#(i could also contrast the tenth doctor and daniel jackson's respective radiation poisoning deaths but these tags are long enough already)

[incomingalbatross]

Don't quite know how to put this but there are certain story beats that, in order for me to actually like/admire the story, specifically have to be accomplished without being a big deal.

Like, does your story present ordinary, mundane, even ridiculous people as possessing worth and dignity? Cool. Does it pat itself on the back about doing that? Unfortunately, that has circled back around to patronizing.

Does your character make the lives of bit characters and nameless bystanders a priority, even when it distracts them from Important Plot Things? Nice! Does your character make a big production of/express a lot of angst about doing that? This only barely edges out "leaving them to die" in terms of my respect for said character.

Ordinary people are just as valuable and important as Our Heroes. But the narrative should have enough conviction about that to take it for granted, and let the audience catch up if need be. A Hero should definitely take it for granted, unless they're still in the process of becoming heroic.

Otherwise, I'm left with the sneaking suspicion that the writers don't really see this themselves.

[incomingalbatross]

"I could also contrast the Tenth Doctor/Daniel Jackson's respective deaths from radiation poisoning"

INORITE

Yeah.

The End of Time: oh no, this is so hard and unfair and the Doctor is so much more Special than Wilf, and they both know it, and you know it, and on some level we understand that it's the right thing to do but we don't really believe it, right? make sure you listen to the characters telling you how heroic it is :(

Meridian: yeah, Daniel threw himself into a hideous death for a bunch of strangers. no one is wasting time commenting on that (except Oma, who gets a response of "they could still die because I didn't completely end their cold war though :/"). it's going to be repeatedly emphasized that Daniel is not more special or worth more than any other SGC member, even though we love him. no one will express an instant's regret that he sacrificed himself for millions of strangers, because it was a GOOD THING TO DO