My personal favorite/key episode list for SGA so far.

[rodneyscat]

I made this list for absolutefiction, who keeps wondering where some of the people on her friendslist are going on about. I thought I'd make a list of what I consider to be important episodes for SGA, what are my favorite episodes, which eps generate a lot of thought and discussion and which eps can be skipped. I thought I'd post it here, in case someone else was wondering the same thing, and maybe people can add their opinion, or point out which eps could be qualified differently (don't be surprised if this list gets changed here and there according to my shifting opinion!) And keep in mind that this is a list made by someone who's very much a Rodney McKay fan, so if your focus is on other characters, your list will probably look quite differently. So:

All brought to you by the letters I, M, H and O of course!

1) important episodes for the storyline (with added * in case they're also my personal favorites)
2) my other personal favorites you shouldn't miss
3) 'moral dilemma' episodes; disturbing, but really good and food for thought and discussion
4) you know, just skip these... (imho)
(!) for my extra special super favorite episodes

If they're not numbered, they're just nice episodes.

SGA: Season One

1) 1x01 - Rising, Part One * (introduction of everything and everyone; need to see)
1) 1x02 - Rising, Part Two * (ditto)
2) 1x03 - Hide and Seek
2) 1x04 - Thirty-Eight Minutes
- -1x05 - Suspicion
2) 1x06 - Childhood's End
3) 1x07 - Poisoning The Well
1) 1x08 - Underground (introduction of important opponents the Genii and villain Kolya...)
- -1x09 - Home
1) 1x10 - The Storm (...or just skip 1x08 and let this be the introduction of said opponents & villain)
1) 1x11 - The Eye (ditto)
1) 1x12 - The Defiant One * (!) (not so much important for story-line as for character development)
2) 1x13 - Hot Zone
4) 1x14 - Sanctuary
- -1x15 - Before I Sleep
2) 1x16 - The Brotherhood
1) 1x17 - Letters From Pegasus *
1) 1x18 - The Gift (important info about Teyla)
1) 1x19 - The Siege, Part One *
1) 1x20 - The Siege, Part Two *


SGA: Season Two

1) 2x01 - The Siege, Part Three *
- -2x02 - The Intruder
1) 2x03 - Runner (introduction of Ronon)
1) 2x04 - Duet (on everybody elses favorite list, except mine)
- -2x05 - Condemned
2) 2x06 - Trinity (!)
1) 2x07 - Instinct (key episode for later moral dilemma episodes)
- -2x08 - Conversion
2) 2x09 - Aurora
1) 2x10 - The Lost Boys
1) 2x11 - The Hive
1) 2x12 - Epiphany
- -2x13 - Critical Mass
2) 2x14 - Grace Under Pressure (!)
4) 2x15 - The Tower
- -2x16 - The Long Goodbye (leaning towards 4)
- -2x17 - Coup D'Etat
3) 2x18 - Michael
- -2x19 - Inferno
3) 2x20 - Allies


SGA: Season Three
3) 3x01 - No Man's Land
3) 3x02 - Misbegotten
4) 3x03 - Irresistible
2) 3x04 - Sateda
1) 3x05 - Progeny *
- -3x06 - The Real World
1) 3x07 - Common Ground *
2) 3x08 - McKay and Mrs. Miller (!) (Kate Hewlett as Rodney's sister is Teh Bomb)
2) 3x09 - Phantoms
1) 3x10 - The Return, Part One * (!)
1) 3x11 - The Return, Part Two *
2) 3x12 - Echoes (!)
4) 3x13 - Irresponsible (ok, so the end is important, only, I hope not [/cryptic to be non-spoilery]
2) 3x14 - The Tao of McKay (!)

SGA: Fics for after you've watched the first 2 episodes of season 1:
Anything by cesperanza, seriously, pick anything. (Only start with this shorty then read this longer one and then find you want to read everything else.)

Comments

[foxykc.livejournal.com]

I should revisit SGA. We were so STOKED when it first came on and of course without RDA, I stopped watching anyway.

I love that show. But I need to watch it from the beginning again.

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

I think you could learn to love John Sheppard; he's got the same no-nonsense way of looking at situations and the same dry kind of sense of humor. The first episode has some RDA in it, and this season we got treated to an episode with quite a lot of him! Some people found that annoying (he's clearly not loved by everyone), but I enjoyed it very much :D

[absolutefiction.livejournal.com]

you are so thorough. *admires as always*

i have saved this to my memories, so i now officially have a SGA entry listed in my LJ. so i'm off to a good start! *gets on it with the eps*

[absolutefiction.livejournal.com]

what the? my comment disappeared!

i said...

seriously, pick anything. (Only start with this shorty then read this longer one and then find you want to read everything else.)

**gives you a nookie** you cutie pie!

[absolutefiction.livejournal.com]

oy vay. **deletes one**

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

Hey, if it doesn't work out, if it doesn't click, don't feel like you should or something. I just can't help get quite enthusiastic whenever there's a slight chance of someone dragging along with me. Just imagine someone saying to you 'say, those Dom/Elijah Establishment fics; it's so much that I don't know where to begin, but are they any good?', what would your reaction be...? Right.

[zikade.livejournal.com]

lol, you are indeed very thourough! I was surprised by your comment on Duet, it seems to me you changed your opinion about that one. Why?

You should also remark that you are a Rodney Fan, that has definetely a big influence on the ratings. A Dr. Weir Fan, or Sheppard Fan would have a different views on The Real Word, or The Tower, for example. Or Grace under Pressure, cough cough.

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

Good point; I changed the entry. I did point out they were personal favorites however! And I think I may have mentioned here and there that I'm a Rodney girl. Once or twice. Very subtle-like. *shifty eyes*

About Duet: that was the first episode, and for quite a while the only one, I've seen outside the first season. I still love it! But it's not one of my absolute favorites. The thing is, the quality of the series as a whole is so high, it's hard to pick favorites. I know however that Duet is very often listed as a favorite by Rodney fans, so that's why I pointed out specifically that this is not the case for me. As for why: its hard to say really. For one, I'm not impressed with Katie Brown as Rodney's love interest, and I'm glad she's out of the picture. Secondly, I thought the humor bordered on slapstick, of which I'm not a fan. There are some wonderful scenes though (Radek convincing Rodney he is making mistakes is awesome for example. I love it when people aren't intimidated by Rodney. And Rodney collapsing in Kate's office will always get to me I think.)

[absolutefiction.livejournal.com]

i am readying myself to come aboard. i just have to get hold of season one. now is this the fandom where you have the rodney/dean pairing. because if memory serves i've seen a picture of at least one of those guys and thought he was hot. which is a good start. :)

[absolutefiction.livejournal.com]

p.s. is this the fandom you're most active in right now? or does is that question even applicable?

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

It's absolutely the fandom I'm most active in! And the pairing of my choice is Rodney/John. Rodney is the scientist and he doesn't qualify as 'hot', but I fell for him like you wouldn't believe. John is military and definitely hot in a way that I never fall for, but damn, he's getting to me!

For referrence: the tall one with the messy hair is John (calm and silent type, dry sense of humor, pilot, closet geek), Rodney is the shorter (brilliant, tactless, total geek, scientist, closet hero).

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

Also: you know I'll still love you, even if you hate the series?

[absolutefiction.livejournal.com]

OF COURSE! but i wanna play too!