Rewatch: Remnants

[twinsarein]

It's time for Woolsey's performance appraisal and he is, not surprisingly, somewhat apprehensive. He welcomes Ambassador Shen Xiaoyi who is there to undertake the evaluation but it soon becomes apparent that she has her eye on his job. Woolsey meets a new arrival, Vanessa Conrad, who seems to have good advice for him on how to deal with his current

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[helenkacan]

Kolya starts to talk about an extinct civilization. The story switches between him and Vanessa. ::sighs:: What's this with yet another race that couldn't save itself after millions of years of evolution. That sounds like lazy writing. Again.

But, aww, the AI was awakened after a couple thousand years on the ocean floor when Rodney flew the Jumper from the underwater Bay.

Still, it's tiresome to hear - once again - that the AI had to employ subterfuge to see what kind of people the Lanteans were. Well, don't look now, but Xiaoyi wouldn't give you the time of day.

Poor John. He's learning that he's the architect of his own misfortune and that the AI simply played on his fears. Ack. This is too simplistic an explanation. But John is in a very bad mood when he returns to the Jumper and orders the botanists to shut up and get in. I'm not keen on that behaviour either, as it shows John will take out his frustration on people who don't deserve it. If he's so self-sacrificing and all that, then he wouldn't react in such a petty manner. Ugh ... the writing, it hurts so much.

There's a confusing transmission from earth for Xiaoyi. She's not going to replace Richard, but (that weasel) James Coolidge is. And Xiaoyi is getting that very exciting (NOT) environmental position. Xiaoyi's not a happy camper.

But, surprisingly, her report was so positive that she congratulates Richard as the “new permanent commander” of the expedition. Whoa! What happened? And how did she circumvent the IOA decision about Coolidge?

Okay, semi explanation, though the timing's off. She mentions yesterday's update ... which didn't happen. So somehow Vanessa interfered. It's a little present for Richard.

Time to get half the gang in here (I suppose Ronon and Teyla were superfluous, except for eating) with John and Rodney wheeling the device in. Hmm. The transcript says John smiles a litle bitterly at Vanessa. Does that mean he's still seeing Kolya? Or ... what?

But poor Rodney's not seeing anything, so of course he grouses about it. And then the AI reveals its true silver humanoid self before it's beamed away by the Apollo.

It's a bookend finish to mirror the beginning as the team is having a meal on the balcony. Teyla invites Richard who initially seems set to decline, but he decides to join them. Then the conversation gets interesting as Rodney proclaims it's his inability to be fooled that prevented the AI from communicating with him. Why, if it weren't for a little help from Radek - hee! Rodney was fooled, too, because Radek's still offworld. Aww, poor Rodney. Even Richard pats his shoulder in a sympathetic gesture.

And that's the end.