Because none of the older, more experienced doctors stepped up, as was established in Jennifer's introductory episode.
But why not? Did they all have their own projects? Did they all quit because Carson died? Where were they? THAT is my problem. We know there are other doctors on Atlantis - Biro, the woman in "Sunday", the Indian-looking guy who keeps having to deal with Ronon, the entire team gathered with Carson in "Conversion." Where were they? That is my question.
If this were s1 Atlantis, I could believe that a junior doctor could be forced to "step up" due to personnel loss, and the IOA wouldn't be around to stop it. But s4 is when the IOA, thanks to the gate bridge, is most entrenched in Atlantis's politics...(this has given me the personal theory that Keller is an IOA plant. If not a Trust plant...)
And why did Keller come to Atlantis to begin with? This annoys me because in the recent ep "Whispers", they answered it for two throwaway characters we'll never see again - but they've never answered it for Keller. You can ascribe her reasons - she wanted the challenge, she was recruited, whatever - but none have ever implied in the show.
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.
It's what won him the hearts of some viewers; I don't think it's the only reason Rodney's on the show or on the team. His reasons for coming at all are given in "Rising" when it's clear he's got special skill with Ancient tech and ZPMs, and his reasons for being on the team are established in the next episode, "38 Minutes", where he consistently outthinks an entire room of Atlantis scientists, proving just how well & brilliantly he works under pressure. "Hide & Seek" proves that he's got some courage under the cowardice, but it's not his only or most defining moment.
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.
I understand this in principle. It would be really interesting to get a female Rodney character - a character with enormous ability but enormous flaws as well. I just don't see how we get that with Keller.
Even in "Missing," she had to be coddled by Teyla most of the way (albeit Teyla-style coddling). Her picking up the gun at the end did show initiative (though it was to help Teyla and to save her own life, and not risking it as Rodney's situation was). And considering Teyla was already inviting her to a special Athosian feast, just the two of them, without her teammates, I'd say she was pretty accepting of Keller already.
--Ack, I've got to go to work! I apologize for my brusqueness here, writing under time pressure ^^; Will try to sound less ruffled when I return...!
no subject
But why not? Did they all have their own projects? Did they all quit because Carson died? Where were they? THAT is my problem. We know there are other doctors on Atlantis - Biro, the woman in "Sunday", the Indian-looking guy who keeps having to deal with Ronon, the entire team gathered with Carson in "Conversion." Where were they? That is my question.
If this were s1 Atlantis, I could believe that a junior doctor could be forced to "step up" due to personnel loss, and the IOA wouldn't be around to stop it. But s4 is when the IOA, thanks to the gate bridge, is most entrenched in Atlantis's politics...(this has given me the personal theory that Keller is an IOA plant. If not a Trust plant...)
And why did Keller come to Atlantis to begin with? This annoys me because in the recent ep "Whispers", they answered it for two throwaway characters we'll never see again - but they've never answered it for Keller. You can ascribe her reasons - she wanted the challenge, she was recruited, whatever - but none have ever implied in the show.
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.
It's what won him the hearts of some viewers; I don't think it's the only reason Rodney's on the show or on the team. His reasons for coming at all are given in "Rising" when it's clear he's got special skill with Ancient tech and ZPMs, and his reasons for being on the team are established in the next episode, "38 Minutes", where he consistently outthinks an entire room of Atlantis scientists, proving just how well & brilliantly he works under pressure. "Hide & Seek" proves that he's got some courage under the cowardice, but it's not his only or most defining moment.
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.
I understand this in principle. It would be really interesting to get a female Rodney character - a character with enormous ability but enormous flaws as well. I just don't see how we get that with Keller.
Even in "Missing," she had to be coddled by Teyla most of the way (albeit Teyla-style coddling). Her picking up the gun at the end did show initiative (though it was to help Teyla and to save her own life, and not risking it as Rodney's situation was). And considering Teyla was already inviting her to a special Athosian feast, just the two of them, without her teammates, I'd say she was pretty accepting of Keller already.
--Ack, I've got to go to work! I apologize for my brusqueness here, writing under time pressure ^^; Will try to sound less ruffled when I return...!