Why was she promoted, against her will, to head of medicine? [...] Apparently none of them wanted, or could handle, the job. Why? [...] This matters. Atlantis is a competitive place."
One, it wasn't against her will, Jennifer volunteered. She didn't expect to stay in the job, but she did volunteer in the first place. And once she handled her first crisis, Jennifer has never since (iirc) expressed a desire to step down or a sense that she's in over her head.
Two, I get the sense that Atlantis, once you get to Atlantis, isn't that competitive. Not for job positions, anyway. For the most part, within the civilian community, everyone's a scholar and a specialist. I get that from Rodney never worrying about someone trying to take his position, or any mentions of bickering amongst the underlings for a seniority position (either with Rodney or with Carson).
The way I picture it (this is all very subjective, of course, but I think it goes towards our different reactions to the character, so I'm sharing *g*) is that all of the scientists have their particular little niche of study, and they're kind of it. There's no one they're fighting or competing with because Atlantis just isn't that big. So when Carson suddenly died, it wasn't so much a promotion everyone was scrambling for and eager to get, it was extra work. Work that would take time away from their precious, precious field of study.
So I actually see Atlantis as a place that's more likely to give someone as young as Jennifer a chance to lead. (All predicated, of course, on her not being that inexperienced an actual doctor. Which would go towards her getting hired on in the first place.) And the IOA would probably be pleased with it, because Jennifer doesn't have the political clout to rock any boats.
Keller's lack of self-confidence isn't just a cute character trait. [...] A doctor's bedside manner is an important skill, and authoritative confidence is one of a doctor's greatest assets...
Jennifer is nervous (well, was nervous -- that was more last season's trait) about speaking up about non-doctor stuff. When she actually had her doctor hat on, she gave clear orders, made confident decisions, and spoke to either her patient or their next of kin with both compassion but also clarity and completeness. Has she been pushed out of her comfort zone? Yes! And I've enjoyed watching it because she thrives out there. But one place that's not been outside her comfort zone is the infirmary.
They could have given Keller some esoteric skill or talent... [...] Or else they could've made Keller ambitious.
If Jennifer had an esoteric skill, she'd have either been pushed up to Rodney's level, or been such an oddity they would have had a hard time working her into episodes. Jennifer's skill has to be general so that she can fill any "doctor" requirement, if it was too specific she couldn't both fry alien tech and do brain surgery.
If Jennifer were ambitious career-wise , Atlantis would only be a jumping off point. (I really do see Atlantis as the sort of red-headed step-child of the SGC.) She'd be doing as much as possible to get the IOA's attention and get herself back to headquarters where the real power is.
I do think Jennifer is ambitious, though, when it comes to pushing herself, making herself stronger. For one, she came to Atlantis in the first place (and you're right, she had to have applied for it, made an effort). For another, she volunteered to fill Carson's role when she saw it was needed. She was incredibly nervous about doing so (hence the lack of sleep and asking Elizabeth to find a replacement sooner rather than later), but she did it. For another, after a supremely crap experience for her first off-world trip, Jennifer took up sparring lessons and got herself back out there.
Actually, I'd say one of her more consistent character traits has been her grit. We can see when she's terrified about doing something, and every single time, she goes ahead and does it. And, iirc, she generally does it very, very well. And that's enough for me. :)
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winterfish
Part 2 of 2, re: 1-4 :D
Date: 2008-09-26 02:08 am (UTC)[...]
Apparently none of them wanted, or could handle, the job. Why?
[...]
This matters. Atlantis is a competitive place."
One, it wasn't against her will, Jennifer volunteered. She didn't expect to stay in the job, but she did volunteer in the first place. And once she handled her first crisis, Jennifer has never since (iirc) expressed a desire to step down or a sense that she's in over her head.
Two, I get the sense that Atlantis, once you get to Atlantis, isn't that competitive. Not for job positions, anyway. For the most part, within the civilian community, everyone's a scholar and a specialist. I get that from Rodney never worrying about someone trying to take his position, or any mentions of bickering amongst the underlings for a seniority position (either with Rodney or with Carson).
The way I picture it (this is all very subjective, of course, but I think it goes towards our different reactions to the character, so I'm sharing *g*) is that all of the scientists have their particular little niche of study, and they're kind of it. There's no one they're fighting or competing with because Atlantis just isn't that big. So when Carson suddenly died, it wasn't so much a promotion everyone was scrambling for and eager to get, it was extra work. Work that would take time away from their precious, precious field of study.
So I actually see Atlantis as a place that's more likely to give someone as young as Jennifer a chance to lead. (All predicated, of course, on her not being that inexperienced an actual doctor. Which would go towards her getting hired on in the first place.) And the IOA would probably be pleased with it, because Jennifer doesn't have the political clout to rock any boats.
Keller's lack of self-confidence isn't just a cute character trait.
[...]
A doctor's bedside manner is an important skill, and authoritative confidence is one of a doctor's greatest assets...
Jennifer is nervous (well, was nervous -- that was more last season's trait) about speaking up about non-doctor stuff. When she actually had her doctor hat on, she gave clear orders, made confident decisions, and spoke to either her patient or their next of kin with both compassion but also clarity and completeness. Has she been pushed out of her comfort zone? Yes! And I've enjoyed watching it because she thrives out there. But one place that's not been outside her comfort zone is the infirmary.
They could have given Keller some esoteric skill or talent...
[...]
Or else they could've made Keller ambitious.
If Jennifer had an esoteric skill, she'd have either been pushed up to Rodney's level, or been such an oddity they would have had a hard time working her into episodes. Jennifer's skill has to be general so that she can fill any "doctor" requirement, if it was too specific she couldn't both fry alien tech and do brain surgery.
If Jennifer were ambitious career-wise , Atlantis would only be a jumping off point. (I really do see Atlantis as the sort of red-headed step-child of the SGC.) She'd be doing as much as possible to get the IOA's attention and get herself back to headquarters where the real power is.
I do think Jennifer is ambitious, though, when it comes to pushing herself, making herself stronger. For one, she came to Atlantis in the first place (and you're right, she had to have applied for it, made an effort). For another, she volunteered to fill Carson's role when she saw it was needed. She was incredibly nervous about doing so (hence the lack of sleep and asking Elizabeth to find a replacement sooner rather than later), but she did it. For another, after a supremely crap experience for her first off-world trip, Jennifer took up sparring lessons and got herself back out there.
Actually, I'd say one of her more consistent character traits has been her grit. We can see when she's terrified about doing something, and every single time, she goes ahead and does it. And, iirc, she generally does it very, very well. And that's enough for me. :)