Sateda

DVD, Stargate Atlantis S3 (Sateda)

Sateda is Ronon's home planet, destroyed by The Wraith. Why is the episode called after this planet? Because a big showdown happens there. The whole story seems to be an excuse for Ronon to take part in his own special brand of clenched jaw, scowling-browed, action man Rambo fighting. Maybe because he hasn't had much to do so far in the season, so I suppose it did give him a workout, if nothing else, even if it is rather over-directed with all the sepia flashbacks and flipping camera antics, and gunplay glorification. It could be a lesson in the futility of revenge, sort of… Except that Sheppard goes along with Ronon's wrathful desire to stay on the planet until the nasty big Wraith comes down and takes him on in single combat, a battle he would have lost if not for his friends. There you go, that's a more apt theme: the importance of friendship. For it is mainly out of guilt that Ronon's rage proceeds, as well as the impotent regret that he was unable to save his girlfriend when The Wraith attacked Sateda in the past, so he must vent this out with the current batch of enemies.

It's not a bad premise for an episode, that Ronon's savage past catches up with him, and that's how the episode begins, when the team visit one of those backwater villages as per routine, except this time they recognise and hate Ronon for bringing The Wraith to their world when he was on the run and being tracked. Somehow, Wraith that enjoy a bit of sport seem less fearsome, even if it is a bloodsport of hunting down sentient beings - if they just killed or culled then they'd seem almost machines, but they have things they do for the sake of it, not for survival. I'd forgotten Ronon's backstory so it was a good reminder, and we do get to see some of the battle he and his soldier pals had to futilely put up against the superior foe. It also shows that far from being this tough guy with nothing underneath, he actually does have strong morals and feels responsible. Once he learns those Wraith didn't keep their bargain of leaving the village alone if they ever caught and handed over Ronon, he can never run off and escape with his friends, he feels he has to avenge them.

Though the John Rambo (McKay even references him!), action of slow-motion grenade tossing, planned attack strategy or big explosions is the main body of the episode, what makes it work are the personal scenes in between, really solidifying this group as a team, and more importantly a family of tight friendships. It begins with a beautiful scene where Teyla goes to thank Sheppard for talking round Caldwell to risk the Daedalus in a rescue attempt for one man, and Sheppard fobs her off a bit because he's not comfortable with expressing such things. It's good for Sheppard's character that he's shown to be so willing to step up to help Ronon, despite him being something of an outsider thanks to his lone wolf attitudes and a difficulty buckling under authority - you think of all the troubles that might not have happened over the past season if Ronon had just obeyed his superior officer instead of running off because he has a better idea, except that usually these ideas work out. But it must be tough trying to keep a guy like that under control, and Sheppard usually is so laid back, which is how he can take it. But despite any problems Ronon might have caused him, and the threats made even in this episode, he admits he'd stand by him and the others and do anything for them. The other interesting thing to come out of the conversation is that Teyla admits she still feels a bit of an outsider herself, but that seeing what lengths Sheppard would go to for his friends reassures her.

Another terrific scene is between Rodney and Beckett when McKay tries to make out that he and Ronon are like buddies - of course it's all an unspoken bond thing! It's funny, and yet at the same time there's truth there. McKay would do things for these people, even while complaining and moaning the whole time, and the same can be said of the others for him. Like SG-1 before it, the main characters of 'Atlantis' have definitely solidified into a gang of fast friends, and that's lovely to see. The episode ends with another great moment as they work together to take out this Wraith enemy who's about to beat Ronon, Beckett the one to blast him away, even while Sheppard was under strict threat to his life from Ronon not to interfere. But he reacts happily to the teamwork and everyone's vindicated, the rescue a success and another bad Wraith leader put down. All out action isn't the series', or sci-fi in general's strong point, so I don't think it really is great to concentrate so much on the fighting (something I'd have thought the opposite of when I was a lot younger!), as ideas and character studies are much more engaging for me. At the same time maybe that got it out of their system and perhaps they can learn to do more with the resident warriors of Ronon and Teyla, just as they did here with Sheppard, McKay and Beckett. Otherwise it's close to being a strong episode.

**