Inquiry into Rodney McKay

[kriadydragon]

In a lot of angst fics centered around Sheppard overcoming some kind of mental truama, Rodney is usually used as the instigator for healing by pushing relentlessly for John to open up, get over whatever his problem is, calling him an idiot and so on. I usually hate it when a writer uses Rodney as a catalyst toward healing in that way. Sometimes I have to admit it does fit with what's going on in the story. Other times it feels like a quick fix or an inappropriate way to handle what John has been through.

But I have to know, would Rodney actually do that? Would he push and push like that? The way some authors handle it, it's like Rodney doesn't care what John's going through, he just wants him to get over himself and get better already. Other times, he refuses to give John any personal space when maybe that's what John needs. The "That idiot, how dare he broods! Well I'm not going to let him" approach.

It sometimes irritates me when a writer goes down that road. But it also makes me wonder if that's exactly what Rodney would do.

The reason I ask is because of how I've been handling Rodney in my slave fic. I'm kind of going a different way than what most authors do when it comes to a traumatized John and Rodney wanting to help, and it's gotten me thinking a lot about the different ways Rodney would handle what Sheppard is going through. It makes me wonder if I needed to make Rodney a little more pushy, although I'm generally satisfied with how I wrote him in the fic. I think he does have a considerate side and I like to show it without it being obscured by too much callousness. Unless that's exactly how he would act.

Anyways, what do you all think? Do some writers write Rodney as too pushy or is it plausible that he would be that way?

Comments

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

I think Rodney would be awkward, unsure of how to deal with all that emotional sort of stuff, and would defer to Teyla, if she were available. If she weren't available, hmm... I dunno.

If I'd figured these guys out yet, I'd have managed a postable story...

[shusu.livejournal.com]

My general rule of thumb is The Defiant One.

[wildcat88.livejournal.com]

I think as hard as it is for Sheppard to voice his feelings Rodney is worse. I've seen what you mean in fics - Sheppard needing to deal and McKay hounding him to open up. I don't see that in their relationship. Of course, I'm also one of the few that wasn't blown away to find out Rodney considered Carson his best friend.

While Rodney runs off at the mouth and has little subtlety, I think he would recognize that Sheppard doesn't want to talk (and be thankful for it). I think he would be his normal snarky self. I don't think Rodney would open up to John (as evidenced in The Gift when he's seen coming out of Heightmeyer's office), and I don't think he would expect Sheppard to open up to him.

In short, I think Rodney would just give John space and let him work it out on his own (with a little sarcasm thrown in for good measure).

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

Of course, I'm also one of the few that wasn't blown away to find out Rodney considered Carson his best friend.

*nods* Oh yeah! Where'd the heck did that come from?

I've sorta put that epi into the same mental box as the likes of the first Star Trek movie and the Quantum Leap finale (which means I pretend I never happened.)

[kontiki.livejournal.com]

It's sort of a trick question because Rodney would respond differently depending on the details. Genius after all. Rodney is a *scientist* first, foremost and always. He would be totally on-board with any *physical* injury rehabilitation. He would study the mechanics, study the intent of the the physical therapy. He would make himself an expert **and** he would push if he thought it was necessary *or* he would back off and insist that Sheppard back off if he were overdoing. While physical therapy can be excruciating to go through, pushing through to injury just sets you back. Sheppard should be an old hand at that, and while he is a physical sorta guy he is smart too. So, I actually believe that for a physical injury both Rodney and John would be knowledgable and realistic.

Non-physical injury...whew! John is frequently depicted as an action guy. But we know better. Under that heroic manly image is a *guy*, who would rather undergo torture than talk about EMOTIONS. Rodney is the kind of person who sees emotions as yet another thing that gets in the way of what's important. Rodney is impatient with other's emotions and his own. He wants to ignore them and focus on the good stuff, the science.

Side track: my father was a WWII combat vet. He wasn't very successful in his life. He was very intelligent, was not able to keep focused. When he was in his late 70's he had a stroke while he was traveling in the Pacific Northwest (USA). They haulled him into the nearest VA hospital and put him into an intensive physical and mental therapy program and it worked!! He was able to get around physically again, and mentally he was better than he'd ever been... Ahem ... the point ... is that he ended up "counseling" other combat vets. It turned out that he was very good at it ***and*** those other vets would listen to him where they were ignoring non-combat experienced advice and counsel.

So...I can easily see John wanting to discount anything offered by non-military personnel (esp Heightmeyer) if he has been badly hurt and he's not sure he can get over it ...

On the other hand, Rodney, Teyla and Ronon are TEAM. I think that if they tag TEAM him they have the inside track and the combined knowlege/experience to get him through whatever ... but I truely believe that if he had emotional issues it would take the TEAM. Rodney is not totally clueless in understanding, but he would be totally clueless in helping ... although I have no trouble seeing him doing stuff that he wants to be helpful but really isn't.

I do think that Rodney is smart enough and compassionate enough that while he has absolutely no idea how to effectively help, he is also not going to expect John, or anyone else to just shrug off a trauma whether it is physical or mental (emotional). And he is tough enough and scientist enough to see if what he is doing isn't working, then he needs a different approach. SOP for a scientist.

Sorry for running on, but I do think this is a rather complex issue. :-)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Phew! That's actually good to know. I see John and Rodney's relationship as a brotherly type, where they basically get annoyed by each other while undrneath care yet try not to show it.

A lot of what you said is what I tried to portray in my fic. I have Rodney wanting to help but being reluctant about doing so... and that's all I can say without giving too much away. Though McKay is stubborn he just doesn't strike as the type who would muscle his way in emotionally unless it's because he thinks he knows how to fix the problem. Some have done this as well - Rodney thinking he has the answer and trying to force that answer on Sheppard - but even then I would think he would end up being proved wrong and quickly backing off. But that's just my view.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

but I truely believe that if he had emotional issues it would take the TEAM. Rodney is not totally clueless in understanding, but he would be totally clueless in helping ... although I have no trouble seeing him doing stuff that he wants to be helpful but really isn't.

Exactly! So many stories have him shoving his help in Sheppard's face and having that be the means for Sheppard to heal. Though in certain circumstances it might be possible, for the most part it always strikes me as wrong.

I think Rodney would be aware of trauma but not necessarily the extent of the trauma, if that makes sense. Especially if Sheppard really is the type who acts as though he's overcome trauma while inside it's still there. Or if the results of the trauma are too subtle for Rodney to notice and, therefore, realize they're present.

Darn it, we need more Sheppard angst episodes! That would help. I kind of based how Rodney would react on episodes like 38 minutes, where he does show compassion and the ability to know when to back off. As well as Conversion where we see concern for Sheppard from him.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I agree, which is why I find writers going for a pushy Rodney rather annoying. I also don't like it as it seems unfair to Sheppard. I've come across a few McKay trauma fics that handle everything in an interesting and workable way, while Sheppard just gets yelled at by either Rodney or everyone until he's fine.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, yes.

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

The 'yell at him till he gives' approach doesn't work with Sheppard for me, whether it's Rodney or someone else, because of Sheppard's nature. He's a good soldier that keeps his stubborn streak in check most of the time, even with the likes of Everett and Sumner for the most part, but the stubborn streak is still there. When pushed and pushed and pushed, I think he'd just end up pushing back (telling the person to back the frell off) and withdraw farther emotionally, which might help kick him back into a more productive mode, but wouldn't really be conducive to a emotionally breakthrough.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Which bugs me even more when the writer just has John smiling and accepting it rather than fighting back, because he would fight back.

[wildcat88.livejournal.com]

I guess I could understand why McKay would see Carson as his best buddy. I see their relationship like I see John and Ronon's - people with very similar backgrounds and outlooks.

[wildcat88.livejournal.com]

I see John and Rodney's relationship as a brotherly type, where they basically get annoyed by each other while underneath care yet try not to show it.

Yup. That's exactly how I see them. To me they have almost familial characteristics - highly intelligent, a quick wit, creative, a love of discovery, a competitive spirit. But their interests lie in different areas.