Rewatch: Identity

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

When Dr. Jennifer Keller begins to act strangely - she doesn't know her way around the ship and doesn't recognize colleagues - it's pretty obvious that something is very wrong. In fact, her body has been taken over by another woman, Neeva Casol, who describes herself as a thief. She's not quite sure what's happened but she and two others were in the process of stealing ancient relics when she picked up a device and poof!, she suddenly appears in Jennifer's body. She leads Sheppard, McKay and others to the planet in question to see if they can reverse the situation. Jennifer meanwhile is now in Neeva Casol's body and she is about to be executed by the locals. Written by garykmcd


[Poll #1907987]

Comments

Comment 1

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Oh, my. Another S5 episode that I couldn't stand and just watched for the second (and never again) time.

Beside the getting-to-be-tiresome storyline of saving blondie – AGAIN – the episode has a guest character who IMO has absolutely NO redeeming features. Until now, the only people (my jury is still deliberating) who are close to that despicable level are Lucius Lavin in the undisputed bottom spot, then the trio of Genii (Kolya/Radim/Cowen), finally let's add Harmony's evil sister, with a slight dishonourable mention to Larrin.

Oh, sure, there are some mitigating factors in their backstories, but they don't justify the behaviours. However, in this case, I can see NO good in the character of Neeva Casol and how easily she can end the lives of others. [I wasn't aware that the guest actress (Dawn Olivieri) had been one of the suitcase “girls” on Deal or No Deal. Well, that's what I call acting credentials. /sarcasm.]

I really can't see myself talking a lot about this episode, so I'll just get started and hope it's over soon.

So ... we have a stranger aboard Atlantis who sees Jennifer's face in the mirror. I'm shaking my head at the lack of imagination on the part of TPTB. They couldn't have made the switched character even a little different? Even if they had to (just had to) keep it a woman's role (because there's the Cleavage Consideration ... which has absolutely nothing to do with the Geneva Convention), what about making a difference in height, hair length and colour (a dark pixie cut, perhaps).

So, getting back to my perception Neeva is unredeemable. Of all the people whom she had to stab, WITHOUT PROVOCATION, someone who's a fan favourite, it had to be Radek. Just gross. [Okay, I just reread the transcript and can see why she stabbed Radek. Out of fear, because she didn't want to get caught. Considering what the penalty could be, it's not surprising. But still very disturbing. And, it was only until she looked in the mirror that she saw she was in another woman's body.]

One of the things I did enjoy seeing was when Neeva went out onto a balcony and saw a Jumper flying overhead. We rarely see such meaningless domestic touches of daily life on Atlantis.

Poor Rodney. Uh ... your girlfriend isn't who you think she is. But she's got you thinking YOU did something wrong and that's why she was blowing off your lunch date. [Mmmm. Schnitzel. Haven't had any in years.] And Rodney feels he's got confirmation when it turns out the earpiece does work, so he knows she was deliberately ignoring him. Poor Rodney.

Well, Rodney, you can deal with whatever girlfriend problems you're having later. First, Jennifer has to get to the infirmary because Radek was stabbed. Though Rodney initially mocks the idea that Radek might be sick, he does show concern when he learns his second was stabbed.

I didn't notice this when I rewatched, but Neeva reacts nervously when she sees an armed marine come out onto the balcony, presumably checking for intruders, though that doesn't make sense. Hadn't they activated better intruder alarms in the city?

Anyway, Neeva can't escape as Rodney tells the impostor they have to go to the Infirmary.

Comment 2A

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Eeeeek! Just the thought of Neeva having to perform surgery to save Radek's life is grotesque. Thank goodness, Neeva takes the easy way out by feigning illness. Later, John and Rodney get to submit their report to Richard in person. Though, uh, isn't it awfully convenient for Radek being in a “light” coma (thanks, Rodney, 'cuz that's so much less terrible than a “heavy” coma?) so that the identity issue can continue a bit longer. Poor Rodney, though, wondering why his girlfriend is acting so weird.

Well, the deception shouldn't last too much longer, not if the Satedan bloodhound has his way. Good thing he just happens to drop by Jennifer's quarters. Just in time for Rodney to come by and look at both of them suspiciously. And pass on the news that Carson will be back to give her a checkup. Well, I'll give her something: the ability to listen carefully and pick up important information, such as what a Puddle Jumper is. At least Ronon's perceptive enough to wonder why she's asking such weird questions.

Too bad Carson doesn't find anything wrong with her when he returns, well not physiologically anyway. But she has to remain in the Infirmary overnight. Ha, as if. She finds her clothes, and then sneaks out. Coming across an unsuspecting technician, she asks where she can find a Jumper. ::rolls eyes:: Right, because a resident wouldn't automatically know that, lol. Poor sap, the technician very helpfully points the way.

And cue a stupid (but not really) question from me? Why are there unsecured firearms on open Jumpers? Naturally, Neeva finds it immediately before sitting down in the pilot's seat. Gee, it's too bad nothing will work for her. But Rodney shows up and she tries to wheedle him into taking her for a ride. Uh ... Rodney, have you figured out this ain't Jen yet? Well, he finally figures out that something is very very wrong, so wants to return her to the Infirmary. But she's not willing to cooperate and first just uses deflective force. As Rodney won't stop, she finally pulls the gun out and is prepared to fire on him. Oh, poor Rodney. It's a lucky thing for him that Ronon's there in time to stun her with his blaster.

Okay, kiddies, let's return to the Infirmary. At least this time she's in isolation and restrained. Carson, Richard and the Team are observing her and going through a whole lot of yadda-yadda. Kudos to Rodney for thinking that she's the one who attacked Radek.

So let's question the likely culprit. Who tries to weasel her way out of guilt for the stabbing by saying she was just trying to defend herself. Right! From Radek? Who wouldn't hurt a fly, according to Rodney.

Finally she says she has no idea how she came to be in Jennifer's body. Aha! We're getting closer to the truth. So ... ancient artifacts are involved. Cue a flashback scene where she and her two male accomplices break into a vault and find all sorts of treasures, including a weird thingy with small niches for stones that just happen to be nearby. Neeva puts a stone into a niche and finds herself in a Lantean uniform in the spot we first saw her. End flashback. Neeva closes her story by saying she's as confused as everybody else, reacted the only way she knew how when she felt threatened and just wants to get back into her own body.

Comment 2B

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Time for a bit of a history lesson when Richard, John and Carson visit Rodney's lab. So we learn about SG-1's prior experience with the communications stones. [I still remember the episode where Daniel and Vala were trapped on an Ori world thanks to the stones and were burnt to death. ::shudders::]

So, the next question is how did Jennifer get involved. Well, as it turns out, Rodney was working a few weeks ago in Janus's lab when Jennifer came by, trying to hustle him to finish so they could go see a James Bond movie, the first one, and she didn't want to be so late they'd end up sitting behind Ronon. And miss out on the popcorn.

Rodney's still engrossed in his work so mostly ignores her. And then she does something monumentally stupid. She opens a case holding two stones and picks one up. Rodney finally notices and stutters out that those haven't been catalogued yet. Embarrassed, she puts the stone back. And then gets only a mildly stern reprimand from Rodney. Hmm, if she'd been his minion, he'd have called her a moron! Well, the flashback ends before we see anything like that.

More yadda-yadda on the stones and does anyone else find it weird that the stone would retain Jennifer's ... essence for a couple of weeks for the transfer to go through? Really?

And we get the $64,000 question: where is Jennifer? Oh, just in prison. And of course she's wearing a low cut leather outfit. ::rolls eyes:: Anyway, because so far she's committed five murders with her own hand, not counting her accomplices' crimes, she's going to be executed. Jennifer's pleas to the Magistrate fall on deaf ears, as Neeva has a reputation for tall tales among the members of the Coalition. And, once again, Jennifer gets to play the damsel in distress. ::yawns::

Richard, Carson and the Team talk about their options. So they should really hurry, once they learn that, should the host body die, the mind trapped in it is lost as well.

Neeva tries to drive a hard bargain for her co-operation, but let's just say that the Lanteans aren't interested. They'll let her go, won't prosecute. That's it. Besides, just how was she planning on flying a Jumper?

Cue the team arriving on the world and having to walk for a few hours. Enough time for Neeva to make a disparaging remark about Rodney being with Jennifer. I think John agrees, lol.

Cut to Jennifer being removed from her cell.

Back with the team, Neeva wants to break into the vault again but John wants to do everything above board. And Neeva learns about the fine print in John's offer not to prosecute. Oh, he's sly!

So they mosey on in to the Magistrate's office and talk with his second. But she can't help them while the Magistrate's gone. So when will he return? Oh, when the execution's over. Oops! I guess they'd better start running.

Comment 3A

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Jennifer is brought to the chopping block. She struggles and continues to proclaim she's not the person they think they've found guilty. And the team continues to run.

Just as the axe is about to come down, a bullet strikes the executioner. The Magistrate runs away. So does Jennifer, even though her hands are tied behind her back. When she trips and gets up, she bumps into two men who just happen to be Neeva's accomplices. And they think she's Neeva.

The Magistrate's returned and ordered a search party for Jen/Neeva (as well as guards for the Stargate); our team sees this happening. Uh-oh. Neeva thinks it's too late, but John's got Chewie/Ronon the bloodhound to track Jennifer. Who just happens to be a fish out of water in a cave with her two rescuers. Plan, what plan? Oh, the one she's supposed to be in charge of, as the brains of the outfit. Uh-oh, again.

Back in the woods, Neeva uses the natural distraction of the team watching the searching guards to escape. Even though Ronon takes off after her, she manages to disappear. Gee, I didn't think anyone could get by him!

Poor Jen's trying to put a stop to the plan which involves killing the guards when Neeva walks into the cave. The accomplices are so confused. Of course, they won't listen to anything Neeva says to them to convince them of her true identity and herd both women out of the cave at gunpoint with the intention of killing the guards immediately and escaping through the Stargate.

While they're moving through the forest, naturally Neeva has some advice for Jennifer, that she can do better than Rodney. Because that's the most important lesson she got from her experience on Atlantis. Seriously, PTB, stop picking on Rodney just because you don't like his big brain – that YOU created in the first place.

Anyway, no time to talk, because guards are firing on them. One of the accomplices is killed while the other one tries to shoot Jen. But Neeva, knowing the consequences of that, fights to stop him. Okay, okay, so she has ONE redeeming quality. OTOH, her own release is contingent on her good behaviour.

For her troubles, she gets shot in the side by a guard. The accomplice runs away as the guard approaches, who fully intends to finish the job with Neeva. Luckily, the team shows up just in time to stun the guard and carry Neeva back to the Magistrate's office that they're turning into a temporary OR.

The Magistrate's second informs the Magistrate that these are the people from Atlantis she'd mentioned earlier.

Rodney starts the technobabble that nobody's likely to believe, but John cuts to the heart of the matter: do they want Atlantis to be their friend ... or not? They choose wisely.

So let's get to a carousel of shots of three-quarters of the team going to the vault with the Magistrate while Teyla acts as Carson's nurse; of Jen running; of Rodney spotting the device and wondering how to shut it down; of Jen running into Neeva's accomplice who thinks he'll just kill her, because she sure isn't Neeva.

Comment 3B

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Amazingly enough, John's willing to carry the device so it can be disintegrated in the backwash of the Stargate (the way SG-1 did it) but Ronon's got a much easier solution, so he just blasts it and then it starts to power down.

Just in time as Jennifer comes to after surgery. She recognizes Teyla though wonders where she is. And how come she's hurt.

Obviously, if Jen's back in her own body, then so is Neeva. And, no matter how creative a storyteller she is, her accomplice isn't buying it. We hear a shot ring out.

Back on Atlantis, Rodney (with gifts in hand) runs into Richard. So, how come Rodney isn't admitting he's there to visit Jen ... but just a “friend”? If Richard isn't aware of their relationship, then he'd rightly conclude that Rodney was visiting his second, Radek. Mr. Ego will accept the compliment that he's being “thoughtful”. I'll just roll my eyes.

I don't know what Rodney's “hmmm” after his up-to-date with Richard meant.

Oh, talk about painful and awkward. Why would Carson think the flowers and chocolates were for him? [Unless it's meant to be a gay joke stemming from the kiss in Duet which was years ago.] Rodney's explanation is thin, that Jen's all alone in the infirmary and he thought he'd brighten up the place.

Oh, all alone is she? Not according to the cranky voice from the next bed that's currently occupied by Radek. Rodney (because of the way the writing portrays him) is extremely cavalier in his treatment of Radek who isn't in the Infirmary for a trivial reason. Arrgghh. I find this so OOC of Rodney. Yes, he can be an ass, he can be rude, he can be so many things. Or was in his early days. But this is the man on his way to oblivion because of the ascension device who brought Radek back from the dead. Hello! There should still be some residual compassion left. ::sends laser death rays at TPTB::

In any case, Radek's had enough, so Carson offers to wheel him to another room (even though it means unhooking him from several monitors which doesn't sound efficient).

I don't understand the context of what Radek mutters in Czech: “I should have stabbed him. That would be best.” Also “I've had enough of this.” Um ... when did Radek have the opportunity to harm Rodney? Or reason (other than merely general annoyance)? Then he's wheeled out, leaving Jen and Rodney alone.

This time it's Rodney who's apparently a pod person when he suggests to Jen that – when she recovers – they could take a Jumper ride to the mainland, have a picnic and lie (NOT “lay” ::growls::) under the stars. Yup, what have you done with Rodney and where have you hidden the body? Poor Rodney. Yes, I keep saying that. Because he thinks she thinks it's a bad idea, he's about to retract it, but – guess what – she likes it and thinks it's a “great” idea.

And that's the end of the episode. Whew!

Closing thoughts

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you know what aspects of this episode I found tedious. So, what else can I talk about?

Well, there is the aspect of this particular world and its relevance to the Coalition and how these various worlds operate.

On this particular world, it was good to see that women could achieve professional status. The Magistrate's second seemed to be quite competent, even if she didn't have the power of his position.

How much attention did Neeva pay when she went from world to world as to clothing customs? It's true we didn't see any other women other than in the Magistrate's office, but it would seem to me that she'd attract a whole lot more attention with her revealing outfit. Well, we know that was because TPTB wanted (wah, wah, baby want see boobies, waaaaah) gratuitous cleavage shots, but seriously Neeva should have been a bit more circumspect about clothing choices. It might even have been an idea to dress as a man (or boy), thereby throwing the authorities off because they were seeking only a woman with two men. [Why do I have to do so much thinking about these things?] But I guess she figured that, if she couldn't sway people with her terrific lies, then she'd ... uh .... I'll leave the rest to your imagination. Yuck, anyway.

I've also thought about the penal system throughout the worlds of the Coalition. I get the idea that capital punishment is standard for murder (otherwise this executioner wouldn't be so experienced). It's interesting to see that the worlds of the Coalition seem to be in agreement that the sentencing on one world may be carried out on another (something we on Earth would find horrifying, with our concept of jurisdiction and autonomy). I'd think there would be a lot of physical labour for less severe crimes. [We've already seen how our premier team would have been exiled and stranded for the crime of changing the Replicators' base code in the sham trial.] It would have been intriguing to know just how much murder there was in general, as most populations were at vastly reduced numbers. I firmly believe that flight or fight does have merit, especially in large population groups, though such instinctual responses can be dulled through training and self-awareness.

The other thing I just thought of today (strange, how a rewatch can produce new analysis) is how wonderful it might have been in the Season 6 of our dreams to see Richard arranging a treaty with this world, considering they're such good friends, dontcha know, so that Atlantis could have some more amazing (and one hopes safe) Ancient artifacts. Ah, well, we'll just keep on dreaming.

One last weird afterthought

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

I knew I was forgetting something. Here it is.

In any episode where John has been the unwilling guest of the Infirmary, I've noted how the set people tuck his blankets not only very close to the outline of his body but also between his legs. So I thought it was a ... fetish because of the actor. Imagine my screwed-up face reaction to see that the set people did Exactly. The. Same. Thing when Jennifer was lying there, blankets tucked between her legs. If you ever watch the episode again, remember to pay attention. ::ambles away muttering about weird set people::