Childhood's End Week

[em_kellesvig]

M. Rodney McKay, PhD, PhD, Child Magnet

McKay's dislike of/ineptitude with children became a running theme throughout the series. In fandom, this facet of his character was approached in a variety of ways.



1. He really didn't like children and wanted none of his own.

2. He really didn't like children but arranged to be a sperm donor -- genius DNA must be passed on.

3. He really didn't like children but the right partner could convince him otherwise.

4. He really didn't like children but the right kid and/or his own kid could turn him into a marshmallow or show he'd always been one under that gruff exterior.

5. That gruff exterior was a defense mechanism and he actually longed for children of his own.

6. He really didn't like children but realized the need to pass on his genius DNA and/or realized he was getting older -- now's the time.

7. Accidents Happen. (Variations: Atlantis Happens; Aliens Happen, Ancient/Alien Devices Happen, AMTDI Happens.)

After TPTB agreed to cast Kate Hewlett as McKay's younger sister, several variations/explanations for McKay's behavior toward children cropped up in fandom, especially in light of their real life, eight-year age difference.

8. Jeannie, a difficult infant/child, put McKay off children for life.

9. Jeannie, the perfect infant/child, sparked an almost pathological jealousy/sibling rivalry in McKay (fostered by their dysfunctional parents), which put him off children for life.

10. Jeannie, virtually abandoned by their dysfunctional parents (the McKay parents are almost always dysfunctional in fanfic), was left in the care of her brother, which put him off children for life. This leads to two more variations on the theme: a) McKay was mechanically competent at childcare but still disliked children, and b) McKay was actually a very good parent; he just needed 3-7 to happen (or a combination thereof) and all would be well.

Given the complexity of McKay's character -- his was arguably the best developed of all the main characters -- each of these scenarios is equally valid, with some more squicky than others. (Mpreg and kidfic seem to squick some readers regardless of fandom.) Love it or hate it, fandom thoroughly explored the idea of McKay having -- or not having -- children of his own.



So, what do you think? Would he or wouldn't he?



"Childhood's End" 1x06

Comments

[aadarshinah.livejournal.com]

I'm a fan of numbers 3 & 4. The right partner and/or right kid can make a load of difference in your feelings about them. So, yeah, maybe. With the right partner.

[em_kellesvig]

There's always that possibility, isn't there? :)

[aadarshinah.livejournal.com]

eh, it's what my mom tells me when I tell her how little I like children, and she's pretty smart so....

*shrugs*

[cjoelle.livejournal.com]

Giving his sperm so his genius DNA stays in the gene pool? Sure. Having to raise the kid? AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Call it superimposition on my part, as it might very well be, but I honestly see him as the kind of person who doesn't actually feel the need. And he sure does not have the "paternal instinct" in any case.

Atlantis is Rodney's child anyway, he's busy enough with that one that he doesn't need another one.

[em_kellesvig]

I can see McKay being very clinical about the whole thing -- yes, yes, genius must be passed on -- and not wanting anything to do with parenting.

On the other hand, hmmm, maybe he'd be good with a kid of his own. Maybe.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

Love the fanfic rundown.

Rodney helped bring Torren into the world - and didn't drop him. With that I think Rodney learned to be comfortable (almost) with the role of fond uncle.

Just maybe that door cracked open a little bit into to possibility that he might not be a complete disaster as a dad.

Fatherhood would probably have Rodney throwing everything into it - and visiting a therapist twice weekly because he was worried about doing it wrong. (I vote for John as his therapist)

Kids certainly seem to love him, whether he likes it or not. :)

[em_kellesvig]

Rodney delivering Torren seemed to be a turning point for him. Yeah, maybe, kind of, sort of, he might think about it -- someday. In canon, fond uncle was as far as he got. In fanon, the possibilities seem endless. :)

[popkin16]

I could see all of these, in various combinations :)

Children's fondness for Rodney makes me grin XD Though they do say that kid's are better able to read people than adults are. I think Rodney's uncomfortable around children, which makes his already impatient personality even worse :P

[em_kellesvig]

I can see all of them too, so it's fun to explore the variations on this theme.

I do get a kick out of how kids react to McKay -- and how McKay reacts to them. (Hewlett must be good with kids to work so well with them on camera.)

[popkin16]

I love that TPTB left certain areas unexplored, which is perfect for fans to explore :P As you said, each way of thinking is valid and in line with canon.

(Hewlett must be good with kids to work so well with them on camera.)

There are those *adorable* videos of David with the little girl from Harmony, and I know I saw a picture of him several months back, a behind-the-scenes shot of him holding a baby. David strikes me as one of those men that are a kid at heart, which lends well to interacting with children.

[oran.livejournal.com]

In that very same episode of SGA Rodney was very careful to protect said children and ensure their safety. He hid them from the Wraith probe etc which, to me, demonstrated that he was already mellowing a little. At times both he and John were little more than difficult brats themselves :)

I think Atlantis allowed Rodney's weird way of caring about something but maybe not actually liking, or handling it very well, to mellow and mature.

Right partner, right child and he'd probably make a pretty cool Dad.

[em_kellesvig]

He was very protective of the little ones, even though one nearly whacked him in the family jewels. *facepalm* That kind of said -- to me at least -- his dislike of kids fell into the same category of most of his bluster: Working! Busy! Don't engage my massive intellect with trivial matters!

Which is how he treated everyone, including Sheppard. Maybe especially Sheppard, right up until Sheppard did engage his massive intellect with fun.

And that's where the mellowing and maturity comes in. As difficult as life was on Atlantis, so much of it was fun. They got all the cool toys first; they made all the neat discoveries. That allowed Rodney to open himself up to a lot more possibilities. Personally, I'd like to think he would have made a great dad, once he realized parenting was no "trivial matter" and kids could be fun too.

[michelel72.livejournal.com]

Keep in mind that Rodney himself has claimed to be good with preverbal children. He just doesn't know what to do with them when they talk (back) .... ;)

I figure he cared for Jeannie some amount as a child, from her infancy onward (since older siblings are often tasked with caring for younger ones to some extent), and remembers her infancy as one he did well during, but as she got older they had typical childhood squabbles and he's never really outgrown that phase.

Would he be good as a father? No telling. He has positive traits and negative ones; I expect he'd muddle through, neither perfect nor dreadful. And he'd probably vacillate between confidence he's doing a great job and worry he's screwing the kid up for life.

[em_kellesvig]

That's right! He did say he was good with babies and then delivered Teyla's with a certain... flair, if you will. Yes, in his own way, Rodney does manage to tackle just about everything thrown his way. I suppose parenting would be no different. :)