The Tracker, intial reaction

[greyias]

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 woods looking 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 (♥).

Comments

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I had a similar reaction, was expecting to dislike it and was surprised I didn't. I do kinda wish Rodney & Ronon had been the A-plot, because yay for woodsy hijinx and saving themselves/each other - but then the triangle might've been emphasized in that case, so more content with it like this.

Damsel-in-distress!Rodney is so pretty! *cough* (and the bear-trap! Weren't we just talking about that? XP)

Keller...ehhhhh. I'm annoyed because I did like her when she was first introduced, and now I've swung over to not liking her, and I'm having trouble swinging back even though she did a lot of good stuff in this ep that I should like her for. I was really pleased to hear she has been studying hand-to-hand (and also pleased that they pitted her against a Wraith that had already been shot in the heart a couple times, because it made it believable to me that she could defend herself while Rodney reloaded. Which he really needs to practice more, poor thing. Though I liked how he fired without hesitating, confident enough of his aim even with Keller right there - mmm, Rodney with pistol, saving people!)

(I, uh, am very curious about your ranty post. Could I be on that filter? Or else could you send a private copy? I promise I won't argue too much? ^^;)

[greyias.livejournal.com]

*sobs* I had a huge, insightful post on Keller, and humorous and fun alternative A-plots for this episode written out, and then I accidentally closed the tab, and I'm not sure I remember most of it. Very annoying.

Damsel-in-distress!Rodney is so pretty! *cough*

They should put Rodney in mortal peril once a week, just so we can have adequate eye candy. I certainly wouldn't complain.

(and the bear-trap! Weren't we just talking about that? XP)

We were! I actually giggled a little when I saw the trap because of that! Well, it's less steel and metal, but still looks just as painful.

I, uh, am very curious about your ranty post. Could I be on that filter? Or else could you send a private copy?

LOL, well, both you and trystings asked to see it... so maybe I'll try and salvage something that resembles an actual post. I wound up stopping after I got off into a big tangent about the last five seconds of "The Shrine", that definitely strayed from meta into the territory of "TPTB aren't writing to my specifications". Which, uh, wasn't my original point. Darn tangents.

I promise I won't argue too much? ^^;

Haha, I'd more likely just blink, decide you were right, and change the subject. It's why I always have to leave the room when people start discussing politics, because for some reason that tactic never works.