SGA “Quarantine” — or — “So while I was watching this episode, I kept saying, ‘Bitch, is this for REAL?’”
Spoilers for both Quarantine under the cut!
This was the dreaded, COME THE FUCK ON, SHOW, COME THE FUCK ON episode for me, and I was glad that it didn’t turn out the way I thought it would. (Read: RETARDED.) In fact, while not my favorite episode so far this season, it’s definitely up there in the top five.
(1) This is definitely tops, so let’s get it out of the way. My major problem with the Rodney/Katie pairing has always been the following: I seriously think I had more sexual tension with the guy I had a crush on in the fourth grade — I mean, at least we danced and I made him laugh and his freckles scrunched up all cute like and oh my God, I apparently still have the hots for Lee Blankenship. I know there’s been a lot of discussion about whether or not it’s hateful to boo the Rodney/Katie relationship, and I’m not really talking about that in the sense most others might be — I’m looking at it from the perspective of an — after this episode, especially — vindicated atheist: they hadn’t convinced me. Never once did I believe Katie even knew what Rodney McKay was like as a person; never once did I think, even in passing, drunken stupor, that Rodney actually liked her — and we know that David Hewlett can do obsessive fascination and heartbreak and love and devotion (ie: Trinity) like a pro, so I can’t believe that this can just be chalked up to an appalling professional failure on either of the actors’ parts. They just left me utterly cold. Guys — I was on the fucking subway today looking at the floor tiles and thought, “vagina!” It takes a lot to leave me utterly cold. So I’m glad they broke up. I’m not even sad for Rodney — and do you want to know why? Because clearly, he’s not all that torn up about it either. Observe:
He’s clearly upset. I mean, he did buy that tiny-ass conflict free one bajillionth of a carat diamond and all. But mostly, to me, Rodney looks tired. Like, “Oh my God, did I seriously just spend a year with this person? Did I seriously spend all this time planning our future and hearing other people say they were too hot for me and bracing myself for eventually meeting his parents (who would likely hate me) and have to move to ENGLAND for only for this moment?” NOT THAT THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME OR ANYTHING.
Compare those looks to this:
And:
Guys, that’s sad. That’s overwhelmed.  This is, of course, from Trinity, where John Sheppard closed a door in Rodney’s face, too. There’re other similarities, of course — Katie agrees to set up a lunch date, John says Rodney can probably earn back his trust, if he tries really really hard. But I mean, and I understand that Katie is the side-note, the afterthought, insofar as the plot to this series goes? But like, there’s never even any implication there might have been follow-through, that Rodney cared enough to keep trying. Whereas here, that last frame, the tension between the eyes, that is that look you see in the mirror for a half beat before your vision gets really soggy and you drink a handle of Jack Daniels and fucking hate yourself, but drag yourself up again because — and this is key — you have to keep trying. You owe it to yourself, and whoever you fucked up with. (Episode helpfully uploaded by Amireal).
(2) Okay, serious stuff out of the way, back to Fashion TV. I know I say this like, every other week, but what the motherfucking fuck was Teyla wearing? I’m not talking about the shirt. The shirt was — whatever. Very MiMi Maternity and flowy and very classical boho Teyla (much to my despair, I wish she’d go back to when she was letting John dress her, aka the golden era of beautiful black v-neck shirts with leather jackets). I am referring to that animal that died on her lower body, seen here:
Like, I just wonder if sometimes Teyla wakes up in a drug fog from all the medicinal Peyote that pregnant women among the Athosians (for they remain very active during their gestational cycles) use and like, I don’t know, steals John’s curtains to wear or something. The dress made me think immediately, in the following order: (1) Oh my God, that looks like Sandra Bullock’s dress in Two Weeks Notice! (2) Only…I think they might be pants? (3) Jesus Christ, what would the Fug Girls think? and finally (4) UUUUUUGH. Just — WHY COSTUME DEPARTMENT, WHY?
(3) While I think that Radek’s helpless crush on women in power (wow, what a subby bitch at heart) and Keller and Ronon’s moment in the infirmary (I’m totally writing the story wherein Ronon throws Keller the prom. On Atlantis) were great — I am of course going to minimalize my carpal tunnel and write about this nonsense here:Â Â
What kills me is that somebody on the show picked out that ring, and everybody saw it a billion times during dailies and filming and everything — and nobody said, “Dude, that’s a MAN’S RING. In JOHN SHEPPARD’S HANDS.” Just…I mean, COME ON, guys! Aren’t there any GIRLS ANYWHERE IN THAT PRODUCTION PROCESS? Or was that on purpose? WAS THAT ON PURPOSE TO MESS WITH US? GOD I HATE YOU ALL.
(5) John + Teyla = BFF OTP. The scenes with John and Teyla locked in the lab together were seriously fabulous, between the sweet tenor of emotion and John’s serious inability to discuss his feelings with anybody — he threw himself out a window! – it was like a cornucopia of awesome. And then the baby kicked and I think I just checked out for the most of the rest of the episode because, omg! Baby! Baby kicking! You know the team is going to come up with like, some WRETCHED string of nicknames for that poor kid, and I really hope that Teyla finds her babydaddy because otherwise, that poor child is going to be nicknamed something like Awesomecakes.
In conclusion: awesomecakes.
He. Memorized. Rodney’s. Password. And. Its. Totally. Dorktastic. Origins. If that’s not serious manlove, I do not know what is.
Also? That rings is manlier than Ronon, yo. I wanted them to go all sitcom and have John try it on and not be able to get it off. That’s the only thing that would have made this episode *more* about how those two are totally and completely MFEO!
Thank you! Dear gods that was an awful choice by the costume department. Ugg. I feel for the poor actress at this point. I’m not sure even Athosian Peyote can explain it.
Re: Rodney and Katie - It didn’t work. The actors knew it didn’t work and really did not seem to even try to push it forward. Still giggling at the fourth grade comment.
Re: Ronon and Keller - Too cute. I made a manip, originally based on Seperis making a similar comment, of them at a prom, if you are interested: http://cat-77.livejournal.com/53679.html Nothing special, but it entertained me.
I think Atlantis going into some mysterious lock-down right after Rodney tells John the he’s proposing the Katie is telling… perhaps John’s inner 14-year old crying out for help :o)
I didn’t actually find that ring that manly (not girly, but not manly either) but I’m amused that it comes with the girliest screencap ever of John’s hands.
“I think Atlantis going into some mysterious lock-down right after Rodney tells John the he’s proposing the Katie is telling… perhaps John’s inner 14-year old crying out for help :o)”
OMG. They haven’t given us an explanation yet SO YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT. It would be hilarious if later down the road mishaps start happening because John just can’t stand the thought of Rodney with anyone else and it’s subconsciously effecting Atlantis. Rodney wakes up with his legs and arms clamped to the bed. SHENANIGANS. ANGST. INAPPROPRIATE USES FOR TECHNOLOGY. SOMEONE WRITE THIS.
Lol We call my sisters as yet unborn child Baby Danger {she liked it so much that it’s now going to be his middle name} and you just know that ronan is like her Lamaze coach or something because that would be awesome
Seriously, Rodney was like NOW I DON’T HAVE TO BE FAUX-SENSITIVE ANYMORE. AWESOME.
And dude, I want to name her baby awesomecakes. I think Lorne would make a great stepdad. I’m just sayin.
You know, there COULD NOT be a clearer instance of John sabotaging Rodney with women than his letting Rodney go propose with THAT RING without SAYING ANYTHING
I love you forever.
What kills me is that somebody on the show picked out that ring, and everybody saw it a billion times during dailies and filming and everything — and nobody said, “Dude, that’s a MAN’S RING. In JOHN SHEPPARD’S HANDS.â€
LMAO. EXACTLY!!! I mean, they had to know. They HAD to!
P.S. Awesomecakes!
This was so fantastic! And the looks on his face between this ep and Trinity…you’ve got them so right. This ep is “Oh…OH,” followed by easy resignation. Trinity was “Okay, I am not crying now, goddamnit” followed by the getting drunk!
This, though:
“Never once did I believe Katie even knew what Rodney McKay was like as a person; never once did I think, even in passing, drunken stupor, that Rodney actually liked her”
Actually, I’m not sure I agree with the first part of this. You know when Katie first named the Rodney plant? The first thing she said when he reached for it was something to the effect of “be careful, it’s prickly.” I remember laughing and thinking, “okay, maybe I like her after all.” I think she might know him; but I don’t think she was aware of the more extreme manifestations of his personality (I think she was truly surprised when he insisted on being pessimistic even while she was all but explicitly saying, “Rodney, propose. Now. Trust me, you want to. You’ll maybe like the answer.”).
In regards to Rodney’s side of it, though, I’ve always been a bit baffled with. I mean. A botanist? What the hell? I think he may have been with Katie because he thinks she’s the sort he’s supposed to like. Sweet and shit. But as for an actual (if heteronormative, I mean - I’m a McKay/Sheppard girl) relationship, from Rodney’s point of view I even buy Rodney/Sam before Rodney/Katie. But that’s a whole other matter. And I don’t think I could buy it from Sam’s view. (At least, not in this canonical universe. Other canonical universes, maybe. But probably not.)
OMG, your reviews usually hit the spot but I gotta tell you this is the best yet. I think you snuck into my head and stole my thoughts during the ep. boy, thats creepy, sorry! anyway, great review.
How could you not mention John’s poor face during the ring scene? He looks like he’s about to cry. Manfully. And then he’s all, “Go get the girl” and my heart is all, “TELL HIM OF YOUR BIG GAY LOVE, JOHN.”