Stargate Atlantis "The Last Man" Spoiler review - "It's not such a wonderful life...."

[wraithfodder]

I'll stick it all under the cut since I'll be spilling spoilers.

Stargate Atlantis #420
"The Last Man"

This was the science fiction version of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, sorta. It shows the impact of one man's life on everyone around him, and apparently, Sheppard made a heckuva lot of difference since the universe sorta went to hell in a handbasket without him around.

While the time travel "what might have been" scenario is used in shows that last long enough to use 'em, and are sort of derivative, if done well, they can be enjoyable. I found this one to be fun, mostly because of the great scenes with Sheppard and hologram McKay. The banter was there, and we got a teensy bit of whump when Sheppard struggled through the storm, then passed out on the floor. All covered in sand, although there didn't seem to be any in 'teh' hair. Hmmm....

It was sad that Michael just bumped off Teyla, but well, if he can exterminate entire populations, one measly Athosian is no problem. I think it was also a matter of casting that Rachel was just too far along to participate as well.

Ronon? Well, he went out like he'd want to go out. Killing as many of the enemy as possible in the process. His scenes with Todd were great, and now I expect (if it doesn't exist already) there will be "TodDex" fanfic ;) *cough*  Todd giving this long winded explanation of how he was going to disable the base, while Ronon says "I was gonna blow it up."  was priceless. 

Sam? She went out with style as well, and I think it will be debated who had the more 'noble' death, but both she and Ronon were face with insurmountable odds, and both decided to make their deaths count. While Sam's death was more pretty with SPX, Ronon's was more fun (well, not quite the word I'm searching for) due to the dialogue with Todd.

Lorne? Ha! He's in command. So funny.

Rodney. Wow, well, he finally got the girl, Keller, and it was sorta foregone conclusion she'd die of something. As soon as she coughed up blood, i went, Pegasus Galaxy bug! Ah, it was soooo sad watching standing in the hallway as Keller is creeping closer to death. I loved his crabby old hologram, which was just as egotistical as the original, and Rodney must have spent a LONG time creating the hologram to have that range of depth. Oh oh, and Jeannie. So nice to see her there, until she got fed up with his obsession.

Sheppard: I absolutely adored his look of near panic when he opens the outside door to find out that the beach has extended right up to the door ;) And squabbling with the Rodney hologram. I guess nothing is too weird to him anymore. And the whumper in me had fun watching him stumble through the sandstorm, only to collapse to the floor (and right through Rodney!). And he so loves to torment McKay, telling the man he had no hair in the future. Watch Ronon's eyes during that scene. He practically rolls them when McKay asks about his hair. Bwahahahah!

And then the cliffie at the end.... I realized at the commercial break that, wait, where's the exploding building? Oh wait, it's a cliffhanger, so the very few last minutes were absolutely no surprise. And they're not going to kill Shep or McKay (and Lorne sure as heck had better survive) because they must rescue Teyla in episode one of season five, which if Alex Levine's blog is correct, we'll see in the summer (but there's no scheduled date yet).

Overall, I quite enjoyed this episode. I think what made it best was I probably saw few spoilers on it (besides the ones Skiffy dumps in its ads). I'm not going spoiler free for season five, but am avoiding lots of intense chatter on it.

Lastly............................

Quibbles: why did Sam, of all people, quibble about Sheppard's outlandish story? I mean, really, with all the time travel SG1 has done???

Where was Carson? 

Only eeeeuuuu moment. I am sorry, but that gray uniform SUCKS on Woolsey. Gray is not his color, not the stripes, not the cut, well, geez, if Woolsey is in a perpetually crappy mood, we can blame the suit ;) However, when those cast changes take place in season 5, I hope they remember that Sheppard already heard an AU version of Woolsey taking over and it would be nice to get a one sentence comment on it.

And I think that's it. It's been a very long day and I'm going to hit the sack.


And lastly, lastly, okay, season 4 is over. Time for fanfiction!

Comments

[libra-traveller.livejournal.com]

This may have been if not my favorite episode of the season, at least second favorite, I was squeeing the whole way through.

Oh and after watching the sneak peak of Ark of Truth, my mom and me made my sister order it on amazon for us. Can't wait!!!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Im probably the only person who hasn't order AOT! I just wait until the due date and simply hit Walmart ;)

[ladyniko.livejournal.com]

I want to get an official copy, but someone gave me a d/l'ed copy - good stuff, Mainard.

However, I need to get healthy and get back to work before I go spending any more "fun" money. *sigh*

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Well, the AOT DVD is gonna be my fun money for this month. Otherwise, good, gas, and necessities eat the rest.

[ladyniko.livejournal.com]

Well, I've spent over $450 on doctors visits and drugs the last 2 weeks. :( Still owe the surgeon $427. No insurance and not been able to work because of the swelling.... ever so much fun. :(

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Been there, done that, not fun! Hope you get better soon.

[chensuu.livejournal.com]

I generally liked the episode too but one point bothered me.

It took Keller dying to make Rodney do something!!! Not poor Sheppard disappearing even though Rodney knew he was alive and lost somewhere in the far off future. Nope...nothing at all. It made me think that if Keller didn't die Rodney wouldn't have done anything at all except live out his life with her on Earth. I mean, to change things at that point would have ended his romance.

IMO it would have made more sense if Rodney at least tried to do something to save John and then continued with his plans as events unfolded. To show him inactive while knowing Sheppard wasn't dead bothered me.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I noticed that too. I wonder if he DID try to do something before, but just failed... after all he had to find a solar flare in the future. in "1969", they simply had to look it up in the past.

[chensuu.livejournal.com]

That makes sense but would it have killed them to mention it somehow? If this were just a run of the mill episode Rodney would have moved heaven and earth to get John home a la season two's Epiphany.

What the heck ever happened to leaving no man behind!

Instead we're left with twenty minutes of Rodney setting up house with Keller. And sorry but I love Rodney to pieces and that entire scenario just didn't interest me.

I would have much preferred at least five minutes of screen time devoted to showing people's reactions to Teyla, Carter, Ronon and Sheppard's deaths.

[melibabe.livejournal.com]

I think those kinds of scenes would have fed the inner H/C/angster in me, but I also think it was the right choice not to show them. This information is coming to us from someone who's had 25 years to deal with it and is essentially telling Sheppard about ancient history. I think it would have been jarring to have that narrative include much beyond "the facts."

Leaves more room for that in fan fic anyway. :)

[chensuu.livejournal.com]

Sorry, but I can't get past the revelation that Rodney only became proactive when he thought KELLER was going to die. No team love. Just too much time devoted to a relatively new character and all our old favorites mentioned in passing.

[parislove27.livejournal.com]

Keller? Puh-leez! Anybody would have bent over backwards to save John! Seriously, Keller? I thought that Rodney loved John so much as to get him himself without the provokation of his honey!

Come on-KELLER-for lord's sake!

[vecturist.livejournal.com]

Kavan did say at Peg3 he has eps in S5, so he doesn't die...

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Ah good, we can rest easy now :)

[ladyniko.livejournal.com]

We can't do w/o Lorne! We need him for his quiet snark. *g*

[parislove27.livejournal.com]

It would be terrible if he died! Oh good-more Kavan/Lorne episodes! Yay!

[leesa_perrie]

Loved it loved it loved it!! Full of wonderful banter, angst-ridden scenes, action... Oh, and the line that cracked me up most was when Rodney is saying how he and Sam worked together to fix the ship and 'Zelenka might have been there, I forget' (and in the scene Radek puts coffee on the console for Rodney and is only 'just' in the shot)!!!

That ending! Yeah, I said 'You can't leave it there' is a loud voice, knowing full well that they can and have, and that Sheppard, McKay, Ronon and Lorne survive...

The other lines that cracked me up was about the hair towards the end there - typical Rodney - typical John!! LOL!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I think my favorite line from the episode was "no" - John's response to McKay's wavering "will I still have hair?" :)

At least we know the major folk will survive into season 5. I dare say I hate it when I don't know that and they bury people under rubble, or push 'em off cliffs, or whatever.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

The episode didn't do a lot for me; I think I've just seen way too many "undo the timeline" stories on too many shows (Star Trek: Voyager did a good one, and then reused the trick at least twice and killed it stone dead).

I love what you said about Woolsey in gray! I saw him and said, "Oh, no! That looks awful!" I felt silly for worrying about a little thing like that, but it really bothered me!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Time travel/undo things stories are dicey. I think a show is allowed one per every five seasons, so if SGA should last till season 10, they *could* do another, but I do find time travel, and worse, alternate universe, stories to usually be 'meh' cuz they sort of leave you back at square one, but at least this one shows they're going to act on information (and get buried in rubble for doing so) ;)

Yeah, gray, eeeeuuuccch. Poor Woolsey.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

So we're agreed! No more time travel/undoing a timeline episodes until season 10! Shall I notify Mallozzi? He seems to be ignoring me lately. I've laid down some rules for what counts towards a particular character's five (minimum!) episodes in season 5, and greyias and BH and I came up with a great resolution for some of the clone-Carson problems, and he's not responding at all.

I'm a bit nervous to see what they do with Woolsey now; he could be really good, but they play him for cheap laughs or as a slightly dim-witted adversary too much.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm hoping they don't go sterotype with Woolsey. He's already got a black mark against him with that uniform! ;) Eh, don't worry. Mallozzi ignores a lot of my comments too.

[parislove27.livejournal.com]

Woolsey acted like a little word that I hate to say. . .grr. . .

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

The banter was great. I loved "No, surfing or dating a superodel is cool, this isn't cool!" :)

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

There were a few glitches last night, e.g. if Sheppard had stepped outside in what he was wearing in RL the 75mph winds with sand blast included, would have stripped him down like it does in the desert to car paint when it goes through a sand storm.......
Also, there is no way Rodney could have been teaching astrophysics
in a CC......I realize this is all so what, but I think sometimes writers ought to look more closely at their material.....

HOWEVER, on the bright side, I am continually struck by
Ronon's loyalty to Sheppard and the rest of the fab four......in some episodes it is not so much what he says but his actions...
I believe it to be based on the fact that Sheppard really wanted him when no one else did....trusts him....never asks any questions other than 'are you ready to lock and load?'.....and last night they show him leaving Atlantis; his reason for staying was essentially gone.....wasn't it??

[melibabe.livejournal.com]

I think he said he was teaching physics, not astrophysics. Basic mechanics and whatnot are often available there.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Was it 50 or 75mph wind? No matter, it was whipping and he should been a bit abraded. Yeah, I've seen what a sandstorm can do to car paint. It wouldn't be very kind to human skin, plus the heat wouldn't help. Yeah, Ronon's loyalty is just fantastic...

OUt of curiosity, why couldn't Rodney teach at a community college? Or is it that the course in astrophysics just wouldn't be offered?

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

Rodney could be teaching at a CC, but highly unlikely his
area of expertise, astrophysics; it is just not
curriculum for a CC.....
But the biggest hurdle, in my opinion, would be his patience.
He even has a hard time relating to Zelenka on Atlantis and Hermoid,
on the Daedalus, let alone a CC student.
ROFL

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

IT's possible he could manage the patience thing. He'll just teach and students will learn in about one class NOT to ask questions but to find out the answer for themselves ;)

WEll, this is the same show that has Shep flying helicopters used in the army, airforce and navy... ;)

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

You would be right about Sheppard flying different choppers which
are used in Army, AF, and Navy......He may have been
on joint command which is entirely possible given his
background in the ME....or earlier.
He claims he can fly whatever and I tend t believe him...e.g.
I may be wrong but I think initially we see him fly
O'Neill in a Loach which is commonly used in the Army...mostly
for spotting, later he talks about other aircraft, fixed
and chopper....
Interesting to say the least....a fascinating character.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I perused my local community college. No astrophysics. Maybe he offered to teach that as a specialized course.... but I think when they wrote up Shep's bio, they just chose neat sounding names of choppers ;)

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

I probably misunderstood what he was telling Sheppard. It may
have been physics, but even then, I find it hard. I guess it is because he followed it up by saying it would give him all sorts of free time to do his research on timeline. That is what is really glaring in my opinion. When you teach classes in CC, or anywhere, if you care about your students, there is a lot of work to do outside of class. Of course maybe he was doing part time teaching. Who knows??? It's fiction after all.
LOL
I have known military pilots who were cross trained to fixed
wing and choppers......There are not a lot of them, but they do
exist, so perhaps Sheppard was/is one.
I kind of like to envision him being that way. I think he does
say 'anything that flies faster than 200mph'
ROFL

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I foudn the 'free time' thing odd too, unless Rodney has dragooned an undergrad into grading all the papers for him! ;)

[dr-dredd.livejournal.com]

No, I think he's torturing his post-docs. Lord knows I've seen plenty of advisors do it. :-)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Oh, then I'm sure Rodney is doing that. After all, doesn't have Zelenka to boss around anymore ;)

[dr-dredd.livejournal.com]

Plus, even Zelenka wouldn't grade papers for him. :-)

[melibabe.livejournal.com]

From what I've seen posted so far, this seems to be a "love it or hate it" episode. I enjoyed it, myself. It had a nice rhythm to it, it was a nice departure structurally from most episodes, and it essentially gave us a bunch of quick mini-story-might-have-beens to think about.

The nitpicker in me could go crazy (Why didn't the initial flare send him back to his starting point on M-whatever-planet, as it did in 1969? What address did he dial 48,600 years in the future to get back - couldn't dial Atlantis, right? Why hadn't Rodney/Sam considered the solar flare possibility yet in those first 12 days?) but I can also just let it go and enjoy it for what it is. :D

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yup, have perused the web and found the love or leave it comments on this one. I didn't nitpick it too much, although Sheppard strugglign through a sandstorm and having no sand in his hair was a definite problem....

[pisces227.livejournal.com]

Great recap, you took alot of words out of my mouth. I didn't love the ep but I really really liked it. I think they should have ended the ep with Shep going into stasis, the rest of the ep seemed rushed. That would have given them more time to tell us about what happened to Carson and more of how they dealt with Shep missing/dead.

Todds "naturally" comment to Ronon was funny as was Shep to Mckay on his hair.

LOL on the hair defying even a sandstorm...the hair rocks!

I also wondered why Carter didn't make a comment on her time travel experience, she acted like it was something new.

Now bring on S5!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Oh oh, smacks self with dead trout. Of course 'teh hair' would be able to withstand a sandstorm. Silly me ;)