Starring Torri Higginson, Rachel Luttrell, Joe Flanigan
Written By:
Directed By:
Studio: MGM
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Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy! Once again, ReadJunk.com has given me the pleasant honor of reviewing the Stargate Atlantis television series. This time it is Season Three. And, what an exciting season it is. Let me get the fundamentals out of the way and then go into review mode.

Very importantly, the cast: It remains very much the same as last season, with a few exceptions. The brilliant Canadian Actress, Torri Higginson, plays Dr. Elizabeth Weir, Commander of Stargate Team. Handsome American Actor, Joe Flanigan, plays Lt. Col. John Sheppard. Col. Sheppard is the military equivalent of chief of security. He is also an adept warrior and tactician. David Hewlett plays Dr. Rodney McKay. Dr. McKay is a scientist, and may be the most brilliant human alive. He is also an egomaniac and a pain in the ass. The Canadian Actress, Rachel Luttrell, is Teyla Emmagan, an Alien liaison with a gift for sensing detailed emotions in others. Hawaiian born actor, Jason Momoa, plays Ronon Dex, human survivor of an attack by the murderous race, theWraith. Scottish Actor Paul McGillian plays Dr. Carson Beckett, chief medical officer; and Mitch Pileggi plays Col. Steven Caldwell, commander of the star ship Dedilis.

The third season opens with a race to intercept two Wraith vessels that are on a mission to attack earth and use its inhabitants as food. You might remember from my last review that the Wraith are a species of half human, half insect that subsist on the life force of human beings. They accomplish this through some sort of orifice, or slit, in their hand. As they feed, we age. They can interrupt their feeding at anytime. However, they typically choose to dine until their victim, uh food, is a withered, gray, shell. Sweet!

Well, anyway, you can imagine that the human folk are pretty darn anxious to overtake the Wraith vessels and foil their mission to turn the blue planet into a great big Mac Donald’s. I won’t give you all the details, but suffice it to say that 19 episodes follow this one, and some of them include visits to Atlantis by Stargate Team members from planet earth.

The first couple of episodes initially disappointed me. Don’t know why. I may have expected an immediate rush, or had been in a bad mood. However, in short order, I was once again hooked and staying up to 1 and 2 o’clock in the morning watching one episode after another.

The story lines are interesting. And, the interaction of the characters is appealing. My one criticism is in what I see as misguided loyalty. When one member of the Atlantis team is taken captive, the commander, Dr. Weir, is willing to sacrifice the only battle ship and it’s crew, to rescue that person. Dunno about you, but I find it a little ill advised. I never did take to the Star Trek outlook; the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many’. I’d be thinking more about the safety of the hundreds of residents in Atlantis, and the 200-member crew on the Dedilis. I wouldn’t jeopardize their well being for the life of one team member. But what do I know?

This season was chock full of excitement and surprises. The team comes in contact with a people they assume are the elders’ (original residents of Atlantis who were all wise and all knowing, Grasshopper.) Our brilliant and conceited scientist, Rodney McKay, is forced to re-establish a relationship with his estranged sister. She is almost as brilliant as he. There is some comical sibling bickering in this episode, and some touching familial bonding.

Several times during Season Three, the crew is forced to trust and work in concert with individual Wraith. A new earth ship is constructed. Survivors on a space station are revived from suspended animation. The team actually meets a group of elders’. And on, and on.

It is all exciting stuff. There are lots of intense moments. The acting ranges from okay, to good. But, because this show has heart, I didn’t care about the quality of the acting. Stargate Atlantis is a show you can really get involved in. Watching it is like a mini vacation from the tedium of everyday life. And, if your employer has suddenly developed a mean streak, like mine, time spent with Team Atlantis serves as a very nice, warm and friendly, oasis-like experience.

I heartily recommend Stargate Atlantis, Season Three. It will make a fine gift for any science fiction fan. And, it is a complementary addition to any DVD collection.

Happy viewing.

Features:
Audio Commentary on Selected Episodes
Mission Directive Featurettes
Photo Galleries and More!

Audio:
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 CC
FRENCH: Dolby Digital Surround

Video:
Widescreen 1.78:1 Color (Anamorphic)

Subtitles:
English, Spanish, French

Favorite Scenes:
Rating: NR
Running Time: 871 minutes
Extras Rating:
Overall Rating: