pondering on pairings

[xparrot]

How can you like a pairing when you hate one character in the pairing? Do any of you do this? I often have my favorite characters in a pairing (sometimes to the point that I'll stray from my OTP to see my favorite with others - for all I am obsessively McSheppist, I will on occasion indulge in Rodney/various-others, because it's fun to see Rodney getting love.) But even when I have a favorite, I'll still like the other character, else I wouldn't be able to understand what they see in each other. I don't think I've ever had a preferred pairing (not just romantic, friendship, either) that I actively disliked one member. How do you manage it, if you do? How do you explain your favorite char's tastes, if you can't see the appeal yourself? I'm genuinely curious; I can't figure out how it would satisfy me to read or write something like that (break-up fics aside. And I only like writing break-up fics, I don't like reading them...)

(...Brought on by a discussion with another SGA fan who detests Rodney but apparently reads McShep.)

(...while I'm at it, did anyone see The Scene in "Miller's Crossing" as Rodney selfishly and deliberately dumping the problem of feeding Todd onto John? I'd never encountered that interpretation before, and it kind of boggles me. What with Rodney begging John to let him sacrifice himself, and then trying to sneak around John's back later anyway. Yes, Rodney can be an arrogant ass, it's part of his charm. But there's more to him than that. I always saw John as the selfish one in "Miller's Crossing", not allowing his teammate to give up his own life - and I love John for that crazy selfishness, even if it was Rodney's choice; I love that John couldn't. But I didn't suspect that Rodney expected that - I thought he went to John partly to get his affairs in order, but mostly because he needed John's help to do it. Without John's orders, the Marines would've shot Todd the moment he laid a hand on Rodney, and that wouldn't have helped anyone. Rodney went to John prepared for an argument - but not for John's flat refusal. And I think he probably struggled to come to terms with what John did, but in the end forgave John, because John needed his acceptance, and Rodney understood why John did it, even if he couldn't have done the same. It never crossed my mind that he was actually manipulating John to kill for him. I wonder how arrogantly selfish that makes him in "The Shrine," then, taking up John's valuable time demanding comfort and beer, just because he's losing his mind...)

Comments

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I was actually thinking Rodney was going to offer his life to Todd when he was first trying to convince him to do the programming, and was disappointed he didn't (I loooove me some sacrificial!Rodney!) So then when Rodney went to John I totally flipped out. My impression always was that Rodney wanted emotional support from John (say goodbye and ask him to read his eulogy again) but also more practical assistance. Rodney's used to John's help with tricky situations, and he couldn't just throw himself under Todd's wheels; someone would need to understand it was a willing sacrifice, so Todd wouldn't be executed on the spot once Rodney was gone.

I've seen some fans argue that John & Rodney aren't really friends - that Rodney wants John's friendship as sort of a geek-craving-the-popular-kid's-approval thing, and John just barely tolerates Rodney's presence because they're coworkers, and also John's a really nice stand-up guy who doesn't want to be mean to Rodney's face. The first couple seasons, I can kinda see where they get this, but it becomes difficult to sustain around "Echoes" when John is seeking out Rodney's company; and by now, after "The Shrine," all I can do is point and laugh at them. Loudly. Heh.