Gah! Just when I thought I'd written enough on this... ::shakes fist::
Why is Keller the head of medicine on Atlantis, and not another older, more experienced doctor?
Because none of the older, more experienced doctors stepped up, as was established in Jennifer's introductory episode. Jennifer did and that's what she continues to do. Just like John, but with less bloodshed.
Why does this need to be hammered home, is my question? How often did SGA go over and over the fact that John was there because Elizabeth manipulated him there? Or that Carson was there because he liked fiddling with genes? I don't recall that it was much beyond their character establishing first eps. Rodney is a genius, that's well established, but he doesn't remind us, every ep, that this is why, specifically, he's in Atlantis.
For me, Ford didn't work out because no one could get a handle on his character. There wasn't anything he brought to the table. John was a better fighter, as was Teyla, and there you were. What character (not Carson, because he ded) is better at medicine than Jennifer? A named character that the show can turn to with a medical question?
And I especially mind because I have a hard time not seeing it as sexist.
Oddly, the very reason I like Keller, was so excited to see her in her role (played by Staite, written as she is) is because it's breaking what I think is a common action/adventure sexist trope. We get boys all the time, who are fair to middling, thrown into adventures where they're over their heads and having to hang on by their fingernails. (That would be Rodney in this show.)
But girls are rarely allowed that role. They're either incredibly strong to begin with (Teyla, Sam -- and I love both of them, I do), or they're shunted off into a little protected place (Elizabeth -- a massive reason I've been frustrated with her character).
For the first time in StarGate, we have a girl filling the Rodney role. She came to Atlantis because she had a thinky skill (medicine) and all of a sudden she's being thrown into these action/adventures she's not prepared for.
I know you feel that Rodney is made "superhuman" because of his science, but in his establishing episode (Hide and Seek) it's not his science-genius that gets him a place at the table. It's him putting on the shield, walking into the energy creature, and throwing that box through the open stargate. Being a scientist brought him to the room, but being brave brought him to the table.
Jennifer had a similar experience in her establishing episode (Missing). Maybe not as tightly told as Rodney's establishing ep, but I'll take it. :) Being a doctor is what brought her to that planet (doing check ups on the Athosians), but it's when she crossed the rope bridge, ate the ground-squid, picked up a gun and shot the bad guy, that she showed herself worthy of a place at the table. (At least to me. And Teyla. *g*)
But yeah, the question, why Jennifer? I think it's very similar to the questions I've heard other fans asking, why Rodney? And my answer is the same, because they're us, and that's kind of cool.
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winterfish
no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 12:29 am (UTC)Why is Keller the head of medicine on Atlantis, and not another older, more experienced doctor?
Because none of the older, more experienced doctors stepped up, as was established in Jennifer's introductory episode. Jennifer did and that's what she continues to do. Just like John, but with less bloodshed.
Why does this need to be hammered home, is my question? How often did SGA go over and over the fact that John was there because Elizabeth manipulated him there? Or that Carson was there because he liked fiddling with genes? I don't recall that it was much beyond their character establishing first eps. Rodney is a genius, that's well established, but he doesn't remind us, every ep, that this is why, specifically, he's in Atlantis.
For me, Ford didn't work out because no one could get a handle on his character. There wasn't anything he brought to the table. John was a better fighter, as was Teyla, and there you were. What character (not Carson, because he ded) is better at medicine than Jennifer? A named character that the show can turn to with a medical question?
And I especially mind because I have a hard time not seeing it as sexist.
Oddly, the very reason I like Keller, was so excited to see her in her role (played by Staite, written as she is) is because it's breaking what I think is a common action/adventure sexist trope. We get boys all the time, who are fair to middling, thrown into adventures where they're over their heads and having to hang on by their fingernails. (That would be Rodney in this show.)
But girls are rarely allowed that role. They're either incredibly strong to begin with (Teyla, Sam -- and I love both of them, I do), or they're shunted off into a little protected place (Elizabeth -- a massive reason I've been frustrated with her character).
For the first time in StarGate, we have a girl filling the Rodney role. She came to Atlantis because she had a thinky skill (medicine) and all of a sudden she's being thrown into these action/adventures she's not prepared for.
I know you feel that Rodney is made "superhuman" because of his science, but in his establishing episode (Hide and Seek) it's not his science-genius that gets him a place at the table. It's him putting on the shield, walking into the energy creature, and throwing that box through the open stargate. Being a scientist brought him to the room, but being brave brought him to the table.
Jennifer had a similar experience in her establishing episode (Missing). Maybe not as tightly told as Rodney's establishing ep, but I'll take it. :) Being a doctor is what brought her to that planet (doing check ups on the Athosians), but it's when she crossed the rope bridge, ate the ground-squid, picked up a gun and shot the bad guy, that she showed herself worthy of a place at the table. (At least to me. And Teyla. *g*)
But yeah, the question, why Jennifer? I think it's very similar to the questions I've heard other fans asking, why Rodney? And my answer is the same, because they're us, and that's kind of cool.