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?
Marie. Here, you have a name. Marie, who was there way before Keller, who assisted Carson as well a Jennifer could have done, who was obviously talented. But alas for her, she was also over 30. You keep saying "Because none of the older, more experienced doctors stepped up, as was established in Jennifer's introductory episode.", how do *you* know Marie was asked and refused the position ? I'm talking about Marie here, but any other doctor could have done the same. What about that doctor in Sunday ? The one that takes over for Carson when he's off ? Apparently she was happy to be here and talented enough that he trusted her to put her in charge, but just like poor Marie, she was also over 30 ! What about Biro ? (once again over 30 ? Too old for the demographics ?)
Our problem is that the writers left everything to be *implied* or *assumed* or *whatever, we can't be bothered, use your own imagination*.
If they had proven to me even once, that not *any* doctor could have done what Keller has done so far, then I probably would like the character a bit more, but they haven't proved anything. Any doctor on Earth and on Atlantis is able to do what she does.
On Earth, the doctors with positions of power are not "simple normal doctors", they are "extremely talented and driven doctors". I have friends working for doctors without borders (which is basically Atlantis) and believe me, the selection process is definitely not "okay, you're a fine doctor, that's good enough for us, we'll give you a chance to prove yourself later", oh no no no, the doctors and nurses working for them have to have at least 10 years experience (after their internships), they have to have at least one if not multiple specialities, they need to have interests outside their fields, they need to be able to never ever give up, especially under pressure, they need to be smart and fast enough that they can improvise with whatever is at hand (especially in combat or dangerous situations), they need to physically be able to handle themselves, they need to be the best of the best of the best. And even then, they might not get selected ! And we're only talking Earth here, not even another galaxy. Somehow I would imagine the screening for getting send to another galaxy would be even harder, and the screening to become CMO would be among very very few. If Keller is just "like us" or a "normal talented doctor", then I'm sorry, but it's just not enough. It's not believable. One of my friend is right now in Armenia, treating patient with a form multi-resistant tuberculosis, she's been head of her department for 10 years before they even accepted her demands, and it then took 3 years for her to get through all the screenings, what's Keller's history ? See if the writers were to give us something on her to make us think she's that good, then maybe there would be a lot less discussion in the form of "Why her ? Why is she here ?"
Thing is, if someone like Keller were to work in a normal hospital on Earth ? She would never be in a position of power, and she probably would get her ass kicked until she gets another look on life, doctors can't be meek, nor uncertain, nor hesitant, nor scared (as said before, how did she even made it out of medical school ?). It's one thing to be smart, it's another thing to have confidence in the fact that what you do is the absolute best (if anything the writers show her in doubt more often than not, and for someone in her position it's not acceptable).
I do get that you like the Keller character, it's fine with me, to each their own, but just *saying* that she's the best is not *showing* that she's the best ;).
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winterfish
no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 01:09 pm (UTC)Marie. Here, you have a name. Marie, who was there way before Keller, who assisted Carson as well a Jennifer could have done, who was obviously talented. But alas for her, she was also over 30.
You keep saying "Because none of the older, more experienced doctors stepped up, as was established in Jennifer's introductory episode.", how do *you* know Marie was asked and refused the position ?
I'm talking about Marie here, but any other doctor could have done the same. What about that doctor in Sunday ? The one that takes over for Carson when he's off ? Apparently she was happy to be here and talented enough that he trusted her to put her in charge, but just like poor Marie, she was also over 30 ! What about Biro ? (once again over 30 ? Too old for the demographics ?)
Our problem is that the writers left everything to be *implied* or *assumed* or *whatever, we can't be bothered, use your own imagination*.
If they had proven to me even once, that not *any* doctor could have done what Keller has done so far, then I probably would like the character a bit more, but they haven't proved anything. Any doctor on Earth and on Atlantis is able to do what she does.
On Earth, the doctors with positions of power are not "simple normal doctors", they are "extremely talented and driven doctors". I have friends working for doctors without borders (which is basically Atlantis) and believe me, the selection process is definitely not "okay, you're a fine doctor, that's good enough for us, we'll give you a chance to prove yourself later", oh no no no, the doctors and nurses working for them have to have at least 10 years experience (after their internships), they have to have at least one if not multiple specialities, they need to have interests outside their fields, they need to be able to never ever give up, especially under pressure, they need to be smart and fast enough that they can improvise with whatever is at hand (especially in combat or dangerous situations), they need to physically be able to handle themselves, they need to be the best of the best of the best. And even then, they might not get selected ! And we're only talking Earth here, not even another galaxy. Somehow I would imagine the screening for getting send to another galaxy would be even harder, and the screening to become CMO would be among very very few. If Keller is just "like us" or a "normal talented doctor", then I'm sorry, but it's just not enough. It's not believable. One of my friend is right now in Armenia, treating patient with a form multi-resistant tuberculosis, she's been head of her department for 10 years before they even accepted her demands, and it then took 3 years for her to get through all the screenings, what's Keller's history ? See if the writers were to give us something on her to make us think she's that good, then maybe there would be a lot less discussion in the form of "Why her ? Why is she here ?"
Thing is, if someone like Keller were to work in a normal hospital on Earth ? She would never be in a position of power, and she probably would get her ass kicked until she gets another look on life, doctors can't be meek, nor uncertain, nor hesitant, nor scared (as said before, how did she even made it out of medical school ?). It's one thing to be smart, it's another thing to have confidence in the fact that what you do is the absolute best (if anything the writers show her in doubt more often than not, and for someone in her position it's not acceptable).
I do get that you like the Keller character, it's fine with me, to each their own, but just *saying* that she's the best is not *showing* that she's the best ;).