Rewind, Reboot, Restore
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Rewind, Reboot, Restore |
| Author(s): | Rheanna |
| Date(s): | |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | slash |
| Fandom: | Stargate Atlantis |
| External Links: | Rewind, Reboot, Restore |
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Rewind, Reboot, Restore is a Sheppard/McKay story by Rheanna.
Reactions and Reviews
The One That Demonstrates Why People Should Not Plan Like Action Heroes Unless They Happen to Be in an Action Movie. (If You're Not Sure, Assume You Are Not in an Action Movie.) Rewind, Reboot, Restore, by Rheanna, aka [livejournal.com profile] rheanna27 and [personal profile] rheanna. Stargate: Atlantis, Rodney McKay/John Sheppard.
This story - well. If I had to pick just one character who got to see his new life as his old self, it would have to be Rodney. Because - okay. I used to complain that the Gateverse canon writers did not exactly get this novel concept we call "character development," but in Rodney, they totally prove that they do get it (they just mostly don't like it, and try to avoid it when they can, sort of the way some people are with cilantro). Rodney of pre-Atlantis really is a very different person than the Rodney we know and love, and that makes for quality drama when the two Rodneys meet. And in Rheanna's hands, it is quality indeed. If I had imagined how this might work, well, I don't think I could have imagined anything as wonderful as this.
Also, this story has one of Those Lines. The ones that stay with you and define the story for you, and that you think of often. (I cannot be the only one who has these. I refuse to believe it.) I am not sure if I should include it or not, so here it is...
[SPOILER]
Rodney let out a long, low groan. "I hate myself," he said. "I literally hate myself."
For one thing: hurray, a use of "literally" that actually means literally, and if you don't think that's something to celebrate, I would like to live where you do, please.
But more - that line is the story. Except the story is so very much more. And if I listed all the things I love about this, I would spoil every last plot development, so instead, how about you just read it? [1]
The "temporary amnesia" plot is certainly not inventive, but Rheanna's shifted focus and character-driven approach make the fic transcend that. Her 'pre-Atlantis' McKay is brilliantly written, giving us a clear sense of how much Rodney has grown as a person by his exposure to Atlantis and his team. John's emotional epiphany feels natural and completely in character, as do his reactions to Rodney before and after. And while the secondary characters really don't get that much space comparatively, I absolutely adore the way Teyla in particular is portrayed: smart, competent and unfailingly supportive of her family. All in all, a fantastically written, at times heart-wrenching fic with a lovely happy ending.[2]
Although this is John's POV, this is a truly excellent Rodney fic which shows just how far he's come from his first appearance on SG1[3]
Due to a snafu with Ancient technology Rodney gets reverted to the charming fellow we saw in SG-1's "48 hours" -- and John gets confronted with a part of Rodney's personality he'd rather not have seen. Amazing character piece with great plot and pitch-perfect characterization.[4]
References
- ^ rec by thefourthvine at Eight Days of Happiness: Old Self, Meet New Self, May 4, 2009
- ^ "Recced by slytherin-gypsy on Epic_Recs". Archived from the original on 2021-06-08.
- ^ "respoftw posting in stargateficrec March 30, 2018". Archived from the original on 2021-06-08.
- ^ "SGA fic/vid recs - main list, Part 2". Archived from the original on 2012-11-30.