So I'm kind of research watching for a thing

[sapote]

And John Sheppard just called a planet's entire historical way of life "that crap".

I LOVE THIS SHOW. IT IS SO FUCKED UP

Who wants to help me research-watch? I would like to make a list of the Top Ten Atlantis is Colonialist episodes for seasons 1 - 3. The Tower is pretty far up there, but I especially want anything where they're all "we have the gene, neener neener" while dealing with a well-established civilization.

Comments

[lurkmuch.livejournal.com]

OOohh. I might maybe want to do this? (I don't think I could watch The Tower again without drinking heavily. But that still leaves a number of eps.)

I am pretty sure Harmony would also rate? But that's season 4, and is thus disqualified. (It also contains John pretending to be Han Solo, and I have stated my position on such things before.)

I love my fucked up show!

[phnelt.livejournal.com]

I guess Childhood's End would sort of qualify?

And I'm pretty sure much of the stuff with the Genii, like in the Storm (or was it the Eye) where Weir's all 'we can save the galaxy' and Kolya's all 'bitch please, you are not even from here'. So that would be Underground as well as the storm and the eye.

I do love the bit in (Hide and Seek?) where they're all, these are light switches and Teyla's all 'my people mastered fire long ago' and lights a candle from halfway across the room.

Just generally the expedition has a really patronizing attitude towards the natives. This is where I miss Daniel especially, because he'd at least try.

I don't know how much of the Wraith Worshipper stuff would count. I haven't really been paying attention. At the beginning of S2 I stopped facing episodes sober and by the end of S3 I was drinking pretty heavily to get through an episode and so my recall is less than would be desired. S1 all the way!

If this were a vid, it would be awesome to take shots of the game out of context. Seriously. Consider it. You know you want to.

Man, just thinking about these episodes was a fraught experience. I hope this helps even a little.

[lurkmuch.livejournal.com]

I think "Suspicion" might also be a good example, where everyone is convinced that Teyla and the Athosians are in league with the Wraith - very "you primitives need to earn our trust and can clearly not make important decisions on your own".

"Brotherhood" also, as they're pretty much going to take the ZPM from the monks or whatever.

"Inferno" maybe isn't Top Ten worthy, although I think there's a fair amount of attitude about rescuing the inhabitants from the volcano? (Bonus insane sexism from McKay. God, I sort of have to focus on one form of asshattery at a time with this show or I'll go mad.)

"Sanctuary", I seem to remember a certain vibe...but I don't think I have sufficient alcohol in my house to watch this one again either. I think I've repressed everything after "MALP on a stick".

The whole storyline where they genetically alter the Wraith? That's...well, a stunning display of medical ethics, for one thing, but I also see a really creepy vibe of "let us remake the galaxy in our own image" there.

Also, I keep thinking "hey, what about the episode where they..." and then realizing, "no, on second thought, that's a better example of racism, or misogyny". This show - so pretty, but so, SO FUCKED UP.

[phnelt.livejournal.com]

See, as I was starting to think about it, what I was coming up with is that ALL SGA episodes are really really colonialist, and that was really upsetting. So then I was just going for the worst examples.

I remember a vibe in Sanctuary where they were all, 'religious beliefs are for losers and stupid people' which is real similar in my mind.

I think I didn't mind the outright thievery in Brotherhood so much because those humans just wanted to put the ZPM behind a rock and the expedition were freezing and out of coffee. My respect for your beliefs only goes to the point hwere it is not killing me, sorry if that makes me a bad person.

I HATE THE DE-WRAITHING STORYLINE WITH THE FIRE OF A THOUSAND BURNING SUNS THERE IS NO PROPER WAY FOR ME TO CONVEY MY ABSOLUTE DISGUST AND LOATHING AND REJECTIONG. AAAAAAH. AAAAAH. *froth*

But yeah, those are good examples. I'm not willing to rewatch Inferno in order to see. The only part of that I really remember is that it was a classic case of deadalus ex machina.

[lurkmuch.livejournal.com]

Dude. Sometimes I forget about how SGA could win the 'Ism Olympics.

And, good point about Brotherhood - taking a ZPM from monks who weren't using it? Rude. Taking a ZPM from kids who need it to protect themselves from the Wraith? TOTAL DICK MOVE.

The De-Wraithing storyline brought us one good thing:
Missionary Position (http://trinityofone.livejournal.com/60584.html#cutid1") by trinityofone.

deadalus ex machina. BWAH!! YES. There was whole lotta episodes ending in "oh noes, we're stuck here and we're going to die...Col. Caldwell! OH HAI!"

[phnelt.livejournal.com]

I haven't read that story!

I have to laugh at the Daedalus, because otherwise I just feel sad. SG1 did 7 seasons without a ship that they didn't steal. And those sometimes sent them out into deep space.

Taking a ZPM from kids who need it to protect themselves from the Wraith? TOTAL DICK MOVE. totally. And it definitely has that sense of 'we'd use it way better than you'. God, this is so depressing.

[lurkmuch.livejournal.com]

That is one of my favorite funny stories in this fandom (and god, there are a lot!).

You know, if it weren't for the fandom, I don't think I'd like this show anywhere *near* as much. The show writers are *lazy*, on top of their other problems.

[phnelt.livejournal.com]

I just read it and dude. Hilarious!

I got into the show through the fandom, and so far the fandom has outlasted my watching of the show. Um, actually there's this song by the Arrogant Worms that sums up how I feel about SGA. Here are some select lyrics:
Our love is like a surgical procedure
It's painful and invasive, your insurance won't cover
And when it's done you walk funny forever
Our love is like a surgical procedure

Our love is like a Meatloaf song
It has its moments but it's way too long
Like a bat outta hell it all goes wrong
Our love is like a Meatloaf song

But yes. I wish someone would vid this song to Atlantis. I can see it in my mind!

Lazy writers, no cookie.

[sapote3.livejournal.com]

I am so, so sorry. You all are like IT BURNS, IT BURNS for sixteen comments so far.

At least you and phnelt are bonding?

[lurkmuch.livejournal.com]

It does burn!

But, oh, it hurts so good!

I am amazed by my ability to *forget* how fucked up this show is. The slash goggles, they are made of asbestos. For my safety!

[sapote3.livejournal.com]

I am SO SORRY. I want it so I can write fic! Does that make this better?

[phnelt.livejournal.com]

I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU. Never. The only thing that could make me feel any better would be an SGA breakup vid, possibly to New Car Smell. hint hint.

[sapote3.livejournal.com]

You want me to VID THIS SHOW?
Do you have any idea?

You probably do. My beta is a harsh mistress.

[phnelt.livejournal.com]

I wish I could claim naivete and ignorance but really, I know what I ask. It would be awesome. And it would be two things you haven't done. SGA and comedy. It would be a wing stretching exercise. Fly little bird, fly!

[lurkmuch.livejournal.com]

*nods the nod of a shameless enabler*

SGA + Comedy=Weapons Grade AwesomeSauce.

[phnelt.livejournal.com]

The people have spoken. And would the people ever steer you wrong? /rhetorical question.

[phnelt.livejournal.com]

I thought of another moment! In the Siege pt. 2 (yes? or pt 1. The one is S1) Teyla's all 'I can sense the wriath, let me help!' and the new dude (everett?) is all 'YOU DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS EXPEDITION, ATHOSIAN. WAY TO BE SECOND CLASS' and then she gets all ignored, as do her people.

[lurkmuch.livejournal.com]

OH YES. I had forgotten about that! Col. Everett was a total sexist colonialist ASSHOLE and I enjoyed his completely inevitable Wraith life-suckage. Don't be mean to Teyla, you dick! (Or Sheppard. Or Elizabeth. Also, shut up!)

[phnelt.livejournal.com]

Proud moments in colonialist history. That moment totally shifted all the power dynamics in the show. Up to that point it's the scrappy undernourished expedition, just tryin' to make do. But after that they have all the power with which to pass judgment over the rest of the galaxy. I miss the Athosians, man.

[lurkmuch.livejournal.com]

That might be part of why I hated him so. Because I was so *irritated* that they had to be bailed out by Earth. And I did love the cutoff from Earth vibe of season 1.

[phnelt.livejournal.com]

It was the Voyager of Stargate. And now it's trying to be Deep Space Nine. And failing so hard. If they'd kept at being Voyager they wouldn't have so much trouble coming up with new stories to tell. I'm just sayin'

[lurkmuch.livejournal.com]

*nods*

If you fail to learn the lessons of Star Trek, you will be doomed to repeat their mistakes. (And if so, I'm hoping for "Spock's Brain" rather than the finale of Enterprise.)

[phnelt.livejournal.com]

why did you say the demon incantation? Do you have any idea what you may have brought down upon us?

[lurkmuch.livejournal.com]

The SGA team is brought back to Earth because the IOA has opened Atlantis to commercial ventures, including a much awaited Starbucks. Meanwhile, a paunchy and greying SG-1 drinks a few beers and gives us a few "remember whens" to introduce the clips about wacky Atlantis adventures. Levar Burton guest stars as the civilian engineer who is adapting puddlejumpers for use on Earth.

[phnelt.livejournal.com]

aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhh. It BURNS! IT BURNS! My therapy bill is coming to you, and you know you deserve it.