"Stargate: Atlantis" Vegas (2009)

Director:

Robert C. Cooper

Writers:

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

TV Series:

"Stargate: Atlantis" (2004)

Original Air Date:

2 January 2009 (Season 5, Episode 19)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Adventure

Plot:

The killings a Wraith is making in Las Vegas are investigated by detective John Sheppard... who knows nothing about life-sucking aliens from another galaxy. |

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Galaxy | Military | Alien Race | Wormhole

Cast

Joe Flanigan	...	Detective John Sheppard
Rachel Luttrell	...	Teyla Emmagan (credit only)
Jason Momoa	...	Ronon Dex (credit only)
Jewel Staite	...	Dr. Jennifer Keller
Robert Picardo	...	Richard Woolsey
David Hewlett	...	Dr. Rodney McKay
Neil Jackson	...	Wraith
David Nykl	...	Dr. Radek Zelenka
Christopher Heyerdahl	...	Todd the Wraith
Gary Jones	...	Chief Mst Sgt. Walter Harriman
Frank Vincent	...	Poker Player #1
Steve Schirripa	...	Poker Player #2
Jody Thompson	...	Nurse
Mark Burgess	...	Sick Guy
Chris Nowland	...	Crime Scene Guy

Certification:

Netherlands:12

Quotes:

Todd the Wraith: Fish in a pond, busy busy, lots to do, here and there. Dry as a desert outside, no place to go. Eat up, get stronger, think and hope, think and hope. Don't look now! Oh, keep dreaming. There must be some other reason for your existence. Defiance tastes like life itself. No river. No water. Die in the desert. Dirt is all around. The harvest moon is rising. Wraith are never-ending. I know the future. Come inside. I'll show you your destiny... John Sheppard.

Movie Connections:

References "Star Trek" (1966)

Soundtrack:

The Beautiful People

I don't know where to start

I've been a fan of the Stargate series since my mom took me to see the original movie when it was playing in the theaters, and I've done my best to keep up with it since. The franchise has had its ups and downs (and a few to many clip shows if you ask me) but overall it has seemed like the quality of the shows had a set standard.

I applaud the writers for their ability to write a script that didn't follow the usual formula (team goes to new planet, team gets in trouble, teams gets the locals to help, team comes home, etc). This is a bad habit to break, so I give them credit for being able to write something...different.

This was awful. The entire episode lacked plot. When you try to create an "alternate time line" and see how the other half lives so to speak, I think it requires a bit of a lead in. We've seen in Star Trek, for example, and the many episodes involved in the "Mirror Universe" where at one point "Enterprise" featured 2 standalone episodes in said universe, but it was only after we had been exposed so many times and had a better understanding of the universe makeup.

Instead we jump straight into an alternate time line with no setup, no build up, in fact it's pretty damn cold. The writers had an interesting idea, but instead wrote it too fast, and in the process destroyed it, which is unfortunately sums up the majority of the last 2 seasons.

Finally, and I realize with the series coming to a quick halt (like a train desperately trying to avoid a car on the tracks) that this is probably wasted, but I never the less feel necessary to point out that somewhere along the lines the writers forgot why we watch. We as viewers have an emotional investment in the characters in the series, and in this particular case in the "team." Instead of focusing on gimmicky plots, half-assed emulations, and crappy camera shots, go back to where it all began. It is my hope that the writers are able to begin the new series in the franchise with a different attitude than what Atlantis was met with.

-Tib

P.S. HALF OF ATLANTIS IS STILL UNEXPLORED, THE WRAITH ARE STILL CAUSING PROBLEMS, AND THERE ARE FRIGGIN ASGARD IN PEGASUS, WHY IN GODS NAME ARE YOU TRYING TO KNOCK OFF CSI/VEGAS!?!?!?!