Rewatch: The Brotherhood

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

The team has arrived on Dagan, one of the gate addresses with ZPM's the old Weir gave them. The people from Dagan know about this device they call Potentia. Apparently the Ancients gave a secret Brotherhood the order to keep it safe from the Wraith until it was reclaimed by their descendants. The location of the device is unknown however, since the Brotherhood was wiped out entirely in a culling. Archaelogists have tried for centuries to solve the puzzle and three out of nine key stones have been found recently The team tries to find the rest. Some Genii however, have taken interest in their activities on Dagan and of the archaeologists helping them is starting to have doubts. Meanwhile a console on Atlantis starts behaving strangely. Dr. Zelenka finds out a deep space scanner has activated itself. He makes a disturbing discovery.  [Poll #1779127]

Comments

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, run outside to where the Wraith ships are culling people. You'd think that people in a whole other galaxy would have a different word for their God, even if they are human.

Rodney is just a tad intense while dressing down Sheppard's team. I think Rodney is a little taken with the native woman, though.

Ugh, it's Kolya, and with a nasty scar. These Genii are so obsessed with the Atlanteans.

Oooo, I like them all working together. Even Rodney is down there getting his hands dirty. Although there is some dissension in the native ranks.

Uh oh, I think the woman in charge didn't like hearing that the Atlanteans are newly arrived in the city. But, John makes a snarky comment, and Rodney gets a clue that someone likes him. *g*

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Okay, this is an interesting beginning. We're somewhere strange and don't know who these people (monks, huh?) running around are. And then we get snippets of Gregorian or Gregorian-lite chant (because that's like, Universal, dontcha know?).

"We are all that remain." "Oh my God."

No kidding and there's that familiar whine of many darts. Yuck. Last two monks all gone now. That wasn't very smart of them, to open that door. And, then, insta-ruins.

Finally, we have our team with more strangers.

Then Team laughter disturbs Rodney when he's being all industrious and he's quite perturbed about it. [I'm still maintaining it's because of the Chaya incident.]

I was wrong. I'm rewatching again via the Audio Commentary with the two Martins as well as David Hewlett. It turns out that what the Team – minus Rodney – was doing 'cuz they were bored was discussing their "first kiss". But, because of time limitations, they had to cut that scene out. Interesting. David Hewlett commented it was like a "sleepover" thing. Snorfle. David, when did you do ... sleepovers? Or were you channeling your inner 12-year old princess? They mentioned it was also when they started to pick on Ford.

Did anybody note how unusual it was to have Teyla doing a raised eyebrow (twice) as she was hardly provoked? And I guess Rodney's changed his tune about things other than science (history, really?), but only when they point to the location of a ZedPM.

And cue credits.

So, Rodney's 'splainin' things to Elizabeth while John rubs his chin and makes dorky faces. [I don't know what's going on with John and his faces, either.]

Um ... WTF? Kolya's back. And who are those young guys? Uh-oh. Trouble ahead.

Hee! Chuck and Radek are sniping at each other. Chuck looks cute without his uniform jacket on ... younger. Radek's accent is quite prominent.

From the commentary, we learn that this was Chuck's first episode, 'cuz he'd been hired as Hewlett's stand-in originally. And still was (at least at the time of the commentary). I think that's cute. You show up to do grunt-work and end up being hired to play a neat role. Plus – patriotic shout-out – a nice Canadian. Yayz.

Darn, I wish my pretend-Czech was quick enough to understand what he just muttered.

Ah, thank you, kind commentary. David Nykl – when he mentioned he didn't know what to say – was told to say something like, "I can't work with these actors," in Czech. And he actually did! Giggle-Snort! I guess that was a mini on-screen hazing/welcome for Chuck Campbell.

And, uh, aren't we supposed to be wary about new diagnostic thingies showing up NOW?

Aww. Radek got a little flustered being around Elizabeth. Bye-bye, Radek. Go back to your busy job.

Meanwhile, back on Dagan, Rodney is being interrupted by John and his cynical comments. And did he nearly roll his eyes when Rodney complimented Allina?

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

Aarrggh, you're really making me wish I had the actually DVDs for this. I enjoy actor commentaries, and it sounds like the SGA ones include some really interesting information. I like a look at 'behind the scenes' such as that. The one where Nykl mentioned what he said in Czech is my favorite kind of thing to learn. I, too, wondered what he had said. His actual words are hilarious. Thank you for sharing that. And for sharing the other tidbits as well.

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Well, the audio commentaries - as the seasons progressed - apparently became more PTB-oriented rather than giving us little nuggets of insight from the actors whom we love. However, what I can do (in my free time, lol) is go back and add anything interesting that I find to the previous rewatch squees. Not every episode had one, though. But I guess something is still better than nothing.

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed (and I'm happy I took the extra time to go exploring because it cleared up some of my confusion).

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Hey, let's all go digging, why don't we. But make the two women carry the heavy equipment. Riiiiiiiight. ::rolls eyes::

Kolya is plotting with his henchmen. And Allina's friend (name?) isn't convinced things are happening the way they should.

Gee, Rodney. First history and now archaeology ('cuz you've laid out a grid for digging)? Sure doesn't look like fun. But, yay, they found more missing stones.

Later, Allina is sure putting the moves on Rodney. And she defnitely smiles a lot.

Oops. Rodney, you shouldn't blab about not having been born on Atlantis. He gets a "Mmm" in response to his reply of "months". She's not smiling as much now, is she? There's a look she makes.

So, Rodney's heading off to bed and is John ever being snippy! "Which bed might that be?" John!!! Behave. And then the Team tells oblivious Rodney what we can all see. Just a "little crush", huh?

And is this the first time we've heard "more on your game"? Fast forward a few seasons later when we'll be hearing Radek's little jabs at Rodney's expense using the "on his game" reference.

So, next morning, Rodney's awfully flustered around Allina who's not sure what Rodney's getting at. Then see John hovering behind them.

According to the Martins – I believe – the hovering came about accidentally, but it looks appropriate.

Oh, good. Aiden found something ... BIG. And John doesn't care too much for Rodney's suggestion that he should go first (after all, it's not as if he's Team leader or anything; oh, wait, he IS). He's screwing up his face again.

Eeee. Rodney put his hands on either side of the stones thingy. But nothing happened. That's a relief.

And, then, we're back on Atlantis. With supposedly bad news from Radek. Okay, make that definitely bad news. A dart is coming. In 27 minutes. Really???

Meanwhile, back on Dagan, Aiden's just been stung by a dart (the other kind). And he drops, unconscious. Hmm, so maybe not SO unconscious. And the shots have alerted the others. But, it's no use, because Aiden still gets knocked out.

And then, John hears the voice of his BFF. Or everything that is evil. Yeah, that's it, even though the others can't believe it. Kolya's baaaaaack. Not good at all.

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

Of course Rodney would say that going first into the hole is a Sheppard thing. *G*

You know, when Davi (the actor who plays Kolya) was on Profiler I thought he was yummy. I still do, but I dislike Kolya so much.

Go Ford!. How did that dart not take him out? Made me squee when he got up, though.

But, a Wraith dart is closing in. Eek, there can't just be one source of tension, can there?

Heee, Carson used a Dr. McCoy line. Poor guy - a doctor having to be a fighter pilot. Certainly a drawback to having their best pilot going on so many missions.

Allina and Rodney are certainly interchanging genius moments. It's kind of cool to see him working with someone else so smart. Oh, I know he does it on Atlantis, but we don't get to see it even there that much.

I'm glad the Wraith is gone, but I don't like the fact that he sent a lot of information back before he self-destructed.

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Huh. I'm surprised Kolya actually said that Aiden's fine. It's so much more like him to pretend and say he's dead.

Uh-oh. Allina's friend is a big-mouthed snitch. And definitely deserved that slap.

Now Rodney gets Kolya's attention, though I don't think knowing he's got a "grating voice" is going to make him feel all warm and fuzzy.

Not to mention, "How's the arm?" The bastard.

And Kolya gives them his word. Is he kidding? Oy.

Back at the homestead, they're running out of options. So, they need to get everyone with the ATA gene. Which leads to....

Hee. Carson with another Old Trek reference. "I'm a doctor, not a bloody fighter pilot."

So, no luck back on Dagan trying to dial. Not gate symbols? What then?

Back to Atlantis where a dart has destroyed a 'jumper. Ack.

Talk about ping-ponging back and forth. I'm getting dizzy. But Allina's back to smiling at Rodney. Kolya's just impatient.

And we're on Atlantis again where Carson's being urged to shoot it down. Poor Carson. It's scanning? Scanning what?

So Rodney and Allina have made some progress. Cool.

On Atlantis, it seems the dart self-destructed. Weird. And ominous.

Oh, Rodney. "You all have guns. Someone give me a knife." With traditional finger-snaps.

Rodney figures it out. Kolya's so appreciative. Yeah, sure.

Meanwhile, back in the crypt, John's looking for stuff they can use. Uh, John, I don't think "a couple of MREs" are gonna do anything. But the flash-bangs certainly will. Oookay, so John has a plan. He's devious (as if we didn't already know that about him).

In the commentary, we learn that the flash-bangs were just a lucky guess, as the props people were asked what the Team would generally have in their packs. So the writers went with them.

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

Sheppard, Ford, and Teyla are working well together, too. I like how they're pooling their resources. What can they do with flash bangs and Teyla's knife, though.

Meanwhile, Rodney is getting extra brilliant. He figured out the extra lines and where the final stone was. Even more, he figured out that it was right there in the room with them. If it's always stuck out of the wall like that, though, then I wonder why no one figured it out before.

Okay - the team all have their hands behind their heads...Oh, Kolya's there being all autocratic and demanding. Which, gets one of his people dead. No tears here, although I'm impressed at Rodney standing up to him so decisively, insisting that the death was Kolya's fault (which it was). You go, Rodney!

Then Sheppard, (who took a Mensa test!) has to put his life on the line. Rodney doesn't pull a rabbit out of his hat for the first time, but John does. He figures out the math puzzle, not Rodney, and how long do you think it'll be before John lets him forget that? *g*

John finds the ZPM for everyone, and then BANG everything changes. Wow that all happened fast. Pretty impressive work by John, Ford, and Teyla. And, now I know what good the flash bangs and knife did.

They get away, but I agree with Kolya - John should kill him. Since I'm not the one doing it , I guess I can't put myself in his shoes, but I'd still feel better with Kolya dead.

They get away, and John is shocked to discover what happened when he was gone. Tow of his men dead, Wraith gets a hold of a lot of information, and now there are Hive ships coming their way.

And, Atlantis still doesn't have the power it needs to defend itself... I wish I could remember what happens next, because I'm starting to worry...

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

If it's always stuck out of the wall like that, though, then I wonder why no one figured it out before.

They addressed this part in the commentary. They said they had to add more lumps, so that the obvious one wouldn't be so ... uh ... obvious. Obviously, they didn't do such a good job. Maybe the props people were on a really tight schedule, so nobody was casting an eagle-eye.

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

You're going to convince me to buy the DVD set before too much longer. I love all the tidbits you share. I'm not sure which is worse - that they didn't notice it at all, or that they tried to cover it up but did so badly. *g*

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Oh, boy. Now that's rich. When Kolya says, "We do not make deals with terrorists." Who you calling a terrorist? ::rolls eyes:: Brzap. Wrong answer. Talk about having a completely alien perspective.

Back on Atlantis, we're having a post-mortem. Radek gets to be all 'splainy. More bad news.

Back on Planet-Hostage, Kolya's mad 'cuz his henchman just died after placing his hands on either side of the stone thingy. But at least Rodney's trying to get it through Kolya's thick skull, "You killed him, not me."

There was a lot of laughing on the commentary, because everyone said that David Hewlett had a rainbow range of anger that he would release, even – or especially - when Rodney was at the point of death.

But, hey, Kolya's a reasonable man, so there's four chances they'll find the right combination, starting with John.

Now this is much better. John and Rodney are sniping at each other, but it's life-saving sniping, not the nasty kind. What a relief, I tell you.

Well, Kolya's tired of waiting. "Choose and go." ::sighs::

Oh, isn't John great. "I'm not dead yet."

No kidding, John. Thank goodness for Mensa tests, eh? Uh-oh, that's not going over well with Rodney. How could anyone take the test and NOT want to join? Then John reminds him this is not the time nor place for such a discussion. Rodney agrees. Aww. There's this soft withdrawal on Rodney's part, just in case John actually dies.

Oh, gee, just what we needed, Kolya wishing John good luck. Yeah, sure thing, buddy.

Anxiety building. Building. Building.
Oh, wow. The ZedPM springs out. And look at John's wide eyes and his sharp intake of breath. And he's still stunned, moments later. OTOH, he just escaped being killed by the Quindosim curse, right?

Hee! It's covert signal time to Teyla and Aiden. I love sneaky-John. And right-with-it 'splody expert Aiden.

Except poor Rodney, he didn't get the message. "I need my eyes for seeing." I guess. But he still managed to walk in a straight line to extract the ZedPM from the wall.

So, Kolya's in the underdog position. Finally. But, whoa, is John taking him up on his offer to just kill him now? John????? Okay, false alarm. But ... next time? No reprieve.

And then we're back to the Rodney-John banter time. All about Mensa. Oh, Rodney. You want John to join the geek chapter on Atlantis? Okay, talk later. Walk now.

Right into a trap. Allina? What-How-Why? So, she's the new Master Handler of the restored brotherhood?

Oh, details, details. They "live in Atlantis" but "are not the Ancestors". I knew Rodney's blabbermouth would catch up to him. At the worst possible time. And, boy, is John pissed at Rodney. Rightfully so.

And then John gives Allina a piece of his mind. Ancestors with a plan? Don't make me laugh. Especially after they lost to the Wraith and abandoned Pegasus. Remember? It was 10,000 years ago. They left you, but We. Came. Back.

As justification, we get the religious mumbo-jumbo. Yeah, yeah ... "when the Ancestors return". In your dreams, Allina. Plus "greatly rewarded"? And, of course, she won't listen to Rodney or even come to Atlantis with him. Hey, even Chaya came for a visit (mind you, with ulterior motives). She's just going to hide it again. They're not very neighbourly, are they now?

It's a bit hard trying to explain to Elizabeth when they return. No kidding. 'Cuz they could have really used it, as Elizabeth explains what happened when they were gone.

John's ticked off. Again, when he hears about losing two of his men. And a 'jumper.

And Rodney finds out from Radek that they have deep space sensors. Aw, Radek found a new toy. Which he says is "a long story".

Now what could Elizabeth have to show John that is even more "unsettling"? Oh, yayz. Two weeks until the three hive ships show up. There is no joy in Atlantis tonight. Not with all of those long faces and John's hard-pressed lips. And the music gets all ominous. With that little off-key wobble that we've heard before to denote doom.

Closing credits and that's a wrap.

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

So, my final, final, final thoughts:

I'm really glad I RE-rewatched again with the audio commentary. It cleared up my weird questions and uncertainties, because I don't read much fic about this episode, so it's not as if I'm getting any additional insights.

Considering Rodney's anger at John because of Chaya (and, remember, I really think their friendship got strained to the breaking point with their nasty back-and-forth to the extent I didn't think they'd ever be friends again), did it not seem to viewers that John was cock-blocking Rodney, after the initial cutesy-wutesy comments on the crush. So, was this a natural reaction/choice, or did the writers make him play it that way? Well, I don't think we have any personal commentaries from Flanigan or the writers, so who knows?

OTOH, I did learn something interesting in the commentary about the parting scene between Kolya and John. Davi and Flanigan both wanted to play their lines with their opposite character's motivation. Not sure how that would have worked. ::scratches head in confusion::

I thought Kolya/Robert Davi looked far too aristocratic, especially on Dagan, especially when he struck a pose. And his shirt seemed awfully white. That's one thing I really notice: when the clothes stick out in an unrealistic way (like Chaya's filmy dress last week). The other thing that surprised me was that his face didn't look too bad (or am I fastforwarding to Common Ground already). Of course, most of it was hidden by his cap during the storm and water would obscure it, too.

It was terrific having Aiden have an integral and responsible role in the action, but Teyla had barely anything to do.

And, now, it's nail-biting time, until the next episode. Yikes.