Ronon's care for Teyla

[vida-boheme.livejournal.com]

Ronon: Congratulations. Kanaan is the father?
Teyla: You knew that we were ...?
Ronon: I could tell – the way you talked about him.
Teyla: Yes. He is the father.
Ronon: I'm sorry.
Teyla: I will find him. He is still alive – I feel it.
Ronon: We'll find him – together. I promise. Come on – let's go get you checked up. You know, uh, "Ronon" – it's a good name ... boy or girl.

I love this brief exchange so much, especially for the way it shows us so much about Ronon. He understands Teyla's fears and concerns (and I'm sure he understands John's) but the first word out of his mouth is congratulations. He responds first as her friend and recognises the fact that this is a treasure to her and not an inconvenience. I love the way he immediately guesses who the father is and explains why he knows. That brain might not be science smart, but he's sharp as a tack and he picks up on things that other people miss. I adore the way he understands her worry about Kanaan being missing, and vows to help her find him. Most of all, I love the way he takes her hand, makes her smile, and goes with her to the infirmary.

So what small scenes do you love, and why? What are the moments in SGA where a brief exchange suddenly made you understand a character better?

Comments

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

You know, I was completely taken aback by John's reaction to Teyla's pregnancy. I can understand his concern from a military POV, since we're coming from a different cultural perspective here regarding women in combat (especially pregnant women) but I felt his reaction was out of character for someone who seemed casually comfortable with the fact that Ronon might easily have had a boyfriend as a girlfriend (as depicted in Sunday).

You'd got me thinking now. I might have to watch eps to find a moment such as this to share. Damn. This could take a while. ;-)

[kensieg.livejournal.com]

Maybe John's scared of babies? Or maybe he's really worried about the risks Teyla takes. He's not a father, esp. not a Pegasus father, so maybe he only sees the risks. Or simplest yet: Teyla's new role has freaked him out immensely!



On Friday nights I miss my show more!

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

Well, he certainly seemed comfortable with Torren at the end of SAR! :-) In fact, that was one scene I'd nominate here for the discussion.

I think his anger was supposed to be about the fact he's in charge and he didn't know she was pregnant--it was also meant to highlight the difference in cultures. I just think I'd have written it differently.

Freaked out I can buy though. People often react unexpectedly when freaked out!

[patk.livejournal.com]

Freaked out - I think he was *totally* freaked out. Not because of the pregnancy as such, of course, but at the idea of what could have happened in those two month he wasn't aware of her pregnancy and couldn't put that info in his decisions. I think the root of his anger here is concern. He usually doesn't spare Teyla anything just because she's a woman and realizing that he was operating on incomplete information for the last two month because she didn't tell him ... yeah, I guess he had pretty vivid images of how he could have killed her baby just by making an uninformed *decision* flashing through his mind.

I think his reaction was not about the question if Teyla was still able to do her job, to fight or "who has the right to tell whom what to do" - that would be stuff for a more reasonable, calmer discussion after the initial shock and anger had faded - but more than anything else just a strong emotional "Ritt über den Bodensee"-reaction.

That's the story about a man who got lost riding on his horse in a snowstorm. When he finally reached a guesthouse he was told that he had been riding all across the frozen Lake Constance. He became so shocked about the danger he had been in without knowing it (despite the fact that nothing had happened) that he suffered a heart attack on the spot and died.

John learned in hindsight that it was pure luck that Teyla's unborn wasn't harmed by decisions he made while doing his job which includes risking the mother's life as a member of his team. I have utter understanding for his reaction. That wasn't against Teyla personally, or pregnant women doing their job in general, that moment was John being scared of what could have happened because he didn't know. Anger born of worry with a good dose of helplessness on the side.

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

I hear what you're saying--I understand the emotion very well--it just jarred with me the way it was written. Most likely because it was *left* that way and we never saw any follow up to it.

It wouldn't have taken much to leave it so that we as the audience (and not fanfic writers) *knew* that a reconciliation scene took place. Instead, it was dropped as though it never happened. :-(

[thebiggest-lie.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of it might have been that John was hurt that Teyla didn't tell him about both her relationship, and the fact that he was pregnant. So a defense mechanism maybe? A way of dealing with this new information? Instead of facing his actual feelings, he turns it to concern and responsibility as a team leader.

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

I think that was what it was *intended* to convey, to be sure. The scene just didn't work for me as written. Felt like something had been left out or edited for time, you know?

But now I have to go back to the subject at hand... :-)

[sp23.livejournal.com]

I think he may have felt kind of betrayed that she hadn't confided in him that she was pregnant, and by not doing so he put her in a situation that could have caused harm to the baby, maybe even caused Teyla to miscarry. I also think it scared the ever living shit out of him and that's why he reacted harshly. Everyone always says it would out of character, but I'm not sure I agree.

[em_kellesvig]

I have to agree with you on this. I think John was terrified that he'd unknowingly placed Teyla's baby in harm's way and that came out as anger. Misplaced anger but still genuine.

Rachel Luttrell did an interview recently about that scene and said that Joe decided to play it with an element of jealousy as well. Teyla was "team" and Kanaan and the baby would take her away from the team. I didn't see it that way but it's an interesting viewpoint.

[sp23.livejournal.com]

Huh, that is interesting. In a small way (and, no, I didn't see that way either) I could see that because John had no other family than his team, and I think he would be hurt at the thought of losing any of them to someone else. Rodney and stupid Keller must have ripped his poor heart out (especially since he's ass over teakettle in love with Rodney ;-P)

[em_kellesvig]

You see the same reaction from John when Ronon decides to leave Atlantis in Reunion. He's very upset and trying to show it. He tries to talk Ronon out of going, does everything he can to keep him part of the team. They're his family. He just doesn't show it well.

[lysambre.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, I never saw that anger as being out of character for John under these circumstances.

From the very beginning of the show it's obvious that John hates to put other people than himself in danger, and that when he fears for them them he gets angry (remember Trinity, the more scared he was, the more pissed off; the Genii also know the result of putting John's people in harm's way).

So yeah, to me it's not really surprising that when he learns he's been putting Teyla's baby in danger for months he get's scared and angry.

A lot of people saw him as angry against Teyla, I saw him as angry against himself, for not realising sooner and for Teyla feeling she couldn't talk to him about it.

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

You guys are making a compelling argument for John being caught off guard and how fear for someone's safety in a situation like that can make you behave like a jerk. Lord knows, I've yelled at my dog when he safely returned from nearly getting himself killed, even though that was the wrong thing to do. I just would have liked to see some follow up. Teyla, I'm sure, would not have left things there.

I feel as though I've accidentally hijacked this thread by voicing this remembered reaction--seriously, that wasn't my intent! Now I'm going to have to come up with some counter-balancing memories. :-)

[sp23.livejournal.com]

I just would have liked to see some follow up. Teyla, I'm sure, would not have left things there.

This is a serious failing that the writers had. And to be fair, not just these guys but this happens in far too many shows... no follow-up. I'm sure the writers just didn't feel like having or felt it necessary to have that follow-up scene where John and Teyla have the heart-to-heart where he apologized for yelling, and she apologizes for not telling him about the baby sooner. I guess that's why we have fanfic. :-)

[patk.livejournal.com]

>>Lord knows, I've yelled at my dog when he safely returned from nearly getting himself killed, even though that was the wrong thing to do.<<

This! Yes! That's pretty much the reaction I saw here coming from John. :-)

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

Yes, but a nano-second later, I have the dog by the face and I'm telling him that he scared the crap out of me and I love him so please, please don't ever do that again. And he *gets* that for whatever reason I went psycho on him before, we're okay now.

I'm not saying John Sheppard has to be as enlightened as I am *snicker* but a single sentence would have put the entire scene into context for me. If John had ended with a frustrated, "Damn it, Teyla! I can't make decisions unless I have all the facts!" as he took his hissy self off, then it would have worked for me. I wouldn't have needed a reconciliation scene between him and Teyla because I would have *known* that it had taken place.

It seems to me there was so many times when a major problem with a scene or a storyline could have been fixed with a single sentence but the writers always let it go.

[vida-boheme.livejournal.com]

You know, I used to put the lack of balance and resolution to that scene down to poor storytelling and scripting by TPTB. Now I wonder if they didn't put some of their annoyance at having to deal with Rachel's pregnancy in Sheppard's mouth - with the added bonus of making John/Joe the 'bad guy'.

Yep, that's how far my distrust of TPTB's motivations goes!

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, those very thoughts crossed my mind as well. I can also see Flanigan, when given the lines to read, deciding with Rachel to play it as a jealousy thing, because that's what they had to work with.

[patk.livejournal.com]

>>"Damn it, Teyla! I can't make decisions unless I have all the facts!" <<

Yes, that would have been perfect - and still in character for John. And in an ideal world with some competent writers at the helm of the show we would have gotten something like that. :-)

Hm... I think I'm just going to pretend that he said this at a point later in the show. *G*

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

It did, it did! :-)

[thebiggest-lie.livejournal.com]

I really love the scene in Tao of Rodney between Rodney and Ronon. For me it said so much about both characters and their relationship to one another in less than two minutes.

The conversation on the phone between John and Rodney when they were back on Earth that showed us just how close of friends they had become; that even when they had no excuse to they were still hanging out and talking with each other.

Gah, I could probably think of tons of others. SGA did such a good job with the smaller moments, or showing so much of characters in a single line or look. :)

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

I really love the scene in Tao of Rodney between Rodney and Ronon. For me it said so much about both characters and their relationship to one another in less than two minutes.

Oh, good choice! That one came to mind for me as well. Also John holding Torren in the jumper on the way back to Atlantis in S&R.

[sp23.livejournal.com]

I love the end of that scene when Ronon takes Teyla's hand and they walk down the hall together. One of the sweetest scenes in the entire franchise.

[mezzo-cammin.livejournal.com]

Oh, there are so many! What a great question!

The one in Rising where Sumner and John are introduced to Teyla, and Sumner is all bristling military machismo, and John defuses the situation with the "Me? I like things that go fast, football, and Ferris wheels. See? Now you know something about me - let's be friends." or words to that effect. I think that showed John's inherent understanding that this world was alien and vulnerable, and even though they (Atlantis' military) had the might to take what they wanted, that they didn't have the right to do so. It was very diplomatic of him, and showed there was more to him than met the eye.

Next has to be Hide and Seek - there are several scenes in there, from John pushing Rodney off of the balcony, and John telling 'scary' stories to the puzzled Athosian kids -what are hockey masks? to John explaining football to Teyla.

But the one that really changed the way I thought about a character was the part where Rodney realizes that unless HE does something very brave and very dangerous, everyone else will die, and he just squares his shoulders and does it. The whole episode, they've been poking fun at him for being a coward. Elizabeth even implies as much, outright, and he calls her on it, when they're at the naquada generator "What? You think I'm scared? I'll stay here..." But yeah - when it came down to it, Rodney was prepared to sacrifice his life, if necessary, for the others. And the frantic tone in Johns voice, the way John ran after him? My first true McShep moment.

Oh, how I love those early episodes!

[em_kellesvig]

The part I really liked about that scene in Rising was Sumner's reaction. When John steps up and takes the diplomatic approach, Sumner smiles a little in approval. I felt it was a turning point for Sumner in his opinion of John and it was very nicely done.

[lysambre.livejournal.com]

See that ? That's exactly why I think Sumner, despite is short appearance on the show, is not a character that people dislike.

He might have been originally written as the "bad character everyone is glad to see dying", but in truth his portrayal was so good that I sometimes wish he could have survived.
Yes it would have made things very different, but despite his original dislike of John because of the black mark, he still had enough respect and professionalism to let John step forward, and that would have been so interesting to see in later episodes.

And I don't think it needs to be explained that John also had a big amount of respect for Sumner. In his own way of course. John might be a bit of a rebel, but I truly believe he respects the hierarchy of a military life (except when he's asked to leave someone behind of course !).

[patk.livejournal.com]

>>And I don't think it needs to be explained that John also had a big amount of respect for Sumner.<<

I think one of the most important and also most overlooked scenes shedding light on John's character is the one in the hologram room when he says to Everett "There isn't a night that doesn't go by where that moment doesn't play in my head -- and every time it does ..."

I also think that no matter what John thought about Sumner before, *after* he had to shoot him in that hive he had enormous respect for him. It also shows clearly in "Letters from Pegasus" because the message he sends to Sumner's possible family? I believe every word he says there about what he thinks in regard to Sumner.

[sp23.livejournal.com]

Yes! I love that part. It showed that had Sumner lived, he and John could have worked very well together. *pets Sumner*

[lysambre.livejournal.com]

This scene is so beautiful, I love how Jason conveyed so much love and tenderness in such a small gesture <3.

Of of my favorite scene along the same lines is from the Tao of Rodney, when Rodney goes to Teyla for the tea ceremony. Teyla is so surprised but also deeply touched and delighted, and Rachel made a fantastic job of showing it all to us, in her fragile but beautiful smile.

And Rodney, blustery Rodney, doing something he may have been thinking about but would never had done for fear of making a mistake or for fear of not being welcomed. The way he comes into the room ? It shows that fear so much, as if he's scared Teyla would close the door to his face. It tells you so much about him and about what he has inside of him, a desire to please the people he loves but a fear constantly present.

Did I say I loved Tao of Rodney ? :D

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

I ADORE that scene with Ronon & Teyla! It's one of my favorite scenes. One that stands out in my mind when I think of the show.

Another scene in SGA that's iconic for me is when the Wraith are bombarding Atlantis' shields (early season 2) and Rodney & John are standing together on the balcony, staring up at it. It's a cool moment, because they're in so much danger, but they take a moment to appreciate that it's kindof pretty to look at, too. And you can suddenly see how close they are, how close their friendship has become. They can be quiet and companionable together for a moment, in the midst of danger and stress.

How about the scene between Teyla & John during the Atlantis lockdown when Teyla is hugely pregnant, and Teyla & John are trapped in the lab together? That knowing look they exchange when they talk about how poorly Rodney is going to be able to handle being locked in away from his computers or a way to do anything--they both know Rodney so well, much better than poor Katie Brown. And then later, when John decides to climb up the outside of the building, I love how Teyla climbs tentatively out on the ledge, and you can see how much she wants to go out there and climb the building with John! (she hates being trapped and not being able to do anything just as much as John and Rodney do) But she's inconveniently very pregnant, and so she makes herself go back inside. You can see how she's worried for John, and also impatient and annoyed that she can't take a more active role as well for the moment.