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ravenI watched this last night while trying to write essay of doom (agriculture vs. conservation, courtesy of Rice-Oxley).
Letters From Pegasus - well, the name attracted me. And people said good stuff about it on LJ, and I'm a sheep. I watched it. And surprised myself by really liking it. It wasn't perfect, and the thing that let it down for me was the whole subplot involving Sheppard, Teyla, the Unnamed But Numerous Natives and the attack by the Wraith. I can see why the argument they're having - is it ever right to leave anyone behind? - is important, shows us character and continues with a theme established at the beginning of SG-1, but I thought it was boring. Maybe because I don't know enough to care about these characters, but I went back to writing the essay when these bits were on.
But the main plot, Rodney's plan to transmit data through the Stargate to Earth, impressed me no end. First of all, Ford is so cute. He runs round with his video camera with such adorable enthusiasm. And on a more serious note, I think he was a good character choice as the person behind the camera. No personality intrusion, so to speak, when the other characters were doing their thing.
The humour was nicely done - Beckett's admonitions to his mother ("Keep up with your prescriptions!") were delightful, so in-character - because what do you say when you're on the other side of the universe and can't talk about it? I also love his accent. Sounds note-perfect (much like Doyle's in Angel) and it makes everything he says interesting, perhaps unfairly.
Rodney! Rodney McKay is the best thing about this series, and it really shows in this episode; of course he would pontificate for an hour, that's him all over. He's so funny in his little digressions about cat people versus dog people and the other various pains of his childhood - and the segue into what he says to his sister is plausible and painful. He's snarky, bitchy, abrasive, and fundamentally human.
And what he said to Sam? Heh.
Other moments of interest include Zelenka, whom I haven't really seen before - the scene where we get him talking excitedly in Russian interspersed with shots of Atlantis rising from the waves was one of my favourites. A daring choice, to get a whole scene where we have no idea what he's saying, but it's a way of telling the story again in a really fresh way. And the moment where he says, "Security clearance?" is classic.
The whiny guy. Dunno what his name was or if he even had one. Annoying and deeply unpleasant, but also very true-to-life. Of course there would be some guy who used this precious opportunity to moan, wail and otherwise exhibit the less appealing characteristics of being human.
Elizabeth Weir - a character who never really does anything but annoy me. But her message to each bereaved family, layered over so many messages, was an excellent bit of writing. I never even thought about that idea when I first started watching, and it was a nice dark touch. As were the stream of goodbyes at the end.
Finally, the short scene in the SGC control room. I didn't know that was coming and thoroughly enjoyed it; good to know the messages arrived safely, and it was nice split-second cameo from Sam.
So, good episode.
But I have major Issues with Atlantis. I haven't actually watched all that much of it - Rising parts one and two, Suspicion (I think it was called?) and Letters To Pegasus makes four. I don't know... I just don't like certain aspects of it. The main one is the Wraith - they're a blah enemy. They're not like the Goa'uld, who were the coolest villains around at one time, they're just aliens. Who are evil. Blah. And why does every galaxy have to have a mega-enemy, anyway?
And none of the characters really grab me, either. I don't really share in the general woobie!Shep love, and Weir annoys me as a general thing. I don't know why this is, as I liked her in SG-1.
That said, I like the touches of humour, the SG-1 continuity, and really like Beckett, Zelenka and particularly Rodney, who is the best thing ever. I adored him when he was a bit-player in SG-1 - dumb blondes! lemon chicken! being a concert pianist! - and he is just as fabulous here. And I feel like I ought to make more of an effort and actually watch some episodes because then I might like it.
But then I think I'll go to all the effort of downloading the files and then find the episodes really boring.
See? Issues.
And it seems smoothies really can replace food.
Letters From Pegasus - well, the name attracted me. And people said good stuff about it on LJ, and I'm a sheep. I watched it. And surprised myself by really liking it. It wasn't perfect, and the thing that let it down for me was the whole subplot involving Sheppard, Teyla, the Unnamed But Numerous Natives and the attack by the Wraith. I can see why the argument they're having - is it ever right to leave anyone behind? - is important, shows us character and continues with a theme established at the beginning of SG-1, but I thought it was boring. Maybe because I don't know enough to care about these characters, but I went back to writing the essay when these bits were on.
But the main plot, Rodney's plan to transmit data through the Stargate to Earth, impressed me no end. First of all, Ford is so cute. He runs round with his video camera with such adorable enthusiasm. And on a more serious note, I think he was a good character choice as the person behind the camera. No personality intrusion, so to speak, when the other characters were doing their thing.
The humour was nicely done - Beckett's admonitions to his mother ("Keep up with your prescriptions!") were delightful, so in-character - because what do you say when you're on the other side of the universe and can't talk about it? I also love his accent. Sounds note-perfect (much like Doyle's in Angel) and it makes everything he says interesting, perhaps unfairly.
Rodney! Rodney McKay is the best thing about this series, and it really shows in this episode; of course he would pontificate for an hour, that's him all over. He's so funny in his little digressions about cat people versus dog people and the other various pains of his childhood - and the segue into what he says to his sister is plausible and painful. He's snarky, bitchy, abrasive, and fundamentally human.
And what he said to Sam? Heh.
Other moments of interest include Zelenka, whom I haven't really seen before - the scene where we get him talking excitedly in Russian interspersed with shots of Atlantis rising from the waves was one of my favourites. A daring choice, to get a whole scene where we have no idea what he's saying, but it's a way of telling the story again in a really fresh way. And the moment where he says, "Security clearance?" is classic.
The whiny guy. Dunno what his name was or if he even had one. Annoying and deeply unpleasant, but also very true-to-life. Of course there would be some guy who used this precious opportunity to moan, wail and otherwise exhibit the less appealing characteristics of being human.
Elizabeth Weir - a character who never really does anything but annoy me. But her message to each bereaved family, layered over so many messages, was an excellent bit of writing. I never even thought about that idea when I first started watching, and it was a nice dark touch. As were the stream of goodbyes at the end.
Finally, the short scene in the SGC control room. I didn't know that was coming and thoroughly enjoyed it; good to know the messages arrived safely, and it was nice split-second cameo from Sam.
So, good episode.
But I have major Issues with Atlantis. I haven't actually watched all that much of it - Rising parts one and two, Suspicion (I think it was called?) and Letters To Pegasus makes four. I don't know... I just don't like certain aspects of it. The main one is the Wraith - they're a blah enemy. They're not like the Goa'uld, who were the coolest villains around at one time, they're just aliens. Who are evil. Blah. And why does every galaxy have to have a mega-enemy, anyway?
And none of the characters really grab me, either. I don't really share in the general woobie!Shep love, and Weir annoys me as a general thing. I don't know why this is, as I liked her in SG-1.
That said, I like the touches of humour, the SG-1 continuity, and really like Beckett, Zelenka and particularly Rodney, who is the best thing ever. I adored him when he was a bit-player in SG-1 - dumb blondes! lemon chicken! being a concert pianist! - and he is just as fabulous here. And I feel like I ought to make more of an effort and actually watch some episodes because then I might like it.
But then I think I'll go to all the effort of downloading the files and then find the episodes really boring.
See? Issues.
And it seems smoothies really can replace food.
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no subject
on 2005-02-21 09:56 pm (UTC)Some episodes of Atlantis are worth the time. Episode 9, "Home," is a must for the Rodney love, as are 12 and 13 ("The Defiant One" and "Hot Zone"). The others are much more hit or miss.
no subject
on 2005-02-22 05:43 pm (UTC)I'm all about the Rodney love. Worth downloading, do you think?
no subject
on 2005-02-22 05:51 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2005-02-22 03:12 am (UTC)no subject
on 2005-02-22 10:48 am (UTC)