kate | (Reply)

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Oh, that's... yes. I saw the darkness pretty clear as early as season one (putting up the shield in The Storm and killing those 50 men), so Miller's Crossing just really vindicated me (I'd had arguments with people that he wasn't a hard man, a cold man, that he was a big ole softie - and I do think he's a big ole softie, too, but that doesn't mean he isn't a killer, and that he won't kill especially anyone threatening one of his own - though it's interesting that while we both attribute that to his job, I feel it's also a part of himself). I generally block out the way he treats Teyla in season 4, it makes me so sad. And even though I thought Sheppard had an innate darkness to him, I never wrote it, not until much later. There's more to be thought on there, will have to ruminate on that during the drive tomorrow.

You know, the thing that I find most interesting about Shep's characterization is that you can, with canon, justify any old thing. From off-his-rocker dark (I'm writing that) to utter dork to devoted to his chosen family to a complete romantic and every combination therein. And I've seen people argue about things (god, the Last Author Standing comms, have you read any of that? if it's not dark and tragic, it's OOC, like, hello, SGA was a comedy half the time, geez) that they are utterly convinced of. Even though whatever characterization anyone comes up with, I can come up with a canon moment that shows the exact opposite characterization. I mean, I'd have to rewatch to find some of them, but I'm betting I could do it.

When it comes down to it, for me as a reader, I need to be sold. I'll buy almost any characterization if it's sold to me. The only ones that read 'off' are those where the author contradicts themself or doesn't give a solid basis for the characterization.

This was a really insightful comment - thank you for that. :D