Stargate Atlantis: The Last Man
So, Stargate Atlantis has completed its first season as the only first-run Stargate series on the air. How did it do? Well, it was kind of a mixed bag. This season the series relied too much on the use of stand-alone episodes that featured only a few members of the team. Those kinds of episodes are OK, but only if they include character development and strengthening of the series’ mythology. None of that really happened this season. The only episode that came close was one featuring John Sheppard’s return to Earth for his father’s funeral, but even there the character development play second fiddle to a tired Replicator storyline.
The other great failure of the season has to be the treatment of Elizabeth Weir (and the actress who played her) and the failed integration of Samantha Carter into the series. The writers and producers had a great opportunity to bring a phenomenal character over from SG-1 but they could never to find the right place for her. Of course, the greatest failure has to be how Elizabeth Weir was written off the show and the poor treatment of Torri Higginson. The people behind the series really screwed themselves in the end.
Don’t get me wrong, Stargate Atlantis is a great series and when season four first began I really think it came into its own. Not to mention, “Be All My Sins Remember’d” ranks as one of their finest episodes ever.
Now, for the season finale, “The Last Man.” If have to say I wasn’t all too impressed with this one. Time travel is a rather tired science fiction cliche that’s been done to death. Sure, we got to see some interesting what-if scenarios, but since we know this will all be reset in the end it’s tiresome. ***SPOILER*** I especially hate the idea of McKay and Dr. Keller getting together — it just doesn’t work for me. I also wasn’t too thrilled with the preview we got of Woolsey as base commander. Note to producers: don’t let him wear that uniform — it looks terrible. We did end on a nice cliffhanger and I still find myself interested to see just what Teyla’s child will bring to the series’ mythology.
