Stargate Atlantis Rewatch: Trinity
McKay blows up a solar system (Photo from GateWorld.net)
Trinity
Written by Damian Kindler
Directed by Martin Wood
Guest starring David Nykl (Dr. Zelenka), Sean Campbell (Solen Sincha), Mitch Pileggi (Colonel Steven Caldwell), Christopher Gauthier (Mattas), Chuck Campbell (Technician)
WARNING: SPOILERS ABOUND!
Summary
McKay’s attempt to resurrect a powerful Ancient weapon goes very badly awry.
General Impressions
This episode is character focused. It shows us Rodney at his worst and his best. It also shows a bit more of Ronon’s dark side and his history. Ronon and Rodney are about as opposite as possible, so it’s interesting to have stories focused on them in the same episode. Rodney lets his ego and excitement at possibly outdoing the Ancients get the best of him, and Ronon shows just how much diplomacy is not his strong suit. In the end it comes down to trust: Sheppard’s trust in Rodney, and Tayla’s trust in Ronon. Both get broken.
The Good
Learning more about Ronon’s backstory and his culture. His joy at learning that 300 Satedans survived the massacre is heartwarming. I can’t imagine how that feels, going seven years believing you’re the last of your kind then suddenly learning that there are hundreds of your people still alive. And I don’t think the number 300 was a random choice on the part of the writers, considering the context of warriors making a last, hopeless stand. I can almost hear Ronon screaming at the Wraith, “THIS! IS! SATEDA!”
We also learn more about the Ancients’ war against the Wraith.
Rodney’s ego is way out of control in this episode. Sheppard and Weir believe in him and get horribly burned. But to Rodney’s credit he humbles himself in the end and apologizes, showing that others believing in his abilities is more important to him than his belief in himself.
The sparkle in Sheppard’s eye when Batman and Robin tell him the Ancient outpost is a big, powerful weapon is so cute. As is the sparkle in Rodney and Radek’s eyes when they give Sheppard a hint about how awesome the Ancient’s physics used at the outpost were. Sheppard tries to contain his excitement.
The Bad
Not a thing.
The Awesome
Ronon finding out that he’s not the last Satedan, only to kill one of them for treason, abusing Tayla’s friendship in the process. Tayla rightfully gives him a verbal ass kicking for it afterward. Like Rodney, Ronon is humbled by the end of the episode.
Rodney humbling himself to win back Sheppard’s trust after John went out on a limb for him, and after accusing Radek of professional jealousy when he tried to convince Rodney to abort the test. Rodney even goes so far as to assure Sheppard, “I won’t let you down”, making his failure and apology at the end of the episode all the more affecting.
The wide shot of the world with the Ancient outpost is amazing. I especially like the shot through a ruined window of the puddle jumper flying away. The special effects are fantastic.
The musical score under Rodney’s explanation of how important the power source in the Ancient outpost could be to history is appropriately soaring and heroic. Conversely, Weir and Caldwell’s similar argument has no music under it until Sheppard chimes in that he’ll be Rodney’s minder. The music then is ominous. Likewise, leaving out the music when Rodney is apologizing to Sheppard then bringing it up for Sheppard’s last comment was perfect. Rodney at his most humble really needed to stand on its own.
Rating
10 out of 10. This is one of my favorite episodes for being character driven despite the big tech at the heart of Rodney’s arc.
