That's the thing - I see "successful" romance, the romances I get invested in, as leading to family. You get romantically involved, you get married/settle down together, and then you become family; the familial feelings of loyalty and caring and companionship and intimacy become more important than the initial chemistry of romance. Thus I tend to like romances when the people involved don't have a family, when the romance is a way for them to find one.
But Rodney *has* a family, and I don't see him as lonely; I see his relationship with his team as being as fulfilling as any romantic connection would be. So the thought that his team ultimately means nothing to him, that he's going to reject that relationship with his team, with John especially, in favor of building a whole new life with Keller (on Earth, even, since he mentioned he was considering leaving Atlantis), just because they're having sex - I find that idea terribly depressing.
To me, one of the most appealing themes of Atlantis is the story of these misfit people finding a family, finding a home, with each other. For Rodney to leave that home, his team, his family, for a romantic relationship that lacks the developed depth behind it that he shares with his team - that's basically counter to everything I love about SGA.
(To clarify - if the McKeller had been developed over the seasons, I wouldn't resist it so. And Rodney might yet eventually develop a believable "family" with Keller. But being told "I love you" on the first date, and having Gero see that confession as the ultimate in Rodney's life, as the culmination of Rodney's story on Atlantis - that's what kills me. At least in Gero's eyes, Rodney's five-year friendships are unimportant compared to a one-date romance; mutual sexual desire is a more meaningful bond than anything Rodney has gone through with his team, and that feels to me like a denial of, well, pretty much the entire rest of the show...!)
Re: Comment got too long, oops! (edited)
But Rodney *has* a family, and I don't see him as lonely; I see his relationship with his team as being as fulfilling as any romantic connection would be. So the thought that his team ultimately means nothing to him, that he's going to reject that relationship with his team, with John especially, in favor of building a whole new life with Keller (on Earth, even, since he mentioned he was considering leaving Atlantis), just because they're having sex - I find that idea terribly depressing.
To me, one of the most appealing themes of Atlantis is the story of these misfit people finding a family, finding a home, with each other. For Rodney to leave that home, his team, his family, for a romantic relationship that lacks the developed depth behind it that he shares with his team - that's basically counter to everything I love about SGA.
(To clarify - if the McKeller had been developed over the seasons, I wouldn't resist it so. And Rodney might yet eventually develop a believable "family" with Keller. But being told "I love you" on the first date, and having Gero see that confession as the ultimate in Rodney's life, as the culmination of Rodney's story on Atlantis - that's what kills me. At least in Gero's eyes, Rodney's five-year friendships are unimportant compared to a one-date romance; mutual sexual desire is a more meaningful bond than anything Rodney has gone through with his team, and that feels to me like a denial of, well, pretty much the entire rest of the show...!)