hth | a few words about "Be All My Sins Remember'd"

a few words about "Be All My Sins Remember'd"

Overall I thought it was pretty dull, but then I inevitably feel that way about the later parts of their multi-part episodes. They did that thing where they just kind of threw everything and the kitchen sink at the plotline and ran around like chickens with their heads cut off for an hour, so that things that you'd imagine might have some genuine weight -- Atlantis forging an alliance with the Travellers, Rodney and Radek getting into the AI biz -- only got about two and a half minutes of screen-time. It's especially a letdown after "This Mortal Coil," which managed to kick the Replicator plotline forward and still also be a good story about something difficult happening to people and what they do about it. Oh, season 4, why are you sometimes so freaking good and sometimes...you know, you again?

I do think, awkwardly dropped into the middle of the episode as it was, the John/Teyla/Ronon pregnancy scene was great. (I love how cliquey the three of them are together. There should be a million times more threesome fic with them than there is.) OBVIOUSLY John flipped out and yelled about it. There was roughly a 99.992% chance that John was going to flip out and yell. (I started a story, ages ago, about Teyla getting pregnant. It's been so badly jossed in so many ways by now that I'll probably never finish it, but take my word for it, I had John yelling at her, too. It's a GIMME, characterization-wise.) I do kind of wish the writers had let her yell back at him, because Teyla really shouldn't be the kind of person you can bully around that way -- but at the same time, I'm willing to buy it, because I can see her being just so startled that her dear friend, who's normally this lazy, laid-back kind of guy, is all of a sudden about to blow a gasket. It could take a few minutes to process that and bounce back, I suppose.

And then of course Ronon was AWESOME, because alone among the entire cast of this show, Ronon is actually at his best when someone around him is in emotional distress and needs a warm, comforting presence -- for the very reason that he's the guy who can go check up on Rodney after Carson's death and quietly try to convince him that this isn't Rodney's fault, of course he's the guy who can stay by Teyla's side and quietly try to convince her that Sheppard's just being dumb and that actually, this is kind of neat and it's okay to be happy about it. He should totally be her lamaze coach.

The new all-time winner of the Bizarre Line-Reading Decisions by the Flan has got to be at the end when he says "all's right with the world," or however he phrases that. Because he doesn't sound snarky, he sounds INSANE. He sounds like he's about to go on a shooting spree from the spires of Atlantis. And, you know, I could buy that he's really feeling that stressed, but it's weird because *the rest* of the scene doesn't really feel like he is. More and more, I come to believe that John has *no idea* what he's feeling at any given moment, that he just doesn't even have a mental vocabulary to use on the big ball of undifferentiated Feelings he keeps in the pit of his stomach. He doesn't really know the difference between "angry" and "scared" and "helpless" and "lonely" and "hungry," so whenever he feels any of them, he just heads down to the cafeteria and gets a sandwich. It's easiest, and sometimes it fixes the problem!

Oh, John. You make life so difficult on both of us.

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I spent the episode going, "What is *that* expression?" wrt JF.

I agree wrt Ronon. Best Guy Friend ever.

- Helen

Well, don't ask HIM! How is he supposed to know?!?

I have to believe that JF keeps himself occupied at his silly, boring job by making up weird backstories for Sheppard and then acting them out sekritly. Because...I mean, bad actors just look flat, by and large. What does it take to bypass all the obvious facial expressions and line readings ("hm, he seems happy here...I'll try smiling!") and go straight for...how he is on this show?

There was roughly a 99.992% chance that John was going to flip out and yell.

I think a mere non-Atlantis boyfriend would be enough to make John flip out and yell. It's a wonder he didn't run around in tiny circles until he died.

Is it wrong how easily I can visualize that?

It is kind of amusing to think how horrified Ronon was at the thought he was Teyla's baby daddy -- and how badly John was hoping he really was. I think John could've forgiven that, but -- *some guy he doesn't even know?* That's just not on as far as Sheppard is concerned. Doesn't anyone check with the Team Leader before they do *anything* anymore?

He doesn't really know the difference between "angry" and "scared" and "helpless" and "lonely" and "hungry," so whenever he feels any of them, he just heads down to the cafeteria and gets a sandwich. It's easiest, and sometimes it fixes the problem!

Hee! And, yes.

Also, I do feel like the Ronon characterization is something they're carrying through somewhat consistently, and I love it. The little smile on Ronon's face, holding Teyla's hand as they walked away - so sweet! I love it.

Aw, he's so darling! I want him to get one of those baby slings and carry Teyla's baby around Atlantis on his chest.

NO, SERIOUSLY. I REALLY WANT THAT A LOT.

I could be way off here in my intepretation, but it seems to me that ever since "Missing," Teyla has been acting very differently -- I think she's basically walking around numb from grief from the loss of her people. I strongly suspect that Rachel is deliberately playing her that way, because the loss of the Athosians (and of her baby's father specifically) is so devastating to Teyla that if she gives into any emotion at all, she's going to fall apart completely. In "Missing" we saw her suppress her pain and grief, closing herself off as if to contain it, and I think her response (or lack thereof, really) to John's reaction to her pregnancy is a continuation of that.

(However, I do think that when she finally snaps out of it, John's gonna have some 'splainin' to do. *g*)

You know, that's an excellent read on why she seemed a little vague through that whole scene. I like the idea that she's still kind of in shock and nobody has really noticed -- because she's Teyla, and she's always kind of quiet, and they're not that insightful anyway. Good call!

My unpopular fannish opinion?

John had every right to flip out.

Teyla lied to him--not just as a friend, but as her team leader. She had information that could have affected her ability to respond in a combat situation, and she deliberately concealed that from him.

Yes, she says that she tried to tell him, but someone needs to smack the writers upside the head until they understand that from the audience's point of view, if we don't see it, then it didn't happen. If Teyla had tried to tell John and he blew her off, then show that. Speaking of which, I'd bet money that we'll never see Teyla or anyone else telling Rodney--next episode, he'll just know.

It also makes a lot of sense to me that John's fucked up more than usual. He's just had it confirmed that Elizabeth is dead, and being John, he's probably beating himself up for not disobeying Sam and trying to go off after Elizabeth after episode 3. He's also recently made a seriously questionable ethical decision that's probably keeping him up nights. And to top it all off, he's gone from being the top-ranking military guy on Atlantis to having Sam and now Ellis and Caldwell, both of whom outrank him and one of whom wanted his job.

Of course, the writers can't mention any of that ever again, because that would mean character development was more than just filler, but I like to think that after everything that's happened this season, John's stretched to the breaking point. Since he never knows how to deal with that, he ignores it--it'll sort out eventually, right? Right? Hey, Rodney, let's go eat!

Why do I think that Rodney's not the one eating because he's unhappy...

You're right, I bet that is an unpopular fannish opinion. *g*

It's my general philosophy that when a woman is dealing with an unexpected and problematic pregnancy (and I think her discomfort as she told him should have *clearly* revealed that she was unhappy and conflicted about the situation), yelling at her is not on. It's a bad deal all around; it's a real issue. And John is not *just* her boss, he's a guy who has told her in the past that he thinks of her as family, ergo I think he's a person she might reasonably have expected to be *concerned* about her before he went straight to "well, this makes my job a hell of a lot harder, doesn't it?" Or at least to ask at some point what she needed.

Now, that being said, I do think everything you've said about the stresses John is under is dead right, and I don't find it hard to believe that he *is* upset about a lot of things, and that this coming on top of it would just seem like too damn much to deal with. I also think that John's overprotectiveness would be sent into fucking *orbit,* faced with the possibility of being responsible not just for the fates of his soldiers and grown, volunteer scientists, but with the responsibility for making sure nothing bad happened to a *baby* on Atlantis. There's no way that wasn't going to make his head explode.

But that makes it reasonable that he would flip out, which is not the same thing as giving him the *right* to.

But that makes it reasonable that he would flip out, which is not the same thing as giving him the *right* to.

Fair enough. I should have rephrased that: it's understandable for him to have flipped out. She lied to him, and I have a certain amount of sympathy for his anger over that, because that's the one thing I find hard to forgive myself.

What's puzzling about it all is that I thought all along that it was uncharacteristic of Teyla to handle it that way. The reveal, in particular--I'm sorry, but I do think that it was as much the way she did it as the news itself that made John flip like that, and that was her fault (or the writers, because what the hell was that?) They just got back from a mission, for crying out loud, and got stunned and are trying to plan a fucking battle, and she picks that moment to casually toss over her shoulder, "Oh yeah--did I mention I'm pregnant?"

I said in my journal that this episode should have been "Everyone But Ronon Acts Like A Complete Moron". Both Teyla and John are certainly included in that. I almost wonder if there was some subconcious stuff going on around the fact that the writers apparently were less than thrilled when Rachel kind of blindsided them, and John's reacting in the way that they wanted to react when told that one of their lead actresses, who's known for kicking ass and looking really hot in her midriff-baring tops, was pregnant.

I have to disagree.

Frankly, *no one* besides the woman and the baby daddy get to react by flipping out. *No one*. Even if you want to, a *lot*. You may (if you're good) get to flip out at her later -- or go off and flip out with a friend, that's certainly OK -- but you may not start by flipping out. No matter what. Even if she's a drug addict, even if she's 14, even if she has cancer. Supportive first, flip out later.

As I mentioned above, upon further reflection, I don't think John was right, but I do think it was understandable. Pregnant or not, Teyla handled that very badly, and I honestly don't think it would have been believable for him to just smile and say, "Congratulations!"

I guess I look at it and think about how I'd feel if someone that I was responsible for, and that I considered a friend, had lied to me--and that is what she did--and then sprung something on me like that, after I'd just been injured and she had as well. John reacted badly, but I'm sorry: Teyla handled it very badly.

I agree--it was pretty dull. The plot can be summed up as and then they go to this planet and talk to these people, and then they go to that planet and talk to those people... Now, if they'd spent an episode negotiating with the wraith, and another episode with Rodney and FRAN, then it could have worked. But so much of that episode felt like going through the motions just so they could have an excuse for a huuuuge space battle. Maybe it's just me, but I like a little more in my space opera than lasers! piew piew!

100% agree. Except in this case, honestly, I would have prefered more lasers! If I have to choose between interminable white-board expository scenes and blowing shit up, then BRING ON THE GUNS.

(P.S. Please, dear show, do not make me choose between these two things. Here, try some worldbuilding, it is crunchy and delicious!)

I totally agree. On everything. ]
(wow, do I have a mind of my own? ::goes to check::)

Now, see, you're just setting a good example for fandom! When my army of minions is established, I will give you a special title and a shiny hat to wear. *g*

Yay! LOL

Yeah, the standout scene was the Teyla reveal. I loved Ronon and John's responses--it's particularly nice to see Ronon get to do something other than look grim and warlike. Momoa has a beautiful smile (sez I). Nice to see it.

John, on the other hand--yes, we saw that blowup coming. Abrupt revelations don't sit well with him, particularly when he doesn't have Rodney there to step in and technobabble them down a notch. I sincerely hope there's going to be an apology scene in John's future, after he's had some time to kick it and brood about what a jerk he was to his good friend and ally.

Agreed, it would have been nice if they'd written Teyla's response a bit stronger. I'm willing to let it go, as long as they revisit this at some point. (And I guess they're going to have to, since I think Luttrell is in basically the whole season, expanding steadily.)

I have no idea why JFlan emotes the way he does. We actually rewound a couple of times in his scenes with the Truly Awful Laren. The scene where she points her breasts at him, and he basically flinches, and then the one in the meeting where she hits on him in front of everyone and he gives her this look that's totally transparently Oh God ew what the fuck who are you do I have to? He looks trapped and miserable and uncomfortable, even when he's flirting (?) with her in the last scenes. Compare with how he is with Rodney, a scene later--relaxed, at-ease, familiar (if somewhat stilted, yeah.) Srsly, JFlan, the hell? Is one of those complex Sheppard backstories in your head the one where Sheppard is GAYGAYGAY?

Not that I'd be complaining, if it were. I just wish they'd stop throwing Laren and Katy Brown at us in a desperate attempt to straighten the place up.

Anyway, yeah. The Teyla reveal was great--I've forgotten everything else already.

His smile is pretty killer. *g* Something I've noticed about Ronon is that he has a very distinct mission-mode and an at-home mode. In the offworld episodes, he tends to be gruff and suspicious (not usually unjustified, given what happens in all the offworld episodes!), and I think those are the episodes, with the hand-to-hand combat and whatnot, where people notice him most. However, if you watch him in the episodes where he's sort of sidelined while things go on in Atlantis, he smiles and jokes quite a lot. (Oh, though, seriously, for the BEST SMILE EVER from Ronon, rewatch "The Ark," where John promises to fight him to the death. He just gives John the sweetest, most affectionate smile I've ever seen. It's quite possibly my Favorite Ronon Moment Ever -- he's so lovely, and the two of them have such a sweet friendship!)

I don't necessarily see why the very act of having female love interests on the show comes off somehow desperate or gay-panicky. I do think Laren is miscast, and I do think JFlan can't or won't fake sexual chemistry with her -- but in the theoretical, you know, it makes sense to me as a writer to introduce the Travelers as a nation that has to be negotiated with, and try to complicate it slightly by making John attracted to her. And I personally LOVE Katie, both the fact that Rodney is the single person on Atlantis who can have a normal love life, and also the way they play together. Watching Rodney deal with his girlfriend in "Tabula Rasa" -- I mean, there's no way to compare that to Sheppard's caution and reserve around women. Rodney *clearly* adores Katie. I don't know, I guess I just don't see female guest stars, even ones that the guys seem to take an interest in, as some kind of manipulative gambit.

I'm never quite sure with Flannigan, sometimes I think he manages this interesting and multi-layered preformance for a character that could easily fall into being a two-dimensional character but doesn't, other times I wonder if he turned up to work drunk. I joke, but sometimes he can go from fantastic preformance to pantomime all within a couple of episodes.

I don't buy canon Sheppard as gay (just reading witlings comment above) but I can understand that there can be considered to be some ambiguity considering the, erm, acting choices, or you know, continuial grimaces, frowns and eye ticks whenever he's paired off with someone who isn't a regular cast member.

Yeah. I think "Sheppard is gay" is a pretty reasonable fanwank for why he acts so strangely some of the time -- it's believable, and it does make some situations suddenly make a lot more sense. *g* Caroline has advocated for "Sheppard is asexual," which actually works pretty well, too.

Canonically, I think -- and I can't speak directly to the Flan's motivations, but this is what seems consistent to me -- canonically, I think Sheppard just has trust issues that are THE SIZE OF ALASKA, and his problem with flirting and women is that the signals confuse him. He doesn't know what they *want* from him, how close they want to get, how close it's safe for him to get, how to be nice to them and still keep them at the arm's length where Sheppard feels most comfortable keeping 99% of the world. That explains why the two times we see him really making a decision and going for it with a woman were the two situations where he was *very sure* what was on offer and where he stood: Princess Pink in "Tower," who was pretty unbeatably direct, and the woman in "Epiphany," whom he'd known for several months and had developed a friendship with. He's attracted to Ascended Goddess (why, oh, why can't I remember anyone's name today?), but he's also insanely nervous, because he *doesn't know* what her deal is, and arguably attracted to Laren, but also terrified by how not that much sense she makes; she's the ne plus ultra of what the hell does she want from me? I just think Sheppard can't function effectively around anyone he doesn't know well and trust completely, which limits his comfort zone to the main cast.

And whatever else you can say about his acting choices, Flanigan does in fact achieve the goal of keeping us watching him curiously in what, you're right, is a relatively flat and unsurprising role on the face of it. So bravo to him for that!

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a few words about "Be All My Sins Remember'd"

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