This was a weird episode. I don't feel like dissecting it in my customary fashion, so will only point out aspects that are interesting or contradictory or ... you know ... infuriating (because one can never have too much of the latter in SGA, amirite?).
It's team plus Jennifer in the shuttle, off on a dangerous mission, as far as Rodney's concerned anyway.
Let's add some dialogue from Rodney, presumably directed at Jennifer, filled with innuendo: "Ah, you never forget your first." ::rolls eyes::
Silly boyz are silly. Rodney: "What, no 'Hullo, greetings weary travellers'?" John: "Guess not. So much for the red carpet."
It's hilarious to hear team discussing that this could be a double cross, again, and yet they've voluntarily gone into the lion's den ... again. [That's one of the things that JM hated in SGA – the youthful optimism and heroic idealism of the expedition – and couldn't wait to counter with ugly, raw and self-serving emotions in SGU.]
Oooh, yummy fruit. Well, Rodney thinks so until he learns where it came from. Suddenly, he's not hungry any more.
And cue Jennifer and her nervous explanation. So, would someone like to tell me why timid Jennifer is on the mission. It's not as if she's personally needed to pass the information to Todd? I guess TPTB were just so entranced they simply had to put her character into as many episodes as possible in S5. ::sighs::
Once the team plus Jennifer are alone and Todd's left to consider the proposal, the snark comes out. There are some terrific lines.
With Todd back in the room, it's hilarious to realize that he may have exaggerated his own status among the Hives. Oh, Todd. ::giggles:: But, wait, he has a plan. Just convince the Queen of Queens. Who's never been mentioned until this episode. Continuity? What's that? [Production note: this is the only time a Queen was not portrayed by Andee Frizzell during the run of the show.]
Only one problem: the QoQ will only speak with another Queen and Todd's Hive – sadly – is without one. What to do, what to do? I'm sure Teyla wants to know WHY Todd's looking at her with a gleam in his eyes. Eeeeek.
Can I be confused by the geopolitical discussion. Where is it shown that enslaving the people of Pegasus rather than feeding on them is a natural outcome and expected risk? Doesn't it take extra resources to enslave people instead of ignoring them? And John confirms it's happened in the Milky Way. ::iz really confused without examples::
Anyway, Teyla is the voice of reason, that Atlantis can't just sit back and watch while the Hives fight one another, because what if Todd's Hive is defeated. Better the enemy one knows rather than the alternative. Okay, cue Todd's entrance to Atlantis (one hopes via an intermediate Alpha site).
As always, Chris H's evolving portrayal of Todd is captivating. I'd hate to think of how wooden the performance could have been with a less-skilled actor.
Teyla is finally revealed as the Queen. Good thing, too, or else Rodney's coffee consumption would have gone through the roof. Mind you, I think his line wasn't convincing: he's so used to coffee, it should take more than just three cups to make him feel a buzz!
Back on Todd's Hive, Teyla is an uncertain Eliza Doolittle to an impatient Todd's Professor Henry Higgins. Why do I think it's silly for Teyla to believe that her Wraith DNA would be convincing and that the regal bearing not as necessary? Considering how theatrical many of the Wraith are, especially Todd, it seems illogical for Teyla not to understand that instinctively.
While the rest of the team is waiting and anxious about it, Todd wears Teyla out (that's my impression) and she's resting. I'm wondering if Teyla deliberately secluded herself because she didn't want her teammates to see just how unnaturally queenly she'd become.
Anyway, it's showtime. Teyla and Todd are about to transport over to the QoQ's Hive. Rodney, bless his heart, is being worried, but also very boy-scoutish that they'll rescue her, in case something happens. Which it's not going to, according to an equally adamant John. Oh, boyz. ::grins::
Things aren't exactly going as planned aboard the other Hive ship as Teyla and Todd are welcomed by the Queen's second-in-command who orders the Hive to go to hyperspace. Uh-oh, that sure wasn't a part of the plan.
Back on Todd's Hive, Ronon's especially not pleased to see what's happened. Cue blaster being aimed at Todd's second-in-command.
On the QoQ's ship, we finally meet the Primary. Well, she doesn't live long as Todd stabs her without warning and then presses the knife into Teyla's hand and gives her a quickie lesson of how power changes hands in Wraith society. Violently.
Teyla really digs deep to convey Wraith queenfulness, both in chastising Todd and then in assuming what she considers to be her rightful status.
Once Teyla and Todd are alone, we get a very strange explanation from Todd about the nature of Wraith. "Most Wraith seek to be ruled. They fear being without a Queen. I knew that if you presented yourself as a viable substitute, most of them would just fall in line." [Hmmm. Really makes one wonder how much of Michael's independent behaviour was created by the retro-viral reversal to almost-human. And I'm reminded of that seminal James T. Kirk speech about how humans just don't make docile pets. OTOH, it also makes the whole feeling alive and strong from feeding on humans an almost impotent experience. What's the point when you can't even exist without some form of independence?]
Back on Todd's Hive, the boys are talking. And John's done gone and named Todd's second Kenny. Rodney is miffed because HE never gets to name anything. Aw, poor Rodney. ::pets him:: Anyway, John says they have to go rescue Teyla.
Kenny comes by to inform them that the Primary's Hive dropped out of hyperspace. They know because they received a signal. [When I saw that red flashing light, I so wanted there to be a caption ... something along the lines of "Todd is here".]
Where Todd is is deflecting the other second-in-command from making Teyla read a computer in a language she doesn't understand. So, what's the problem? Oh, just another hive where they shouldn't be, nearby. There's some suspicion on the second-in-command's part, but he leaves Todd and Teyla alone so they can think of how to act.
Well, John for one knows how to act: attack the other Hive. Makes a great diversion, even though Rodney's not thrilled.
Teyla's got an agenda of her own, it seems, to attack the other Hive as well, and to deploy outgunned Darts as well. When did she decide to do this? Was it a spur-of-the-moment decision? Todd's not thrilled, but she's really doing a convincing job pulling off the proper Queenly attitude!
Anyway, it's time for the rest of the team to get in on the action. All John needs is the 'jumper and a handy Stargate. Gee, he's so easy to please, lol.
Rodney's a lot harder to please. He'd love to have a Daedalus beaming system for the 'jumpers. But that's just a wish. John's perturbed that Rodney's telling him about his wish list instead of something he could actually use, like Right Now!
John ends up doing that Millennium Falcon manoeuvre that he loves so much, flying below the underside of the Hive. He then releases some drones. Hive goes all 'splodey and the problem is solved. All John has to do is sneak in cloaked behind the Darts into the bay.
Teyla gets to act imperious and Todd smug against the disbelieving expression of the second-in-command. Ha!
Gee, I thought our team was experienced in lurking about on Hive ships. But Rodney's confused. Oops, Wraith in one direction ... and in the opposite direction, too. So of course they get stunned and captured.
Well, at least they get a visitor from the Queen aka Teyla who ends up chatting with them. This was a risky move on Teyla's part, and not just because the suspicious second-in-command was lurking about around the corner. It's as if sometimes the Atlantis folk didn't know how to act in less-than-desirable circumstances. ::sighs::
It's repercussion time as the second-in-command is in the Queen's quarters (without permission) when Teyla returns. Oops. Teyla's confronted, her authenticity questioned. And then she's attacked. She's not doing well, and is damned lucky that Todd shows up to stun and kill the second-in-command.
There's time for just one last command performance. Teyla addresses all of those Wraith and leaves them under Todd's command.
There's a bit of a standoff between Teyla and Todd. Just what was his ulterior motive and just how long does he intend to wait to disseminate the drug? At least it's good to see Todd acting nervous around Teyla. What's the saying about becoming fearful of the monster you've created?
Finally, we're back on Atlantis, in the Infirmary and John's visiting a restored Teyla. Hmm, so she's been in the infirmary for two weeks already? It took that long for her to be returned to human? That's severe. Anyway, we have a bit of a post-mortem discussion between Teyla and John about Todd's motives, though they believe the situation is better than it was before. Ah ... such typical SGA optimism.
There was a discussion on GateWorld whether Teyla's transformation was genetic, with the stimulation of her Wraith gene, or merely cosmetic. I definitely don't think it could have been just cosmetic, as that would have not been enough to be convincing among the other Wraith, considering their mind-reading abilities. If it were truly genetic manipulation, then Teyla's psychological and emotional state would have been severely affected. To become the thing you've feared and hated your entire life is a traumatic experience, even if it was done for strategic reasons. I wish there had been more attention paid to the repercussions in successive episodes.
Likewise, one wishes that Todd's scheming plans had been further explored in a Season Six that wasn't meant to be. ::sighs::
OTOH, considering how many twists and turns there were on the QoQ's ship, I think Teyla should feel lucky that she escaped alive. After all, who was to say that the QoQ couldn't have had Todd killed and seized his Hive instead? So perhaps TPTB were a bit too tidy in the premise of this episode, that it didn't end in disaster. Mind you, Deus ex machina has been used SO many times on SGA, so why not do it again? Indeed.
[Wow! This has to be my shortest commentary. And I miss my gorgeous Teyla icon (disengaged since I reverted to an unpaid account). ::sighs::]
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timeasmymeasure
Comment 1
Date: 2013-02-02 06:26 pm (UTC)It's team plus Jennifer in the shuttle, off on a dangerous mission, as far as Rodney's concerned anyway.
Let's add some dialogue from Rodney, presumably directed at Jennifer, filled with innuendo: "Ah, you never forget your first." ::rolls eyes::
Silly boyz are silly. Rodney: "What, no 'Hullo, greetings weary travellers'?"
John: "Guess not. So much for the red carpet."
It's hilarious to hear team discussing that this could be a double cross, again, and yet they've voluntarily gone into the lion's den ... again. [That's one of the things that JM hated in SGA – the youthful optimism and heroic idealism of the expedition – and couldn't wait to counter with ugly, raw and self-serving emotions in SGU.]
Oooh, yummy fruit. Well, Rodney thinks so until he learns where it came from. Suddenly, he's not hungry any more.
And cue Jennifer and her nervous explanation. So, would someone like to tell me why timid Jennifer is on the mission. It's not as if she's personally needed to pass the information to Todd? I guess TPTB were just so entranced they simply had to put her character into as many episodes as possible in S5. ::sighs::
Once the team plus Jennifer are alone and Todd's left to consider the proposal, the snark comes out. There are some terrific lines.
With Todd back in the room, it's hilarious to realize that he may have exaggerated his own status among the Hives. Oh, Todd. ::giggles:: But, wait, he has a plan. Just convince the Queen of Queens. Who's never been mentioned until this episode. Continuity? What's that? [Production note: this is the only time a Queen was not portrayed by Andee Frizzell during the run of the show.]
Only one problem: the QoQ will only speak with another Queen and Todd's Hive – sadly – is without one. What to do, what to do? I'm sure Teyla wants to know WHY Todd's looking at her with a gleam in his eyes. Eeeeek.
Can I be confused by the geopolitical discussion. Where is it shown that enslaving the people of Pegasus rather than feeding on them is a natural outcome and expected risk? Doesn't it take extra resources to enslave people instead of ignoring them? And John confirms it's happened in the Milky Way. ::iz really confused without examples::
Anyway, Teyla is the voice of reason, that Atlantis can't just sit back and watch while the Hives fight one another, because what if Todd's Hive is defeated. Better the enemy one knows rather than the alternative. Okay, cue Todd's entrance to Atlantis (one hopes via an intermediate Alpha site).
As always, Chris H's evolving portrayal of Todd is captivating. I'd hate to think of how wooden the performance could have been with a less-skilled actor.
Teyla is finally revealed as the Queen. Good thing, too, or else Rodney's coffee consumption would have gone through the roof. Mind you, I think his line wasn't convincing: he's so used to coffee, it should take more than just three cups to make him feel a buzz!
Comment 2
Date: 2013-02-02 06:33 pm (UTC)While the rest of the team is waiting and anxious about it, Todd wears Teyla out (that's my impression) and she's resting. I'm wondering if Teyla deliberately secluded herself because she didn't want her teammates to see just how unnaturally queenly she'd become.
Anyway, it's showtime. Teyla and Todd are about to transport over to the QoQ's Hive. Rodney, bless his heart, is being worried, but also very boy-scoutish that they'll rescue her, in case something happens. Which it's not going to, according to an equally adamant John. Oh, boyz. ::grins::
Things aren't exactly going as planned aboard the other Hive ship as Teyla and Todd are welcomed by the Queen's second-in-command who orders the Hive to go to hyperspace. Uh-oh, that sure wasn't a part of the plan.
Back on Todd's Hive, Ronon's especially not pleased to see what's happened. Cue blaster being aimed at Todd's second-in-command.
On the QoQ's ship, we finally meet the Primary. Well, she doesn't live long as Todd stabs her without warning and then presses the knife into Teyla's hand and gives her a quickie lesson of how power changes hands in Wraith society. Violently.
Teyla really digs deep to convey Wraith queenfulness, both in chastising Todd and then in assuming what she considers to be her rightful status.
Once Teyla and Todd are alone, we get a very strange explanation from Todd about the nature of Wraith. "Most Wraith seek to be ruled. They fear being without a Queen. I knew that if you presented yourself as a viable substitute, most of them would just fall in line." [Hmmm. Really makes one wonder how much of Michael's independent behaviour was created by the retro-viral reversal to almost-human. And I'm reminded of that seminal James T. Kirk speech about how humans just don't make docile pets. OTOH, it also makes the whole feeling alive and strong from feeding on humans an almost impotent experience. What's the point when you can't even exist without some form of independence?]
Comment 3
Date: 2013-02-02 06:43 pm (UTC)Kenny comes by to inform them that the Primary's Hive dropped out of hyperspace. They know because they received a signal. [When I saw that red flashing light, I so wanted there to be a caption ... something along the lines of "Todd is here".]
Where Todd is is deflecting the other second-in-command from making Teyla read a computer in a language she doesn't understand. So, what's the problem? Oh, just another hive where they shouldn't be, nearby. There's some suspicion on the second-in-command's part, but he leaves Todd and Teyla alone so they can think of how to act.
Well, John for one knows how to act: attack the other Hive. Makes a great diversion, even though Rodney's not thrilled.
Teyla's got an agenda of her own, it seems, to attack the other Hive as well, and to deploy outgunned Darts as well. When did she decide to do this? Was it a spur-of-the-moment decision? Todd's not thrilled, but she's really doing a convincing job pulling off the proper Queenly attitude!
Anyway, it's time for the rest of the team to get in on the action. All John needs is the 'jumper and a handy Stargate. Gee, he's so easy to please, lol.
Rodney's a lot harder to please. He'd love to have a Daedalus beaming system for the 'jumpers. But that's just a wish. John's perturbed that Rodney's telling him about his wish list instead of something he could actually use, like Right Now!
John ends up doing that Millennium Falcon manoeuvre that he loves so much, flying below the underside of the Hive. He then releases some drones. Hive goes all 'splodey and the problem is solved. All John has to do is sneak in cloaked behind the Darts into the bay.
Teyla gets to act imperious and Todd smug against the disbelieving expression of the second-in-command. Ha!
Gee, I thought our team was experienced in lurking about on Hive ships. But Rodney's confused. Oops, Wraith in one direction ... and in the opposite direction, too. So of course they get stunned and captured.
Well, at least they get a visitor from the Queen aka Teyla who ends up chatting with them. This was a risky move on Teyla's part, and not just because the suspicious second-in-command was lurking about around the corner. It's as if sometimes the Atlantis folk didn't know how to act in less-than-desirable circumstances. ::sighs::
It's repercussion time as the second-in-command is in the Queen's quarters (without permission) when Teyla returns. Oops. Teyla's confronted, her authenticity questioned. And then she's attacked. She's not doing well, and is damned lucky that Todd shows up to stun and kill the second-in-command.
There's time for just one last command performance. Teyla addresses all of those Wraith and leaves them under Todd's command.
There's a bit of a standoff between Teyla and Todd. Just what was his ulterior motive and just how long does he intend to wait to disseminate the drug? At least it's good to see Todd acting nervous around Teyla. What's the saying about becoming fearful of the monster you've created?
Finally, we're back on Atlantis, in the Infirmary and John's visiting a restored Teyla. Hmm, so she's been in the infirmary for two weeks already? It took that long for her to be returned to human? That's severe. Anyway, we have a bit of a post-mortem discussion between Teyla and John about Todd's motives, though they believe the situation is better than it was before. Ah ... such typical SGA optimism.
Closing thoughts
Date: 2013-02-02 07:02 pm (UTC)Likewise, one wishes that Todd's scheming plans had been further explored in a Season Six that wasn't meant to be. ::sighs::
OTOH, considering how many twists and turns there were on the QoQ's ship, I think Teyla should feel lucky that she escaped alive. After all, who was to say that the QoQ couldn't have had Todd killed and seized his Hive instead? So perhaps TPTB were a bit too tidy in the premise of this episode, that it didn't end in disaster. Mind you, Deus ex machina has been used SO many times on SGA, so why not do it again? Indeed.
[Wow! This has to be my shortest commentary. And I miss my gorgeous Teyla icon (disengaged since I reverted to an unpaid account). ::sighs::]