Stargate Atlantis: Mulling over John Sheppard, Sheppard/Weir
Last post. I was laughing at one comment I received totally out of the blue once which was along the lines of: "I'm going to add you to my friends list" then literally five seconds later: "I've changed my mind. You post too much." *choke*
I just got an sms from my friend Julian who's working in Shanghai right now. I really have no recollection of the sms I sent him, but his message to me goes:
"Glad you enjoyed Hong Kong. I have just bought Prison Break. I like how when you say you love Michael Scofield you refer to his onscreen character :)"
*choke* I must have written something fairly emphatic. It might have even been something like: "Watch Prison Break otherwise we can't be friends anymore." *laugh* I browbeat him into watching Smallville and then lost interest after season 1 when he remained steadfast. I hope Prison Break is no more than 3 seasons. I think I lack the ability to love a show for more than 3 seasons.
At which point, I remember that this post is actually about Stargate Atlantis - which is in its third season ...oooOOoooOOooo. Meep.
Recently, I mentioned that autumn_whispers had written a gorgeous little fic called Defying Gravity which was in relation to a Sheppard / Novak prompt. I've said before how much I love this story.
One of her initial difficulties was overcoming her dislike of Sheppard as a character. I think she's coming along very nicely. Hee! It made me start to ponder things as well.
I've liked Sheppard from the start. Of course the first assumption is that it's because he's 'cute.' That certainly doesn't hurt, but given that being good-looking is almost a pre-condition for a large number of television characters, it's pretty safe to say that there will need to be more than just mere cuteness to distinguish a character from the Generic Legions of Pretty. Moreover, sometimes he reminds me of Alec Baldwin too much for my comfort and I don't like Alec Baldwin - but I do like John Sheppard.
In my Prison Break posts I've babbled on at length about how I like Michael Scofield's flawed 'hero' persona. John Sheppard is another flawed hero. I liked him from the time he comes walking into the Antartica base in the first episode. He looks clueless, he's almost bumbling in the way he sits down in the chair and can't figure out what's going on. Sure, I don't like his "STF", slightly over the top intense stares at the screen, but that's a minor quibble. He smirks, he seems to cavort with every single Alien Female (excluding Wraith Queens ;) around the Pegasus Galaxy and sometimes he's kind of mean to Rodney - but I still really like him. I list reasons but in no particular order.
Flawed Hero
The smirk and the cavorting aren't really what John Sheppard's all about. I think the real John Sheppard is the person we see with his team and with Elizabeth. He's not just your typical gung ho GI Joe hero. In the season 2 episode Condemned Ronon says: "I was beginning to think you were afraid to fight" and Sheppard says: "I'm just naturally lazy, but I will if I have to - and it's starting to look like we have to." He's not going to risk lives needlessly, he's cautious when he needs to be.
In Rising, when he steps through the Stargate for the first time, he is visibly nervous. Possibly scared - he even closes his eyes before he steps through and it's very endearing.
Broad-minded
I love the fact that he has never had a problem with the fact that Elizabeth (his boss) is a woman and also a civilian. Yes they have differences of opinion about tactics and approaches all the time (to rescue or not to rescue in Rising, the quarantine in Hot Zone) but this is because they have different opinions as people. It has nothing to do with gender politics or military/civilian politics.
This exchange in Rising made a deep impression on me at the time and still does. Colonel Sumner is voicing his disapproval to Sheppard.
Sumner: Let me make myself clear Major. You are not here by my choice.
Sheppard: I'm sure you'll warm up to me once you get to know me sir.
Sumner: As long as you remember who's giving the orders.
Sheppard: That would be Doctor Weir right?
Sheppard then gives a really, really, big smug smile and I want to hug him for it. It's true that one of his motivations for saying what he says is to aggravate Sumner, but it's also clear that he has absolutely no problem reporting to a civilian woman. I love that about him.
Thoughtful
In Before I sleep, John gives Elizabeth a present for her birthday and it's very heart-warming. It's actually a rather ugly pot and in the end she uses it to store the ashes of her former dead self which kind of takes the charm out of the gift somewhat, but I thought it was lovely that he wanted to get a gift for her. We don't see him giving gifts to anyone else, in fact we don't see anyone giving gifts to anyone, but for some reason John decides to give Elizabeth a present. He's not sucking up to her because that's not his style. He just bought her a gift because he wanted to do so.
Then at the end of the episode when she's alone and pensive on her balcony, they have a moment in which she needs some time alone and he gives her that time even though she's supposed to be attending a briefing. I really like the quiet moment that they have - which is why I wrote a really tiny tag called Comfort, just to extend the moment a little longer.
I suppose the only downside with the whole gift thing is that it's spawned countless fics where John's constantly giving Elizabeth birthday presents. He's lucky, for some reason fics about John/Elizabeth involve him giving beautiful gifts of touching sentiment.
I've now read at least three Ronon/Elizabeth fics where there has to be a reference somewhere to a thong - and I mean that in the women's string underwear sense and not the Australian sense of a sandal-like item of casual footwear :) Whoever made it fanon that a fic with Ronon/Weir must have a mention of a thong needs to be given a severe scolding :) If you think I'm kidding, on at least 2 occasions it involves John explaining to Ronon what a thong is etc.
Selfless without being stupid / having a death wish
John's very selfless. He doesn't have a death wish, he's not suicidal but he is prepared to sacrifice himself if necessary and he's done it quite a few times now - although he's always rescued at the last minute. John has more lives than a cat, but that doesn't make him any less courageous. I really admire the fact that he cares so much about his people that he is prepared to go so far for them. Also, I adore the hug Elizabeth gives him at the beginning of season 2 - its just so sweet. :)
Friendship with McKay
The Sheppard/McKay dynamic causes a lot of people to feel annoyed when Sheppard is seen as mean to Rodney. Rodney's no saint. He dishes it out, he can take it. How many times does he speak about John as though he's an imbecilic meathead. Over time he's grown to realise that John's a very smart guy - he has intellectual smarts and not just practical smarts of warfare and theories of armed conflict. We've seen that from time to time, Rodney makes assumptions that John won't 'get' things.
For instance, in Critical Mass.
McKay: Ah - I've physically disabled the DHD. It won't be able to dial, so it won't be a problem. Now, the ZedPM, however, *will* be. Now, as you know, the Zero Point Module controls the flow of massive amounts of power.
Sheppard: Like a dam.
McKay: No, it's not like a dam, it's more like a ... uh ... actually, yes, it's like a dam. If you overload the dam, it breaks, which is why the Ancients put in place failsafes to prevent such a thing from happening.
Sheppard: Like a spillway.
McKay: Could we just stick with failsafes? (John shrugs.)
Then there's this episode of Trinity where he treats John like a bit of a retard.
McKay: That's what we're working on. The problem is that there's no direct link between it and the main power control systems, which - among other things - has led us to theorise that it's an ancillary power supply for the weapons system.
(John smiles.)
Sheppard: Cool!
(Rodney points to John's face while looking at Radek.)
McKay: See that? See? See the way he lights up at the mention of that? It's like Doctor Vogel at the mention of pastries.
Sheppard: They found out a way to soup up their space guns.
Zelenka: Yes, but it's-it's much more than that.
McKay: Well, the sticking point is that there's no tie between the power generator and the primary capacitor.
Zelenka: Meaning they would have to channel the power directly into the weapon.
McKay: (smiling smugly at John): Which I'm sure means nothing to *you*.
Sheppard: It means they can fire multiple bursts without having to store up more power for the next firing sequence.
(Rodney's face falls.)
McKay: Yes. Very good.
Sheppard: Which leads me back to `cool'.
Nonetheless, despite the back and forth - the two have an excellent friendship. They're always saving one another, they trust the other. Sheppard has 100% faith in Rodney and it's very beautiful.
Sense of humour / the ridiculous
Another big reason I like Sheppard is the very boyish glee he has about things. McKay is funny because he's sardonic but Sheppard actually says funny things, like the R2D2 comment in The Lost Boys, the clowns comments in The Hive, the way he insists on naming the nightmarishly scary Wraith with prosaic names like Bob and Steve :) His wise-cracks are probably a coping mechanism but that doesn't change the fact that he really is genuinely funny. McKay makes me laugh because he is manic, his body language is manic and he's so over the top sometimes, but I enjoy Sheppard's quips because he has a very dry sense of humour and his comments are very quotable.
See here for 3 clips.
Loyal
Sheppard is fiercely loyal. See how he reacts in Sateda? He makes decisions about his people and he stands by them. He was fiercely loyal to Teyla in the episode Hide and Seek when there were doubts about the loyalties of the Athosians, he was the one who made the decision to bring Ronon onto this team and he stuck by that decision. When Ford went missing, Sheppard desperately tried to bring him back. We know it already, Sheppard doesn't leave his men (and women) behind. Loyalty is more important to him than life itself. It cuts through the smirk, the spiky hair, the flirtation and the quips
Responsible
In the episode Conversion, I love how despite what's happening to him, Sheppard's aim at all times is to protect his people. To lock himself away when he feels like he may be a danger to others. His first instinct upon awakening is to ask if he has hurt anyone. He's the one who realises more than anyone else that he needs to be contained. I love that about him.
I was a little dissatisfied with the lack of closure on how he treated Elizabeth in that episode - even though there were extenuating circumstances. He has his moment of closure with Teyla (fanning the flames of Sheppard/Teyla shippers everywhere), but there isn't a word of apology to Elizabeth. So I wrote my preferred take on the episode in a fic called The Way It's Always Been.
Why I like the John Sheppard / Elizabeth Weir dynamic
He and Elizabeth are very much equals. They complement one another. Intellectually and socially I think they're very compatible. Whereas Ronon/Weir only works for me if Elizabeth always stays in Atlantis, Sheppard/Weir is something that could work even if there's a return to Earth for some reason or if they remained in Atlantis. Both of them are adventurousintrepid and crave new adventures. I like that about them as a pairing. I like that John's the more wisecracking, smart-alecky one, but Elizabeth has a definite sense of humour and a sense of the ridiculous. They balance one another out.
I've liked John and Elizabeth as a pairing from the start. The series is scattered with really lovely scenes between them. For instance, in the episode Home, there is a possibility that a wormhole could be established back to Earth and people could leave Atlantis to return home if they so wished.
Elizabeth goes to John's quarters where he's sitting and reading "War and Peace".
Elizabeth: Hi. D’you have a moment?
Sheppard: Yeah, sure. (He sits up and puts the book down. Elizabeth looks at the cover.)
Elizabeth: "War and Peace"? (She picks it up.) Wow, that’s some heavy reading.
Sheppard: Yeah, well, back on Earth when I was getting ready for this mission, I realised there was a good chance that I might be here for a while, so I figured why not bring along a book that takes a while to read?
Elizabeth: (turning to the page that he has bookmarked): Page seventeen.
Sheppard: I’m right on schedule.
Elizabeth: Hmm. (She closes the book.) It’s kinda what I wanted to talk to you about. Home. Going home.
Sheppard: Oh.
Elizabeth: (pacing nervously): McKay’s right. If this works and we are able to establish a wormhole back to Earth ...
Sheppard: Y’know, if this conversation is going where I think it’s headed, you can put your mind at rest. I’m not going anywhere. I haven’t read my book.
(Elizabeth laughs nervously, then pulls up a chair and sits down.)
Elizabeth: Look, all I’m saying is that you are the person who is best qualified to brief General Hammond and the other powers-that-be about the Wraith threat.
Sheppard: Well, maybe so, but I think I’m needed here.
(Elizabeth smiles.)
Elizabeth: Good.
Sheppard: But if you wanna go, I understand that too.
Elizabeth: What, are you saying I’m not needed here?
Sheppard: I said I’d understand.
Elizabeth: Well, thank you, but I made a commitment.
Sheppard: Of course, in all fairness, life-sucking aliens weren’t part of the brochure.
Elizabeth: Regardless, I’m staying.
Sheppard: Good. Wouldn’t be the same without you.
There are many things wonderful things about the above scene. First of all, the fact that Elizabeth seeks out John when she wants to talk over an issue. She's known McKay longer, but in a way McKay's better for dealing with crisis situations, when technical solutions are required. He's not so much for kicking around an idea, planning and strategy. Although selfless in his own way, his first instinct is usually about himself.
Elizabeth and Sheppard take a more 'leader' approach to issues and problems. Both of them have a very, very strong sense of responsibility in fact it's that sense of responsibility that is probably the primary impediment to any romantic pairing between them. To be honest, I don't really see it myself. She's civilian, he's military, she's technically his boss but it's not like he's powerless or in any way not in control of him. I don't see a power imbalance.
In The Eye, when Kolya (Tommy Lee Jones Lite) tells Sheppard that he has shot, Elizabeth, I love the way Sheppard takes a deep breath and then says very slowly: "I. am. Going. To. Kill. You" and then he basically goes into action hero mode and wallops the annoying Genii who are the most annoying bad guys In The World.
Anyway I've babbled on long enough and there are many, many little crumbs for Sheppard/Weir shippers. I read somewhere that Joe Flanigan who plays Sheppard, says that he doesn't see any chemistry between Sheppard and Weir. To be honest, I don't actually want any of my pairings to become canon - it's much more fun to just play, speculate and extrapolate :) The strength of Atlantis is actually all about the fact that all of the characters are wonderful. The shipping is more fun the longer it stays non-canon. I don't really want to watch Stargate 90210 :P
I just got an sms from my friend Julian who's working in Shanghai right now. I really have no recollection of the sms I sent him, but his message to me goes:
"Glad you enjoyed Hong Kong. I have just bought Prison Break. I like how when you say you love Michael Scofield you refer to his onscreen character :)"
*choke* I must have written something fairly emphatic. It might have even been something like: "Watch Prison Break otherwise we can't be friends anymore." *laugh* I browbeat him into watching Smallville and then lost interest after season 1 when he remained steadfast. I hope Prison Break is no more than 3 seasons. I think I lack the ability to love a show for more than 3 seasons.
At which point, I remember that this post is actually about Stargate Atlantis - which is in its third season ...oooOOoooOOooo. Meep.
Recently, I mentioned that autumn_whispers had written a gorgeous little fic called Defying Gravity which was in relation to a Sheppard / Novak prompt. I've said before how much I love this story.
One of her initial difficulties was overcoming her dislike of Sheppard as a character. I think she's coming along very nicely. Hee! It made me start to ponder things as well.
I've liked Sheppard from the start. Of course the first assumption is that it's because he's 'cute.' That certainly doesn't hurt, but given that being good-looking is almost a pre-condition for a large number of television characters, it's pretty safe to say that there will need to be more than just mere cuteness to distinguish a character from the Generic Legions of Pretty. Moreover, sometimes he reminds me of Alec Baldwin too much for my comfort and I don't like Alec Baldwin - but I do like John Sheppard.
In my Prison Break posts I've babbled on at length about how I like Michael Scofield's flawed 'hero' persona. John Sheppard is another flawed hero. I liked him from the time he comes walking into the Antartica base in the first episode. He looks clueless, he's almost bumbling in the way he sits down in the chair and can't figure out what's going on. Sure, I don't like his "STF", slightly over the top intense stares at the screen, but that's a minor quibble. He smirks, he seems to cavort with every single Alien Female (excluding Wraith Queens ;) around the Pegasus Galaxy and sometimes he's kind of mean to Rodney - but I still really like him. I list reasons but in no particular order.
Flawed Hero
The smirk and the cavorting aren't really what John Sheppard's all about. I think the real John Sheppard is the person we see with his team and with Elizabeth. He's not just your typical gung ho GI Joe hero. In the season 2 episode Condemned Ronon says: "I was beginning to think you were afraid to fight" and Sheppard says: "I'm just naturally lazy, but I will if I have to - and it's starting to look like we have to." He's not going to risk lives needlessly, he's cautious when he needs to be.
In Rising, when he steps through the Stargate for the first time, he is visibly nervous. Possibly scared - he even closes his eyes before he steps through and it's very endearing.
Broad-minded
I love the fact that he has never had a problem with the fact that Elizabeth (his boss) is a woman and also a civilian. Yes they have differences of opinion about tactics and approaches all the time (to rescue or not to rescue in Rising, the quarantine in Hot Zone) but this is because they have different opinions as people. It has nothing to do with gender politics or military/civilian politics.
This exchange in Rising made a deep impression on me at the time and still does. Colonel Sumner is voicing his disapproval to Sheppard.
Sumner: Let me make myself clear Major. You are not here by my choice.
Sheppard: I'm sure you'll warm up to me once you get to know me sir.
Sumner: As long as you remember who's giving the orders.
Sheppard: That would be Doctor Weir right?
Sheppard then gives a really, really, big smug smile and I want to hug him for it. It's true that one of his motivations for saying what he says is to aggravate Sumner, but it's also clear that he has absolutely no problem reporting to a civilian woman. I love that about him.
Thoughtful
In Before I sleep, John gives Elizabeth a present for her birthday and it's very heart-warming. It's actually a rather ugly pot and in the end she uses it to store the ashes of her former dead self which kind of takes the charm out of the gift somewhat, but I thought it was lovely that he wanted to get a gift for her. We don't see him giving gifts to anyone else, in fact we don't see anyone giving gifts to anyone, but for some reason John decides to give Elizabeth a present. He's not sucking up to her because that's not his style. He just bought her a gift because he wanted to do so.
Then at the end of the episode when she's alone and pensive on her balcony, they have a moment in which she needs some time alone and he gives her that time even though she's supposed to be attending a briefing. I really like the quiet moment that they have - which is why I wrote a really tiny tag called Comfort, just to extend the moment a little longer.
I suppose the only downside with the whole gift thing is that it's spawned countless fics where John's constantly giving Elizabeth birthday presents. He's lucky, for some reason fics about John/Elizabeth involve him giving beautiful gifts of touching sentiment.
I've now read at least three Ronon/Elizabeth fics where there has to be a reference somewhere to a thong - and I mean that in the women's string underwear sense and not the Australian sense of a sandal-like item of casual footwear :) Whoever made it fanon that a fic with Ronon/Weir must have a mention of a thong needs to be given a severe scolding :) If you think I'm kidding, on at least 2 occasions it involves John explaining to Ronon what a thong is etc.
Selfless without being stupid / having a death wish
John's very selfless. He doesn't have a death wish, he's not suicidal but he is prepared to sacrifice himself if necessary and he's done it quite a few times now - although he's always rescued at the last minute. John has more lives than a cat, but that doesn't make him any less courageous. I really admire the fact that he cares so much about his people that he is prepared to go so far for them. Also, I adore the hug Elizabeth gives him at the beginning of season 2 - its just so sweet. :)
Friendship with McKay
The Sheppard/McKay dynamic causes a lot of people to feel annoyed when Sheppard is seen as mean to Rodney. Rodney's no saint. He dishes it out, he can take it. How many times does he speak about John as though he's an imbecilic meathead. Over time he's grown to realise that John's a very smart guy - he has intellectual smarts and not just practical smarts of warfare and theories of armed conflict. We've seen that from time to time, Rodney makes assumptions that John won't 'get' things.
For instance, in Critical Mass.
McKay: Ah - I've physically disabled the DHD. It won't be able to dial, so it won't be a problem. Now, the ZedPM, however, *will* be. Now, as you know, the Zero Point Module controls the flow of massive amounts of power.
Sheppard: Like a dam.
McKay: No, it's not like a dam, it's more like a ... uh ... actually, yes, it's like a dam. If you overload the dam, it breaks, which is why the Ancients put in place failsafes to prevent such a thing from happening.
Sheppard: Like a spillway.
McKay: Could we just stick with failsafes? (John shrugs.)
Then there's this episode of Trinity where he treats John like a bit of a retard.
McKay: That's what we're working on. The problem is that there's no direct link between it and the main power control systems, which - among other things - has led us to theorise that it's an ancillary power supply for the weapons system.
(John smiles.)
Sheppard: Cool!
(Rodney points to John's face while looking at Radek.)
McKay: See that? See? See the way he lights up at the mention of that? It's like Doctor Vogel at the mention of pastries.
Sheppard: They found out a way to soup up their space guns.
Zelenka: Yes, but it's-it's much more than that.
McKay: Well, the sticking point is that there's no tie between the power generator and the primary capacitor.
Zelenka: Meaning they would have to channel the power directly into the weapon.
McKay: (smiling smugly at John): Which I'm sure means nothing to *you*.
Sheppard: It means they can fire multiple bursts without having to store up more power for the next firing sequence.
(Rodney's face falls.)
McKay: Yes. Very good.
Sheppard: Which leads me back to `cool'.
Nonetheless, despite the back and forth - the two have an excellent friendship. They're always saving one another, they trust the other. Sheppard has 100% faith in Rodney and it's very beautiful.
Sense of humour / the ridiculous
Another big reason I like Sheppard is the very boyish glee he has about things. McKay is funny because he's sardonic but Sheppard actually says funny things, like the R2D2 comment in The Lost Boys, the clowns comments in The Hive, the way he insists on naming the nightmarishly scary Wraith with prosaic names like Bob and Steve :) His wise-cracks are probably a coping mechanism but that doesn't change the fact that he really is genuinely funny. McKay makes me laugh because he is manic, his body language is manic and he's so over the top sometimes, but I enjoy Sheppard's quips because he has a very dry sense of humour and his comments are very quotable.
See here for 3 clips.
Loyal
Sheppard is fiercely loyal. See how he reacts in Sateda? He makes decisions about his people and he stands by them. He was fiercely loyal to Teyla in the episode Hide and Seek when there were doubts about the loyalties of the Athosians, he was the one who made the decision to bring Ronon onto this team and he stuck by that decision. When Ford went missing, Sheppard desperately tried to bring him back. We know it already, Sheppard doesn't leave his men (and women) behind. Loyalty is more important to him than life itself. It cuts through the smirk, the spiky hair, the flirtation and the quips
Responsible
In the episode Conversion, I love how despite what's happening to him, Sheppard's aim at all times is to protect his people. To lock himself away when he feels like he may be a danger to others. His first instinct upon awakening is to ask if he has hurt anyone. He's the one who realises more than anyone else that he needs to be contained. I love that about him.
I was a little dissatisfied with the lack of closure on how he treated Elizabeth in that episode - even though there were extenuating circumstances. He has his moment of closure with Teyla (fanning the flames of Sheppard/Teyla shippers everywhere), but there isn't a word of apology to Elizabeth. So I wrote my preferred take on the episode in a fic called The Way It's Always Been.
Why I like the John Sheppard / Elizabeth Weir dynamic
He and Elizabeth are very much equals. They complement one another. Intellectually and socially I think they're very compatible. Whereas Ronon/Weir only works for me if Elizabeth always stays in Atlantis, Sheppard/Weir is something that could work even if there's a return to Earth for some reason or if they remained in Atlantis. Both of them are adventurousintrepid and crave new adventures. I like that about them as a pairing. I like that John's the more wisecracking, smart-alecky one, but Elizabeth has a definite sense of humour and a sense of the ridiculous. They balance one another out.
I've liked John and Elizabeth as a pairing from the start. The series is scattered with really lovely scenes between them. For instance, in the episode Home, there is a possibility that a wormhole could be established back to Earth and people could leave Atlantis to return home if they so wished.
Elizabeth goes to John's quarters where he's sitting and reading "War and Peace".
Elizabeth: Hi. D’you have a moment?
Sheppard: Yeah, sure. (He sits up and puts the book down. Elizabeth looks at the cover.)
Elizabeth: "War and Peace"? (She picks it up.) Wow, that’s some heavy reading.
Sheppard: Yeah, well, back on Earth when I was getting ready for this mission, I realised there was a good chance that I might be here for a while, so I figured why not bring along a book that takes a while to read?
Elizabeth: (turning to the page that he has bookmarked): Page seventeen.
Sheppard: I’m right on schedule.
Elizabeth: Hmm. (She closes the book.) It’s kinda what I wanted to talk to you about. Home. Going home.
Sheppard: Oh.
Elizabeth: (pacing nervously): McKay’s right. If this works and we are able to establish a wormhole back to Earth ...
Sheppard: Y’know, if this conversation is going where I think it’s headed, you can put your mind at rest. I’m not going anywhere. I haven’t read my book.
(Elizabeth laughs nervously, then pulls up a chair and sits down.)
Elizabeth: Look, all I’m saying is that you are the person who is best qualified to brief General Hammond and the other powers-that-be about the Wraith threat.
Sheppard: Well, maybe so, but I think I’m needed here.
(Elizabeth smiles.)
Elizabeth: Good.
Sheppard: But if you wanna go, I understand that too.
Elizabeth: What, are you saying I’m not needed here?
Sheppard: I said I’d understand.
Elizabeth: Well, thank you, but I made a commitment.
Sheppard: Of course, in all fairness, life-sucking aliens weren’t part of the brochure.
Elizabeth: Regardless, I’m staying.
Sheppard: Good. Wouldn’t be the same without you.
There are many things wonderful things about the above scene. First of all, the fact that Elizabeth seeks out John when she wants to talk over an issue. She's known McKay longer, but in a way McKay's better for dealing with crisis situations, when technical solutions are required. He's not so much for kicking around an idea, planning and strategy. Although selfless in his own way, his first instinct is usually about himself.
Elizabeth and Sheppard take a more 'leader' approach to issues and problems. Both of them have a very, very strong sense of responsibility in fact it's that sense of responsibility that is probably the primary impediment to any romantic pairing between them. To be honest, I don't really see it myself. She's civilian, he's military, she's technically his boss but it's not like he's powerless or in any way not in control of him. I don't see a power imbalance.
In The Eye, when Kolya (Tommy Lee Jones Lite) tells Sheppard that he has shot, Elizabeth, I love the way Sheppard takes a deep breath and then says very slowly: "I. am. Going. To. Kill. You" and then he basically goes into action hero mode and wallops the annoying Genii who are the most annoying bad guys In The World.
Anyway I've babbled on long enough and there are many, many little crumbs for Sheppard/Weir shippers. I read somewhere that Joe Flanigan who plays Sheppard, says that he doesn't see any chemistry between Sheppard and Weir. To be honest, I don't actually want any of my pairings to become canon - it's much more fun to just play, speculate and extrapolate :) The strength of Atlantis is actually all about the fact that all of the characters are wonderful. The shipping is more fun the longer it stays non-canon. I don't really want to watch Stargate 90210 :P