Stargate Atlantis (season 2)

Stargate Atlantis Season 2
Region 2 cover
Country of origin	United States  Canada
No. of episodes	20
Broadcast
Original channel	Sci Fi Channel
Original run	July 15, 2005 – January 30, 2006
Home video release
DVD release date	Region 1: March 6, 2007 Region 2: February 26, 2007 Region 4: November 8, 2006
Season chronology
← Previous Season 1 Next → Season 3

The second season of the television series Stargate Atlantis commenced airing on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States on July 15, 2005, concluded on The Movie Network in Canada on January 30, 2006, and contained 20 episodes. The show itself is a spin off of its sister show, Stargate SG-1. The series was developed by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, who also served as executive producers. Season two regular cast members include Joe Flanigan, Torri Higginson, Jason Momoa, Rachel Luttrell, Paul McGillion, and David Hewlett as Dr. Rodney McKay. The second season focuses on the Atlantis Expedition making the Wraith think the city was destroyed, and make semi-regular contact with Earth. The central plot of the second season is the development of Dr. Beckett's retrovirus, which can, theoretically, turn a Wraith into a human.

The one-hour premiere "The Siege Part III", which aired on July 15, 2005. The theme song for the series received an Emmy nomination in the category "Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)". The series was developed by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, who also served as executive producers. Season two regular cast members include Joe Flanigan, Torri Higginson, Rainbow Sun Francks, Rachel Luttrell, Jason Momoa and David Hewlett.

Production

"Runner" is the last episode where Rainbow Sun Francks (portrayed Aiden Ford) is credited as a regular cast member. Jason Momoa joins the main cast in this episode. While rehearsing scenes for "Duet" where Cadman has control of McKay's body, Jamie Ray Newman would do a scene first, and then David Hewlett would try to mimic her movements, cadence, accent, etc.^[1] Alan C. Peterson, who played the Magistrate in "Condemned", previously played Canon in Stargate SG-1s Demons. The episode title of "Trinity" is a reference to the Trinity test.^[2] The outdoors parts of "Instinct" were filmed on location at Lynn Valley Canyon, North Vancouver.^[3] Jewel Staite, who played Kaylee Frye on the cult Sci-Fi show Firefly, is the second Firefly cast member to guest star on a Stargate series, the first being Adam Baldwin in Stargate SG-1 episode "Heroes". She would later go on to play Dr. Keller as a recurring guest star at the end of Season 3, continuing into Season 4 prior to becoming a series regular in season 5.

"Conversion" was actress Rachel Luttrell's first on-screen kissing scene.^[4] Her parents were present for the kiss.^[5] Every scene in "Aurora" where Ronon appears in the environmental suit had to be played by a body double because Jason Momoa's head would not fit in the helmet.^[6] The title of "The Long Goodbye" is an homage to Raymond Chandler's 1954 novel The Long Goodbye.^[7] "Coup D'état" was supposed to feature the return of Acastus Kolya (last seen in "The Brotherhood"), but because of conflicts with Robert Davi's schedule it was rewritten to feature Kolya's second in command Ladon instead. For "Allies", Brent Stait took over the role of Michael throughout the episode. Conner provided the voice after the crew felt it 'needed' it.^[8]

Release and reception

The strongest episodes on the Nielsen ratings were "The Siege" and "Instinct", "The Siege" was the only episode in the season that was able to get a syndication rating. The lowest rated episode in the season was "Michael".^[9] "The Hive" was nominated for a Gemini Award in the category "Best Sound in a Dramatic Series" in 2006.^[10] For "Grace Under Pressure", Joel Goldsmith was nominated for an Emmy in the category "Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)".^[11]

Don Houston from DVD Talk said that the second season did "rise to the occasion" and surpassed its sister show Stargate SG-1.^[12] ComingSoon reviewer Scott Chitwood said that is "should satisfy" viewers, but commented that it didn't have the same quality as Battlestar Galactica and gave the series 6 out of 10 and the DVD package 8 out of 10.^[13] June L. from Monsters and Critics (M&C) gave the season 4 out of 5 and said that it was a "pleasure to watch the stories", compared to other new science fiction shows which depends on blood and violence.^[14] Dan Heaton from Digitally Obsessed said that the season suffered an "identity crisis," but was throughout good and entertaining because of the good acting among others.^[15]

Main cast

• Joe Flanigan as Major/Lt. Col. John Sheppard
• Torri Higginson as Dr. Elizabeth Weir
• Rachel Luttrell as Teyla Emmagan
• Rainbow Sun Francks as First Lt. Aiden Ford (Episodes 1-3 only, guest star episodes 10 and 11)
• Jason Momoa as Ronon Dex (Episode 3 onwards)
• Paul McGillion as Dr. Carson Beckett (Episode 4 onwards, guest star episodes 1-3)
• David Hewlett as Dr. Rodney McKay

Episodes

№	#	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
21	1	"The Siege (Part 3)"	Martin Wood	Martin Gero	July 15, 2005 (2005-07-15) (Sci Fi Channel)
The timely arrival of the Daedalus, led by Col. Steven Caldwell, saves Maj. Sheppard's life from a suicide bombing run, but it may not be enough to defeat the Wraith when it's announced that more hive ships are on the way. Thankfully, with the new ZPM, McKay might pull off another miracle.
22	2	"The Intruder"	Peter DeLuise	Joseph Mallozzi & Paul Mullie	July 22, 2005 (2005-07-22) (Sci Fi Channel)
Strange malfunctions begin to occur when members of the expedition return from a trip to Earth aboard the Daedalus. When things go too far, they discover that the ship has been infected by a Wraith virus, and now it has the instinct to stay alive, even if it means it has to kill.
23	3	"Runner"	Martin Wood	Robert C. Cooper	July 29, 2005 (2005-07-29) (Sci Fi Channel)
Following a lead on the whereabouts of Lt. Ford, Lt. Col. Sheppard and Teyla get captured on P3M-736 by Ronon Dex, a man who they find out is a runner, hunted by the Wraith. When they offer to help, the team must face off against their old ally, and possibly gain a new one.
24	4	"Duet"	Peter DeLuise	Martin Gero	August 5, 2005 (2005-08-05) (Sci Fi Channel)
On Planet Thenora after the team witnesses the aftermath of a culling, a Wraith Dart suddenly appears. When it's shot down to preserve Atlantis' secret, they discover that McKay and a female marine officer were beamed aboard, whilst their drastic measures to save them has left the consciousness of the female marine officer trapped in Dr. McKay's body.
25	5	"Condemned"	Peter DeLuise	Story: Sean Carley Teleplay: Carl Binder	August 12, 2005 (2005-08-12) (Sci Fi Channel)
Sheppard's team stumbles upon a technologically advanced society, the Olesians, on planet Olesia who purposely leave their criminals on a penal colony near the Stargate, for the Wraith to discover them first. But after the prisoners shoot the jumper down, they discover that this punishment is too effective and the crime rate drops, forcing the Olesians to start sentencing petty criminals and innocent people to the Wraith.
26	6	"Trinity"	Martin Wood	Damian Kindler	August 19, 2005 (2005-08-19) (Sci Fi Channel)
After having found an experimental Ancient power generator, McKay becomes obsessed with triumphing where the Ancients failed, but the price might be too high. Elsewhere, Teyla and Ronon travel to the planet Balkan, to trade, but discover that not all of Ronon's people died.
27	7	"Instinct (Part 1)"	Andy Mikita	Treena Hancock & Melissa R. Byer	August 26, 2005 (2005-08-26) (Sci Fi Channel)
While investigating a planet, the team comes across a Wraith girl who has been raised by her human "father", hiding from the people of the nearby village in fear of her life. But she doesn't consider the consequences when she takes an incomplete drug to turn herself human.
28	8	"Conversion (Part 2)"	Brad Turner	Story: Robert C. Cooper & Martin Gero Teleplay: Martin Gero	September 9, 2005 (2005-09-09) (Sci Fi Channel)
After Ellia (the Wraith girl from "Instinct") injects Sheppard with the retro-virus (Instinct), the Atlantis team races against time to find a way to reverse his transformation into an Iratus bug hybrid. But even though he might make it difficult for them, he could be the key to his own salvation.
29	9	"Aurora"	Martin Wood	Story: Carl Binder & Brad Wright Teleplay: Carl Binder	September 23, 2005 (2005-09-23) (Sci Fi Channel)
The team finds an Ancient warship still inhabited by Ancients in suspended animation. They are all connected together through a virtual environment, that Sheppard enters to communicate with them. The only problem being, the Ancients think that their virtual lives are reality.
30	10	"The Lost Boys (Part 1)"	Brad Turner	Martin Gero	September 23, 2005 (2005-09-23) (Sci Fi Channel)
Sheppard's team is kidnapped off-world, only to find that their captor is none other than Aiden Ford. He has recruited several men into taking the Wraith enzyme, and now they intend to use the team to destroy a Hive Ship to prove the "glorious" effects of the drug.
31	11	"The Hive (Part 2)"	Martin Wood	Carl Binder	November 21, 2005 (2005-11-21) (The Movie Network)
After the attempt to destroy the Hive backfires, the team are captured by the Wraith and Sheppard finds himself up against the Wraith Queen who is demanding answers. Meanwhile, Dr. McKay takes a massive dose of enzyme and escapes to Atlantis in a state of frenzy, but his choice could put him on the edge of death.
32	12	"Epiphany"	Neil Fearnley	Story: Joe Flanigan & Brad Wright Teleplay: Brad Wright	November 28, 2005 (2005-11-28) (The Movie Network)
Sheppard gets pulled into an Ancient device, separating him from the rest of his team and the outside world. While trying to get him out, the team discovers that time moves much more quickly inside and Sheppard could die of old age before they release him.
33	13	"Critical Mass"	Andy Mikita	Story: Brad Wright & Carl Binder Teleplay: Carl Binder	December 5, 2005 (2005-12-05) (The Movie Network)
It is discovered that The Trust have infiltrated Atlantis and planted a bomb inside, set to go off the next time they dial Earth. To add to the tension, two Wraith cruisers are on the way, and Dr. Weir wants to figure out if there could be a Goa'uld spy in Atlantis' midst.
34	14	"Grace Under Pressure"	Martin Wood	Martin Gero	December 12, 2005 (2005-12-12) (The Movie Network)
During the test run of a recently repaired puddle jumper, it crashes deep into the ocean, leaving Dr. McKay sinking underwater. When he shows the first signs of losing hope (and sanity), he must rely on a hallucination of Lt. Col. Samantha Carter for his survival.
35	15	"The Tower"	Andy Mikita	Joseph Mallozzi & Paul Mullie	December 19, 2005 (2005-12-19) (The Movie Network)
The team finds a world that possesses Ancient technology, but only the royal family may be allowed to operate it and lowly villagers are treated with little dignity. When he tries to set things right, Sheppard finds himself a pawn in the rivalry between the heirs to the throne.
36	16	"The Long Goodbye"	Andy Mikita	Damian Kindler	January 2, 2006 (2006-01-02) (The Movie Network)
After recovering two alien stasis pods from space, the minds of the inhabitants are transferred into Dr. Weir and Sheppard. But when it's discovered that the two are in fact enemies hoping to settle an ancient score by killing each other once and for all, they put the entire population of Atlantis in danger.
37	17	"Coup D'etat"	Martin Wood	Martin Gero	January 9, 2006 (2006-01-09) (The Movie Network)
Ladon Radim comes to the expedition wanting to overthrow the Genii leader, Cowen. They are reluctant to help, but it seems he has discovered a ZPM that he could trade with the expedition. The Genii set a trap for the Atlantis team on a ruined planet, M6R-867, and Radim's true motives are revealed.
38	18	"Michael"	Martin Wood	Carl Binder	January 16, 2006 (2006-01-16) (The Movie Network)
An amnesiac young Lieutenant in Atlantis, Michael Kenmore, suffers poor treatment from the personnel, and disturbing nightmares that he is a Wraith. Yet things become worse, when he accidentally stumbles upon a shocking discovery about himself... he is one.
39	19	"Inferno"	Peter DeLuise	Carl Binder	January 23, 2006 (2006-01-23) (The Movie Network)
The team comes to aid a low-level technological civilization, the Taranians, taking refuge throughout an Ancient outpost. While trying to repair systems, McKay discovers a volcano below the outpost that will obliterate life on the entire planet of Taranis, suggesting evacuation to a new planet. Yet during the process, the Stargate is destroyed.
40	20	"Allies (Part 1)"	Andy Mikita	Martin Gero	January 30, 2006 (2006-01-30) (The Movie Network)
A Wraith faction (including Michael) contacts Atlantis to seek help in destroying their common enemies, the Wraith. Because the Wraith are currently engaged in a destructive civil war, they suggest using Atlantis' retro-virus to turn their native foes into human prey.

DVD releases

DVD Name	Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
Stargate Atlantis Season 2	March 6, 2007	February 26, 2007	November 8, 2006
Season 2: Volume 1	—	April 10, 2006	—
Season 2: Volume 2	—	May 8, 2006	—
Season 2: Volume 3	—	June 5, 2006	—
Season 2: Volume 4	—	July 3, 2006	—
Season 2: Volume 5	—	July 31, 2006	—

References

1. ^ "Stargate Atlantis: Season Two Preview". TV Zone Special #64 (Visual Imagination): pp. 80–81. 2005. 
2. ^ Gosling, Sharon. "Trinity". Stargate Atlantis: The Official Companion Season 2. London: Titan Books. pp. 45. ISBN 1–84576–163–4. 
3. ^ Stargate Official Magazine issue 6
4. ^ Gosling, Sharon. "Conversion". Stargate Atlantis: The Official Companion Season 2. London: Titan Books. pp. 53. ISBN 1–84576–163–4. 
5. ^ DVD audio commentary for "Conversion"
6. ^ DVD commentary for"Aurora"
7. ^ Gosling, Sharon. "The Long Goodbye". Stargate Atlantis: The Official Companion Season 2. London: Titan Books. pp. 84. ISBN 1–84576–163–4. 
8. ^ Stargate Atlantis - Season 2 DVD Commentary
9. ^ "Season Two Ratings". GateWorld. http://www.gateworld.net/atlantis/s2/ratings.shtml. Retrieved 2009-05-20. 
10. ^ "The '06 nominees: Who will march up to the podium?". Playback Magazine. October 2, 2006. http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/magazine/20061002/gemininoms.html. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
11. ^ Sumner, Darren (July 6, 2006). "Stargate Atlantis receives Emmy nomination". GateWorld. http://www.gateworld.net/news/2006/07/istargate_atlantisi_receives_emm.shtml. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
12. ^ Don Houston (March 6, 2007). "Stargate Atlantis - The Complete Second Season". DVD Talk. http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/26779/stargate-atlantis-the-complete-second-season/. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
13. ^ Scott Chitwood. "Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Second Season". ComingSoon.net. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/dvdreviewsnews.php?id=19181. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
14. ^ June L. (March 7, 2007). "DVD Review: Stargate Atlantis - The Complete Second Season". Monsters and Critics. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/dvd/reviews/article_1274075.php/DVD_Review_Stargate_Atlantis_-_The_Complete_Second_Season. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
15. ^ Dan Heaton. "Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Second Season". Digitally Obsessed. http://www.digitallyobsessed.com/displaylegacy.php?ID=9270. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 

External links

• Season 2 on GateWorld
• Season 2 on IMDb
• Season 2 on TV.com
• Atlantis Season 2 on Stargate Wiki