OOh, fascinating deconstruction of Sheppard there!
Even if you buy the above (and I don't know that I do, although it makes a nicely dark AU)
Actually, that's the read I get on canon itself sometimes, and some dark canon stories. And I like it and can buy it, too - I think there's enough support in canon for it.
Interestingly, though, my AUs are generally not dark. AUs are my ridiculous, fluffy, happy place, and thus I think why I put so much stress on the military and his choices being the reason he's dark-ish in canon. I can see the other interpretation, but for AUs I don't want to (for the most part). Interesting.
I think his relationship with Elizabeth is more neurotic - a mix of idealisation and treating her as another authority to rebel against. Teyla is the real Mom for him (with interesting oedipal hints of attraction there of course, huh, wonder if his reaction to her pregnancy could be read as sibling rivalry?
Oh, you REALLY hit on some of my issues with John and women here, you pretty much explain my reaction to Elizabeth and why John/Elizabeth just really doesn't work for me; there's such a maternal vibe to the way they interact that it squicks me out. Not all the time - the rewatching I did made it obvious where John/Elizabeth shippers draw their inspiration, so that was kind of nice to see (even though it's still not going to be my ship). For Teyla (and this is because of the nature of my own familial setup), I've always thought of her as the older sister, guiding and kind and seeing through his bullshit, but never really having to be the authority figure (that was on Elizabeth). I always read the kiss between John and Teyla as being completely separate from their friendship. The virus was making him more animalistic and Teyla is an attractive woman, one John has feelings for. Not being able to separate platonic love from physical attraction feels like it's an issue of the virus, not some long-held back longing for Teyla (which is never really indicated in any other situation, that I saw in my rewatch, anyway). And that bit about sibling rivalry for how he treats her during her pregnancy? I think that's genius, and even though it's probably not what the writers were going for, I think it really does explain his bizarre behavior.
Oh - the flying. Re all the above, I'd see it both as a (mostly functional) escapist defence against the bad stuff
Ah, interesting. I think, if I had gone beyond my initial analysis of 'John loves flying. It's part of who he is,' this is the explanation I would have come out of it with.
and as a real competence that helps hold him together as a person. He probably sublimates repressed sexuality into the rush of flying
And both of these read as absolutely true to me too, though I wouldn't have thought of them.
it would express his need to rebel and get free from controlling authority figures
This one never occurs to me, and always makes me look sideways at things. I can get it, I mean, I can objectively see where it's coming from, but it doesn't resonate with me for some reason (even though clearly Sheppard has a problem with authority figures). I'm guessing that's just my personal bias coming in there, something I'm lacking in experience for, so there's nothing for the idea to resonate with.
I love your psychobabble, feel free to come on over and do it any time!
Also, on a complete tangent: I've been listening to a bunch of podfics lately, and I have to say that several of your readings are on my faves list. I'm going to do a rec set soon and you will most definitely be on there. :D
no subject
Even if you buy the above (and I don't know that I do, although it makes a nicely dark AU)
Actually, that's the read I get on canon itself sometimes, and some dark canon stories. And I like it and can buy it, too - I think there's enough support in canon for it.
Interestingly, though, my AUs are generally not dark. AUs are my ridiculous, fluffy, happy place, and thus I think why I put so much stress on the military and his choices being the reason he's dark-ish in canon. I can see the other interpretation, but for AUs I don't want to (for the most part). Interesting.
I think his relationship with Elizabeth is more neurotic - a mix of idealisation and treating her as another authority to rebel against. Teyla is the real Mom for him (with interesting oedipal hints of attraction there of course, huh, wonder if his reaction to her pregnancy could be read as sibling rivalry?
Oh, you REALLY hit on some of my issues with John and women here, you pretty much explain my reaction to Elizabeth and why John/Elizabeth just really doesn't work for me; there's such a maternal vibe to the way they interact that it squicks me out. Not all the time - the rewatching I did made it obvious where John/Elizabeth shippers draw their inspiration, so that was kind of nice to see (even though it's still not going to be my ship). For Teyla (and this is because of the nature of my own familial setup), I've always thought of her as the older sister, guiding and kind and seeing through his bullshit, but never really having to be the authority figure (that was on Elizabeth). I always read the kiss between John and Teyla as being completely separate from their friendship. The virus was making him more animalistic and Teyla is an attractive woman, one John has feelings for. Not being able to separate platonic love from physical attraction feels like it's an issue of the virus, not some long-held back longing for Teyla (which is never really indicated in any other situation, that I saw in my rewatch, anyway). And that bit about sibling rivalry for how he treats her during her pregnancy? I think that's genius, and even though it's probably not what the writers were going for, I think it really does explain his bizarre behavior.
Oh - the flying. Re all the above, I'd see it both as a (mostly functional) escapist defence against the bad stuff
Ah, interesting. I think, if I had gone beyond my initial analysis of 'John loves flying. It's part of who he is,' this is the explanation I would have come out of it with.
and as a real competence that helps hold him together as a person. He probably sublimates repressed sexuality into the rush of flying
And both of these read as absolutely true to me too, though I wouldn't have thought of them.
it would express his need to rebel and get free from controlling authority figures
This one never occurs to me, and always makes me look sideways at things. I can get it, I mean, I can objectively see where it's coming from, but it doesn't resonate with me for some reason (even though clearly Sheppard has a problem with authority figures). I'm guessing that's just my personal bias coming in there, something I'm lacking in experience for, so there's nothing for the idea to resonate with.
I love your psychobabble, feel free to come on over and do it any time!
Also, on a complete tangent: I've been listening to a bunch of podfics lately, and I have to say that several of your readings are on my faves list. I'm going to do a rec set soon and you will most definitely be on there. :D