Stargate: Atlantis, season 5

FOUR STAR
-The Shrine
There is a reluctance in me to award any SGA product four stars, as even the best episodes almost never escape the series' primary flaw, the unwillingness or inability of the writers to imbue the characters with genuine depth. However...when these credits rolled, the words that rolled off my lips were "that was great". An episode that feels like nothing you've seen in sci fi (okay, Uhura did revert to a childlike state once, but this resolution is entirely new). Rodney is exposed to an alien parasite that renders him a simpleton. His gradual loss of IQ is painful and poignant, and shows that David Hewlett was capable of much more than the writers gave him. The team takes him to a shrine on a wraith-held planet which supposedly provides one day of complete cure before the patient dies. Dr. Keller provides the most realistic-looking improvised brain surgery you've ever seen.
-First Contact/The Lost Tribe
Absolutely gripping, unpredictable, and breakneck, with stabs of humor for flavor. It's funny that the first title is a lift from STAR TREK, as i'm torn over whether four stars here is as great as a four in TREK. That being said...i couldn't NOT give four, as i don't think the SG people could have blown the doors off any more impressively. I bend over backwards to avoid hyperbole, so bear that in mind when i call this two-parter heart-pounding. Even more surprising, the guest star is SG1's Michael Shanks. He's grown since he first entered the sci fi universe, as a piece of balsa. Jackson arrives at Atlantis with a clue to a secret lab. As soon as he and Rodney discover it, powerful aliens in environment suits appear, taking both them and a piece of technology. The wraith Todd is at a summit with the Daedalus, exploring the feasibility of the DNA treatment that would allow the wraith to no longer feed on humans. On a distant world, Rodney is forced to activate the ancient device, which will destroy any wraith ship that engages hyperdrive...but also explode any stargate being used, with the force of many nukes. Todd commandeers the Daedalus, and is off on a race to the mysterious alien planet. They turn out to be a splinter group of asgard who would let anyone die to be rid of the wraith. Also racing to the planet is Sheppard, hitching on a traveler ship. Ronon and Doc Keller have some great moments as they try to re-take Daedalus. Everything, but everything, works.
NOTEWORTHY
-Broken Ties **
Teyla's return to active duty over being a full-time newborn parent should have come as the result of an experience demonstrating how her actions can affect the lives of millions. Her choice here feels too easy and manufactured.
-The Daedalus Variations ***
Three stars doesn't get any more fun. An empty Daedalus duplicate appears in orbit. As Shepard's team investigates, the ship flashes into a parallel universe. They find another version of their team dead, and realize that the ship's engine design taps into alternate universe energy, but is uncontrollably jumping them from universe to universe. In the next jump, they are attacked by frighteningly powerful aliens. Then they jump near a star going nova. They realize the only way to get home is to re-traverse all the stops they just made.
-Whispers ***
A tale of blind, predator, mutant hybrids who emit a spooky mist. Sheppard and Beckett fight alongside an estrogen-powered team containing Nicole de Boer (DS9), Leela Savasta (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA), and Janina Gavankar (TRUE BLOOD). Perhaps a trifle obvious, but with great chemistry.
-The Prodigal ***
The SGA swan song for Connor Trineer (ENTERPRISE). In nine episodes over four seasons, he was always compelling. Like all SG characters, there was untapped potential, and the writers pissed away the enormous sympathy he entered the series with. But a good arc (including an ending worthy of Nicholson) is nothing to be ashamed of. This episode deftly avoids predictability. Michael's forces take over the Atlantis control tower, leaving everyone powerless and cut off. They all attempt to foil him, but in credibly disjointed ways. At the end, the most humanistic character (Teyla) does the most cold-blooded act ever seen on the show.
-Brain Storm ***
Cheeky, delightful quirkiness. Rodney takes Jennifer to a physics conference on Earth run by an old rival (Dave Foley - KIDS IN THE HALL, NEWSRADIO), who is about to implement a dangerous idea he doesn't realize he stole from Rodney. 100 of the world's top physicists are suddenly trapped in a compound which is about to freeze solid. Foley is understatedly, spot-on funny. Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson play themselves, plus a credible facsimile of Stephen Hawking rolls by. It almost tips into too silly, but the menace keeps it in line. Jennifer briefly dies, then invites Rodney to join the mile-high club. He doesn't fumble the moment.
-Enemy at the Gate ***
I rolled into this episode with grand hopes, assuming that SGA had intended to finish after five seasons. But no, it was cancelled. For all its limitations in terms of character, the series is a delightful ride. As a finale, this one will leave you wanting more (the romance between Sheppard and Teyla that never happened, a resolution to the wraith problem, and Ford's plot line), but much like the series itself, if you can ignore the flaws, you'll have a sweet ride. They went for the highest octane action they could, and hit the mark. A super-powered wraith ship finds the location of Earth. Another uneasy alliance with wraith Todd (the under-appreciated Christopher Heyerdahl, whose unexpected moment of laughter is the highlight of the show) provides two ZPMs, and the whole city flies into hyperspace in pursuit. A battle above Earth ensues, with Sheppard already aboard the hive in a nuclear suicide mission. Parts of it are a little too easy (Ronon's death scene! No, never mind!), you might long for a little more guest star juice, and wish they'd been able to incorporate something unexpected...but enjoy it, because it's a burner.