John Sheppard/Teyla Emmagan Appreciation/Ship/Discussion Thread

[Atlantis4Life]

@ Jeyla and Blue

Great discussion. I'll chime in with a few thoughts. I didn't mind the scene with Dr. Hewston because I didn't think that Dr. Hewston was a stranger to Teyla because they were so comfortable talking to each other. I got the impression that they had been work out buddies for a while, and that since this was an off day, this is why we actually got to see them together since down time was rarely shown on SGA (unfortunately). I think that John didn't make a move because he was waiting for the right time - Also what you said Jeyla about the Athosians believing in Destiny and Fate is exactly what I think too... I'll leave that for now...

I think that she's with Kanaan because she's trying to make it work for her son, and because of her sense of duty and of honoring tradition. However, Teyla also strikes me as a woman that is also true to herself and this is where the conflict lies to me. She is not in love with Kanaan even though she has love for him and she always will. That's why I don't think that they could ever work out in the long run. Teyla will eventually need to be true to herself and leave Kanaan because he's not right for her.

I can believe that John had a failed marriage. And I can also believe that his ex-wife paid her respects at his father's funeral. However, I think that the 2 characters had no romantic chemistry in Outcast and that they are both completely over each other with no possibility of getting together again. My guess is that their marriage was a mistake of their youth. It happens... Besides, I think she said she was happily remarried anyway. I also see John as a man that is true to himself. He's not going to settle for anything less than what he wants. And, he obviously wants Teyla. So, eventually, (in fanfics, books, or whatnot) he and Teyla will become one. I think that's their destiny, and then Torren will have 2 dads instead of one.

Cheers!



P.S.

I haven't gotten my copy of Death Game yet, but I'll be happy to participate in a discussion when I do. A chapter-by-chapter discussion sounds good to me, so long as the chapters aren't really short. If that's the case, then we might want to do 2-3 chapters at a time. I agree with Blue that the Q&A should be about the whole book, though.

[Jeyla4ever]

@ Jeyla and Blue

It's hard now to get into these discussions because I haven't seen the episodes in such a long time that I have forgotten things, not to mention that I haven't seen the last two episodes of Season 5. Too emotionally disturbed by it, still to this day. But I love to read and add my own thoughts to other's interpretation. In the end, it's like Blue even mentioned, even the actors had a different take on these characters and the writers themselves had a very different perspective on these characters as well among each other. So, in my view, there is no right or wrong here, just a difference of point of view. But I do hold greatly the actors view because they played the parts as to how they viewed their characters, they brought them to life with a gesture, with a glance, with a wordless act. And also of course, the writers because in paper, they created these characters. So, it's really taking bits and pieces here and there.

I didn't mind the scene with Dr. Hewston because I didn't think that Dr. Hewston was a stranger to Teyla because they were so comfortable talking to each other. I got the impression that they had been work out buddies for a while, and that since this was an off day, this is why we actually got to see them together since down time was rarely shown on SGA (unfortunately).

Like I mentioned before, that was doozy for me. It still is, but I learned how to let it go. Teyla is such a private person, that I found it odd for her character to share something as personal and as complicated as sharing her feelings towards John with a complete stranger that it was really something that bothered me because it went against everything that I thought I knew about Teyla. But I can certainly see your point of view. I think Teyla is the type of person that is willing to open up, if you give her the opportunity. Otherwise, she won't. Several times she tried with John but he was very closed off and wouldn't open up. So, she never pushed the matter. But if Dr. Hewston asked and prodded, and once Teyla felt comfortable and that she was trustworthy, then I guess I can see it from that point of view. Still, I just thought it was so not Teyla. :O

I think that John didn't make a move because he was waiting for the right time - Also what you said Jeyla about the Athosians believing in Destiny and Fate is exactly what I think too... I'll leave that for now...

Oh, don't you dare leave it there. I love how you worded this....John waiting for the right time. That's very plausible. But waiting for when? When they fought off the Wraith? When he felt that Teyla felt the same for him? I like that. I like that idea that John was willing to but just waiting for the right time. But then, John is a liar. He lied to Ronon! LOL

I think that she's with Kanaan because she's trying to make it work for her son, and because of her sense of duty and of honoring tradition. However, Teyla also strikes me as a woman that is also true to herself and this is where the conflict lies to me. She is not in love with Kanaan even though she has love for him and she always will. That's why I don't think that they could ever work out in the long run. Teyla will eventually need to be true to herself and leave Kanaan because he's not right for her.

You wrote what I think in 4 sentences? LOL I think it will be a combination of her waking up or sensing the "wrongness" of it all. I mean, the woman repeatedly chose John over Kanaan so plain and so clear that I don't think for a moment she's lying to herself of just who the man she loves is, but has more of accepted that Kanaan is the man she has to be with...does that make sense? Because we have so many other examples of Teyla clearly showing her "love" for John that surpasses that of Kanaan. I think and I wonder if even Kanaan sees it. He has to! But again, like Blue said, we never saw this on-screen so we just speculate.

I can believe that John had a failed marriage. And I can also believe that his ex-wife paid her respects at his father's funeral. However, I think that the 2 characters had no romantic chemistry in Outcast and that they are both completely over each other with no possibility of getting together again. My guess is that their marriage was a mistake of their youth. It happens... Besides, I think she said she was happily remarried anyway.

I can believe it, too. I think my point was that Kanaan and Teyla had more of a background as to how they got together and ended up together than even Nancy and John. We know nothing of how they got together. We know that Teyla and Kanaan grew up together, share the same Wraith Gene and therefore bonded on a much deeper level than with any other, they were sort of outcast even amongst their own because of their gift, Teyla saw him as a leader of their people, so he must have been respected among his own...etc...So, we got more from Teyla's words about Kanaan than we did from Nancy from John. But yes, I think like you do...young failed marriage. She did mentioned another but I don't know if she remarried. Most likely. I so agree with you. John acted so uncomfortable around her. Yet a part of him sees himself as the reason for their failed marriage.

I also see John as a man that is true to himself. He's not going to settle for anything less than what he wants. And, he obviously wants Teyla. So, eventually, (in fanfics, books, or whatnot) he and Teyla will become one. I think that's their destiny, and then Torren will have 2 dads instead of one.

Oh, I love how you wrote that. I too think that John won't make the same mistake of marriage again. I think that's part of the reason why he's hesitant with Teyla. He knows that with Teyla comes more than just her, comes an entire people, and that he cannot worry or concentrate about now. John is a very emotional man. He's greatly moved by his love for people to the point where he cares of nothing else but that! And I think he knows just how deeply Teyla's influence has on him. She's the only one that has ever made him changed his mind. She has more influence over him than any other and I think deep down he knows it. And he knows how complicated that can be. I also think that just like Teyla, John commits wholly. I also think he has issues about himself that he needs to work out, but I think being in the Pegasus has helped him resolved many of those issues. I haven't seen Vegas, but I guess that would be worse case scenario for John and it would be so interesting if our John got to meet that John so that he can actually see just how far south he can go without the ones he loves!

Cheers!

Thanks so much for you input. Me loves it when others join in. I don't want anyone to think that Blue and I are disagreeing or even arguing. We aren't. Blue understands my complexities and my abstract wordings, I think. But she knows that I respect and value her thoughts very highly, and that goes to all of you. We may love John and Teyla but that might be as far as our thoughts in common and that's fine with me and Blue knows it and I hope the others do as well. We can share a difference of opinion and that's the fun in all of this.

P.S.

I haven't gotten my copy of Death Game yet, but I'll be happy to participate in a discussion when I do. A chapter-by-chapter discussion sounds good to me, so long as the chapters aren't really short. If that's the case, then we might want to do 2-3 chapters at a time. I agree with Blue that the Q&A should be about the whole book, though.

Excellent. Let me know when you guys get your copy either here or in Beya and we can start the discussions then. I think the chapters are very small actually, but the version online was the rough draft, so I'll have to get my own copy as well.

[NinaM]

I'd like to know who got the book already, who's still waiting, and who's planning on getting it sometime soon so that I can schedule with Jo when to do the Q&A in Beya.

I ordered mine last night from Fandemonium... so I guess I will have to see when I get it...
Then there is just the question of taking the time to actually read it... *lol* me and books doesn't always work together...

[Jeyla4ever]

NINA!!! So good to see you here.

I have to get mine too, so I'll wait a bit more since it seems that most haven't gotten their copies yet. It looks like many got it from Amazon.

[Artie]

NINA!!! So good to see you here.

I have to get mine too, so I'll wait a bit more since it seems that most haven't gotten their copies yet. It looks like many got it from Amazon.

I don't know what Amazon's damage is. It's still showing it as not available when some people already have them.

[mysterywriter012]

hi *waves* how is everybody?

[Everlovin]

Mystery! How's it going?

[Jeyla4ever]

Yup, I'm reminding you guys again to come sign up for Beya's 2nd Annual Elf Exchange. There are 8 days left till the sign-ups will close. So, get to it!

We have several new people this year and I'd love to see the ones from last year and new ones this year!! common people, where's your John and Teyla love!

Details and sign up link below.

http://community.livejournal.com/sga_beya/266010.html

[Jeyla4ever]

Artie, I hope you get it soon. Let me know.

[Artie]

Artie, I hope you get it soon. Let me know.

I've got it! Mine came from Fandemonium!

[Jeyla4ever]

WOHOOOOO!!!! did you sign up in Beya so that you can participate in our book club?

[Atlantis4Life]

hi *waves* how is everybody?

Hi ya, mystery!!

I've got it! Mine came from Fandemonium!

So, you were the smart one. I pre-ordered mine from Amazon, so I'll be waiting...

cheers.

[Artie]

WOHOOOOO!!!! did you sign up in Beya so that you can participate in our book club?

Camy, it's me! You know I'll be participating!

[Atlantis4Life]

I'll start out and say, wow, what a nice post Jeyla!!

It's hard now to get into these discussions because I haven't seen the episodes in such a long time that I have forgotten things, not to mention that I haven't seen the last two episodes of Season 5. Too emotionally disturbed by it, still to this day. But I love to read and add my own thoughts to other's interpretation. In the end, it's like Blue even mentioned, even the actors had a different take on these characters and the writers themselves had a very different perspective on these characters as well among each other. So, in my view, there is no right or wrong here, just a difference of point of view. But I do hold greatly the actors view because they played the parts as to how they viewed their characters, they brought them to life with a gesture, with a glance, with a wordless act. And also of course, the writers because in paper, they created these characters. So, it's really taking bits and pieces here and there.

I agree. There is no right or wrong to what anyone perceived or got out of the show. We all enjoyed it (for the most part), and that's what matters.

Like I mentioned before, that was doozy for me. It still is, but I learned how to let it go. Teyla is such a private person, that I found it odd for her character to share something as personal and as complicated as sharing her feelings towards John with a complete stranger that it was really something that bothered me because it went against everything that I thought I knew about Teyla. But I can certainly see your point of view. I think Teyla is the type of person that is willing to open up, if you give her the opportunity. Otherwise, she won't. Several times she tried with John but he was very closed off and wouldn't open up. So, she never pushed the matter. But if Dr. Hewston asked and prodded, and once Teyla felt comfortable and that she was trustworthy, then I guess I can see it from that point of view. Still, I just thought it was so not Teyla. :O

Yes, I think that Teyla is a very private person as well. I just assumed that she and Dr. Hewston had known each other for a couple of years (off camera - I know, I know... She didn't get much of a (personal) life on camera so I've had to assume a few things...) so it didn't bother me. But, if I thought that they didn't really know each other and were only acquaintances, then I'd have thought the same thing that you thought, that it was odd.

Oh, don't you dare leave it there. I love how you worded this....John waiting for the right time. That's very plausible. But waiting for when? When they fought off the Wraith? When he felt that Teyla felt the same for him? I like that. I like that idea that John was willing to but just waiting for the right time. But then, John is a liar. He lied to Ronon! LOL

You are too kind, thanks. I'm guessing that you are talking about the scene between Shep and Ronon in Sunday when you said he lied. If that's the scene you mean, then I don't think that he lied. He was decidedly evasive when Ronon brought it up because I think that for him, if he didn't have things worked out with Teyla as to what was going to happen, then he wasn't ready to start talking about it with Ronon. That's what I thought. Like Teyla, I think that John is a very private person too... However, I think that it's easier for Teyla to talk about these kinds of things than it is for Shep.

You wrote what I think in 4 sentences? LOL I think it will be a combination of her waking up or sensing the "wrongness" of it all. I mean, the woman repeatedly chose John over Kanaan so plain and so clear that I don't think for a moment she's lying to herself of just who the man she loves is, but has more of accepted that Kanaan is the man she has to be with...does that make sense? Because we have so many other examples of Teyla clearly showing her "love" for John that surpasses that of Kanaan. I think and I wonder if even Kanaan sees it. He has to! But again, like Blue said, we never saw this on-screen so we just speculate.

That makes perfect sense, Jeyla. I think that she's trying to make something that can't work - work - because she at least has to say to herself that she tried, if that makes sense. I think that Teyla thinks that she at least owes that to Kanaan (her very dear childhood friend) and her son. To walk away from having a family with her son and his biological father (especially when he has been a significant part of her past) without even trying is something that Teyla would not do. She is a woman of honor and duty, so she must at least be able to tell herself that she gave it her best shot when the time comes for her to let Kanaan go...

I can believe it, too. I think my point was that Kanaan and Teyla had more of a background as to how they got together and ended up together than even Nancy and John. We know nothing of how they got together. We know that Teyla and Kanaan grew up together, share the same Wraith Gene and therefore bonded on a much deeper level than with any other, they were sort of outcast even amongst their own because of their gift, Teyla saw him as a leader of their people, so he must have been respected among his own...etc...So, we got more from Teyla's words about Kanaan than we did from Nancy from John. But yes, I think like you do...young failed marriage. She did mentioned another but I don't know if she remarried. Most likely. I so agree with you. John acted so uncomfortable around her. Yet a part of him sees himself as the reason for their failed marriage.

I don't remember when she saw him as a leader of their people as well, but I guess that could have been the case. I always had the impression that she was the leader and that Halling filled in for her when she wasn't there. I've wondered in the past if perhaps they weren't a matriarchal society. That would have been an interesting twist... Anyhoo, I can believe that Kanaan is seen as a leader among their people for certain things... I just don't know what things. I'd have to think about it.

Yeah, I have my thoughts about John's failed marriage. He did seem a little uncomfortable around her, like he had a bit of guilt for not trying harder... Although, that's how he is. He's really hard on himself. I mean, think of the Doppelganger episode for instance. His biggest fear was letting the people he cared about down. I'm guessing that he thinks he let Nancy down a bit based off of the Outcast episode (not cheating or anything like that though)... Again, I just have my thoughts.

Oh, I love how you wrote that. I too think that John won't make the same mistake of marriage again. I think that's part of the reason why he's hesitant with Teyla. He knows that with Teyla comes more than just her, comes an entire people, and that he cannot worry or concentrate about now. John is a very emotional man. He's greatly moved by his love for people to the point where he cares of nothing else but that! And I think he knows just how deeply Teyla's influence has on him. She's the only one that has ever made him changed his mind. She has more influence over him than any other and I think deep down he knows it. And he knows how complicated that can be. I also think that just like Teyla, John commits wholly. I also think he has issues about himself that he needs to work out, but I think being in the Pegasus has helped him resolved many of those issues. I haven't seen Vegas, but I guess that would be worse case scenario for John and it would be so interesting if our John got to meet that John so that he can actually see just how far south he can go without the ones he loves!

Great points, and I especially agree with the bolded portion. I think that John would go for marriage again, but it would take a lot... He's got problems to work out, and I agree that being in Pegasus with his make-shift family has helped him a great deal - Rodney too while we're at it. Heck, it's helped them all.

Thanks so much for you input. Me loves it when others join in. I don't want anyone to think that Blue and I are disagreeing or even arguing. We aren't. Blue understands my complexities and my abstract wordings, I think. But she knows that I respect and value her thoughts very highly, and that goes to all of you. We may love John and Teyla but that might be as far as our thoughts in common and that's fine with me and Blue knows it and I hope the others do as well. We can share a difference of opinion and that's the fun in all of this.

Thanks for your input as well, Jeyla. It's always nice to see what other people think about these things. I always enjoy your perspective. I also respect and value all of the thoughts and opinions that are brought forth here. It's what keeps things interesting...

Excellent. Let me know when you guys get your copy either here or in Beya and we can start the discussions then. I think the chapters are very small actually, but the version online was the rough draft, so I'll have to get my own copy as well.

Will do.

[Everlovin]

Is anyone out there more spacially aware than I am? I'm trying to guestimate how high up this...



balcony is for a fic I'm writing for Jeyla. Generally speaking. 100 feet? 500 feet? I really can't tell.