TV Review: Stargate Atlantis 5.19 – Vegas

Posted by Kevin Carr (kevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on January 3, 2009

Stargate Atlantis

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

Episode: “Vegas” (Season Five, Episode 19)

Synopsis: Outside of Las Vegas, Nevada, Detective John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) is on the trail of a serial killer. The victims appear dried up and prematurely aged with a wound in their chest that has been contaminated with radiation. During Sheppard’s investigation, he encounters the killer – a Wraith who has been moving among humans in disguise. When he’s contacted by Agent Woolsey of the FBI and the genius scientist Rodney McKay, he discovers the truth behind the killer.

Review: I had a feeling of melancholy as I watched this episode. On one hand, I thought this was pretty unique and different as a stand-alone episode. It was clear that the filmmakers were toying around with some genres they didn’t get much of a chance to play with, namely westerns and cop shows. With a Spaghetti Western soundtrack and a CSI feel to the show, it was a neat spin on the Stargate: Atlantis universe.

However, there was a bit of disappointment because this didn’t feel like the next-to-the-last show in the series. While I enjoyed the diversion, I probably would have enjoyed the show itself better if it were found somewhere in the middle of any other random season. I suppose I was just hoping for a longer build-up to the series finale next week.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a nice lead-in for what is to be a pretty awesome final episode. However, it is sad to see the series drop off of a regular run. And with the loss of Stargate: Atlantis and BSG after this year, all we have left is Sanctuary, and that show never seemed to get footing. (I’ll be honest, I stopped watching Sanctuary before the fifth episode, so it may have shaped up by now.)

Back to “Vegas”… I am now convinced that Joe Flanigan could make the leap into regular series television. With all the CSI and NCIS shows out there, I think the networks could make room for him.

Other plusses of this episode included seeing so many people in new light, such as Woolsey, Zalenka, Dr. Keller and even Gary Jones as Airman Harriman, thanks to the parallel universe twist. And, if you watch carefully, you’ll notice a wedding ring on Dr. McKay’s finger. I suppose he got with Dr. Keller in this universe as well,

Up Next: The series finale. Todd the Wraith returns. The Wraith attack Earth. Cats and dog, living together. Mass hysteria!

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.


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  • I loved this episode (much more love than usual with the SGA episodes). Johnny Cash - swoon!

    I agree about your comment on Joe Flanigan making the leap into a network series lead (or a new cable series lead). Before SGA, I had never heard of Joe Flanigan. Within a couple of episodes, both Joe and David Hewlett were my new weekly must see's. I'm looking forward to new projects by all the series cast, but especially these two.

    Kevin, thank you for all your reviews of Stargate Atlantis and your support of the series.

    Best wishes for a joyous and prosperous 2009!
  • Nick
    Sanctuary has found a footing and is on a smoother path now with developed characters and plotlines. Did you see the "Cloverfield" parody episode? So far probably the highlight of the series.
  • dee z
    I loved Vegas! The camera work, the energy, the setting, symbolism and above all the acting of Joe Flanigan. He was fantastic, bringing a "new" Sheppard to life full of despair and hopelessness. Totally alone. Heartbreaking. Rodney was pompous and arrogant, with none of the redeeming qualities of the real Rodney. BTW, no he was definitely not married to Keller in that universe - thank goodness. The hallway scene showed that they were not married-no matter what one thought of what the look meant, it was not a greeting between two married people. Rob Cooper did a great job and is the only writer who enjoys writing for Sheppard and it shows! The placement can be argued but the episode totally rocked! Kudos to Joe Flanigan and Robert Cooper for a knock out episode!
  • Emma Lindelius
    I think this episode is one of the best they’ve done but it feels more like an apology to the actors, especially Flanigan, for all the crap they've had to put up with over the years and the sudden ending of it all. I guess the producers and writers felt they owed at least Flanigan a chance to show off his acting range before it was too late. Lord knows no one on that cast got much of a chance to do that in the past five years.

    The final episode has already made its way through cyberspace and I saw it a few weeks ago. I won't give anything away of course except to say I had higher hopes for it, too high probably. But I have to admit it was surprisingly sad to say farewell to a show I never really liked that much. I love the cast, one of the best teams I’ve ever seen on TV, and I think the idea of a Stargate as a solution to the space-travel problem, is absolutely brilliant. But I firmly believe the writers could have done more with it. That's probably what bugs me the most with the end of the show. I have to accept the fact that it will never live up to its full potential. I can't imagine anything more heartbreaking...
  • My pleasure Morjana. Thank you for reading what I wrote, too. Keep your eyes on this Friday for the finale. hope it's good.
  • MichaelJM
    Ok, I have to comment, because I actually hated this episode. Maybe it's because I'm involved with filmmaking, but I cringed every time there was a cliche edit, and stylized scene. Perhaps I would have enjoyed this kind of an episode, if it was a parody, but it was done in a serious manner, which made it unbearable for me. Perhaps I would have liked it more if the editors, actors, cinematographers, production designers, decided to stick with a style, and make the entire show consistent. They didn't though, and it made the attempt to give it a western and CSI flare (and others), just seem forced, and obvious.

    The writers should have stuck with what they knew, in my opinion. The actors and the characters did not fit in the many genres the story placed them in, and this is why this episode failed in my mind.
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