Stargate: Atlantis, season 1

SGA (moreso than its parent, SG1) feels like the kind of sci fi fans are accustomed to, because it takes place in a futuristic alien city, with adventures in space. This and BUCK ROGERS are the only sci fi shows to ever portray modern humans in fish-out-of-water contexts making self-referential pop-culture comments that don't feel forced. And for one stretch this season, the episodes become little yummies that you want to gobble like candy. But even in the midst of their best episodes, the dialogue occasionally descends into obviousness, missed opportunities, and a lack of understanding of basic human character. Torri Higginson (Dr. Weir) plays the civilian commander of the first stargate team sent to another galaxy. Can we officially, happily call it a new sci fi tradition (BSG, EARTH 2, VOYAGER...) to have a not-necessarily-young woman in charge? The affable Joe Flanigan (Maj. Sheppard) is forced to assume command of military operations when the ranking officer (Robert Patrick) is killed. David Hewlitt (Rodney McKay) is the resident grating scientific genius. Paul McGillion (Beckett) is the doctor with the funny accent. Rachel Luttrell is the local kick-ass hottie (Teyla) who becomes part of the team. Rainbow Francks is the grunt with a heart of gold. They discover a galaxy under the thrall of the wraiths, who use humans as a food source.
FOUR-STAR - none
NOTEWORTHY
-Home ***
An away team is sent into a delusional reality by an alien race protecting themselves. They all dream they're home...until the delusion falls apart. It's well-trod sci fi ground, but well done, especially the comedic touches in sheppard and teyla's shared delusion. SG1's don davis makes a fine guest appearance.
-The Storm ***
Nine episodes in, things come together. Atlantis is menaced by a super-hurricane, necessitating an off-world evacuation for all but a skeleton crew. The genii learn of their plight, and send a team to steal explosives and technology. Colm Meaney (DS9, THE SNAPPER) makes a return appearance as the genii leader, Robert Davi (LICENSE TO KILL, THE GOONIES) plays a genii commander, and one of those nutty kids from GLEE (Cory Monteith) plays a brutal private. A wonderful episode for Sheppard, who is the sole atlantean not neutralized. The fact that he kills instead of "humanely wounds" is a welcome touch of realism.
-The Eye ***
The eye of the storm passes over the city, allowing a stranded team of atlanteans to return to help Sheppard. Erin Chambers returns as a sympathetic Genii who loses a vengeance battle with Teyla. It hurts me when any humans fight, but once in a while it's okay if hot chicks do so, because you know if they just get past their issues they might, well, kiss (and even if they don't, you've got sweaty, heaving women). In all seriousness, something in this episode crystallizes why the series falls short of first-rate, though it comes sooo close. In the Teyla/Sora antagonism, the show never acknowledges what was obvious - that Teyla mightn't have left Sora's father to die if she weren't angry at him. It would have made the Sora/Teyla animosity richer and more human. Too many SGA character moments like that are short-shrifted.
-The Defiant One ***
A team investigates a wraith ship that crashed 10,000 years ago. A cannibalistic survivor is thrown into one-on-one combat with Sheppard, with a last-second save by McKay. Gripping and tight.
-Sanctuary ***
A planet is discovered which is protected by an anti-wraith weapon. The bronze-age locals resist the idea of allowing others to share their haven. Their high priestess (Leonor Varela - CLEOPATRA, BLADE 2) agrees to visit Atlantis, where she and Sheppard have a romance. It is revealed that she is an ancient atlantean who has been denied ascendancy as punishment for a crime, and is forbidden from interfering in off-world affairs. Gaping plot holes and preposterously unbelievable away mission verbal protocols...but it works because of Varela's performance and McKay's quips about pulling a Kirk.
-The Brotherhood ***
Another example of how the show falls short of greatness, with writing that too-often needed one more level of intelligence or finesse. Facing death, soldier Sheppard figures out a mathematical puzzle that eludes super-scientist Rodney. Sheppard reveals that he passed Mensa's test, but didn't join. This is a fine twist, but the writers missed the full opportunity. The tenuous point could have been successfully made that Sheppard outthought Rodney because his military training has taught him how to not lose focus in life/death situations.