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

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

All you have to say is "it's just like Star Trek," and oops, wait, that labels you a Trekkie ;)

[mackenziesmomma.livejournal.com]

No, I have far too much fun messing with their heads and making them go "and your *SURE* you are related to us?" which is a sentiment I have been echoing since I was 12 LOL.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Ha!

[zillah975]

telesilla wrote an episode tag that keeps me from just being totally heartbroken by this ep (which I would have hated like burning if I hadn't been warned for the total lack of Ronon and Teyla) --

Until I Find Me

It's short, and I swear to God it's what happens right after the cameras go off. *nods seriously*

[harried-minion.livejournal.com]

Small problem with the "her" - during the time John was in Afghanistan female medics weren't allowed in combat. They are now, but not then. So I'm counting the "her" as a slip of the tongue on McKay's part - it was so a HE!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I must admit that the writers have screwed up so much military stuff that, well, heh, I still hear 'her' ;) oh wow, love your icon!

[harried-minion.livejournal.com]

They should have skipped the pronoun and made us all happy.

Re icon: amazing how vicious a cat can look when really it's just a yawn.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Heh, after reading some boards, half are happy (for whatever reason) while the rest are unhappy.

Yeah, my cat looks horrifying when he yawns, but he's so cute.

[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.

[horridporrid.livejournal.com]

...but, I'm not at all averse to fanfic that rescues him ;)

Oh, gosh, no! Actually, that's part of the reason I wasn't too distraught by his death. I knew fandom would rescue him in lots and lots of lovely ways. Which allowed me to enjoy the poignancy of the actual ep. It's win/win! :D

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Ooh, win/win, good way of thinking! It's not like an AU Shep hasn't died before ("Deadulus Variations")

[johnsheppardluv.livejournal.com]

thanks! i'm honored you liked it. cuz yours are always so grand and cool themselves that hearing something like that coming from you is a thrill! :)

yes yes go rewatch! lemme notice if you notice it too ok? :) that way - i won't be crazy. *lol*

~your pal,
Sharma ;)

[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 :)