Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog

February 2013: The Akemi Fall 2013 Collection! Days of Stargate Atlantis Past! The Prodigal!

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1Akemi has caught the dog fashion bug!  Over the last couple of days, she’s been hard at work, snipping, sewing, and generally cannibalizing some of her older outfits, transforming them into haute canine couture. Check out her Fall Collection so far:

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Meanwhile, a naked pudgy Bubba awaits his first outfit…

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Sadly, Akemi is running out of material as we cleared out our closet and dropped off our old clothing at one of the local donation bins last month.  It was while we were searching through the drawers last night that the idea came to me: “Hey, you know where we can find some old clothes?  The local donation bin.”  Strangely, she wasn’t thrilled with my suggestion.

Continuing our Days of Stargate Past reminiscing with…

1THE PRODIGAL (514)

One of the high points of Atlantis’s fifth season was this episode (compliments of Executive Producer Carl Binder) that saw the return of Michael, one of the show’s most colorfully nuanced villains.  The episode includes Michael and Ronon going a mano a mano in the control room followed by tower-top battle between Michael and Sheppard.  While the latter was being shot, at one point, Joe Flanigan’s stuntman lost his balance and went off the tower (fear not, he was cabled and there were some nice comfy mats to cushion his fall), which prompted actor Connor Trinneer to throw up his arms and triumphantly proclaim: “I win!”.

Teyla’s decision to – let’s not mince words here  – murder Michael engendered a fair amount of controversy.  Was she justified in her actions?  Did the fact that she was a mother protecting her child color your opinion of her actions?

Setting up the big radio-controlled car showdown.
Setting up the big radio-controlled car showdown (photo courtesy MGM Television)
Boys and their toys (photo courtesy MGM Television)
Boys and their toys (photo courtesy MGM Television)
Michael comes out on top (photo courtesy MGM Television)
Michael comes out on top (photo courtesy MGM Television)
Michael marshals the troops (photo courtesy MGM Television)
Michael marshals the troops (photo courtesy MGM Television)

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45 responses

  1. thornyrose01 Avatar
    thornyrose01

    poor doggies….dressing up animals goes against my grain. though your pups do look adorable. old weather gear excepted, of course.
    As for Prodigal, a nice wrap-up to Michael’s saga. He was never one of my favorite villains, but the depth of his character has always certainly impressed. The ending was the only one that could fit. Well done. Thanks for the pics and memories.

    Reply
  2. Deni Avatar
    Deni

    Doggie outfits are adorable! Ok, doggies are adorable, too. 🙂

    As much as I love Connor Trinneer, I did a happy dance and cheered when Michael fell, and I thought Teyla was completely justified in killing him. How that could be controversial is beyond me. Somebody’s threatening my kids/grandkid like that? Toast.

    Reply
  3. gforce Avatar
    gforce

    Agree with Deni – I can’t imagine that being controversial. Michael had only moments before told her he was going to leave her, her child and everyone else to die when the self-destruct went off. He had been instrumental in killing many, many people previously and showed no inclination to ever STOP doing it. She would have been irresponsible NOT to give him that little kick. Interestingly, I wonder if the same discussion would have happened if Ronon had’ve been able to just kill him during their fight, or one of the other guys had killed him. It was perfectly fitting that Teyla finished off, since she was the one that took the brunt of so much of his terror. Great episode!

    The dog outfits are cute! Question is, how do the dogs like them?

    Reply
  4. Airelle Avatar
    Airelle

    Akemi, great job for the pups!,cute! now make an outfit for Joe?!? and pictures…
    ~ Michael was a scary villain(Connor is terrific), Teyla was a protective mother, instincts take over, don’t mess with a mama bear!

    Reply
  5. Alisa Russell Avatar
    Alisa Russell

    Loved the dog outfits! Nice job, Akemi! I also thought Teyla’s decision was completely justified. I think any mother would do the same if their child was threatened.

    Have a great night!

    Reply
  6. kabra Avatar
    kabra

    LOL love the outfits!!Wow Akemi made those? Is there anything she can’t do? Wish I could at least sew a button or hem pants.

    As far as Teyla’s decision goes, uh yah – who would protect their child. I got to the point where if could have I would have helped her. That part was great. Connor Trineer was great in that part.

    Reply
  7. Lexxye Avatar
    Lexxye

    Those poor dogs. They didn’t look very happy.

    Reply
  8. Duptiang Avatar
    Duptiang

    LOL poor puppies. They looked so exited w/their new fashion ware.

    How for shadowing was the Inquisition, well at least it wasn’t the Spanish Inquisition, but NOBODY EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION…. I suppose there were some laughs when that story line was revealed. Oh, I think there were enough crimes Michael admitted to that his end was due. Even through it was extra judicial so to speak not only threatening her child, but her people,etc. I think Ronon would have kicked Michael w/out balconied.

    Reply
  9. Duptiang Avatar
    Duptiang

    Oh,one thing when John and Rodney race in the beginning after talking Teyla the red car is on Sheppard’s left against the wall. The look back shot shows the car against the other wall. Hey would it not be nice if more reports were as concise as Ronon’s?

    Reply
  10. sg1efc Avatar
    sg1efc

    The pups seem quite pleased with their new outfits. 🙂

    Nope, Teyla had no right to do that. The proper and politically correct way is to capture Michael, send him to Guantanamo Bay (or an Afghanistan or Pakistan prison) for a while and then release him, so he can go back to carrying on his terroristic ways.

    Reply
  11. Deni Avatar
    Deni

    I think the pups look warm and happy. 🙂 Some dogs seem to love clothes, while others, not so much. Elway had a t-shirt he loved that said “Devil” on it. Over the years and many washes, it became “Jevil” and finally, “Evil”. 🙂 Miss that boy so much.

    Reply
  12. Patricia Stewart-Bertrand Avatar
    Patricia Stewart-Bertrand

    You know, Joe, when women start dressing up animals…is it possible real children are not far behind?

    I understood the controversy with Teyla killing Michael. But since she is not from Earth, and would likely have had different standards about taking another life, it made sense.

    Reply
  13. dasndanger Avatar
    dasndanger

    Akemi – You should start making your own line of doggie clothes. Seriously. Those are so cute!

    @ Joey – I am very tired – it’s been a huge day and I should be in bed. But I just wanted to say that my biggest problem with everything Michael is that the Lanteans never took responsibility for creating their little Frankenstein monster in the first place. True, back in the beginning they struggled with the morality of it all, but once they totally screwed him up then suddenly everything was Michael’s fault. I guess it would just have been nice to hear them acknowledge their role in it all. In some ways, I’d like to think that’s all Michael wanted, too.

    das

    Reply
  14. avabird Avatar
    avabird

    Hey Joe! I’m back in. Hopefully problems with account all fixed now.

    The doggie outfits are very nice. Well done, Akemi. Keeps them warm in the Vancouver weather.

    Teyla was certainly a Mama Bear, and when Mama Bear’s cubs are in danger, it’s kick butt and/or kill first, then ask questions. Would’ve done the same (if reality).

    At the same time, as one of the other Wraith-worshipper gals, I also agree with Das. I know their intentions were good, but they were responsible for creating that monster.

    Reply
  15. PBMom Avatar
    PBMom

    Akemi is a woman of many talents. The outfits are adorable. I know a dog store down here I can approach that sells gourmet doggie treats and other items for the discriminating buyer if you want me to put you into contact. I would never be able to put Maddie in one of these things. I tried to dress her up as a devil one Halloween. It wasn’t pretty. She objected. I even tried putting bunny ears on her. I have a pic somewhere of that. The black-and-white stripe one with the hoodie pulled over makes him look like he just broke out of jail, although it is my favorite among the 3

    Loved Prodigal. Michael had gone through quite an evolution in character from victim to evil menace (although from his POV perfectly justified). I cheered when Teyla channeled her inner tigress. The individual had caused her great suffering, perhaps her child when she was pregnant and now? No one’s taking my baby. I would like to think that I would be all rational and try to talk someone out of doing something, and, in fact, that actually did happen. I talked someone out of doing something horrible to me. Terrifying experience. But if that did not work, I would kill someone to protect my child if Patrick’s life were immediately threatened. But they would likely have to make the first move where they left me no choice. I would absolutely die for him and put myself in harm’s way to protect him. Teyla tried to give him every opportunity to redeem himself, and/or just leave them alone.

    And isn’t that always the case. After you decide to let something go from your pack-rat ways, you decide that you really did need it after all, which then develops into an episode of Hoarders a decade later because you learned your lesson. You really WILL need that stuff some day. They filmed an episode of Hoarders here in The Woodlands. Don’t know exactly which house it was and I don’t know when it aired (or will air) but I can do a Google search.

    Reply
  16. justpostulating Avatar
    justpostulating

    Awesome outfits Akemi, you should start your own line 🙂 Joe, you got a real diamond there…..♥

    Reply
  17. Ponytail Avatar
    Ponytail

    Bubba looks like he is having that dream were he is the only one not wearing clothes. I know that dream Bubba, I know! Love their fall collection! Jelly and Lulu look a little like jail birds though. Very cute, and I see Akemi has another talent she can do. Not surprising.

    Agree with Airelle. Akemi now make Joe a shirt out of your old clothes. Don’t forget the pictures.

    So much to love in The Prodigal! Starting with Woolsey asking Ronon to file mission reports. Too funny! Zelenka and his “stun bubble”. Great description. “Ronon’s in the control room, he’s fighting with Michael!” Emelia helping Ronon kick butt! You go girl! When Michael was fixing to cut off Ronon’s head (I presume), I was yelling, “cut his hair, cut his hair!!” And Teyla scraping that baby stealing scum Michael off the ledge. Woooooo whoooo!!

    @ Deni – funny!

    Reply
  18. sylvia Avatar
    sylvia

    Akemi – fantastic fashion!

    Reply
  19. Line Noise Avatar
    Line Noise

    Just watched The Prodigal last night. Really enjoyed it. I like stories where we start in the dark (so to speak) not knowing what is happening. Was the episode scripted like that? Or was it done in editing? Because if it was edited sequentially (so we would have seen Michael arrive and take control before the power went out) it would have been far less exciting.

    Also, were “the boys” controlling the cars themselves or were they controlled by someone off camera? They were pretty good at it.

    I had no problem with Teyla offing Michael. Sheppard had already given the order that if you have a clear shot at Michael take it . . . Teyla took it.

    Reply
  20. Debra Avatar
    Debra

    LOVE THE DOGGIE OUTFITS!
    Yeah, agree, I’d have killed Michael too.

    Reply
  21. Simon Avatar
    Simon

    Cute. I see side business potential. here’s an update from Seattle. In NYC right now, EMP lunch in 10 hours. http://gluttonwithanikon.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/seattle-part-1-restaurants/

    Reply
  22. Kevin Roberts Avatar
    Kevin Roberts

    I absolutely love the first with ears! lol Akemi does amazing work. Bravo!
    On The Teyla question, I truly think they gave Micheal every chance they could. I believe she did the right thing. I truly believe they had to pick the lesser of two evils. It was kill him or let him keep on killing thousands or even millions of innocent lives. In some ways i feel they should’ve done it sooner. “If Possible” lol

    Reply
  23. Joanie. Avatar
    Joanie.

    This was a great episode. Right from the low key, fun build up with Sheppard and McKay racing cars, to the growing relationship between Ronon and Woolsey, it worked on every level. As for Teyla, of course she did the right thing. Michael had come back time and time again. He’d nearly killed her once, but more importantly she was a mother now. There was only one choice. To protect her son.

    Reply
  24. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Awww, cute doggie outfits. As I scrolled down, I half-expected the last pic to be of Joe in an outfit.

    While the scene was built up to be rather grimdark with Shep and Teyla looming over and watching Michael fall to his death, I recall clamoring for Teyla to have a badass scene again. And contextual, I thought it was important the expedition killed Michael off as a symbol of humans once again outdoing their Ancient predecessors who never fully destroyed their experiments gone wrong. Plus, I felt like the conflict became so personal, it would have not felt right to have someone in the expedition doing a “I told you so” jig in everyone’s faces. Though I think Ronon did enough of that in “Michael” so it’s already established. I think my reaction to his death was something like “YES!….FINALLY!”

    Reply
  25. JimFromJersey Avatar
    JimFromJersey

    The doggie outfits are great, Akemi! I especially like Little Red Riding Jelly.

    I don’t feel Teyla murdered Michael any more than SG-1 murdered Goa’uld or Jaffa, or the Atlantis team murdered Wraith. Michael was going to be a continued threat, and therefore was an imminent threat, always. Teyla was acting in self defense.

    Reply
  26. lrgoodwin2 Avatar
    lrgoodwin2

    IF YOU DON’T READ ANYTHING ELSE, READ THIS…..

    Nicely done Akemi!

    I had a thought yesterday. Netflix is producing shows now. House of Cards….Excellent T.V. if you can call it that rather than Streaming Content. Anyway, one of the most popular franchises on Netflix is of course, Stargate. Seems like there is an opportunity there if you were looking for a new one. SGU movie? Or even a re-launch of the series. If nothing else, it would give you the opportunity to tie up the lose ends and wrap the show up even if you had to juggle the actors a little. I cannot think of one of those actors who has went on to better things, other things but NOT better. I cannot see any of them turning down the opportunity to reunite that cast and FINISH the series. The very best sci-fi T.V. show in History? Without a doubt!!! Netflix could do worse. They need content, you have content. Sounds like basic math to me…..

    Reply
  27. Bella&Kasper Avatar
    Bella&Kasper

    @Akemi: great job on the outfits. If you decide to use some of your northern Canada clothing, my mini schnauzer could use a warm outfit to survive the cold temps out in the wilds of Alberta.

    Now, does Bubba look sad because he is last on the list for an outfit or worried that he soon will have to be wearing an outfit? 🙂

    Reply
  28. DP Avatar
    DP

    The more immediate the threat to your kid is, the less those parts of your brain that consider moral ramifications are even in operation. The brain can’t stay in that mode so longer term plans to eliminate a threat would be thought through differently.

    If you’re close enough to the threat to be waiting for the first move, you’re really waiting to see if the fight has to be “on” because avoiding it is also part of minimizing a threat. Once it’s clear the move will happen, thoughts of waiting are only about waiting for the best angle.

    Reply
  29. Deni Avatar
    Deni

    Happy Friday, everyone! 🙂
    ****** 23 ADULT TRUTHS ******

    01. Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
    02. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.
    03. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.
    04. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
    05. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
    06. Was learning cursive really necessary?
    07. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
    08. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
    09. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind-of tired.
    10. Bad decisions make good stories.
    11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
    12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.
    13. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
    14. I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
    15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
    16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Light than Kay.
    17. I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option.
    18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
    19. How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?
    20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
    21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
    22. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.
    23. The first testicular guard, the “Cup,” was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

    Reply
  30. Skua Avatar
    Skua

    Well done Akemi

    I cant resist Deni

    Reply
  31. DP Avatar
    DP

    That’s a funny list, Deni. You’re like the blog comment version of the Hyperbole and a Half blog.

    And you just don’t look at enough pants*. Mothers of toddlers have snot lines across the knees unless they just changed to go out.

    The jerks who try to cut in the line at the pick-up from my son’s school have a trump card. They block traffic so bad, eventually vehicles can’t leave the school. If someone doesn’t let them in, the whole works get gummed up. That last little bit of wiggle room that allows each car to move a few more inches has to be reserved for their Highnesses. It’s not fair. All they’d have to do is go down the road a few feet and turn around to get in the back of the line, but they’d rather cause chaos than take their rightful place in line.

    *Be careful using the word “pants” to an international audience. It means something different some places.

    And I almost called you das. It sounded like something she would say.

    Reply
  32. Tam Dixon Avatar
    Tam Dixon

    Those doggie outfits are the cutest! The stripes look especially fetching against Lulu’s dark fur. Great job Akemi!!!

    I would have offed Michael too but like Das said, the Lanteans were responsible for some of the wraith mess. Thanks for the backstage stories!

    Reply
  33. DP Avatar
    DP

    And I spoke too soon about how jerks cut in line at the school. Their new strategy is to pull alongside the real line, then slip in when a car pulls out. Us chumps tend to be too inhibited to pull out any moves to counter it when, you know, first graders on are foot next to moving cars.

    I was going to arrange a playdate for my son with the son of a line-cutter, but this tips the scale on the red flags that say maybe I shouldn’t expose my family to whatever loose wire is going on there.

    Reply
  34. Mike A. Avatar
    Mike A.

    Another fantastic episode. Simply brilliant. I’m still at odds at what I expect a “hero” to do on a TV show. Whether or not Teyla stepped outside those bounds, I STILL haven’t decided. No good comes from saving him, as they learned from before, yet the “good guys” don’t kill people in cold blood. Or do they? When does that line get drawn?

    Having your “hero” cross that line can be both rewarding and damning in a show. Either way, it can spawn numerous other storylines, making one action give birth to multiple new plot twists. A great mechanic for a writer, really.

    Every episode with Connor Trinneer is great. A gifted actor. I loved Connor’s costume for this episode, too. I got to see it in person at the first Stargate live auction event. It was VERY reminiscent of Pinhead from Hellraiser. Really well done and complete.

    -Mike A.

    Reply
  35. gforce Avatar
    gforce

    The reaction of many people to the impending snowstorm:

    Reply
  36. Tam Dixon Avatar
    Tam Dixon

    Just wanted to wish all you Northerners luck with this storm. Hope all are safe, warm and comfy!

    Reply
  37. Janet Avatar
    Janet

    G’day

    @ Deni – Great list No.23…yep.

    Jelly does not look impressed. Lulu always has something in her mouth. Poor Bubba, he is feeling left out.

    Reply
  38. JeffW Avatar
    JeffW

    @Deni:

    I’ve got a few #10 stories 😉

    Reply
  39. Deni Avatar
    Deni

    @JeffW: Let’s hear them!

    @Skua: Yeah, right. 😉

    Reply
  40. dasndanger Avatar
    dasndanger

    *runs in, gives Joey a big smoochie on the cheeks (you know the drill – the ones on his face), bear hugs Akemi, belly-rubs all the puppies, and flaunts her mad fitted sheet-folding skills…and runs out*

    Have a good weekend everyone!!!

    😀

    das

    Reply
  41. JeffW Avatar
    JeffW

    @Deni on #10: Bad decisions that make good stories:

    @JeffW: Let’s hear them!

    How about the time I nearly killed myself skiing? When skiing with my cousin in Colorado, I ended up on a run that was being prepped for speed skiing (I didn’t know this when I started the run). Hitting the freshly iced run, I took off at high speed and being somewhat new at skiing, I had no idea how to stop on ice with skis.

    Making things worse, the week before a man had died on a nearby ski slope after running into a parked Sno-cat, and looking down-slope in front of me…you guessed it…a parked Sno-cat! And right behind that, the ski lodge with no way around it!

    As I picked up more speed, I started looking for places I could wipe out without too much injury. “Nope…tree! Rock! Gully!” As I was getting desperate, the trees on my right opened up into a flat field of fresh powder…perfect! I was saved!

    I had just broken into the powder at a high rate of speed when I made that “bad decision”. For some reason, I remembered seeing how all the advanced skiers would lean and pivot sideways to stop quickly, and I thought “that doesn’t look too hard, I bet I could do that!”

    From behind, my cousin said it looked like a snow explosion. I disappeared in a white powder mushroom cloud and by the time he got to me I was laughing hysterically at the prospect of just being alive. At first, my world was dark (in my tumble, snow had been forced into every opening, including my goggles). I lost both skis, both boots, one pole and one glove. I stood up in my stocking feet, blind, blood running down my face from a gash on the bridge of my nose made by the goggles, and using my remaining ski-pole for balance, I tried to figure out why I couldn’t see (it was at this point I figured out that my eyes were cold and wet, and that my goggles were stuffed with snow). It was a miracle I hadn’t broken any bones or worse.

    Reply
    1. PBMom Avatar
      PBMom

      @JeffW Wow. That is SOME story! Glad you made it out in one piece.

      Reply
  42. shinyhula Avatar
    shinyhula

    Much as I shipped Sheyla I gotta say I love Meyla; I know it’s wrong but dammit, he reached across ten thousand light years of space just to touch her mind!
    Most guys won’t even hold the door for ya. I’m a huge Trineer fan, and the awesome Meyla fan vids on youtube are still a fave too.

    Reply
  43. shinyhula Avatar
    shinyhula

    PS, is that Nicole Kidman in that off the shoulder red gown? Those pug sweaters are beyond cute!

    Reply
  44. Mike from Canada Avatar
    Mike from Canada

    I assume Akemi is aware that dogs already have ears? Isn’t putting eared clothing on them a little bit superfluous? Yes, he is cute though. Who could resist?

    I’ve stated before, Michael should have been executed when they caught him the second time. Or put in status and never let out. Lets face the facts, it wouldn’t have been the first Wraith executed, even if it was by accidentally poisoning it. The experiment failed the first time. They shouldn’t have given him a second chance, and leaving that many de-wraithified wraiths around with a small security force was dumb. Letting anyone who stayed on the planet know about the nuke was also dumb.

    The upside of the plot line is this sort of stupid decisions do happen even in real life, or especially in real life, and it gives a realistic view that actions have consequences. At least almost never to the main cast. Except for Rainbow. At least the ones who did get killed didn’t have red shirts.

    I did like this episode, but I was always waiting for Michael to pop back up sometime. Maybe as part shark part wraith ready to attack Sheppard when he is surfing.

    Reply

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