Rewatch: The Defiant One

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

Dr. Brendan Gall, one of the scientists on Atlantis, discovers a Lagrangian point satellite and Sheppard, McKay, Gall and another scientist, Dr. Abrams are sent to investigate. It was used by the Ancients as a last line of defense before Atlantis during the war with the Wraith 10.000 years ago, but it seems to be out of commission. Not long after the team picks up a distress call from a planet nearby. It's coming from a Wraith ship that crashed during the war and the team takes a look. McKay is absolutely convinced no living thing could survive that long, but the team discovers signs of Wraith cannibalism and a storage compartment for humans. McKay begins to doubt his assumption.  Summary from IMDb



[Poll #1771036]

Comments

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

Heh, the snark starts right offing this one. I love These two together, they have the bestest interactions.

And the doctor's space sickness disappears at the huge space station.

Of course McKay and Sheppard want to explore. Good that Elizabeth has learned that about them.

Oooo, snark and a Star/Trek reference in short order. Of course Sheppard gets one of Kirk's lines - Everyone remember where we parked. Until I started the rewatch, I never noticed how much they were pushing that.

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Oh, Rodney. You look SO tense when you drive ... er ... fly. And ... "this baby"? ::giggles::

I love how that curve showed up just after Rodney said he WAS flying in a straight line. Hee!
John: "Not so much."
Rodney: "Huh. In space all motion is relative."
Poor John looks like the anxious dad who's letting the kids drive for the very first time. Now we know how he got those early grey hairs.

Oh, the look on John's face when Brendan Gaul says that it's not enough that the 'jumper have inertial dampeners, he STILL suffers from motion sickness.

And then John brings up the parents/kids driving analogy himself. I love predicting things.

::giggles again:: Yeah, Rodney, you can be both "insulted and touched".

Wow. It's been a while since we've seen awe on these guys' faces, considering they live on Atlantis.

"Where's it coming from" and the HUD lights up with all the answers. Sneaky l'il know-it-all!

The dirty look John just gave Rodney when he said "Wraith distress call".

Aaaaaand opening credits.

Oh, my. Poor Elizabeth has to play "Mom" to the bunch of brats little boys who just like to explore and stuff. 15 hours out? No prob, Mom.

Always with the "remember where we parked" line. Oh, John.

Oh, hai, pretty glowy bugs.

Ugh. Cocoons never get any less creepy looking.

Oh, poor (no first name?) Abrams. He's so freaked out. And can we say ... redshirt moment coming up. As Rodney jogs to catch up with John, 'cuz he doesn't want to be stuck with the noobs, we get the music building in intensity.

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

Poor fraidycat doctor. You just know that can't end well.

I love Ford's intense reaction to Elizabeth saying she wants his team to go after Sheppard and his team.

Eeek, that Wraith jumped me, even though I knew it was coming. I'm impressed that Gaul didn't just give up the information the first time the Wraith demanded it. I wouldn't have thought he had that kind of bravery in him.

Also, why did the Wraith need to feed on them, since there was a ship full of cocoons?

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Um ... if you had a choice, wouldn't you choose fresh over 10,000-year old? There was probably a lot of nutritional degradation over the centuries in the cocoons.

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

Yeah, although I would have thought he'd get some quick, easy sustenance to build his strength. I suppose that could be arrogance on his part. I was actually thinking he did it to reduce the number of people that might be a threat to him.

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

I still think it was the fresh-food aspect. Besides, he'd been hibernating for who knows how long (most of those 10,000 years?). I may have to check ... again. After all, his beacon was still transmitting, though no other Wraith had ever heard it, 'cuz they'd never gotten to that side of the solar system.

The other thing is that, since he'd been hibernating (and wasn't showing up on the LSD), he'd probably need to regain some strength before doing more damage. Hence a couple of convenient snacks.

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Yay, Elizabeth, for a very wise precautionary decision. You da boss!

Oh, great, boys. You're asking the questions that will get you into trouble. It's like a jinx. So just don't ask questions and you won't get into trouble. Hey, I think it's a terrific philosophy.

And the Wraith doesn't disappoint as it just ... uh ... drops in. Real friendly like. What a welcome committee.

Oh, the look Rodney gives John: We're screwed.

Rodney: "I've already got a gun."
John: "Now you have two."

And, once again, we see Ford being in charge and acting responsibly.

Oh, boy. Brendan is paralyzed and our boys are arguing. Then John takes off.

Ugh, more creepy cocoon goop.

And sad/weird stuff (old resentments) between Brendan and Rodney.

Um ... why did they have to leave the welcome mat out (hatch open)? Uh-oh. Mr. Wraith is really upset, 'cuz nothing works for him. He should take an anger management course 'cuz all that yelling's probably not good for his blood pressure. Kidding, just kidding.

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

Rodney arguing with Sheppard - a real argument, not just snark. I love it when Sheppard gets all commandy.

Hey, is this the first direct reference to John being like Captain Kirk (Rodney brings it up in this episode)? I can't remember

Oooo, I like the deception John hands the nasty Wraith. Whoa, better regenerative powers than his race's descendants. Jeez, it isn't fair that he can take a dozen shots and be almost fine, and poor John's wrecked after one hit.

Meanwhile Rodney is trying so hard to help Gaul.

Socks aren't part of the uniform? I was surprised to see John's ankles. That would have been quite shocking in Victorian England...it's possible I'm feeling a little loopy...

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

John's bare ankles???

Oh, dear. Another re-rewatch. But we DO know that he doesn't tie his boot laces. And maybe he thought this scientist baby-sitting would be a picnic.

But ::giggles:: socks ARE definitely a part of the uniform as are regulation haircuts. At this point, John is the MAN, so what's he going to do? Put himself on report?

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

So, John's finally arrived and falls behind a convenient dune. Considering Mr. Wraith whooshed up as if by pneumatic tube, maybe he flew?

Back on the just-in-case rescue 'jumper, how come I never noticed any other military people wearing their BDU sleeves neatly folded up until this episode? Or maybe this was the only one?

John: "He's aboard my ship."
Rodney: "What are you, Captain Kirk?" ::pumps fist in the air:: I love being reassured that ALL of those Kirk references weren't ONLY in MY imagination. Or fanfic.

John picks up some snow/ice. Wow, a Wraith and a potential ski vacation locale, too? Uh ... really, really COLD nights.

John: "Try and stay positive." The Flan has this particular inflection to his voice when he says certain lines and this is ONE of those times.

Okay, Mr. Wraith is doing a little redecorating. Such fun. Or NOT.

Ooh, a battle of wits and words between Mr. Wraith and John.

Whoa, Wraith playing possum. And John's lucky to be wearing his tac vest, though he gets a slight arm wound (slight, for him, that is).

Oh, that was neat, seeing the Wraith searching from side to side, looking confused. Where'd dinner go to?

And cut. Stunt double, get ready to roll down a whole bunch of sand.

Then, John's out of ammo.

Another bit of a conversation that's less arrogant than the last one. Brendan had this misperception of Rodney but, by being in the field with him, he's learned that Rodney has changed. And then Rodney puts the gun in his hand. [But it was John who told him to. I didn't realize it until I did the rewatch.]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, John decides it's time for a little snack. Hey, is he pinching one of the powerbars he keeps in his pockets for Rodney's hypoglycemia? And Tinkerbell wants some, too. That's so adorable, when John put a morsel down on his knee. Awwww. Except Tinkerbell just brought the whole family over. After the Iratus bug incident, it's no wonder John doesn't want any bugs buzzing him, no matter how cute.

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

After the Iratus bug incident, it's no wonder John doesn't want any bugs buzzing him, no matter how cute. Ooo, good point. I'd forgotten that, and didn't make the connection.

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

John had such a great idea to get the Wraith away from his ship. But, damn...it didn't work. Don't you just hate it when the enemy is smart?

What is with those fireflies? I love John feeding one off his knee. When it came back with more, I was afraid they were going to give away his position.

I got caught up in watching John's struggle with the Wraith, so I missed commenting o some of the ep, so this will be shorter because it's just the moments that really stuck in my mind as something extra special...

Gaul surprised me with having the courage to kill himself to get Rodney to leave. Rodney was trying to hard to be a good teammate/friend, but I guess he hasn't been the only one to change for the better.

Then, I loved the moment when Rodney stood up and started shooting the Wraith. That's the first time I remember him being so directly involved in the action. Instead of it happening it to him, he stepped up and made something happen. The moment when he asked John, 'Now what?' was priceless.

John sticking the gooey bar to the Wraith was great to. I didn't really get why at first, until he gave Ford his instructions. Yay for Wraith being blown to smithereens.

And, John lets Rodney drive them home. Hee. Awesome ending to a great episode.

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Once again, it's interesting to see what things I remember and what things I imagined. I thought Brendan killed himself AFTER Rodney had left. But, for him to have done is WHILE Rodney was still there just blew me away.

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Okay, snack eaten, it's back to surveillance mode.

And is Rodney ever going to be pissed that the Wraith was hot-wiring the 'jumper.

It's time for a diversion. Look, Mr. Wraith. Isn't the fire pretty?

Oh, John. You got whumped by your 'jumper shield. That's so NOT fair.

And listening to Rodney give a pep talk to Brendan is all kinds of weird.

Cute trick of using the knife blade as a mirror.

And, look, Tinkerbell and family want to play with the Wraith.

Wraith: "Do you think I'm a fool, Major Sheppard?"

Apparently so, because he sorta blowed up.

Oh, John. Don't be taken in ... again.

Brendan: "I'm not going anywhere." And the music becomes lyrical. It reminds me of some of the music from Poisoning the Well.

Oh, God. The look on Brendan's face while Rodney is babbling, as he decides what he has to do. In some ways, it reminds me of Sumner's face when he looked at John and acknowledged what was about to happen.

And Rodney is shocked into silence when he hears the gun shot. Poor Rodney. Being Head of Science isn't exactly a picnic. Not when your colleagues die around you.

Here we go again. Wraith revival time, back on his feet. John, OTOH, is not too thrilled: "Are you kidding me?"

Yay, the cavalry has arrived! Well, two minutes away which John thinks "sucks".

It also sucks that he's out of ammo ... again?!?

Well, John does not lack for courage (foolhardiness?) or ingenuity. And then he gets thrown.

But Rodney's there to save the day. Well, with a few instructions like shoot and reload. While the Wraith wonders which one he wants to have for an entrée and which one for dessert. Oh, decisions, decisions.

And there's John's ingenuity again to attract Tinkerbell et alia. But it happened too quickly for me to see the wrapper until it was stuck to the Wraith.

That was so cool, seeing the Wraith finally, finally get obliterated. But John looks worried: where's Rodney. Oh, there he is, raising his arm. "Still here."

And they thank each other. Awww, boys. Except the music turns sad and John asks about Brendan. I just replayed it and it's exquisite. But, then, you know how I feel about the consistently amazing Joel Goldsmith. [And OT, but how come their radios stayed in place during everything they've gone through? I thought those things were fragile and would fall off (or is that fanfic?).]

And, then, there's just the wee matter of putting the ship back together, not to mention disarming the shielding. What? Does John think that Rodney's middle name is now MacGyver? Besides, is each remote initialized to a single 'jumper, 'cuz otherwise they could just wait until the rescue 'jumper touches down and borrow it. Actually, now that I'm thinking of it, I'm wondering WHY there are systems that John can influence with his mind only and others that need a gadgetty interface. Is that a writing inconsistency by TPTB?

Okay, this is frustrating. What did Rodney say to John after "As long as we get to go home" and before the last "Thank you." I've replayed it twice many times but I just can't catch it. Arrgghh. It sounds like "We can ride." Or was it "You can drive." What??? Although the latter does make sense, if John's being really generous and allowing Rodney to drive HIS 'jumper all the way home.

Afterthought:
Was it a really dumb idea to take three scientists in a jumper that distance without extra military support? Huh, John? And OMG they should have NEVER split up inside the ship, no matter how innocuous it seemed. There could have been booby-traps everywhere and, hello, noob scientists (meaning wide-eyed, curious and gawking, never mind a safety hazard to themselves and others).

I also hope they did the right thing and – if they had enough C4 in the 'jumpers – blew the Wraith ship up with all of those cocoons on board. It would be the honourable and decent thing to do. Also put the distress beacon out of commission FINALLY.