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McKay works on Atlantis as:

an astrophysicist and Chief Science Officer

an Ancient technology expert (S1E1-)

a field researcher as a member of AR-1 (S1E4-)

an electrician (S1E4, S1E10, S1E11)

a nuclear weapons expert (S1E8)

just kind of an ancient weapons expert in general (S1-)

a civil engineer (S1E13)

an astronaut (S1E19)

McKay is extremely prideful and sure it makes things simpler for the audience that he does all the science things himself, but he works way too hard.

According to this wiki, there are no departments for Ancient technology, electricians, nuclear engineering, or civil engineering. I guess with all the advanced degrees on an expedition of ~200 (so let’s say ~100 civilians, all of them with doctorate degrees), there’s going to be some overlap in those areas, especially Ancient technology.

Depending on which types of marines were selected for the expedition, they could have had a couple of actual civil engineers and electricians, as well. All the marines would have firearms training and a job that isn’t just shooting things (see: Sergeant Chuck in the gate room). The expedition needed to be selective about its talent recruitment and members would have been skill-dense. I love Ford and love to hate Bates, but I hope there are marines with jobs with more variation (Chuck!)—I just started this rewatch.

Weapons/security expert is the same flavor as every military-themed show. I want to see the engineering corps trying to fix the flooded areas of Atlantis, or the jumper mechanics cursing Sheppard out every time he comes in hot, or the sergeants on mess duty cooking the worst meals imaginable.

Quick note about this gif: the only time I think McKay pulled his sidearm before this (S2E1) was in S1E12 to help his boyfriend Sheppard with the wraith at the puddle jumper, but he panicked and asked what to do before shooting and after emptying his clip, although he has clearly practiced. The team usually protect him so well he doesn’t usually have to draw his weapon 😭🥰