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

Episode: “Remnants” (Season Five, Episode 15)

Synopsis: While trying to hit on a pretty astrobiologist, Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) is taken hostage by the Genii leader Koyla (Robert Davi), whom he had killed two years ago. Meanwhile, back on Atlantis, Woolsey (Robert Picardo) faces a member of the IOA who wants him removed, and Rodney (David Hewlett) and Zelenka (David Nykl) discover a mysterious device on the ocean floor.

Review: At first, I was a little worried about this episode because the whole kidnapping angle has been done to death recently (most notably in the retrospective episode “Inquisition” a few weeks back). However, the writing took the story in a different direction than I originally thought, which was a relief.

Unlike most of the episodes of season five, “Remnants” doesn’t deal with the big-picture storyline. There’s nothing about the Wraith or its many adversaries. Sure, the Genii are in the episode, but it doesn’t further their story in the long run. Rather, this episode looks deeper into the characters of Sheppard, Rodney and Woolsey. Over the past five years, we’ve seen a lot of Sheppard and Rodney’s characters, but it’s nice to see Woolsey given some screen time. It’s too bad they’re ending the series at the end of this season ‘cause Woolsey could have really been made into a great character over the course of several years.

The story was a bit predictable, which for me stemmed from the fact that some pretty extreme things happen (like Sheppard losing an arm and Zelenka actually calling Rodney “brilliant”), so I was able to figure the ending out to a degree. Still, there were some elements that I didn’t predict, and it was an enjoyable character study of three of the members of the expedition.

It is interesting to note that this episode introduces a new alien life form, which reminds me a bit of the (sort of) extinct Asgard. The way things have gone in the past with the Stargate shows, we may very well see these guys again (as well as the renegade group of Asgards we saw in “The Lost Tribe”). This could very well be one of the episodes that seeds the upcoming Stargate: Universe series. Keep your fingers crossed.

Up Next: Rodney is invited to a presentation by a former rival, which goes haywire and threatens to destroy the universe. With guest stars Bill Nye the Science Guy and David Foley from Postal fame.

For more coverage of your favorite shows, check out the Control Freaks Archive.

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