I posted this idea in the ‘More Sam’ thread in Season 4, but it belongs in MC.
In MC there is no mention of either Carter allowing the Wraith to leave Atlantis or Landry allowing him to come to Earth. It is obvious, to me, considering the effort needed on both ends to maintain security, that both leaders participated in the decision. Their omission is purposeful. Showing or mentioning either of the leaders would have diminished the impact of Sheppard’s actions in MC. He appears to act alone, on his own authority. I think that was the point.
Looking closely at the number of people involved, from the crowd of SGC guards in the gateroom when the Wraith comes through the gate to the SGC guards in the room where Wallace is killed and in the observation room looking into it, it seems apparent that Sheppard, actually, was acting with the authority of his superiors. His being back on Atlantis further strengthens this view.
The Hot Zone is similar to MC in that it leaves an impression with the viewer (intended, I think) that is not true under closer scrutiny. It is the episode that is always pointed at as the time Sheppard disobeyed Weir’s orders. He did disobey her orders, of course, but what he actually did was take control of a dangerous situation that Weir was mishandling. His actions were necessary.
These two episodes are interesting because they both give Sheppard an aura of willfulness/lawlessness/defiance/cockiness/disregard of authority or principles (can’t think of the right word), but underneath they maintain his integrity. Sheppard is not guiltless in either episode, there is just more there then is initially apparent.
Sheppard stays the good guy when you look closely. His honor, though tarnished, is maintained as it should be for the hero in a continuing series. The viewer gets the thrill of the first impression and the episode continues to be interesting on continued viewings as the details reveal themselves.
I like the presentation. Effective writing, I think.
In MC there is no mention of either Carter allowing the Wraith to leave Atlantis or Landry allowing him to come to Earth. It is obvious, to me, considering the effort needed on both ends to maintain security, that both leaders participated in the decision. Their omission is purposeful. Showing or mentioning either of the leaders would have diminished the impact of Sheppard’s actions in MC. He appears to act alone, on his own authority. I think that was the point.
Looking closely at the number of people involved, from the crowd of SGC guards in the gateroom when the Wraith comes through the gate to the SGC guards in the room where Wallace is killed and in the observation room looking into it, it seems apparent that Sheppard, actually, was acting with the authority of his superiors. His being back on Atlantis further strengthens this view.
The Hot Zone is similar to MC in that it leaves an impression with the viewer (intended, I think) that is not true under closer scrutiny. It is the episode that is always pointed at as the time Sheppard disobeyed Weir’s orders. He did disobey her orders, of course, but what he actually did was take control of a dangerous situation that Weir was mishandling. His actions were necessary.
These two episodes are interesting because they both give Sheppard an aura of willfulness/lawlessness/defiance/cockiness/disregard of authority or principles (can’t think of the right word), but underneath they maintain his integrity. Sheppard is not guiltless in either episode, there is just more there then is initially apparent.
Sheppard stays the good guy when you look closely. His honor, though tarnished, is maintained as it should be for the hero in a continuing series. The viewer gets the thrill of the first impression and the episode continues to be interesting on continued viewings as the details reveal themselves.
I like the presentation. Effective writing, I think.
you are right. Report or no report, there's a video record of what happened in the lab.
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