wraithfodder | Stargate Atlantis #520: “Enemy at the Gate” Spoiler review / discussion

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Stargate Atlantis #520: “Enemy at the Gate” Spoiler review / discussion

Well, it’s over, and I was going to luxuriate and watch it at 9:00pm, until the power company decide to plunge us into pitch black. Gee, thanks a lot. Besides missing EATG, my Word document I was working on went poof when the power went. Grrrr.

But onward to the episode, spoilers and whatnot beneath the tag!

Okay, after watching 90% of “Vegas” , I was suitably prepped for ‘oh, the rift thing will go over into the finale.”

Let me say, blech , on BSG ad in bottom right corner. They couldn’t have let SGA have a clean finale?

Oooh, okay, Todd is back in fighting form. Despite the fact I think he should die (being a Wraith), I am developing a bit of fondness for him, probably because Chris Heyerdahl just makes him so fascinating. So, the wraith now have a souped-up hive ship. Not a bad plot point, and well, everybody seems to steal everybody’s technology so it’s a logical progression I suppose.

Wow, Todd should just run for president. He’s got all the requisites: charm, lies, etc. ;) And wow, now we know, Wraith are CANADIAN. Listen to how he says ‘progress’, the Canadian way.! I do like how Todd manipulates Sheppard and Woolsey, although you do wonder, would Sheppard kill Todd in cold blood? When he killed Bob, no, Steve, um, er, or whoever, the Wraith in “The Siege”, it was very much down to the wire combat type situation. It’s something left to the viewer’s imagination, since well, the city survives, but now you’ve got this wraith. I can’t see Sheppard having blown away Todd at the end of the episode because 1) he’s not a cold-blooded killer, 2) they’re on Earth, so they’re no longer in a ‘wild west’ type Pegasus Galaxy situation and well, Atlantis might be considered part of the U.S. gov’t now, and subject to all its laws. Of course, now if Todd is alive, there’s that pesky thing about how to feed him since he’s now a full-on wraith again. Wait, wait, there’s Bernie Madoff! * cough *

Overall, Todd is a great character, and I want to see his death (cause I can’t see it not happening) be meaningful (that is, to us viewers). To just vanish would be, well, bleh, unless the IOA decides to stick him in a cage. The antagonistic relationship between Todd and Sheppard is fascinating to watch, because Todd really does bring out the worst in Sheppard.

Best line: “You know how to talk to me, John Sheppard!” laughs Todd.

Okay, at first I thought, it sucks that Sheppard is being shipped back to Earth to man Earth’s chair. But, we got some neato fight scenes. However, what bureaucratic moron moved the chair to Area 51.

The tribute to Don S Davis – renaming the Phoenix (corrected) to the General Hammond – was far better than just a little scroll at the end, plus it will last into the movies (please let there be movies). Major Davis. Damn, just how does he screw up that the man has yet to be promoted???

Curious that since Beckett is a clone, that he has the gene.

Woolsey offering Teyla and Ronon an out. Realistically, it would have made more sense to ask ‘uh, do you want to come along?’ BEFORE they left? However, because of the rushed aspect of this episode, we don’t get Teyla’s side addressed. She’s leaving her people? Where is Torren? Kanan? That’s something I’d like to see explored, but because of the limited time, nope, nada. I can understand both sticking around for the fight, but well, they seem pushed to the side.

Now, if you had a secret chair to hide, you don’t stick it where people WOULD look, aka Area 51. Geez, Trenton NJ would be better. I mean, WHO would look for a secret alien chair in Trenton? Who would even GO to Trenton?? You get my drift. The dart/F302 fight over Area 51 was cool, and yeah, for a little suspect with Sheppard’s F302 going down.

Overall, it was a decent episode. Was it ‘awesome’ as some fans have crowed? Hmm, not in my book. It was good, but it was rushed. The writers seemed to cram a lot into one hour, and realistically, the end of the series deserved a two-hour episode. And no, I won’t say “they shouldn’t have done ‘Vegas’” as it was one of the better ones out there! The SPX was great, I’ll give it that (oh, to think now we’ll just be subjected to crap CGI on SciFi’s Saturday flicks, aieee).

Somehow, well, the Sheppard suicide mission is running a bit thin…plus in his scene, it was a bunch of exposition “Oh, I’ll do it this way” which just hastens along the plot. And this isn’t the first time he’s attached a ship to a Wraith hive ship.

It was great to see a lot of characters – we got team – Sheppard, McKay, Ronon, Teyla – and Caldwell with the Daedalus, and good lord, Kavanagh (the man’s like a cockroach!, you can’t get rid of him). We got Chuck. Yeah! Although they did seem to try to get in a lot of folk. Ellis pops up in an almost cameo appearance on a screen. Hey, even Lorne is there. Zelenka and Carson. It’s like old home week, but it was all crammed. It was like you turn and suddenly, out of stage left comes Carson, out of stage left comes Lorne. So, a rushed feel to it. I did like that Major Davis actually got some snarky lines.

Overall, a good episode but… I felt like I was sliding down a driveway of ice… it was rushed. We all basically know that this was to be the 100^th episode, but due to corporate suit mentality, instead it became the series finale (insert wailing, gnashing of teeth, screaming, etc.). It was very much like a standard episode, with a bit more urgency. SPX were great, etc. but the send-off really deserved a longer format.

Quibbles though, and yes, they do exist. Ronon’s death was, well, out of left field (and well done), but his resurrection and then ‘wow, everything is hunky dory’ was disappointing. And since WHEN do wraith drones carry knives???? Not once in five years have we seen a wraith with a knife, but now, handily, a drone has one. His being brought back to life was a plot device, not killing off a main character. I really liked Jason Momoa’s idea that Ronon was abducted, and they had to resuce him in the movie. Ah, angst! And well, the he’s dead, we’ve got him, he’s fine, was just rushed.

A gripe: I’m not sure what was going on, but since the McKeller relationship was confirmed in “brain Storm,” the writers seem unable to NOT mention it in every single episode. Hell, even in “Vegas” they alluded to it. Which brings me to the very last scene, which is probably the one that made me go “meh” more htan anything else. And then they seem eager to pair Amelia Banks (who, my god, had a really lame line “I heard you died and came back to life” argh) with Ronon. In fact, the pairing factor seemed in high gear. WE got McKeller, Ronon and Amelia, Sheppard and Todd ;) Oh, let’s see, Woolsey and Beckett! ;) Wish, though, that Lorne and Zelenka had been there.

I’d love to see someone analyze the body language from the photos, especially of Teyla and Sheppard, standing together, arms crossed. Oh, something going on there??

The happy happy ending was well, rather Pollyanna and I couldn’t help but think of Star Trek when I saw it. First, if a structure THAT size landed in any water, it’s gonna push waves toward the land. I mean, are some clammers going to get washed under a mini-tsunami? Surely something would register its landing just from its land, cloaked or not.

But, do I think it sucked? Heck no. It was done well, even if rushed, and I keep thinking, why could we have not gotten something this good all along, instead of * yawn * stuff like “Indentity” and “Inquisition”? Should we avoid any “i” episodes?? (except “Infection”)

I guess in some respects I’m glad they learned not to blown the 100^th episode (or finale) with some lame comedic episode. I honestly didn’t look for or see ‘tributes’ to the fans. Yes, they had lots of characters in this – but it wasn’t like in “Wormhole X-treme” where they actually addressed fanfic genres. And fortunately it wasn’t SG-1’s “Unending,” which was, well, so memorable, I’m going on the guess it was the trapped for 50-years-episode and they all forgot about it episode, right??

What I want now? A movie, dammit, and NOT on Earth. Geez, you can’t have two Stargates on Earth; too many problems. Atlantis belongs in the Pegasus Galaxy. The wraith are still a menace. I want Atlantis BACK in the Pegasus Galaxy. What will Ronon and Teyla do on Earth? In fact, what will any of them do there? Right now, I swear, the characters are like tourists going “oh, look at the pretty,” with no goal in mind. “We’ve saved Earth. Take some vacation!” It doesn’t really strike me as a series ender, but it is, and I think there was probably someone going ‘we have to make this end on a happy note in case we don’t do movies and then the insane fans won’t picket Bridge Studios’ ;)

But come on, you’re telling me NO ONE noticed a giant spaceship coming in to orbit? You think * someone’s * satellite didn’t spot this humongous snowflake shaped ship come into Earth’s atmosphere??

As for the Stargate Universe ad. I know, yes, this is the way they work – last chance to snare/entice the SGA viewer to ‘look, shiny new toy.’ I’m not disgusted as well, I just expected it. It’s marketing and they don’t want fans per se, but viewers who will products advertised on the commercials.

Anyway, going to crash now. Power outages (grr) and a glass of wine (ahh) make me want to sleep now. Don’t think I’ll change much but feel free to comment on whatever I said.

But, the show shall live on, even without the series on every week. We’ve got fanfiction, after all, and I can’t wait to read the first one when the city goes back to Pegasus and the team gets into trouble ;) * cackles evilly as I glance at my action figures *

Photo snerched from, er, uh, oh, darn, forgot!

Wraithfodder.

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well, i guess if they can bring you back from being a one foot in the grave type situation like when Todd drained Sheppard, guess they can snap you back if you're freshly dead, but the knife thing is puzzling...

I don't like the turns the show took in S5, but damn do I still love the show to death. I'm clinging onto the fandom for dear life because there are far more adventures to be had.

Me too. Now that the writers on the show can't dish out any more drecky episodes like Identity (sorry, damsel in distress show), the fans can have their fun with not having to go "darn, the show just contradicted that".

Great review! I love the photo! That's where I live. I think it is interesting that they ended up just outside the Gate, Golden Gate, that is. Sorry.

I agree that it was very crammed and rushed. I think that once again TPTB were trying way too hard. I can just image the spin session - let's write down the names of anyone who has ever appeared more than twice, throw in a couple of favorites from the SGC and see if we can fit them all in. I know that's a bit snarky, but that's what it felt like.

You're right about the "I" episdoes! And McKeller. I swear I screamed "Noooooooo!" at the TV when that happened in the last scene. The writers are teenage girls when it comes to that. I begin to dread what we'll get in the movie in that respect. *cringes*

Anyway, enough of what I think! thanks for getting it all down. I thought it was a good, solid ep, all things considered.

Thanks :)

I sometimes don't think, no, I think far too often - that most of the writers have no idea whatsoever how to write romance. I mean the McKeller stuff, it's like watching high school musical or something. I don' thave anything against the relationship, just the way it's portrayed. It dumbs them down terribly :(

Yeah, overall, a good episode, although rushed.

Gonna miss the gang. :(

Wasn't the The Phoenix renamed the Gen Hammond and not the Daedalus?

I hope I make sense!

Yes. The Daedalus is still the Daedalus. Phoenix, which hasn't launched yet, is the Hammond.

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wraithfodder.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 14:26 (UTC) - Expand

Viv la SGA fanfic! Yes, let's get the gang back to Pegasus and back out there.

Sooner the better. Snaps whip. Start writing. You, that is ;) I've got to return the cable box the power company seems to have fried with their antics last night.

Hammond died? As a blurb?

Or was it in the previous eppy? I didn't watch this season, as I tend to marathon SGA when it comes out on DVD :3

Oh right, cause Don Davis died! Yesh!

But more importantly, I was noting the fact that when a character dies in Stargate, they have to die epic-style...

Like Apophis! :D

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wraithfodder.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 14:27 (UTC) - Expand

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supamikeymon.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 19:26 (UTC) - Expand

Wow,what a review^^
i think also Atlantis should return to Pegasus Galaxy,thats where the city belongs!
i liked the last episode very much...
but now i'm just darn sad it's all over,and no new episodes:(((

Thanks. Yeah, the city belongs back in Atlantis. Ah, hard to believe there no more new episodes. :(

I love Todd!
I love the tribute to Don S. Davis
I thought it was a pretty good final. They certainly left it open for movies 'n' stuff.

Hopefully we will get movieS. :)

I didn’t mind the happy ending.. actually I'm happy about it!! I’m still dealing with the fact that the show has ended.. It's KILLING me and I couldn’t take much more. I would have liked to hear a better soundtrack though.. I know it’s not their style, but I must admit I was excited to hear Manson, the Stones, Cash… during the Vegas episode.

Well, I don't mind an ending where everybody survives, but it just seemed so... I don't know... Pollyanna-ish?

Yeah, the soundtrack for "vegas" was pretty awesome, although it took me a little while to realize the guitar type music reminded me of spaghetti westerns...

Best line: “You know how to talk to me, John Sheppard!” laughs Todd.

That was awesome! I ♥ Todd, I really, really do. :) You know, keeping in mind he's a Wraith and should never, never be trusted of course. (Loved that John made that "or they could explode" point and Woosley jumped on it. *g*)

Question: Is Todd back to being a full-fledged, human-sucking, Wraith now? I couldn't tell...

I think Tod is 100% wraith now.

Hee! I thought the exact same thing when I saw the pic of them on the balcony: Rodney's supposed to be with Keller, John with Teyla, Ronon with Gate Girl, and....

I like the pic you used for this - Ronon and Rodney are gravitating back towards their team, which is really how it should be.

If/when there is a movie, please tell me they get rid of the Wig of Fail?

Somehow, I think Ronon will have shorter hair in the movie. I think Jason would love to see the wig have an accident ;)

And then they seem eager to pair Amelia Banks (who, my god, had a really lame line “I heard you died and came back to life” argh) with Ronon.

That was her? I didn't even notice!

I also agree with you that the episode did seem rushed and using old story lines (like Sheppard wasn't going to go a suicide mission-saw that before) was well old.

Episode was well-round and tied up story lines fine for this fan. But darn TV politics for getting in the way of a Season 6.

Oh and way sorry about losing the power during the first showing. I'd have been livid!

Yeah, I was not a happy camper when the power went out. wasn't happier later on when the cable box basically croaked from the power being cut.

but yeah, that was Banks on the balcony ;)

Major Davis. Damn, just how does he screw up that the man has yet to be promoted???
I know!

My boys! I got my boys (though why is Carson standing as far as possible from Rodney?). I have some of the same complaints as you, but I'm not going to complain too much, because mostly, I'm pretty happy.

And I'm CERTAIN that they're taking Atlantis right back where it belongs, ASAP, even if Sheppard has to hijack it. Seriously, who's going to stop him? He'll never be able to come back to Earth if he steals it, but honestly, go for it, John!

Oooh, yeah, not like they could stop the ship if it flew off, could they? :)

Thank you for mentioning the "touchdown" that Atlantis had to have on the ocean causing SOME kind of wave. I usually never think about little facts like that, but I certainly did this time. (Probably because the effect was so cool in season 4.) Even if the city was cloaked so no little old ladies would see a giant snowflake coming at them, you KNOW people surfing near the beach were going, "What the darn tootin' was THAT?" as they ride a monster wave into town. I meant to comment on that last night, but was too busy reading other people's reviews to say, "Oh yeah, what about this?" Thanks for bringing it up!

Considering it's San Francisco, seimographic(sp?) devices must have picked up the landing/impact/whatever, plus all that water gets displaced....I asked that on JM's blog and am curious if he'll respond.

I kept expecting Sheppard to say "Well, we saved Earth - now, I'm going to Disneyland!"

What? Not DisneyWORLD? No, wait, that's the next world to save~! ;)

The show definitely needed a 2 hour send-off, not a rushed, cram everything we possibly can into 43 minutes episode. Loved the dog fight over Area 51 - I bet all the UFO hounds creamed themselves. ;) And the giant flash when the nuke destroyed the Schwartezenhiveship. Oh, and the giant firefall of Atlantic coming down in the Pacific.

But we know nothing would make it on the news, because every single one involved with the media was covering the Obama daughter's first week at school....

I thought it would have been more appropriate for them to be looking at Diamond Head in Hawaii than SF - on the map it would have been closer to the splash down point.

Sheppard and his death wish. Teyla needs to slap the crap out of him, then rip his clothes off and boink the hell out of him. Ahem. I didn't say that. Did I? ;)

I. Love. Todd. 'Nuff said. And I wholeheartedly agree - Sheppard wouldn't just shoot him in cold blood (though he may contemplate it). Every hero needs a nemesis to keep them sharp.... (My personal nemesis is plastic wrap. Don't ask.)

All in all, a pretty good episode. Could have been better if longer (speaking as a person who despises being rushed). I hope Mallottzi *coughhackcough* doesn't f*** up the movie.

Yes, and nobody noticed any of this. I mean, it's not like we don't have spy satellites, Google Earth, and all that kind of stuff ;) Oh duh *smacks self* no, it woudln't be Obama's daughter, it would be Oprah declaring she'd lost five pounds! ;)

Yeah, why not Hawaii? It's always SAn Francisco for some bizarre reason.

It would be interesting if a suicide run thing actually did kill Shep. Of course, they manage to miraculously revive him and then he thinks, maybe I shouldn't keep doing this, although your scenario isn't half bad *cough*

Yeah, two hours would have been nice, or maybe just not to have crammed so much into one hour.

Geez, Trenton NJ would be better. I mean, WHO would look for a secret alien chair in Trenton? Who would even GO to Trenton?? You get my drift.

I would have voted for Nutley or Secaucus because who looks for anything in either of those cities?

Having been to Secaucus, I agree ;)

Think they used the Golden Gate as a shout out to Bridge Studios? Back when it was a bridge making facility, part of the Golden Gate bridge was built at Bridge.

This ending was filmed after they learned of the cancellation, right? A much better ending would have been the team on the hive, no contact from Atlantis, and the words To Be Continued on our screen!

You would have heard me screaming had they ended on that scene of McKay and Keller hugging! Keller should have been inventoring her supplies that got messed up during the landing! Rodney should have been with John and his team. And how come Rodney had Keller, Ronon had Banks and Teyla had Kanaan - poor John got no one :(

Oh, Shep had Todd, his arch nemesis, but I like the body language. Neither Shep nor Teyla seem happy happy as they stand there. They're probably thinking, eh, let's go back to the Pegasus GAlaxy! ;)

Yeah, they filmed the finale after they learned of the cancellation. Remember Jason's comments on how he would have ended it, but was told by TPTB they were doing a 'happy ending'. Sigh...

I think they chose the golden gate bridge cuz they simply copied STar Trek ;)

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aqualegia.livejournal.com - 2009-01-12 21:22 (UTC) - Expand

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wraithfodder.livejournal.com - 2009-01-13 00:47 (UTC) - Expand

Stargate Atlantis #520: “Enemy at the Gate” Spoiler review / discussion

aqualegia.livejournal.com - 2009-01-13 14:18 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Stargate Atlantis #520: “Enemy at the Gate” Spoiler review / discussion

wraithfodder.livejournal.com - 2009-01-14 00:54 (UTC) - Expand

Further proof that TPTB's idea of What Atlantis Is About and what 95% of the fandom (read: CUSTOMERS)'s idea of What Atlantis Is About is diametrically opposed --

Zelenka, who is the most generally well-liked character in the entire fandom (have YOU ever seen an anti-Zelenka thread? How about a Zelenka-bashing fic? How about an essay as to why Zelenka is horrible/unethical/sexist/whatever? No? Why? THEY DON'T EXIST.) and who has been there From The Beginning was not in the final shot, but The Love Interests Amelia and Keller were.

FAIL, TPTB, FAIL.

Then there were all the technology plot holes. FAIL MORE. And the IOA ever allowing the Earth's most powerful defense moved onto United States soil when they spend oodles of time bitching about the SGC. FAIL. Then there was the utter absence of ha'tak's defending Earth. Way to return the favor, Tok'ra and Free Jaffa Nation. FAIL. No Teal'c, no Danny, no Cam, no Vala when they're back on Earth, but there was McKeller. FAIL. NOT SENDING A GODDAMNED NUKE THROUGH THE STARGATE TO THE HIVE. FAIL.

The episode was both two episodes too short and ten minutes too long.

DragonLady

Hmm, yeah, it is sorta weird/lame that none of our EArth allies bothered to help us, but then who knows, they might have said "hmm, not OUR problem". cough*

Oh yeah, sending a nuke through the gate to the hive ship would have made sense...

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dragonladyk.livejournal.com - 2009-01-11 22:59 (UTC) - Expand

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wraithfodder.livejournal.com - 2009-01-11 22:59 (UTC) - Expand

I enjoyed reading your review :)

I enjoyed the episode; but I have to admit I was a little disappointed. The premise of the story was good, following on from last week's excellent episode; but I felt that the execution was poor. It really needed to be less rushed... maybe a two-parter (or three as Vegas leads into it).

If I'd been in charge I would have replaced that dreadful Brain Storm - I know it's only a show but the way Keller treated Rodney in that, like a naughty child, made me so uncomfortable that I couldn't watch it any longer... so I switched it off. It has joined a, very short, list of those episodes which will never be watched again.

Yeah, I rewatched with my brother, who is not a fan, just watches what I make him watch ;) and he said, hey, pretty decent, but it should have been a two-hour movie.

Yes, well, I would have ditched "Identity" before "Brain STorm". Keller-in-peril stories are, alas, overdone. but BS isn't one I'll watch a lot. Too bad.

Great review! I finally got to watch it! But I'm rather disappointed :( I agree with you that it was really rushed. It really needed to be a 2 hour episode but of course, TPTB, didn't see it that way. So many questions that need answering, so many scenes that really could have been further developed. While I love Todd, for a wraith I'm always finding myself rooting for him, I thought his comeback lines were timed too slowly. With as fast paced as the rest of the show was, it slowed way down for Todd.

At times, it had an SG1 feel to it. Which I don't mind, but was distracting.

While the team was together, Sheppard leaving and going solo was a complete 180 from his 'protect the team' stance the show has had before. I don't care for the military episodes, it always makes the "team" seem individualized.

I loved watching Atlantis fly through space and in combat. That whole scene could have seriously been built on and I would have been happy to watch. I wish Zalenka's idea for the hyper-wormhole-thingamajig could have been built on more - the stress in getting it done and the actual pushing of the button would have been great!

I missed watching Sheppard talk while his face was covered up in the F350 :(

I guess Todd was slower cuz, well, he has all the time in the world while the ant-like humans run around in a panic ;)

Would have loved it to be 2 hours. Lots of folks think the same.

At least they didn't kill anyone, well, permanently...

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