John never really wanted to come to Atlantis in the first place, had to be talked into it, in face of resentment from his CEO. But he overcame that, made a home there, a family, people he will do *anything* for.
Right. So given we don't know why John chose to go to Atlantis in the first place, why must Jennifer have a specific, spelled out reason for joining? Can't it be enough that she's here, doing good work, and obviously happy to be making a difference? And also, obviously working to be better prepared for the adventures Pegasus throws at her. (As we saw in Tracker, where she was better prepared then Dr. Porter, and therefore didn't need a rescue. No slam on Dr. Porter; she's new. *g*)
She tells Ronon it's "the story of my life", never fitting in. But she's been accepted into the inner circle of Atlantis faster and closer than any other character except Jeannie (and she's Rodney's family.)
That a social misfit fits in with the other misfits doesn't surprise me. ;) But, I think you're airbrushing the ease of Jennifer's fitting in. Her first friendship I'd say was with Sam (bond of fellow outsiders, I think). She became close with Teyla through the adventure of Missing, close with Ronon through the adventure of Quarantine (though that didn't fully take at first *g*), and close to Rodney through the adventure of Trio. It took up to this season for John to warm up to her (I think her letting him go rescue Teyla helped).
I feel like the show worked to fit her in with the others in a fair and logical way. She wasn't suddenly bffs with everyone, she had to earn it.
So much of Keller, her strengths and her weaknesses, her confidence and her competence, her social awkwardness and familiarity with the main cast, vary wildly from episode to episode.
I don't see that. I honestly don't see the fluctuation. Maybe if Missing came after Trio, or The Shrine came before Quarantine... but honestly, I think Jennifer is being handled as well as any of the other main characters as far as who she is, how Atlantis changed her, and how she interacts with the others.
Part two (of two)
Right. So given we don't know why John chose to go to Atlantis in the first place, why must Jennifer have a specific, spelled out reason for joining? Can't it be enough that she's here, doing good work, and obviously happy to be making a difference? And also, obviously working to be better prepared for the adventures Pegasus throws at her. (As we saw in Tracker, where she was better prepared then Dr. Porter, and therefore didn't need a rescue. No slam on Dr. Porter; she's new. *g*)
She tells Ronon it's "the story of my life", never fitting in. But she's been accepted into the inner circle of Atlantis faster and closer than any other character except Jeannie (and she's Rodney's family.)
That a social misfit fits in with the other misfits doesn't surprise me. ;) But, I think you're airbrushing the ease of Jennifer's fitting in. Her first friendship I'd say was with Sam (bond of fellow outsiders, I think). She became close with Teyla through the adventure of Missing, close with Ronon through the adventure of Quarantine (though that didn't fully take at first *g*), and close to Rodney through the adventure of Trio. It took up to this season for John to warm up to her (I think her letting him go rescue Teyla helped).
I feel like the show worked to fit her in with the others in a fair and logical way. She wasn't suddenly bffs with everyone, she had to earn it.
So much of Keller, her strengths and her weaknesses, her confidence and her competence, her social awkwardness and familiarity with the main cast, vary wildly from episode to episode.
I don't see that. I honestly don't see the fluctuation. Maybe if Missing came after Trio, or The Shrine came before Quarantine... but honestly, I think Jennifer is being handled as well as any of the other main characters as far as who she is, how Atlantis changed her, and how she interacts with the others.
And that's my two cents...or, you know, more. ;)