Originally posted by Blackhole
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That said, I absolutely LOVED seeing Young lose it in this episode. I agree with you that he was livid and hysterical when he returned to confront the scientists about the power outage - it was the kind of emoting I would expect (and hope to see) from someone who just lost somebody under his command and who isn't the perfect robot soldiers that the military expects them to be. Comparing his reaction to past Stargate commanders just exemplifies the whole "these characters are flawed" theme of the show.
IMHO everything Young has ever done on the ship, besides the Stranding-Rush debacle, has been based on his mindset that everyone under his command and protection must be saved. This includes his not wanting to immediately vent the gateroom, this includes the multiple times he tried to sacrifice himself in place of someone "less important", this includes the events of "Water" when he wouldn't let Scott go, this includes the overprotectiveness of TJ, etc. etc. I am just loving how consistent he is. It might not be that rational, and it might not be what a proper military commander should do, but it makes him so very Human and I love him for it.
I don't want Young replaced. I want him to step down by his own accord. That would be character development. Ever since that outburst I've been thinking of a scenerio where he finally reflects over everything that he's done over the first season (and whatever happens at the beginning of season 2), and reiterates to himself what he and TJ talked about in "Space" - that he let all those people who died under his command down. I want him to realize for himself that he has made mistakes, and that perhaps he is not fit to command - at least, not for the time being. I want him to beat himself up emotionally/psychologically, maybe making his actions seem even worse than how they really are. I think it's fascinating to see someone (fictional) basically spiral into depression because they think they deserve that emotional punishment when they actually don't, or at least not to that extent.
It'd be cool, I think, for him to have this revelation when he's staring at Rivers's bloodstains on the gateroom floor. That is one piece of set dec that needs to remain. Blood has been shed there, and it ain't easy to clean off, if you know what I mean.
I also think it'd be cool if, when he reveals to Scott, Greer, Telford, etc. that he's stepping down, they'll give reasons why he shouldn't. Clearly there are reasons since there are plenty here who defend Young on a regular basis (me included).
As for who should replace him - I vote for Telford. I thought he was great in Incursion I and II. As someone had said, he has great presence, and he certainly handled himself just fine while pretending to still be loyal to Kiva. Sure, his plan eventually backfired, but desperate times and all that. Besides, it'd be interesting to see a scene where Young gives command over to Telford, since those two seemed to have been friends before the brainwashing; it'd be a good chance for bromance banter.
I...really want to write for this show. There is so much emotional baggage to claim.
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