Rodney McKay/John Sheppard Friendship Thread

[Klenotka]

Apparently I chased everyone away.

Anyway. After Suspicion, I'm not sure we get a lot of John and Rodney friendship moments again until Underground and the famous "What giant underground bunker?" scene. At least I don't remember much in Childhood's End or Poisoning the Well.

What do you all think?

You didn´t chase me I just didn´t have much time going here and watching episodes.
I think you are right about Underground. There are few specific scenes I liked (and I am not talking only about Rodney´s gun porn ) I loved the "short-cut" scene, which was so awesome. It showed how very well Rodney already knows John and how much John values Rodney´s friendship.

You know, it breaks my heart again, how much potential they wasted in later seasons

[Killdeer]

Yeah, the "short-cut" scene was another great scene in Underground.

It's been a while since I watched S1. I guess I'm just still trying to deal with how it all ended. I still haven't managed to bring myself to watch the last couple of episodes. This is the only fandom I've ever really been involved in, so it's been kind of painful. But I know eventually I will want to go back and rewatch everything from the beginning, and hopefully by then we will have a movie to close out the story, with lots of great John and Rodney friendship scenes.

Thinking about S1, what were the highlights in your opinion?

I think for me it would be:

1) Playing with the shield in Hide and Seek
2) Trying to capture the Wraith in Suspicion
3) Exploring and getting caught by the Genii in Underground
4) John teaching Rodney to fly in The Defiant One.
5) Working together to kill the Wraith in The Defiant One.
6) Trying to solve the puzzle in The Brotherhood, and Rodney's worried face when John was trying the puzzle, and the Mensa thing.
7) Before I Sleep. It was an Elizabeth episode, but there were loads of John and Rodney scenes - they were practically tripping over each other in some scenes. I like best the scene with them sitting with their feet up studying the map of Atlantis.

I'm trying to think if there's any I've left out. The Storm/The Eye is another favorite, but was more focused on the three of them - Rodney, John, and Elizabeth, rather than John and Rodney specifically. I don't remember any specific John and Rodney scenes.

What do you all think? What were the high points for you in S1?

[SGLAB]

Oh I just loved that scene in Defiant One.

From GW transcript for Defiant One

SHEPPARD: This is why parents get someone else to teach their kids how to drive.

McKAY: I am both insulted and touched by that.

[Killdeer]

Hee! I know, I love that.

[Ruffles]

What do you all think? What were the high points for you in S1?

Definitely the balcony scene in Hide and Seek, "What secret underground bunker?" in Underground, "Reload!" in The Defiant One, the interaction between them in The Siege 2 ("So long, Rodney." "You let Sheppard fly that jumper?"). The horror on McKay's face as he watches the jumper fly into the hive and explode. The whole Mensa bit in Brotherhood is another favorite especially when Rodney apologizes for not being able to save Sheppard. Another nice moment is in The Gift (I think) when Rodney tells John that Teyla's necklace is attracting the Wraith. John is so shocked and so is Rodney. Most of their moments are either humorous or in crisis. This particular one is quiet and adult with them being on the same side.

[Killdeer]

Another nice moment is in The Gift (I think) when Rodney tells John that Teyla's necklace is attracting the Wraith. John is so shocked and so is Rodney. Most of their moments are either humorous or in crisis. This particular one is quiet and adult with them being on the same side.

I've always liked that too.

[Klenotka]

I think my all favorite S1 scenes are in Before I sleep where they are teasing each other about "failing". Especially the one at Elizabeth´s bed is so awesome!
And I loved how Elizabeth was like a mother, trying to stop her kids from killing each other

[bara007]

Hello,

It is great to see this thread alive again!
I love watching the show over and over again, especially my favorite McShep episodes, so I think this trip down memory lane is a great idea.

But I feel that the show has changed over the last two years, I think thanks to few reasons. It is like there is not that much space for the friendship of McKay and Sheppard anymore -they don’t have much scenes together, the banter disappeared.
Of course they are great episodes for the two of them together (Millers’ Crossing, Harmony, Midway, The Last Man, The Shrine, The Prodigal, Vegas), but in the rest there seems to be something missing. When I come back to watch the earlier seasons, in every episode I always find cute McShep scenes, I go “Oh, great, I completely forgot about this”, which is funJ
Not so much of this in the new episodes, they don’t have so much screen time together anymore…

I think there are few things behind this change from S1, S2, S3 to S4, S5:
1) I believe the main reason is the “shifting of the power” in production in S4 from the more family oriented Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper the more dark Joseph Mallozi and Paul Mullie, if I am correct. Which good for some areas, like Sheppards character study, but not that good for other areas – the fun, the comedy seems to have almost disappeared (which I think McKay is best in, him and Sheppard together)

2) The other reasons I see is the money – I read somewhere about two years ago that the problem with the downfall of US currency (and its exchange to Canadian) caused that production suddenly had about 30 % less money for each episode!
Which is quite a big change. I’ not sure about the exact number, but I remember it was a lot.
I see that is the reason why they suddenly started shooting these “individual” episodes – so that they could film at the same time, and save money. The team was very often split, and from my viewpoint these episodes were never that good anymore. And again not that much focus on McShep anymore.

3) And the last but not the least – in S4 Elizabeth Weir is gone. I agree with what you said Klenotka.

And I loved how Elizabeth was like a mother, trying to stop her kids from killing each other

I think it had effect on their relationship. She was the leader, a woman, almost like a motherly character to them, she had the responsibly, the final word – so they both could afford to act like six years old sometimes! They could argue, banter, but she was always there to guide them, talk them out of crazy ideas (well)…she always tried to get them together again to work efficiently, or had the patience to wait „till the boys get it over with“. This all was great
Like for example I just watched the Return Part II - their discussion about “arbitrary numbers” that was fun!
When Weir was there, Sheppard and McKay could afford to be a bit irresponsible sometimes…

But then Sam and Woolsey came, not really familiar with Atlantis, as see it as all the weight was suddenly on Sheppard, and there wasn’t much time for fooling around anymore, to bad
Weir was a leader and confidant to him and they seemed to share a strong connection. They seem to grow next to each other.
With Weir gone Sheppard suddenly turned back to this lonely, dark charter, with all the responsibility, not so relaxed anymore - which even McKay couldn’t entirely help.
So in my opinion Elizabeth Weir leaving the show was a big mistake – she brought the needed balance to the show, and to McKay and Sheppard.

What do you all think about this? Do you agree with some on these things?
I would be glad to hear your opinions.

Thanks for reading this long post, I had these thoughts for a long time, and I just had get them written down
Maybe it doesn’t entirely belong in this thread, but I always see everything in this show from the Sheppard-McKay perspective, so why not!
I will get back on S1 later, and maybe some quotes, that would be fun to do…

Have a nice day.

[SGLAB]

Hi bara007, some great thoughts. I do agree that Elizabeth did bring a good balance for Sheppard and McKay. The three of them have always been my favorite characters.

[Amalthea]

I always thought they turned out to be great buddies in the end. It's kind of like the friendship that no one gets except the people in it. The absolute best example is the beer scene on the pier. Aside from John's questionable taste in beer, it's the perfect scene. I laughed and cried the whole time. It definitely added to the flavour of the whole show.

[Killdeer]

Hi bara007, some great thoughts. I do agree that Elizabeth did bring a good balance for Sheppard and McKay. The three of them have always been my favorite characters.

I agree.

In season 2 - what stands out? Well, for me, just off the top of my head, there was:

1ntruder - there was a lot of John/Rodney interaction in this one. I remember most them rushing around the ship and the f-302 bay trying to contain the virus, and then John and Rodney in the F-302.

Trinity of course, was their famous fight, but I think they turned out only stronger for it in the end. It's interesting that they're ok enough with it in later seasons that Rodney can easily accept John's teasing. Trinity also has some great scenes before that, with Rodney teasing John about his delight over the weapons possibilities.

In Aurora, I think they were still in a little bit of a rebuilding stage after Trinity, but Rodney goes into the virtual reality to save John. "Colonel Sheppard and I have sort of gotten into this habit of saving each other's lives, and it's my turn."

In The Lost Boys, John has to talk Rodney into working on the ship, in one of the more screencapped scenes of their friendship. Later, Rodney massively overdoses on the enzyme because he's worried about the team. This, though, was never acknowledged by the team, and that always bothered me a little.

In Epiphany, we see Rodney's panic for John when he realizes what's happened to him. He is nearly frantic.

In Grace Under Pressure, John intimidates Zelenka into helping him reconfigure the jumper cloak into a shield, and going after Rodney.

And then Inferno, another one I like - John and Rodney competing to get Norina's attention, and then having to fix the ship and fly it to safety. John's reaction to Rodney shutting him down while working on the ship always makes me laugh.


Hey, 1000 posts in this thread. (not me personally - the thread has 1000 posts)

[Killdeer]

New fic rec (yes, I'm not supposed to be up at this hour, I only wish I could sleep - anyway):

-.-. --- -. -. . -.-. - .. --- -., by Mad Maudlin.
Summary: An accident offworld leaves Rodney feeling disconnected from the world around him. Luckily John and his friends are there.

[Klenotka]

Spoiler:

I agree.

In season 2 - what stands out? Well, for me, just off the top of my head, there was:

1ntruder - there was a lot of John/Rodney interaction in this one. I remember most them rushing around the ship and the f-302 bay trying to contain the virus, and then John and Rodney in the F-302.

Trinity of course, was their famous fight, but I think they turned out only stronger for it in the end. It's interesting that they're ok enough with it in later seasons that Rodney can easily accept John's teasing. Trinity also has some great scenes before that, with Rodney teasing John about his delight over the weapons possibilities.

In Aurora, I think they were still in a little bit of a rebuilding stage after Trinity, but Rodney goes into the virtual reality to save John. "Colonel Sheppard and I have sort of gotten into this habit of saving each other's lives, and it's my turn."

In The Lost Boys, John has to talk Rodney into working on the ship, in one of the more screencapped scenes of their friendship. Later, Rodney massively overdoses on the enzyme because he's worried about the team. This, though, was never acknowledged by the team, and that always bothered me a little.

In Epiphany, we see Rodney's panic for John when he realizes what's happened to him. He is nearly frantic.

In Grace Under Pressure, John intimidates Zelenka into helping him reconfigure the jumper cloak into a shield, and going after Rodney.

And then Inferno, another one I like - John and Rodney competing to get Norina's attention, and then having to fix the ship and fly it to safety. John's reaction to Rodney shutting him down while working on the ship always makes me laugh.


Hey, 1000 posts in this thread. (not me personally - the thread has 1000 posts)

Spoiler:

I mostly agree.
But after Trinity, I had a feeling that it was maybe their (tptb´s)intention to "break" the friendship a little but never gave it back together again.
Intruder and Aurora were the best, imo, followed by Inferno (I hated who they presented as a top scientist - tall, still somewhere standing, long-legged blondie) - those were the best.
I didn´t like the mid-season finale, Lost Boys and Whateverwasthenameoftheotherepisode. How Sheppard came through the gate, didn´t care for Rodney and even didn´t come to ask him how he feels - they never talked about Rodney´s situation and it really made me mad.

[Killdeer]

I mostly agree.
But after Trinity, I had a feeling that it was maybe their (tptb´s)intention to "break" the friendship a little but never gave it back together again.

It could be - it didn't work though.

I didn´t like the mid-season finale, Lost Boys and Whateverwasthenameoftheotherepisode. How Sheppard came through the gate, didn´t care for Rodney and even didn´t come to ask him how he feels - they never talked about Rodney´s situation and it really made me mad.

I know - that's always felt a little strange to me.

Going into S3 - I don't remember anything really in the first two episodes. It seems like there was something in No Man's Land, but it's been a while.

Irresistable - not a lot really, except for Rodney drugging John to make him clean his room - brothers much? I've always wondered what John's reaction was.

Sateda - This one has some good moments. First, John helping Rodney to the gate when he gets shot. Then one of my favorite scenes with John coming in to find Rodney lying on the floor working on his laptop looking for Ronon. "Oh, how long did you work on that one?" "Longer than I care to admit." To me this just says how comfortable they are with each other at this point.

Progeny - not one of my favorite episodes (I don't really care for the Asurans) but it did have a lot of good character moments (and bonus points for including Elizabeth), and quite a bit of John and Rodney's characteristic banter/snark.

I don't remember much in The Real World or Common Ground, although I enjoyed both episodes. It seems like I should remember something in Common Ground, but nothing comes to mind at the moment.

McKay and Mrs Miller is another interesting episode for the two of them. It's obvious all through the episode that John is having a world of fun harassing Rodney. I love the scene where he's teasing Rodney and then gets on the elevator and cocks his head with a smirk. In spite of the harassment, however, IMO his genuine affection for Rodney comes through at the end of the episode when he makes a special visit to Jeannie to show her Rodney's video from Letters from Pegasus. He didn't have to do that, but for some reason it was important to him that Jeannie not see Rodney as just an uncaring jerk.

And.....I think I'm going to stop there for tonight. S3 had a lot with them. So...Pt 2 later.

[SGLAB]

Well, in Common Ground there was that scene on Atlantis before they go off in an attempt to rescue John where Rodney is giving this sort of pep talk to the others. He said something in the way of this is what Sheppard would do. Then he gives Elizabeth a thumbs up before going through the gate. So while not together there's still something there from Rodney as a friend.