In which Zin has opinions...

[zinnith]

So, this week's episode can basically be summed up with two words: Oh, Rodney!

Hey, John and Rodney still have game dates! Yay!

Can I just say something re: the ring? Why does everyone think is such a bad choice of ring for a girl? I think it's a lovely ring, and I would be very happy if someone was to give it to me. Is there some kind of secret female rule that says: 'You must not get engaged unless you get a diamond the size of your head'.? (Yes, I realise there probably is. I've never been any good with those secret female rules.)

Rodney, you have a good taste in jewellery. Don't let anyone tell you different.

But seriously, just look at John's face! That is pure devastation, right there! (And please ignore the fact that Rodney looks like a demented gnome in this cap...)



Things I liked: Zelenka and his pigeons! Teyla's kid has a family on Atlantis (Oh, John!) Keller being so awkward and cute! Ronon also being cute with all the smiles and the glances. Ronon and Keller being cute together! John knows Rodney's password! 42! Oh, boys, you are such geeks and totally made for each other! Radek saving the day like the human hamster he is! Can Radek and Sam have hot sweaty monkey sex resulting in genius babies now, please?

John! Climbing! Tower! Also, John, for your information, you're not Batman. You could try for friendly neighbourhood Spider-Sheppard, but you're not Batman, because Batman is not a dork. And Teyla! What are you doing out that window? You have a baby in your belly! Baby! Belly! That means no climbing walls for you!

Also, how much do I love that both John and Ronon's solution to the problem is to blow things up? Not to mention the fact that Lorne carries C-4 on his person! I definitely want to marry Lorne.

OMG, look at Katie fondling the Rodney-cactus. Someone get that woman a vibrator! It's blindingly obvious she's not getting any from Rodney. (And now I have ideas for fic where Katie hates Sheppard and wants him to die because he keeps cock-blocking Rodney, thus leaving Katie in a constant state of sexual frustration...)

But show, you know I love you, but can we please stop with the Rodney-bashing? Like Zelenka's: "Surprisingly, it's nothing Rodney did." Hello? How many times exactly has Rodney saved your collective butts? Note that the first thing everyone do when the lockdown starts it to try to get hold of Rodney, because Rodney will fix it. Note that the first one people turn to in a crisis is Rodney. And how often does anyone thank him afterwards? Could it possibly be that the reason for why Rodney gloats so much over his sucesses is because that is the only way he gets any recognition? We just take for granted that McKay will fix everything, and as soon as the crisis is over, we're back to making fun of him again. Ronon: "Did you hear McKay thought it was a real outbreak?" Yes, of course he thought it was a real outbreak. He was locked in a room without his radio and his computer, with no means to find out what was going on. Not to mention, he was in a very stressful sitation, nervous to begin with, and possibly sugar-crashing a bit. Could you please treat the man as a human being with real feelings instead of a constant source of comic relief?     

Also, Rodney. Yes, you would've made Katie miserable, but not from being you. Never from being you. It wouldn't have worked because you don't love her! You are a good person, you are probably one of the most underappreciated people on Atlantis, and you should go and let John comfort you right now.

See that look there? That's the look of a man in desperate need of a hug.

Comments

[zinfic.livejournal.com]

Well, to me that is a very very expensive ring... To be honest it's a complete mystery to me why people spend so much money on rings and weddings and so on when they could put that money towards having a good life together instead. Two of my best friends got engaged to each other last year. Their rings are silver, very simple and didn't cost much at all, and no one questions their commitment to each other. But I get that there are people to whom it is important, and I respect that even if I don't understand it.

Ah well, it's two completely different issues, and I see your point about Rodney's lack of commitment. Only, what speaks most clearly to me is the fact that he told John about the cost of the ring in the first place instead of saying 'I got this ring back on Earth and I think Katie will really like it.'

[tarlanx]

Rodney is a contractor working full time for the government in a high position so I would be surprised if he earned anything LESS than $6000 per month. (Someone fresh out of college with a computer degree earns at least $4000 per month)

$160 ring would be a lot to someone on a low wage setting out to make a life together....but it would be little more than loose change in Rodney's pocket, especially when you consider that he has spent a year in Atlantis with nothing to spend his money on. That's the perspective you need to have on this.

[zinfic.livejournal.com]

I see your point and I know Rodney's economical situation is a lot different from mine.

But consider the possibility that maybe Katie's grandmother had a ring just like that and Rodney knew about it and wanted to give her something similar because he knew how important her grandmother was to her. Now, we know that's not the case, because if it was, he wouldn't have talked about the cost of the ring, but instead he would've been all bouncy over how he found the perfect ring for the girlfriend he loves so much. But that, to me, would have done more to convince me of his seriousness than if he'd bought her a huge diamond.

Am I making any sense at all?

[tarlanx]

Oh yes...and I agree with you. If it had been an heirloom or a ring specifically bought because he knew it was exactly what Katie would want to wear on her ring finger for the rest of her life - like the character in Independence Day giving his girlfriend and engagement/wedding ring shaped like a dolphin - then the cost of the ring would *never* be the issue; the same way your friends were content with plain silver bands. It simply wouldn't matter then if the ring was made of plastic and had come out of a Christmas cracker... but that was not the case here, and that's what made the difference.

[zinfic.livejournal.com]

I'm glad we're on the same page there! Then do you also see my point, how it's not the fact that Rodney bought a cheap ring, but that he mentioned the cost at all that convinces me that he's not as serious about Katie as he thinks he is?

Even if he'd bragged about spending a huge amount of money, it would still have been all about the ring and not about Katie. Mentioning the cost at all just shows to me that in Rodney's mind it's the ring that matters and not Katie herself, which is not a very good place to be in when you're planning to get married ;-)

(Sorry if I'm beating the discussion to death... I have no life.)