Thoughts while I rewatch SGA

 I remembered season three was the golden season of Stargate Atlantis.  In rewatching the series, I can see why.  All my favorite characters are still around.  The chemistry between everyone has developed into beautiful, lasting friendships.  I just ADORE this season.  I also find I see the show with very different eyes now than I did in the past:

1.  I loved Echoes.  It's the little things that make this episode so much fun.  Ronon smiles so sweetly and I can actually imagine shipping him with Teyla if I was a shipping kind of girl.  He's really coming alive and enjoying himself on Atlantis and he's also taking the time to relax and be himself (even when that self is him annoyed with others).  

2. I also love Elizabeth as the leader.  She's strong but she's also fun.  She gets Rodney and John in a way that future leaders don't.  She shares in their joys.  I don't know.  I just can't put my finger on what makes her so awesome.  I am really dreading future episodes without her.

3. I also love how when Rodney and John get headaches in the puddlejumper and Rodney starts bleeding and apparently is in bad straights, John calls in and says "Rodney needs help" but doesn't bother to mention how his own ears are bleeding or anything.  John in protective mode is just so awesome.  The more I find myself liking John's character, the more I want to see him in that protective role while he is injured.  My favorite moment for these two was the calm in the infirmary when Rodney can't hear him and John just keeps insulting Rodney and calling him Meredith.  Then they both just decide to leave without Carson's permission!  Oh team!!!!!   

4. I think the calmest episodes of SGA are the best episodes.  The writers really hit their stride when they're not trying to do overcomplicated plots but just focus on the characters and life on Atlantis.  

5. Oh...and then my SGA confession.  I have ALWAYS been a gen girl.  I wil probably always be a gen girl.  I tend to not like reading relationships.  I don't know why.  McShep, however, has always been a big issue for me.  I just have never seen it in the show.  To me, Rodney is as straight as it gets and I just can't see him liking John in that way.  In fact, I see him being completely freaked out by the idea in any shape or form.  I do realize, however, that McShep is the dominant pairing so people see something there that I just don't.  Until recently...

I think John is the one that does it for me.  He has so many silent inflections in how he looks at a person or how he deals with a situation.   He may never talk emotions but his countenance tells all. (It's why I have a hard time writing him.  So much what he says is never really said aloud.  I love his character but how do you write that well?) I think John could very well be bi or gay and the more I watch him with Rodney the more I can buy into the unrequited love aspect of McShep.  In fact, I really wouldn't be surprised if John does have feelings for Rodney but fully understands Rodney would not reciprocate in that way so John just keeps those emotions to himself as he keeps all other emotions to himself.  (The Shrine really puts this piece together for me.  The way John refuses to let McKay sacrifice himself to a Wraith.  How did he even get McKay locked out of his lab?  How did McKay figure it out enough to know to steal someone elses key card?  Such awesomeness.)

5. Now, I know the SGA fandom is fairly anti-Keller which I always found to be a bit of a shame because I really like Keller.  She may have been a bit inconsistent, but there's just something about her that I love.  In fact, I actually really like McKeller as a pairing.  (I think Brainstorm was actually good except for the whole giving CPR and then she's suddenly okay thing.  Yes, I know fandom hated it.)  I don't know why I differ from fandom so much on so many things, but I just see the show differently.  I do feel McKeller worked (despite the appearance of being shoved down our throats.  And no, I don't feel it was all about dividing the team either.  In fact, when McKay tells Ronon that they will have to let the best man win, I saw that as McKay being a good friend.  He chose to talk to Ronon and get on the same page in the interest of not ruining their friendship) .  I would have liked to see where it went in future seasons.  

With my new view of John, however, this whole McKeller dynamic becomes a bit muddled.  I now see a John who wants what is best for his friend so he just stands back and watches while secretly feeling gutted from the whole thing.  It really changes my view of the show overall.

However, I still have issues in general with the idea that bromance must mean romance.  I really like McShep friendship without any signs of romance because I love the bromance there.  I love the fact that they will do anything for each other no matter what, not because of some romantic attachment, but because they are best friends.  I really like that.  I do.


  Either way, I have way too many stories I want to read now:

1. Ending to Brainstorm that acknowledges how in bad straights Keller would really be medically.

2.  More Ronon.  Especially more protective Ronon after any member of the team

3. Missing scenes to Miller's Crossing that fill in the gaps from when Rodney leaves his conversation with John to when he's trying to get into the lab with someone else's keycard

4.  More quiet Atlantis stories that focus less on a bigger plot line and more on the friendship of everyone

5.  John being courtmartialed or John in Leavenworth (I wrote a story but I want more!)

6.  Rodney arrested.  Or John and Rodney arrested.  By people on Earth or the military or whatever that isn't an alien planet.

7.  Teyla and Ronon friendship or pre-relationship stories.