Duet (204)

[Callie]

Maybe I'm just smarter than the Wraith, but if I saw the Atlantis crew charging around on another planet, I'd not automatically say, "Hey, they suckered us into believing they destroyed the city!" I'd say, "See, I told you they evacuated the city before they destroyed it, and they're now living on another planet."

Ahem. If I was talking to myself in my Dart, you understand.

[Standback]

Neh and neh and neh.

SGA was doing so well this season. And then they take a break.

"Duet" was funny, sure. But it wasn't much more than that. The entire setup was so utterly contrived, I was cringing the entire episode. Then I'd laugh at a funny line. Then, back to cringing.

The bit when Cadman was going "Listen, McKay, you've got to let me help you on your date! Maybe that's why all this happened!", I was going, "DUH."

The episode starts out with setting up A) McKay's got a date, and B) Cadman's in his head. Could they not have come up with anything less obvious or interesting than "McKay proceeds with date with Cadman in his head; hilarity ensues, then everything's back to normal"? Anything?

I've seen the concept done better on Star Trek Voyager (don't remember the ep - "Flesh and Blood" I think, but I'm not sure, with the Doctor and Seven). But here... "Oh, yes, the Wraith transporter just happens to accidentally merge your minds." That must be one of the most ridiculous and implausible Transporter Mishaps *ever*, and we're not even watching Trek! Bah.

But the ending was what set me against this episode completely and utterly. "Oh no! The episode's almost over! Better raise the tension with IMMANENT DEATH. Okay, now let's solve everything with a magical Stargate crystal! All better!" This episode had some of the very worst cliches of a bad Star Trek episode, when I'd already watched a good Star Trek episode that did the good stuff better.

Cadman: When a brilliant scientist is trying to save your life, shut up and let him work.
David Hewlett: While I think you're a wonderful actor, and I know that many fans disagree with the statement I'm about to make, the feeling that I got when you were playing Cadman-taking-over was "stand-up comedian making fun of gay people." Ouch.
McKay's Date: If I were you, I would have slapped him SO HARD. He deserves it. Go ahead, slap him now, and then give Cadman a good hard one too. Better late than never.

In conclusion, I'll repeat that I found this a very funny episode. Many many great moments, and very fine acting from DH when he was playing himself. As a whole, though, I thought this was a painfully poor episode, its flaws overshadowing its good points. Thumbs down.

[not so ancient]

Ok then I admit that "colonel" is easier and less ridiculous to pronounce on a show than "lieutenant colonel"

Lieutenant Colonels are supposed to be referred to verbally as "Colonel" although if written out, or used in a formal address, it is Lieutenant Colonel.

And, to clarify, your previous comment about Sheppard's promotion being 'criminal' - is that another crappy snark about Weir's 'nepotism' - that has been completely debunked? Or are you calling Sheppard a criminal? If so, on what basis?

[Lida]

I like 'Major Sheppard' better then 'Colonel Sheppard'... Major just sounds right.....

If you don't like calling him Colonel Sheppard, just call him Shep. I'm certain he won't mind.

[not so ancient]

If you don't like calling him Colonel Sheppard, just call him Shep. I'm certain he won't mind.

It's a pity his first name doesn't get used more, but in context, it really can't be the way he's addressed very often. "John" is a nice, clean, strong name and fits him well.

Joe just looks like a John.

Wait, that comes out wrong.

[Osiris-RA]

No one "got used" to Carter being a Lt. Colonel (though saying Colonel Carter is a bit pesky to the tounge. ) Major Carter just kinda slips and slides, rolllllllls off the tounge.

[Osiris-RA]

Joe just looks like a John.

Wait, that comes out wrong.

ROFL!!

[not so ancient]

did you ever think they might just not wanted to re-take the shot?
i think: the editers saw it but they did not think it was a big deal....

If they took separate shots of Torri and Jason for that scene, as well as a master shot, they could have easily cut to a shot of Jason's face while Torri said that line, and had Torri loop in the "Colonel" to cover the flub.

It's just not that big a deal. It's the kind of thing Weir could have flubbed on - Rodney had, probably others had too.

[Easter Lily]

It's a pity his first name doesn't get used more, but in context, it really can't be the way he's addressed very often. "John" is a nice, clean, strong name and fits him well.

Joe just looks like a John.

Wait, that comes out wrong.

There's another one down the toilet...
Sorry couldn't resist...
I call him Sheppard... As much as I love him, somehow I don't feel I know him well enough to call him John...He's still too much of an enigma. But McKay, I call Rodney... the man's an open book and a child at heart.

[Easter Lily]

And, to clarify, your previous comment about Sheppard's promotion being 'criminal' - is that another crappy snark about Weir's 'nepotism' - that has been completely debunked? Or are you calling Sheppard a criminal? If so, on what basis?

It's a bee in his offended-by-cowslick bonnet... I wouldn't worry about it...

[not so ancient]

David Hewlett: While I think you're a wonderful actor, and I know that many fans disagree with the statement I'm about to make, the feeling that I got when you were playing Cadman-taking-over was "stand-up comedian making fun of gay people." Ouch.

Let me understand your statement here:

You're accusing David Hewlett of 'making fun of gays', or being anti-gay, because of the way he portrayed Cadman taking over his body?

Wow. That's just..... wow.

I don't know whether to start with the appalling lack of reasoning, or the uncalled-for, untruthful viciousness of that statement.

I think I'll go for the third option and simply shove this comment, and the person who made it, into the ever-growing garbage heap of hate I've encountered on Gateworld.

[Buzz Lightyear]

Yes they are. Just as 1st and 2nd Lieutenants are called Lieutenant.

I also think that the major slip by Weir was just habit. Just like it takes some people time to start writing the correct year after Jan 1. Eventually everyone will come around.

I would accept the "slip out of habit" reason except that Weir was the one who got Sheppard his promotion and she doesn't seem like a character who forgets details like that.

To the other poster regarding addressing Lt-Colonel as simply "Colonel", it's also the case with General. Brigadier-General (1 star), Major-General (2 stars), Lt-General (3 stars) and General (4 stars) are all addressed by subordinates as simply "General" in day-to-day conversations. Same thing with Rear-Admiral, Vice-Admiral and Admiral in the navy.

[iLemon]

Cadman: When a brilliant scientist is trying to save your life, shut up and let him work.

People like her dont like being ignored. I probably would have done the same in her position and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

David Hewlett: While I think you're a wonderful actor, and I know that many fans disagree with the statement I'm about to make, the feeling that I got when you were playing Cadman-taking-over was "stand-up comedian making fun of gay people." Ouch.

In what way was he doing that? I never got that impression. This episode had nothing to do with gay people. He was simply copying the way Cadman moves about

McKay's Date: If I were you, I would have slapped him SO HARD. He deserves it. Go ahead, slap him now, and then give Cadman a good hard one too. Better late than never.

Incase you didnt notice, McKay's date wasnt the type of person who would do that, she's way to soft to even consider slapping him! And I dont think she knows about Cadman being inside McKay either, she didnt look like she did.

[ShadowMaat]

I have seen men act far, far worse when they're trying to impersonate women. Michael Shanks in Foothold springs to mind. LOL!

I thought Hewlett was dead-on. There was enough flair there for us to notice it and I think that a lot of that flair had to do with Cadman taking full, evil advantage of McKay and trying to make him look a bit silly. Plus, if you suddenly found yourself trapped in the body of someone of the opposite gender, wouldn't you feel the need to overcompensate just a bit to reaffirm your OWN gender? Maybe even to reassure yourself? I think I would, anyway.

[Easter Lily]

Yeah... imagine trying to control someone else's body (someone for whom physical activity is not exactly a priority)... I have difficulty as it is with my own.

Aside: I didn't realise that I actually put my hands on my hips that much until I saw Cadman-Rodney do it in Duet...