Aquarium 4.15 -- "Outcast"

[hth_the_first]

Posting this after my first viewing, which I rarely do (I usually watch one time for the fun of it, then a second time with the pause button and something to take notes with, which then become the basis of my lj comments and YES, I KNOW, IT'S ABSURD HOW SERIOUSLY I TAKE THIS SHOW. I have no defense.) I'm just saying, in case this is all jumbled

Comments

[dodificus]

well, I haven't seen the episode but I *loved* your review. I have a feeling that I'd be disappointed if I did end up watching the episode because there's no way it would be as amazing as reading your emotional response to it was:)

Plus, I laughed out loud at this:

which is still the most vile and offensive episode of any tv show I've ever liked ever. And I was an Oz fan.

[namastenancy]

I didn't much care for the episode but that scene just knocked my socks off. How to say Sheppard is gay without saying he's gay - I didn't think that the SGA writers could be so subtle. The rest was pretty standard cowboys in space but that and the scene with Rodney were great. I also appreciated that Hewlett managed to reign himself in; it doesn't happen often enough (IMHO)/

[ratcreature]

I truly do not understand why John Sheppard, the ostensible hero of the fucking series, can't have his own "McKay and Mrs. Miller."

Yeah, me neither.

And word on the scene where John introduces Ronon. I loved that.

[spike21]

This is interesting. This is a really interesting review -- let me think about it for a while. I have so long inured myself to the mainstream view of what is and isn't sentient (it HURTS us, Precious) that the Replicator plotline hasn't even blipped my radar, except in the sense of a vague discomfort with the actions of the heroes. I think I felt it much more strongly in the whole retrovirus plotline, which I found horrifying but... in a good way. I honestly believed that the *intention* of the retrovirus plotline was to subvert the idea of our guys as heroes -- that the great tragedy of it was that, as in most wars, they stepped over a moral line and in the end it was their undoing (and I believe this is still playing out). I have less faith in the Replicator plotline -- I don't think there's any ironic subtext there. And I really felt they just missed so many opportunities to well, say *anything* about *anything* in this ep. Anyway, yeah, I have to think about your review more. And watch again. I'm not sure how much I liked

[gritkitty]

God, is probably the most resonant queer moment I've ever seen on television.

I agree, and for all the reasons you list. I was thrown by how the actor who played his brother looked so very not-related-at-all, but the awkwardness came through, especially during that scene. John has always come across to me as gay. I don't think I can shake that perception.

As for the sentient Replicators -- I understand your outrage. I don't feel that strongly about it, because I have come to expect that sort of thing from this show (and other shows, movies, books). Maybe I've just gotten used to it. But it was good to read your take on it, even if it makes me pissed again about how dumb this show can be instead of just sighing, and then turning to the fun bits.