SCI FI PI

Stargate:Atlantis Season 4
Starring Joe Flanigan, Amanda Tapping, Rachel Luttrell, David Hewlitt, Jason Momoa, Jewel Staite
Released Sep 3
Available on DVD and Blu-ray




Season 4 is where Atlantis really hit its straps. By combining two enemies into its major story arc and introducing a new character, it really is one of those stand out seasons where a great deal happened to the characters that SGA fans have come to know and love.

This is the season where Teyla gets pregnant. This is the season where we say goodbye to Dr Weir. This is the season where we saw Atlantis 'dry up'. And this is the season where the 'money saving ship episode' became one of the most elaborate and expensive episodes of Stargate, ever.

First off, the tone and mood of Season 4 tends towards the feelings and relationships of the characters, rather than just blasting away at bad guys. It's a trend that really kicked into gear during Season 3, and in Season 4 you actually see the baddies and the goodies develop their people skills (not always to good effect). This makes for both good and bad television, depending on what side of the IQ line you stand. If you just want dumb action in your Sci Fi, Atlantis will always satisfy - but Season 4 really does have that 'talkie stuff' in there as well.



Yeah. There's a reason why there's no smoking on space ships.


That said, the special effects just get bigger and better every year. We have major, major, major space battles, where the size and scope of what the Atlantis team are up against is revelealed in full. We also have some really nice 'upgunning' of earth vessels, which after getting our behinds handed to us by space-faring aliens since the Goa'uld, is nice. It's Ori style wipe the floor with your enemies nice.

Which is nice.

The Season is however, a little up and down. It's not all pure rock solid gold. But when you do hit pay dirt, the going is good.

We start with Atlantis adrift and completely lost in space (the first ep is called Adrift) and you've got a limited amount of time before power goes out and they all die. Some nice special effects shots include a spectacular 360 view of a space walk and a nice little 'clear the road' asteroid excursion with puddle jumpers (the space ships that the Atlantis team use).

As we last saw her, Dr Weir is in deep trouble, and we know that it's not going to get much better for her, as Amanda Tapping's character, Samantha Carter, replaces her as boss of Atlantis. That said - Dr Weir's story is far from over - and it could get really, really interesting, with a nice open ended moment to get the juices flowing.

Her story all comes to a head in a massive attack on the Replicators - where the humans team up with - The Wraith. Todd's in there, getting up to no good, as is Michael, who has some major plans of his own and eventually becomes the big Season 4 bogeyman - particularly where Teyla is concerned.



Damn it! Where'd he go? Come back with my eyes!


Some of the more interesting and memorable episodes to look out for:

Doppleganger, where the team get infected by an entity that thrives on nightmares. It's a little bit Red Dwarf! However, there is a fight scene where evil John Sheppard fights good John Sheppard, which is one of those classic sci fi moments.

Tabula Rasa, where the humans get infected by a virus that wipes out all memories. Seeing what Atlantis looks like to someone with no idea about any of it is a rela refresher. There's also quite a bit of fun with the way that humans form alliances based on the most basic of assumptions. This is also a Ronon and Teyla episode, and indicative of a season where they provide more than just the 'alien' perspective.


Are you sure that's Ronon? I still say it's Sideshow Bob.


This Mortal Coil and Be All My Sins Remember'd are two eps that outline the final push of the Human/Wraith alliance against the Replicators. Absolutely gigantic CGI sequences and some terrific ideas - one which seems to have been borrowed from The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, of all things. A sentient weapon that knows what it is and is happy to do what it has been made to do. Disturbing and delightful.

Quarantine is a classic one on one show with characters stuck with characters they don't normally spend time with. Either you like these kind of shows for their character development, or you tap your fingers in irritation.

For comedy, there's light hearted fun in Harmony, where Sheppard and McKay get their arses handed to them by a ten year old princess, and the concept of 'hero' gets a thorough chewing over. This is the first of four really interesting episodes. Next is Outcast, where Ronon and Sheppard return to Earth, for Sheppard's dad's funeral. We get to see into the life of Sheppard for the first time, and we get to hunt Replicators on Earth! After that is a real love it or hate it gangbuster of an episode - Trio. Although chances are, you'll love it.

Essentially, Trio is a show with three characters stuck down a hole. They have to get out. And that's it. But it soon shifts from 'cool things to talk about while you wait' to let's get out of here, with a twist. This episode in many ways resembles the puzzles that people who enjoy first person shooters or adventure games have to go through to get to that impossibly high staircase above the cliff in front of you. First you need the rope then the tin can then the bag of nettles and then of course, the small key that you forgot to pick up back on level one. In this case, an ancient human bar trick is employed to help them out, although with limited success. As the episode progresses, the danger ramps up and the set and the action gets bigger and bigger. A great deal of fun and a really satisfying piece of entertainment if you don't need a laser battle to get you through the day.

If you do need a laser blast to get you through the day, then Midway is the episode for you. This is the one where Teal'c fights Ronon. Nuff said.



Everyone's favourite, Amanda Tapping, gets the thankless task of keeping Atlantis in line.


This leaves us with the last three episodes, which follows evil Wraith Michael and his plans for dominating the Wraith and the humans. Kindred, parts 1 and 2, also gives Teyla a bit of a hard time.

The final episode, The Last Man, is a great way to finish off, with Rodney and Sheppard bearing the brunt of most of the action. Sheppard comes back from a mission to find that the Atlantis is abandoned, and the sea has been replaced by desert. He soon realises that he's been sent into the future - a loooong way into the future, but with the help of a holographic (and really old Rodney) he may be able to make it back, and fix the awful things that happened after he disappeared.

For Atlantis fans, obviously you've already got this. For those of you curious about Atlantis, Season 4 shows some of the full blooming of the action/adventure/comedy/sci fi hybrid that keeps the fans coming back. Whilst this season brings in characters from SG1, it really proves the point that as spin off, it really has a life and flavour all of its own. Not a bad place to enter the Atlantis galaxy (Pegasus) at all.



Yet another cool Atlantis moment in the season finale, 'The Last Man'.


DVD EXTRAS:

3 Other Trailer(s) featuring Stargate: The Ark of Truth, Stargate SG-1: Seasons 1-10, Stargate: Continuum
13 Deleted Scenes
2 Documentaries
19 Feature/Episode commentaries by by cast and crew

Commentaries by Episode:

Adrift: Writer Martin Gero and Director Martin Wood
Lifeline: Director Martin Wood and Amanda Tapping
Reunion: Writer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring
Doppelganger: Writer/Director Robert C. Cooper and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
Travelers: Writer Paul Mullie and Director William Waring
Tabula Rasa: Writer Alan McCullough, Director Martin Wood and Amanda Tapping
Missing: Writer Carl Binder and Director Andy Mikita
The Seer: Writer Alan McCullough and Director Andy Mikita
Miller’s Crossing: Writer Martin Gero and Director Andy Mikita
This Mortal Coil: Writer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring
Be All My Sins Remembered: Writer Martin Gero and Director Andy Mikita
Spoils of War: Writer Alan McCullough and Director William Waring
Quarantine: Director Martin Wood and Amanda Tapping
Harmony: Writer Martin Gero and Director William Waring
Outcast: Writer Alan McCullough and Director Andy Mikita
Trio: Writer Martin Gero, Director Martin Wood and Amanda Tapping The Kindred, Part 1: Writer Joseph Mallozzi and Director Peter F. Woeste
The Kindred, Part 2: Writer Alan McCullough and Director Martin Wood
The Last Man: Writer Paul Mullie and Director Martin Wood

Documentaries:
Mission Directive: Doppleganger with Robert C. Cooper

A New Leader: Amanda Tapping Joins Atlantis

The Doctor Is In: The Return of Paul McGillion
(All of those who notice that I didn't speak about his return in the main body of the review - there's spoilers, and then there's spoilers. That was one heck of a shock if you didn't know about it.)

Stargate Atlantis Bloopers
First made for dvd bloopers on Atlantis, ever, Weird.

Mission Directive: This Mortal Coil with William Waring

Mission Directive: Quarantine with Martin Wood

Mission Directive: Outcast with Andy Mikita

Making of Trio

A Look Back at Season 4

Plus:
Deleted Scenes