Stargate: Team Dynamics (Year One)

[butterfly]

Now, it's really Daniel that I started watching for (lasultrix basically pointed me at many pretty pictures of Daniel and I eventually gave in and rented the show) and my favorite pairing out of the team is definitely Daniel/Jack, but I really do love all the team interaction.

Now, in the first year, Daniel and Jack are the two who know each other. They've already been through hell together and trust each other. But the rest don't, not just yet. Season one is all about getting the team to that moment in Within the Serpent's Grasp when, independently of any orders and with only each other for backup, they head out to save the world. Season one is about defining the pairing and team dynamics.

For Jack and Daniel, season one is about the struggle between friendship and chain of command. Jack thinks that he'd like Daniel to obey him, but during this time, he learns just valuable it is to have someone who can stand up to him and not be forced to back down because of rank or command issues. Jack and Daniel are equals. Even when he doesn't believe Daniel or is irritated as hell with him, he's never allowed by the show to treat Daniel as less than an equal.

Teal'c was once First Prime of Apophis and sometimes I wonder if he doesn't just transfer over his First Prime-ness to O'Neill. Yes, he'll certainly disobey or circumvent O'Neill's orders if he disagrees, but he did that with Apophis, too. For Jack, Teal'c is solid and trustworthy -- he saw Teal'c's moment of choice and that's enough for him. Teal'c is also the first hint at Jack's charismatic talents as a leader. Jack is someone you can believe in, even if you no longer believe in your god.

Carter and Jack get off to a rocky start when she makes an inaccurate assumption about him. She assumes in their first meeting that his dismissiveness is about her being a woman, but it's really about the military/science divide. And I do believe Jack on that, because he very often treats Daniel's babbling exactly the same way he treated Carter's. She's attracted to him, probably from the beginning, judging by her eagerness to impress him and be liked by him (and the jumping in The Broca Divide). He... pretty much only reacts when the fact that she's a woman is shoved in his face. And, of course, there's the superior/subordinate barrier already in place. Carter and Jack's journey the first season is about trusting each other as soldiers and supports (as shown in Solitudes). It's about learning and respecting the chain of command while also learning to transcend it. Also of note is the fact that Sam does very much resemble Sara, Jack's ex-wife.

Daniel and Sam bond right away. They really do act and look very much like siblings at many times during the first two years. They support each other when it comes to the science stuff and share disappointment when the military side is shown priority. Also very much a relationship of equals. But Daniel is, even in season one, capable of doing something that Sam can't imagine -- I wonder what he lost in her eyes when he shot the infant Goa'uld in Bloodlines.

Daniel and Teal'c is his most complicated relationship. And pretty much spelled out in Cor'ai -- Teal'c is the man who sentenced his wife to a most painful life and yet Daniel can see that he is a changed man and shouldn't be hated. This is Daniel's most unequal relationship in the beginning, because he holds the power of guilt over Teal'c, yet even there, he does his best never to use it, striving to make it an equal relationship.

Sam and Teal'c don't get much time together in season one that I can remember. They do work together in Hathor and Teal'c doesn't trust her lead the way he does Jack's. The trust isn't there yet.

*tilts head*

I really do need a team icon.

And on a completely different subject, I'm fascinated by the fact that Daniel dresses himself in that blue military thing (oh, I'm sure it has a name) in his own mind in Meridian. He feels that deeply inside the military thing. Then, of course, he wears that cream sweater for his three "Yes, I'm really Daniel" appearances to Jack and Teal'c and then Jack again (robes on Abydos, of course... he looks so good in robes). Before that, do we ever see that sweater outside his dream in Forever in a Day (well, it's either the same one or one that's a lot like it)? Does that sweater actually exist or is it just in his mind?

And once again, I'm amused at how much the clothes matter to me. I once spent half of Fellowship of the Ring telling my dad what the clothes were saying to me about the characters.

Comments

[lasultrix.livejournal.com]

You're the reason I now pay attention to clothes, at least in the Jossverse. And you're right, there are so many messages in the clothes!

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Hee. I'm so intensely amused by that. My insanity is contagious.

But yeah, it's true, because all clothes are, of course, chosen for the character and will be appropriate. And in a good show, there tend to be clothing themes, though sometimes they may not be intentional. The subconscious is scary and wonderful.

[bluecove.livejournal.com]

Here via metagate

Does that sweater actually exist or is it just in his mind?

LOL! You know, I'd never thought about that, but you're right! We've never seen him wear it except for those occasions you mentioned, none of which were "real." But if he imagined it... why that sweater? There are plenty of other outfits he looks better in.

Liked your take on the relationships in S1 too, btw. *g* And you're right -- it was all about learning to trust each other, becoming a team, and reaching the point where they could work as well together as they did in WTSG.

I do have one pet peeve, though, and it's Jack's reaction to Daniel after TBFTGOG. When Daniel tries to convince the others that Apophis is planning to attack, Jack says, "It's not that we don't believe you, Daniel... it's just that we don't believe you." That's one of the most hurtful things he's ever said, perhaps matched only by his statements four seasons later in "Menace."

Are you planning to do other seasons? I'd love to see your take on the disintegrating personal and team relationships in S4 and especially S5.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

LOL! You know, I'd never thought about that, but you're right! We've never seen him wear it except for those occasions you mentioned, none of which were "real." But if he imagined it... why that sweater? There are plenty of other outfits he looks better in.

Hmm. I don't know, it shows off the golden tone of his skin and when he loses the shirt underneath that he wore in Forever in a Day, it has a nice neckline. Plus, this is Daniel. I can see him imagining himself in a nice, comfortable sweater of a neutral color more easily than him thinking, "And when I appear to Jack, my clothes should complement my eyes." Because, well, this is Daniel.

Liked your take on the relationships in S1 too, btw. *g* And you're right -- it was all about learning to trust each other, becoming a team, and reaching the point where they could work as well together as they did in WTSG.

I love that moment when they go through the gate. So much.

I do have one pet peeve, though, and it's Jack's reaction to Daniel after TBFTGOG. When Daniel tries to convince the others that Apophis is planning to attack, Jack says, "It's not that we don't believe you, Daniel... it's just that we don't believe you." That's one of the most hurtful things he's ever said, perhaps matched only by his statements four seasons later in "Menace."

But he didn't, so lying to Daniel at that point probably wouldn't have helped. And since Daniel was right, this moment of doubt probably translates to later moments of trust (like Spirits, where Jack accepts that this is Daniel on a "because"). Because when you think about it, despite everything they've already been through "parallel universes" is a huge step.

Are you planning to do other seasons? I'd love to see your take on the disintegrating personal and team relationships in S4 and especially S5.

Oh, ouch and also yes, definitely.

Hee. And then I started to go on about those dynamics here and realized I should just start the next post about them. Needless to say, Jack and Daniel in S4 breaks my heart and then Daniel continues to break my heart right up until Meridian.

[bluecove.livejournal.com]

>>I do have one pet peeve, though, and it's Jack's reaction to Daniel after TBFTGOG. When Daniel tries to convince the others that Apophis is planning to attack, Jack says, "It's not that we don't believe you, Daniel... it's just that we don't believe you." That's one of the most hurtful things he's ever said, perhaps matched only by his statements four seasons later in "Menace."<<

But he didn't, so lying to Daniel at that point probably wouldn't have helped. And since Daniel was right, this moment of doubt probably translates to later moments of trust (like Spirits, where Jack accepts that this is Daniel on a "because"). Because when you think about it, despite everything they've already been through "parallel universes" is a huge step.

Yes, I realize it's better (and very Jack) to tell Daniel the truth. My quibble is with his total disbelief. After all, he didn't say "I don't know, Daniel," he said, "We don't believe you."

Maybe this is just a sore point with me, but he should have known better. They'd all been through a number of strange adventures at that point. Daniel wasn't in the habit of just making stuff up, and it was a little elaborate for a dream. Plus, he had a shoulder wound made by a staff blast that had to come from somewhere.

Yes, Daniel persisted until they were convinced, and everything turned out okay, but the initial lack of trust after so many months together really grates.

Thus endeth my rant. *g*

Needless to say, Jack and Daniel in S4 breaks my heart and then Daniel continues to break my heart right up until Meridian.

Mine, too.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

It is odd that Jack's so firm on not believing Daniel, especially considering the staff blast. I need to rewatch TBFTGoG. Definitely.

[bluecove.livejournal.com]

Actually, it's in the beginning of "Politics" that Jack says he doesn't believe Daniel, if that's what you're looking for. Just wanted to point that out.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Right, yes. That's how much I need to rewatch it, I couldn't even remember where it went. Thank you.

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

I like your icon. :) I miss the evil twin vibes bit. **sigh**

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

They were cute like that, but they had some fundamental differences that really showed up more and more as time went by.

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

That's true. Such as Daniel being a thousand times better more spacey. That's what I meant. Plus, he has people skills.