Olivia Sutton's Fanfic Journal

NOTE: These are my original thoughts on "Sunday" as posted to the Rodney/Carson list, last Saturday. I've re-watched the episode since then and will be posting updated comments. --OS
PS-- Comments Welcome!
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SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS - Sunday
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SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS - Sunday
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SPOILERS - Sunday

Hi all--

Ok, so what the ...?

I watched "Sunday" last night, and was it just me or was the episode VERY very weird?

And, I not just talking about the fact the story wasn't told in order -- I've seen that before, I get it, heck --the idea of telling a story back-to-front actually goes back to a lot of classic film noirs like *Sunset Boulevard* and *Double Indemnity*.
But the non-linear storytelling aside, uh, huh? The entire episode had an almost dream-like quanity to it. I actually almost *expected* someone to wake up at the end and say, "it's all just a dream"? Ya' know what I mean? Especially the last scene. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

OK-- first, who was the guy that was hitting on Dr. Weir? I don't think I've ever seen him before, and yet Weir (despite trying to brush him off in one scene) seemed, when talking to Teyla later, to be interested in him. Then she drops him like a rock?
What? I mean, really -- Weir is NOT that capricious! And she's been married before-- why the heck was she acting like a teenager on her first date about the entire thing?

Second-- MANDATORY REST DAY??? And this is the first we've heard about it in three years? I've WORKED in 24/7 industries, and it simply doesn't work that way. You get days off, but everyone does NOT take the SAME day off. Believe me. And that's in retail/grocery -- hospitals, emergency services, etc, heck, even restaurants, all work like that. You are more likely to work Thursday through Sunday and have Monday off. Obviously, on Atlantis-- the gateroom needs to be manned 24/7, as does the infirmary, and *somebody* better be watching the long-range scanners (in case the Wraith show up, tho' we haven't actually seen the Wraith in a *while*). So, what's with the sudden mandatory rest day?
I mean, don't get me wrong-- I actually LIKED the idea of seeing what everyone does on their day off (who figured John for a golfer or Lorne for an amateur artist?), but in terms of everyone having the same day off, it's like, huh?
And if it was for dramatic effect-- to see a quiet day suddenly going haywire -- then they *totally* lost that dramatic effect by jumping back and forth in time.

OK-- about the jumping back and forth in time. To me it almost looked like they were trying to save the episode in the editing-- that it had gone waaaaaay too long, or they'd forgetton the shoot the exposition, or something *else* disasterous happened (a roll of film went missing?) but it looked like they were trying to salvage something, rather than doing something cool. That's just my opinion. (for the record I thought "The Ark" would have worked better dramatically without the time-jump. I mean, you *knew* John and Rodney would both make it!)

Right-- now... CARSON-- they killed CARSON???????? What he'd ever do to anybody? Dr. Carson Beckett was always sweet and kind, and cute as heck (those eyes!). He, Rodney, Zelenka, were always favorites of mine (as are Weir & Sheppard). But all the way thru' the episode, it was like everyone was ignoring Carson, paying him no mind. I mean, really, all he wanted was for someone to go fishing with him. (And I had the sneaking suspicion that Rodney, despite what he said to Katie, would have actually *enjoyed* fishing with Carson).
The scene with Rodney, in a *suit & tie* in Carson's rooms, packing the photographs and such was heartbreaking though. And I couldn't help but notice the number of people in suits (not uniforms) at the funeral. Waaaahhhh!

Oh-- and the bagpipes, um, nice try guys, but-- that was some of the *worst* bagpipe music I've ever heard (my local police pipe & drum band sounds better). Also, for a funeral they *should* have been playing "Amazing Grace", it's traditional, especially for someone who's died in the line of duty. And, if not that, they should have played "Scotland the Brave" which would have worked fine.
Still-- no body, so HE'S NOT DEAD!!!! Ever notice on detective stories, especially on TV, if there's no body, if you didn't actually see it-- the character comes back? And I've heard rumors, just like I heard rumors about "Sunday" (ah, the net, couldn't keep a secret...). And they brought Daniel back on SG1 after a whole season, so there's hope.

Finally, that last scene between Carson and Rodney? Huh? THAT was strange! Very strange! I need to watch the ep. again, but it almost felt like Rodney was *also* dead-- or dreaming. And that can't kill off my Rodney!!!

And that brings me back to my original point-- the entire episode, and I mean the *entire* episode felt incredibly strange. It was like, there was something *else* going on, especially with the weird time-jumps. OK, putting aside extra-"filmic" excuses (the film went missing, the ep ran long, etc), I almost thought that, at the end, they'd pull back and show the entire episode was from CARSON's point-of-view, that is, his dead pov. How poor Carson never felt appreciated? How he felt everyone was always brushing him off? That would have made sense. As would have the funeral then, with Weir's speech. Even the bad bagpipe music would fit as Carson's pov (he'd naturally be in a position to criticise the bag pipe music-- he is Scottish!)

What does everyone else think?

--Olivia Sutton