Series Rewatch: Poisoning The Well

[popkin16]

This week's episode is Poisoning The Well! Atlantis is introduced to a planet working toward making humans immune to wraith feedings. Elizabeth struggles with an ethical dilemma, and Carson must face the consequences of helping a group of people more focused on results than safety. As always, feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts, fics, meta, or recs!

Comments

[respoftw]

I tend to skip this episode in most of my rewatches tbh, it's one of my least favourite episodes. I was so excited the first time to see a Carson-heavy episode (I love my wee haggis so much) but I' just think it's really dull.

Oh well, I might watch it tonight and see if it holds up any better than I remember!

[popkin16]

Childhood's End - the previous episode - isn't a favorite of mine. This one is okay, though I get frustrated at the natives as they're depicted. But I try to pick out interesting little things to make the episode go by faster, lol.

[melagan]

Carson doesn't like Gate travel!

I always think of this as the 'Carson' episode but it's a lot more than that.

We see a culture whose entire society has one common goal. To pursue this goal they rebuild as quickly as possible and risk the Wraith's attention. I get a strong sense of this beirg the reason why the Althosians have kept their technology low-key.

Aside from the initial meeting, the team isn't together much in this episode. On the other hand, we see more of Steve the Wraith. One of the best parts of this episode was watching John annoy the piss out of Steve.

Elizabeth has to make some hard decisions. Helping the Hoffans initially, not so hard. Agreeing to human testing possibly ending in painful death? She's clearly miserable over this decision, and I like her better for it.

I enjoyed the Carson and Perna moments and was sorry when she died.

There wasn't nearly enough McKay in the episode, but that's okay, we have some lovely McKay episodes coming up.

[popkin16]

- The opening shot is so interesting. The Hoffans have an actual city, with sturdy buildings and streets.

- Rodney begins to criticize them, John says, "McKay." and Rodney immediately stops.

- LOLLLL The look on John's face when Rodney throws him under the bus with Elizabeth. Someone's sleeping on the couch.

- John and Rodney ganging up on Carson is so hilarious. Look at them working together to tease him XD It reminds me of this trope I love - "I can make fun of him, but don't you dare make fun of him." I kind of like the idea of John & Rodney being like that with each other.

- I wonder if the underground in this episode doubles as the shooting location for the Genii's underground?

- This guy is so casual about the possibility of the wraith destroying his world in retaliation for being immune to
feeding. "We can't hope to control their actions." WELL NO, BUT YOU CAN MAYBE MITIGATE THEM OR SOMETHING.

- I think this feels like a Carson episode because, up to this point, he hasn't been in an episode as much as he is in this one.

- The wraith are so damn dramatic. "I am your death, that is all you need to know." So extra.

- MONTAGE. SGA doesn't do those often, so it's interesting they do here.

- Poor Elizabeth has to make so many difficult calls. She's so strong.

- "I fail to see cause for alarm." MY DUDE. MY GUY. Listen to John and Teyla. God, where is this attitude coming from? What in the world made this man think the wraith WOULDN'T wipe them from existence? It's so interesting to see how their entire culture is built around this one thing, and how it blinds them to everything.

- I feel bad for how the Hoffans end up, and it's even more tragic because they brought it on themselves. It also makes me so angry at the lives lost, the way they all just...take that chance, make that jump, and destroy themselves. WHY, GUYS.

- What a depressing ending. Fascinating, but heavy.

[popkin16]

I can't remember if they outright say it - I think they do? But either way, you definitely get the idea that the wraith target any who have advanced(ish) technology.

John annoying Steve WAS pretty funny. Steve tries so hard to intimidate him, too LOL

I mention in my notes that Elizabeth has to make some hard decisions, and she's so strong for doing so.

Every episode could use more Rodney.