The Return

DVD, Stargate Atlantis S3 (The Return)

From the title I thought it most likely to be Ford coming back for another encounter. From the recap about the recent 'Replicators posing as Ancients' story, I thought it'd be about them turning up again, and even once the Ancient ship had come into it I assumed they'd turn out to be Replicators. But then we had some great cameos from General O'Neill, General Landry, Walter, Wolsey, and a great idea about these Ancients turfing our people out of Atlantis and it became something different. Even then I was suspicious that this could be some Replicator trick and they were actually all captured and playing out a fantasy (rather like the 'DS9' crew in 'The Search,' also  a two-parter), but they weren't all together, which would have been a telltale sign. So in the end I had to take it at face value, and there were plenty of delightful, meaningful scenes between so many of the characters that it was turning into the best episode of the season. There's always the chance that Part 2 won't live up to the quality of the first, but that's always a risk. I was actually thinking this would have made a terrific season finale, so I hope they didn't blow their ideas bag all here and fail to deliver a strong conclusion to the season. But that's not to worry about now.

I wonder if many of the scenes in this episode will be preparation for the eventual end of the series. On original run viewers wouldn't have known it would eventually last five years and that this was the halfway point (they might well have been even more optimistic considering the parent series, 'SG-1,' lasted twice that), but knowing how much more there was to go it did make me think of how it all would end and whether we'll eventually see them leave Atlantis in the way we did here. It was all very well done, taking time to show sadness about moving on, the splitting up of the team, and while I know it's really only because they're playing for time, a two-part story requiring a certain amount of stalling before you get to the cliffhanger, the character scenes were what made this so much better than mere action can give you. The only, very minor, disappointment was that we didn't see the four, Weir, Rodney, Carson and Sheppard, walk through the Stargate together as they left, but even then it was so they could have Weir turn round for one last longing glance at the surroundings that had become home. The meshing of the 'SG-1' characters and sets heightened things even more because it makes you think of that series and the endings there. And if there was ever any doubt over whether this cast were as closely bonded as the SG-1 team this episode dispels it. It was lovely to see and this season has really seen them become that close-knit group you want.

My only, and slightly embarrassing confusion was in feeling a little lost with some of the technical side of the story - Rodney has devised a Stargate system that will get them from Atlantis to Earth in only thirty minutes, using multiple 'gates and a way station in the middle. Okay, that's fine, but I forgot why they couldn't just go through the 'gate and step through at the SGC. Either I missed something or I'm forgetting major plot details! Then there were The Ancients themselves: they're still around, despite all the others having ascended because they're experiencing time at a much slower rate due to them travelling… erm, faster than light, or slower? Must be faster, but it's taken them a long time to get back to Atlantis from…? Again, probably just my lack of concentration or taking in all the details, but it was a strange way to bring some Ancients into the story, they just detect a ship, swing by it, or let it swing by them, then tell them Atlantis has been taken care of and to come on home. Typically dodgy Ancient behaviour when they take back control of Atlantis without a 'by your leave,' so there can be no question as to who's in command there. Rude!

There's nothing to be done, of course, it is their city (assuming they're not imposters), and it was a suitably grand idea to bring to the series. As was the rogue operation where the Atlantis team decide to sneak back to their adopted home against orders to assist in the fight against the Replicators. Again, it seems pretty convenient that suddenly one of their ships should show up right after an Ancients' vessel, but all will doubtless be revealed in Part 2, which I will await with eagerness. The most important takeaway from the episode for me was how close our team is and what they might have done if the Atlantis mission became a no-go, which to all appearances it did. I love that O'Neill and Wolsey are involved, I love the scene with poor Dr. Lee where Weir has to distract him by showing interest in his love for 'World of Warcraft' so McKay can put something on one of his computers that will prevent the Iris coming down and ending their commando mission prematurely. Even the addition of the Genii guy showing up at the new Athosian camp (even they were booted off the Ancients' planet rather summarily!), to try and get Ronon and Teyla to join them in their fight against The Wraith.

The only thing is that the whole situation did give me pause to reflect on what the Atlantis mission is for, other than being a TV series with a bunch of likeable characters. They were there to do what? Beat up The Wraith? Seemed more like they were keeping out of their way so they don't get attacked. Seek out new technology for reasons of having new technology. Learn new stuff from the Atlantis database… It all seems a bit of a shaky premise when you really think about it, not that it detracts from the episode or the series, but given the circumstances of the characters and that they all slot into new positions while at the same time missing the old camaraderie, it made me question what it was all about. That's why I was still half-expecting there to be some sinister scene where there was even the hint of a suggestion that all is not what it seems, but there never was, it all appeared genuine. And I genuinely enjoyed it, full of the patois of the franchise (McKay being stopped from continuing his briefing by Caldwell; Siler being the one who's working on the Jumper they steal from the SGC and has to be knocked out!), it was just a celebration of the series and its place with the parent series, and that made it all the more of a joy to watch.

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