(no subject)

[ebonlock]

So previously my favorite episode in the series had always been "The Tao of Rodney", it was a beautiful character piece that gave the one character in the series most in need of a cosmic bitch-slapping just what he needed to start to become a better person. Yeah there was the requisite sci-fi element with the Ancient tech, but ultimately the show slowed down, took its time, and let a character (and those around him) develop. You knew he was never going to be quite the same again and that, as far as I'm concerned, is the very essence of a good story.

Mind you I have nothing against big alien battles and exploding things, but I need a bit more than that to stay hooked on a show. More often than not SGA has spent far too much time and energy doing the big splashy stuff in a weird attempt to keep the lowest common denominator of the fandom tuning in. I can shrug those episodes off at worst, or find something to really enjoy about them if there's at least a lovely little character moment or two. Indeed I adored "Ghost in the Machine" mostly because of the opening sequence and the banter between the team. Ok, also the amazing Woolsey stuff, and yeah favorite SGA commander EVAH! No question about that.

So I've established what I like in an episode, this is why "The Shrine" has become my new favorite episode.

Setting aside the title, which, is about the laziest excuse for one I've ever seen. I mean seriously, my teenage niece could come up with a better title, and this was an episode that deserved something brilliant rather than descriptive. But yeah, we're setting that aside.

The narrative format was brilliant right off the bat. We're introduced to Rodney's plight not in a linear manner, but through a series of video taped recordings showing his slow descent into mental oblivion. Jeannie, his adorable sister, basically arrives on Atlantis just in time to say goodbye to her dying brother and his story is revealed to her (and us) through the video recordings and the memories of the other characters.

Now see this is another level of the brilliance, that a story one would've thought would center around Rodney (after all, he's the victim of the hideous brain parasite) in actuality it isn't really about him at all. Unlike "The Tao of Rodney", McKay isn't the central focus, rather it's the ripple effect his illness has on everyone around him. After a certain point he's incapable of understanding his own plight (though the moment when he's still there enough to comprehend that he should no longer be referred to as "doctor" because "doctors are smart" is just devastatingly brutal) and it's the reactions of his friends and family that move the story along.

I loved Ronon's steadfast loyalty and his insistence that they take Rodney to the shrine he'd taken his grandfather to so he could "die with dignity". I loved that he was the one to comfort Jeannie and to go to her when his suggestions hit a brick wall with everyone else. I enjoyed Teyla going into comforting mom mode with Rodney, keeping an arm around him, her voice soft and encouraging, it just read right. I loved that Jennifer was actually considering what Rodney himself would want and trying to stick to her guns even if it meant shooting down everyone else's hope. She showed herself to be a fierce opponent, a driven doctor, and a committed friend. Also the fact that she was a complete girl about the video recording where he admitted his feelings for her made me absolutely adore her. That read as genuine (hell I defy any female reading this to deny that she hasn't at least once kept an email, a phone message, whatever from a significant other to watch/listen to over and over again), and the episode kind of made me a little more comfortable with the inevitable Rodney/Jennifer hook up.

However, it was John that blew me away entirely. I mean in Tao he'd been so standoffish, so unwilling to help at first that he'd kind of annoyed me a little. He'd practically had to be dragged into assisting Rodney and he'd remained at a distance throughout. Yeah the bedroom scene was nice at the end, but there was still this stiff, uncomfortable feel to it. Now compare and contrast that to the bedroom scene in this one. Rodney runs through the halls in the middle of the night terrified and who does he go to? John, of course. Sheppard bolts out of bed (and dude, panda pj's, OMG) and is immediately there, holding his friend, comforting him, reassuring him until he calms down. Rodney's abandonment issues are laid bare, after which he apologizes profusely and is embarrassed as hell. John handles the situation with surprising consideration and empathy, taking his best friend out on the pier for beers. It's an incredibly moving sequence that, again, reads utterly true because both characters maintain the smartass banter that's been a fundamental element of their relationship from the beginning. Indeed Rodney's, "You're a good friend, Arthur." and John's spittake may go down as my all-time favorite moment in the entire series.

But beyond that when Rodney is at his lowest point and John enters the infirmary he lights up like a little kid on Christmas. Yeah we're meant to believe he's all in love with Jennifer (and anyone shocked by that revelation please raise your hand), but he doesn't grin like that when she's around. I'm not sure if it was an intentional nod to the slash fans out there, but it certainly came off as one.

I'm really glad we got a little Woolsey mixed in as well, and it was an utterly touching and humanizing moment as he related his own dad's demise from Alzheimer's. I'm seriously not sure I can possibly love this character more.

Each and every character got a moment to show how the events were effecting them, to be changed by his plight on a profound level. And frankly the changes in John were the most moving to me, his emotional development in the span of a single episode (set over the course of a few weeks) was more than we'd previously seen in several years. I am, in short, in awe.

As for Rodney, well hat's off to David for some fine acting choices in this one. I especially liked the subtle work he did while recovering in the infirmary after the initial illness. Rodney's personality and mind were already being effected and it was perfectly easy to see why the other characters would've easily overlooked the signs until it was too late. When he wakes up and is utterly laid back about the situation and even joking around. Of course the viewer's red flags are waving wildly, Rodney's never so relaxed and charming. It's one of the things I like most about the character, he's all sharp edges and sharper words. And the scene where he openly flirts with Jennifer and offers her his fruit cup actually made me gasp aloud. Rodney never willingly shares his food, it's just not done.

The video recordings that demonstrate Rodney's deterioration are brief and all the more heartbreaking because of it. His nearly silent mouthing of what bits he can remember of Pi actually caused me to physically ache for him. To see him bereft of everything is just devastating, and to understand that it came about under the most mundane of circumstances made it even more real and painful.

I will say that the end of the episode left a bit to be desired. It was a little too neat and tidy for my taste, and I have this silly, vain hope that some sorts of physical damage to the characters might actually last more than 40 minutes or so. Indeed it would make me really, really happy if someone got hurt and stayed hurt for a few episodes, but I know that's asking a lot. Still, aside from that the rest of the episode more than made up for it.

Excellent, excellent episode and one that was well worth waiting the last four seasons for. More like this, please?

Comments

[moonlightnrain.livejournal.com]

I couldn't have said it better myself.

But you so cannot have my TV girlfriend. You have plenty of your own, thank you very much. =P

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

Note that I barely mentioned her here for fear of setting off your rampant jealousy ;)

[moonlightnrain.livejournal.com]

I'm just saying, you have a whole harem of TV girlfriends and I have, what, 3? If that....

[slian-martreb.livejournal.com]

I actually always feel that the episodes in which Rodney almost dies (Tao of Rodney; Grace Under Pressure) are always the best episodes because David Hewlett is just genius when faced with slow death (vs when faced with 'things are blowing up; ohgodohgodwe'reallgonnadie') in which he can't save himself.

The end was so anticlimactic. Of course they would find a way for Keller to not have to perform brain surgery in a cave.

I am still quite undecided about this Rodney/Keller thing and the Ronon/Keller thing. I honestly don't know which one horrifies me more.

PANDA PAJAMAS!!!!!1!!11!

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

I have heard that there's supposed to be a bit of a triangle between the three characters. Personally I thought a lot of the dialog between Ronon and Keller in this one kind of made it seem like they'd already had something of an ugly breakup.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

If I hadn't seen your post earlier, I wouldn't have realized that the episode had finally aired and known to *lowers voice* download it. However, I've just finished watching it and I was really blown away. You basically covered everything I loved about "The Shrine" in your review. Oh, and like you, I thought the end was wrapped up a little too neatly. I'm also torn about McKay's video revelation. I can buy that McKay has been developing feelings for Keller (as much as I dislike the idea), but I'm having trouble accepting that it's love. It seems too soon and too sudden, especially considering that he broke up with Katie not all that long ago. Okay, I realize that love can hit people quickly, but I feel like this is another instance of telling instead of showing. At least McKay made this confession during his illness. It would have seemed totally out of character otherwise.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

What's interesting about the revelation is that for all we (and Keller) knows it could have simply been a part of the mind-fuckery caused by the parasite. But I think ultimately that Rodney is the kind of guy who can fall in love at the drop of a hat, or at least crush on others pretty hard and assume that's love. To be honest I don't think he's ever really been in love in his life...or to be even more honest, I think he's only ever really loved John but he can't admit that to himself...sadly.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

You do bring up a good point. Rodney does seem like the kind of guy who can fall in love (or develop a crush) at the drop of a hat. Still, I think the episode does a better job of supporting your theory of Rodney being in love with John and not being able to admit it to himself. Even at the worse stages of the parasite mind-fuckery, it was John he called for. When Rodney got really scared, he ran to find John. We don't ever see him seeking out Keller, though I did find it interesting that she was the only one to predict what Rodney's reaction would be when they reached the shrine.

Well, we'll have to see what happens in further episodes. Maybe I'll find it easier to buy into the whole McKay/Keller relationship once we see where the writers go with it.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

I just wish the writers had the balls to have something develop between John and Rodney. I mean Torchwood has proven that you can do sci-fi tv with gay lead characters and get decent ratings while delighting the fanbase.

On the other hand I have come to the conclusion that Woolsey is gay (though whether he's out of the closet is questionable), which makes me love him even more than I already did :)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I wish the writers of SGA had the balls to develop something between John and Rodney too. Maybe I'm biased due to my love of McShep, but any het relationship involving either of those two always seems forced to me. I honestly think John and Rodney have more passion for each other than anyone else on the show.

I have to admit that I didn't really feel strongly one way or the other about Woolsey when the season started, but he's definitely been growing on me. I hadn't really considered his sexuality, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he were gay - and not just because his idea of relaxing is wearing a suit, listening to classical music and drinking wine. *g*

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

And did you see the picture of the little dog in his office?

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

No, I didn't! I'll have to go back and look for that. I'm assuming that's the dog he mentioned earlier in the season. At least, I seem to remember him mentioning a dog. Sometimes I confuse canon with fanon. *g*

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

I believe he did mention it, and you can see it quite clearly during the scene where he's talking about his dad. Little white terrier unless I am much mistaken.

[baranyandi.livejournal.com]

"Rodney's, "You're a good friend, Arthur." and John's spittake may go down as my all-time favorite moment in the entire series."

Mine too. That is just pure gold :)

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

If I hadn't been planning to buy season 5 before that would've sealed it :)