Oh, where to start, where to start ... describing an episode that I loathe, surprisingly for more than one reason. OTOH, on the rewatch, I actually did find some things affected me in a good way.
The opening scene between John and Rodney is fabulously stage-directed with the use of the mirror in Rodney's quarters as the means of visual communication for much of it.
Before John enters, Rodneys practising his lines because he's Got to pay attention to his girlfriend's interests If I didn't know any better, I'd think it was the pre-feminist 1960s when girls were instructed to pay attention to what boys liked – and it never worked the other way around. ::sighs:: Seriously, PTB, why in the name of all that's holy did you decide to have Rodney get interested in a doctor? It's all voodoo and chicken bones to him, but we're to believe that being in love will turn his brain and behaviour into a soggy marshmallow? Ugh.
Anyway, John confronts him (via the convenient mirror) and repeats “on your day off” a couple of times with an odd inflection. It's no wonder he leaves with a look of confusion and hurt betrayal on his face. After all, he and Rodney have known each other for about 4-1/2 years and they've spent most of their time off together. Until now, and John certainly doesn't look happy about being ditched – especially for Jennifer.
Well, Rodney gets confronted by someone he didn't want to see in the Gateroom, namely Ronon who's tagging along. Here I focused on Jennifer's face and I really thought she was enjoying the idea of having two men interested in her way too much. I guess the socially-inept genius thought it would be fun to experience being that popular. ::sighs:: And the boys have to tussle with the stupid strong vs week sight gag. ::sighs again::
In the village, Rodney gets to try out the new medical words in his vocabulary and Jennifer is impressed (boy, is she naive). Rodney looks smug while Ronon just smirks, 'cuz he can figure out that Rodney's been cheating. Uh ... Rodney, you DO realize you'd have to keep up learning new medical terminology in order to engage Jennifer in conversation. And, getting back to the whole idea of attracting someone, it used to be HOBBIES and not work that were supposed to bring two people together (or at least make one person pretend to like what the other one does in their time off, though I'm sure things would become rather strained depending on whether the non-inclined partner was able to fake continued interest).
At the tavern we see more of the differences between Rodney and Ronon emphasized. Rodney's a picky eater while Ronon relishes all sorts of ... uh ... available appendages, lol.
Rodney is really squeamish about the idea of being around undressed women. It's not the first time he's been hesitant about ... interrupting or barging into a woman's quarters. But it's time for a bad thing to happen, namely Jennifer disappearing. The guys split up, each with a task to try to get her back.
Oh, hello Jennifer, all tied up in the forest but regaining consciousness while a strange guy is going through your medical bags. Why, why, why is the guy acting so nasty to her? Considering what we end up knowing later on, why can't he just talk to her instead of threatening her. Grrrr, Stupid Pegasus person.
Back outside the village, Ronon's found footprints, Jennifer's (standard Atlantis boot treads) and a stranger's. He can extrapolate a lot from the imprints. Well, except for the appearing out of nowhere thing.
Too bad Rodney couldn't use the Gate to ask for a search team, because it suddenly activates and four Wraith guys walk through. Too bad likewise that Rodney makes a noise, so one Wraith chases him. It's a good thing he radios Ronon to mention he's in trouble. Though he's not totally incompetent with his gun, but the Wraith fools him, so Rodney's really lucky that Ronon shows up just in time to blast the Wraith dead. It's also a good thing that Ronon has identified the Wraith as a hunter (of Runners). Hmmm.
Meanwhile, back with the damsel-in-distress, the bad guy is still not talking as he makes some extra tracks. While Jennifer hopes the rustling she hears is Ronon, it's actually a Wraith. When Jennifer yells out a warning, the bad guy disappears, reappears behind the Wraith and beheads him. Cool.
Well, Rodney's sure getting his walking exercise today. He and Ronon have returned to the village to warn the people about the Wraith.
Back in the forest, Jennifer asks about the mysterious armband that supposedly allows the bad guy to teleport. But, as usual, the bad guy says it would take too long to explain. Seriously, that's so stupid of him. Anyway, Jennifer tries to run away, though bound, but the bad guy teleports and stuns her. Again. Sheesh! Why doesn't he just Talk. To. Her???
We're back with Ronon and a stupid-acting Rodney who's just mistaken a woman for a man (because that's just SO hilariously funny for TPTB, grrrrrrr) while they're herding the villagers to safety.
Rodney wants to return to the Gate but Ronon doesn't want to lose track of Jennifer. So Rodney ends up running after Ronon.
Oh, good. Jennifer's conscious, again. She agrees not to escape, but then assesses the bad guy. She's figured out he's not from the village, but – as the Wraith are after him – must be a Runner. So the bad guy/Runner learns that a Runner can become an ex-Runner from her (though he can't believe it).
Rodney's caught up to Ronon who's examining more tracks. Rodney thinks it'll be easier to find the two people, but Ronon disagrees: "That's the problem. No Runner's that stupid."
It's almost nighttime and Rodney gets to geek out with one of his gadgets and trivia. Ronon scoffs at Rodney's trivia and wonders how well he'd do without a gadget. And Rodney brings up a hilarious story about belonging to the Fort McMurray Eager Beavers. ::giggles:: Can't get more Canadian than a name like that! [It reminds me of how Jeannie ragged about the time Rodney got lost in the West Edmonton Mall, even though he was just a kid. We've been critical of TPTB for not giving John any decent backstory, but it's also evident that they were negligent in giving Rodney much attention, if it takes us more than four years to learn that he grew up in Alberta. Just so people have some idea, Fort McMurray is 450 k (approximately 270 miles) northeast of Edmonton. So I'd definitely call it Brrrrr country (and think TPTB placed him there deliberately, just so they could add to his cold and snowy misery, what with Siberia during SG-1. The census for FM shows that it was only 2,614 in 1966, just before David H was born. So I'm guessing McKay Senior was involved in the early days of Alberta's petroleum industry. As few women went to university in Canada even in the late 60s-early 70s, I wonder what kind of backstory Rodney's mother would have had, but certainly living in something that didn't even qualify to be called a "town" would have been stifling on top of being a stay-at-home mom as well. It certainly adds to Rodney's memories of an unhappy childhood.]
Oh, Rodney. You're actually comparing your scout manual against Ronon's skills honed while a Runner? ROFL
Well, Ronon's discovered blood, but it's Wraith, so that's okay. Then there are more confusing tracks. Rodney's all set to follow the deep set, but Ronon stops him. Why? Because it's an Indiana Jones style trap – a pit which contains revolving wooden spikes. ::shudders:: Um ... question? Just when did the bad guy/Runner have the time to set up the trap(s) and how could he be so thoughtless to think that only the Wraith coming after him would be in the forest? Plot inconsistency, arrgghh.
Back to Jennifer and the bad guy/Runner who have reached the base of a small cliff. Nowhere to go but up. But how? Well, with the handy armband aka teleportation device, obviously. Where'd the device come from? "I was on a planet a while back – lots of technology. (He looks at the device, its crystal is glowing red.) Got this from one of the locals. Barely put it on my arm before it fused to my skin. Since then, if I hit this light when it's green, I can disappear – move around from place to place."
::groans:: And Jennifer couldn't ask just WHERE this planet was??? But, then, SGA was ending, so who cared. [A fan on GateWorld said they shouldn't have announced the cancellation so early in the season, making it a lame duck one.] Well, they're back to walking anyway.
Back in the forest, Ronon's had to stop because Rodney's no longer with him. Rodney had to sit down to remove his boot because there's a stone in it. Oops! He's surprised by a Wraith appearing and firing his stunner. Luckily, the Wraith misses but, amazingly, Rodney's hopping on one foot, fires his pistol and KILLS the Wraith. ::rolls eyes:: Uh-huh. Whatever.
Um ... just HOW does one get a stone in one's boot (a boot that should be tightly and securely laced at the top)? Anyway, while Ronon's bitching that Rodney's slowing him down, Rodney unburdens the dead Wraith of a handy gizmo (happy gadget time, again) that'll track the Runner for them.
But Ronon's just pissed that the Runner's so far ahead of them while Rodney's blithely blabbing about how useful he can be!
Finally, finally, seriously finally, the bad guy/Runner tells Jennifer he needs her to help someone.
Ronon and Rodney reach the base of the cliff where the tracks disappear. Only one way to go: up. As Rodney doesn't have a technological solution for that, Ronon gets to gloat.
Back at the top, Jennifer manages to get the bad guy/Runner to stop and listen to her offer to help remove the tracking device. Unfortunately, when she scans him, she learns that it's far more complicated and fused to his spine and brain stem. The music here is poignant and highlight's Jennifer's distraught reaction and compassionate nature.
So, the transcript says Ronon and Rodney found a way “around” the cliff. How handy, lol. They're in the forest again, with darkness coming, but Rodney assures it will be a very short night, just like "Whitehorse in June". Gee, someone's really loving putting in all of these Canadian references in this episode. Anyway, Ronon hears a cracking noise and saves Rodney from another Indiana Jones (and kinda Ewok) trap, a large log studded with spikes swinging down from the trees above. Uh ... PTB, it's very impressive looking, but just HOW would one man have accomplished it?]
It's now nighttime when Jennifer and the bad guy/Runner reach a cliff wall. Behind some branches, there's an opening into a cave. The cave is lit by a lantern which reveals a little girl who's unconscious with a severe leg wound. She was wounded a few days earlier and the bad guy/Runner went to three different planets looking for help. When he heard people from Atlantis would be on this world soon, he brought her here.
Of course, Jennifer brings up the standard line (I like to emphasize it, too) that it wasn't necessary to kidnap her, that he could have just asked for her help! But, as usual, the guy couldn't take that chance. ::sighs::
The tragic thing is that the Runner brought the Wraith to her village and everyone except for the two of them was culled as he didn't think the Wraith would show up after only one night. Um ... isn't that rather newbie of him not to have figured out how quickly the Wraith could follow him? He's so experienced with setting traps, etc., but so naive about Wraith hunters' efficiency? Does. Not. Compute.
The Runner leaves Jennifer to do her icky doctor stuff (debriding the wound). When she's done, Celise wakes up and wants to know where Kiryk is. Gee, the episode's nearly over and finally Jennifer learns his name! Jennifer admires Celise's doll and learns that "mean old Kiryk" (as Jennifer describes him) made it. Well, what a surprise because Jennifer knows someone else who's "not mean – he just pretends to be". I wonder who that is, lol.
Night's going to end soon while Ronon and Rodney are walking. They stumble upon an unmoving Wraith who was surprised by another of Kiryk's traps. Somehow Rodney's not comforted that there's one less trap. But how many more are still waiting? Or Wraith, come to think of it.
Kiryk's playing with his teleportation toy as he surprises Jennifer. She mentions that Celise needs proper medical care – in Atlantis – and to not have to return as a companion to a Runner. Their conversation is cut short by the sound of rustling. Kiryk manages to surprise a couple of Wraith, but is stunned by a third.
After Kiryk's stunned, the Wraith hears a noise and enters the cave. Uh-oh. He sees Celise. As he's advancing toward her, he stops because the knife that Kiryk had dropped is now sticking out of his chest. Who stabbed him in the back? It was Jennifer and actually felt believable enough.
What was NOT as believable is what happened next. Kiryk regains consciousness and finds he lying on the ground in a cleaning. Celise is being tended to by Jennifer. So how'd they get there? Well, apparently, Jennifer carried Celise there and then dragged Kiryk's body over. Seriously??? Since when did she start doing upper body strength training? ::rolls eyes:: And, seriously, why are they not hiding under the trees? Also, what's the likelihood that Jennifer did all the carrying and dragging without springing even ONE deadly trap? Arrgghh.
Before Kiryk's able to go ahead with his ridiculous plan to carry Celise to the Gate (since there are still Wraith on the planet), Jennifer proposes a possible way to disable the tracking device, as she's unable to remove it surgically. She'll just use her handy-dandy portable defibrillator to fry the sucker. Kiryk is eerily okay with either outcome: he's free of the tracking device ... or he's dead.
I'm wondering why Jennifer placed one paddle on Kiryk's chest if she didn't need to do anything TO his heart. After all, when she was shocking the crystal entity out of John's body, the paddles were on his abdomen i/o his chest. [Yes, yes, I know why they were placed that low: because Joe F has a thing about exposing his body parts these days. I guess a couple of his past acting roles were causing some embarrassment.] Of course, Kiryk's heart stops, so Jennifer's performing CPR and injecting a stimulant into his carotid artery. So, he was gone for a moment, but is back.
In the meantime, when the signal stopped, Rodney couldn't track the Runner, so it's back to Ronon's outdoors skills again.
Jennifer may have disabled Kiryk's tracking device, but she also fried his teleportation device. Kiryk's about to throw it away, but Jennifer stops him. She just happens to know someone who'd love to tinker with it.
Ronon's successfully managed to interpret the dragging incident and figures out the third body is a girl's, because he's found a doll. And then they hear the distinctive whine of Darts. So they're not the only ones who know the signal cut out.
Kiryk's carrying Celise and the three of them reach the top of a cliff. [There's sure a whole lot of cliffs on this planet!] Suddenly, Ronon pounces out of nowhere and tackles Kiryk to the ground. [I have to laugh because the transcriber keeps using the verb "bundle" instead.]
They end up in a potentially fatal standoff, between a blaster to the face and a knife to the throat. Jennifer finally gets the two to stop glaring at each other and to pull their weapons back.
Um ... just how did Celise tear her stitches? That does not make any sense, especially as she was being carried and not using her legs. Well, I guess a ramped-up dangerous situation because of a delay was called for.
It definitely gets more dangerous as the small group is ambushed by more Wraith. Okay, so just how ridiculous is it that Jennifer would save Rodney from a Wraith by using a branch as an impromptu stick? And just happened to learn how to fight by taking a FEW sparring lessons with Ronon. ::growls at TPTB:: You are NOT making any sense. A "few sparring lessons" would not give Jennifer the expertise or experience to deal with a deadly enemy. If even John, who's had considerable military ops experience, gets his ass kicked on a regular basis by Teyla, then the idea that Jennifer could be successful with her dabbling at defence is ludicrous! 'Nuff said. Though, poor Rodney. Not only was he saved by a GIRL, but she'd been spending more time with Ronon. As I mentioned before, I think Jennifer was having much too much fun playing two guys against each other. Ugh. This is behaviour best relegated to high school.
As they're headed back to the Gate, Rodney reiterates the whole You didn't have to kidnap her, just could've asked for our help concept. Anyway, Jen hands over the broken teleportation device to Rodney.
As they're on a hill overlooking the heavily guarded Stargate, Rodney manages to fix the armband. Well, he's not so sure until it actually works. Then he's proud of his ability! Kiryk snatches it up and uses it to get to the Gate where, in between dialing and fighting Wraith, he manages to get through, with the Wraith following until the Gate disengages. Ronon looks on with many mixed emotions.
Finally, Celise is in the infirmary and Rodney's showing her how to play a video game that involves shooting ducks. That upsets Celise but Rodney's being an insensitive dweeb until Jennifer suggests he find her a different game to play. No kidding.
Thank goodness they're interrupted by Ronon and John, though John is being deliberately mean to Rodney, saying he could have him removed FORCIBLY which Celise really likes the sound of.
Even worse is the fact that Ronon returns Celise's doll to her which gives him bonus points in Jennifer's approval column. Rodney OTOH looks miserable because Ronon's simple gesture meant more to Celise (AND Jennifer) than his ill-chosen gadget game. Poor Rodney. OTOH, he's being unrealistic, especially since Ronon's closer to Jennifer's age. But, hey, TPTB created the stupid situation, so nothing can be done about the age variances.
Then there's the final (can I say stupid again?) scene where Rodney pesters Ronon to learn what his "intentions" are toward Jennifer. Ronon toys with Rodney until he admits he does have them. It's fine that Rodney says he'll neither fight Ronon nor will he step aside, but they're "gonna have to let her decide". Ugh. "Let"??? How honourable of them to allow a woman to choose between them. Ugh again. Though TPTB are hinting that Rodney believes he's already lost. ::sighs at Rodney's sunken self-esteem::
Is it any wonder that many of the fans were scratching their heads over the way Jennifer's character was used – and abused again – especially as Jewel Staite said the following at the 2008 Comic-Con SGA panel: "My most difficult episode so far has been 'Tracker'. Once again, I am kidnapped in the woods and filthy and crying and in peril. I don't know what Carl [Binder, writer/producer] has against me. I just read another one that Carl wrote [Identity] and again I'm kidnapped in the woods!" Yay, Jewel, for telling it like it is.
So, even though Jennifer looked compassionate when dealing with Kiryk and Celise, it still felt as if TPTB were making that a part of her emotional makeup ONLY because she was a woman AND young. When Carson showed compassion, it was because he was seen as a softy and that had nothing to do with his age or gender.
I've already mentioned the missed opportunity of not knowing where the teleportation armband came from. Wouldn't that have been a treasure trove for Rodney especially. But, alas, NOBODY asked and nobody told. ::sighs::
Once again, the way the script followed the deus ex machina incidents was tiresome. So, if either Rodney or Ronon had been absent, Jennifer wouldn't have been found, or not as easily. This is such lazy writing.
The other thing I'd think the Atlantis people would have learnt by now is that even simple missions can go belly up. ::looks mock-startled:: Really, nobody's noticed that yet? I'd also wondered why the teams didn't use the puddlejumpers more often, not as flying devices – especially when there were obstacles immediately ahead of Stargates on other worlds, likely to dissuade Darts – but as temporary transfer devices through the wormhole, able to cloak once through and SOAR up into the sky, keeping the team members safe and together. [Hey, I think I should have been writing for the show!]
Considering how Ronon had been betrayed before, I felt sad for him that he couldn't have had a better/longer connection with another Runner. Can I hope that Kiryk would have survived after he fled and somehow – at some time – managed to make it to Atlantis to be reunited with Celise? And to find a new family there (both on Atlantis and with her adoptive one)?
And one last thing (because I come up with these ideas at the last moment), what about refining the ability to locate people who had sub-cu transmitters. For example, the Daedalus could look for them from space and the 'jumper is where John ::coughs:: found the LSD during flight (but had no luck with that turkey sandwich, lol). Wouldn't it have given the use of a 'jumper more relevance if they were equipped with a longer-range sensor capability, so that people could be located and rescued more quickly. Yeah, yeah, I know. If they had that at their fingertips, there would have been more episodes tanked. But I still think it's a valid point and yet another reason for greater use of 'jumpers. ::nods head firmly::
No, wait. Not done yet. Let's go back to the bookend dickish behaviours by both Rodney and John. Isn't it odd that two men who otherwise had shown incredible loyalty to each other just THREE episodes earlier (John being the ONLY person that Rodney seems to remember; and John REFUSES to say goodbye to Rodney on the pier) were treating each other with such contempt. Gee, you'd think it was a love affair that had soured between them ... or something. Because they were both being mean, no doubt about it as far as I see. So my slash-goggled mind really goes to that place, the one where John has been secretly pining over Rodney and is now devastated that Rodney's moving on. And TPTB let bits of that perspective bleed through into the script. Okay, okay, I'm really done now.
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timeasmymeasure
Comment 1A
Date: 2013-02-09 03:15 am (UTC)The opening scene between John and Rodney is fabulously stage-directed with the use of the mirror in Rodney's quarters as the means of visual communication for much of it.
Before John enters, Rodneys practising his lines because he's Got to pay attention to his girlfriend's interests If I didn't know any better, I'd think it was the pre-feminist 1960s when girls were instructed to pay attention to what boys liked – and it never worked the other way around. ::sighs:: Seriously, PTB, why in the name of all that's holy did you decide to have Rodney get interested in a doctor? It's all voodoo and chicken bones to him, but we're to believe that being in love will turn his brain and behaviour into a soggy marshmallow? Ugh.
Anyway, John confronts him (via the convenient mirror) and repeats “on your day off” a couple of times with an odd inflection. It's no wonder he leaves with a look of confusion and hurt betrayal on his face. After all, he and Rodney have known each other for about 4-1/2 years and they've spent most of their time off together. Until now, and John certainly doesn't look happy about being ditched – especially for Jennifer.
Well, Rodney gets confronted by someone he didn't want to see in the Gateroom, namely Ronon who's tagging along. Here I focused on Jennifer's face and I really thought she was enjoying the idea of having two men interested in her way too much. I guess the socially-inept genius thought it would be fun to experience being that popular. ::sighs:: And the boys have to tussle with the stupid strong vs week sight gag. ::sighs again::
In the village, Rodney gets to try out the new medical words in his vocabulary and Jennifer is impressed (boy, is she naive). Rodney looks smug while Ronon just smirks, 'cuz he can figure out that Rodney's been cheating. Uh ... Rodney, you DO realize you'd have to keep up learning new medical terminology in order to engage Jennifer in conversation. And, getting back to the whole idea of attracting someone, it used to be HOBBIES and not work that were supposed to bring two people together (or at least make one person pretend to like what the other one does in their time off, though I'm sure things would become rather strained depending on whether the non-inclined partner was able to fake continued interest).
At the tavern we see more of the differences between Rodney and Ronon emphasized. Rodney's a picky eater while Ronon relishes all sorts of ... uh ... available appendages, lol.
Rodney is really squeamish about the idea of being around undressed women. It's not the first time he's been hesitant about ... interrupting or barging into a woman's quarters. But it's time for a bad thing to happen, namely Jennifer disappearing. The guys split up, each with a task to try to get her back.
Comment 1B
Date: 2013-02-09 03:19 am (UTC)Back outside the village, Ronon's found footprints, Jennifer's (standard Atlantis boot treads) and a stranger's. He can extrapolate a lot from the imprints. Well, except for the appearing out of nowhere thing.
Too bad Rodney couldn't use the Gate to ask for a search team, because it suddenly activates and four Wraith guys walk through. Too bad likewise that Rodney makes a noise, so one Wraith chases him. It's a good thing he radios Ronon to mention he's in trouble. Though he's not totally incompetent with his gun, but the Wraith fools him, so Rodney's really lucky that Ronon shows up just in time to blast the Wraith dead. It's also a good thing that Ronon has identified the Wraith as a hunter (of Runners). Hmmm.
Meanwhile, back with the damsel-in-distress, the bad guy is still not talking as he makes some extra tracks. While Jennifer hopes the rustling she hears is Ronon, it's actually a Wraith. When Jennifer yells out a warning, the bad guy disappears, reappears behind the Wraith and beheads him. Cool.
Well, Rodney's sure getting his walking exercise today. He and Ronon have returned to the village to warn the people about the Wraith.
Back in the forest, Jennifer asks about the mysterious armband that supposedly allows the bad guy to teleport. But, as usual, the bad guy says it would take too long to explain. Seriously, that's so stupid of him. Anyway, Jennifer tries to run away, though bound, but the bad guy teleports and stuns her. Again. Sheesh! Why doesn't he just Talk. To. Her???
We're back with Ronon and a stupid-acting Rodney who's just mistaken a woman for a man (because that's just SO hilariously funny for TPTB, grrrrrrr) while they're herding the villagers to safety.
Rodney wants to return to the Gate but Ronon doesn't want to lose track of Jennifer. So Rodney ends up running after Ronon.
Oh, good. Jennifer's conscious, again. She agrees not to escape, but then assesses the bad guy. She's figured out he's not from the village, but – as the Wraith are after him – must be a Runner. So the bad guy/Runner learns that a Runner can become an ex-Runner from her (though he can't believe it).
Comment 2A
Date: 2013-02-09 03:34 am (UTC)It's almost nighttime and Rodney gets to geek out with one of his gadgets and trivia. Ronon scoffs at Rodney's trivia and wonders how well he'd do without a gadget. And Rodney brings up a hilarious story about belonging to the Fort McMurray Eager Beavers. ::giggles:: Can't get more Canadian than a name like that! [It reminds me of how Jeannie ragged about the time Rodney got lost in the West Edmonton Mall, even though he was just a kid. We've been critical of TPTB for not giving John any decent backstory, but it's also evident that they were negligent in giving Rodney much attention, if it takes us more than four years to learn that he grew up in Alberta. Just so people have some idea, Fort McMurray is 450 k (approximately 270 miles) northeast of Edmonton. So I'd definitely call it Brrrrr country (and think TPTB placed him there deliberately, just so they could add to his cold and snowy misery, what with Siberia during SG-1. The census for FM shows that it was only 2,614 in 1966, just before David H was born. So I'm guessing McKay Senior was involved in the early days of Alberta's petroleum industry. As few women went to university in Canada even in the late 60s-early 70s, I wonder what kind of backstory Rodney's mother would have had, but certainly living in something that didn't even qualify to be called a "town" would have been stifling on top of being a stay-at-home mom as well. It certainly adds to Rodney's memories of an unhappy childhood.]
Oh, Rodney. You're actually comparing your scout manual against Ronon's skills honed while a Runner? ROFL
Well, Ronon's discovered blood, but it's Wraith, so that's okay. Then there are more confusing tracks. Rodney's all set to follow the deep set, but Ronon stops him. Why? Because it's an Indiana Jones style trap – a pit which contains revolving wooden spikes. ::shudders:: Um ... question? Just when did the bad guy/Runner have the time to set up the trap(s) and how could he be so thoughtless to think that only the Wraith coming after him would be in the forest? Plot inconsistency, arrgghh.
Back to Jennifer and the bad guy/Runner who have reached the base of a small cliff. Nowhere to go but up. But how? Well, with the handy armband aka teleportation device, obviously. Where'd the device come from? "I was on a planet a while back – lots of technology. (He looks at the device, its crystal is glowing red.) Got this from one of the locals. Barely put it on my arm before it fused to my skin. Since then, if I hit this light when it's green, I can disappear – move around from place to place."
::groans:: And Jennifer couldn't ask just WHERE this planet was??? But, then, SGA was ending, so who cared. [A fan on GateWorld said they shouldn't have announced the cancellation so early in the season, making it a lame duck one.] Well, they're back to walking anyway.
Back in the forest, Ronon's had to stop because Rodney's no longer with him. Rodney had to sit down to remove his boot because there's a stone in it. Oops! He's surprised by a Wraith appearing and firing his stunner. Luckily, the Wraith misses but, amazingly, Rodney's hopping on one foot, fires his pistol and KILLS the Wraith. ::rolls eyes:: Uh-huh. Whatever.
Um ... just HOW does one get a stone in one's boot (a boot that should be tightly and securely laced at the top)? Anyway, while Ronon's bitching that Rodney's slowing him down, Rodney unburdens the dead Wraith of a handy gizmo (happy gadget time, again) that'll track the Runner for them.
But Ronon's just pissed that the Runner's so far ahead of them while Rodney's blithely blabbing about how useful he can be!
Comment 2B
Date: 2013-02-09 03:38 am (UTC)Ronon and Rodney reach the base of the cliff where the tracks disappear. Only one way to go: up. As Rodney doesn't have a technological solution for that, Ronon gets to gloat.
Back at the top, Jennifer manages to get the bad guy/Runner to stop and listen to her offer to help remove the tracking device. Unfortunately, when she scans him, she learns that it's far more complicated and fused to his spine and brain stem. The music here is poignant and highlight's Jennifer's distraught reaction and compassionate nature.
So, the transcript says Ronon and Rodney found a way “around” the cliff. How handy, lol. They're in the forest again, with darkness coming, but Rodney assures it will be a very short night, just like "Whitehorse in June". Gee, someone's really loving putting in all of these Canadian references in this episode. Anyway, Ronon hears a cracking noise and saves Rodney from another Indiana Jones (and kinda Ewok) trap, a large log studded with spikes swinging down from the trees above. Uh ... PTB, it's very impressive looking, but just HOW would one man have accomplished it?]
It's now nighttime when Jennifer and the bad guy/Runner reach a cliff wall. Behind some branches, there's an opening into a cave. The cave is lit by a lantern which reveals a little girl who's unconscious with a severe leg wound. She was wounded a few days earlier and the bad guy/Runner went to three different planets looking for help. When he heard people from Atlantis would be on this world soon, he brought her here.
Of course, Jennifer brings up the standard line (I like to emphasize it, too) that it wasn't necessary to kidnap her, that he could have just asked for her help! But, as usual, the guy couldn't take that chance. ::sighs::
The tragic thing is that the Runner brought the Wraith to her village and everyone except for the two of them was culled as he didn't think the Wraith would show up after only one night. Um ... isn't that rather newbie of him not to have figured out how quickly the Wraith could follow him? He's so experienced with setting traps, etc., but so naive about Wraith hunters' efficiency? Does. Not. Compute.
The Runner leaves Jennifer to do her icky doctor stuff (debriding the wound). When she's done, Celise wakes up and wants to know where Kiryk is. Gee, the episode's nearly over and finally Jennifer learns his name! Jennifer admires Celise's doll and learns that "mean old Kiryk" (as Jennifer describes him) made it. Well, what a surprise because Jennifer knows someone else who's "not mean – he just pretends to be". I wonder who that is, lol.
Night's going to end soon while Ronon and Rodney are walking. They stumble upon an unmoving Wraith who was surprised by another of Kiryk's traps. Somehow Rodney's not comforted that there's one less trap. But how many more are still waiting? Or Wraith, come to think of it.
Kiryk's playing with his teleportation toy as he surprises Jennifer. She mentions that Celise needs proper medical care – in Atlantis – and to not have to return as a companion to a Runner. Their conversation is cut short by the sound of rustling. Kiryk manages to surprise a couple of Wraith, but is stunned by a third.
Comment 3A
Date: 2013-02-09 03:45 am (UTC)What was NOT as believable is what happened next. Kiryk regains consciousness and finds he lying on the ground in a cleaning. Celise is being tended to by Jennifer. So how'd they get there? Well, apparently, Jennifer carried Celise there and then dragged Kiryk's body over. Seriously??? Since when did she start doing upper body strength training? ::rolls eyes:: And, seriously, why are they not hiding under the trees? Also, what's the likelihood that Jennifer did all the carrying and dragging without springing even ONE deadly trap? Arrgghh.
Before Kiryk's able to go ahead with his ridiculous plan to carry Celise to the Gate (since there are still Wraith on the planet), Jennifer proposes a possible way to disable the tracking device, as she's unable to remove it surgically. She'll just use her handy-dandy portable defibrillator to fry the sucker. Kiryk is eerily okay with either outcome: he's free of the tracking device ... or he's dead.
I'm wondering why Jennifer placed one paddle on Kiryk's chest if she didn't need to do anything TO his heart. After all, when she was shocking the crystal entity out of John's body, the paddles were on his abdomen i/o his chest. [Yes, yes, I know why they were placed that low: because Joe F has a thing about exposing his body parts these days. I guess a couple of his past acting roles were causing some embarrassment.] Of course, Kiryk's heart stops, so Jennifer's performing CPR and injecting a stimulant into his carotid artery. So, he was gone for a moment, but is back.
In the meantime, when the signal stopped, Rodney couldn't track the Runner, so it's back to Ronon's outdoors skills again.
Jennifer may have disabled Kiryk's tracking device, but she also fried his teleportation device. Kiryk's about to throw it away, but Jennifer stops him. She just happens to know someone who'd love to tinker with it.
Ronon's successfully managed to interpret the dragging incident and figures out the third body is a girl's, because he's found a doll. And then they hear the distinctive whine of Darts. So they're not the only ones who know the signal cut out.
Kiryk's carrying Celise and the three of them reach the top of a cliff. [There's sure a whole lot of cliffs on this planet!] Suddenly, Ronon pounces out of nowhere and tackles Kiryk to the ground. [I have to laugh because the transcriber keeps using the verb "bundle" instead.]
They end up in a potentially fatal standoff, between a blaster to the face and a knife to the throat. Jennifer finally gets the two to stop glaring at each other and to pull their weapons back.
Um ... just how did Celise tear her stitches? That does not make any sense, especially as she was being carried and not using her legs. Well, I guess a ramped-up dangerous situation because of a delay was called for.
Comment 3B
Date: 2013-02-09 03:51 am (UTC)As they're headed back to the Gate, Rodney reiterates the whole You didn't have to kidnap her, just could've asked for our help concept. Anyway, Jen hands over the broken teleportation device to Rodney.
As they're on a hill overlooking the heavily guarded Stargate, Rodney manages to fix the armband. Well, he's not so sure until it actually works. Then he's proud of his ability! Kiryk snatches it up and uses it to get to the Gate where, in between dialing and fighting Wraith, he manages to get through, with the Wraith following until the Gate disengages. Ronon looks on with many mixed emotions.
Finally, Celise is in the infirmary and Rodney's showing her how to play a video game that involves shooting ducks. That upsets Celise but Rodney's being an insensitive dweeb until Jennifer suggests he find her a different game to play. No kidding.
Thank goodness they're interrupted by Ronon and John, though John is being deliberately mean to Rodney, saying he could have him removed FORCIBLY which Celise really likes the sound of.
Even worse is the fact that Ronon returns Celise's doll to her which gives him bonus points in Jennifer's approval column. Rodney OTOH looks miserable because Ronon's simple gesture meant more to Celise (AND Jennifer) than his ill-chosen gadget game. Poor Rodney. OTOH, he's being unrealistic, especially since Ronon's closer to Jennifer's age. But, hey, TPTB created the stupid situation, so nothing can be done about the age variances.
Then there's the final (can I say stupid again?) scene where Rodney pesters Ronon to learn what his "intentions" are toward Jennifer. Ronon toys with Rodney until he admits he does have them. It's fine that Rodney says he'll neither fight Ronon nor will he step aside, but they're "gonna have to let her decide". Ugh. "Let"??? How honourable of them to allow a woman to choose between them. Ugh again. Though TPTB are hinting that Rodney believes he's already lost. ::sighs at Rodney's sunken self-esteem::
Closing thoughts
Date: 2013-02-09 03:58 am (UTC)So, even though Jennifer looked compassionate when dealing with Kiryk and Celise, it still felt as if TPTB were making that a part of her emotional makeup ONLY because she was a woman AND young. When Carson showed compassion, it was because he was seen as a softy and that had nothing to do with his age or gender.
I've already mentioned the missed opportunity of not knowing where the teleportation armband came from. Wouldn't that have been a treasure trove for Rodney especially. But, alas, NOBODY asked and nobody told. ::sighs::
Once again, the way the script followed the deus ex machina incidents was tiresome. So, if either Rodney or Ronon had been absent, Jennifer wouldn't have been found, or not as easily. This is such lazy writing.
The other thing I'd think the Atlantis people would have learnt by now is that even simple missions can go belly up. ::looks mock-startled:: Really, nobody's noticed that yet? I'd also wondered why the teams didn't use the puddlejumpers more often, not as flying devices – especially when there were obstacles immediately ahead of Stargates on other worlds, likely to dissuade Darts – but as temporary transfer devices through the wormhole, able to cloak once through and SOAR up into the sky, keeping the team members safe and together. [Hey, I think I should have been writing for the show!]
Considering how Ronon had been betrayed before, I felt sad for him that he couldn't have had a better/longer connection with another Runner. Can I hope that Kiryk would have survived after he fled and somehow – at some time – managed to make it to Atlantis to be reunited with Celise? And to find a new family there (both on Atlantis and with her adoptive one)?
And one last thing (because I come up with these ideas at the last moment), what about refining the ability to locate people who had sub-cu transmitters. For example, the Daedalus could look for them from space and the 'jumper is where John ::coughs:: found the LSD during flight (but had no luck with that turkey sandwich, lol). Wouldn't it have given the use of a 'jumper more relevance if they were equipped with a longer-range sensor capability, so that people could be located and rescued more quickly. Yeah, yeah, I know. If they had that at their fingertips, there would have been more episodes tanked. But I still think it's a valid point and yet another reason for greater use of 'jumpers. ::nods head firmly::
No, wait. Not done yet. Let's go back to the bookend dickish behaviours by both Rodney and John. Isn't it odd that two men who otherwise had shown incredible loyalty to each other just THREE episodes earlier (John being the ONLY person that Rodney seems to remember; and John REFUSES to say goodbye to Rodney on the pier) were treating each other with such contempt. Gee, you'd think it was a love affair that had soured between them ... or something. Because they were both being mean, no doubt about it as far as I see. So my slash-goggled mind really goes to that place, the one where John has been secretly pining over Rodney and is now devastated that Rodney's moving on. And TPTB let bits of that perspective bleed through into the script. Okay, okay, I'm really done now.