and so he's threatened by her... as well as attracted to her. But I don't think he ever really believes there's a serious chance with her, like he might with Katie, Keller, or even Allina from "The Brotherhood". So in that way, he's more comfortable being around her, because he "doesn't stand a chance". Those he might have a shot at, he can't act like himself (ie: "the kinder, gentler Rodney McKay"), because he doesn't believe they'd like him. But, er, that's just my take on it.
no subject
Yes to pretty much all of this. The main reason I can't quite enjoy Keller's char is because I don't get her - I don't understand how she got her job; moreover, I don't understand why she wants her job. Is she interested in proving herself, or saving people, or meeting hot guys, or what?
Give me the overly-confident, acerbic Rodney who went after Carter in SG-1, over this stumbling, awkward guy any day.
YES. Okay, he was totally obnoxious about it - but Rodney knew what he wanted and he wasn't afraid to admit it, and he genuinely wanted Sam (even if mainly on the sexual level) rather than "a relationship" - which is how he comes across, to me, with both Katie Brown and Keller - that he's not attracted to them so much as attracted to the idea of being in love and having a girlfriend, never really getting to know the person he's supposedly in love with...
...eheh will stop ranting now. Sorry, Greyias! But. Yes. This.
no subject
Oh yes, exactly that. Even Sgt Dusty got to explain why she transfered to Pegasus.
What really galls me, is the numerous posts and semi-scientific poll 'conclusions' that point to it being our fault that SGA was discontinued, because we, the fans, hate Keller.
I don't hate Keller, I don't begrudge her her scenes and I would love to see her in a relationship with Ronon (and why these things always have to be dragged out for two seasons, lord knows. Who would wait that long, stuck on a small base). But you know writers - I for one, would love some background, some explanation as to why she's Head of Medicine, brain surgeon, plastic surgeon *and* genetic scientist at the tender age of 26. It helps me to understand and warm up to her character.
[/rant]
no subject
O RLY? XD Awesome that the first time the network executives decide to listen to "our opinion" they decide it's such a lost cause because people don't like one character. That someone would even suggest something is so... so... I'll stop myself before I possibly start wanking.
But my curiosity is piqued... which polls are these?
ps Grey, I'd love to read that follow-up meta post. XD
Okay... I'll see if I can salvage the tangential rants into some actual meta. Right now it's more rambly, and not exactly coherent.
no subject
I was overstating the numbers a little (*g*), but this one (http://dragonladyk.livejournal.com/136890.html) was posted in the newsletter. I found it biased (the 'like' option was *not* part of the poll), but the results (http://dragonladyk.livejournal.com/138276.html) were interpreted and posted anyway, and you know how it goes, once it is out there, people don't dismiss it out of hand.
Then, according to Jewel Staite herself (http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=147037658&blogID=421479063&Mytoken=9B2A5486-46E4-4287-86DC8436D9B9FFDB48378429), there is a "world of anti-Keller threads" out there and even Joe M. addressed the anti Keller feelings on his blog.
Of course a show doesn't go from a 2.0 rating to 0.9/1.3 without something causing that, so maybe the termination of Beckett and Weir had more impact than the network expected and Keller and Carter couldn't counter that. I'm just not sure if a new show aimed at an entirely different demographic is the way to go. If I were C&W I would have hung on to SGA for one more season to see how SGU will pan out, but maybe they don't have the budget to produce two shows (which is worrisome in itself).
no subject
so maybe the termination of Beckett and Weir had more impact than the network expected and Keller and Carter couldn't counter that
I do think that killing off major characters is a turn off for audiences, and not just for die-hard fans who possibly over analyze it on their journals *g* I don't fan hard on every show I watch, but if they kill off my favorite character, or a character that I really like... it's doubtful I'll tune back in next year. Despite what producers may think, I personally don't watch television for shock value or realism.
The reasoning behind SGA's cancellation still baffles me, because it's natural to try and lead in a new show with something that will help boost it's audience. It could possibly be budgetary reasons, shows get really expensive year six plus... but who knows. There's some days I have a hard time not feeling like SGA is the red-headed step-child of the Stargate franchise.