I'm Baaaaaaaack! :-)

[rusty_armour]

I managed to write today for the first time in weeks and I'm so happy and relieved. It felt as if a large part of me was missing when I wasn't writing, but now everything seems to have clicked back into place. Oh, I wouldn't say that what I wrote today was wonderful, but it was something, thank Herne.

At first, I wasn't writing because I lost all motivation. I literally stopped caring. Then I just didn't have any time because I was staying later at work, betaing for other people, meeting up with friends and family, working on Christmas cards, doing Christmas shopping, tidying my apartment, putting up my tiny Christmas tree, etc. I think I might have been able to keep coming up with endless excuses to put off the frightening climb back into the saddle, but then I finally screwed up enough courage to watch "Remnants," the SGA episode I'd been avoiding for at least a month.

As soon as I saw the trailer for "Remnants," I didn't want to watch it. I hated "Common Ground" and I really wasn't looking forward to yet another episode in which Kolya tortures Sheppard. I obviously take my shows way too seriously, but "Commond Ground" genuinely upsets me. I was only able to watch it a second time with commentary and, even then, I was squirming and flinching. So...it was with great reluctance that I forced myself to watch "Remnants". Ironically, after all the fretting and carrying on, I didn't have a problem with it. I had imagined worse things happening than what the episode actually delivered. In fact, the torture seemed almost tame compared to "Common Ground," especially when I discovered that Kolya was just a hallucination and Sheppard had been inventing his own torture. Talk about lack of an imagination! If it had been me, I would have concocted much worse for myself. Kolya would have been hauling out the rack, or throwing me into a cell of little ease. No, wait. He'd start with a threat of drowning because that would probably break me easily. If that didn't work, he'd suggest hanging by the neck or burning at the stake. I'm telling you. Sheppard got off easy. Maybe that's why the episode didn't bother me: Kolya wasn't quite Kolya.

Anywaaaaaaay, my point is that I quickly realized what a big baby I had been by avoiding the episode, especially as it meant that I had to put "Brain Storm," "Infection," and "Identity" on hold as well. Okay, I'll admit that I was a little reluctant to watch "Brain Storm" because I'd heard it was heavy on the McKeller and the only thing it seemed to have going for it was Dave Foley. However, much to my horror, I found the McKeller moments rather endearing. I'd like to blame it on David Hewlett's great skill as an actor and his ability to sell the relationship I've been stubbornly resisting. Unfortunately, I think I must be starting to accept it on some level because I ended up watching "Infection" right after "Brain Storm" to see how McKay and Keller might be acting after joining the Mile High Club and whether there would be any reaction from the team. I have to admit that I love the exchange between Sheppard and Ronon at the beginning of "Brain Storm," when Sheppard asks Ronon if he thinks McKay will ever make a move on Keller.

Uh...what was the point of this post again? Oh, right. The much shorter version of the story is that watching those episodes actually made me want to write again. So nothing very exciting and information that probably could have been conveyed in a few sentences rather than a few paragraphs. But, then, what would be the fun in that? *g*

Comments

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

Hang on... you're complaining because a character didn't get tortured enough?! Anyway... good to see you're back again and that you got inspiration to write again!

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Hang on...you're complaining because a character didn't get tortured enough?!

LOL! No, despite what it sounds like, I'm extremely grateful that Sheppard wasn't tortured enough! *g*

Anyway...good to see you're back again and that you got inspiration to write again!

Thank you very much! I'm hoping this positive trend will continue. I'm off work until January 5th, so it's not like I won't have the time. :-)

[njc2007.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to see you back in the saddle, so to speak. As for McKeller, I wasn't too thrilled when it started. I wanted to see Ronon/Keller progress. Now, I like McKeller. I think the writers are doing a much better job on this relationship than they usually do. That, and the actors are both very good at making it believable.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to see you back in the saddle, so to speak.

Thank you! :-) With any luck, I'll be able to stay in the saddle and not be bucked off the horse again! *g*

As for McKeller, I wasn't too thrilled when it started. I wanted to see Ronon/Keller progress. Now, I like McKeller. I think the writers are doing a much better job on this relationship than they usually do. That, and the actors are both very good at making it believable.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who is starting to accept McKeller. I think you're right about the writers doing a better job for once, not to mention Hewlett and Staite making the scenario believable. I think one of my main problems with McKeller when it started out was that we were being told that there was this connection and attraction but it wasn't being shown. I mean, I realize that there's only so much that can be covered in a typical TV episode, especially in the sci-fi genre, but it felt like McKeller was being thrust upon us and we were expected to buy it sight unseen. Fortunately, I think "Brain Storm" went a long way in remedying that situation.

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

I saw obfreak's video for the Common Ground episode before I saw that season's episodes and frankly, once I finally got to see the episode in its entirety, I thought the fanvid was far, far better, imnsho. http://obfreak.livejournal.com/11896.html

I loved that out of all the science peeps at the big sekkrit conference in Brain Storm, Bill Nye was nearly always front-and-centre. Plus ... plutoids. How had I managed to miss learning about that before this episode?

On a very oddball Canadiana note, the opening moment where we saw Foley? I realised I recognised both him and his voice ... but I thought it was Stephen Harper. I suppose stranger things have happened in Canadian television. *firmly doesn't think about the floor hockey in the PM's residence*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Yes, the science peeps from "Brain Storm" were a lot of fun, especially when anyone poked fun at Bill Nye. I thought McKay's reference to the plutoids was hilarious.

I had been told that Dave Foley was in the episode before I watched it, so I knew enough to look for him. I'm a Kids in the Hall fan, so I think I would have recognized him anyway. Still...he has gotten older and a little bit chunkier. I can see how you might have mistaken him for Stephen Harper when you first saw him. However, I'd like to think that if Stephen Harper had been in the episode, the writers would have found some way to kill him off. *g*

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

Heh. They wouldn't be able to kill his character off ... he'd have the show prorogued! ;-) (Ha ... now wouldn't that be an interesting method to Save-Elizabeth-From-Nanites plot twist, eh? Prorogue the leader!) I think I like that word too much. Prorogue ... it kind of makes amateur rogues look ... well, amateur. ;-)

I'm a big KITH fan as well. I can remember most of the Mass Murder sketch by heart *geeks out* I think it's my all-time Foley favourite. and have managed to addict the young 'uns to it as well. *bless us YouTube, for we are desperate*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Hmm...I should have considered the inherent dangers of proroguing. No, Harper wouldn't go down without a fight.

It's great that you've managed to convert some young 'uns to KITH! :-) I'm sure I've seen the Mass Murder sketch, but I should check it out on YouTube. Any excuse to watch KITH! *g*

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

This evil moment is brought to you on behalf of KITH:

*hums*


"These are the Daves I know, I know.
These are the Daves I know."



*runs madly off in all directions*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Ah, you mean this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmQRmHgExV0)? :-) I have to confess that I'd forgotten about it before I read the lyrics you provided. Then it all came rushing back...

One of my favourites is the My Pen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFEUy8NzazE&feature=related) sketch as I'm a bit possessive when it comes to my own pens. *g*

Oh, and here's the Mass Murder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R02XR4EwV0I) sketch in case you'd like to re-watch it.

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

Heh heh heh ... I pulled Mass Murder and ripped it to my iPod ages ago. That's partly why my kids know it so well.

However, I don't recall seeing My Pen before ... that's brilliant! I'm ripping it, too! :-D

(And he's got an actual Macintosh! One of the original ones! They were aweeeeesome!) *shows my incredible ancientness in computer-years* Speaking of which, did you know that this February, it will be 1234567890 in Unix time?

*g*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Happy New Year! :-) I'm so glad I was able to introduce you to the My Pen sketch. I think I cried the first time I saw it, I was laughing so hard! *g*

I'm forced to confess that I had no idea that Bruce McCulloch was using one of the original Macs, though I'm not surprised somehow. I also had no idea that this February will be 1234567890 in Unix time! It looks like I've already learned something exciting and new in 2009! ;-)

[pyrateanny.livejournal.com]

Hey, Rusty:

Glad you're back in the SGA groove, and writing again t'boot!

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's good to be back in the SGA and writing groove again! :-)

[tazzles.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you've got your groove back. Good luck with your writing and your SGA watching.
And Merry Christmas!!

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Thanks, tazzles! :-) I still have to watch the most recent episode, but I did manage to get some more writing done. :-)

I was at my parents' on the 24th, so I'll wish you a belated Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! :-)

[dubghall.livejournal.com]

OK, I'm way behind here. We fell behind on watching SGA episodes (mostly because we didn't pay for a cable package that shows it). I do have to say that I was very happy that I'd read your preview of this episode, so that I knew ahead of time that it was in his head. It would have been difficult to get through, otherwise.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I'm surprised I didn't have a more difficult time getting through "Remnants" considering that I haven't been able to watch "Common Ground" again. I guess I imagined such horrible things for the episode that the actual canon events seemed almost mundane in comparison. *g*

I hope you enjoy the rest of the season. Unfortunately, I think it had more downs than ups. The finale was okayish except for one moment at the end that made me want to puke. I've been forced to start writing a fic in direct response...And I'm sure you'll figure out what I'm talking when you see the episode. ;-)

[dubghall.livejournal.com]

We watched the finale with our group of friends -- skipping over the episodes in between. With the finale, a lot was predictable. As the City was coming down, I said "and it will land conveniently just off the west coast of North America". *sigh*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the finale was kind of a let down. It was pretty predictable and not really that spectacular -- not compared to some of the other SGA cliffhangers, like the one from first season (e.g. "The Siege"). And, yes, it was pretty convenient that they managed to land the city just off the west coast of North America with that "nice view" of the Golden Gate Bridge.

My major problem with the episode was that awful piece of shit that the writers had coming out of McKay's mouth on the balcony. I literally said, "BLEEECCHH!" and started making barfing noises. I find it so depressing that they made that the last line McKay said in the series. Maybe he'll have a better last line in the DVD movie that is supposedly being made.