The Shrine

After viewing all the episodes of the entire series, one by one each night, I had to come back to this one. The emotional content is just so rich and moving. David and Kate Hewlett are outstanding of course, but after watching it again I was so surprised and gratified to see the little emotional gems and currents from the other characters.

Ronon trying to comfort Jeannie was touching and funny, and the little byplay between Ronon and Dr. Keller shows his affection for her and her awareness of it, and her dismissing of his grumbling when he checks out clean on the scan that he didn't feel he needed anyway. It was a nice little touch, about a second long, given by her facial expression and the tone of her voice, a little quiet aside while someone else is talking, and it was wonderful.

But for me the most touching part, which only became more clear after having seen the entire episode (and the rest of the season), was that gentle, quiet, reassuring tone in which Dr. Keller spoke to Rodney, in the very first scene of this episode, and carried through in all the videos Rodney made which chronicled his deterioration. In that quiet, understated way, Jewel Staite's performance spoke volumes. It was beautiful, especially the end.