01-04 Thirty-Eight Minutes

[Colonel Carter]

Title: Thirty-Eight Minutes
Written by: Brad Wright
Directed by: Mario Azzopardi
Original airdate: July 30, 2004 (Sci Fi Channel)

Needing medical attention, Sheppard's puddle jumper races to Atlantis, only to become lodged in the Stargate. Now, they only have 38 minutes until the stargate automatically dis-engages, and the jumper gets cut in two... leaving them to suffocate in outer space.

[Colonel Carter]

This is one of my favorite episodes. Not sure why, I just really enjoyed it. I think it had a lot of good dialogue and the idea of a ship getting stuck in the Stargate was brilliant.

It also had that famous interaction between Dr. Weir and Kavanagh. I'm curious, how many of you would have responded to Kavanagh the same way Weir did? If you would have responded differently, what would you have said?

Here is their conversation for reference:

Kavanagh: What the hell was that?
Weir: Excuse me?
Kavanagh: I happily left the SGC because I had had it up to here with the military running things, and you just busted me like a private.
Weir: Don't be so dramatic. Besides, the Air Force doesn't have privates.
Kavanagh: Neither do I. You just cut them off. Right in front of my research team.
Weir: That's what this is about? You're embarrassed?
Kavanagh: Well, humiliated would be a little more accurate.
Weir: I haven't worked up to humiliation yet!
Kavanagh: I'd just assumed that with a civilian in charge of the expedition, there would be a little bit more-
Weir: A civilian is in charge, and we are cut off from Earth, which makes Atlantis almost like a colony, doesn't it?
Kavanagh: I suppose.
Weir: Well, I'm governor of that colony.
Kavanagh: Well, that's all very well and good.
Weir: Do you have a problem with that?
Kavanagh: You're missing my point.
Weir: No, you're missing mine. If you waste one more minute which could be used to help the people trapped on that ship because of your ego, I promise you I will dial the coordinates of a very lonely planet where you can be as self-important as you want to be.
(Kavanagh scoffs.)
Weir: You think I'm kidding?
Kavanagh: You wouldn't do that.
Weir: Kavanagh, get back in there.
Kavanagh: We'll talk about this later.
Weir: Never again. Go.
(Kavanagh is still incredulous.)
Weir: Go!

Here's how I would have reacted if I was in Weir's position:

Kavanagh: What the hell was that?
Me: What was what?
Kavanagh: I happily left the SGC because I had had it up to here with the military running things, and you just busted me like a private.
Me: Look, we're in a tough spot right now and I have to make fast, hard decisions. I treated you no differently than I would treat anyone else in this city. Now get back to work.
Kavanagh: I'd just assumed that with a civilian in charge of the expedition, there would be a little bit more-
Me: A civilian is in charge, and this is a job, and as the one in charge I have to make final decisions. You can't have it your way all the time, no one can, that's just the way life works. So get back in there and try to be more of a team player and lose the ego.
Kavanagh: You're missing my point.
Me: No, you're missing mine. If you waste one more minute which could be used to help the people trapped on that ship because of your ego, I promise you I will dial the coordinates of a very lonely planet where you can be as self-important as you want to be.
(Kavanagh scoffs.)
Me: You think that's funny?
Kavanagh: You wouldn't do that.
Me: I suggest you not test me on it, Kavanagh, get back in there.
Kavanagh: We'll talk about this later.
Me: Oh, don't worry, I will be discussing your attitude and behavior fully with my senior staff.
(Kavanagh is still incredulous.)
Me: Go!

[Anissa T]

I think she started off well, but faltered towards the end.

You have to use love and logic (stealing from a parenting book here) approuch with K.

I would have told him exactly what she said about the lonely planet. If he questioned me again, I would have said "you have two options 1) work with the team or 2) go to a lonely planet. I will leave the decision up to you, but those are your only two options. Now, we have work to do, whether or not your there will indicate to me which option your are taking (and then commence to terminate the conversation).

[Colonel Carter]

I'd say she faltered towards the end because she let her emotions gain some control. I think to be a good leader is the ability to control your emotions and allow them to cloud your judgment. Which isn't easy in some cases. Kavanagh has a way to push a person's buttons.

[Anissa T]

I wish I knew about the love and logic approach while I had soldiers. I think it would have worked perfect with them too. Especially since they were relatively young at the time.