More on Stargate Atlantis: "Vegas"

[wraithfodder]

Hmm, I seem to love posting about this epsiode because well, it was so different, and hmm, shall go beneath the cut in case someone hasn't seen it yet... but it's about MGM's latest article/interview on this episode.

http://stargate.mgm.com/news_detail.php?id=125

is where you can find the full article.

You should read it all, but this is the most fascinating bit: "And, doing an alternate reality that is so similar to ours, the idea I was working with was that sometimes an event will happen and it will throw your life in a particular direction ¬– but if that event hadn’t occurred, or it had happened slightly differently, how would your life be different? Are you the same person at your core, in your heart? And that’s what I focussed on with the Sheppard character. Even though this story is about other characters in an alternate reality, I think there are insights into our characters that come out that maybe couldn’t have come out in any other way. It’s quite nice to see a story in which Sheppard is not the same Sheppard, because of certain events that occurred in his back story differently. Yet we understand that in his basic core make-up he’s still the same guy. And it was fun to see the slight variations that people played on the alternate reality versions of themselves. The fact that Sheppard was no longer the commander made McKay a different character. Suddenly he was less neurotic and stronger as a leader, because he was thrust into that role. And seeing those ripple effects and how they happen, and how the actors played them differently, was very interesting"

.

Comments

[dovil.livejournal.com]

This is the bit that caught my eye:

The fact that Sheppard was no longer the commander made McKay a different character. Suddenly he was less neurotic and stronger as a leader, because he was thrust into that role.

It's great to see that without Sheppard and taking on his role not only does Atlantis still tick along fine but McKay is a better man for it.

No wait, that sucks.

RIP Team, Long Live Rodney aka Season Five.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

However, one can also argue that perhaps Rodney had a different life as well. The fact that's he's more confident socially I think stems from perhaps a better life. You see, since the episode is all we can really work with and is the only real 'canon,' we can go where we want why Rodney was a better dresser and more sociable. Being thrust into the leadership role, well...could have happened, or he could have had different life experiences as well ;)

[dovil.livejournal.com]

However, one can also argue that perhaps Rodney had a different life as well.

Yeah, but that would mean that I couldn't be unduly irrationally armflailing about it all, and where's the fun in that.

For a John Sheppard centric episode it really did seem to be a 'This is Your AU Life' and dude, you are NOT missed' tale. Heh. Poor emo John.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Oh sniff, you're so right. No one will miss John! Maybe the cockroaches in his motel room, cuz I'm sure he's living in a very cheap abode ...

[nakedwesley.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but Rodney seemed so unhappy. There was no John to poke him and take him whale watching and play The Game and computer golf with.

I also think that AU Rodney, while he might be better at reading people, is less able to think outside the box. Like he hasn't been pushed to come up with creative solutions. That's why it's John who figures everything out, and it's John who finds the wraith both times. Their roles have kind of been reversed.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Shep and McKay just work soooo well together. It's a crime that poor Shep's life went to hell in this episode (ooh, bad pun) ;)

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

you know i haven't watched an episode since the beginning of season 4 and i was fine with that

vegas is the first episode i have even been tempted to want to watch,

i might have to give it a try... we'll see

[justhere1971.livejournal.com]

*watch it* *watch it*


evil grin

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

hehe you are a bad egg hehe you should support my antiness hehe

but i do miss my shep

[justhere1971.livejournal.com]

< But look at him! He's lonely! ;)

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

he will look happier once he is in a better show *runs away dodging tribbles that are being tossed at the back of her head*

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

You might want to give it a try. I liked it (oh, this sounds like that cereal commercial. "Try it. Mikey likes it!") ;)

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

hehe i really might have to watch this one ... dammit hehe

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

An asteroid could hit earth. totally oblierate you and your dvs. yes, watch before it's too late! ;)

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

hehehe yes mom :) maybe tomorrow after work

hehe watching Canada in the gold medal hockey game at the moment though *whoot go us*

[justhere1971.livejournal.com]

In any reality he's hawt.

No good contribution, but just wanted to say that. :D

[colls]

ditto that
;)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think so ;)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it showed us 'our' Rodney, but this Rodney was so much better in the social skills department, unless, maybe, he's dealing with scientists? I mean, I'm sure I heard Rodney say 'sorry' at one point.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

*snort*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

*g* I can*t do *ggg* because it*s true. I can offer a new reason for the assholeness towards Zlinky though: they are married, see Rodney's wedding ring. And Radek has the pants on at home - hey, one can hope for a little justice for the little guy?

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Oh dear... quick, check Zelenka's hands!

[harriet-spy.livejournal.com]

Wow, do you realize he just managed to go back and wipe *another* character of color out of the story? Surely if John had not been there Ford would have commanded the team! No offense to Rodney, but there is no way Rodney would have been leader just because John wasn't there. It was never even in consideration. Sumner sure wouldn't have gone for it.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Actually, would Sumner still be alive is the question and if so, does he run the overall military aspect of the base, and is Ford his second in command. Interesting variables! I'd like to think Ford is not some demented person running around the galaxy shooting up wraith enzyme ;)

[harriet-spy.livejournal.com]

Sumner should at least have avoided the death he had in canon at the time he had it, since he was snatched up by the Wraith after Mr. Solitary Man picked up the necklace in the Athosian caves. Ford seems to have been the third in the chain of command behind Sumner and John in S1, so...

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Poor John!

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

The fact that Sheppard was no longer the commander made McKay a different character. Suddenly he was less neurotic and stronger as a leader, because he was thrust into that role.

He was also kind of a jerk, lacking the compassion I think our McKay has. I agree he was stronger, yes, but he was also cold. I think our John's overall influence on McKay was to make him both strong and human.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Hmm, quite true. Rodney was fine being an ass until he came to Atlantis (sorry for the bluntness) ;) And for once in his life, probably, ROdney thought about others and not just himself.

[nialla]

I've never thought Rodney was intentionally being an ass, it's just he had no patience for stupid people, which in most cases was anyone else in the room.

They would rightly assume he's being an ass, he'd think they're stupid and not bother to correct them. Nice defensive mechanism to not deal with people too. It wasn't until people actually started listening to him and actually caring about what he thought about about him that he finally started opening up.

But then I'm biased. ;)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Oh, he's not intentionally an ass, but to the uninitiated, he would come across as one. ;) ALthough Zelenka may think he's one on and off ;)

[nialla]

I think Zelenka is the only person who challenges Rodney on equal footing.

Of course that challenge has probably meant Rodney had to learn Czech just to understand all the curse words Zelenka was throwing his way. ;)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

You know, I wonder if Rodney knows French, being CAnadian and all...

[nialla]

From what I've heard, having French classes is required, but unless you're in an area where you can actually use it, proficiency is iffy.

But I would be perfectly fine with fanfic with Rodney wooing John with his mots de l'amour. ;)

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the head's up on this! Very interesting read and I really need to get my Q&A to Cooper soon!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, do it soon before JM forgets to cull anything ;)

More on Stargate Atlantis: "Vegas"

[sgafan33.livejournal.com]

In the article:

We also went out into the interior of DC, into the Okanagan, and there’s a little patch of desert out there.

This confused me for a second until I realized it's BC, not DC. Hey, Okanagan is where David Nykl filmed his movie, "The Beast of Bottomless Lake".

Re: More on Stargate Atlantis: "Vegas"

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and I'm still waiting for that movie. Hope it comes out this year.

[ann-tara.livejournal.com]

So it wasn't my imagination - this episode was really all about McKay (again) and less to do with Sheppard, since his story wasn't all that different and we learned nothing new we haven't known since the Pilot. *shaking head*

Oh, well, Joe looked good. :)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I saw it about Sheppard, about how his life went downhill after the incident in Afghanistan, not so much about McKay.

[lamaudite.livejournal.com]

Me too. Though, as a penultimate episode, I would have much rather have had a episode about the team and Atlantis. :)

That said, it was an interesting episode nonetheless.

[miso-no-tsuki.livejournal.com]

I thought that the Js character was very unsympathetic/uncommunicative (monosyllables to his *boss*, brush off to the pretty nurse virtually begging him to "call me") and the episode only picked up when Rodney arrived. Before that it had been a CSI-wannabe/poker film and I was losing interest... as the ep started we were all guessing "It's an AU/VR game on Atlantis/Alien mind control/chemicals/Oh please God let it not be "and he woke up and it was all a dream ..."Aaargh!"
Then we had the thought that they were trialling a pilot for JF. Of course killing your lead at the end pretty much trashed that theory, though I did think they were quite brave not to do a wrap with *our* Atlantis and the Team all OK, but to leave him dead in the desert.
Hell of an expensive songvid for "Solitary Man" though ...

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Personally I thought it was a good showcase for JF, since Sheppard really hasn't had a good showcase since, er, um... whenever. Yeah, the end was brave, and, really, true to the storyline they'd created. however, our Shep still lives :)

[djlmarks.livejournal.com]

One of the things I loved about the x-files was those crazy left turns that took you off the "same-old-shit" story line. And, think about it, they have been kidding (threatening?) to do SGA the musical....I would have to hurt someone. the CSI kept Shep seriously hot and increased the coolness factor of McCay. Jewels character still sucked and what's up with that tacky blue eye shadow?? Did she piss off the makeup lady?? Hope so.
I'm sad about tomorrow night......

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I would have cringed at CSI the musical cuz I believe the ONLY person who can sing is Rachel (lovely) while JOe needs a lot of people to cover his, er, lack of talent (said in the kindest way, of course). Yeah, Shep, despite being scuzzy, downtrodden, etc., was definitely hot in "Vegas."