Episode 5x3: Broken Ties
LATEST UPDATE: New information added July 22 2008
Episode 5x3 Broken Ties
Writer: Joseph Mallozzi
Director: Ken Girotti
Guest Stars: Mark Dacascos (Tyre), Tyler McClendon (Wraith), Sean Campbell Solen Sincha
Synopsis: Ronon is ambushed during an off-world mission and awakens, much later, a prisoner of his former friend, Tyre. The fellow Satedan, it turns out, has fallen on hard times since they last crossed paths. Abandoned by the wraith he once served, he is undergoing a physiological and psychological withdrawal from the reverse-feeding process once granted to him as a wraith worshiper. But he believes he has come up with a way to win back the respect of his former masters: by delivering them Ronon. Intent on turning their defiant captive, the wraith begin their process of reverse-feeding - stealing Ronon’s life, bringing him to the brink of death, then restoring his youth. Again, and again, and again. A tip, meanwhile, leads the team to an abandoned village. But Ronon and the wraith are long gone, and the only remnant of their former presence is a seriously injured Tyre who may be their only hope of rescuing their friend.
-
Source: The Movie Network (July 1 2008)
"...we’re only days away from celebrating Christmas, and I have a first draft of Broken Ties in hand, my mind is far from on holiday mode."
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi’s blog (December 20 2007 entry)
During an interview with Slice of Sci-Fi Joe Mallozzi talked about the character of Ronon and Jason Momoa’s hopes to see Ronon take a darker turn… and the possibility of Ronon losing his trademark dreads: “There is a story I’ve been wanting to do in the back half of the season, which is a Ronon story which essentially is the sequel to ‘Reunion’, just because the stories that needed telling in the back half of Season 4 and we never got around to making it, the sequel that I would like to do in Season 5 and it would afford us the opportunity to see a little of Ronon’s dark side so in response to that Jason will get the opportunity to go to the dark side whether he wants to loose the hair or not is the question for him.”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi interview with sliceofscifi.com (December 29 2007)
"Meanwhile, the order of season five’s the first three episodes has been locked. It’ll go Search and Rescue, The Seed, and Broken Ties."
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi’s blog (January 18 2008 entry)
“As for episode #3 - the great hair debate rages on.” This could be a reference to Jason Momoa’s decision to cut off his dreads and whether Ronon will also be loosing his trademark hairstyle.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi’s blog (January 22 2008 entry)
Joe Mallozzi commented on discussing the first few episodes with production designer James Robbins:
“And I offered my thoughts on Broken Ties (At first I thought Rodney might have had a bathtub shipped over from Earth but, ultimately, decided to go with one of Lantian design).”
-
source: Joe Mallozzi’s blog (January 25 2008 entry)
Tyre, Ronon's old friend and comrade turned Wraith worshipper last seen in season fours Reunion will be returning in Broken Ties.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 6)
It seems that Ronon will be losing his dreadlocks in season five, most likely in this episode. On his blog page Joe Mallozzi described the “re-dreaded” actor as being “miserable” and added “Guess that decides that.”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 18 2008)
UPDATE - Although Jason has had his hair cut and the writers/producers were prepared to have Ronon lose his dreads, the network wanted the Satedan to keep his trademark look so a compromise has been reached. Some of Jason's dreads have been turned into a wig which he will wear for the show.
On his blog Joe Mallozzi talked about preparation for the upcoming filming of Broken Ties: “Jason came in and we discussed the big sword fight (Enough with the sparring! Let’s see some real clashing steel!), hair issues, and redemption.”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 22 2008)
Gateworld is reporting the first detailed plot information for Broken Ties, in the episode the Ronon is again reunited with the Satedan Tyre (from season fours Reunion) who claims to have turned against his former Wraith masters. While Tyre tries to convince the team that he can be trusted Ronon is captured by the Wraith who attempt to break him, bringing him to the brink of death and back, hoping to brainwash him into join the ranks of their worshippers. For the full article visit Gateworld at the link below.
-
Source: Gateworld (February 23 2008)
Joe Mallozzi talked about the concept meeting, part of the prep for the episode Broken Ties saying: “We stopped occasionally to discuss the transformation scenes, with Todd Masters and Mark Savela weighing in with their thoughts, recommendations, and best-case scenarios.”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 28 2008)
Joe Mallozzi mentioned that Mark Dacascos had been at Bridge Studios for his costume fitting and has been rehearsing “the big fight sequence” with Jason Momoa.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (March 8 2008)
David Hewlett revealed on his blog that he’d “just had [his] first bath in front of the entire Atlantis crew…”
-
Source: David Hewlett’s blog (March 13 2008)
A cryptic comment from Joe Mallozzi’s blog: “Broken Ties is shooting the Solen scene”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (March 13 2008)
Joe Mallozzi discussed his producers cut of Broken Ties on his blog saying: “Paul came in to take a look at it and, after much discussion, we both agreed we’d need to re-shoot the cafeteria scene (Paul is particularly fond of the bath gag). We’ll also need a pick-up of Ronon drawing his sword, the warriors falling back (rather than looking like a bunch of downcast extras shuffling off to the catering truck), and the B-side hits.”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (April 3 2008)
A Sheppard - McKay cafeteria scene from this episode is being revised and re-shot.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (April 8 2008)
The cafeteria and “Wraith battle sequences” will be (re)shot next week. Joe Mallozzi describes this episode as showing Ronon at his most vulnerable and describes it as Jason Momoa’s best performance to date.
He also said we would see some “wonderful” scenes for Teyla and Woolsey as they each deal with “personal issues” and that we will see some “touching” moments between Ronon and Sheppard.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (April 11 2008)
This episode will show the bond of friendship between Ronon and the rest of the team Sheppard in particular.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (April 17 2008)
When asked if any of the team would have to face a “darkness within themselves” this year Joe Mallozzi simply answered “Broken Ties”.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi’s blog (May 19 2008)
Scifi Wire’s article mentions Broken Ties saying “Ronon is given so much Wraith enzyme in the episode that he gives in completely to his dark side and apparently does some serious damage to Sheppard.”
-
Source: scifiwire (May 20 2008)
Gateworld have published an interview with Jason Momoa where he talks about the challenge of filming Broken Ties describing the episode as awesome. “...probably the best episode -- the hardest thing as an actor to do. For Ronon there's not a lot of dialogue. It's his looks and a lot of pain that he goes through. Just a lot of pain.” He told Gateworld. “a lot of pain. I get to play a heroin addict times ten. I've never gotten to play that kind of role before, where I have to be all jacked up and hopped up. The most that anyone's ever been hopped up. So I've got to dig deep in my imagination what it would be like -- that pain, to have every muscle ache and every fiber inside of me just screaming, on fire, just boiling. And actually having to cry for someone to kill me.
to the point where he's like, "Just f***ing kill me. Get this over with." And then not. So it was pretty heavy. And I spent a big part of the day ... it was the greatest acting experience I've had so far. The end of the episode -- I don't want to revisit it ever again. It was a pretty dark place to go to.”
Jason was, however, disappointed with one aspect of the episode. A fight scene between Ronon and Tyre (Mark Dacascos) did not turn out the way he hoped. “It just sucks because you put a lot of time and effort into something. It was a big fight. It goes from swords to guns to hand-to-hand. To get a really good fight, you have to cover it properly. It sucks because the director didn't have time. Because we didn't have time.”
Follow the link below for the rest of the interview.
-
Source: Gateworld (June)
A "certain issue" between Sheppard & Teyla will be addressed in Broken Ties.
- Source: Joe Mallozzi's blog (June 14 2008)
Images
Production art showing “Tyre‘s pendant“ & “Tyre‘s sword and scabbard”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 12)
A sketch from the concept meeting for Broken Ties.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 28 2008)
Tyre’s sword
Prop master “Evil” Kenny and assistant director Alex Pappas show off their sword skills in front of production art for Broken Ties.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 29 2008)
Production art of the “McKay’s bath tub” set.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (March 8 2008)
A photo of “McKay’s bathtub” - recently vacated.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (March 12 2008)
Mark Dacascos as Tyre.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (March 14 2008)
A host of pictures from the Wraith set featuring Ronon, Tyre and Sheppard.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (March 18 2008)
The first official images from Broken Ties from the ever reliable Andreas:
-
Source: Andreas (June 7 2008)
Episode 5x3 Broken Ties
Writer: Joseph Mallozzi
Director: Ken Girotti
Guest Stars: Mark Dacascos (Tyre), Tyler McClendon (Wraith), Sean Campbell Solen Sincha
Synopsis: Ronon is ambushed during an off-world mission and awakens, much later, a prisoner of his former friend, Tyre. The fellow Satedan, it turns out, has fallen on hard times since they last crossed paths. Abandoned by the wraith he once served, he is undergoing a physiological and psychological withdrawal from the reverse-feeding process once granted to him as a wraith worshiper. But he believes he has come up with a way to win back the respect of his former masters: by delivering them Ronon. Intent on turning their defiant captive, the wraith begin their process of reverse-feeding - stealing Ronon’s life, bringing him to the brink of death, then restoring his youth. Again, and again, and again. A tip, meanwhile, leads the team to an abandoned village. But Ronon and the wraith are long gone, and the only remnant of their former presence is a seriously injured Tyre who may be their only hope of rescuing their friend.
-
Source: The Movie Network (July 1 2008)
"...we’re only days away from celebrating Christmas, and I have a first draft of Broken Ties in hand, my mind is far from on holiday mode."
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi’s blog (December 20 2007 entry)
During an interview with Slice of Sci-Fi Joe Mallozzi talked about the character of Ronon and Jason Momoa’s hopes to see Ronon take a darker turn… and the possibility of Ronon losing his trademark dreads: “There is a story I’ve been wanting to do in the back half of the season, which is a Ronon story which essentially is the sequel to ‘Reunion’, just because the stories that needed telling in the back half of Season 4 and we never got around to making it, the sequel that I would like to do in Season 5 and it would afford us the opportunity to see a little of Ronon’s dark side so in response to that Jason will get the opportunity to go to the dark side whether he wants to loose the hair or not is the question for him.”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi interview with sliceofscifi.com (December 29 2007)
"Meanwhile, the order of season five’s the first three episodes has been locked. It’ll go Search and Rescue, The Seed, and Broken Ties."
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi’s blog (January 18 2008 entry)
“As for episode #3 - the great hair debate rages on.” This could be a reference to Jason Momoa’s decision to cut off his dreads and whether Ronon will also be loosing his trademark hairstyle.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi’s blog (January 22 2008 entry)
Joe Mallozzi commented on discussing the first few episodes with production designer James Robbins:
“And I offered my thoughts on Broken Ties (At first I thought Rodney might have had a bathtub shipped over from Earth but, ultimately, decided to go with one of Lantian design).”
-
source: Joe Mallozzi’s blog (January 25 2008 entry)
Tyre, Ronon's old friend and comrade turned Wraith worshipper last seen in season fours Reunion will be returning in Broken Ties.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 6)
It seems that Ronon will be losing his dreadlocks in season five, most likely in this episode. On his blog page Joe Mallozzi described the “re-dreaded” actor as being “miserable” and added “Guess that decides that.”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 18 2008)
UPDATE - Although Jason has had his hair cut and the writers/producers were prepared to have Ronon lose his dreads, the network wanted the Satedan to keep his trademark look so a compromise has been reached. Some of Jason's dreads have been turned into a wig which he will wear for the show.
On his blog Joe Mallozzi talked about preparation for the upcoming filming of Broken Ties: “Jason came in and we discussed the big sword fight (Enough with the sparring! Let’s see some real clashing steel!), hair issues, and redemption.”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 22 2008)
Gateworld is reporting the first detailed plot information for Broken Ties, in the episode the Ronon is again reunited with the Satedan Tyre (from season fours Reunion) who claims to have turned against his former Wraith masters. While Tyre tries to convince the team that he can be trusted Ronon is captured by the Wraith who attempt to break him, bringing him to the brink of death and back, hoping to brainwash him into join the ranks of their worshippers. For the full article visit Gateworld at the link below.
-
Source: Gateworld (February 23 2008)
Joe Mallozzi talked about the concept meeting, part of the prep for the episode Broken Ties saying: “We stopped occasionally to discuss the transformation scenes, with Todd Masters and Mark Savela weighing in with their thoughts, recommendations, and best-case scenarios.”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 28 2008)
Joe Mallozzi mentioned that Mark Dacascos had been at Bridge Studios for his costume fitting and has been rehearsing “the big fight sequence” with Jason Momoa.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (March 8 2008)
David Hewlett revealed on his blog that he’d “just had [his] first bath in front of the entire Atlantis crew…”
-
Source: David Hewlett’s blog (March 13 2008)
A cryptic comment from Joe Mallozzi’s blog: “Broken Ties is shooting the Solen scene”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (March 13 2008)
Joe Mallozzi discussed his producers cut of Broken Ties on his blog saying: “Paul came in to take a look at it and, after much discussion, we both agreed we’d need to re-shoot the cafeteria scene (Paul is particularly fond of the bath gag). We’ll also need a pick-up of Ronon drawing his sword, the warriors falling back (rather than looking like a bunch of downcast extras shuffling off to the catering truck), and the B-side hits.”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (April 3 2008)
A Sheppard - McKay cafeteria scene from this episode is being revised and re-shot.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (April 8 2008)
The cafeteria and “Wraith battle sequences” will be (re)shot next week. Joe Mallozzi describes this episode as showing Ronon at his most vulnerable and describes it as Jason Momoa’s best performance to date.
He also said we would see some “wonderful” scenes for Teyla and Woolsey as they each deal with “personal issues” and that we will see some “touching” moments between Ronon and Sheppard.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (April 11 2008)
This episode will show the bond of friendship between Ronon and the rest of the team Sheppard in particular.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (April 17 2008)
When asked if any of the team would have to face a “darkness within themselves” this year Joe Mallozzi simply answered “Broken Ties”.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi’s blog (May 19 2008)
Scifi Wire’s article mentions Broken Ties saying “Ronon is given so much Wraith enzyme in the episode that he gives in completely to his dark side and apparently does some serious damage to Sheppard.”
-
Source: scifiwire (May 20 2008)
Gateworld have published an interview with Jason Momoa where he talks about the challenge of filming Broken Ties describing the episode as awesome. “...probably the best episode -- the hardest thing as an actor to do. For Ronon there's not a lot of dialogue. It's his looks and a lot of pain that he goes through. Just a lot of pain.” He told Gateworld. “a lot of pain. I get to play a heroin addict times ten. I've never gotten to play that kind of role before, where I have to be all jacked up and hopped up. The most that anyone's ever been hopped up. So I've got to dig deep in my imagination what it would be like -- that pain, to have every muscle ache and every fiber inside of me just screaming, on fire, just boiling. And actually having to cry for someone to kill me.
to the point where he's like, "Just f***ing kill me. Get this over with." And then not. So it was pretty heavy. And I spent a big part of the day ... it was the greatest acting experience I've had so far. The end of the episode -- I don't want to revisit it ever again. It was a pretty dark place to go to.”
Jason was, however, disappointed with one aspect of the episode. A fight scene between Ronon and Tyre (Mark Dacascos) did not turn out the way he hoped. “It just sucks because you put a lot of time and effort into something. It was a big fight. It goes from swords to guns to hand-to-hand. To get a really good fight, you have to cover it properly. It sucks because the director didn't have time. Because we didn't have time.”
Follow the link below for the rest of the interview.
-
Source: Gateworld (June)
A "certain issue" between Sheppard & Teyla will be addressed in Broken Ties.
- Source: Joe Mallozzi's blog (June 14 2008)
Images
Production art showing “Tyre‘s pendant“ & “Tyre‘s sword and scabbard”
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 12)
A sketch from the concept meeting for Broken Ties.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 28 2008)
Tyre’s sword
Prop master “Evil” Kenny and assistant director Alex Pappas show off their sword skills in front of production art for Broken Ties.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (February 29 2008)
Production art of the “McKay’s bath tub” set.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (March 8 2008)
A photo of “McKay’s bathtub” - recently vacated.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (March 12 2008)
Mark Dacascos as Tyre.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (March 14 2008)
A host of pictures from the Wraith set featuring Ronon, Tyre and Sheppard.
-
Source: Joe Mallozzi‘s blog (March 18 2008)
The first official images from Broken Ties from the ever reliable Andreas:
-
Source: Andreas (June 7 2008)