Stargate Atlantis #519 - "Vegas" - *SPOILERS*

[wraithfodder]

Okay, spoiler-ridden comments on "Vegas," the second-to-last Stargate Atlantis episode. Sniffle.

VEGAS

I have no doubt that this is gonna be a very love it or hate it episode in fandom. I took a peek at Gateworld's thread and you should dress in Nomex before entering the thread ;) I do think Shep fans are going to love it a lot more than other fans, cuz we get so much Shep, and angst and blood (well, maybe it'll just appeal to Shep whumpers?) ;)

Whoa. Good episode! Okay, I must admit I fell asleep almost during "Identity" - didn't help it was a long day at work and I laid down on the couch, but well... *cough* anyway. 9:00pm rolled around and I was awake and this was a good episode. I am a fan of the CSI franchise, so can see all the homage/tribute/ripoff, whatever. It's not like everybody else hasn't done it for the last several years anyway, although this is the first with a Wraith (yet there was that movie THE HIDDEN).

Cinematography was good. Only time it seemed wonky was when George (I think I'll call the Wraith 'George') was going up the escalator and he wobbled in that sorta fast-motion shot, which just seemed too weird. For me the slowest part of the episode was the Sopranos guys gambling, and had the press not made such a big deal in a few 'what's on tv tonight' mentions, I wouldn't have known that pair from a hole i the wall. Mobster shows just don't entertain me so I skipped The Soporanos entirely.

Music: I like Johnny Cash, and yeah, guess it makes sense a Wraith would listen to Maryln Manson. I keep wondering how much they spent on securing the music rights for all these songs...

And George, the Wraith, was very cool. I mean where else but Vegas (and okay, parts of NYC and LA) could a Wraith walk around like that and nobody really goes "ohmygawd" - probably just think he's a goth fan or something...

And there's the AU Rodney, Zelenka and Woolsey. Woolsey is the same in every universe, me thinks ;) and wow, Zelenka, woof, combed hair and a suit! And Rodney... he's STILL the same Rodney (hence the snark-fight with Zelenka) but he's more contained, and wow, he cleans up nice (as in this Rodney actually has a fashion sense, which in itself screams "alternate universe!" I mean, remember what he wore when Jeannie got kidnapped?? Aieeeee.

But, the best... Sheppard. Talk about a broken man. And from listening to what Rodney said, it all went down the dumper when the field medic with whom Sheppard had been involved with died in Afghanistan (and I distinctly heard Rodney say "her"). Yeah, that one instance, much worse in this AU, shattered poor Shep's life. In 'our' reality, I think only a couple died? And it was Holland, his buddy, he was going off to save.

Anyway, Shep just looked so busted up all the time (except for the few seconds with the nurse, whom, yeah, he'll never call, which was as obvious as a neon sign in Vegas). I'm assuming the cut on his cheek probably came from one of Mikey's goons roughing him up for what Shep owes.

And then we get poor Shep, dying alone, in the desert. Sniffle.



But, while we fans weep for poor AU Sheppard. kristen999has penned a wonderful tag to the end of the episode! Check out Sympathy for the Devil.

So, I thought this episode was very neat, despite the CSI *cough* homage. Just seeing the AU Shep and McKay was fun!

Shep and his Camaro made me think of Dan Tanna (Robert Urich) from the old show Vegas.

Woolsey knowing that the Star Trek exhibit in Vegas was shut was funny.

UPDATE: Another short tag at Sheafrotherdon's LJ, plus some lovely picspam!

Comments

[saltyd.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed it :) I loved all the Shep but hated the dying at the end :( I kept wondering why Rodney didn't send backup when he lost contact with Sheppard.
I kept trying to figure out if any of the people were "our" SGA peeps. For a moment I thought Rodney was our Rodney but he was too smooth and self confident. And Zelenka cleans up nice!!!

Need I say Shep was hawt!!! More whump would have been nice. Again, crossing over to the dark side and seeing those pics of Shep in the desert made me annoyed that was all the whump there was.

Oh, and I didn't watch previews for next week!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Well, the previews for next week didn't give away that much ;)

Yeah, the ending was *gah*, which is why I'm so glad that tag came out immediately afterwards!

Ha, that could NOT be our Rodney. This Rodney has a lot more civility and confidence in social situations ;)

Yeah, think we're going to have to whump Shep in fanfic since somehow I don't think they'll do anything dire in the last episode.

[quiet-december.livejournal.com]

I was one of the people who loved this ep, even though it kinda broke my heart. I saved kristen999's tag, and I'll read it later--I know it will be great--but I have an idea for a tag, too, and I want to make sure that my take on it comes from my own brain. :)

Wow, your screencap made me wonder--was he shot twice? We only saw him get shot in the shoulder, but there's blood on both sides of his shirt. Wow. Poor Detective Sheppard.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know how you feel. watching Shep die was not fun :( but I could go 'he was AU, he went out doing what was right, and seconds later, Kristen999 posted her fic so all is right with the world' ;)

Not my screencap (snerched from, oh, darn, can't recall!) but anyway, I'm thinking could have been hit by a ricochet or just wiped a bloody hand, but I'm thinking the former as tere is blood on both hands.

[d_odyssey.livejournal.com]

I loved Vegas. The CSI feel, the energy, the music, the setting, the action, SHEPPARD - all were great. Joe Flanigan was awesome - this Sheppard was so different, so alone, full of despair, desolation and was shown through his actions and the music rather than dialog. This is what Atlantis could have been all along, enjoyed the different look and feel. The music was perfect, but definitely had to put a dent in the budget. How ironic that we find out more about this Sheppard in two minutes than we know about ours in 5 years. The ending was just heartbreaking. Kept yelling for Rodney to go save him. Second your recommendation for kristen999's story.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I wish we'd had a season six so they could have done more like this, well, better writing!

[linziday.livejournal.com]

All hail kristin999! That's how the ep should have ended. No way Rodney (any Rodney) would have left Sheppard in the desert alone, even if he thought he was already dead.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

That's what I thought, too :)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

The ending almost made me cry *wibbles*. Poor broken Sheppard *hugs him*. I so wanted Rodney to have someone go find him and save him. Thank goodness for Kristen999's tag or I'd still be feeling a tad depressed.

Oh Joe F. you must be on a detective show, you must. Your hotness must continue... in broken detective form. The man can act, and half the time doesn't even need to say anything to do so! Come on, you TV writers, hire him!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Oh, if they could just give him a nice detective show, or the NCIS spinoff, something! (please, not a sitcom)

And somebody must have David H show up as Sheldon's uncle in Big Bang Theory. It would be priceless!

[negolith2.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, I loved this episode. The guitar theme for Sheppard (though almost a little too spaghetti western at some points) was just awesome, and "Solitary Man". My heart broke for this AU Shep, that's for sure.

And yes, kristen999 wrote the perfect tag. I'm doing a short one, but she pretty much summed up how I NEEDED this episode to really end.

Gyah, is it just me, or does anyone else feel like a family member is dying? 'Toopid execs....

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Ah, spaghetti western, that's it! The music reminded me of *something* but couldn't place it. But otherwise, it all fit in just fine. Oh, can't wait to read your tag as well.

Yeah, watching Shep die there.Sniffle.

[linziday.livejournal.com]

Say, does anyone know who the younger, clean shaven guy is in the poker game scene? He looks familiar. One of the writers? A stunt man?

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I was wondering that too. Did spot RCC and Brad Wright at one poker table the Wraith passed, and Charlie Cohen, MGM exec, was at the table with Shep.

[the-other-sandy.livejournal.com]

You can tally me in the 'hate it' column. I hate the entire CSI franchise and didn't really need to see it wasting one of the two remaining episodes of the series. Being a Shep fan didn't even help because this wasn't Sheppard, it was a stranger with his name and face.

This episode might have worked if it had been done tongue-in-cheek, but it took itself way too seriously for an episode that had to hide how teeny tiny the plot was by adding endless music montages and CSI "tributes." I'm so disappointed.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

No problem. I was over at Scifi and many people on that board dislike it intensely. It does seem to be an either/or episode. And I know folks who can't stand CSI, meanwhile, I quite enjoy it and for some perverse reason think David Caruso is the best thing about Miami (don't hit me!) ;)

[these-dark-ages.livejournal.com]

I liked this episode because, but for the grace of God and all that, this Sheppard could have been the Sheppard that we've come to know. I still wish that Ronon and Teyla would have been given something to do (because seriously, they had Todd, Woolsey and Keller --- and two gangsters I don't care about).

I kept waiting for them to help Sheppard out, in fact, right after that screen cap you showed, I expected some kind of twist. Like, right when's about to lay down and die, you see him beamed out (hopefully up to the Daedalus's infirmary), cue credits to Solitary Man.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

The gangsters should have been ditched. Didn't care about them. As for Teyla and Ronon, since it was Sheppard who brought them into the team in the first place, I guess it makes sense they wouldn't be there as Sheppard wasn't on the team...

Yeah, the dying part was sniffly, but I can say "oh help arrived" (we're fans, we can do what we want, bwahahahah!) but he also died doing the right thing (although that's really a crappy thing to stick on a tombstone).

[ga-unicorn.livejournal.com]

George would have never been noticed, even if he went au naturel, in San Francisco.

I loved this episode. I loved the interaction between this Sheppard and McKay and the little touches that made it clear that - if things had been just a little different - they could have been "our" Sheppard and McKay.

And I'm with you - the Soprano guys (and I've never watched an episode - I thought I was the only one!) were boring. TPTB could have used that time when they were talking about a severed finger and shown us how Sheppard got that owie under his eye instead.

I agree with you that kristen999 wrote a wonderful tag. That's how I wanted the story to end. Gawd! I wanted Sheppard to sit down in The Chair so badly!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

If Shep had even touched the chair.... poof! He would have been inducted into the SGC program ASAP! ;)

Haven't been to Frisco in years, but I'll take your word that George wouldn't be noticed ;)

[justhere1971.livejournal.com]

This episode was wonderful! Why couldn't we have more of these in S4? Maybe then we'd get a S6??!! Dang it!!

I am so going to miss this show, and Shep!

[djlmarks.livejournal.com]

Being the aloof, loner, "man in black", hero in the end, suits Mr Shephard...plus: WHAT A KILLER ASS, 70'S STYLE, STARSKY & HUTCH SLIDE ACROSS THE HOOD OF THE CAMARO!!!

and FINALLY some seriously great tunes to soundtrack the show!!

Now, I did feel like Flanigan's episode on CSI Miami may have influenced him because I saw shades of David Caruso, but thankfully, he never paused, pulled down his glasses and looked at the camera to make a point.

So if the writers can do something so off the cuff as this, maybe their is hope for this Stargate Atlantis movie.
Maybe.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought Starsky &Hutch, and don't know why, considering they perfected the hoodslide ;) Oh, hadn't thought of Miami either, but no, I think everybody is aware NOT to mimic Caruso! ;)

They normally don't do a soundtrack as it can date a show, and worse, costs a bundle. I truly hate to think of the bill for those three songs.

Alas, the person who wrote this episode is not writing the movie...

[autumn2525.livejournal.com]

I'm really back and forth on this eppy. I get why we were showed the AU, although it seemed like a long way round to finding out how "our" Wraith could find Earth. (On a side note, I thought the Wraith already knew the location of Earth, but they don't have any means to get there? They don't have the intergalactic hyperdrives, and only Todd's group know where Atlantis is, so they can't use that gate to reach Earth.) Anyway, I liked the glimpse into the AU, but felt very disconnected from everything. The beginning was almost annoying... I don't remember being annoyed by CSI, then again, I haven't watched it in a while. Regardless, I think after another viewing or two I may come around. I have to admit though, I had to rewind the DVR TWICE to be sure Rodney said "her" when talking about the field medic. I just kept thinking of Holland and I was like "OMG!! This Sheppard is gay!!! Rodney, KISS HIM!!!" LOL
And yeah, that dying along in the desert crap chapped me... but Kristen999 made it all better.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I can't say why, but yes, this episode does blend into the series finale.

[mercury973.livejournal.com]

I loved this one. It was either a "hate it" or "adore it" and it totally was adore. Now I'm sad about the show ending, because this is how good it could be

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah...

[delphia2000.livejournal.com]

I like it but then again, I like CSI. I was going to put the closed captions on to watch again, but since everyone is saying that Rodney says 'her' at the critical point, I won't bother. In my mind, it was a 'he' tho LOL! (Heck, it was an AU...the least they could have done was thrown the slashers a bone!)

BTW, your link to the fic is broke, but I found it anyway.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Fixed the link. One stupid little character off. Grrr. But thanks!!

Yeah, he said 'her' but hey, you with another AU and it could have been 'him' ;)

[(Anonymous)]

from Tavabean I absolutely LOVED this episode. So beautiful, so angsty, so everything. I don't have words. JF was brilliant, I actually cried at the end. (Kristen makes it better though). The music, the mood, the backstory we finally kind of get on John, the Wraith make-up scene, crazy Todd, John wearing a cross, redeaming himself from complete desolation. Everything about this ep i love, even the crazy CSI shots. Thought it was pretty X-filey too. I honestly cannot express how incredibly happy I am that this ep was made. I feel like they gave me a great New Years day present as the series takes it's final bow. And I did see EatG and this one is the one I will take with me as the brillliance that Stargate can be when it wants.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the cross thing came right after his brush with Todd and finding out the world is not such a small place after all!. Had to think about it, but yeah, a bit X-Filey...

I'm hoping this fic ramps up everyone's enthusiasm to write fanfic!

[berry-hearts.livejournal.com]

my second favorite part was the little dig on keller. lol.

ARE THEY MOVING ATLANTIS TO EARTH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Cannot answer, cuz to say yay or nay would give away the finale ;)

[mackenziesmomma.livejournal.com]

OMG, I *blinks* crap. Wow. I was surprised how much I liked the episode.

See for me Mr. Gangster was AKA "Ben's Dad" from that show 'secret life of the american teenager' from ABC family this summer and "Gangster boss" from the movie 'see spot run'. Never ever made the Sopranos connection(one must wonder how much they spent on guest stars as well *g*)

I think the *worst* part for me was the fact that I was sitting watching with my mom at the exact same time and she kept asking me STUPID questions('so why's he on earth?', 'whats the weird bad alien's called' and so on) I finally got to the point that I just looked at her and was all "Uh, I've been sitting here NEXT TO YOU why do you think I know more than you?!" *shakes head*

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

That's why I like to watch SGA *alone* ;)

[star-climber.livejournal.com]

Loved the episode,
like a short movie,amazing!:)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, would have been nice as a two-hour fleshed-out movie...

[nemesina77.livejournal.com]

I actually saw this ep about a week or so ago, when it was leaked, along with the final ep (but I won't say anything about that).

Your reactions were much the same as mine! I wondered about the music rights as well (I watch Supernatural and they have issues with music costs since they try to get lots of old songs and when they got "What Is and What Should Never Be" it was a HUGE deal, so listening to Cash and The Stones on SGA was cool, I think it may have not been such a big deal, cost wise, because they never have contemporary artists, so they probably had it in the budget) because I REALLY enjoyed all of their choices.

There definitely were CSI moments in there as well (though I liked the little discussion at the poker table about the mobster's dog biting his maid's pinky off) but if they hired Flanigan to do a show like this where he hunted aliens, I'd definitely watch it.

Rodney in this 'verse definitely had hints of 'Rod' and I noticed his wedding ring so I'm wondering who they had him married to (I really DON'T think it's Keller, for some reason, I mean, don't get me wrong, they said 'Hi' and I LOVED John making fun of her, but I don't think Rodney is married to her in this 'verse, I'm actually kind of thinking maybe Carter or Weir, who knows, maybe Cadman!).

And the ending? The reason it REALLY crushed me was because in our 'verse Rodney would have rushed in and saved John but they don't have that relationship there, so he ended up dying, alone in the desert, to Cash (and I happen to love Johnny Cash, so much, that the music alone almost made me cry).

(Oh, Rodney definitely said 'her' I double-checked and it's in the parking lot at around the 30 minute mark.)

Here's a little bit of what I said, right after I viewed it originally:

Joe Flanigan was just SEX on legs in this episode. Have you ever heard the song "Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon? No? Go to mediafire/nemesina77 and download it. Yes. That is John Sheppard in this episode.

Do you guys watch Sanctuary? They used an effect in "Vegas" that they use in Sanctuary, one I'm not particularly fond of, one that I guess makes it seem like certain people (in this case, Detective Sheppard) have mad forensics skills, so they can like, imagine how the crime went down. It's kind of a CSI moment. I watch CSI, not religiously, but enough. It just seems sort of out of place in these shows, probably because we're not used to seeing it. John Sheppard shooting Wraith, flying Jumpers, seducing hot aliens? Yes. Visualizing "normal" crimes? Not really.

Enter Rodney, in a suit and slicked back hair. He looks like he belongs in the 1940s, like he did in Century Hotel. Actually, it kinda works on him. The suit looks hot (both literally and figuratively), it's a good look for him. And he trusts John, blindly. It's nice to know that their "thing" transcends universes. Ah... love...

And that's all that I can safely say, because the rest of my post was about 'Enemy at the Gate.' Argh...

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Ohmygawd, you're right. Rodney was in his Century Hotel type mode! ;)

Yeah, in our universe, Rodney would have squashed a few airmen, etc. to get a rescue out to Sheppard. This one, not so much, but I like the tags that are coming out...

[johnsheppardluv.livejournal.com]

hey fodder! :)

i just HAD to throw my two bits into the ring to fight your five billion made-of-awesomesacuce-y bits. ;) it's here, if you are at all interested: http://johnsheppardluv.livejournal.com/58105.html. ;)

i gotta agree with you about the cinemotography tho. it was awesome, except for the bit you mentioned.

in fact that wraith-escalator bit gave me a bit of the motion sickness, which is odd considering NONE of the loop-da-loop PJ trips of dooooooooooooom have ever given me even a slight...feeling...to wade thru. in conclusion, i think they need inertial dampeners on that frakin' escalator STAT!!! *lol*

but was i the only one that noticed the shaky/fuzzy vs. clear/sharp focus of the camera during the alt!John vs. "George" (nice moniker by the way!) casino chase scene??? it was like painting the wraith as superhuman and alt!john as possibly suffering the more physical effects of a concussion. please tell me i wasn't the only one?! please?

i also luved the music they chose to paint alt!john with (johnny cash - a solitary man) and the disguised wraith with (random goth!metal). very clever! especially since the cash song was so literal for alt!john's life up to this point in this alternate timeline.

again tho, you did a great review! :) and i really hope you like mine too...

~your friend,
Sharma :)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

i read your rundown - good job! - and no, hadn't noticed the change in camera work (shaky vs not) with the chase. I'll just have to rewatch! ;)

[horridporrid.livejournal.com]

Mark me down as one who enjoyed it, CSI homage and all. :D I actually like how it ends, as well. It fit, I thought. Plus, it's an au so it's not like John's really dead.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yup, it's not our John Sheppard who's bled out, but, I'm not at all averse to fanfic that rescues him ;) but as the episode stands, it was poingnant, sad and entertaining.

[leesa_perrie]

Loved this! Brilliant episode, and very different! I mean, in all the other AU encounters, there's always been at least one person from our reality, but I did like that in this one there wasn't!

Rodney and John were both great - kinda the same and yet so different! And totally agree about the fashion sense, though our Rodney seems able to wear a suit okay! It's just some of his other choices are, um, interesting!

The music was good (not thinking about the cost, that'll only spoil it!) - and lol at the Wraith listening to Maryln Manson!

And the Cash poster *loves*!

So, the rift presumably has something to do with the next ep? Will have to wait and see... (no spoilers for me, please).

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think the Johnny Cash poster is in EVERY parallel universe ;)

In a few days you'll find out (re the 'rift') ;)

Re: Stargate Atlantis #519 - "Vegas"

[aqualegia.livejournal.com]

I adore this episode. I've watched it multiple times the past week... and committed fic to prove that Sheppard lives :)

I thought the music fitted the scenes very well, and the alt!Rodney was very smooth and calm - not like our volatile Rodney at all.

I'd definitely give this episode 10/10

Re: Stargate Atlantis #519 - "Vegas"

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I like it more and more each time I watch it :)