SGA- 5-3 Broken Ties
A few days late - but real life has been busy recently. Here are my thoughts
Season Five continues to deliver. Broken Ties was another great episode.
Teyla’s struggles with her decision as to whether to return to work were very well done. It was not an easy choice for her - and we saw that. For years she always knew where her place was. For a long time it was as leader of her people. For the last four years it was as a member of John Sheppard’s team - helping to keep the galaxy safe - not just for her people, but for all people. Now she has a completely new role - that of mother to Torren - and she is trying to figure out how balance her role as a parent - where her first concern is her child and the role of one of the protectors of the galaxy.
Kanaan being there no doubt made her choice a little easier. Not just with taking some of the duties of taking care of Torren in middle of the night - but because she trusts Kanaan to take care of - and if she should be killed - to raise Torren. It is one less thing she has to worry about in regards to her son. Yes he would miss out having a mother - but he would have a parent to raise him - and teach him the way of their people. If they hadn’t found Kanaan - or the rest of the Athosian - I think she would have chosen not to return active duty. She might not have been happy with that choice, but I think she would have felt compelled to “stay safe” for the sake of her child.
Who would have thought that Woolsey of all people would be a sympatric ear for Teyla? But in a way it makes sense. He was completely objective - and didn’t really care what choice she made - so long as she made one. She could be completely honest with him and consider both sides without fear that she was hurting his feelings. Kanaan was nothing but supportive - but I think Teyla was concerned that he would view her returning to the team as saying that he and Torren weren’t enough for her. And she was worried that John would be hurt if she chose to stay in Atlantis - choosing her family over the team. The same for Ronon and Rodney. So in that regard Woolsey was the perfect choice.
I loved the conversation between Teyla and John. I really understood John’s position. He needed to know what her choice was. For him the worst part was the being in limbo. He needed to know one way or the other. And he needed her there full time - not just for things that are personally important to her - such as finding Ronon - but as a member of the team.
But enough about Teyla and her struggles. Lets look at Ronon and his. First things first, Jason Momoa did a bang-up job in this episode (the last scene in particular - his face showed us everything.) It was some of the best stuff we have seen from him - at least while on Stargate Atlantis. He (and the writers) took Ronon on a real roller coaster ride and Jason made us believe every bit.
I love that the Wraith was able to break Ronon. It was brilliant. I don’t expect that from this show. Maybe I should. Atlantis writers have always been more willing to take chances - to show our heroes as human. And can I just say that Ronon working against Atlantis? Damn scary. Ronon kicks butt in hand to hand and is relentless in a battle. Atlantis is lucky Ronon has been willing work with them.
The other key character in this episode was Tyre. This episode was as much Tyre finding redemption as it was about Ronon learning the what Tyre went through. I loved the montage of Ronon becoming addicted juxtaposed with Trye going through his withdrawal. In many ways this story was about Trye’s redemption as it was Ronon learning the hell that Trye and the other’s went through.
I never really believed the Trye’s second betrayal - mostly because as Rodney would later say, it wouldn’t be good news for Ronon if Trye had still been addicted enough that he would do anything for his next fix. That said I do wonder if Trye was still tempted by what the Wraith could offer and that in part motivated him to sacrifice himself for Ronon. After all if he was dead, he could never be tempted and could never betray the memory of his people again. (That and the guilt over having gotten Ronon into the mess in the first place.)
The scene in the Wraith cell was other good one. Teyla’s quiet fear of never seeing her son or lover again, Rodney in panic mode (although he is getting better at managing it - at least now he is trying to figure out ways to escape - even if he is not good at coming up with plans) and John in full denial mode (every thing is going to turn out OK - even if I have no idea how)
This episode pretty much had everything I could ask for in an episode. Good story - good character interaction - good character growth. And lets not forget Rodney in a bathtub. I loved that scene of John and Rodney in the mess hall. It was nice light touch in what was otherwise a dark and grim episode. (as was Woolsey and the baby, Woolsey and briefing room doors and Woolsey’s idea of something more comfortable) And of course Rodney’s plan wouldn’t work. In all likelihood he hadn’t really been relaxing. He had just been going through the motions in the hope that the answer would come to him. Hence the scene at the end when Rodney is really relaxing and inspiration strikes.
Season Five continues to deliver. Broken Ties was another great episode.
Teyla’s struggles with her decision as to whether to return to work were very well done. It was not an easy choice for her - and we saw that. For years she always knew where her place was. For a long time it was as leader of her people. For the last four years it was as a member of John Sheppard’s team - helping to keep the galaxy safe - not just for her people, but for all people. Now she has a completely new role - that of mother to Torren - and she is trying to figure out how balance her role as a parent - where her first concern is her child and the role of one of the protectors of the galaxy.
Kanaan being there no doubt made her choice a little easier. Not just with taking some of the duties of taking care of Torren in middle of the night - but because she trusts Kanaan to take care of - and if she should be killed - to raise Torren. It is one less thing she has to worry about in regards to her son. Yes he would miss out having a mother - but he would have a parent to raise him - and teach him the way of their people. If they hadn’t found Kanaan - or the rest of the Athosian - I think she would have chosen not to return active duty. She might not have been happy with that choice, but I think she would have felt compelled to “stay safe” for the sake of her child.
Who would have thought that Woolsey of all people would be a sympatric ear for Teyla? But in a way it makes sense. He was completely objective - and didn’t really care what choice she made - so long as she made one. She could be completely honest with him and consider both sides without fear that she was hurting his feelings. Kanaan was nothing but supportive - but I think Teyla was concerned that he would view her returning to the team as saying that he and Torren weren’t enough for her. And she was worried that John would be hurt if she chose to stay in Atlantis - choosing her family over the team. The same for Ronon and Rodney. So in that regard Woolsey was the perfect choice.
I loved the conversation between Teyla and John. I really understood John’s position. He needed to know what her choice was. For him the worst part was the being in limbo. He needed to know one way or the other. And he needed her there full time - not just for things that are personally important to her - such as finding Ronon - but as a member of the team.
But enough about Teyla and her struggles. Lets look at Ronon and his. First things first, Jason Momoa did a bang-up job in this episode (the last scene in particular - his face showed us everything.) It was some of the best stuff we have seen from him - at least while on Stargate Atlantis. He (and the writers) took Ronon on a real roller coaster ride and Jason made us believe every bit.
I love that the Wraith was able to break Ronon. It was brilliant. I don’t expect that from this show. Maybe I should. Atlantis writers have always been more willing to take chances - to show our heroes as human. And can I just say that Ronon working against Atlantis? Damn scary. Ronon kicks butt in hand to hand and is relentless in a battle. Atlantis is lucky Ronon has been willing work with them.
The other key character in this episode was Tyre. This episode was as much Tyre finding redemption as it was about Ronon learning the what Tyre went through. I loved the montage of Ronon becoming addicted juxtaposed with Trye going through his withdrawal. In many ways this story was about Trye’s redemption as it was Ronon learning the hell that Trye and the other’s went through.
I never really believed the Trye’s second betrayal - mostly because as Rodney would later say, it wouldn’t be good news for Ronon if Trye had still been addicted enough that he would do anything for his next fix. That said I do wonder if Trye was still tempted by what the Wraith could offer and that in part motivated him to sacrifice himself for Ronon. After all if he was dead, he could never be tempted and could never betray the memory of his people again. (That and the guilt over having gotten Ronon into the mess in the first place.)
The scene in the Wraith cell was other good one. Teyla’s quiet fear of never seeing her son or lover again, Rodney in panic mode (although he is getting better at managing it - at least now he is trying to figure out ways to escape - even if he is not good at coming up with plans) and John in full denial mode (every thing is going to turn out OK - even if I have no idea how)
This episode pretty much had everything I could ask for in an episode. Good story - good character interaction - good character growth. And lets not forget Rodney in a bathtub. I loved that scene of John and Rodney in the mess hall. It was nice light touch in what was otherwise a dark and grim episode. (as was Woolsey and the baby, Woolsey and briefing room doors and Woolsey’s idea of something more comfortable) And of course Rodney’s plan wouldn’t work. In all likelihood he hadn’t really been relaxing. He had just been going through the motions in the hope that the answer would come to him. Hence the scene at the end when Rodney is really relaxing and inspiration strikes.