Stargate Atlantis Rewatch: Allies
A Wraith Queen in Atlantis (Photo from GateWorld.net)
Allies
WRITTEN BY: Martin Gero
DIRECTED BY: Andy Mikita
GUEST STARRING: Brent Stait (Michael), Connor Trinneer (Voice of Michael), David Nykl (Zelenka), Mitch Pileggi (Caldwell), James Lafazanos (Wraith Scientist / Man), Andee Frizzell (Hive Queen), Chuck Campbell (Technician), Kirby Morrow (Daedalus Tech), Sheri Noel (Lab Assistant), Trevor Devall (Voice of Hermiod)
WARNING: SPOILERS ABOUND!
Summary
Michael brings his hive to Atlantis with a plan to alleviate the Wraith’s food shortage problems by using Dr. Beckett’s retrovirus to turn other Wraith into humans.
General Impressions
This season two finale has an interesting premise: Wraith using Dr. Beckett’s retrovirus to turn other Wraith into humans and feed on them instead of natural humans—until this particular hive has destroyed all of their enemies, that is. I guess it was inevitable that a Queen who met Michael would see the advantage the retrovirus might give them. Also, the premise of seeking it made a great foot-in-the door to get the location of Earth out of Atlantis’ database. Sneaky.
A Wraith queen in Atlantis…I just love it. She’s so sinister and graceful and she walks around like she owns the place. Andee Frizzell is so gorgeous. It was also good to see Michael again so soon. He’s a compelling character, and it seemed to me from his conversation with Tayla that he has a thing for her. This will be further developed as the series progresses.
The Good
Clever, ruthless Wraith, seeing the usefulness of turning other Wraith into humans to alleviate the food shortage–but that really being Plan B, with Plan A being getting the location of Earth.
Michael tips off the expedition to his hive’s real goal in coming to Atlantis the first time he contacts them and tells them that the hives awoke prematurely because they thought a rich new food source had been discovered (Earth), but that their efforts to find it had proven difficult. By the end of the episode, it becomes clear that what they really wanted was the location of Earth. Nice foreshadowing.
The horror everyone but the Wraith have when the queen feeds on the newly-made human who used to be one of her own Wraith surprised me a little. He used to be a Wraith. I don’t know if I could have accepted a newly-former Wraith as a human like myself so easily. It was different with Michael because they’d had him convinced for a few days that he was one of them, but this guy was just Wraith to human then fed on to death. I was not surprised, however, that Michael had trouble watching the feeding. There but the grace of God went him, so to speak.
Glorfindel, is that you? (Photo from GateWorld.net)
It was kind of creepy the way the queen sexily ran her hand up the new human’s body, then caressed his cheek before feeding on him. The poor, innocent (hot) thing didn’t see it coming. But, damn he was sexy. Kind of like a Tolkien Elf.
As an aside, I really love the sound the engines of the smaller Wraith ships make. They sound like race cars.
The Bad
Tayla and I seem to be the only ones who noticed the foreshadowing about Michael’s real motive in coming back to Atlantis not being what everybody else thinks it is. They should listen to Tayla; she’s pretty smart.
The Awesome
Getting to know Wraith as individuals, not just as enemy mooks. The expedition interacts with a queen and works with a Wraith scientist (who’s dreadfully cool). We realize we can actually work with the Wraith to accomplish a goal, even if it does go sour.
Those space battles sure are beautiful. The special effects are amazing, and those hives look great close up.
Kudos once again for a tremendous score. The music in the wake of the last space battle in the episode, when they think Sheppard is dead and can’t figure out why the hive ships jumped away from the battlefield when they had Deadalus dead to rights is heart pounding. The music under the scene where the Wraith scientist is revealing their destination to Rodney and Ronon, and the music under the To Be Continued card is appropriately filled with dread and danger. I really can’t overstate the awesomeness of the music in the Stargate franchise.
Cue dramatic music (Photo from GateWorld.net)
I like how the Wraith queen always seems to look to Dr. Weir for confirmation every time the male members of the expedition want an answer to a question or agreement to a plan. She knows who’s in charge. I wonder if Wraith have more respect for female human leaders than male leaders, since Wraith are lead by females? Just a thought.
Rodney and Hermiod working together is fantastic. Two great, big egos, each convinced he is the smarter of the two and the one who solved the problem.
Your assistance will be noted (Photo from GateWorld.net)
Rating
9 out of 10. Wraith character development, Rodney vs. Hermiod, and space battles.
