He could have willed himself to ascend, that's what Sheppard was trying to help him do. Correct. Rodney just didn't want to ascend. Althought from the conversation that he had with Weir, I think he was just about there when he figured out how to save himself.

This post has been edited by JTMAG1: Feb 6th 2007, 8:16 PM

I liked this episode, its nice to see that McKay can drop the whole "I'm so smarter than you" routine(but thats why we love him, hes an envisionment of the opposite of a canadian) and be affectionate when he wants to. I love these Mkay episodes.

I'm hoping he doesn't completely change back. You would think between his experiences with Project Arcturus, his sister and "Rod", and this that he would learn something.

I like to think the Ascendeds really couldn't handle having Rodney in their midst, but at the same time had mercy on him and gave him the insight to stay alive.

LOL That would have been funny to see. Great ep! I love McKay! It was great to see his character actually showing compassion and concern for his fellow teammates. I loved the expressions on everyone's faces when Rodney would have entire conversations by himself because he could hear what they were thinking.

Lol, that's what I was thinking! That while he was floating in the black void some fore-thinking Ancient told him how to save himself. Self-serving on their part, but they're all self serving in their isolation.

I don't understand why they didn't contact Daniel, or even that Ancient trapped on her planet (someone said her name in an earlier post but I can't remember it). Even for a guideline, some advice, a little positive support. Nothing. And why was Sheppard helping with the meditation instead of Teyla whom we've actually seen meditate?

Rodney's hysterical, and I love his normal self, but when he was going around doing and saying nice things, that was great. I'd love to see him take this experience and finally grow. Not so much change, but grow like a normal person.

Best part: Zelenka's opened-mouth shock when Rodney apologized for being an egotistical jerk and insisting that Zelenka was a great and brilliant scientist. On 2 side notes of that: His saving Zelenka and not even demanding homage (or a thank you) afterwards. And Zelenka is always the first scientist Rodney yells for when something happens. Whether or not he normally appreciates his contributions, Rodney usually needs them and knows it.

Daniel wouldn't have been much of a help because he barely remembers anything from his time while ascended and Chaya said in 'Sanctuary' that she was forbidden to help anyone not from her planet.


Most likely because we've Sheppard and McKay together more often than we've seen McKay and Teyla.

Nope, he didn't and won't learn. That was obvious at the end with his talk with Weir. He was back to being the arrogant blowhard that he always is. I have to admit I was hoping he would change. I loved his speech to Zelenka and Radek's expression was priceless. I tend to think that this is Rodney and he will never change, no matter what happens.

I have to admit I liked the episode. I was surprised to learn that the Ancients had created technology to help them ascend. Rod almost did it, but then he saw how he could save himself and told Beckett.

Ah Rodney....how do I love thee, let me count the ways.
I love thy overweening arrogance, thy self-conscious superiority,
I love thy sarcastic sense of humor, and the delightful way
in which you toot your own horn.
I love thy numbered faults and failings
But most of all Rodney, I love your overwhelming desire to BE loved.

This episode was a really nice look into the heart of Rodney. What I like about his character is that though he is the mouthiest, most sarcastic, and egocentric of them all...he's also the most vulnerable and childlike of them all in his need for love and acceptance. Well done, Rodders.

I liked the Rodney character development of this episode, but there were definiately times when I got frustrated with his single-minded obsessions and arogance. Hopefully this one will let him ease up a bit. On to the next episode...

Sigh, this is a totally true statement about Rodney. He is very vulnerable and childlike in his need for love and acceptance. He especially doesn't want to be alone. His telling Weir, "you said you loved me. I heard it, you do," was very telling about his character.

I hope TPTB don't torpedo themselves by becoming stuck in a routine.

S4:

I want characters to change... to evolve, to become more than they are. I want to see them in their jobs, but with changing personalities, changing inter-personal dynamics... SERIOUSLY!

This experience should have lasting effects upon McKay... he should be changed by it for life!

As I said above, by the end of the show, Rodney was back to his old self. I just don't see TPTB allowing him to grow and change, which is a shame.

That is my single biggest problem with any cinema or television: lack of character development.

It is what has disappointed me the most about Stargate... the lack of individual development and evolution... TPTB move large arcs along, but forget that individuals would change due to those events.

In Farscape, Chrichton and Aeryn may have always bickered like an old married couple, but their relationship changed as time went on, all of the characters changed over time... and that just doesn't happen in Stargate. I don't really make it a point to watch it, because I never see any interesting character stuff.

After 10 years, I believe we do see a character development/arc in both Teal'c and Daniel. All you have to do is look to season one and you can see how these two have changed. Sam changed, she backtracked her character (because of idiot writing), but now is back to where she was and moving forward. As far as Jack, he was older to begin with. He had already experienced so much (Black Ops, the death of his son) that I doubt we would have seen a tremendous change.

As far as Atlantis, Rodney is Rodney, and I just don't see them changing him at all. IMO, Weir has probably changed the most. When she first took over the leadership of Atlantis, she tried to be a diplomat in her dealings with the people that they met. She has slowly progressed to making the hard decisions that Jack made on SG1. Weir stood up to Caldwell, numerous times. She stood up to Landry about making Shep a Lt. Colonel, so he could lead the military on Atlantis. IMO, the least change has been in Teyla. She is so boring and I don't see them doing anything with her.

"Tao of Rodney" is one of the funniest Atlantis episodes to date! (Although, I still laughed a bit more during the SG-1 episode "Window of Opportunity...")

Anything in particular you found amusing?


I, for instance, was entertained by Sheppard's inept attempt at teaching Rodney to meditate.

Actually it can be funny anytime someone tries to teach Radney anything, because he doesn't feel he can be taught, he knows it all!

I just loved the fact that everything sheppard did in this episode was just really lazy Trying to teach mckay to meditate being one of them. It was just really funny, like one scene where mckays explaining the device to sheppard and he's just doing something else in the background and not paying attention was quite good to see. Man I need to watch this episode again. Sheppard probably could have done a better job though at teaching had he been more bothered.

How much better of a job could he have done, Mckay finally succeeded at the end.

That other thing Sheppard was doing, was monitoring Mckay's brainwaves.

Yeah I just watched the episode again I did remember there being a magasine or something but nevermind, he still seem like he wasn't as interested in places though but it was quite fitting.

However I think it was more Weirs comments that got him furthur to that stage, getting him to appologise to everyone and clear things up in his head that he knew he felt he just wouldn't normally have gone there. I think that put him more in a state of mind for ascension then what Sheppard was saying to him.

Now that you mention it, that does sound familiar.

Didn't he like, cross his legs and start reading something while he was reciting what Teyla taught him about meditation?

This was by far one of my favorite episodes! I laughed almost the entire episode!