Product Description After the secret base of the Ancients, originators of the stargates which allow for interplanetary travel, is discovered, Stargate Command leads a mul
Amazon.com As the curtain is drawn on the first of the 20 episodes that comprise this fifth (and apparently last) season of Stargate Atlantis, we’re assured that “the threat level is down” across the universe. The “sentient machines” known as the Replicators have been defeated; The Wraith, the white-haired, translucent-skinned, cat-eyed vampire dudes who have been our heroes’ principal nemeses all along, are in disarray; And while the character known as Michael, who was the subject of the team's ongoing ""retro-virus"" experiment (designed to make Wraiths human) in Season Two and played a significant recurring role in Season Three, is still around, he too no longer inspires much dread. So, “the threat level is down,” right? Yeah, right. You don’t need to be an astrophysicist to know that rosy analysis is mere wishful thinking. Indeed, Michael’s human-Wraith “hybrids” are a serious menace almost immediately; and by the end of the season, not only have the Wraith pulled themselves together, they have constructed the mother of all “hive ships,” located Planet Earth, and begun attacking it. In between, regular Atlantis fans will witness a few significant developments: among other things, Samantha Carter (Stargate SG-1 veteran Amanda Tapping), who took over command of Atlantis in Season Four, is soon replaced by the by-the-book civilian Richard Woolsey (Robert Picardo); team member Teyla (Rachel Luttrell) has a baby; and Rodney McKay (David Hewlett), the kvetching genius scientist, and medical doc Jennifer Keller (Jewel Staite) kindle a romantic relationship. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks), another SG-1 veteran, appears in two mid-season episodes.
Story-wise, Season Five offers considerable variety; “The Daedalus Variations” is heady sci-fi filled with technical mumbo-jumbo about parallel universes, while “Whispers” is a zombie jamboree straight out of Night of the Living Dead, and Vegas, an “alternate reality episode” in which Lt. Col. John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan, in what is still the show’s most appealing role) plays a beleaguered homicide detective, takes place almost entirely in that city. As usual, the best stories are the ones involving the Wraith, including “The Queen,” in which Teyla temporarily transforms into one of those villainous creatures. Also as usual, the visual effects are first-rate, and the bonus material is copious (including commentaries for every episode and all manner of featurettes) and impressive. If this is indeed the end of Stargate Atlantis as a series (a feature-length movie is already in production), it will certainly be missed--but at least they’re quitting while they’re ahead. --Sam Graham
Yearning for moreJuly 20, 2010 John Ralston(Amarillo, TX, USA) I got frustrated with hunting for good quality episodes on the Internet, so I broke down and got the final box set to add to my collection. I fail to understand why the series was canceled after only five seasons. Atlantis could easily continue for two or three more. The writers left many questions unanswered. Will the Wraith be defeated or just rendered harmless? Will the lost tribe of Asgard reintegrate into the Pegasus galaxy and form a alliance with the humans? How many more bodiless Replicators are out there? Are there more runners scattered about the galaxy?
With a few exceptions ("The Seed"), Season 5 of Stargate Atlantis maintains the high quality story-telling and sheer unbearable suspense seen from day one of the series. The possible solution to the Wraith problem seems humane. The frequent appearances of "Todd" are not only a delight to watch, but also give you hope that Wraith and humans will be able to share the galaxy, but there is enough treason to make you lose that hope. The appearance of Asgard is an unexpected but pleasant surprise that rekindles your hope there will be a way to resolve the conflict. The revival of FRAN/Dr. Weir is long overdue, but does not close the matter completely. The homage to "CSI" in the penultimate episode is well done.
With Stargate Universe falling short of the first two series, I hope the writers will put some effort into a few DVD release movies to tie up some of the loose ends that are dangling before us devoted fans.
A Decent Final Season for the Lost CityJuly 20, 2010 JME2(Monterey, CA) As a spin-off of the long-running and popular "Stargate SG-1", the second live-action Stargate series was faced with the difficult task of maintaining the elements of its parent show while establishing its own identity. Season 1 succeeded and Season 2 deepened the characters and storyline of the Pegasus Galaxy. Unfortunately, Season 3 was significantly weaker, with less focus on the Wraith and more focus on both one-off stories and the development of a decidedly uninteresting foe. Season 4 managed to rebound in quality and with the announcement that Season 5 would end the series, would they manage to end Stargate Atlantis as strongly as the series had opened? The answer is yes and no.
The action opens where the Season 4 cliffhanger left off as Colonel Sheppard, Colonel Carter, and the Atlantis team attempt to save Teyla from the clutches of the Wraith Hybrid Michael. Their success leaves the threat level in the Pegasus Galaxy down for the first time since the Expedition arrived in Season 1. The Asurans are gone, the Wraith are in disarray, and the Hyrbrids are crippled. Unfortunately, Carter falls victim to her own success, as the International Oversight Advisory seeks to restore civilian control to the Lost City. Longtime SG-1/SGA recurring character Richard Woolsey replaces Carter and the IOA expects him to run the Lost City their way. But Woolsey quickly realizes that in the wild frontier of the Pegasus Galaxy, a more creative, flexible approach is required to lead Atlantis.
The final season lies somewhere between Seasons 2 and 3 in regards to storytelling. There are several storylines running through the season, but there are a fair number of stand-alone stories. The final season is not unlike the ending of SG-1, in that it doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but a final resolution is expected from the oft-delayed "Stargate: Extinction" film. It's still enjoyable and highlights include "The Queen", "First Contact", Prodigal", "Brain Storm", and others.
The best season everApril 13, 2010 alice mcgomry I was concerned after season 4. The writers obviously had difficulty coming up with a way to work around Rachel's pregnancy, but did well, better than most sit-coms for sure. I thought I liked Dr Beckett, but I like Dr Keller better. I thought Ronan helped make the show, but having him as a side-kick was better. Robert Picardo makes any show shine, but I was never a fan of Samantha Carter to beging with. That being said, the 5th season relied on old-fashioned science fiction. Have a few main characters and send them someplace new every episode. If you liked Star Trek, you'll like this season. If you want a long story, watch a soap opera. Like any series, there needs to be a little suspense and drawn out every now and then, but not a whole season's worth. Other than Vegas, which is nothing more than CSI, season five is absolutely outstanding. They even got me to like a Wraith-Todd.
oh crapMarch 28, 2010 Scott Mathess(ohio) being a very long time sci fi fan from the mid 50's on, i got interested in this plot....and what a plot.......atlantis has everything you would want in a sci fi show....and the actors......freakking fantastic.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!......joe, david, racheal, jason, and all the rest....fantastic.....all the seasons were utterly great, to bad it was cut down in its high day....and oh...to you producers who started on stargate universe?......forget it......it will never come up to the atlantis status.....never......i cant wait for the sga movie to come out.....and by the way....to jason mamoa....congrats for the rumored conan movie.....i hope it works out....yopur the best for the part
Best Stargate spinoffMarch 13, 2010 D. Lowell(Salem, Oregon) Well thought out spinoff. Great cast with good chemistry. If you've not seen seasons 1-4 yet it is important to view them first to fully understand running storyline. The ending left me wanting more but that just means they didn't over-milk the series.
