Runner (203)

[Lord You]

Good episode. I think the writer spends too much time reading Gateworld tho! ;-) Did anyone else think the fight between SuperFord and Jason Momoa was actually for their spot on Atlantis rather than who got to kill McKay? :-))

Good: The later stuff with McKay and his interaction with Ford was great! I also liked the concept of the planet and the way Jason's character was written. Almost everyone had something to contribute to the episode and the dialog was inspired without sounding fake. It was also nice to see Ford try that flying armbar again (if I saw correctly), and nicer to see Jason Momoa escape it! That's one tough cookie; I wonder if he was genetically altered by the Wraith.

Bad: McKay at the beginning was a little over-the-top with the whole SPF 1000 thing, and he really should have been a tad more enthusiastic to go after Ford. There's a fine line that I think the writers went beyond. I also didn't really like knife fighting. It just seemed too rehearsed and matrix-like. Finally, you never try to shoot the leg or the arm; chances are you'll miss! It would have been more realistic for Sheppard to shoot Ford with either the Wraith stunner he left with his fight with Jason or Jason's weapon (and have no effect).

All in all, my favorite of the season! My rankings:

Runner
Intruder
The Siege Part Three

[asher_cross]

I liked Runner; it wasn't perfect, but it was better than The Intruder, which I didn't like that much at all.

PROS:

- Ford storyline is getting better and better. Maybe it's just the better material they're giving him, but RSF is stretching and bettering himself as an actor. (EDIT: Did I mention it was better?)

- the action was good in this one, from Ronon's effortless gun-twirling in his half-fight with Shep to his knife-fight with Ford, it was very cool to watch.

- I'm warming to Ronon; he could be an interesting character. Noticed how all the other characters seemed extremely clean-cut compared to him.

CONS:

- I'm typically a huge Rodney fan, and he's my favorite character. But why, why why make him so ungodly whiny? Sure he was whiny before, but at least it was humorous, and he was using it to be condescending and make a point to the others; now he's just doing it to feed his own sudden case of hypochondria. He had some good moments with Ford though.

- I am looking forward to Ronon, only as long as he gets rid of that monotone "tough guy" voice. At least put some inflection into it, Momoa.

- Caldwell, like the poster said above, is a jerk. It just seems like he's there to diss Shep. Weir as always never gets a lot of screen time, and Carson at least got to go out into the field, but it would be nice to see him be part of the offworld team.

Welp, those are my thoughts, likely already repeated a dozen times before I said them, but there they are.

[Hyperspace]

I also didn't really like knife fighting. It just seemed too rehearsed and matrix-like.

I felt that too. It seemed that Ford would shoot his hand out, and Ronan would match it, as if it was all expected.

I wonder if there was any tension there between the actors? After all, the replacement is fighting the original.

Ford's character has received a much-needed infusion of 'interestingness' which IMO could allow him to return to the cast as a full-fledged member...in S3 hopefully.

Edit: oh BTW, is Mitch Pileggi's character a replacement for the Sgt. Bates? We haven't seen Bates since "Siege, pt 1" and I'd like to see him back as the 'overly protective' military guy.

[warmbeachbrat]

Good grief! What's up with Teyla this season? She does NOT seem to be the competent, interesting, well-rounded character that she was last season. She was a vital part to Atlantis last season. She was a liason between Atlantis and the various peoples that they met; she was a skilled fighter and very few got the better of her; she had depth and strength that I just haven't seen this season.

Oh well, other than that, I really enjoyed the episode. What they've done with Ford's character was great and I also find Ronon's character interesting. I thought Shep and Caldwell's interaction was great. I've been waiting for Caldwell's character to make an impact, and I think he really did that tonight. All of the supporting players were great, also. Although, I've got to agree with most of the others that Rodney was a bit over the top.

If I had to rate the episodes so far (out of 10 points), I think I'd give Siege, part 3 a 10; Intruder an 8, and Runner a 7.

[CYBEREAGLE19]

great episode overall, loved seeing ford again, still havent mentioned if theay got that PJ jumper back that ford took, also didnt like how beckets scanner was vert star trek next gen with its lil hand sensor, and I'm so sick of them always bringing up colonol sumer, hes dead get over it

[bravesmom63]

I enjoyed this ep.

I agree with those of you who say that TPTB are writing McKay a bit too goofy and whiny. They need to tone it down-he's experienced a lot in the past year and SOME of that should show, don'tcha think?

I liked the way Ford was written. I think someone used the phrase "happy puppy" or something to describe his initial interaction with McKay. The mood swings that followed were a good way to show how messed up he is. RSF did an awesome job. I hope to see him again SOON.

LOL at Shep's "What the hell are you doing?" and the look on his face when Teyla was trying to get her hands untied. I like the bits of humor they drop in even in tense situations. That's one of the reasons I like both shows.

Next week-the Kissing Bandit ep. I can't wait.

[Hatcheter]

I rewatched the second-half of the episode on the second Skiffy broadcast, and noticed something I had previously missed when Rodney shot Ford: Ford was raising his gun toward McKay! Rodney was just reacting automatically to defend himself. Not surprisingly, he lost all nerve after that, and took off running. Which is good, I'm not sure I'd really enjoy the character arc that would result if Rodney was forced to kill a friend, no matter how interesting the story might be. Leave that burden to Sheppard.

[derrickh]

I think Teyla was a battered wife/girlfriend before she joined up with Atlantis. (which would explain why she was so quick to want to get away from her people).

Why? Check it out. Here comes big strong Ronan Dax. He shoots her in the back. Ties her up. Spends 95% of his time with her pointing a gun at her head. But there's like 20 seconds when he opens up and tells a sad story about not being able to settle down. Awwww.

So Teyla spends the whole time giving him 'I'm hot for you' looks and is quick to obey when he tells her to rip off his shirt. The woman has issues. She should be feeling a lot of things toward Ronan. Fear, distrust, defensiveness, etc, but pity and lust shouldn't be on the list.

D

[Lord You]

That is probably the worst idea I have ever read. Sorry. :-/

[Carbito]

Brilliant episode, this Dex character is certainly going to be very interesting. What race was Ronan Dex from because they certainly seem to have some slightly more advanced technology and I'm sure there would be at least a few survivors left.

[woodsie22]

Perhaps its because I'm fairer skinned than even McKay, but I really liked the whole SPF and sunblock stuff. And his running list of radiation exposure amused me, because I remember reading (I think in the Intruder thread) someone here saying that the team should all get cancer from all the radiation exposure.

The whining, meanwhile, I thought was merited. Rodney really had no reason to be on this particular mission, other than yelling for Ford. I mean, I'm a huge DH fan & I liked his part, but realistically, there's really no reason for non-military to track down Ford here. In fact, that's why I was originally wondering if he'd be in the episode much.

[Blue007]

Yes, me again...LOL.. Could some of you that enjoyed Ronon Dex/Momoa post somethings on his Ronon Dex/Momoa threads. That would be so great if you would thanks a bunch.
A great weekend to all!!

[Hyperspace]

I think Teyla was a battered wife/girlfriend before she joined up with Atlantis. (which would explain why she was so quick to want to get away from her people).

Why? Check it out. Here comes big strong Ronan Dax. He shoots her in the back. Ties her up. Spends 95% of his time with her pointing a gun at her head. But there's like 20 seconds when he opens up and tells a sad story about not being able to settle down. Awwww.

So Teyla spends the whole time giving him 'I'm hot for you' looks and is quick to obey when he tells her to rip off his shirt. The woman has issues. She should be feeling a lot of things toward Ronan. Fear, distrust, defensiveness, etc, but pity and lust shouldn't be on the list.

D

I don't think Teyla has battered woman's syndrome, but I do think that the way Teyla has been written (weakly) allows interpretations of her in such a manner, particularly if she ends up romantically involved with Ronan.

[morjana]

Stargate Atlantis' "The Runner" introduced the series' new character, Ronon Dex (Jason Momoa), and we got to see Aiden Ford again. I thought Rainbow Sun Francks did an excellent job portraying Ford going through a metamorphosis from the sweet young man he was into the super Wraith killing machine he's becoming. It was interesting to see him swiftly transform from his intense SuperFord persona to his joyful, eager Lt. Ford persona. He was so happy to hear that Sheppard had been promoted to Lt. Colonel.

And so terrific to see how sincere and earnest Sheppard is with Ronon
Dex, and in his efforts to try and save Ford. Joe really has his
character firmly defined, and he's working on the nuances now. Good
work, Joe.

Very nice to see Major Lorne, last seen in SG1's season seven episode, "Enemy Mine." And the actor behind SG1's SuperSoldier, Dan Payne, portrayed Lt. Reed in tonight's episode. What a cutie! Hope we get to see both of them again in SGA.

So...what is Ford going to do now that he's been scooped up by the Wraith? What is Atlantis going to do? Is Teyla going to fall for the charms of Ronon Dex? What is about Ronon Dex that caused the Wraith to stop feeding from him? Is his race going to turn out to be like Aris Boch's people -- the Wraith can't feed off of them, like the Goa'uld couldn't process Aris' people?


Morjana

[Hatcheter]

And in an intersting production note, the cave Ronan was hiding in was the same cave set as was used in SG-1's 'Avalon' for Glastonbury Tor(?). IMO, they did a great job re-dressing the set to make it look entirely different. Rocks and gravel and plants replaced the smooth sandy floors, along with "sunlight" giving a completely different feel to the environment.

Hopefully they'll pull off reusing the standing village set just as well. It was pretty easy to see the recycling of the castle/temple/ruins set last season between the two shows.

[Krissy Mae Anderson]

This ep finally DID cross the line with Rodney. I found it amusing in SIEGE and even INTRUDER. The moments were brief. But Rodney's characterization was all over the map. So far his only recognizable moments this ep were the brief interactions with Shep and a few of his moments with Ford. I am HOPING, and I'm not even a Rodney fan, that TPTB are setting up that Rodney is having a REACTION TO CERTAIN DEATH situations. Post traumatic stress type reactions that they actually acknowlege on the show at some point. Soon.

I'm starting to feel like I am the only person who is more annoyed with people not liking Rodney's characterization than with the characterization itself. (Not directed at specifically you, Merlin7, but just in general... I understand their reasons for not liking it, and I know they are valid, but I am just starting to feel like this is taking all the fun out of the series for me.) After I watched this eppy, I've gotten to thinking if Rodney's got the same thing as I have, namely thanatophobia, fear of death, which seems to manifest as extreme anxiety. I've never really had it in a public place, but when I do get thanatophobic at home, I can barely keep things in my hands, hit the wrong keys on the computer, babble, can't breathe, and just generally freak out and act somewhat hysterical. Anyways, this is my 2 cents, which is probably wrong anyways...

[LoveYouBaby]

In my view, I thought this episode was alright. It's not the best, sorta stuck between OK and good.

So we get to see Ford again, he looks rather cool, an one man army - go FORD!

But seriously, I thought this episode was kinda weak overall. It's nice that we get a new replacement, Ronan, but I doubt he wants to be Sheppard's new "buddy" aka "side-kick" in the adventures to be had on Stargate Atlantis, and I don't see him letting go off his past and struggles at a click of a switch.

The man's been on the run for 7 years, if the writers make him all goodie in one episode, I'll be on a killing-spree myself. I find McKay gone from serious, to well a clown. This is not the McKay we knew in season 1, there's a difference between "is funny" and "trying to be funny".

Well it's not a bad episode I suppose but it could have been better.

I'll give this one... a 6.5 out of 10

[LORD MONK]

Loved It!!! Way better then I thought.

[Easter Lily]

So Runner has a double entendre... two men on the run... Ronon Dex and Lt Aiden Ford... One runs toward and the other runs away. Both have been touched by the Wraith. Interesting juxtaposition.

Ronon Dex is a Runner... the hunted turned hunter... Ford also a Runner becomes the hunter and the hunted... Both are homeless to some degree. Dex was on the run... no place to call home... The place he once called home is no more. Ford, on the other hand, has abandoned the home he once knew because he is not the man he once was. The former accepts the help of strangers and the latter rejects the help of those he once called "friends".

There's a lot of running in the episode. Extensive amounts of vegetation gives the impression of great distances that must be covered. But there is a lot of movement... on legs... of individuals hiding, searching, hunting, fighting and confronting.

Friendship and trust are the key ideas in the episodes. Does friendship lead to trust or does trust lead to an uneasy alliance?

Surrounding these two men are others who will determine their fate... will they help or hinder? Some show their fear plainly (Caldwell, McKay and Beckett), while others fear for them (Sheppard and Teyla). The two men have an encounter at the end... at which their places are changed... for now...

An interesting episode (with a better than expected introduction of Dex and an all too brief reunion with Ford)... with Stargate trying new things... not sure if it succeeds on every level but I applaud them for taking the plunge.

[Merlin7]

I'm starting to feel like I am the only person who is more annoyed with people not liking Rodney's characterization than with the characterization itself. (Not directed at specifically you, Merlin7, but just in general... I understand their reasons for not liking it, and I know they are valid, but I am just starting to feel like this is taking all the fun out of the series for me.) After I watched this eppy, I've gotten to thinking if Rodney's got the same thing as I have, namely thanatophobia, fear of death, which seems to manifest as extreme anxiety. I've never really had it in a public place, but when I do get thanatophobic at home, I can barely keep things in my hands, hit the wrong keys on the computer, babble, can't breathe, and just generally freak out and act somewhat hysterical. Anyways, this is my 2 cents, which is probably wrong anyways...

IF it's a phobia and they address it on the show. Not a problem. But he's faced Death over and over last year and didn't react like this. I understood and it was in character for Rodney not to want to be there. For him to complain about alot of stuff. But this was just too much and too OOC from what I saw last year. It takes alot to make me cringe and I'm not a big Rodney fan and have always liked him best at his most acerbic. I loved him on SG1 being a total A$$. Loved it. But this was different. If there's a reason for it. Cool. If it's just for comedy. Not as cool.

I mean..I thought it was totally realistic for him to eject the gun clip in SIEGE and to make himself small in INTRUDER. And there were quite a few moments in RUNNER that were realistic for him. To a point.