Rachel Luttrell - Articles - Zimbio

Stargate Atlantis: Space Exploration & Distant Civilizations

Wed, 25 Oct 2007 07:00:00 GMT

posted by starling

We don’t often get to talk about TV news here at the Daily Galaxy, simply because it doesn’t normally fall within our focus. But Stargate Atlantis is definitely a show that many of our readers are a fan of. It isn’t a stereotypical “nerdrama” and doesn’t fall under the category of Star Trek-like Sci-Fi series.

For those who have been watching – and if you haven’t, we seriously suggest you do – speculation has been rife as to whether the show would acquire a fifth season.

Following in the wake of its better known big brother, Stargate SG1, Atlantis had big shoes to fill. SG1 ran for a total of ten seasons, and is currently awaiting the release of two direct-to-DVD movies.

Announced yesterday, the Sci-Fi channel ordered 20 episodes for a fifth season of the fan favorite. This, despite lower “live” ratings, is based upon the fact that Atlantis is still one of the most popular shows on the channel, when viewed through recorded, re-run or downloaded viewing.

"'Atlantis' truly came out from under the shadow of its sister series this year and proved that it's a hit in its own right," said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of original programming for SCI FI Channel.

"All of us at MGM are pleased to be extending the Stargate legacy with 20 new original episodes of Stargate Atlantis for our friends at SCI FI," MGM's Charles E. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President Finance and Corporate Development, said. "Viewers the world over clamor for exciting new stories of space exploration, distant civilizations and the marvels of technology, all of which continue to be delivered by Stargate Atlantis."

As an aside for those fans of Stargate that may not be as clued-in to the internet cycle of rumors and speculation, have you heard there’s to be a third series?

That’s right, after Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum have finished principal filming, executive producers Robert C. Cooper and Brad Wright are turning their attention to a third Stargate series. Not much is known about it at the moment. It’s being developed under the name Stargate Universe, and according to Cooper, was conceived to be "a completely separate, third entity, much more so than Atlantis was. Atlantis was much more of a spin-off series of SG-1 and was sort of born out of SG-1."

So if you were wondering whether 2008 was going to provide you with your annual Sci-Fi fix, then fret no longer. And if you haven’t watched any of the Stargate’s before, then now’s the time to jump in.

Posted by Josh Hill

Stargate Atlantis - The Complete Fourth Season

Mon, 8 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

posted by travelsanmiguel

70 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

Atlantis, Still Fun And Entertaining, But Where's It All Heading?!,

By	Hectic (AL, USA) - See all my reviews

Although the actual DVD set isn't out as of the time I write this, the 4th season finished airing months ago and now since they have the page for pre-order up, I've been kinda itching to write a review.

Well as this season starts off from the 3rd season cliffhanger, it is definately off to an awesome start. Atlantis lost, adrift in space and running out of power. To conserve energy, they shrink the shield down to a small section of the city and then what happens?...Atlantis runs into an asteroid belt! Then to get more power, they actually raid the Asuran homeworld for ZPM's using Dr. Weir! A very entertaining beginning.

While the majority of episodes are hits, such as the episode where a disease causes everyone to lose their memories(Tabula Rasa) or the one where Teal'c comes for a visit(Midway); there are some that fall short of their potential for giving more or are just plain boring! For example: the end-season cliffhanger! This is the first time I've ever been disappointed with an Atlantis cliffhanger, not leaving me anxiously curious to see how they get out of that situation, waiting for the next season. It ends with Sheppard and his team searching a building for Teyla, but it self-destructs and collapses in on them. (Zzzzzz...you know they survive it) A better way to end the season would have been to leave Sheppard stranded 48,000 years in the future, revealing more about what happened in the galaxy in all that time and trying to figure out a way to get back home with the McKay hologram's original plan failing to work! Now that sounds like one hell of a cliffhanger!

I reviewed season 3 as well, saying it gives potential for an awesome season 4. Does it live up to that potential? It comes close, but unfortunately no it doesn't. Why? It just seems like the shows creators/writers aren't willing to go all the way in some of the episode's stories. For that matter, I can't figure out what direction the show is headed in anymore; can you? (I assume the show IS going in some direction)

At least this time around they gave more attention to the Wraith and to Teyla. The whole story arc with the Athosian people being kidnapped and Teyla's search for them, both expanded, and renewed some interest, in her character. In my season 3 review I also stated my favorite character is McKay, but even I am starting to get tired of seeing him so much in every episode.

Dr. Weir was officially lost this season, then killed, then...kinda came back? But fortunately we regained some old faces. Dr. Beckett (or at least a clone) came back at an end of the season episode. And while I liked having Samantha Carter as the Atlantis commander, just like Dr. Weir in season 3, they didn't utilize her character enough!

Which leads us to season 5. SPOILERS AHEAD! I've read various sources about what season 5 of Atlantis will have instore for us fans & veiwers, and most have been confirmed. The biggy for me being that Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) will NOT be back as Atlantis' commander. (Due to the fact she'll be staring in her own show, "Sanctuary".) But she will come back for some guest appearances. Who's replacing her? Richard Woolsey (Robert Picardo)! I have completely mixed feelings about his character, but he definately doesn't have what it takes to command Atlantis! So unless he grows a pair and proves himself as something other than a cowering beaurocrat, this alone makes me uncertain about season 5 as well as the future of the show. Dr. Beckett and Dr. Daniel Jackson will guest star in some episodes, as well as 2 new characters and an entirely new race being introduced.

Don't get me wrong, I still really like Atlantis and am going to get the season 4 DVD once it's released, but I must say this is the first time I am uncertain about how the next season will take shape, or if it will even be any good? Let's just hope season 5 will prove me wrong!

The season 4 DVD set itself will have the usual: commentaries, deleted scenes, etc. However, this will be the first Atlantis season DVD that will have a bloopers reel.

**UPDATE: Well, Season 4 came out today, I've got it and am watching it right now. Physical DVD-wise, the video and sound is still great like seasons 2 & 3. Packaging is the same as well. The menus are different from seasons 2 & 3 DVD's, but are still cool-looking and are easy to navigate. (You don't have to go through a lot of submenus to get what you are looking for.) Hope this latest info helps anyone!

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Wed, 27 Mar 2008 19:06:41 GMT

posted by davinci34

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Robert Picardo Talks ‘Stargate Atlantis’

Tue, 9 Jul 2008 14:18:54 GMT

posted by geeksofdoom
The former Star Trek: Voyager star plays Richard Woolsey, who's promoted to Atlantis base leader for the fifth season of Stargate Atlantis.

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Fri, 5 Jul 2008 16:07:41 GMT

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