cat_77 | "Family Ties" and "Submersion"

So, I had some thoughts on this week’s episodes. Needless to say, there will be spoilers for SG-1’s “Family Ties” and Atlantis’ “Submersion”…

SG-1: Family Ties

There were some cute points, but there were also some “What were you thinking?” points as well.

What I liked:

- Seeing evidence that Sam and Vala actually hung out and had ‘girl time’ together without being overly pink-petal-pushers about it and without dumbing them down or over-sexing them too much to do so.

- Seeing the rest of the team get a bit defensive and/or protective when Vala admits Jasek calls and they figure out it’s her less than loving father.

- Seeing Vala really want to try to believe in/love her father, but know she’s been burned by him far too many times to fall for it again.

- The team supporting Vala, not pushing too hard, and actually seeming like she’s one of them and belongs.

What I did not like:

- Would Sam, a ten year veteran of the program, really wait until only an hour before a mission to get to base? And why would she go shopping if she’s working that day?

- Jasek’s slime was a bit over the top, not to mention how the hell he was able to get away with so much. Wouldn’t he have security assigned to him, at least for a bit?

- The Landry/Lam/Mama-Lam thing seemed a bit too forced. I know they were trying to humanize him a bit more, and have him make amends with his daughter before the series ends, but still... Though, nice touch with Lam knowing him well enough to know the likelihood of him getting distracted.

- The bit with Vala and the box at the end. I know it’s supposed to be a sentimental touch to show she still loves her father throughout all his faults, but it also forgets a major plot point:

o She was a host to a Goa’uld.

o Goa’uld are not known for letting their hosts keep sentimental reminders of their past.

o If her village couldn’t tell the difference between the host and the bonded pair and tortured her when she returned, do you really think they would have kept all of her stuff untouched?

o Just how long was she a host for anyway? Obviously long enough for multiple villages on likely multiple worlds to associate her face with Qetesh. Why is her father still so young? Doesn’t that kind of marginalize her previous suffering by hinting it really was not that long?

- Sam drinking on base while still in uniform. I’m pretty sure that would break a rule or three.

- Teal’c getting embarrassed at the Vagina Monologues. Wouldn’t it be more in character for him to just sort of cock his eyebrow and take it as another Earth learning experience?

One thing that was mentioned on the Alphagate list was some of the meta-commentary added to the show. Sam explaining to Jasek about how the program does not get the support and funding you would think it would considering its importance. It was also pointed out that Doctor Lee shouts out “Eureka!” in the background at that point. That made me giggle.

~~~

Atlantis: Submersion

When I watched this with my boys, I warned them there was a sea monster-like thing in it and it was up to them if they wanted to watch it. My eldest said, “It’s okay, I’ve got a pillow,” and held one up to his face. My youngest said, “It’s okay, I’ve got a paper airplane and I know how to use it,” and held it up to his face.

What I liked:

- The petty bitching in the Jumper. It was cute and limited to the people who are known friends and therefore more realistic. Loved the “Don’t make me pull this thing over,” though I do believe they forgot a chance at “Are we there yet?”

o Random question: Why would they all keep their tac vests on in the Jumper for that long of a ride? Wouldn’t that get uncomfortable?

- Ronon trusting Teyla’s sense over the computers.

- Ronon being more than willing to shoot Teyla if necessary while she was trying to communicate with the Wraith, and that was before she kicked his ass.

o Random question: Why should she keep her tac vest on while meditating and risking losing control? Wouldn’t her extra gear be used against her friends if she turned?

- Teyla kicking Ronon’s ass. It never gets old.

- Ronon visibly limping after Teyla kicked his ass.

- John’s “But I *hate* queens!” whine. Hee.

- Rodney actually trying to remember the names of the scientists. He was wrong a couple of times (including, the “Huh, I thought I requested Grayson…” moment), but did try to remember, really he did.

- Teyla being strong enough to fool the Wraith Queen.

- Elizabeth, ever the diplomat, taking Rodney out of the room at the end to “help” him and let the other three get some sleep.

What I did not like:

- Why the hell did Elizabeth come along? She was kind of extraneous and it seemed odd to put the leader of the expedition at risk when it wasn’t really necessary. Yes, she was there for Teyla (femslash, anyone?) but had very little else to do. Unless, of course, they are trying to remind us she’s a member of the team and we care about her and they are about to do something horrible to her, but they would never do that, would they? [innocent look]

- Two scientists alone, without escort, away from the rest of the group, with a possible Wraith on the loose – who thought this was a good idea? On Atlantis, do the red shirts always wear blue?

- Do they just randomly bring with sedation kits on mission now? Complete with bondage ties?

- Teyla’s huge long, overly dramatic monologue about what happened to the Wraith.

- Big climax, shoot the Wraith, doesn’t work, shoot her some more, and then... just leave her there assuming she’s dead? Shouldn’t they, I don’t know, cut off her head or something? They spent the episode talking about her amazing healing abilities and how strong she was; wouldn’t you think they would want to make sure she was really dead instead of just mostly dead?

- Not one single comment about Carson. Not a one.

A final note on the final scene: So much fan fic, so little time. They left it open for hurt/comfort fic with either nightmares or injuries being more than what they seemed, drama fic where something else goes horribly wrong on the station before help arrives, and smut fic with Teyla, Ronon and Sheppard (with an added bonus of Rodney and Elizabeth joining in if you want them to stop by and check on their friends). The possibilities are endless.