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Stargate: Atlantis, SciFi, Airs Friday 9/8c

Episode: “The Prodigal” (Season Five, Episode 14)

Synopsis: Michael (Connor Trinneer) manages a surprise attack on Atlantis, infiltrating the control tower and taking the city hostage. While he schemes to destroy Atlantis and take Teyla (Rachel Luttrell) and her baby with him, Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and Rodney (David Hewlett) attempt to take back the tower. Meanwhile, Ronon (Jason Momoa) and Woolsey (Robert Picardo) also try to take out Michael and his gang of Wraith/human hybrids.

Review: It’s clear they’re getting ready to wrap this particular series up, considering how they’re trying to bring closure to different storylines. Michael has been a thorn in the sides of the Atlantis team ever since Dr. Beckett tried to convert him from Wraith to a human. Michael has also been the bane of the Pegasus Galaxy’s existence by starting a plague and sabotaging the regular Wraith power structure.

I’ve always enjoyed the Michael stories because they strike at the core of the series – the fact that the Atlantis team pretty much makes their own problems. Michael is the ultimate outcast, unable to live among either Wraith or human. He’s a tragic character because of his utter loneliness, which is so powerful and moving to him that he literally creates his own breed of people to keep him company.

In this episode, we see Michael at his most desperate, and his most vulnerable. He’s still bent on revenge against the Atlantis team for making him what he is, and he is still reaching out to Teyla, secretly hoping that she would join him. After all, she was the one who showed him the most compassion when he was first created. But the thing he underestimates is her strength of resolve as a mother. In this sense, when you get to the end of the episode, it was great to see that the Stargate: Atlantis showrunners don’t pull their punches.

The rest of the cast falls perfectly into their stock roles. Sheppard is the perfect leader, ready to sacrifice himself. Rodney is the consummate complainer, but is always able to make things work. Zalenka isn’t as clueless as Rodney thinks he is. Teyla still kicks ass, even with a baby in her arms. Woolsey is a stuffed-shirt, but he’s quickly warming up to his team. And Ronon loves to beat the holy hell out of anything Wraith. (Oh, and Ronon gets a chance to be turned on by a strong woman who can kick ass as well as Teyla can.)

Up Next: Rodney unlocks a lost civilization, while Sheppard is kidnapped by Koyla (Robert Davi), whom he had killed in season three. Hmmmmmmmm…

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Did you watch Stargate: Atlantis this week? If so, feel free to discuss below.