SGA 1x08 Underground: Discussion

[michelel72]

This post opens discussion of Stargate: Atlantis episode 1x08: "Underground".

This episode first aired in the US 27 August 2004. This episode is parallel to Stargate: SG-1 episode 8x08 "Covenant", by original US airdate.

US DVDset summary: When Atlantis' rations begin to dwindle, Dr. Weir concentrates on trading with other worlds for food.

Comments

[a_blackpanther]

This is not one of my favourite SGA eps, mostly because of the stupid going around the expedition members, especially (but not limited to) Weir and Sheppard. And while he's not very experienced in trade negotiations (although, mr. Military Man should have been a lot more careful!), she has absolutely no excuse for letting him do as he pleases without asking her first. She is the leader of Atlantis, and a negotiator. Why did she let the team go alone to the Genii home world in the first place? And then she keeps agreeing with the crazy and rather unreasonable terms John comes up with. WTF

[mercury973]

Had to keep this conversation going-
I love the Genii as badies and this one was a good one. I never liked the Wraith since they at first were just predators and the fact that I'm embarrassed to admit I watch a show where the bad guys look like bad cracked-out Marilyn Manson fans, but I digress. I can see where the Genii are coming from- a millennium of having to hide their people and protect what is there. I get that. I also like the fact that they were fairly close to the current SGA timeline (say late 1940s-early 1950s).

But what I love about this episode is John and Rodney getting lost. Too cute. We really got to see the beginnings of a friendship here.

[michelel72]

Yeah, I grow more sympathetic to the Genii the longer I think about their position, at least when you confine that to this episode. I find that about many SG-verse villains, oddly.

As for J&R: No kidding. They really started to hit their stride here with the whole buddy-system thing, squabbling with each other (lightly) but then turning to present a more united front to outsiders.

[mercury973]

It was interesting to see the Genii and their "Amish" cover. I wish that they got to do more interactions with other people. They kinda only did one per season after season 1. Oh well.

Teyla- poor Teyla. I loved how advanced (for a lack of a better word at 1:53 am) the Athosians lived. They didn't want to venture into the old city, which was never really expanded upon, but they had technology that also was dropped. Remember in Hide and Seek where Teyla was able to light the candle with her own lighter?

For the John and Rodney show- Other than Hide and Seek (personal shield), is this the first episode where they go off together? I fell for Rodney the 1st time I saw him as I missed him in SG1, but John was a lot more uptight in season 1. More military. I dunno.

Man, I miss this show!

[michelel72]

Why did she let the team go alone to the Genii home world in the first place? And then she keeps agreeing with the crazy and rather unreasonable terms John comes up with.
I can get letting the team go first; the Genii trust Teyla, and John wants to get a sense of intel. Sending them for preliminary contact makes sense to me ... but the second John put his foot in it, Elizabeth should have been pulling them back and sending trained negotiators - and if she's the only one they have, she should be getting involved or at least holding a tighter leash. The show really struggled with making her effective in the first season, though.

I get that a missing prisoner would mean that the Wraith will know they've had visitorsNow I want a cut-scene showing us the poor beleaguered Wraith stuck on inventory duty. Punishment for insulting the Queen's hair dye