15 Years! Episode fest!

[melagan]

To celebrate the fifteen years since the first airing of Stargate Atlantis, valika proposed a celebration and I whole-heartedly agree.

For the next week, we want to hear all about your favorite Stargate Atlantis episode(s), why should we watch them and what about that episode(s) caught your imagination.

Feel free to elaborate as little or as much as you like.

We'd be delighted if you wanted to tell us a little about your favorite characters too.

(I'm looking at you popkin16)

I've been working my way through a re-watch. I have to keep stopping, stare at the screen and announce, "OMG they're so PRETTY!"

Ahem.

Guess 'll work on something more coherent for this mini fifteen-year fest.

Comments

[popkin16]

It may be a bit of a cop out, but my favorite episodes are always the McShep ones. Not just because I ship them, but because their interactions really are the most fun. They just play off each other so well lol.

The Storm/The Eye was the episodes that made me go from, "I enjoy this show" to "Holy shit this is good." John was badass! Rodney was a brave little toaster! One of my go-to episodes when I'm feeling down is Echoes. The premise is absolutely ridiculous, but the boys are super cute and have a ton of great moments, it never fails to cheer me up.

I am and always will be a Rodney fangirl. In SG1, Rodney gives us hints that he comes from an unhappy childhood. And then in SGA, we learn he was bullied. So there's something really wonderful about him finding a family and a home on Atlantis, with his team. Finally accepted for more than just his brain ♥ I also headcanon Rodney has bisexual and completely aware of it. He didn't make it through college looking that pretty without someone male hitting on him, c'mon! And Rodney's such a hedonist - he likes food and bubble baths and things that make him feel good. And if sex with men feels good, Rodney isn't going to quibble. I have a lot of Rodney feels ♥

I also really love John though. He hasn't had an easy life either, though in different ways. Which means it's also lovely when he finds a place of acceptance and family on Atlantis. There's a lot of strong opinions about John's sexuality. I have a friend who firmly believes John is 100% gay, which does seem to be the prevailing theory. But I can buy him as bisexual with a predominant interest in men. He sleeps with Teer when he really didn't have to (he thinks he's abandoned there, so there's no military code of conduct he has to abide by), and he doesn't look disgusted when Mara disrobes in The Tower. More stunned, lol. So I don't really have a strong opinion on John's sexuality, other than "not straight."

The great thing about SGA is it had so many great characters. Carson was a sweetie. Teyla is strong and badass and I love that they made her a mother but didn't take that away from her. Ronon's been through so much, I'm so happy he's found a home and people he can fight with. Radek puts up with Rodney and genuinely cares about him, and he's so smart and capable. And so on...

The show gives us so many possibilities. Ancient tech can be written to do anything. Any ancient culture you can come up with can be make narrative sense.

IDK man, I just love this show and these characters.

[allir]

Oh! How did I not immediately think of The Storm/The Eye when thinking of fav episodes?

I'd already read a bit of fic and seen some John/Rodney interaction compilations before watching the show (and yes, it was absolutely the way they interact with each other that got me into it), but the Storm/Eye - it went from not just funny and sweet and adorable to these guys are also badass and I love that and they will kill for each other!

(And okay, o have a weakness for BAMF!military!John)

[popkin16]

Oh man, I looooooooove that you watched compilation videos before watching the show and you were like, "I LOVE IT." That makes me so happy ♥ There's just something about these two, you know?

(BAMF!John is suuuper hot.)

[allir]

Oh yes.

I mean, I'm a sucker for Sci Fi in general, so Atlantis had that going for it. But seeing the way they interacted and the humor and just- the chemistry, I was like - I must have all of this.

[popkin16]

I loooooooooove the possibilities of sci-fi, and then you add in the humor and chemistry of Stargate - it's just like you said. I think that's why SGA was such a huge fandom, and McShep such a big pairing.

[allir]

I just wish I'd gotten into it back when it was still really big. I mean, it's so, so awesome that the fandom is still going strong, and I love the fact that there is *so much* awesome fic and art and stuff out there for me to consume, but I do kinda feel like I missed the full-on days of Atlantis fandom.

And yes, humour and chemistry! Too many shows these days are all like, we gotta be serious and people die, etc. And I'm like, just give me pretty boys snarking at each other and having fun!

[popkin16]

I also wish I had gotten into it when it was really big. I joined in 2009, which is the year the show ended. But to imagine the high the fandom felt after a new episode was released, all the meta and fic it inspired...I'm sad I didn't get to experience that. Even if I get the benefit of reading all the fic LOL.

Ugh yes, I am not here for shows that are so heavy and serious. I mean, sometimes it's okay, but I have no idea why every show is obsessed with being 'dark'.

[allir]

I do not understand the current love of dark shows. Just give me some happiness.

And yes - just imagining talking to others as we all watched it for the first time is amazing! I'm stoked that I've finally found a friend who will watch it with me (all my other friends are like we may watch SG1 with you but we don't want to get into Atlantis). Just being able to watch it and see her delight at the characters fills me with joy. (Yes! Yes! You see! You understand! This is Rodney and he is precious and now you understand that!)

[elbbircs]

Great post and discussion. It's a shame I'm two years late for it.

He sleeps with Teer when he really didn't have to
But does he? I re-watched this episode not long ago, and I have my doubts.