kriadydragon (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kriadydragon) wrote2008-01-16 08:38 pm
kriadydragon) wrote2008-01-16 08:38 pm
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A kind-of Guide to Sheppard
Because the muses won't cooperate, I'm bored. Because I'm bored, I'm writing this.
I wish Outcast would air, and I hope to heaven it's a good back-story for John. Because a back-story, I think, would make him so much easier to write. Back-stories help ground a character, give us a source from which to base why he does what he does, and why he acts the way he acts; as well as help us predict how he would react to certain situations. Sheppard is a difficult character to grasp, made even more difficult since, at times, the writers don't seem to know how to handle his character.
I'm not claiming to be a Sheppard expert. After writing Castles in the Sky, along with what's been going on in season four (transcripts are most helpful) I feel like I've gotten to know him a little more. But everyone sees a character in a different way. These are just some things I've observed in Sheppard, things that are probably obvious to everyone, or simply based on my own personal views of him. So some things you may agree with, some things you may not, and that's okay. They're all subject to change depending on what future episodes reveal.
- He ain't kidding when he says he'd do anything for anyone of his team (Millers' Crossing). IMO, Sheppard's greatest weakness is the welfare of others, his team especially. Slap him around and he'll take it with a grin (Travelers). Smack his team around long enough and he just might fall apart. Same goes with forcing him to watch the suffering of others, even if they're just strangers. That's why I feel that to break him, he has to be weakened both physically but most epescially emotinally. Forcing him to witness the hurt of someone else will eaither drive him insane or shatter him into a million pieces, especially if that someone is a member of his team.
- He's a guy who does what has to be done, but would prefer doing what results in a happy ending. In other words, he would rather try to save everyone, but knows and - eventually - accepts when it's not possible. Sometimes he can't save them all, and he knows that, but a little peice of him dies inside when that turns out to be the case.
- His Mensa intelligence lies in problem sovling. As seen in episodes like the Siege 3 and Echoes, he can come up with some pretty slick solutions for saving the day. He plans it, and McKay makes it happen.
- The majority belief when it comes to his emotions is that he keeps them tucked away deep inside. He's not emotionally closed-off, more like emotionally shy, maybe even naive, IMO. There are times when I've gotten the impression (Sateda when he's talking to Teyla, Sunday when talking about how Beckett's death hasn't hit him yet, the numerous times he's been hugged) that it's not so much that he's afraid to express his emotions, but that he doesn't know how to. Sort of like having an idea for a beautiful painting in your head, but unable to put it on canvas because you don't know how to paint. However, though he's not so great at expressing certain emotions, he's still an emotional guy in that he's passionate and compassionate. So when he does express himself - reacting on emotions - it's going to be in the form of anger, resolve and/or action. Instead of offering comfort, he offers solutions, or takes it upon himself to do something about the issue (McKay and Mrs. Miller - showing Jeannie the video of Rodney.)
As for him being the one offered emotional comfort/support, that's where things get tricky. He wouldn't want pity. He would run - maybe even get hostile - if forced to open up against his will. He's probably the type who needs space and time to work things out in his head. I buy that he probably has quite a skeleton-packed closet, although I get the feeling that he's good at dealing with trauma so long as he was the only one affected by it (i.e. no one else was hurt or killed). He's probably a "I'm alive and that's all that matters" type. However, that doesn't make him stoic and unflappable, just practical. There are a lot of people good at dealing with difficult situations, but that doesn't mean it doesn't affect them in some way. Sheppard and Iratus bugs, for example. He's always saying he hates them, but you can also tell he's afraid of them (Vengeance - the way he stares at the iratus bug in the tube, and keeps on staring.) I also wouldn't be surprised if he had a minor aversion to his chest being touched (Common Ground). I'm of the firm belief that he really is a positive thinker, and by focusing on the positive, it's easy for him to put certain traumatic events behind him.
So I also buy that's he's probably the type who wants to forget about the bad that just happened and move on with his life. It's only when the bad happens to others that he doesn't let go. Wow, that was a long one. But an emotional John, I think, is the hardest of all his aspects to really grasp and get right.
- I do think he has trust issues (Trinity, Hot Zone). Maybe he wants to trust, tries to trust, but like with expressing his emotions has a difficult time doing so. He may or may not be a little bit of a control freak, I'm not quite sure. Wouldn't hold it past him, though.
- his relaxed personality is neither a facade nor laziness. It's just the way he is. He's a positive thinker, which means he doesn't sweat the small stuff. He'd rather look on the bright side of life, but he doesn't let it distract him. He has a dry humor of the kind that makes people (mostly Rodney) do a double take until they finally realize it was just a joke. That same wit he also uses as a weapon. Sarcasm is how he maintains control when control is taken from him. So, yeah, for him humor is a coping mechanism.
- I think John and Rodney's friendship is based on them accepting each other for who they are and not expecting them to be something more or less. Being on the same team has forced them to get to know one another. John's ability to give as good as he takes when it comes to sarcasm made Rodney's personality not only something that he could handle, but also something that amused him (Rodney's gullibility when it comes to Sheppard's dry humor.) Maybe, in the beginning, Rodney saw Sheppard as nothing more than a pretty-flyboy grunt, but the more he got to know him, the more he was caught off gaurd by who Sheppard really was, and the more he came to respect them. Sheppard may be iffy when it comes to Rodney's ego, but has unwavering faith in his abilities and in him accomplishing the impossible when the chips are down. I think Sheppard does trust Rodney with his life, even though he sometimes says otherwise (Aurora, when he's getting into the pod).
Rodney confessed to Carson being his best friend, but there had so better come a time when Rodney calls Sheppard the same, because they are best friends with a brother-like relationship: John is the older brother, Rodney the younger.
- When it comes to John and women, the opinions are so varied that's it's pretty much a controversy. Some opinions are based on Sheppard's flirting and his reaction to a pretty face, some on individual opinions of men in general, some because - it seems - people are looking for a way to hate John, and I swear some opinions are nothing more than over-the-top man-hating gut reactions (*Gasp!* he's flirting. That pig! Treating women like objects!) Sheppard is a flirt and a charmer and a sucker for a pretty face and hot body. He's a guy, plain and simple. However, I always say that Sheppard strikes me as a lonely guy, content to an extent in being solitary but wanting something more. All the women he's flirted with he's shown some sort of caring toward (Sanctuary - he goes back to help Chaya save her planet. Tower - he makes sure Mara is all right. Travelers - saves Larrin even though she had the crap beat out of him.) He has a chivalrous side. And, sometimes, he doesn't flirt at all (The Brotherhood, though who knew what happened before the episode began. The Seer.)
Like with humor, he isn't above using his charm as a weapon (not that it really works.)
I, personally, don't see him as being into one night stands, but that's my own personal view. Many are of the opinion that Sheppard regreted sleeping with Teer - that he did it as a way to move on and accept his current fate - and I find that believable. To me, it seemed like he just didn't have that much of an interest in Teer. So I can see him having regreted sleeping with her since his fate wasn't to remain in the cloister after all. He's attracted to a pretty face and a hot body, but I feel that even though his first marriage didn't work, that doesn't mean he isn't still looking for a meaningful relationship.
That's all I have so far, mostly because I'm too tired to think anymore. Please see comments below for further insight into Sheppard.
I'm not claiming to be a Sheppard expert. After writing Castles in the Sky, along with what's been going on in season four (transcripts are most helpful) I feel like I've gotten to know him a little more. But everyone sees a character in a different way. These are just some things I've observed in Sheppard, things that are probably obvious to everyone, or simply based on my own personal views of him. So some things you may agree with, some things you may not, and that's okay. They're all subject to change depending on what future episodes reveal.
- He ain't kidding when he says he'd do anything for anyone of his team (Millers' Crossing). IMO, Sheppard's greatest weakness is the welfare of others, his team especially. Slap him around and he'll take it with a grin (Travelers). Smack his team around long enough and he just might fall apart. Same goes with forcing him to watch the suffering of others, even if they're just strangers. That's why I feel that to break him, he has to be weakened both physically but most epescially emotinally. Forcing him to witness the hurt of someone else will eaither drive him insane or shatter him into a million pieces, especially if that someone is a member of his team.
- He's a guy who does what has to be done, but would prefer doing what results in a happy ending. In other words, he would rather try to save everyone, but knows and - eventually - accepts when it's not possible. Sometimes he can't save them all, and he knows that, but a little peice of him dies inside when that turns out to be the case.
- His Mensa intelligence lies in problem sovling. As seen in episodes like the Siege 3 and Echoes, he can come up with some pretty slick solutions for saving the day. He plans it, and McKay makes it happen.
- The majority belief when it comes to his emotions is that he keeps them tucked away deep inside. He's not emotionally closed-off, more like emotionally shy, maybe even naive, IMO. There are times when I've gotten the impression (Sateda when he's talking to Teyla, Sunday when talking about how Beckett's death hasn't hit him yet, the numerous times he's been hugged) that it's not so much that he's afraid to express his emotions, but that he doesn't know how to. Sort of like having an idea for a beautiful painting in your head, but unable to put it on canvas because you don't know how to paint. However, though he's not so great at expressing certain emotions, he's still an emotional guy in that he's passionate and compassionate. So when he does express himself - reacting on emotions - it's going to be in the form of anger, resolve and/or action. Instead of offering comfort, he offers solutions, or takes it upon himself to do something about the issue (McKay and Mrs. Miller - showing Jeannie the video of Rodney.)
As for him being the one offered emotional comfort/support, that's where things get tricky. He wouldn't want pity. He would run - maybe even get hostile - if forced to open up against his will. He's probably the type who needs space and time to work things out in his head. I buy that he probably has quite a skeleton-packed closet, although I get the feeling that he's good at dealing with trauma so long as he was the only one affected by it (i.e. no one else was hurt or killed). He's probably a "I'm alive and that's all that matters" type. However, that doesn't make him stoic and unflappable, just practical. There are a lot of people good at dealing with difficult situations, but that doesn't mean it doesn't affect them in some way. Sheppard and Iratus bugs, for example. He's always saying he hates them, but you can also tell he's afraid of them (Vengeance - the way he stares at the iratus bug in the tube, and keeps on staring.) I also wouldn't be surprised if he had a minor aversion to his chest being touched (Common Ground). I'm of the firm belief that he really is a positive thinker, and by focusing on the positive, it's easy for him to put certain traumatic events behind him.
So I also buy that's he's probably the type who wants to forget about the bad that just happened and move on with his life. It's only when the bad happens to others that he doesn't let go. Wow, that was a long one. But an emotional John, I think, is the hardest of all his aspects to really grasp and get right.
- I do think he has trust issues (Trinity, Hot Zone). Maybe he wants to trust, tries to trust, but like with expressing his emotions has a difficult time doing so. He may or may not be a little bit of a control freak, I'm not quite sure. Wouldn't hold it past him, though.
- his relaxed personality is neither a facade nor laziness. It's just the way he is. He's a positive thinker, which means he doesn't sweat the small stuff. He'd rather look on the bright side of life, but he doesn't let it distract him. He has a dry humor of the kind that makes people (mostly Rodney) do a double take until they finally realize it was just a joke. That same wit he also uses as a weapon. Sarcasm is how he maintains control when control is taken from him. So, yeah, for him humor is a coping mechanism.
- I think John and Rodney's friendship is based on them accepting each other for who they are and not expecting them to be something more or less. Being on the same team has forced them to get to know one another. John's ability to give as good as he takes when it comes to sarcasm made Rodney's personality not only something that he could handle, but also something that amused him (Rodney's gullibility when it comes to Sheppard's dry humor.) Maybe, in the beginning, Rodney saw Sheppard as nothing more than a pretty-flyboy grunt, but the more he got to know him, the more he was caught off gaurd by who Sheppard really was, and the more he came to respect them. Sheppard may be iffy when it comes to Rodney's ego, but has unwavering faith in his abilities and in him accomplishing the impossible when the chips are down. I think Sheppard does trust Rodney with his life, even though he sometimes says otherwise (Aurora, when he's getting into the pod).
Rodney confessed to Carson being his best friend, but there had so better come a time when Rodney calls Sheppard the same, because they are best friends with a brother-like relationship: John is the older brother, Rodney the younger.
- When it comes to John and women, the opinions are so varied that's it's pretty much a controversy. Some opinions are based on Sheppard's flirting and his reaction to a pretty face, some on individual opinions of men in general, some because - it seems - people are looking for a way to hate John, and I swear some opinions are nothing more than over-the-top man-hating gut reactions (*Gasp!* he's flirting. That pig! Treating women like objects!) Sheppard is a flirt and a charmer and a sucker for a pretty face and hot body. He's a guy, plain and simple. However, I always say that Sheppard strikes me as a lonely guy, content to an extent in being solitary but wanting something more. All the women he's flirted with he's shown some sort of caring toward (Sanctuary - he goes back to help Chaya save her planet. Tower - he makes sure Mara is all right. Travelers - saves Larrin even though she had the crap beat out of him.) He has a chivalrous side. And, sometimes, he doesn't flirt at all (The Brotherhood, though who knew what happened before the episode began. The Seer.)
Like with humor, he isn't above using his charm as a weapon (not that it really works.)
I, personally, don't see him as being into one night stands, but that's my own personal view. Many are of the opinion that Sheppard regreted sleeping with Teer - that he did it as a way to move on and accept his current fate - and I find that believable. To me, it seemed like he just didn't have that much of an interest in Teer. So I can see him having regreted sleeping with her since his fate wasn't to remain in the cloister after all. He's attracted to a pretty face and a hot body, but I feel that even though his first marriage didn't work, that doesn't mean he isn't still looking for a meaningful relationship.
That's all I have so far, mostly because I'm too tired to think anymore. Please see comments below for further insight into Sheppard.
no subject
I think John and Rodney's friendship is based on them accepting each other for who they are and not expecting them to be something more or less.
People who fully understand this dynamic, can write them successfully. Which, I hate to say, is why some slash works. My yardstick is pretty high regarding slash; I'd rather see them as very close firends. They have such a friendship that, I think personally, no woman can enter. Now, do they have to have sex? No. But they know better how to take care of each other, especially emotionally. A shared look, a pat on the shoulder... It's not huge, but enough for some people.
Sheppard is a flirt and a charmer and a sucker for a pretty face and hot body. He's a guy, plain and simple.
I am so glad that he's a flirt! Albeit, a lonely flirt, but at least he's still interested. And the best scene ever? No Man's Land. John is sitting between Rodney and Zelenka (I think), and a woman catches his eye. What makes me happy about John, women, and the writers, is that TPTB have put him with a variety of women. Beauty is the only thing they had in common.
It's one of the most appealing things about the Stargate 'verse, variety of characters. I think Stargate is more "rag-tag" than the original BSG. And I gotta say, the last scene with Larrin in BAMSR was excellent. Definitely an attraction, but rather cautious on both sides.
So when he does express himself - reacting on emotions - it's going to be in the form of anger, resolve and/or action.
Can I just say Joe is a great actor when it comes to this? He can either show everything or nothing. Case in point, Teyla's announcement of her pregnancy. His reaction was perfect. There was no way Sheppard was going to take it in stride. There was someone else he had to protect, and a lop-sided happy grin wasn't really going to work this time. Seriously, I thought he was gonna bust something. He's gonna fall apart one day, and I hope TPTB let us see just a little bit. Just one itsy bitsy nightmare. Pleeeeeassse? But he's gotta get a bigger bed to writhe around in, 'kay?
Umm... I think I'm done.
no subject
I'm with you on that! I am really looking forward to finding out a little more, but I don't really want to know too much; I like how pretty much *all* of the characters are still largely a mystery. McKay's the one we know the most about, and even in that case, we haven't a clue where he grew up or what his parents' names are or if they're still alive.
I kinda like the focus on their lives *now* rather than their pasts; it emphasizes the idea that none of them really have that much to go back to.
no subject
I think I said this already, but I see John and Rodney's relationship as something more sibling-like. It's why certain stories that involve the boys getting a little more touchy-feely than they normally would (Rodney holding Shep's hand, kneading sore muscles, or - like in your story - sharing a bed because one of them is cold) work for me. The only difference is, in a slash or pre-slash story, there's a sudden realization that the contact is enjoyable or "right". In gen - or at least what I do - there's slight discomfort to it. I wish there were more stories like that where there's an initial discomfort over the boys having to sacrifice their personal space to help each other. I find it adorable, as well as character building as they're stepping out of themselves in order to help someone else.
And, I know this is kind of getting off track but I might as well vent - I can't stand it when an author makes one of the characters gay or bisexual just to be making them gay or bisexual. There was a story I ran into (labeled as gen... yeah right) where some prince drugs Sheppard, and Rodney and Ronon find the two doing something that left me incredibly nauseas. What really bugged me about the story, though, was that at the start there was no indication of Sheppard being into men. But when Rodney and Ronon find Shep and the prince, they're completely blase about it as though that kind of stuff happens all the time. It bugged me that they weren't more upset over Sheppard being drugged and molested.
I may not like slash, but some of the better writers do use it for a purpose that has nothing to do with wanting to write a smut scene. And, from what I heard, the better slash is when the writers stay true to the characters without tipping over into PWP.
no subject
And, from what I heard, the better slash is when the writers stay true to the characters without tipping over into PWP.
You're right. When the sex is not relevant to the plot, I find it more palatable. When the sex is in one paragraph and not relevant to the plot, kudos! I will say this about slash: In AUs, the drugs/drunkeness/misunderstandings can be okay. But as plot devices, li'l tired of that. There are soooo many with John as a model/male escort. Why can't Rodney be a male escort? Why can't Rodney be a model? I'm just sayin'...
And if it's crack!fic, pr0n, smut, kink, and especially pwp, I certainly appreciate a warning! LOL
no subject
no subject
It just really bugged me because, basically, Sheppard was drugged, then he ends up in the Prince's bedroom with them doing the nasty, and when Ronon and Rodney discover them their attitude is an indifferent "ho-hum, Shep's at it again". In fact (though I may be remembering wrong or this may have been from another story) Ronon and Rodney may have had plans to embarrass Sheppard with what happened later on.
I don't know, I could have been reading it wrong, but because the story gave no real previous indication that this kind of crap happened to Shep all the time, or that he was into men, it really ticked me off. I mean, Sheppard was drugged for crying out loud! Normally when someone is drugged so out of their mind that they can't make a coherent decision, and someone coerces them into having sex, isn't that considered rape?
I think had Rodney and Ronon reacted with more outrage that this prince had drugged Sheppard in order to sleep with him, it wouldn't have bothered me as much.
Sorry to go off on the same tangent, but that story was wrong on way too many levels. You might be better off not reading it at all.
no subject
There was an argument in the Farscape fandom once, that Ben Browder ended. There was an episode where an evil female character 'drugged' Ben's character and basically coerced Crichton into having sex. Some fans thought the character would just shrug it off as he was a guy... Ben sad his character would never have gotten over the 'rape' (his words) and that came out in a later episode (I saw it and you could see the anger Crichton had towards her).
From what you told me, Sheppard was raped and the author's reaction in the fic was all wrong. The fic could have been so much more...
no subject
Heh. I was sorely tempted to do my own take on Sheppard being drugged by some horny prince/princess, but with attempted rape instead of actual rape (I would never do that to Shep. The concept is far too nauseating, plus, even drugged, I think shep would still try to fight back). And Rodney and Ronon (and whoever else) either acting in outrage or coming to realize that - even though nothing had happened - it was still a frightening and humiliating situation for Sheppard.
Hmmm, I wonder if I saw that episdoe. It's been a while so I can't remember now.
That's the reason I still keep trying to come up with "attempted rape-fics," to illustrate that the victim being a guy doesn't make them any less of a victim. Far from it. It's loss of control. It's being subdued and used and made less than human. If Sheppard were actually raped, I think it would tear him apart. To be almost raped (and saved at the last minute) it would leave him humiliated and angry. And I think it incredibly sexist and rather cruel to think a guy wouldn't have any problems with being raped because he's a guy.
I think the author of that story was trying to be funny. Which is why I wondered if I'd missed something, or the writer didn't make something clear. Either way, though. It was a bad idea ot have Sheppard drugged in order to get him in bed with this prince, and then have Rodney and Ronon react with indifference.
no subject
That scene in Farscape (4th season) is where Crichton confronts Grayza when she is trying to make 'peace' with the Scarrans. He even made Aeryn Sun leave him alone with Grayza, which was kinda weird until you realized he was going to kinda rub it in her face. I can't remember the words he used, but it was a 'now how do you feel' flow to it. *sigh* I still love Farscape and miss it.
I bet you'd write a humdinger, if you cared to take on that beast.
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I'm still trying. The problem is the after math and how to handle it, since it's the aftermath that would be the real meat of the story.
no subject
I think flirty Shep is adorbale, but it sometimes makes me cringe when the episode is another one with him and some woman; knowing how the anti-kirkers will take it. I know I shouldn't let them bug me so bad, but Shep is my favorite and I hate it when fans of the show tear him apart over him being a guy.
Oh, I hope so. It doesn't have to be anything big, just the shedding of a few tears, although it would be cool to see something bigger. And, yes, the poor man needs a bigger bed before it does something bad to his legs.
no subject
I got enough voices I either have to listen to or just ignore ;D
There are always those in any fandom. SG-1 has a major Carter bashing legion out there... Never understood why. Don't care.
Shep IS a guy, so is Rodney. You can't expect a man, any man, to be weirdly virtuous. And that's what it would be if any man didn't react to a woman.
no subject
It's difficult, though, when the bashing leaks into stories. Especially because many authors are quite subtle about it so that you're never quite sure if it's bashing or not. I normally feel a story is character bashing when A) the author is not a fan of that character B) the character does something that is contradictory to what we see on the show and C) as is the case with a story I read a while ago, they'll write one character as though they can do no wrong (and if it's en episode tag, make excuses for the character so that they end up not being at fault), thus making the other character totally in the wrong and so a complete jerk.
It may not even be bashing per se, just an author venting frustration over the treatment of their favorite character - especially if said favorite character was chewed-out by a non-favorite character. The problem is, however, that in doing so they disregard the bigger picture. For example, in the story I read, it was a BAMSR tag that made it out as though Sheppard had totally been in the wrong for his reactions toward Teyla's news, and Teyla in the right for not telling him sooner. The story, IMO, was being completely unfair to John. It was totally a poor woobie-Teyla story. Also, after looking at other stories this person had written, I got the impression that they weren't a big Sheppard fan.
And end tangent. Sorry for that. I'm of the firm opinion that writers should have respect for all the characters, even if there's certain ones they don't like.
no subject
I just love Shep. He's a great character and Joe is a wonderful actor.
no subject
What really adhered me to Sheppard was that he wasn't the typical hero. He's smart and cool-headed, while at the same time a complete and utter dork. I love that about him.