The Stargate Franchise - A First Timer's Watchthrough

[Romulan_spy]

First Contact & The Lost Tribe

I really liked this two part episode, but I did have a few qualms with the second part.

1) I thought the chemistry between Rodney and Jackson was excellent all throughout. They really played off each other very well and it was awesome to see Jackson again.

2) I loved they brought back Janus into a storyline and the revelation that he was experimenting on this powerful weapon where the Wraith would be destroyed if they went into hyperdrive

3) The ending of First Contact with the Atlantis gate blowing up was really shocking. I will say this about Atlantis and SG-1. They really know how to take us to midseason with a bang.

4) I was shocked that the Asgard showed up. I was like, ok they bring in Daniel to help Rodney find this lab and then when we see the Asgard it really did feel like a mini Atlantis/SG-1 crossover. They were more like Loki, and I even appreciated the reference to Fragile Balance. Not all Asgard as similar.

5) The armor the Asgard was wearing and some of the way they talked reminded me of The Mandalorian. Ok, so Atlantis is in 2008 and Mandalorian is in 2020, but when they were saying "This is not the way...", I was like, yep, Mandalorian.

6) Another excellent battle sequence. This series really is spearing no expense in it's final 2 seasons.

Ok, now for some qualms with the second part

7) Ronon was kind of stupid in this episode. He was all gung ho blowing up various consuls and I agreed with Keller, he could have taken out life support

8) Where was Caldwell. He Disappeared.

9) Jackson and Rodney just getting two suits was a tad convineant.

10) Teyla once again is used as Babysitter. Woolsey tells Sheppard he has to command Atlantis and then he goes off with the Travelers while we only see Teyla for like 5 minutes. Let her do something. We know Luttrell is capable, as we saw in The Queen, and she's no longer pregnant.

Overall though, I enjoyed this two parter. I think it's the last one of the series and they did go out with a bang. It's not my favorite (That would be Season 4, followed by Season 1), but it was worthy of the midseason spot.

Now that you've seen this episode, I wanted to bring up a spoiler that came up earlier in the thread. It was suggested that this story might have worked better if it had been a splinter group of Ancients instead of Asgard. I think I agree. It might have been neat to see a splinter group of Ancients that wanted to use the Aterro device and did not care about the consequences.

 

[tomalak301]

Now that you've seen this episode, I wanted to bring up a spoiler that came up earlier in the thread. It was suggested that this story might have worked better if it had been a splinter group of Ancients instead of Asgard. I think I agree. It might have been neat to see a splinter group of Ancients that wanted to use the Aterro device and did not care about the consequences.

That might have worked better. Maybe an offshoot of Janus supporters or something. I mean the guy was pretty much shot down for wanting to continue his experiments and wonder if there were any ancients that supported him initially. That's how you gain supporters, people being sympathetic to the cause. I think it might have also been a nice way to wrap up the ancients once and for all, considering this is the end of the series (I know they didn't know they were getting cancelled).

 

[captainkirk]

I think it worked better as the Asgard. First of all, it means that they aren't all extinct and could potentially come back and be redeemed at some point (if the series was ever revived). Second, I cannot imagine the reveal working as well with the Ancients. The suit would open up after all the anticipation, and inside is just a normal-looking person.

 

[JD]

This was one of my favorites, and definitely the episode from the last two seasons that stuck in my mind.

The Stargate was shot on stage. It was a partial, that looks like it was built out of one of the SG-1 gates. Joseph Mallozzi's blog (a great resource) has some interesting behind-the-scenes photos from this episode.

I read Joseph Mallozi's blog a lot back in the day, it was a great source of behind the scenes info on the Stargates.

 

[tomalak301]

Outsiders

This was a very fun Beckett/McKay episode. The team has to save a village who has taken in survivors of the Hoffan plague from the Wraith and leads to some good hijinks from the two doctors. Beckett really is such a compassionate man in this series, and I loved his scene realizing that he had the toxins and gave it to the Wraith commander. I also loved the banter between him and Mckay as they were escaping, trying to get the Dart to work. The Betrayers got what they deserved too, with the mine imploding.

 

[bigdaddy]

I don't remember season 5 at all, I probably should do a rewatch as I have no idea what you are talking about, but I'm thrilled you are enjoying the show. I'm curious to what your thoughts of the finale will be.

 

[tomalak301]

Inquisition

Today I actually had a thought that it's been a long time since I've seen a Stargate clip show. SG-1 was known to do one almost every season, but Atlantis only had one, and I would say it was barely a clip show. In a way this episode reminded me a lot of Disclosure, only with no kick ass asgard scene to end it. Here Atlantis is put on trial for setting off the chain of events in the Pegasus Galaxy and Woolsey has to be the advaquate on its behalf. I was thinking about what you guys said about me liking Woolsey as the season goes on, and I think this episode really allowed him to shine more than any episode he was in. He was used to his strengths as an IOA agent and negotiator. He also knew how the game was played and was able to use one of the council members to gain sympathy. I think this might have been the episode where Woolsey was redeemed for his past actions. I was also thinking about something mentioned in this thread about what if it was Weir instead of Woolsey. I wish it had been Weir, but Woolsey did a good job.

I will also say something now I've been thinking about the last few nights. Which series that have I seen has the best space battles? You have BSG which were always great, especially the Adama Manuever over New Caprica which might go down as an all time great sci fi moment. You have DS9's various actions around the space station or Sacrifice of Angels. Enterprise had a few which were good like Azati Prime and Zero Hour. Farscape had a few but it really wasn't known for it's space battles and the bringing down the Peacekeeper carrier happened from within so that is out. You have the Star Trek Discovery and Picard battles which feel overly produced and chaotic. I think watching this episode and reliving some of Atlantis's greatest hits, I'm going to give the edge to Atlantis for always delivering. I mean I said during Reckoning that if you're going to have a big episode, go all the way. SG-1 had a few quality battles (Like Reckoning), but every single one on Atlantis has been amazing. What this show might lose in character it makes up for in great action.

Last thing, I loved Woolsey's comment about Pegasus Galaxy creating a Federation. Talk about Meta.

 

[tomalak301]

The Prodigal

Torren might be the quietest baby I've ever seen. Teyla's carrying him throughout the whole ordeal of hiding from Michael and he barely makes a sound. Then we find out that he slept through the whole thing and I'm like, Teyla is either the best mother in the world, or that Baby was given god like powers or something. God if all babies were like that Parenting would be so much easier (I'm not a parent mind you, but I would think it's extremely difficult sometimes). I'm glad this is the end of the Michael arc and Teyla got to deliver the final blow. She almost got a Kirk (Search for Spock) moment, but it was better with no dialogue. I also loved Ronon's "report" at the end.

Remnants

I don't really know how to talk about this one. As soon as Kolya cut off Shep's hand I thought it was a dream sequence, but I was captivated by what was going on. They find a capsule housing AI to help a civilization reborn. The Device malfunctions but gets reactivated in the jumper and the AI is able to use it to recreate this race. It was a very interesting and thought provoking episode, especially with Woolsey. I also liked Shep's story as well having Kolya be a manifestation of his fears. I kinda wish they had used it to learn more about John though, maybe even make this a fully fledged John episode. With three subplots happening, it was just a really strange episode, especially for Stargate.

Brain Storm

I don't have much to say about this, other than it was Atlantis in Name Only. It must be nice when most of the cast is told to take the week off because we have to explore more Rodney and fully cement the Rodney and Keller shippers. Since I'm not a fan of that relationship, I cringed at the end.

At least I got to see one episode where Teyla kicked ass tonight. I also will be able to finish the series tomorrow. That's exciting.

 

[Farscape One]

"THE PRODIGAL" is one of my favorites of the season, and overall of the writer, Carl Binder.

Regarding "BRAIN STORM", SciFi (at the time) was under a mandate to have their shows do an environment episode for that airing week. This is basically the reason this episode existed.

 

[tomalak301]

"THE PRODIGAL" is one of my favorites of the season, and overall of the writer, Carl Binder.

Regarding "BRAIN STORM", SciFi (at the time) was under a mandate to have their shows do an environment episode for that airing week. This is basically the reason this episode existed.

I figured that was the case for Brain Storm. It was preachy and the ending was an after school PSA. Like I said, Atlantis in Name Only.

 

[Jayson1]

I like Brain Storm but I'm a big Rodney fan and like the stuff with Keller. Plus Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye and Dave Foley.

Jason

 

[Romulan_spy]

@tomalak301 Hard to believe you have almost reached the end of Atlantis.

 

[Jayson1]

Next up Universe! Then straight to Agents of Shield.


Jason

 

[bigdaddy]

Next up Universe! Then straight to Agents of Shield.

Save a week or two and skip both.

 

[USS Firefly]

Save a week or two and skip both.

Or skip the first but not the second but first watch Continuum and then AOS

 

[The Wormhole]

I was thinking about what you guys said about me liking Woolsey as the season goes on, and I think this episode really allowed him to shine more than any episode he was in. He was used to his strengths as an IOA agent and negotiator. He also knew how the game was played and was able to use one of the council members to gain sympathy. I think this might have been the episode where Woolsey was redeemed for his past actions.

Yeah, it was great seeing Woolsey figure out that the whole thing was about politics and figure out a way to politically maneuver around the court and manipulate the necessary outcome. I like Woolsey in season 5, but yeah, it's a bit sad it took them five seasons and three expedition leaders to figure out how to write a civilian leader find a non-violent solution.

Remnants

I don't really know how to talk about this one. As soon as Kolya cut off Shep's hand I thought it was a dream sequence, but I was captivated by what was going on. They find a capsule housing AI to help a civilization reborn. The Device malfunctions but gets reactivated in the jumper and the AI is able to use it to recreate this race. It was a very interesting and thought provoking episode, especially with Woolsey. I also liked Shep's story as well having Kolya be a manifestation of his fears. I kinda wish they had used it to learn more about John though, maybe even make this a fully fledged John episode. With three subplots happening, it was just a really strange episode, especially for Stargate.

Really odd error made in this nitpick. Woolsey gets into one of the elevators with his girlfriend, and she's the one who presses the panel to the destination despite being imaginary.

Brain Storm

I don't have much to say about this, other than it was Atlantis in Name Only. It must be nice when most of the cast is told to take the week off because we have to explore more Rodney and fully cement the Rodney and Keller shippers. Since I'm not a fan of that relationship, I cringed at the end.

I found the squabbling among all the various scientists amusing. Also, you can get a really good impression that with season 5 many of the SGC sets must have been torn down given when McKay or Keller call the SGC during the climax with shit hitting the fan, the phone is answered by Walter sitting at a table in a non-descript room that has none of the typical SGC furnishings.

 

[bigdaddy]

Also, you can get a really good impression that with season 5 many of the SGC sets must have been torn down given when McKay or Keller call the SGC during the climax with shit hitting the fan, the phone is answered by Walter sitting at a table in a non-descript room that has none of the typical SGC furnishings.

They had to take down the SGC sets to make room for the Universe sets.

 

[Romulan_spy]

Brain Storm

I don't have much to say about this, other than it was Atlantis in Name Only. It must be nice when most of the cast is told to take the week off because we have to explore more Rodney and fully cement the Rodney and Keller shippers. Since I'm not a fan of that relationship, I cringed at the end.

At least I got to see one episode where Teyla kicked ass tonight. I also will be able to finish the series tomorrow. That's exciting.

Considering the cameos by real life scientists, Bill Nye and Neil DeGrasse Tyson, I can't help but think that this episode was done just for kicks because the writers thought it would be cool to have them on the show.

 

[Morpheus 02]

Considering the cameos by real life scientists, Bill Nye and Neil DeGrasse Tyson, I can't help but think that this episode was done just for kicks because the writers thought it would be cool to have them on the show.

Bill Nye is NOT a scientist...he is a Science GUY... a TV host.

 

[tomalak301]

Or skip the first but not the second but first watch Continuum and then AOS

I don’t know if I will have a thread (I have this strange feeling the mods might not be happy if I did start yet another review thread) for it but I am leaning towards watching AOS next after Universe. I actually set up AOS to record on my YouTube TV DVR. It should take me less than 9 months to get to season 7, even though my pace may be slower.

also unfortunately continuum is not available to stream, unless it’s Warner and it’s coming to HBO Max.