(S04E02) I've been a fan of Atlantis from the beginning, but then I've been a fan of a boatload of shows that nobody watched. So, with SG-1 ending I was a little concerned over whether or not the little brother was ready to stand on its own. Even as it wound down in the uneven final season, being paired up with SG-1 is still a better match than sharing schedule space with Flash Gordon. Two episodes into Atlantis' big adventure though, I think the show is going to be just fine.
This week, the team made good on last week's plan to heist a ZPM from the Replicator home world, enabling them to bring the shield back to full capacity and find Atlantis a new home. I have to say, that idea worked very well. It provided a fun adventure, set up a very interesting exit for Dr. Weir, got Atlantis to its new planet, and set the stage for Carter to join the team.
Working from the top, the caper played out very well. It had a lot of the interplay between Sheppard and McKay, which is something I always enjoy. I find that more often than not I identify with Sheppard in those exchanges. McKay's incessant ramblings about all of the things that can go wrong always make me think of a line from Woody Allen in Scoop. Sondra tells him he always sees the glass half empty and he responds, "No. I always see the glass half full. Of poison!" That's McKay to me. So, it was funny to finally here Sheppard comment on it with his line, "It never ends with you, ya know."
Using the nanites inside of Weir to gain access to the Replicator mainframe was an interesting idea. I'm still on board with the Replicator story, so the more of them the better. It helps that they have Oberoth, who is such a great villain. He's also the main reason that I thought using the nanites just couldn't end well. I was glad to see that Sheppard did give the order to hit the kill switch, even if it didn't work. It's what I would expect from him, Elizabeth or not. Sheppard is a soldier first.
The added bonus of being able to run the Wraith-hunter command, for lack of a better term, was something I didn't see coming. It makes for a great story and offers the potential for some really cool battle sequences. It also gives the Atlantis team a bit of a break, which they could use right about now.
That gets us to the exit of Dr. Weir. News that this was coming has been floating around the internet for quite some time, so that part didn't come as a surprise, but the events that brought the exit about did. I was totally suckered by her ruse with Oberoth and thought that was a nice twist. And just as I started to think, "Now wait a minute, she's had the connection for 12 minutes and she's already gone all Neo on Oberoth's Agent Smith?" it all flipped again. This wasn't Weir taking over the Replicators, it was her doing her part to keep Atlantis safe. That's a good way to go out. Or, rather, kind of go out, because I can't imagine that we won't be seeing replicator Weir again at some point, in some form. It's something I'll look forward to.
I'm curious to learn about the new planet. I'm guessing that the impending war between the Wraith and the Replicators means that we have a fair amount of stand alone installments to look forward to before we get back to the heavier serialized episodes. And that's ok. When done right, those episodes work very well. An entire new planet, one with five moons no less, should offer up something to fill a Friday night.
Carter telling Sheppard that she isn't staying came as a bit of a surprise. That whole scene set up perfectly with the two of them there, the start of a new partnership. They look good together, and it really seems to fit. I am a bit sad to see Dr. Weir moving on, because I have always liked that character. All the same though, sometimes change is good and I think there is a lot of fun to be had with Carter and Sheppard together.
So, two down and I really don't have any major complaints. The only negative I have for this episode, and it's a small one, was how they dropped the little side plot with Teyla. Sheppard went into great detail explaining why she was staying behind, how if he didn't make it back she needed to be the leader and get people to safety. And then, when the chips were down and there was a chance that they actually wouldn't be making it back, nothing on that front. It would have been nice to get some sort of gauge as to how things were going back at the base during the mission. But that's not much, and if it's the worst we're going to see from Atlantis in season four, it's going to be a very good season.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-06-2007 @ 10:46AM
LC said...
I never read the behind the scenes of why she was leaving. Was it her choice, like Rainbow Sun Francs to want off the show, or was she moved off to make room for Carter? Either way, they handled it well.
I suppose the only thing that bothered me was Shepard putting Teyla in charge. I am sure she was more than up for the job, but he is military and Atlantis is both military and Earth civilian staffed. I just wondered what authority he would have to put an off worlder in Charge. It would be like Gen. Landry putting Tealc in charge of Stargate Command IMO.
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10-06-2007 @ 11:46AM
Brian said...
@LC - From what I gather, Torri Higgison (Weir) was booted from the show. She was told she could either leave or be a guest star in 4 episodes this year. More than likely, Amanda Tapping decided she wanted to join Atlantis and since she's been apart of the "team" forever, they booted Torri to make room. While I have no problem with Tapping joining the show, I think it's a crime that Torri is being let go because she is such such a strong character and is very unique compared to the rest of the cast. After 10 years, what can the Carter character bring to the show that Weir could not?
This episode -- for me -- was the series jumping the shark.
- I am just sick of the replicators. Been there done that.
- I am sick of the Star Trek-pull-technology-out-of-my-ass plot device. Come on now, even the smartest person on earth, with all the understanding of ancient technology couldn't do what Rodney was doing. Grant it, the Stargate series in general has been doing this for a while, but it's becoming too easy now.
- Great, another original cast member gone. Who next will bite the bullet?
- Rodney's annoying chatter HAS.GOT.TO.GO. I actually find myself grinding my teeth when he talks. Ever so many episodes, Atlantis will have a "Rodney changing" episode that makes us thing he will become a new person, but his character just de-envolves to pretty much the same aggravating character from the SG-1 days.
All in all, I think when you look back at season 1 and what Atlantis could be, it's sad to see the potential the show could have had, but has clearly missed.
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10-06-2007 @ 12:14PM
Chuck said...
I will miss Weir- both as an actor and as a counterpoint to the military theme the show is moving toward.
Give her more guest shows- she, and audience that made Atlantis, deserve it.
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10-06-2007 @ 12:30PM
Oreo said...
Amanda Tapping didn't want to join, she was forced to join, it was in her contract from last year. They signed her for two years and wanted to use her in Atlantis. I think that is fine.
My problem is the Stargate writers don't ever do anything different. Rainbow left never to be scene from again and I'm sure Wier will be the same way. I rather they kill her off than just ignore the fact she might be alive. I think it would have been better than after the events on Atlantis Weir is recalled to Earth, and Sam takes over. Weir than works on Earth a lot and once or twice a season comes back to Atlantis.
Otherwise I thought it was a great episode, I just wish the writers would try something new. I think they need to watch Doctor Who. it's the same basic story all the time but they do little different things at the end.
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10-06-2007 @ 1:56PM
Alicia said...
@#4 Uh.. yea he was... He was in 3 episodes.
http://www.tvrage.com/person/id-37403/Rainbow+Sun+Francks
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10-06-2007 @ 3:00PM
Oreo said...
Yeah that's what I'm talking #5. He disappeared at the end of that episode never to be seen or even talked about again. Weir will be the same way, she will come back for two more episodes for about 30 seconds total and then never be seen or heard from again.
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10-06-2007 @ 3:38PM
Gordon Werner said...
Sheppard put Teyla in charge because they were going to have to maroon themselves on an alien world ... and probably would not have the stargate to use to go home.
And IIRC she was the leader of her people who (well all those still alive) are on Atlantis)
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10-06-2007 @ 7:52PM
Morjana Coffman said...
"Lifeline" was an excellent episode, and SGA's season four is starting out strong. Really looking forward to the remaining episodes, especially the guest appearances by Christopher Judge as Teal'c.
Morjana
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10-06-2007 @ 10:52PM
horsenbuggy said...
I can't say that I'm sad to see Higginson go. In three years, she was never able to erase the original actress who played Weir from my mind. I simply like the way the other actress played the character - more thoughtful without being so ... uptight and forced.
I adore Rodney and can't get enough of him.
I'm not jumping for joy that Carter is taking over. I do like the idea of a civilian running the expedition. So, I'm not sure why they went with a military person. Besides that, there's already two resident geniuses between Rodney and Zalenka. Adding Carter just seems like brain-power overkill. Also, we'd seen Rodney begin a relationship with someone. Will having his dream girl there ruin that? I hope not. And I don't want to see him pining after his new boss, unless it's done really well and made to be really funny.
Torri has at least two more episodes this season. But nothing has been decided for next season because they haven't even been picked up for season 5 yet. If Torri's replicator storyline does well, they may decide to write her in a few times.
I, too, am seriously hoping that we get some stand-alone episodes soon. I think those stand-alone type episodes are among the best in the SG-1 canon.
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10-07-2007 @ 1:48PM
Benjy said...
I'm ticked if it is true that Torri was booted. She was one of the characters that made the show for me, and I was enjoying the ever-developing relationship between her and Shepard. Now, we've got Carter whose dynamic was great for SG-1, but seems to be an awkward fit for Atlantis. The unit now has two Colonels and no strong non-military leader from Earth. And there's already a strong science representation in the form of McKay. Plus, I've never seen a character transfer from another show that I've liked with the exception of Munch going from "Homicide" to "Law and Order: SVU".
Bring back Weir after Tapping's contract is up!
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10-07-2007 @ 3:09PM
Melissa said...
I really enjoy Stargate Atlantis. I thought that this season has started out wonderful; however, I am disappointed and upset that Torri Higginson has been dropped down to a recurring character. I was sorry to see that SG-1 was cancelled but they didn't need to bring Carter over to Atlantis. I like Carter's character, but please she should have stayed away or had just a few recurring episodes. I did like the way that they wrote Lifeline and that Dr. Weir was able to allow the team to steal the ZPM and allow them to escape. I am hopeful that the show gets picked up for another season and they bring Dr. Weir back. I also hope that they don't do to her what they did to Ford where she is never seen or heard from again. Please bring back Dr. Weir where she belongs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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10-07-2007 @ 10:10PM
Joey Geraci said...
I absolutely agree that the best episodes of Stargate are always the standalone. I think the same thing applies for Star Trek. Hopefully we will have some nice, tension-filled standalones this season.
And yea, I certainly hope they bring Weir back. She has to be one of the strongest actors ever to grace the Stargate franchise, and she will be sorely missed. (FYI, I liked the original Weir actress more too, but Weir made the role her own, eventually)
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10-08-2007 @ 2:53PM
Cassandra said...
We'll probably never know the true nature of TH's leaving and AT's coming on board, but I do think Atlantis is going through deliberate growing pains.
With these changes, things are bound to be awkward, they're bound to be uncomfortable. If it was an instant "fit" people would have issues with it seeming too fake. I like that each character is dealing with the changes, instead of moving on like everything is fine.
I'm looking forward to future episodes, I hope Weir's next two episodes are just as strong, and I like Carter so far. The cast changes aside, with the new tone and theme, and the new flavor of writing and producing, season four looks like it's going to be the strongest season of Atlantis ever.
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10-09-2007 @ 4:26PM
Akbar Fazil said...
For the record (at least how I remember it from being mentioned on J Mallozzi's [exec producer of the show] blog)
-Rainbow asked to be taken off the show. The pace of shooting and long days were too much for the actor.
-Changing Torri's status/Weir's Character was decided before the idea of bringing Carter over. So Torri wasnt removed to make room for Amanda.
-Torri wasn't booted from the show. They wanted to take her character in a new way.
-After SG-1 was cancelled, Amanda Tapping had a contract that needed to be filled. Putting her on Atlantis was a logical choice technically, we will just have to see how she works out on the show. I am more curious as to when this takes place compared to the upcoming SG-1 movies.
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10-09-2007 @ 11:32PM
quiet_one said...
JM said that Amanda chose to come to Atlantis, she didn't have to but she did.
Torri wasn't booted from the show. They wanted to take her character in a new way.
Way to sugar coat it. They wanted her out. Torri herself said that TPB told her IF she wanted to she could do recurring work. So they would have been happy to just kill Weir off in First Strike had Torri not decided to do the 4 episodes. After her last episode in TMC we won't ever see her again. Yeah great new direction.
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10-11-2007 @ 4:58PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Wow quiet_one, have some time travel device that allows you to see the future? So glad you know that we will never see Torri on the show again in Season 5!
Amanda did choose to come to Atlantis yes, but the offer was made to her to fill her contract. They still would have had to do something with her contract. My original point still stands...Torri was not taken off of the show to make room for Amanda which many people seem to believe. They were two separate decisions.
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10-13-2007 @ 6:32PM
clgbutterfly said...
Why has no one brought up the point that its Teyla that should have been booted. She is the weakest actor and the weakest character. Dr. Weir was finally gaining some personality and depth and now that she kicked Oberoth's butt she is super awesome.
I also agree I am a little worried about what Carter will bring to the show. My husband asked if they were going to start a Sheppard/Carter love story. I told him I hope not too many fans still want her with Jack.
I am hopeful, because I saw a surge in writing quality once SG-1 was canceled. I'm not sure if their writing staff no long felt stressed working with two shows or if they knew they had to step it up to stand on their own, but its working. Except for getting rid of Weir I think things will go well for Atlantis. Plus I'm so happy that the new Doctor is Kayli (sp?) from Firefly, even if I am still mourning the lost of the other Dr. Carter.
BTW I hear he will be back YaY!
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10-18-2007 @ 2:21PM
Akbar Fazil said...
There will NOT be a Sheppard/Carter love story. In reunion we had a nice nod of Jacks picture in Sams bags. I think its clear (without coming out and saying it) that Sam and Jack have hooked up.
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11-03-2007 @ 10:21AM
jar said...
dr.weir was gorgeous and much more interesting character than carter
atlantis needs a new director, i'd like to see it become more gritty and character based than the lame deus-ex-machina format it seems to be churning out week after week, its basically become a poor mans star trek tos
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