'If there isn't a movie about it, it's not worth knowing, is it?'
So I was supposed to step up on the movie watching. Well, imagine that, I actually did.
Kurt Wimmer's 'Ultraviolet'
And Kurt Wimmer is the guy who did 'Equilibrium'. That's sad. Seriously, I would call it the worst of the 2006 movies, but, then again, I saw 'An American Haunting' too, so I really can't. The story is inane, the performances so bad it looks as if they were deliberately wooden (apart from William Fichtner's, I don't think he could do wooden even if they told him to), and the fight scenes, that were actually the sole reason why I decided to watch the movie, turned out to be downright ridiculous. Ok, so the bullet-dodging one was kinda cool. And the library one. And the final showdown with the inexplicably flaming swords. Still, there was also, say, the cemetery-chapel one, when the main heroine vanquishes a dozen vampires with one strike of her sword. I laughed right there. And what a bitter laugh that was. So, altogether, the pluses of the movie include three fight scenes out of about ten, William Fichtner, who was, well, just there and feeding my huge infatuation, and Milla Jovovich, flaunting around in skin-tight outfits and proving quite clearly that she was a supermodel for a reason. In normal circumstances, that could perhaps be enough for some mild entertainment. The story, however, was so aggressively, so offensively stupid that, in the face of such brutal violation, I couldn't see the circumstances as normal at all.
Joel Coen's 'Big Lebowski'
Now that was a delight from the very beginning right to the very end. The great, tangled adventure that The Dude gets himself into after some two thugs piss on his rug is epic, surreal and utterly hysterical, all at the same time. Since I seem to have no words to truly convey how very stunning 'Big Lebowski' is, let the movie speak for itself. 'Fortunately, I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug, uh, regimen to keep my mind, you know, uh, limber.' 'You want a toe? I can get you a toe, believe me. There are ways, Dude.' 'Oh, come on Donny, they were threatening castration! Are we gonna split hairs here?' 'Obviously you're not a golfer.' And, most importantly, 'What the fuck, has anything got to do with Vietnam?' And many many more.
Christian Volckman's 'Renaissance'
The visuals here were simply stunning and well a reason enough to watch it. The story, though, could use some work-over. I mean, it was pretty ok, even quite ingenious at times (like the doctor's little brother part), but it also glossed over some elements in not that subtle a manner. Why exactly would the immortality be so bad and how the company could destroy humanity with it? Why did the scientist girl want that journal so much, if she already knew the secret? She left no notes behind so that her break-through could at least partially be retraced? So, really, a good story, but with some obvious oversights. Which is exactly why, while I definitely recommend it, I can't call the movie great.
Kevin Smith's 'Dogma'
Hilarious. And outrageous. Hilariously outrageous. Or the other way round. The first hour is pure fun. Ok, pure filthy fun, because, yes, these two actually can go together. Then the movie falters a bit (Salma Hayek certainly didn't help with that and offing first Jason Lee, then Matt Damon had me outright annoyed, I liked them, dammit) but it still offers enough for the movie to come out squarely on the plus side. And Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith as the intrepid moron duo have never been as brilliant as here. Oh, and 'Raining down sulphur is like an endurance trial, man.
Tom Tykwer's 'Perfume: The Story of A Murderer'
Tom Tykwer has always been a film poet. It still stands, probably always will, but now, however, with 'Perfume', he changed his approach for decidedly Baudelaire-esque. Sure, it was forced by the morbid source material, but an excellent move nonetheless (I have a school-induced fondness for the early 20 century European poetry). I've never read the novel (I've been planning to, for ages now, but there never seemed t be the right opportunity), so my view of the movie is limited on the one hand, since there were certainly moments that would be more poignant with the previous knowledge, but also fresher, since I saw it with practically no preconceptions. And I liked it quite a lot. It had dark, rich atmosphere to it and a genuinely intriguing main character, whom Ben Wishaw really handled quite well (and he kept reminding me of Christian Camargo of the 'Dexter' fame, and for more than one reason). Not my favorite Tykwer movie, that title still belongs to 'Lola Rennt', but I think I liked it better than, say, 'Der Krieger und die Kaiserin'. Where 'Heaven' comes into it I have no idea. Anyway, Tykwer proves to be one of the most interesting and - important - the most dependable European directors. Good job, Tom.
There would be more movies, but I had to fit 'Doctor Who, Season 1', somewhere in there, too. Which was quite time-consuming. Totally worth it, though. Really, this show is incredibly good. Funny, engaging, intriguing, with beautifully fleshed-out characters and very clever writing. So the CGI effects aren't exactly on par with what American tv industry made me expect, but the show is so enthusiastic, so, I don't know, zesty and joyful, that I don't care at all. And, while I'm still quite fond of 'Torchwood', now I fully realize that 'Torchwood' might be fun at times, but it's 'Doctor Who' that's the real deal.
I might be a bit harsh on 'Torchwood' here but, really, the last two episodes I watched, that being 'Random Shoes' and 'Out of Time', didn't exactly inspire much confidence in me. 'Random Shoes' wasn't bad per se, just utterly pointless, and 'Out of Time' I simply outright disliked (though, surprisingly, the Gwen parts were salvageable). This show should seriously get its act together, or I might reconsider tagging along for the second season.
There are no words that could possibly express how much in love I am with SGA this season. Five consecutive episodes that I loved to pieces. And not just because I'm so ridiculously fond of this show. Because they were genuinely good. 'Stargate Atlantis', people. Mind-boggling.
Let's go through the good stuff again.
'Stargate Atlantis' 3x15 - 'Tao of Rodney'
I think that was the first Rodney episode that I really really loved. 'The Duet' was too campy. 'Trinity' and 'Grace Under Pressure', not bad but decidedly unfunny. 'McKay and Mrs Miller', well, had its moments of brilliance but was uneven. Now, 'Tao of Rodney' is outstanding all the way though and finally, finally, gives me the Rodney I really want to see. That is, naturally, Rodney the Happy Egomaniacal Genius, the Non-Asshole Edition.
The squee-moments:
- Rodney being casually rude to Zelenka and Zelenka visibly accustomed to this peculiar show of McKay Love and serenely rambling on. 'No one wants to hear any more stories about how poor you were as a child, alright? We already feel as sorry for you as is humanly possible.' He's just a huge marshmallow, isn't he?
- Sheppard getting jealous over Rodney the Superhero and bugging Elizabeth to the the next guinea pig. And, Weir: 'John, I agree this device may have great potential.' Sheppard: '[hurriedly]And with great potential comes great responsibility I know.'
- McKay nagging the harried Beckett (I think 'harried' might actually be him main characteristic, poor guy) to finally let him go and 'Please. Mutation has such negative connotations. Advancement is more like it.' Oh, and another episode of 'The Rodney and Ronon Show' that lately never ever fails to entertain. Rodney: 'Carson. I'm still me. Anyway, it's not like you-- or these guys could stop me from leaving anyways,' Ronon: 'No, but I could,' Rodney: 'Oh, you care to put that to a test?' Ronon: 'Do you?' Rodney: 'Well... no, not really.' And 'You know, we could be a team. You could be my sidekick.' And Rodney: 'Oh my God. I can read minds. Oh, this is cool!' Ronon: 'No it isn't.' And, of course, the one with the pretty girl with the dirty thought about Ronon (quite natural, I think).
- Rodney's monologue in Weir's office about mind-reading, control chairs, shooting and taking over the city for evil purposes. It really deserves a quote but it's very very very long. But very very very awesome, too. Scenes like these make me think that David Hewlett really is a tv god.
- Rodney tweaking with the Control Chair - with pretty pictures, too - and Zelenka: 'What is he doing?' Ronon: 'Don't ask me?' Zelenka: 'Actually, I wasn't'. And then Rodney's happy 'He tries to hide it, but deep down, I'm the wind beneath his wings.'
- Weir and Sheppard sprinting to the Chair Room, Weir's 'We need to talk to you' and Rodney's immediate 'What do you mean, I'm gonna die?' And them Rondey launching in yet another mind-reading monologue. Ok, it's very very very long, too, but I just have to quote it. 'That Ancient device... has accelerated my evolution. Eventually I'll reach a point where I'm physically capable of ascension, but ascension takes more than that there's a... there's a mental component. I need to know how to make it happen... which I don't. [to Ronon] Yet! (it's this 'yet' that cracks me up) I'm getting smarter by the minute. It's a pretty good assumption I'll be able to figure it out on the way. OK, so it's not as easy as that. Well, even if I don't, so I stay a highly-evolved human. I mean, I don't have to ascend, it's, it's a choice, right? No? What do you mean, no?' Magnificent.
- Weir trying to convince Rodney to try ascension with quite disarming earnestness. I think it's a very nice touch to make her a true believer.
- Rodney bent on ascending so that he can come back as a human and, of course, using an ascendo-meter to get there. 'Once I reach ninety six percent synaptic connection, as measured by this device... all I need to do is maintain an EEG frequency of zero point one to zero point nine Hertz and presto. I arise to a higher plane of existence.' And the harried Beckett nearly at a snapping point, 'No-one who's actually awake can just will themselves anywhere close to that, no matter how bloody relaxed they are.' And then Rodney: 'Now, what's my EEG?' Beckett: 'Twenty nine Hertz, which is about average for someone in an extremely heightened wakeful state,' Rodney: 'OK, so I just need to, uh, clear my mind and, um, relax. [three seconds later] What's that now?' Beckett: 'Thirty,' Rodney: 'What?! Oh, come on, that's impossible! You must have me hooked up wrong.' Also, 'Now stop talking so much. You're... you're rippling my pond.'
- Weir recruiting Sheppard as the Ascension teacher and then Sheppard actually giving it a drawling try with an eager, yet completely unprepared Rodney, which might actually have been the single most brilliant scene in the whole episode, or perhaps even the whole season. And it has such bits in it like this one: Sheppard: 'Imagine yourself sitting on a Ferris wheel,' Rodney: 'What?' Sheppard: 'Look, I told you, I didn't pay much attention to what the Ancients were teaching me. I like Ferris wheels, so that's what I thought about... and the fact that the woman teaching me how to meditate was... very attractive,' Rodney: 'Why am I not surprised you didn't ascend, huh?'. And, Sheppard: 'Now, there's a dark storm swirling around your head,' Rodney: 'How is that comforting?' Sheppard: 'I'm getting there.' And, oh so many more. And then Rodney leaves to make his last hours worthwhile and Sheppard just sits there looking quite stunned. Because Rodney's going to die. That was good.
- Rodney's working on at least six laptops at the same time (hot).
- Rodney on his crusade to give everyone the proper goodbye. His confession to Zelenka, the tea ceremony with Teyla, healing Ronon's scars (plus a hug!), writing a book for Elizabeth. All wonderfully well done. Then him thanking Sheppard and, when he was dying, Beckett and everyone loving him.
- Rodney back to his regular genius state and Ronon's 'It's good to have you back, buddy' (plus a hug!) and Rodney merrily blabbering about this indefinable yet magical chemistry he has with Elizabeth and then them going to lunch, naturally, gossiping about Sheppard on their way and this delightful episode coming to the end. Pity.
'Stargate Atlantis' 3x16 - 'The Game'
A lovely McKay/Sheppard episode. Plenty of squee-moments, too, but, luckily not as insanely many as a week earlier, because it's getting really late and I seriously want to get some sleep already. So, here we go:
- Rodney entertaining the team theoretical ethical dilemma (that 'Katie Brown brought up over dinner the other night'? huh?), and Teyla being honestly confused, Ronon nonchalantly practical and Sheppard exercising that Sarcastic Deadpan™ of his.
- Lorne phoning in (hello, baby, long time no see) and showing the Rodney flag his team stumbled on. And then Rodney and Sheppard exchanging a very long, very meaningful stare. Oh, of course I had to mention it.
- Rodney and Sheppard all boyishly enthusiastic about their precious game and Elizabeth very much unamused.
- Rodney and Sheppard still gushing about the game in the jumper, this time to, seemingly only mildly interested, Teyla and Ronon. And, of course, Rodney gave his country too much technology. And, of course, Sheppard doubled up his army. And, of course, they could never cooperate.
- Nola is now officially the best space bimbo that ever graced this show. She's cute, but in a stern way and, the wonder of all wonders, she behaves in a completely logical and believable fashion. The actress did a terific job. The Sheppard's, uhm, guy is kinda cool, too, but a bit too crude. However him unwittingly imitating Sheppard's Sprawl and Drawl™, the D&D version, is just hilarious.
- Rodney's pictures hanging bloody everywhere. Awesome.
- Zelenka cracking into the different levels of the game (I'm pretty sure he had some practice with that) and him and Lorne getting hooked up. Oh, and the potato exchange. Seriously, brilliant.
- Weir apologizing to the village leaders for the 'intrusion' and Sheppard: 'Intrusion?' Rodney: 'An imposition, maybe, and a benevolent one at that.'
- 'The Oracle once said, "Ask not what Geldar can do for you, but what you can do for Geldar."' Ok that's just hilarious. Or it would be if the scene wasn't so solemn. Seriously, this actress? Terrific.
- Weir trying to do her perky diplomacy thing to work things out between the villages and immediately running into a wall.
- Sheppard and Rodney in Weir's office, starting to quarrel after about five seconds. Really, how did they manage to keep it quiet for two years, I have no idea.
- The vest-grabbing. Oh, the vest grabbing made this episode a delight.
- The Daedalus diversion maneuver. Which was actually pretty clever.
And these were just the highlights. Seriously, sleep now.
.
Kurt Wimmer's 'Ultraviolet'
And Kurt Wimmer is the guy who did 'Equilibrium'. That's sad. Seriously, I would call it the worst of the 2006 movies, but, then again, I saw 'An American Haunting' too, so I really can't. The story is inane, the performances so bad it looks as if they were deliberately wooden (apart from William Fichtner's, I don't think he could do wooden even if they told him to), and the fight scenes, that were actually the sole reason why I decided to watch the movie, turned out to be downright ridiculous. Ok, so the bullet-dodging one was kinda cool. And the library one. And the final showdown with the inexplicably flaming swords. Still, there was also, say, the cemetery-chapel one, when the main heroine vanquishes a dozen vampires with one strike of her sword. I laughed right there. And what a bitter laugh that was. So, altogether, the pluses of the movie include three fight scenes out of about ten, William Fichtner, who was, well, just there and feeding my huge infatuation, and Milla Jovovich, flaunting around in skin-tight outfits and proving quite clearly that she was a supermodel for a reason. In normal circumstances, that could perhaps be enough for some mild entertainment. The story, however, was so aggressively, so offensively stupid that, in the face of such brutal violation, I couldn't see the circumstances as normal at all.
Joel Coen's 'Big Lebowski'
Now that was a delight from the very beginning right to the very end. The great, tangled adventure that The Dude gets himself into after some two thugs piss on his rug is epic, surreal and utterly hysterical, all at the same time. Since I seem to have no words to truly convey how very stunning 'Big Lebowski' is, let the movie speak for itself. 'Fortunately, I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug, uh, regimen to keep my mind, you know, uh, limber.' 'You want a toe? I can get you a toe, believe me. There are ways, Dude.' 'Oh, come on Donny, they were threatening castration! Are we gonna split hairs here?' 'Obviously you're not a golfer.' And, most importantly, 'What the fuck, has anything got to do with Vietnam?' And many many more.
Christian Volckman's 'Renaissance'
The visuals here were simply stunning and well a reason enough to watch it. The story, though, could use some work-over. I mean, it was pretty ok, even quite ingenious at times (like the doctor's little brother part), but it also glossed over some elements in not that subtle a manner. Why exactly would the immortality be so bad and how the company could destroy humanity with it? Why did the scientist girl want that journal so much, if she already knew the secret? She left no notes behind so that her break-through could at least partially be retraced? So, really, a good story, but with some obvious oversights. Which is exactly why, while I definitely recommend it, I can't call the movie great.
Kevin Smith's 'Dogma'
Hilarious. And outrageous. Hilariously outrageous. Or the other way round. The first hour is pure fun. Ok, pure filthy fun, because, yes, these two actually can go together. Then the movie falters a bit (Salma Hayek certainly didn't help with that and offing first Jason Lee, then Matt Damon had me outright annoyed, I liked them, dammit) but it still offers enough for the movie to come out squarely on the plus side. And Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith as the intrepid moron duo have never been as brilliant as here. Oh, and 'Raining down sulphur is like an endurance trial, man.
Tom Tykwer's 'Perfume: The Story of A Murderer'
Tom Tykwer has always been a film poet. It still stands, probably always will, but now, however, with 'Perfume', he changed his approach for decidedly Baudelaire-esque. Sure, it was forced by the morbid source material, but an excellent move nonetheless (I have a school-induced fondness for the early 20 century European poetry). I've never read the novel (I've been planning to, for ages now, but there never seemed t be the right opportunity), so my view of the movie is limited on the one hand, since there were certainly moments that would be more poignant with the previous knowledge, but also fresher, since I saw it with practically no preconceptions. And I liked it quite a lot. It had dark, rich atmosphere to it and a genuinely intriguing main character, whom Ben Wishaw really handled quite well (and he kept reminding me of Christian Camargo of the 'Dexter' fame, and for more than one reason). Not my favorite Tykwer movie, that title still belongs to 'Lola Rennt', but I think I liked it better than, say, 'Der Krieger und die Kaiserin'. Where 'Heaven' comes into it I have no idea. Anyway, Tykwer proves to be one of the most interesting and - important - the most dependable European directors. Good job, Tom.
There would be more movies, but I had to fit 'Doctor Who, Season 1', somewhere in there, too. Which was quite time-consuming. Totally worth it, though. Really, this show is incredibly good. Funny, engaging, intriguing, with beautifully fleshed-out characters and very clever writing. So the CGI effects aren't exactly on par with what American tv industry made me expect, but the show is so enthusiastic, so, I don't know, zesty and joyful, that I don't care at all. And, while I'm still quite fond of 'Torchwood', now I fully realize that 'Torchwood' might be fun at times, but it's 'Doctor Who' that's the real deal.
I might be a bit harsh on 'Torchwood' here but, really, the last two episodes I watched, that being 'Random Shoes' and 'Out of Time', didn't exactly inspire much confidence in me. 'Random Shoes' wasn't bad per se, just utterly pointless, and 'Out of Time' I simply outright disliked (though, surprisingly, the Gwen parts were salvageable). This show should seriously get its act together, or I might reconsider tagging along for the second season.
There are no words that could possibly express how much in love I am with SGA this season. Five consecutive episodes that I loved to pieces. And not just because I'm so ridiculously fond of this show. Because they were genuinely good. 'Stargate Atlantis', people. Mind-boggling.
Let's go through the good stuff again.
'Stargate Atlantis' 3x15 - 'Tao of Rodney'
I think that was the first Rodney episode that I really really loved. 'The Duet' was too campy. 'Trinity' and 'Grace Under Pressure', not bad but decidedly unfunny. 'McKay and Mrs Miller', well, had its moments of brilliance but was uneven. Now, 'Tao of Rodney' is outstanding all the way though and finally, finally, gives me the Rodney I really want to see. That is, naturally, Rodney the Happy Egomaniacal Genius, the Non-Asshole Edition.
The squee-moments:
- Rodney being casually rude to Zelenka and Zelenka visibly accustomed to this peculiar show of McKay Love and serenely rambling on. 'No one wants to hear any more stories about how poor you were as a child, alright? We already feel as sorry for you as is humanly possible.' He's just a huge marshmallow, isn't he?
- Sheppard getting jealous over Rodney the Superhero and bugging Elizabeth to the the next guinea pig. And, Weir: 'John, I agree this device may have great potential.' Sheppard: '[hurriedly]And with great potential comes great responsibility I know.'
- McKay nagging the harried Beckett (I think 'harried' might actually be him main characteristic, poor guy) to finally let him go and 'Please. Mutation has such negative connotations. Advancement is more like it.' Oh, and another episode of 'The Rodney and Ronon Show' that lately never ever fails to entertain. Rodney: 'Carson. I'm still me. Anyway, it's not like you-- or these guys could stop me from leaving anyways,' Ronon: 'No, but I could,' Rodney: 'Oh, you care to put that to a test?' Ronon: 'Do you?' Rodney: 'Well... no, not really.' And 'You know, we could be a team. You could be my sidekick.' And Rodney: 'Oh my God. I can read minds. Oh, this is cool!' Ronon: 'No it isn't.' And, of course, the one with the pretty girl with the dirty thought about Ronon (quite natural, I think).
- Rodney's monologue in Weir's office about mind-reading, control chairs, shooting and taking over the city for evil purposes. It really deserves a quote but it's very very very long. But very very very awesome, too. Scenes like these make me think that David Hewlett really is a tv god.
- Rodney tweaking with the Control Chair - with pretty pictures, too - and Zelenka: 'What is he doing?' Ronon: 'Don't ask me?' Zelenka: 'Actually, I wasn't'. And then Rodney's happy 'He tries to hide it, but deep down, I'm the wind beneath his wings.'
- Weir and Sheppard sprinting to the Chair Room, Weir's 'We need to talk to you' and Rodney's immediate 'What do you mean, I'm gonna die?' And them Rondey launching in yet another mind-reading monologue. Ok, it's very very very long, too, but I just have to quote it. 'That Ancient device... has accelerated my evolution. Eventually I'll reach a point where I'm physically capable of ascension, but ascension takes more than that there's a... there's a mental component. I need to know how to make it happen... which I don't. [to Ronon] Yet! (it's this 'yet' that cracks me up) I'm getting smarter by the minute. It's a pretty good assumption I'll be able to figure it out on the way. OK, so it's not as easy as that. Well, even if I don't, so I stay a highly-evolved human. I mean, I don't have to ascend, it's, it's a choice, right? No? What do you mean, no?' Magnificent.
- Weir trying to convince Rodney to try ascension with quite disarming earnestness. I think it's a very nice touch to make her a true believer.
- Rodney bent on ascending so that he can come back as a human and, of course, using an ascendo-meter to get there. 'Once I reach ninety six percent synaptic connection, as measured by this device... all I need to do is maintain an EEG frequency of zero point one to zero point nine Hertz and presto. I arise to a higher plane of existence.' And the harried Beckett nearly at a snapping point, 'No-one who's actually awake can just will themselves anywhere close to that, no matter how bloody relaxed they are.' And then Rodney: 'Now, what's my EEG?' Beckett: 'Twenty nine Hertz, which is about average for someone in an extremely heightened wakeful state,' Rodney: 'OK, so I just need to, uh, clear my mind and, um, relax. [three seconds later] What's that now?' Beckett: 'Thirty,' Rodney: 'What?! Oh, come on, that's impossible! You must have me hooked up wrong.' Also, 'Now stop talking so much. You're... you're rippling my pond.'
- Weir recruiting Sheppard as the Ascension teacher and then Sheppard actually giving it a drawling try with an eager, yet completely unprepared Rodney, which might actually have been the single most brilliant scene in the whole episode, or perhaps even the whole season. And it has such bits in it like this one: Sheppard: 'Imagine yourself sitting on a Ferris wheel,' Rodney: 'What?' Sheppard: 'Look, I told you, I didn't pay much attention to what the Ancients were teaching me. I like Ferris wheels, so that's what I thought about... and the fact that the woman teaching me how to meditate was... very attractive,' Rodney: 'Why am I not surprised you didn't ascend, huh?'. And, Sheppard: 'Now, there's a dark storm swirling around your head,' Rodney: 'How is that comforting?' Sheppard: 'I'm getting there.' And, oh so many more. And then Rodney leaves to make his last hours worthwhile and Sheppard just sits there looking quite stunned. Because Rodney's going to die. That was good.
- Rodney's working on at least six laptops at the same time (hot).
- Rodney on his crusade to give everyone the proper goodbye. His confession to Zelenka, the tea ceremony with Teyla, healing Ronon's scars (plus a hug!), writing a book for Elizabeth. All wonderfully well done. Then him thanking Sheppard and, when he was dying, Beckett and everyone loving him.
- Rodney back to his regular genius state and Ronon's 'It's good to have you back, buddy' (plus a hug!) and Rodney merrily blabbering about this indefinable yet magical chemistry he has with Elizabeth and then them going to lunch, naturally, gossiping about Sheppard on their way and this delightful episode coming to the end. Pity.
'Stargate Atlantis' 3x16 - 'The Game'
A lovely McKay/Sheppard episode. Plenty of squee-moments, too, but, luckily not as insanely many as a week earlier, because it's getting really late and I seriously want to get some sleep already. So, here we go:
- Rodney entertaining the team theoretical ethical dilemma (that 'Katie Brown brought up over dinner the other night'? huh?), and Teyla being honestly confused, Ronon nonchalantly practical and Sheppard exercising that Sarcastic Deadpan™ of his.
- Lorne phoning in (hello, baby, long time no see) and showing the Rodney flag his team stumbled on. And then Rodney and Sheppard exchanging a very long, very meaningful stare. Oh, of course I had to mention it.
- Rodney and Sheppard all boyishly enthusiastic about their precious game and Elizabeth very much unamused.
- Rodney and Sheppard still gushing about the game in the jumper, this time to, seemingly only mildly interested, Teyla and Ronon. And, of course, Rodney gave his country too much technology. And, of course, Sheppard doubled up his army. And, of course, they could never cooperate.
- Nola is now officially the best space bimbo that ever graced this show. She's cute, but in a stern way and, the wonder of all wonders, she behaves in a completely logical and believable fashion. The actress did a terific job. The Sheppard's, uhm, guy is kinda cool, too, but a bit too crude. However him unwittingly imitating Sheppard's Sprawl and Drawl™, the D&D version, is just hilarious.
- Rodney's pictures hanging bloody everywhere. Awesome.
- Zelenka cracking into the different levels of the game (I'm pretty sure he had some practice with that) and him and Lorne getting hooked up. Oh, and the potato exchange. Seriously, brilliant.
- Weir apologizing to the village leaders for the 'intrusion' and Sheppard: 'Intrusion?' Rodney: 'An imposition, maybe, and a benevolent one at that.'
- 'The Oracle once said, "Ask not what Geldar can do for you, but what you can do for Geldar."' Ok that's just hilarious. Or it would be if the scene wasn't so solemn. Seriously, this actress? Terrific.
- Weir trying to do her perky diplomacy thing to work things out between the villages and immediately running into a wall.
- Sheppard and Rodney in Weir's office, starting to quarrel after about five seconds. Really, how did they manage to keep it quiet for two years, I have no idea.
- The vest-grabbing. Oh, the vest grabbing made this episode a delight.
- The Daedalus diversion maneuver. Which was actually pretty clever.
And these were just the highlights. Seriously, sleep now.
.