Okay can we talk about what a masterpiece SGA's "Vegas" is?
I rewatched it recently and WOW I am blown away.
From a creative standpoint, its genuis because it's obviously only there to write the writers out of a corner. The only way the show can end is if the Wraith find Earth. But a subspace broadcast is impossible in the Prime universe. And instead of making up some technobabble bullshit, they went all out and created a whole new, fleshed out reality just to get the finale rolling.
Then of course theres the camp. The twangs whenever Sheppard walks through the door? The eagle screech too!! And the fucking Wraith cosmetics and the poker game??? It reads like fanfic which is about the highest compliment I could give an epiosde.
But the meat is Sheppard.
Sheppard's character is also so on point. Even in this different reality he still had his core traits (accidental chosen one, socially awkward, and self-sacrificing dumbass). He's still just some guy who stumbles onto the Stargate program and somehow becomes the most important player in a game he just learned existed! (Again)
Whats more, it's almost a Universe where he decides "thats not for me." Almost one where he gets out unscathed, undeveloped. For a second you think "thats not the Sheppard I know." And then he turns around, and we see him speed through a character arc in less than 10 minutes. He goes from a solitary man, to a part of something, to an action hero, to a Shakespearan tragic hero in the blink of an eye.
Then he (dies??) Alone, saving the day oh my god
His fate plays out like all the other times he risked his life should have. Its a redo of Rising and The Definant One and any other episode where we know there should be no way out for John. It's as if its fulfilling some guns blazing prophecy or promise. Our Sheppard is on borrowed time. He knows it and we know it. Vegas acts as the should-be narrative end to his arc.
It's the one where he decides to take full action, to save the day. He does it with no help and in the end it kills him. He fulfills some sort of destiny, but only in this universe. In Prime his efforts play out exactly as they always do. We get to keep him, and the writers get to finish his story.
And of course its better that way, because our John has friends, and a life, and everything he might have dreamed about. He can't very well die in the last episode, not after five seasons of growth.
Maybe this is way off the mark, but that's how I read the epiosde. A tragedy and a comedy about one man against the world. A classic action hero story for a man who can never be that character (and never should be)
chaniis-atlantis
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