Stargate Atlantis Rewatch: Grace Under Pressure

Rodney and his dream girl in a sinking puddle jumper (photo from GateWorld.net)

Grace Under Pressure

Written by – Martin Gero
Directed by – Martin Wood
Guest starring – Amanda Tapping (Samantha Carter), David Nykl (Radek Zelenka), William MacDonald (Capt. Griffin), Peter Abrams (Donaldson), Nimet Kanji (Dr. Bryce)

WARNING: SPOILERS ABOUND!

Summary
McKay is trapped in a puddle jumper at the bottom of the ocean and gets help from his fantasy girl.

General Impressions
A whole episode with McKay and Carter. Bliss. It was their dynamic that I loved in the SG1 episodes McKay was in. Sure, Carter’s just a figment of Rodney’s imagination in this episode, but it’s still awesome. Of course he dresses her in tight jeans and a low cut top with a half-unzipped hoodie and more makeup than she usually wears (and yet he complains that she had the audacity to not be provocatively dressed—until she strips down to her underwear). Oddly enough, she even acts and talks like the real Carter, right down to the digs at his ego.

And I’m always happy when they give Zalenka a lot of screen time and let him be a hero.

The Good
Rodney talking to himself is pretty funny. I believe Gandalf called that speaking to the most intelligent person in the room (to paraphrase). Of course, he also talks to the puddle jumper, which is hilarious. If we ever doubted that Rodney loves the sound of his own voice, we no longer do. He talks to himself, his computer, the puddle jumper, a passing “whale” and a Samantha Carter-shaped figment of his imagination.

I really like that Sheppard is more than just dumb jock guy. He helps get the rescue jumper ready, and even demonstrates that he’s good at math (again).

Here’s the cool thing about the whale: In a later episode we learn that the whale was circling Rodney’s jumper out of more than mere curiosity or hunger. That’s all I’m saying for now.

The Bad
Red Shirt without enough time to develop enough sympathy for him to care when he sacrifices himself.

The Awesome
Rodney. Rodney, Rodney, Rodney. And Carter. OK, I’m sure you’re all sick and tired of me going all David Hewlett fangirl on you, but he’s really a terrific, versatile and very entertaining actor, and the best thing about this episode, which is a very good episode.

The shots of the jumpers going down under water and from above while under water, and the shot of the whale swimming up over the two parked jumpers were really cool.

Rating
10 out of 10. Rodney and Carter are so much fun together.