Originally posted by spockvarietyhour

Coup d'etat (S2:E17)

Weir: Good thinking.

Sheppard: Could have been in Mensa.

Lol. I love that this is Sheppard's canned response.

McKay says it's refreshing because Cowen didn't try to kill them. Sheppard should have smelled a trap. (This reminds me of Serenity when Mal knows is a trap because Inara doesn't fight with him.)

The Genii change hands and become better friends.

A solid, move-the-story-forward episode with some iconic lines snd moments.

I'm glad Lorne isn't dead. 😊

I was so brain-fogged when I wrote this yesterday that it would have been better to write nothing at all.

But, what has stuck with me is that Sheppard didn't save the day. Lorne, McKay, and even Sheppard himself would have died if Laten hadn't chosen to overthrow the current Genii leadership. He comments that he should have been in Mensa but plays right into the trap set for him. I wonder if this is why he is always a bit edgy around Todd and does start second-guessing Todd's plans. He almost lost his people because he failed to see the plan within the plan. Was he reckless? Maybe a bit. The ending doesn't necessarily imply that he was struggling, but he was certainly a pawn in the Genii chess game.

So, I'd like to believe he realized that and planned on it never happening again, which may be one of the reasons he's against the whole Michael project from the start. He's unsure of his ability to protect his people in the wider Pegasus chess match? I'll have to ponder more.

@mournerofcrows your thoughts on this?

Just watched this last night and boy my thoughts are a lot.

First off, I agree with all the above. Yes, Sheppard is reckless, he constantly puts his life on the line with little regard to the consequences but he’s not reckless with his people though except here.

I don’t blame him, I think he has been wrestling with trying to trust more. Since the pilot, John has been aware that Atlantis needs allies but he also has little trust in anyone outside his group. But he’s trying. It’s sad though that he’s betrayed here.

His people would’ve died if not for Laten. I think after this he begins to see the plans within the plans better. Also this comes on the heels of Rodney’s trust break so his trust in himself especially is low. Sheppard could’ve been Mensa but sometimes he’s blind to people’s true intentions.

But the thing is while his trust becomes more limited, it’s never completely lost. He still trusts Todd in their first meeting, still trusts Michael in the S2 finale, etc. It’s what makes Sheppard such a good character. He never loses his faith in people. His trust may be dimmed but never completely broken.

Yes, I think you're right. It's that broken trust thing, which is funny because he was willing to betray Laten, but then he was betrayed and un-betrayed. And they betrayed Laten but then stepped back and healed his sister. It was all kinda messy, with everyone working behind everyone's back.

But, I think yes, Sheppard has his trust broken, but never fully broken, he always leaves a door open for his people to come back. Even Todd.

Originally posted by spockvarietyhour

Coup d'etat (S2:E17)

Weir: Good thinking.

Sheppard: Could have been in Mensa.

Lol. I love that this is Sheppard's canned response.

McKay says it's refreshing because Cowen didn't try to kill them. Sheppard should have smelled a trap. (This reminds me of Serenity when Mal knows is a trap because Inara doesn't fight with him.)

The Genii change hands and become better friends.

A solid, move-the-story-forward episode with some iconic lines snd moments.

I'm glad Lorne isn't dead. 😊

I was so brain-fogged when I wrote this yesterday that it would have been better to write nothing at all.

But, what has stuck with me is that Sheppard didn't save the day. Lorne, McKay, and even Sheppard himself would have died if Laten hadn't chosen to overthrow the current Genii leadership. He comments that he should have been in Mensa but plays right into the trap set for him. I wonder if this is why he is always a bit edgy around Todd and does start second-guessing Todd's plans. He almost lost his people because he failed to see the plan within the plan. Was he reckless? Maybe a bit. The ending doesn't necessarily imply that he was struggling, but he was certainly a pawn in the Genii chess game.

So, I'd like to believe he realized that and planned on it never happening again, which may be one of the reasons he's against the whole Michael project from the start. He's unsure of his ability to protect his people in the wider Pegasus chess match? I'll have to ponder more.

@mournerofcrows your thoughts on this?

Just watched this last night and boy my thoughts are a lot.

First off, I agree with all the above. Yes, Sheppard is reckless, he constantly puts his life on the line with little regard to the consequences but he’s not reckless with his people though except here.

I don’t blame him, I think he has been wrestling with trying to trust more. Since the pilot, John has been aware that Atlantis needs allies but he also has little trust in anyone outside his group. But he’s trying. It’s sad though that he’s betrayed here.

His people would’ve died if not for Laten. I think after this he begins to see the plans within the plans better. Also this comes on the heels of Rodney’s trust break so his trust in himself especially is low. Sheppard could’ve been Mensa but sometimes he’s blind to people’s true intentions.

But the thing is while his trust becomes more limited, it’s never completely lost. He still trusts Todd in their first meeting, still trusts Michael in the S2 finale, etc. It’s what makes Sheppard such a good character. He never loses his faith in people. His trust may be dimmed but never completely broken.

John Sheppard + “Talk to me, Rodney”
for @escriveine <3

He's no good for you, John "The Kindred Pt 1"

John Sheppard "The Last Man"