Stargate Atlantis: Season 4 episode "Outcast" (SPOILERS)

[wraithfodder]

 The following post contains spoilers for the season 4 episode OUTCAST, a Sheppard-centric Stargate Atlantis episode.

Okay, this time the CUT is going to work!

The following information is subject to change, etc.

 

OUTCAST

 

Contains spoilers for an earlier season 4 episode as well.

 

This Sheppard-centric finds Colonel John Sheppard back on Earth – to attend his father’s funeral. It’s here that we discover he’s not an only child, but has a brother, GRAHAM. It’s also where viewers will be introduced to NANCY, Sheppard’s ex-wife (he remarks that his father thought that John marrying her one was one of the few things in his life that he did do right).

 

While at the bar (apparently the wake is being held in the father’s house and they’ve got a bar set up), Sheppard and Ronon are approached by a woman named AVA GRANGER. She doesn’t have time to beat around the bush, so bluntly tells them she used to work for Henry Wallace, who (earlier in season 4) abducted Rodney to work on a top secret and of course, very illegal project concerning alien technology acquired in the Pegasus Galaxy (sorta rings of the NID, doesn’t it??).

 

Just as Sheppard and Ronon are getting AVA out of the house, GRAHAM wants to know what’s going on. Sheppard says it’s worked related… and we find out, via GRAHAM, that the father always regretted what had happened between himself and John, up until his death.

 

But Sheppard’s got to unravel this new problem. AVA tells him and Ronon that she was recruited out college by DR RICHARD POOLE to work on a secret project called “Archetype” – which is all about nanites.  While the earlier nanite project by DEVLIN was shut down, it appears some major breakthroughs were made… POOLE created the last thing Earth needs – a human form replicator! Sheppard and Ronon understandably don’t take this news very well, especially after she tells them after they activated this new life form, POOLE got really ansty. The IOA was closing in on Devlin’s project and he didn’t want to go to jail, so he was about to terminate the replicator when it awoke, broke loose, and in the time-honored tradition of creatures of this sort, took off.

 

So, for the last few weeks, a replicator has been running loose on Earth. Let’s hope it hasn’t gotten hold of anybody’s charge cards! ;)

 

NOTE: Joe Mallozzi has dropped some hints on this much anticipated (by Sheppard fans) episode. Snippets from his blog are:

 

• The story was proposed by Joe Flanigan and written by Allan McCullough
• “Marty G. pitched out a special guest star for Outcast, a character we haven’t seen since his debilitating injury in season one. Won’t the fans be surprised. Well, probably not as I’m sure you’ve figured it out.”
• O1 writes: “Can you give us a hint about outcast and whether it is going to be an action episode, a character driven episode or an angsty episode?” Answer: Hopefully, all of the above.
• I was in the office reading Paul’s pass on Outcast (offering up a more vulnerable side of Sheppard),
• 1) Can we expect some major Emotional Shep Whump  in Outcast? Answer: 1) There will be definitely be some emotional shep whump in Outcast.
• At ComicCon (July 2007), Joe Mallozzi said: “In fact, actually, that’s what we were talking about on Friday. We’re spinning Sheppard’s backstory, specifically the fact that in “Letters from Pegasus,” he didn’t really seem to have anyone out there and the question is sort of ‘why?’ and it’s something we discussed on Friday and we’ve got something really cool planned which I’m not at liberty to reveal right now, but Joe [Flanigan] came up with a great springboard for a story. We’re going back to Earth.”

 

 

So, the potential is that Bates could be in this episode - that would be interesting to see; the outcast might not be Sheppard after all but the replicator on the run. We'll get some angst in that Sheppard finds out after his father dies that his father regretted whatever happened between them.

Comments

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

Doesn't his brother tell Shep that their father thought marrying his wife was the best thing he ever did...the way its worded here vs Gateworld it sounds like Shep thought this.

I'm just asking you if you know which is which?

[girly-curl-3.livejournal.com]

OMG, GRAHAM! ♥

Also, did you mean to put this under a cut?

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

First, you might want to use a cut before someone less tolerant and wankish comes along and roars about spoilers.


As to the ep info, when I first heard about this with Sheppard's wife, I thought, "This is going to be really cheesy and cliché." But so far, it seems interesting.

And Graham Sheppard..? *hee*

[alipeeps.livejournal.com]

Ummm yeah - this *really* needs a cut hon or you're gonna spoil a lot of people's flists... :)

[alipeeps.livejournal.com]

Sheppard actually tells Nancy that his dad thought John marrying Nancy was one of the few things he ever did right.

[ditraveler.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to this episode!
And well The outcast is Sheppard too, from his family, so it works both ways (replicator and him).
I can't imagine Sheppard with a brother, I always thought of him as an only child.

Odd it was Ronon not Rodney sheppard brought to earth, I mean kind of an odd time to bring Ronon for an earth tour, kind of odd he brought anyone period, always thought of sheppard as a loner in personal stuff.

This episode sounds very interesting, I can't wait for season 4 to begin!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Oops, I knew I was typing too fast. Thanks. I corrected it. Yeah, it was the father, but I'm sure Shep probably thought it was good, well, till the marriage tanked. Makes me wonder what did it in (I figure his job was part of it).

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yes, I fixed. I must remember NEVER to add anything after I cut and paste in. This has happened to me before. Bangs head on keyboard.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Fixed!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's fixed. See comment above. Anyway, Graham Sheppard. Okay, the joke is going over my head. Hmm....

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I just want to hear the dialogue when John explains what this dreadlocked guy is doing at his dad's funeral.... ;) Yeah, I had never thought Shep had siblings as he just seemed, well, solitary and after "Letters from Pegasus." Really can't wait to find out what went on between him and his dad and I'm glad that in the info that did come out, it hasn't been leaked, so we have something to look forward to in, oh, 2008 ;)

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

Sorry, just I knew this gay couple once, and their names were John and Graham...just made me giggle, that's all.

_{For the record, fandom I'm looking at you, Shepcest = NO!}

[girly-curl-3.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I know the feeling! Happens to me all the time.

Thanks for sharing!

[girly-curl-3.livejournal.com]

LOL! Agreed! Shepcest FTL.

And wraithfodder...no joke to miss, I think we're all just LOVING on the name Graham. ♥

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Ah....................

[tringasolitaria.livejournal.com]

I agree that bringing Ronon is odd. If anyone, I would have thought Shep would have brought Rodney, although really I would have expected him to go alone. I'm a little disappointed personally that Rodney isn't going, but they're probably trying to cut down on the "Shep & Rodney Show" since there's been so many complaints.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

It'll be interesting to see the reason why Ronon's on Earth...

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

*choke* Aren't Joe's parents John & Nancy..?

[the-scary-kitty.livejournal.com]

Graham?!? Good night, first Jack Bauer winds up with a brother named Graham, and now John Sheppard's got his own brother Graham? I suppose next season we'll find out that Graham Sheppard (what a mouthful) is seeekretly a bad guy involved with supplying nanite tech to one or both of the illegal nanite projects... *smirks*

Shep and his dad had a falling-out... well, that jives with what fanon has long surmised. Hopefully we'll find out just what happened between them, and between Shep and his ex.

Definitely wondering why the heck Ronon would be going to Earth instead of Rodney; given the tie-in to events from Miller's Crossing, it almost seems like Rodney would be a more logical choice.

[tringasolitaria.livejournal.com]

I agree, but I'm pretty sure that due to all the complaining, TPTB are trying to cut down on the "John & Rodney show". I'm just hoping they don't try to convince us that Ronon is Shep's bestest friend of all this year, but I'm halfway expecting it.

[the-scary-kitty.livejournal.com]

That's true enough about cutting down on the "John & Rodney show". Of course, this particular case will be yet another example of TPTB ignoring opportunities and utilizing the wrong character for the scenario. Par for the course. *shrugs*

I can only hope that getting to see Ronon on Earth will perhaps give us more of a chance to see what lies underneath the whole barbarian persona that TPTB have got themselves fixated on. That said, I'm not holding my breath... ;)

[ditraveler.livejournal.com]

Oh god that will be hilarious!, can you imagine someone as intimidating as Ronon just coming to a funeral where no one knows who this weirdo is? LOL. I am So looking forward to it!

[ditraveler.livejournal.com]

I guess you are right, they are probably trying to mix it up a little.

[prudentia.livejournal.com]

I am guessing (coupled with comments recently made by Joe Malozzi in his blog about scheduling and pregnancies) that the reason Ronon is going to earth with John instead of Rodney is that TPTB have tried to schedule a Rodney-lite episode to coincide with the birth of DH's baby, in order to give him a bit of paternity leave. Let's hope that nature also sticks to the schedule!

[obsessed1o1.livejournal.com]

Im excited by the synopsis but at the same time it's always what i expected it to be. I figured Sheppard would have to have a good reason to go home and his fathers death is reason enough and the rest??? I don't know......I just hope this episode suprises me and doesnt become a little cliched. I also hope they cast Sheppard's brother right and make his ex wife believable.

Im excited but hesitant. I'll reserve judgement till i see the ep.


Still....spoilers....SQUEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[obsessed1o1.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it is strange, but then out of all of his team Ronon is going to be the least...touchy feely? irritating? Can't find the right word.

Im looking forward to the par tof the episode (WHich i would love them to show) where Sheppard has to explain why he's going back to earth......hmmm.....fanfiction ideas!!!!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I'm sorta reserved on all episodes, despite spoilers, etc. until I see them. I just had a thought. Younger brother? Older? I sorta thinking younger. Hope they cast 'em right, too, and don't give Sheppard some ex-wife who looks like strolled off a catwalk.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Ah, could be.

[the-scary-kitty.livejournal.com]

I'd think the brother would be younger, too. Hmm, isn't Shep supposed to be in his mid-to-late 30s?

And yes, no supermodel ex-wife. Just a pretty, ordinary, real woman, instead of a cardboard cutout. I also hope there was no knock-down, drag-out fight when they divorced, no Kirk-ish affairs on the side... I'd rather they just realized it wasn't working (for whatever reason; his career seems like an obvious choice) and they amicably decided to end it before it had a chance to go bad in the worst soap-opera style.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm thinking younger brother. And the wife... I'm hoping the divorce was a quiet one drawn from desperation of some kind. Or what you said.

[thisissirius.livejournal.com]

They've been getting complaints?

[tringasolitaria.livejournal.com]

LOL. Well, certainly not from me. :) I'll take all of John & Rodney I can get. But yes, I've seen a lot of complaints about it, more on Gateworld than here, but some here on LJ also. And I'm sure quite a bit of that of that has filtered back to TPTB.