Rewatch: Condemned

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

The puddle jumper arrives on a planet that neither Teyla nor Ronon have visited before. They land near an abandoned campfire, only to find themselves under attack by the indigenous people. They are rescued by a flying vehicle that escorts them to a city of the advanced Olesians. Their magistrate tells the stargate is on a prison island, where only the most violent criminals are sent. According to him this has kept the Wraith away from the city for centuries. He tells McKay their scientists have recently found a mineral that is fissionable, but does not produce any radioactivity. McKay is very interested and the magistrate seems willing to trade. While the jumper returns to get Dr. Weir for the negotiations, the prisoners open fire. They manage to shoot it down.  [Poll #1796136]

Comments

Commentary 1A

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

[I checked the Audio commentary first, but – as it's only with Gary Jones – I won't be wasting my time re-rewatching it or adding anything from it for tonight. I may watch it ... whenever.]

Okay, it's nice to have a different opening, such as Teyla with John in the front 'jumper seats. So ... they take turns being the passenger to John's driving?

According to Rodney, no recent settlements on this world, but Ronon spots smoke from a campfire. Rodney concedes the point to Ronon. Was that a bemused look on Ronon's face? Welcome to the team, big guy!

::giggles:: Hey, is Ronon the Benton Fraser of SGA ... tasting stuff? So Rodney thinks that Ronon should be ... Goldilocks instead? First porridge, then bed. Ooooh. Bed. [Yup, I'm tired.] Oh, I love being prescient, because John just called Rodney "Goldilocks"!

Well, it was time for an ambush anyway. John offers their new unfriendly friends a peaceful solution. They'll ... uh ... just leave. Even though they'll be hampered by Ronon who was struck in the leg. What? It wasn't Rodney?

But this is unexpected. A craft appears and hovers overhead, blowing the attackers off their feet. [They must have used a trampoline to get people that high in the air.] The team takes the opportunity to reach the safety of the jumper. Though it's intriguing to see that one of the attackers is shown looking at them retreating with a thoughtful look on his face. Hmmm.

As soon as they power up the 'jumper, they're "hailed" by the "security" ship that tells them to follow it to the city. Hey, another adventure awaits our new team. Of course, John has to emphasize, "That's how you make new friends." Well, we'll see if he's right or not. Right after the opening credits. BTW, Jason M. and Paul McG. are in the credits, just before David H.

So ... Olesia, huh? The team introduce themselves to Marin who's waiting to greet them. [Um ... does it not strike anyone else rather stupid to introduce themselves by their formal titles that are from ... Earth and might not translate perfectly, instead of by names and what they actually do? That's been bugging me for years. Gah.]

Ah, so they were detected as being on an island with "hostile" prisoners. Yeah, you could definitely say that. They're all walking and talking about the penal colony, the fact that the Stargate is ON that island. Why is Marin walking in such a quick and definitely robotic fashion? And, yes, the Stargate's location is a problem, so they've had to become almost entirely self-sufficient. Curioser and curioser.

Anyway, Marin leads them to the Magistrate. Well, he looks pompous enough to be one. Aww, see John talking about how sad they are now that they've lost their home of Atlantis. [And another bug for me: why do they go around in perfect-looking uniforms when their home has been destroyed? Wouldn't it make sense to be wearing more diverse clothing?]

Rodney gets them back on track about how the Olesians have managed to escape the attention of the Wraith considering their technological advancements. Uh-oh. Whenever anyone says, "The Wraith have chosen to leave us alone," you know there's a big lie there. Or a condition. Thank you, John, for asking the obvious. Why, indeed. Well, gee, golly, the Magistrate doesn't know the answer to that one. ::rolls eyes:: Oh, wait. Sure he does. The Wraith come through that oh-so-centrally located Stargate on the island (that's also a penal colony) and are so "satiated", they don't need to approach the mainland. Kinda convenient, huh? Whoa. The looks that Rodney and John give each other. Be very wary, everybody.

Re: Commentary 1A

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

OMG, your commentary is making me laugh out loud! : Rodney concedes the point to Ronon. Was that a bemused look on Ronon's face? Welcome to the team, big guy & Ronon who was struck in the leg. What? It wasn't Rodney? especially.

does it not strike anyone else rather stupid to introduce themselves by their formal titles that are from ... Earth and might not translate perfectly, instead of by names and what they actually do? That's been bugging me for years. Most definitely. I've thought that way ever since the Pilot, when they introduce themselves with titles to Teyla and her people. Of course, telling them what they do might require just as much explaining to a culture that isn't very technological (such as Teyla's people). Idk.

why do they go around in perfect-looking uniforms when their home has been destroyed? Wouldn't it make sense to be wearing more diverse clothing? I don't remember now, but was their lie seem like a planned one, or was it spur of the moment because they weren't expecting the question?