Stargate Atlantis Rewatch: Conversion
Sheppard the bug (Photo from GateWorld.net)
Conversion
Story by Robert C. Cooper & Martin Gero
Teleplay by Martin Gero
Directed by Brad Turner
Guest starring Kavan Smith (Major Lorne), Mitch Pileggi (Colonel Steven Caldwell), Matthew Harrison (Scientist), Lindsay Collins (Scientist), Todd Hann (Bravo Leader), France Perras (Nurse), Andy Nez (Soldier)
WARNING: SPOILERS ABOUND!
Summary
Sheppard starts to turn into a bug creature after being fed on by the Wraith girl from Instinct.
General Impressions
It sure is fun seeing Sheppard as a bad guy. Joe Flanigan certainly seems to be enjoying himself. I also loved the science brainstorming scenes and the quest for iratus eggs. It’s also nice to see Beckett having a dangerous off world adventure and to see Major Lorne again. I really like Lorne.
The Good
I liked the conflict between Weir and Caldwell when he takes over as chief of security after Sheppard is incapacitated. He doesn’t even wait to see if there’s hope for Sheppard. Caldwell really oversteps and deserves to have Weir all up in his face. I really wanted to kick Caldwell when he kept making changes as if Sheppard was going to die.
I love to see science in action, so I thought the medical brainstorming session was really cool. I get all goose bumpy when this show gets the scientists talking geeky science talk. Science in science fiction. What a concept.
The establishing shots of the city in this episode are really pretty. I also liked the nighttime shot of the gate room as Caldwell is walking into Weir’s office. And the bug cave was so creepy and disgusting.
The Bad
Although I liked the conflict between Caldwell and Weir, I really am tired of the military always needing to butt heads with her.
Red shirts. Just…red shirts.
I didn’t like Sheppard’s monster make up as much as Ellia’s in Instinct.
I didn’t buy the jeopardy with Sheppard. Really? Kill Sheppard? At this point in the series, they haven’t killed off a primary character, so it’s hard to believe they’d kill Sheppard.
The Awesome
The way Sheppard very gradually goes from normal Sheppard to bad bug Sheppard, starting with amazing healing and physical abilities, moving on to emotional issues, then physical deformity. When his anger management issues get out of control, it’s awesome. Strange that he tries to write it off in the early stages, even when he can out run Ronon and out fight Tayla, something he apparently wasn’t able to do before. I thought it was really creepy when he assaulted Tayla (sweetie, this is when you give him a fighting stick to the groin). When he finally becomes aware of what’s happening to him, he tries very hard to protect everyone from himself.
Rating
8 out of 10. Good descent into bug Sheppard. Nice character episode.
