Jonas and the Weather Forecasts

[Dave]

What is Jonas' fascination with Earth's weather?

First, when he is locked up in the SGC he sits watching 24 hour weather TV channels, telling Sam that they are cool.

Then when they visit the antarctic he becomes some kind of expert on weather patterns and the approaching storm.

Is it meant to be a serious character trait? If so, what does it tell us about him? I'm sure I'm missing something important here!

Or, is it meant to be a joke? Like Teal'c's magazines. If so, it isn't very funny, not funny like Teal'c was with the conspiracy theories and the waterbed etc. in the first few seasons.

 

[Tabitha]

Not funny, not funny, not funny. What could being interested in the weather have to say about someone's character? I am not sure, but it can't be good

 

[webmouse]

I think part of JQ's weather fascination is that he comes from a world circa 1940s Earth. Our current forecasting ability has improved dramatically in the last decade or so. To JQ, as he said in "Redemption", it is like looking into the future.

It would seem more believable, though, if JQ found more of our technology fascinating. When you consider the differences in our technology in the last 50 years, JQ should be amazed a lot more often. Instead he's just memorized and mastered everything without a moment of wonder.

Another character development opportunity missed. <sigh>

 

[skydiver]

think about it.

Even in my parents' time, weather forecasts really didn't happen. We had no satellites, nothing to give us a big view. Here in Kansas, the best way to have an idea what was coming was to call the next state over and find out what their weather is.
Now, now I can dial up the weather channel and find out the long range forecast for NIgeria.
We know that hurricanes are building weeks/days before they threaten land. We can predict the likelyhood of tornadoes a week or two out.

It's got to be seen almost like magic to be able to predict the future like that. I think that's what fascinates Jonas, that almost magical ability

 

[Tabitha]

I am with Webmouse on this one - surely there are other technologies that would be much more fascinating. The internet, video phones, microwaves, predictive text in mobile phones or word processing programmes, even a calculator would be pretty impressive from the perspective of someone from Jonas' planet.

The prediction of the weather boils down to a scientific method - wouldn't Jonas digest that fact just as quickly as he seems to have digested everything else he has encountered?

I think his awe at being in Space was much more appropriate (ep Descent).

 

[Dave]

Originally posted by Tabitha
I think his awe at being in Space was much more appropriate (ep Descent).

I would agree with that, but thanks for getting back to my question anyway. I think the 'awe' of weather prediction is what the writers were getting at. He sort of said that to Sam in 'Redemption'.

Pity that his 'awe at being in Space' seemed to be so lightly dismissed by the others in 'Descent'.

 

[Leyla]

Maybe he's just easily amused. Or maybe he had been a keen studier of weather patterns on his planet, in his spare time maybe. Maybe it has some significance to future events. Maybe it's just a strange alien-manly-thing

 

[Tabitha]

Hehe. Or some combination of all of the above?

Actually, I guess it makes sense. Do you have any interests that you can't justify down to the most basic level? I am sure there are some things that I do/follow/watch/enjoy that one could probably not predict from a cursory knowledge of my background, profession and character. So, yes, perhaps meteorology was a minor hobby of Jonas', and we shouldn't look into it any deeper than that.

 

[skydiver]

easily amused


I can see that. Me, i was thrilled as punch to walk around the set, sit in hammond's chair and the captian's (colonel's?) chair in prometheus. I look at the pictures and still get a thrill. I was saying all weekend that i'm easily amused

Jonas could be the same way. Pretty much everything is new to him, so it's all a thrill and exciting. He's not blase or jaded about anything

 

[Leyla]

He can be classed as a "Bit of a weather freak" as Sam rightfully put it, just as much as any of us could be called a Stargate freak!

 

[skoon]

or...maybe there's a favourite female weather person on the weather network...yes I'm ashamed to admit I used to watch the weather channel at certain times only to watch a cute hunky (whom I also tried to take apicture of off the tv with my camera...)

 

[Dave]

Maybe that was what it was? He seems to have stopped watching now, and is flirting with the nurses instead. Personally, I blame it on him eating too much fruit!

 

[skoon]

:laugh2: :laugh2:

 

[skydiver]

LOL

yep, flirting with the nurses. there's a fic in there somewhere.

in all honesty, Jonas was hooked on the weather channel because the rights to use it in the eps were the cheapest, sheer production practicality

speaking of such...anyone think Elobron's tunic (the sleeveless part)looked a lot like the costumes from beneath the surface??

 

[skoon]

hmm, will have to go re-watch that...