SGA 1x10 The Storm: Discussion
This post opens discussion of Stargate: Atlantis episode 1x10: "The Storm".
This episode first aired in the US 17 September 2004. This episode is parallel to Stargate: SG-1 episode 8x10 "Endgame", by original US airdate.
US DVDset summary: With a monstrous storm that occurs only once every 20 or 30 years bearing down on Atlantis, Sheppard requests temporary refuge for the Atlantians on Manara. Meanwhile, McKay and Zalenka [sic] hatch a plan to use the electricity from the storm to raise Atlantis' protective force field.
Resources. Standard linked-external-website disclaimers apply.
Credits and synopsis at Gateworld. English. Includes credits; synopsis; links to photos, transcript, other resources.
Stargate Wiki entry. Includes full episode summary, quotes, trivia (including spoilers), and links to other resources including official websites.
Have other good resources for this episode? Please provide a link in a comment or message me.
Please engage in unrestricted discussion about SGA 1x10 The Storm as replies to this entry or its subthreads. "Unrestricted" means all seasons of Stargate: Atlantis and Stargate: SG-1 may be referenced without warning. References to Stargate: Universe content or plotlines still require "spoiler" warnings. (The "unspoiled" threads weren't getting traffic, so I'm not posting one; if you would prefer an unspoiled discussion environment, please let me know - or feel free to start one!)Questions to consider:
- Teyla reveals that the Wraith have scorched Athos bare. Is this the first time we've learned why the Athosians never went back? Does this seem to be a common Wraith technique?
- In the conversation in which Rodney and Radek explain the storm, the dynamics get complicated. For example, John tells Rodney the Ancients must have had safeguards before, but when Aiden says something as big as Atlantis can't sink, John turns to counter that suggestion. Rodney and Radek swing between cooperation and disagreement. Why does John specifically call out that he and Teyla have given them all an edge by noticing the storm before anyone else? (Sure, he's right ... but isn't Rodney supposed to be the credit-hound?) What interactions did you particularly notice? What does this conversation reveal about the various relationships at this point?
- John and Elizabeth readily agree that Rodney only wants to make himself look heroic by stressing the impossibility of finding a solution. Does this fit what we've seen so far? Later, Rodney again stresses the problems, and John says Rodney will find the answer; when Rodney, overwhelmed, disclaims that he's not Superman, John mocks the suggestion. What kind of strategy is John exercising here, and is it effective?
- It's been a minimum of three months since the expedition left Earth, and possibly closer to six (or more?). Do they truly have no alpha site, considering they only need a place to evacuate to for, they expect, a day or so? Do they really need a sheltering population in case Atlantis falls ... and if this is the plan, are they wise to hide that fact, considering the likely reaction if they overstay the promised time? Does the show's explanation that uninhabited planets are uninhabited for a reason really satisfy this concern?
- We return to Sora, interestingly positioned as one of the ineffective group going up against a master trainer/fighter; and we meet Kolya, who cautions Cowen that the strike force is not truly ready. What do you think of them? What else do you notice?
- Doran, the Athosian. Did he approach the Manarians, or they him? Is he right that the Atlantis GDOs require a specific hand to operate them, or was he bluffing to save his own life and avoid torture?
- When Rodney assigns people to grounding stations, he chooses a close one ... but he assigns a second close one to Elizabeth, saying she recently complained about her knee. Does this fit what we know of him, to have noticed her complaint and to account for it? Or does he have some other reason to send John to the two farthest stations?
- Two guards are left in the gateroom, rather than one helping with the fourth station. One explicitly says not to ask Elizabeth for clearance to drop the shield. Elizabeth's reaction suggests she would have approved it, though John thinks the story of an attack makes no sense. Was the successful entrance by the Genii simply bad luck for Atlantis, poor planning, or something else?
- Rodney figures out how to tip off John, but his mere presence tips off Kolya that there's a plan to save the city. When do you think Kolya first got the idea to seize the city permanently? They don't just threaten to harm Rodney, they carry through, and they later use that same injury to try to shut him up. Against John, though, Kolya uses the threat of killing Elizabeth. What led him to choose these specific strategies? John gives in to an extent, offering himself and a ship for Elizabeth's life but not volunteering where to find the hidden supplies; Rodney gives in by revealing some unknown amount of the plan but still tries to resist or counter Kolya's plans afterwards. What's your take on weakness and strength in light of these reactions?
Please don't limit yourself to these questions, though - what's on your mind?For now, this is an all-ship / no-ship welcome zone: feel free to note any supporting evidence for or against your favorite "ships", including gen / no-ships. In all cases, please be respectful of other people's ships or lack thereof.
Any comments, questions, suggestions, or other recommendations may be entered as new comments to this post. If you need to make a recommendation or ask a question outside this post, I can be reached by LJ notifications or by email to my username @livejournal.com.
The next discussion, of 1x11 The Eye, will open approximately 11am US EDT 6 February (When is that for me?).
Spoiled discussion of the previous episode, "Home", is ongoing here.
This episode first aired in the US 17 September 2004. This episode is parallel to Stargate: SG-1 episode 8x10 "Endgame", by original US airdate.
US DVDset summary: With a monstrous storm that occurs only once every 20 or 30 years bearing down on Atlantis, Sheppard requests temporary refuge for the Atlantians on Manara. Meanwhile, McKay and Zalenka [sic] hatch a plan to use the electricity from the storm to raise Atlantis' protective force field.
Resources. Standard linked-external-website disclaimers apply.
Credits and synopsis at Gateworld. English. Includes credits; synopsis; links to photos, transcript, other resources.
Stargate Wiki entry. Includes full episode summary, quotes, trivia (including spoilers), and links to other resources including official websites.
Have other good resources for this episode? Please provide a link in a comment or message me.
Please engage in unrestricted discussion about SGA 1x10 The Storm as replies to this entry or its subthreads. "Unrestricted" means all seasons of Stargate: Atlantis and Stargate: SG-1 may be referenced without warning. References to Stargate: Universe content or plotlines still require "spoiler" warnings. (The "unspoiled" threads weren't getting traffic, so I'm not posting one; if you would prefer an unspoiled discussion environment, please let me know - or feel free to start one!)Questions to consider:
- Teyla reveals that the Wraith have scorched Athos bare. Is this the first time we've learned why the Athosians never went back? Does this seem to be a common Wraith technique?
- In the conversation in which Rodney and Radek explain the storm, the dynamics get complicated. For example, John tells Rodney the Ancients must have had safeguards before, but when Aiden says something as big as Atlantis can't sink, John turns to counter that suggestion. Rodney and Radek swing between cooperation and disagreement. Why does John specifically call out that he and Teyla have given them all an edge by noticing the storm before anyone else? (Sure, he's right ... but isn't Rodney supposed to be the credit-hound?) What interactions did you particularly notice? What does this conversation reveal about the various relationships at this point?
- John and Elizabeth readily agree that Rodney only wants to make himself look heroic by stressing the impossibility of finding a solution. Does this fit what we've seen so far? Later, Rodney again stresses the problems, and John says Rodney will find the answer; when Rodney, overwhelmed, disclaims that he's not Superman, John mocks the suggestion. What kind of strategy is John exercising here, and is it effective?
- It's been a minimum of three months since the expedition left Earth, and possibly closer to six (or more?). Do they truly have no alpha site, considering they only need a place to evacuate to for, they expect, a day or so? Do they really need a sheltering population in case Atlantis falls ... and if this is the plan, are they wise to hide that fact, considering the likely reaction if they overstay the promised time? Does the show's explanation that uninhabited planets are uninhabited for a reason really satisfy this concern?
- We return to Sora, interestingly positioned as one of the ineffective group going up against a master trainer/fighter; and we meet Kolya, who cautions Cowen that the strike force is not truly ready. What do you think of them? What else do you notice?
- Doran, the Athosian. Did he approach the Manarians, or they him? Is he right that the Atlantis GDOs require a specific hand to operate them, or was he bluffing to save his own life and avoid torture?
- When Rodney assigns people to grounding stations, he chooses a close one ... but he assigns a second close one to Elizabeth, saying she recently complained about her knee. Does this fit what we know of him, to have noticed her complaint and to account for it? Or does he have some other reason to send John to the two farthest stations?
- Two guards are left in the gateroom, rather than one helping with the fourth station. One explicitly says not to ask Elizabeth for clearance to drop the shield. Elizabeth's reaction suggests she would have approved it, though John thinks the story of an attack makes no sense. Was the successful entrance by the Genii simply bad luck for Atlantis, poor planning, or something else?
- Rodney figures out how to tip off John, but his mere presence tips off Kolya that there's a plan to save the city. When do you think Kolya first got the idea to seize the city permanently? They don't just threaten to harm Rodney, they carry through, and they later use that same injury to try to shut him up. Against John, though, Kolya uses the threat of killing Elizabeth. What led him to choose these specific strategies? John gives in to an extent, offering himself and a ship for Elizabeth's life but not volunteering where to find the hidden supplies; Rodney gives in by revealing some unknown amount of the plan but still tries to resist or counter Kolya's plans afterwards. What's your take on weakness and strength in light of these reactions?
Please don't limit yourself to these questions, though - what's on your mind?For now, this is an all-ship / no-ship welcome zone: feel free to note any supporting evidence for or against your favorite "ships", including gen / no-ships. In all cases, please be respectful of other people's ships or lack thereof.
Any comments, questions, suggestions, or other recommendations may be entered as new comments to this post. If you need to make a recommendation or ask a question outside this post, I can be reached by LJ notifications or by email to my username @livejournal.com.
The next discussion, of 1x11 The Eye, will open approximately 11am US EDT 6 February (When is that for me?).
Spoiled discussion of the previous episode, "Home", is ongoing here.