Stargate: Atlantis S2 Meme -- Ronon's Intro, Retrovirus, Caldwell, Michael, Genii's Coup, & More!!
Season two of Stargate: Atlantis was freakin awesome!! I thoroughly enjoyed the season beginning to end. I was completely blown away with the creative teams continue to do with this show. I continue to love the fact its a great compliment to Stargate: SG-1. Having that said I felt season two accomplished the fact this show can stand on its own two feet as well. The storylines continued to be compelling, interesting, and at times nail-biting to watch. I was quite pleased that Carson Beckett became part of the regular cast now *fansqueels*. Since I was quite mixed about Lt. Aiden Ford I felt Ronan was a refreshing inclusion. I felt once Ronon became part of the cast the show was pretty much set in my eyes. I look forward to see what is ahead of season three after that cliffhanger ending!
Favorite Episodes: "The Siege Part 3", "The Intruder", "Duet", "Trinity", "Instinct", "Conversion", "Aurora", "The Hive", "Critical Mass", "The Tower", "The Long Goodbye", "Coup D'etat", "Michael", "Infereno", and "Allies"
So-So Decent Episodes: "The Runner", "Condemned", "The Lost Boys", "Grace Under Pressure",
Least Favorite Episodes: "Epiphany" -- I really enjoyed the scienfitiic side to this episode, but it really dragged on for me surrounding the Ancients stuck in limbo before they could ascend. My mind just couldn't stick with it.
Favorite Storylines: I had quite several of them....
*The Lost City of Atlantis -- Even though a lot were explored in the city you just know we just touch the iceberg in this vast city and technology. It reminds me a bit of the Star Wars Expanded Univserse where Han and Leia's children are exploring the lower regions of Coruscant. There is so many things to explore in the city as well on the planet with the marine life. I'm curious to see what happens when Atlantis' lower levels start to become activated.
*U.S. Military vs. Scientific Expedition -- This whole situation went up a notch when Colonel Caldwell became more of a prominent figure in this season. It will be interesting when the IOA become more involved because that is what they do. They put their noses into the SGC business constantly, and not bothering to care about the consequences and/or concerns from the U.S. Military, scientists, and any person that has more expertise than the IOA. However, that is neither nor there. In season two I really loved seeing Sheppard and Weir solidify their forces against the animosity of Colonel Caldwell. Caldwell has his intentions in the right place, and some things he does say are valid.
So I found it really compelling to see Caldwell realizing he was going about his intentions the wrong way.
The turning point for Caldwell's character was when he became a Goa'uld. I wasn't expecting to see the Goa'uld making it to the Pegasus Galaxy, and I just loved that twist!! I loved that the Goa'uld have their slimy snakeheads involved in everything in this franchaise. Alas, poor Caldwell because the last time we saw an ally taken over by a Goa'uld was in the first season of Stargate: SG-1 in "The Enemy Within", or well technically the sixth season "Nightwalkers" when a cloned snakehead went into Sam (even though it died after the glowing eye takeover). Due to this event you can see Caldwell is truly a changed man. Instead of working against Sheppard and Weir he met them halfway. He became more compromising, listening, and caring of everyone. The more Caldwell evolved a character the more suited he was for the job in aiding Weir and Sheppard in the expedition.
*Exploring the Pegasus Galaxy: Mythology & Science -- I continue to enjoy the familiarity of John's team going through the wormhole exploring new worlds especially when they came across Ronon's character. What I have been noticing that Stargate: Atlantis focus less on the anthropology side to the Pegasus Galaxy. During the first season there would be a little bit of dose of anthropology, but due to the increase screentime of Rodney McKay and Caron Beckett (YAY!!) there is a heavy dose of science. Don't get me wrong I love science (big Sam Carter fan here!!), but I do have to admit I missed having that anthropology historical side to things. Once again having that said I love what was done with the science whether it be the Wraith computer virus in "Intruder", Beckett's retrovirus, or discovering new Ancient technology like the Aurora warship. I find it interesting after all these seasons the writers continue to be creative in their technobabble discoveries, problem solving, and so forth.
*Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend: The Genii -- I continue to love what the show has done with the Genii culture. Sadly, the Genii wasn't in this season that much. So it was great to see Colm Meaney and Ryan Robbins continue their performances in their Genii ranks. I said in my previous season review post that I was curious to see what happens to the Genii society considering Cowen's dictatorship can only last for so long. I thought Cowen would die from radiation poisoning. I wasn't expecting to see a coup against Cowen by Ladon's character. After watching Sanctuary before Stargate: Atlantis it is interesting to me to see Ryan Robbins in another role. I'm used to seeing Ryan portay loveable, comedical, technobabble Henry. So to see him as Ladon who is methodical, tactful, and lacking in comedy is just trippy to me. Since I'm going through Sanctuary withdrawls a bit I'm looking forward to the rest of the series just to see Amanda Tapping, Ryan Robbins, and Christopher Heyerdahl on Stargate: Atlantis hehe. Going back to the Genii I'm curious how the society will continue under the new leadership of Ladon, and if we will ever see Kolya again. He is such a baddie character we gotta to see Koyla again!! He has to go up against Sheppard at least one more time.
*The Wraith and The Retrovirus -- Considering what the writers have done with the Goa'uld and Replicators I wondered how they would evolved the villians of the Wraith. One such evolvement was Carson Beckett's creation of the retrovirus. The retrovirus was one of the most interesting science discoveries on the show. To change the physiology of a Wraith into human was intriguing to watch. The creation of the character Michael was freakin' awesome!! I love Michael!! Connor Trinner has to be one of the best casting I have seen on the show. I really felt for Michael the Wraith because now this is a creature no longer belongs in either world. He is no longer a full blown Wraith nor a full blown human. He's a hybrid. He didn't ask for this. He was expertimented on by the Atlantis expedition.
To a certain degree I felt the expedition crossed the line here. They became no better than the Ancient and Wraith's expertiments on each other. Granted, I understood why the retrovirus was created and I love me some Caron Beckett. However, look what they did to poor Michael. There is no way to keep this retrovirus permanant. To change a creature's physiology permanantly without evolution adaptation. Sure humans can be altered, in this universe, from various incidents. However, to saved Jack, Sam, John, and etc. they all had to be reverted back to what they were before. With the added immunities, elements in their bloodstream, and knowledge of what happened to them. The Wraith's physiology just doesn't work that way. I understand why Beckett had to do it the first time (and told to do it), but I just don't see a great end result of this science discovery. Btw, John Sheppard was so trippy in retrovirus mode!! Joe Flanigan did a great job with what happened to John from how he moved and talked.
I loved the whole idea that the Wraith are starting a civil war amongst their hive queens. They took a page out of the Tok'ra and SG-1's playbook of pinning the System Lords against each other. I know some thought Atlantis was copying what SG-1 did in "Summitt" and "Last Stand". However, I disagree because SG-1 sadly couldn't accomplish their goal due to the rise and intimidation of Anubis. They almost accomplished it, but they couldn't because it was freakin' Anubis. In Atlantis, they did succeed in starting the Wraith Civil War, but at the great cost of a betrayal by Michael's Hive Queen. I'm looking forward to see what becomes of Michael and the Hive ships in the cliffhanger.
*The Assembling of Team Atlantis & Going Home -- Since I wasn't a huge fan of Lt. Aiden Ford I was honestly happy to see him go. I did find what happened to his physiology trippy. It's just Ford doesn't belong within the group. I still can't pin down why that is. The chemistry was just off with the inclusion of Ford. Having the inclusion of Ronon and Beckett the group was formed solidly. Everyone has their place, skill set, and the chemistry is quite present with the group. It doesn't matter if we only see one or three characters in one scene, or if we see the whole group from Weir to Beckett. Everything just works and melds together. I'm glad the writers wrote Ford out because it simply wasn't working to its full potential.
I loved that the show can now visit and contact Earth!! It was great to see SG-1 characters on the show whether it be General Landry or the vision of Sam Carter. It was great to see them interact with the Atlantis gang. I hope we get to see a little bit more of it in season three because I believe that season concides with SG-1's S10 where there was a big crossover event. It gives the show a bit more leeway in being able to contact Earth whether it be through the Daedalus or Odyssey. Plus it would be fun to see Sam and Daniel explore Atlantis a bit more considering they didn't explore Atlantis that much in the S10 episode "The Pegasus Project". Oh, I also would love to see Teyla and Ronon go to Earth to see what Weir, Beckett, McKay, and Sheppard have been talking about it for two years. I'm not counting what Teyla saw in "Home" because that was all just a dream. Overall, I loved what they did in season two with the team!
Misc. Hated Aspects: There really wasn't any that I can honestly think of.
Favorite Couple & Potential Couples: Sheppard/Weir
Favorite Friendships: Team Atlantis, Sheppard/Weir, Beckett/Weir, Beckett/McKay, Sheppard/Teyla, Teyla/Weir, Ronon/Teyla, Ronon/Sheppard, Zelenka/McKay, Caldwell/Sheppard, and Caldwell/Weir
Favorite Characters: John Sheppard, Elizabeth Weir, Teyla, Carson Beckett, Radek Zelenka, Chuck, Colonel Caldwell, Major Lorne, Lt. Laura Cadman, and Ronon Dex
Mixed Characters: Aiden Ford and Rodney McKay -- Don't get me wrong these characters have their moments. There are moments I do quite enjoy them, but there are also some moments left to me think otherwise. McKay is his outright huge ego and conscending technobabble.
Can't Stand Characters: None
Favorite Villians: Genii, The Wrath, Cowen, Wraith Queen, Michael, The Trust, Caldwell's Goa'uld, Phoebus, and Thalan
Least Favorite Villians: Lt. Ford and his addicted Little Boys
Most Tragic Deaths: I don't remember any in this season. Heck, if there were near misses I can't recall any that stuck with me this time *shrugs*.
What did you think of the season in general? As stated before I really enjoyed the second season. I thought the ending of "The Siege" was freakin' awesome!! I really enjoyed how they expanded the Pegasus Galaxy along with the technologies from the Ancients, Wraith, Genii, and our own. The season was quite consistent and solid. I look forward what happens in the next season, and how the writers write themselves out of their cliffhanger jam. What happened to Sheppard? What will become of Ronon and Rodney? Will Michael's human side destory the chance of his Hive Queen to takeover. So many questions and so many things to look forwards. Alas, that means I will only have three seasons left to go with this show *sniff*.