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**Eri13** · 30 July 2009, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by pkprd869 View Post

Well Done

In the interest of sparky and common goals:

Spoiler:

*claps* That was excellent.

**Regularamanda** · 30 July 2009, 08:15 AM

Originally posted by Southern Red View Post

*high five* Welcome to college football.

Linky. Atlantis Heat Wave

Thanks!

*runs off to read*

Edit-

Yay!! Just enough innuendo

**Eri13** · 30 July 2009, 09:40 AM

Okay! Are you ready? They're baaaaaaaccccccckkkkkkkkkk!

3...
2...
1...
GO!

Of all the episodes in the Stargate: Atlantis canon, Sunday was the one I dreaded watching most. Perhaps because it signaled, to me, the beginning of the end of what I love most about SGA--the Atlantis family. And while Carson Beckett didn't top my list of favorite characters (at least not to the extent of John and Elizabeth), he was still a special, wonderful character that deserved a better ending than he got, here or in the subsequent seasons.

The make-up of Sunday is unusual for an Atlantis episode. It is told in a non-linear pattern that visits some of the characters as they enjoy a 'mandatory off day' on Atlantis. The focal point of the story, which is woven through the non-linear 'sidebars' is an explosion near the mess hall. This explosion funnels all character's stories into one unbearable conclusion.

The story was written by our old friend Martin Gero, who in the commentary puts his stamp of approval on a J/T relationship. Owing to the real-life pregnancy of Rachel Luttrel through season 4, however, it can be argued that Gero's canon intention for the story has shifted slightly, and hints given in Sunday applied to the Teyla/Kanaan story instead. How you view it is up to you.

As for Sparky, there's not a lot of it visually. But because this is the Sparky thread, and we're doing these recaps for Sparky, I'll point out various inclusions AND/OR OMISSIONS which may have relevance to the story.

We'll have a little fun with some stuff, too. So, here we go.

Sunday

Sunday begins with a cute scene between Teyla and a "Dr. Houston" coming to lunch from Banto practice. Teyla is dressed out in normal gym wear rather than the training costume she uses with Ronon or John (hmmmm).

The discussion they are having is what Gero directly refers to as a J/T hint; however, it can in retrospect be applied to Kanaan, especially Teyla's response to Houston's assertion she is not very familiar with Teyla's 'crush':

TEYLA: I could *never* just say that to him!
HOUSTON: Why not? You like him, don't you?
TEYLA: That is not the point.
HOUSTON: I think that's *exactly* the point, actually.
TEYLA: The ways of my people are different. I would *never* ...
HOUSTON (interrupting): He's not gonna make the first move.
TEYLA: We shall see.
HOUSTON: Look – you know him better than I do.
TEYLA: I would hope so!
HOUSTON: But I wouldn't be surprised if he was oblivious to the whole situation.
TEYLA: It bears no further discussion.
HOUSTON: Alright! I'm just saying, if you want me to have somebody drop some hints ...

Through a lucky break, Teyla realizes she's left her banto sticks in the training room and leaves to get them. A lucky break for Teyla, for as she turns the corner, a horrific explosion occurs, leaving her severely wounded.

After the title credits, we begin our non-linear storytelling device, as we flip to a moment three hours prior to the explosion. Elizabeth is sitting in her office working when a rather handsome, bearded doctor? (we assume) walks in, interrupting her.

Now is it just me, or does this guy look vaguely familiar?

Spoiler:

Anyways...young Mr. Noah Wylie wannabe, whom we shall call 'Bearded Mike' steamrolls Elizabeth into a date for lunch. Though she is perturbed by his brusque manner, she finds him impossible to turn down.

I mentioned we were looking at this from a Sparky perspective, so for Sparkies, here's your first fun Sparky find. Throughout this encounter, we have a rather conspicuous shot of something very Sparky. It should be noted that this episode was directed by William Waring, who also helmed two of our other Sparky faves, Common Ground andEchoes.

In a nice friendship moment, we have Elizabeth informing Teyla she has other lunch plans, to which Teyla gives her a delighted 'that's alright'. It was moments like these which were supposed to support the notion that Teyla and Elizabeth were close, and I wish we'd had more of them.

Also on the friendship roster is Carson, who catches Elizabeth dressed up. I love this little moment, especially Elizabeth's friendly 'shut up' as Carson teases her about her lunch date. There's a comfort level in their interaction that makes this scene rather adorable.

The rest of the date is shown, with a funny conversation about how Elizabeth's liking of "When Harry met Sally" means she doesn't think men and women can be friends.

Sparky moment #2: Now, wait just a cotton-pickin' minute. If you're going to argue Elizabeth believes that friendships between men and women evolves into something more, than what about her friendship with...?

Anyways...to be honest, the date with Bearded Mike didn't bother me. I didn't think it would, because as much as I like Sparky, Elizabeth is my favorite character, so anything that gives her good development I enjoy, even a kiss. Actually, I thought Elizabeth's attitude throughout was really well played by Torri. And Bearded Mike was kinda fun.

Elizabeth's dumping of Mike is interrupted by the explosion, which summons her up to the Tower to do...whatever. Actually, her involvement in the subsequent events is rather suspect, but we'll get into that later.

The second non-linear storyline finds us with John and Ronon, as they enjoy their day off. Apparently, John has on his agenda golf lessons, with Teyla and Ronon the poor, unsuspecting pupils. Luckily, clever Teyla has an excuse to get out of it.

Sparky Moment #3: Teyla's excuse is actually Elizabeth. And John's all for getting Elizabeth out of her office. How kind.

Coming up...Ronon is a natural--John is not; Rodney is actually nasty AND right; we see a lovely face from the past, and we draw closer to a sad conclusion...

**Eri13** · 30 July 2009, 11:36 AM

Sunday, Part II

Out on a niche in a pier, we get the opportunity to see Joe Flanigan's swing stance, which, I'll admit, is really, really good. We also get to meet the interestingly named "Dr. John Watson" who is trying out his hand on the driving range.

As Dr. Watson watches on, Ronon takes a one-armed stab at the 'game' and succeeds marvelously. This little interaction gives us a chance to see Sheppard's sheepish side, which I like. John always has a good sense of humour, but I LOVE his backpedaling.

Carson, ever present throughout the flow of the story, visits to see if any of the men are interested in fishing with him. Ronon apparently dislikes fishing even more than golf (though he has enough patience for hunting...) Carson makes a funny statement about catching a space trout, so just for kicks...

Spoiler:

Also of note is that Doctor Watson complains of a stomachache--evil, evil foreshadowing.

Ronon, bored with golf, suggests to John his variation on a 'game' that involves him kicking John's *** with a stick in a rough-and-tumble version of capture the flag. Not to John's liking, especially when his pink underpants get exposed.

More to John's liking is relaxing listening to music and CRUSHING BEER CANS ON THE HEAD? Whatev, dude. Do TPTB actually do that when they hang out? Cuz if they do it ~~explains a lot~~ is kinda silly.

The guys also discuss love lives, which is where we learn for the first time Ronon and Melena weren't married but 'close enough'. I liked Ronon's up-front admission that he's not ready for another relationship. Ronon also wheedles out of John that he has been married before, as well as hints J/T to him. Sheppard isn't given much of a chance to respond before the explosion rocks the Tower.

The Boys run to the scene, where they find an injured Teyla (for continuity purposes, I am happy to report that John actually looks REALLY concerned for Teyla's health and well-being in this episode, so applause to MG on that).

Carson is already examining the injured people and Zelenka explains that it was an explosion centered around Doctor Houston, though it doesn't bear any trace elements of a mechanical bomb...

...Which jumps us 14 hours into the past, where a disgruntled and grumpy Rodney is chewing out Doctors Houston and Watson for activating an Ancient machine that emits radiation. Though Rodney is up to his usual griping, you have to admit, the man IS absolutely correct in everything he admonishes them for, especially given the end result.

We follow Rodney along the path, where we're greeted with a rather familiar (and delightful) face--Katie Brown. An unlucky Carson finds Rodney has bowed out of the fishing trip by using Katie as an excuse--a choice that will haunt Rodney for a long time.

Sparky note #4: Interesting to see Rodney's face when he sees Elizabeth and Bearded Mike together. So, I have to ask--we've seen or heard all of the people who care about Elizabeth weigh in on her 'date' save two--John and Ronon. With Ronon, it's no surprise, but why did Gero keep John from seeing them together? A walk through the mess hall to grab snacks would have been all it took--and his reaction could have been nonchalant about it. So where is he? My selfish insight is to term this subtle Sparky in that it may have just been easier not to bother with it.

He's kinda cute, like a brother approving...

Coming up...More of Rodney's love life, the person who SHOULD have been there, Sparky comes on screen, and one of the saddest moments in SGA history...

**Eri13** · 30 July 2009, 12:09 PM

Sunday, Part III

We continue on with Rodney and Katie's lunch date, where we get some surprising insights. For one, Katie comes out directly and notes how awkward the Cadman situation must have been for Rodney, so she understood his avoiding her for a while.

Rodney says Cadman's a witch. Okay, not really, but she is in a way:

Spoiler:

Rodney instead finds Katie to be genuinely concerned for him, and not much bothered by what he considers his greatest flaws to be. The exchange surprises and delights our diffident doctor to the point where he displays a much softer side to himself. I thought this was a great job on David Hewlett's part--moreso because it felt truly natural, and not awkward. One of the other scenes that comes to mind with this type of Rodney is the ending scene in McKay and Mrs. Miller.

The explosion interrupts the date, and jumps us back into the linear storyline, where Rodney has returned to his lab and summoned Sheppard, Zelenka and Ronon. It's here we get the explanation for the trouble as well as something that just, IMO, sounds silly.

An exploding tumor. I'm glad at least Gero had Ronon speak for us with his "are you kidding me?"

The remaining scientist--our amateur ~~sleuth~~ golfer Dr. Watson, who complained earlier of stomach troubles--is the living threat, and he just happens to be heading into Carson's OR to be operated on. Though Carson was supposed to have been fishing at this point, he is instead on OR duty, and we find out how.

Two hours earlier, Carson, after being abandoned by Rodney, runs around asking various crew members if they can go with him. Zelenka, Lorne and Dr. Biro are all either too busy or too...talkative to accompany him.

Apparently Zelenka is a chess and also likes anime.

Love Lorne's soft side here.

So Carson pitches in the fishing trip and returns to the lab to do the last thing he should be doing--working. While there, he runs into the attending, who happens to have a migraine, but chats up Carson affably enough.

*GRIPE MOMENT*: The Doctor Carson sends scuttling away, a cute blond, IMO should have been Keller. If you knew you were getting rid of Carson--if you had negotiated to bring in Jewel in First Strike--was it impossible to get her here? How long before Sunday filmed did they contract with her? Though it wouldn't have eased the pain of losing Carson for Beckett fans, at least it would have made more sense story-wise to have Jennifer there and a friend to Carson. And later, a pallbearer.

Carson's next couple of hours are spent patching up patients until the bomb goes off, where he races to the scene, finds the wounded, and immediately reports to the ER to take care of them. First on the table is Teyla, whose injury is grave. Teyla/Beckett shippers have a gentle squee moment as they hold hands on the way there.

With Teyla on the mend, Carson's story catches up to the linear story, and our flashback portion of the program is done. He begins work on Doctor Watson just as Rodney pages Doctor Watson. Upon learning that the young man has an exploding tumor, Carson selflessly turns down a dangerous path--opting to remove the at the risk of his own life.

But...here is where the story goes way haywire for me and completely falls apart realistically. The conversation between Carson and Rodney, with Carson being noble and refusing to move Watson to a safer location, is ludicrous for a number of reasons:

McKAY: OK, look, this is all very brave and all, but ...

SHEPPARD: ... what if the explosion causes structural damage? What if the tower comes down with everyone in it?

McKAY: Exactly.

BECKETT: Sending him to the other side of the city and just leaving him there is tantamount to murder, Colonel.

McKAY (frantically): The man is already dead!

BECKETT: Like hell he is.

SHEPPARD: Carson, I can't order you to stand down, but ...

BECKETT: That's right, you can't. Have your men standing by. I'll open access to the floor once I've extracted the tumour. Beckett out.

(He and the nurse exchange a glance as he continues surgery.)

1) The OR is apparently mid-level in the Tower. Rodney mentions the structural damage it may cause if he does explode--damage that may cause the Tower to collapse. HOW IN DEITIES NAMES could you be stupid enough to risk taking down NOT ONLY the entirety of SGA command but the gate AND the jumper bay? This was just dumb writing. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

2) John says he can't order Carson to stand down. BUT ELIZABETH CAN. WHERE THE FRAK IS SHE??? She's apparently been in the Control Room since the explosion, and you can be damn sure she'd be listening to that conversation. I fully expected her to at least TRY to stop him. *headdesk*

3) How in the world does Carson have a code no one else can override? The CMO has lock down privileges in Atlantis??

Anyways, to ensure Elizabeth gets her due, Gero sends John and Rodney up to her office where she proclaims that Carson is crazy. Great, Elizabeth, thanks. Seems like dating Bearded Mike really did split your focus, or something.

Sparky 5: We do get the J/E visual, however, with the 'stare' firmly in place. Welcome back, guys, we missed you.

Coming up...Goodbye, Carson. And goodbye, SGA as we know it...

**Scary Kitty** · 30 July 2009, 12:37 PM

Good afternoon, Sparkies! Happy Fluffy Thursday! (and we'll need that fluff once Eri gets done with her Sunday recap!)

And... college football season, yeehaw!!!

Darnit, one of these years I want to take the USC Train trip to the Oregon or Oregon State game. For those of you in work zones, be aware there's a video right on the main page when you open it up; it's for the 2008 trip to the Stanford game (a landslide took out the tracks north of Klamath Falls in Oregon earlier in the year and full service hadn't been restored yet). But ZOMG, it looks like sooo much fun!

Originally posted by Southern Red View Post

Squeee! I don't think it's ever too early for this vid. And all 3 of our teams are represented. Woot! Apologies to our non-American friends but this is what gets us excited baby! Comin' To Your City

All FOUR of our teams, you mean. USC for the win! Hahahaha!

**Eri13** · 30 July 2009, 12:40 PM

Sunday, Part IV

As the great doctor he is, Carson removes the tumor for Doctor Watson, saving the young man's life. Rather than wait out the bomb squad, Carson elects to deliver the tumor himself.

Ignoring for the moment the absurdity of how an organically grown and sustained tumor still has explosive properties outside of the organism it was bred into, everyone breathes a sigh of relief as Carson hands the container over to the bomb squad.

For one second.

Then, the unthinkable happens, and one of our Atlantis family dies in front of our eyes.

*Moment of Silence*

When the story picks back up, the shading has gone to gray tone--a tone you had best get familiar with because of lot of the darker S4 episodes are shot in it--and Rodney packing away Carson's things.

We get a really well-written moment here with a surprising figure--Ronon. Though, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised, because of all the Atlantis figures Ronon seems to be the one the writers turn to in situations of handling death. Makes sense, given his Satedan history, and it's kinda nice.

We next get a really nice infirmary scene between John, dressed in his Dress Blues, and Teyla. I really like this scene--particularly Teyla's words and John's admission that Carson's death 'hasn't hit him yet'.

At Carson's funeral, Elizabeth delivers a to-the-point and lovely Eulogy. I had read that the tears you see were the cast members feelings about losing Paul McGillion shining through.

Sparky #6: Can't ignore the look John gives Elizabeth as she walks by.

The pallbearers bear Carson through the gate and we bid farewell to one of the most beloved members of the SGA team. We also bid farewell to our SGA family, as the loss of Carson marks the beginning of the end of the SGA times of old. Two more stand-alone episodes later, and our world will be rocked by revolution--war, the addition of unexpected ships and new characters, and, of course for us the loss of half of what we love.

Love how Teyla apparently has no swelling despite being two days out of major surgery. Guess those Athosians heal fast!

I'm not sure how I feel about the final scene. While I love seeing Carson again, the 'exoneration' of Rodney just seems too easy. I'm glad to hear about Carson being so loved and honored by his family and friends on Earth, but his wistful smile and gentle manner in trying to ease Rodney's mind is a little elementary in terms of storytelling.

However--the lighting of the scene is really pretty, and I guess I have to say that if I'm ending a story about losing Carson, I'd rather it end with Carson than without.

And so...the episode it took me 3 months to watch is done. Overall, Sunday had some really neat elements to it, but whether it was well-written or poorly written feels overshadowed by the greater significance of the story. We lost Carson. Our world got rocked. And it was changed in a way that couldn't be 'gotten back'

So ends my recap. I'll ask specific question tomorrow, but for now, weigh-in generally on your thoughts on Sunday.

It's good to be back.

**Scary Kitty** · 30 July 2009, 01:52 PM

Sunday! Hooray for the return of the recaps!