I always saw McKay as “smarter”, but Carter having a better grasp on the application and preforming better under pressure. If I want to to figure out what a tech does and how it works, I’d send McKay. If I need a specialist to think on their feet and preform in life threatening situations, I’d send Carter every time.
I think the conversation where McKay tells Carter how he played piano says it all. Carter is a clever artist, and McKay, as we see in Atlantis, will always find the solution when death is imminent enough for him to stop overthinking and do the thing. What I like about McKay is how he sees humans as needing to hurry and catch up to the ancients, so he can surpass them
Love that David Hewlett is rewatching with his family. I just finished another binge of Atlantis (and SG-1 of course in proper order LOL) and have started on Universe. Need top pick of the SG-1 movies since cannot find them on streaming anymore. Love that Arthur line. Makes me think of the Dudley Moore film.
I hated the McKay character at first, but after seeing him evolve, I think I missed him most when the show ended. Not talking about Carter here, I loved her on SG1, but I missed that whole original family when SG1 ended)
Considering that Carter blew up a star system on purpose and McCay did it accidentally, I'll go with carter being the better physicist. Plus a greater emotional intelligence, and a much better soldier... Is it obvious that I worship at the altar of Carter? No?
I think McKay said it best himself in the episode where Anubis was using the Ancient weapon that kept adding energy to the wormhole charging up the gate until it would eventually explode. Carter got hurt trying to close the iris after McKay's EMP idea failed and in sick bay when she woke up, McKay told the story about wanting to be a pianist but his teacher told him to give up because he was a perfect technical player but had no sense or concept of the 'art' of playing. Which is why he went in to science and math etc. and then he says to Carter "you're an artist"
That is a good point - doing it deliberately is probably a bit more intelligent than accidentally. Carter definitely had better EQ and was a better soldier.
I think in pure genius terms McCay was smarter. But that came with him being incredibly arrogant and thus prone to making catastrophic mistakes. So in overall terms Carter was smarter. I also think O'Neill was a lot smarter technically than he made out. Although he was the "everyman" character that enabled other characters to deliver exposition.
I think McKay said it best himself in the episode where Anubis was using the Ancient weapon that kept adding energy to the wormhole charging up the gate until it would eventually explode. Carter got hurt trying to close the iris after McKay's EMP idea failed and in sick bay when she woke up, McKay told the story about wanting to be a pianist but his teacher told him to give up because he was a perfect technical player but had no sense or concept of the 'art' of playing. Which is why he went in to science and math etc. and then he says to Carter "you're an artist"
I think McKay said it best himself in the episode where Anubis was using the Ancient weapon that kept adding energy to the wormhole charging up the gate until it would eventually explode. Carter got hurt trying to close the iris after McKay's EMP idea failed and in sick bay when she woke up, McKay told the story about wanting to be a pianist but his teacher told him to give up because he was a perfect technical player but had no sense or concept of the 'art' of playing. Which is why he went in to science and math etc. and then he says to Carter "you're an artist"
@@MangindDerous I think he knew deep down she was better at it. I've had this headcanon ever since those episodes first aired: that he got better at applying the "artist" aspect because he eventually channeled her. He came into his own version of a good and artistic scientist but I've always believed if he'd never met her, he wouldn't have changed at all.
McKay having a man crush on Sheppard and wanting to be like him - sure, I agree, but I personalny believe that John held Rodney in incredibly high regard as well, and was even more besotted with Rodney than Rodney was with him. He had this "hey everybody look at my genius friend, you should really be jealous" air about him, I think. And he cared for Rodney so, so, so deeply - I still can't get over The Miller's Crossing, how John wouldn't let Rodney sacrifice himself for his sister, it was clear he couldn't bear to lose Rodney, and then he ended up talking a man into killing himself. Jeez. Also about Carter and McKay - I think that Carter was created to be equal parts smart, military and good with people, while McKay's personality was focused in 90% on the smart thing, so there's that.
I have to go with McKay as smarter, especially during and after Season 4 of Atlantis. They really nerfed Carter for her role as Atlantis leader, it felt like a completely different character.
Felt like they took their scripts, and wherever it said Weir they scratched it out and wrote in Carter. For season 4 of Atlantis it just felt like Weir's dialogue coming out of Carter's mouth to me. They 100% failed to use her to her full potential.
I don't think they nerfed Carter I think Carter was simply doing her job. she just understood that she couldn't lead and be the scientist just imagine the chaos if she had abandoned her duties if she had tried to solve the science problems.
I felt like McKay was smarter in a theoretical sense, but Carter was smarter in the practicalities; she was able to use theories and bring them into the practical world better. Carter all the way.
I'd say McKay under pressure would be better, but he also usually needed somebody there to guide his doom and gloom thoughts, to pull him through. That's why he even hallucinated Carter when he was stuck in the ocean inside of the Puddle Jumper. Also, he destroyed 5/6ths of a star system... how much did Carter destroy? 😂
@@MiChAeLoKGB It's true that McKay usually needed a nudge to get his brain juices flowing. As for the Dorandan System, yes McKay destroyed 5/6 of the system but Carter apparently destroyed the entire Vorash System when her and Selmak caused the systems sun to go nova.
@@richardajoy79 McKay and Carter are pretty even when it comes to smashing things. But if you want to award someone with the raw destructive potential award, that has to go to Felger for completely disabling the Milky Way Gate system.
McKay's intelligence seemed to be much higher and the team relied on him much more to save the day. Samantha just didn't complain or brag about it. LOL
He learned to take risks from her. Don't forget the events of Redemption, parts 1 & 2 when he called her certifiable for her ideas. It wasn't until he went to Atlantis that we got to see him open up to the "bigger risks" inside himself. :)
@@mischarowe Oddly enough, I think Woolsey had a similar arc. He had to learn to take the big risks too. Being out in the field will do that to you, I guess. :)
Carter always calculated the risk in any solution and let her superior make the big decision. McCay would ignore the risk to solve the problem at any cost.
That's a really tough call. I think they're pretty much on par with each other really. Although it's like McKay said Carter was an artist so maybe on that alone it should be Carter!!
Rodney, Sam, Jeannie, and Eli were far more intelligent than most of the other characters. In terms of who was more intelligent, that is entirely subjective at best. They were completely on par with each other, and Rodney went through a massive interpersonal shift through the series. By the end he was no longer who he had been but he had grown to be a better man than he would have probably ever imagined...and as a fan I loved him (as a character) even more for it.
the words "one of my favorite scenes/episodes" comes up quite a bit in my life, my dad pointed out to me the other day that i say that literally every single time stargate any of the series is played lol Im such a nerd
I always thought an "Evil McKay" would have been a complete sweetheart and totally in touch with his own feelings and the feelings of everyone around him..... ....so basically the McKay we know IS the evil one... 😂
I would have loved to see lots more with David and Kate,and not just because I've got a crush on Kate but because they're both great actors,and the playing off of each other was so touching ,funny,sad,intense,playful,and always very real. And as far as who is smarter Sam or Rodney? I think Jeanie gave them both a good run for the money,she was a mum with emotional intelligence and worked out the matter bridge with just finger paints,something that Rodney took hard.
I think McKay said it best himself in the episode where Anubis was using the Ancient weapon that kept adding energy to the wormhole charging up the gate until it would eventually explode. Carter got hurt trying to close the iris after McKay's EMP idea failed and in sick bay when she woke up, McKay told the story about wanting to be a pianist but his teacher told him to give up because he was a perfect technical player but had no sense or concept of the 'art' of playing. Which is why he went in to science and math etc. and then he says to Carter "you're an artist"
McKay was an expert in what is. The evolution of his brilliance came from working with Carter. It was THEN when he finally opened his eyes to the possibility of not only what is, ...but also, ...what could be. It was Carter, and his respect for her, that unleashed the potential for McKay to become possibly the greater of the two.
Carter was more well-rounded and had a more robust set of skills in general. But I still have a hard time dating that McKay was truly smarter though... He was certainly proven to be wrong much more often than Carter, partly because of his stubbornness! Carter was able to gracefully adapt her perspective to the facts of the situation as the events unfolded. Perhaps Rodney was able to perform certain tasks more rapidly... But that doesn't equal being "smarter"!
However psychologically stunted that Rodney McKay was, especially in his SG1 appearances and in the first 3 seasons of SGA, it must be noted that the character was capable of emotional growth and exhibited both to feelings of great loss, such as when Dr. Beckett died, and struggled with his need to find comfort and companionship with women. It can also be stated that the relationships that Rodney had with Katie Brown and Dr. Kellar were more intense and complete than any that occurred to the characters of John Shepard, Daniel Jackson, or Jack O'Neil throughout their Stargate careers.
*Hey **#REDUX**, how’s it going❓ I saw that you made this comment so I had to say **#Hi** to you. I just been **#Liking** other people’s comments on here. I’m outta here.*
Well remember, Sam is not only a world-class astrophysicist, she is also a jet fighter pilot, a military tactician and strategist, a former Miss Universe, and the host of a long running TV show on how to cook Gu'auld cuisine. Plus, she knows the screenwriters by name. *There is no way she ever loses at anything!*
Always thought they were roughly the same. Sam was easier to get along with and more open-minded compared to McKay. McKay could be extremely focused, as in 'The Last Man'. If my life was on the line, honestly I'd take either (both would be preferred.)
I always though that for sheer intelligence that Rodney was smarter but his ego led him down blind paths and he couldn't conceive that he may be incorrect. His character had more growth, because of this, though. Carter arrived pretty much an accomplished soldier and scientist but McCay had to grow into his abilities in the field
McKay said it on SG-1... He was "technical" (meaning more book and simulation focused) but Sam was an "artist" (meaning she was able to make far more accurate 'guesses' to fill in the gaps that she didn't have time to simulate) Now, as far as LATER ON SG-A McKay ... McKay was willing to take LARGER risks due to confidence/ego NEEDING to prove he was right. Making even his 'guesses" far more intuitive than ever before. But Sam was more "cautious" because she had far more at risk of failures. Even if McKay did something wrong in S4 of SG-A, it was going to be Carter who would be blamed, possibly not only losing leadership of Atlantis, but ending her military career in the process. McKay became far more riskier, while Carter became more cautious. In regards to "smarter", the one willing/able to take the risks and be RIGHT will always be better situated than the one who has to be CAUTIOUS to be right. Meaning McKay "got there" quicker, while Carter had to constantly "double check" before taking the next step.
I think Rodney is smarter when he is under pressure or threat. Carter is smarter when Rodney isn't being threatened with a lemon, and she tends to have more common sense and is more calm and composed when in a situation. But in a crisis situation, I would trust Rodney Mckay with my life. Rodney will always come up with a whacky but successful plan that works and you live to see another day. I vote Rodney all the way, hands down.
In terms of raw intelligence Rod is smarter. But for application and usefulness Sam wins. Towards the end of Atlantis, Rod started to self control more and no longer needed his friends to help him focus.
It's hard to tell because they each had their strengths. Aside from an evil version of McKay it would have also been interesting to see mirror alternates of; Michael, any of the Wraith queens (or Todd), Shepherd, Carter, and Rush because as interesting as they've been seeing a darker more calculating version would be a great exercise for the actors in being complete polar opposites to their canon version
Well, for me, it was always Carter. It may have been a delusion, but the version of her he imagined up in Grace Under Pressure said that every time they've worked together, he's been wrong and she's been right. It is the truth. And, I've always thought that - while they're both brilliant - that McKay didn't come into himself (as a Stargate affiliated scientist) until he met her. Not until he got over himself, more specifically. I think it was McKay's interest in Carter that helped him let go of what made us fans hate him when we first met him. Like in the Redemption episodes. When I first finished watching them I thought the title of the episodes had multiple meanings. Multiple characters "redeeming" themselves. Rodney being one of them. I've always thought that he changed because of her. And his determination was - to me - to be better than her. Without her he'd have remained the obnoxious little gnat that was smart but used his intelligence *wrong.* They've both done amazing things, but she was always ahead of him. My take. :)
I think they have different kind of smart. Carter is analitical, systematic and fundimentalist. McKay is brilliant and fast and revolutionary in his solutions. Both have place IMHO
David Hewlett is a MFen brilliant actor. McKay in SG1 was borderline psychotic, near murderous nutbar. Totally slimy, disgusting, thoroughly hateable evil genius. In Andromeda, he made in microscopic change in his character that turned him into a kind of sympathetic character. The change is large, but I can't tell clearly how he pulled it off, acting-wise. It's probably just me, but to me it makes the acting that much better. Thanks Dave.
Carter had the ability to lead and take command and stay focused on stressing situations. McKay was smart and knew the systems and were able to come up with crazy solutions, but they were quite solar opposites on the attributes I listed for Carter. I would say McKay was smarter in sense of understanding the physics but very unstable on everything else. Carter was solid all-around. In other sense, Carter was the corner stone while McKay was the wild card. If you had to make decisions Carter was smarter, but if you needed a solution when all hope is lost, McKay was your guy.
Rodney was very smart... but Carter was way hotter while being smart. You know...the sexy librarian thing..:D I can clearly hear Sheppard saying "Rodney". Love their relationship dynamics...total fun.
Carter is brilliant but McKay under pressure can't be beat. Dude could've solved cold fusion if he only had 30 seconds to figure it out before they all died haha
PS: "The Shrine" has to be the best acting I've ever seen from David ever filmed. Talk about a one-man "Tour De Force"! By far one of the most amazing performances ever, and the "emotions" that were both expressed and evoked were mind-blowing. As far as "pure acting ability". David in "The Shrine" and Michael in "Lifeboat" are the PEAK of both series.
Carter all day, the only reason Carter didn't go to Atleast because Jack wouldn't let her. But once SG-1 was basically done and other than the Lucian Alliance, Milky Way was safe, Carter was aloud to branch to Atlantis, which she did not just go as the Scientist, she became McKays boss, even though McKay thought he was going to be the boss. McKay is definitely 2nd, but would have thought he would have learned to fight, or shoot or not to freak out in a dangerous situation. Which I guess he should pull a Daniel, get in shape and learn more than his job. Eli was doing the same for Universe
Rodney was the more technically brilliant - capable of higher level thinking and abstraction than Carter. But I also think Carter gets more raw science done because she's NEARLY as brilliant, but ten times as able to communicate and work with others. McCay would be lost without people like her, Radek, and his sister to make what he processes into useful knowledge.
They're probably about the same but mackay seemed to come from pure theory and academia so couldn't translate what he knew into practical solutions. It wasn't until he was exposed to the outcome of his theories that he met folk who didn't blindly accept he was the smartest person. Put sam in mackays shoes with no military upbringing and she'd have been very similar to him personality wise.
McKay was, but you could throw him off his game easier than Carter.. Like just saying" Your first name is Meredith? Really?" This is where Carter could dial it in ,and not run away from a situation gone bad. Verbal or physically.
Pushed each other, like the Chris Everett/Martina Navratillova kept to the top years beyond when they would have been done if the other wasn't competing.
I'd have to go with Sam on this one. Give either of them a lab and sufficient time and they will give you an answer to the Nth degree. But Sam is in the field. Generally under some time restraint working in unfamiliar and under equipped conditions. She has to make estimates and round the numbers where applicable which requires some intuition that McKay just doesn't have. He can be prodded into that direction but rarely goes there on his own. Sam lives there. If the quality you're measuring is "smartness" then Sam is way ahead.
Jeannie Miller > Samantha Carter > Rodney McKay I disagree with a lot of comments here - I think the show heavily implied Carter is smarter. That's why McKay is so threatened by her. But as some others posted, I think McKay's sister topped them both and was only playing catch-up because she chose her family over career. That all being said, the show also makes clear that if they were in the public sector all would probably be Nobel laureates and at that level there probably isn't much difference.
Ah, it's the difference between knowledge and wisdom, isn't it? McKay had superior knowledge in very specific areas, but Carter had superior wisdom in a more generalised way. (Alan Moore wrote a comic called "Big Numbers" once, and there was the idea in that of some people being obsessed with "big numbers" - the big picture, the overall structure, how things fit together - and some people being obsessed with "small numbers" - the minutiae, the fine details, grokking this one thing down to its most elementary level - and, in the context, McKay is "small numbers" and Carter is "big numbers". They're actually quite comparable in intelligence, but they think in quite different ways, so it manifests differently. But the generalist - Carter - would, indeed, get the most attention just because they're the one who can stitch it all together for the stupid people in the room.)
Carter is a better scientist and a better leader. If carter did not have to deal with the administrative work but only deal with the science and had the same access to the ancient technology, she would have figured out far more new tech.
They dumbed down carter in season 4 with no good explanation, if she could have asked McKay less stupid questions it would at least have been passable that her new role as leader was more important than science stuff.
I'd say McKay applied his smarts better technically and Carter accomplished more mathematically and theoretically. Remember when Carter crunched the numbers to reverse time so as to save the team when about to be destroyed by the Ori beam weapon? Took her 50 years, but could have McKay have ever done it? Hummm.... By the way, David (Read), get those new digs done, that hotel room looks depressing!
I would rate them equal with strengths in different areas. Meredith had it right with his analogy of why he came to science from music. He's the cold intellectual, Carter is the Artist. IMO you need the Artists to expand the borders of knowledge, the Dreamers, but you need the cold intellectuals to improve upon that and make it work better.
Carter is definitely a Mary Sue. She is perfect in every way. She is expert at everything, and does not have to work at it. She can beat life long warriors in a fight, and do quantum mechanics better than people who work at it all day. Everyone likes her. Everyone is in love with her. She s not really a character, but a characterization. So Carter is smarter in the show, because she is the best at everything. But, we all know in real life McCay would be because he works at it. You just do suddenly get an inspiration for high science, you work at it. Also, if she was smarter, you would not risk her.
An Evil McKay. Now I want to see that. And if you made the Evil McKay a little less arrogant then he be more dangerous. And it would force the "Good" McKay to learn to face his own arrogates which causes him problems. And if the Evil McKay was also learned how to work with other people to pull their knowledge, he be even more dangerous. (Giving some of the traits the Good McKay should have to the bad guy to help the Good McKay grow a little by facing his only short comings) What we need is a team up with an Evil McKay and a Evil Carter, who are married. they both could had study the technology of an evil Atlantis and evil Asgards (after they betray them and killed them all). And then we can meet the good Replicators and Good Wraith (who uses their abilities to heal and not take life, after they invented tech that allows them to convert raw energy into their life force) that helps the Good McKay defeat the Evil McKay an Evil Carter. (Also, the Good Wraith can share their Life Force Tech with the the Bad Wraith so they don't have to feed on people. And maybe in the end a few ZPMs are left behind.)
Also, other ideas. McKay's sister definitely needs to be a main part of this hypothetical movie. And the evil sister and Evil McKay should work nicely with each other, respecting each other, to motivates the good sister and Good McKay in learning to work together. But only towards the end, we need funny bother-sister moments between those two. Also, bring back Tod. We need that Wraith, even if he is from the other universe.
Re Sheppard: Same with O’Neill. The character masked his but it showed itself every now and then. I wonder if it was a defence mechanism of sorts…deliberately cause people to chronically underestimate.
Haha! Evil McKay :-) I love Rodney McKay (and really really like David Hewlett!) But in "McKay and Mrs. Miller" episode the "alternate universe" McKay seemed to be "the good" one :-) so in that essence "our" McKay was the more "evil" one :-) I guess "our" McKay was the balanced one and the alternate universe one was the "not as smart, but more social" one and there could be one that was truly pure evil. It would have been a fun episode for sure!
