Childhood's End Week
Jun. 21st, 2012 12:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
em_kellesvig posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
sga_squeeM. 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
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
