Condemned (12 Aug. 2005)

The team discovers a planet where the stargate is kept on a prison island to keep the Wraith satisfied. Their magistrate is willing to trade a rare mineral.

Director:

Peter DeLuise

Writers:

Brad Wright (creator), Robert C. Cooper (creator),

Stars:

Joe Flanigan, Torri Higginson, Rachel Luttrell

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Joe Flanigan	...	Lt. Colonel John Sheppard
Torri Higginson	...	Dr. Elizabeth Weir
Rachel Luttrell	...	Teyla Emmagan
Jason Momoa	...	Ronon Dex
Paul McGillion	...	Dr. Carson Beckett (credit only)
David Hewlett	...	Dr. Rodney McKay
Darcy Belsher	...	Eldon
Christian Bocher	...	Torrell
Alan C. Peterson	...	Magistrate
Kavan Smith	...	Major Evan Lorne
Kyla Wise	...	Marin (as Kyla Anderson)
James Lafazanos	...	Male Wraith
Chuck Campbell	...	Chuck the Technician

Storyline

The puddle jumper arrives on a planet that neither Teyla nor Ronon have visited before. They land near an abandoned campfire, only to find themselves under attack by the indigenous people. They are rescued by a flying vehicle that escorts them to a city of the advanced Olesians. Their magistrate tells the stargate is on a prison island, where only the most violent criminals are sent. According to him this has kept the Wraith away from the city for centuries. He tells McKay their scientists have recently found a mineral that is fissionable, but does not produce any radioactivity. McKay is very interested and the magistrate seems willing to trade. While the jumper returns to get Dr. Weir for the negotiations, the prisoners open fire. They manage to shoot it down.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Adventure

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Details

Release Date:

12 August 2005 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pegasus Productions (II)

Did You Know?

Quotes

Torrell: I could kill you, but you strike me as the type of man who despite being weak outside harbors strength of character he doesn't even know he has.
Dr. Rodney McKay: I'm sorry, is there a compliment in there?

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Connections

References Braveheart (1995)

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Soundtracks

"Main Title"
Composed by Joel Goldsmith

User Reviews

Sentenced to Wraith

This is a solid episode. It is based on a really interesting concept: a civilisation made a deal with a Wraith, letting it feed upon their criminal, in exchange for which cullings stopped. Cold-blooded though it may be, you must admit that the idea is brilliant, a variation on traditional tributes. And I am glad that the episode acknowledges the moral issues that are at stake here. After all, this is just another form of death penalty --once that actually benefits the whole planet. The criminals get their just desert and the Wraith gets... well, just his dessert (sorry, was that in bad taste? ^^) I really appreciate how the dialogue shows both sides of the debate and conveys how the characters feel about it.

But this is only the basis, and the plot itself develops from there: we slowly discover that by the time Sheppard and Co. arrive, the deal has already backfired and the government is actually sentencing to death whoever they can get away with in order to pacify their Wraith "ally". This obviously changes the moral equation and puts a stop to any potential alliance, but before the team can warn Atlantis, they get stranded with the criminals (for the second time!). Once again, they have to make emergency repairs in order to get out before the Wraith comes back to take its literal toll -but the local boss has plans of his own. Meanwhile, Weir tries to understand what happened...

The plot actually manages to juggle all those story lines and situations without leaving too many loose threads, and the conclusion is a brilliant illustration of poetic justice. So this is a well-rounded episode: the initial setting is clever and thought-provoking, the pace never lets down, and every character gets something to do.