1) "The Return" was a 'mid-season two-parter'--those fabled 'epic' episodes which are supposed to keep an audience chomping at the bit over a long break. How does "The Return" rank among the other 4 SGA mid-season two parters? (Which include: S1: The Storm/The Eye; S2: The Lost Boys/The Hive; S4: This Mortal Coil/Be All My Sins Remember'd; S5: First Contact/The Lost Tribe)
I'd put this one next to last in that list right before S5. The Daniel/Rodney show didn't interest me much. The others I'd keep in order S1,S2,S4. I think everything was downhill after TS/TE.
2) Did you like the concept of the McKay-Carter Intergalactic Bridge? Why or why not?
Hated it. I thought the less contact with Earth the better.
3) In the Return, part 1 were you surprised at how quickly the Atlantis Expedition was ousted from the city?
Not really. The Ancients always were an arrogant bunch.
4) What did you think of Helia and the Ancient contingent? Did you believe? How do they compare to some of the Ancients/Ascended you've run across in SGA and SG-1?
It was hard to keep them separate from the Replicators because of the way they dressed. I liked the actress and Helia had every right to reclaim the city. They reminded me more of the ones we met in BIS than some others but again, arrogant. And a bit stupid to think the Replicators couldn't kill them or not to maybe listen to what McKay was trying to explain about how things had changed a bit in 10,000 years. Didn't they think to ask for an update on the Replicators?
5) Do you believe Elizabeth really would have had a difficult time 'letting go' had she been a part of the discussions or made ambassador to Atlantis?
Well then she wouldn't have had to let go so abruptly. She would have been a valuable asset to the Ancients. She and John and McKay should have been allowed to stay behind and brief the Ancients on just what was going on in the city.
6) Who was the most out of character for you of the group who returned home? Or did you think they were in all in character? Either way, explain why.
John, without a doubt. He may have been compensating but he seemed to have removed himself emotionally from all of them. First he dismissed Rodney's concerns and basically hung up on him. Then he didn't react at all to hearing that Elizabeth wasn't returning calls and appeared not to have contacted her. That doesn't make sense after he took the time to go by and check on her before they left Atlantis. He seemed to be expecting his new team to screw up and was in his office with the door closed playing darts. He wasn't trying. In his way he was just as down as Elizabeth.
She was also out of character. She had been through a lot worse than this. She should have been down at the SGC doing whatever she could, taking names and kicking shins in order to find a way to get back to Atlantis. Being defeatist is not in her nature.
7) Did you like the humor moments in this episode? Which was your favorite? ('cheeky' at The Dinner, the John/Ronon hug, the World of Warcraft scene, wee baby turtles, John's cutting off General Landry, etc).
Yes, those were wonderful. Of course, "cheeky" is my favorite followed by the WOW scene. I also loved when John snarked at Elizabeth that he'd try not to run the drones into her favorite buildings. For that whole jumper ride they seemed to be very in tune and a lot of his cute remarks were directed at her. I miss the days when even in a dire situation they could make jokes.
8) Why do you think the writers put Ladon Radim in a random meeting with Teyla and Ronon?
It was a chance to give info on what they had been up to. Rebuilding the settlement, the Ancients didn't need or want their help, Ronon wasn't a farmer...stuff like that. It also reminded us that the Genii were the most advanced civilization and with the return of the Ancients would try to profit from the situation. Unintentionally, it showed us that Ronon and Teyla were the perfect couple.
9) Some discussion has already been made about Elizabeth carrying a P-90 when dressed out in her BDU's. Let's presume for a moment that John thought it was necessary, her being a part of a 'rescue squad'. What do you think Elizabeth's initial response would have been, and why would John have made her?
I doubt John "made her". Using a P-90 properly requires quite a bit of training and practice. She would not have been given such a powerful weapon if she couldn't use it. Also the same goes for the sidearm in the thigh holster. They may have been intending to show us that she had been trained off screen. You know how they like to tell without showing. Or they may just have thought it looked cool. Who knows with that bunch?
10) Were you glad to see Jack O'Neill in this episode? If you were an SG-1 watcher, why or why not? Or, if you didn't know who he was, what did you think of him?
I love Jack and thought he was great in this, particularly in scenes with Woolsey in II. I wish John had done the swimming though. And loved the hug at the end. Now that's a friendly hug without UST. *glares at Gero*
I'd put this one next to last in that list right before S5. The Daniel/Rodney show didn't interest me much. The others I'd keep in order S1,S2,S4. I think everything was downhill after TS/TE.
2) Did you like the concept of the McKay-Carter Intergalactic Bridge? Why or why not?
Hated it. I thought the less contact with Earth the better.
3) In the Return, part 1 were you surprised at how quickly the Atlantis Expedition was ousted from the city?
Not really. The Ancients always were an arrogant bunch.
4) What did you think of Helia and the Ancient contingent? Did you believe? How do they compare to some of the Ancients/Ascended you've run across in SGA and SG-1?
It was hard to keep them separate from the Replicators because of the way they dressed. I liked the actress and Helia had every right to reclaim the city. They reminded me more of the ones we met in BIS than some others but again, arrogant. And a bit stupid to think the Replicators couldn't kill them or not to maybe listen to what McKay was trying to explain about how things had changed a bit in 10,000 years. Didn't they think to ask for an update on the Replicators?
5) Do you believe Elizabeth really would have had a difficult time 'letting go' had she been a part of the discussions or made ambassador to Atlantis?
Well then she wouldn't have had to let go so abruptly. She would have been a valuable asset to the Ancients. She and John and McKay should have been allowed to stay behind and brief the Ancients on just what was going on in the city.
6) Who was the most out of character for you of the group who returned home? Or did you think they were in all in character? Either way, explain why.
John, without a doubt. He may have been compensating but he seemed to have removed himself emotionally from all of them. First he dismissed Rodney's concerns and basically hung up on him. Then he didn't react at all to hearing that Elizabeth wasn't returning calls and appeared not to have contacted her. That doesn't make sense after he took the time to go by and check on her before they left Atlantis. He seemed to be expecting his new team to screw up and was in his office with the door closed playing darts. He wasn't trying. In his way he was just as down as Elizabeth.
She was also out of character. She had been through a lot worse than this. She should have been down at the SGC doing whatever she could, taking names and kicking shins in order to find a way to get back to Atlantis. Being defeatist is not in her nature.
7) Did you like the humor moments in this episode? Which was your favorite? ('cheeky' at The Dinner, the John/Ronon hug, the World of Warcraft scene, wee baby turtles, John's cutting off General Landry, etc).
Yes, those were wonderful. Of course, "cheeky" is my favorite followed by the WOW scene. I also loved when John snarked at Elizabeth that he'd try not to run the drones into her favorite buildings. For that whole jumper ride they seemed to be very in tune and a lot of his cute remarks were directed at her. I miss the days when even in a dire situation they could make jokes.
8) Why do you think the writers put Ladon Radim in a random meeting with Teyla and Ronon?
It was a chance to give info on what they had been up to. Rebuilding the settlement, the Ancients didn't need or want their help, Ronon wasn't a farmer...stuff like that. It also reminded us that the Genii were the most advanced civilization and with the return of the Ancients would try to profit from the situation. Unintentionally, it showed us that Ronon and Teyla were the perfect couple.
9) Some discussion has already been made about Elizabeth carrying a P-90 when dressed out in her BDU's. Let's presume for a moment that John thought it was necessary, her being a part of a 'rescue squad'. What do you think Elizabeth's initial response would have been, and why would John have made her?
I doubt John "made her". Using a P-90 properly requires quite a bit of training and practice. She would not have been given such a powerful weapon if she couldn't use it. Also the same goes for the sidearm in the thigh holster. They may have been intending to show us that she had been trained off screen. You know how they like to tell without showing. Or they may just have thought it looked cool. Who knows with that bunch?
10) Were you glad to see Jack O'Neill in this episode? If you were an SG-1 watcher, why or why not? Or, if you didn't know who he was, what did you think of him?
I love Jack and thought he was great in this, particularly in scenes with Woolsey in II. I wish John had done the swimming though. And loved the hug at the end. Now that's a friendly hug without UST. *glares at Gero*
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