Motivation (PG)

[sg_fignewton]

A birthday present for lokei, who asked for Daniel, Giza and is probably getting more angst than she expected. :)

Summary: Daniel's intense hatred for the Goa'uld runs deeper than others might expect. A character study set in late S3, with various spoilers for previous events. 1,472 words. Rated PG.

Thank you, Random, for helping me get this right.

Comments

[sg_fignewton]

Thank you!

The Wonder Factor (nice phrasing, that) is definitely missing in later eps, and it's something that I, too, dislike. This is just one way of exploring its cause.

Glad you liked. :)

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Later, when he looks back at it all, he realizes that the Goa'uld destroyed his joy in his lifelong pursuit before he even learns of their existence.
Oh, this story is heartbreaking.

I do think that Daniel sometimes reclaims his joy in discovery; we see it less in later seasons, but we still get glimpses of it. Goa'uld may have tinkered repeatedly in human culture, but it's still ours, and we keep taking it back from them, or hiding it from them when we must, or doing whatever we can. We outlast the Goa'uld. I hope an older Daniel will see that.

[sg_fignewton]

I don't think he ever loses that wonder completely, no, but it's certainly lessened, and I think this may be the reason why.

it's still ours, and we keep taking it back from them

Yes. And Daniel needs to be a part of it, I think. And maybe that's why Atlantis calls to him so much - it may be Alterans and not humans, but at least what he's researching is probably going to be the real thing.

[sg_fignewton]

Wow. What a compliment, thank you! :)

Like you, I really dislike Daniel's later character arc. But this is the reason why I can accept it as real.

(we will not speak of Unending. I have no idea what you're talking about, la la la la...)

[sg_fignewton]

Thank you so much. :)

[izhilzha]

Dayum. That's...harsh, and very much opposed to traditional fanon!Daniel, but boy does it makes sense out of the later-seasons Daniel.

[sg_fignewton]

Because I'm like fanon!Daniel so much, right? :) I do agree it's harsh, but it's one of the only ways I can understand the path of Daniel's later character arc. Because something has beaten that boy down, and I think this might be what did it.

Thank you!

[ansostuff]

Very lovely, sad and oh, so true. I enjoyed this immensly. One of the sad but also useful things about the development of Daniel's character is that he looses that enthusiasm as the series prolongs. It' doesn't go away but it gets molded and more focused on bringing down the Goa'uld and their other enemies.

Thank you for this!

[sg_fignewton]

I think that very usefulness is what makes it so sad - that something that Daniel loved so much, enjoyed so much, becomes just another tool against the Goa'uld.

Thanks!