Customer Reviews

Stargate Atlantis Season 5

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am torn when it comes to seeing the end of this show. On the one hand I am very sorry to see it go, but on the other hand I am glad they quit while they were ahead. Seasons 1-3 of Atlantis were AMAZING, but season 4 started to see a slow slide from what they had offered us earlier in the series and by season 5 I saw the danger of it becoming the next Stargate SG-1 season 9 which, in my opinion only, was the WORST of all ten seasons.

Season 5 (and season 4, too, I think) saw a slow decline of the well-written character-based stories. In seasons 1-3 we got so many good story lines that really saw the evolution of characters, deepened their backgrounds and really helped to flesh out the characters and get us to know, love or hate them. However, season 5 really didn't do a whole lot with that and instead focused more on scrambling to wrap up a few loose ends. I do appreciate that they didn't leave some of the stories dangling uselessly, but I wish they could have done that with a little more character development as well.

I will not complain about the last episode however. I shall obviously give away no details here, but I was pleased with the final episode of the season/series. There were a few holes and a few quick fixes that I could have done without or that I could have done with a little more explanation, but all together I thought it was a fitting end to the show.

Now, having said all that I have previously, I cannot WAIT to have this on DVD. I have all four seasons available right now and love them and even though season 5, I think, is not the best of the series, I still would not be happy without it completing my collection of Stargate seasons (once I have season 5 I will have all fifteen seasons of the Stargate franchise). I am also very keen to see when and if they release this upcoming SGA movie they have promised us. The SG-1 movies were good (with Continuum being the best of the two, I think) and I would like to see them succeed with SGA movies, as well.

Why end the show? Can't it last till Season 9 like SG-1? (And it's so much better than SG-1.) If the producers or TV networks are concerned about its profitability, I suggest they run Seasons 1-3 on TV again, but with SUBTITLES this time. Give it a chance! I'm sure it will generate huge viewership (like Buffy) that it can go even for 10 seasons. Seasons 1-3 are really the best! I don't remember having watched anything better.
I think everyone would agree that we watched this show because it was fun! That was mostly lost in Season 4. In Seasons 1-3, many complained about the main cast: wanting more development for Teyla, Ronon being a "wooden" actor, Weir not being an appealing leader. Well, the directors listened to them and made BAADD decisions to accommodate them. They killed off Dr. Weir, even the good Dr. Beckett! Then they made the story "darker", the future "bleak". That's why we lost some of the sense of "fun" in Seasons 4 & 5.
1st, I'd like to clarify to the directors: Though we like the thrill of having a character be in grave danger, we don't really want them killed! SG-1 became a favorite because they kept their main cast till the end. (Same with Buffy.) In Season 3, when the Atlantis cast were just starting to "gel", the directors chose to change them over ...and over. When something is already good, just stick with it. Don't mess with what's already great. If you need more storylines, just give the characters more background, to give them more depth. We loved it when we learned that McKay had a sister and when Sheppard went to his dad's funeral.
In Season 4, Dr. Keller became the chief doctor, and so began the downhill trend of Season 4, because she cannot seem to solve anything. Thankfully, in Season 5 they chose to match her with one of the main characters in the show. (She's really good in such roles. She played her role well as a pining admirer and gifted mechanic in "Firefly".) Then they brought Dr. Beckett back again to accomplish the brilliant solutions (which we expect from him) to save the day.
When Dr. Weir went missing, they replaced her with military personnel, and it was like a choke-hold was put on Atlantis. One of the main reasons SG-Atlantis is better than SG-1 is because the group is out of the direct control of the military, and a female (meaning more compassionate and principled) is making the main decisions. They can get away with not following protocols because they are doing "what's right". If the networks or producers continue the show, I hope they get a civilian leader again who is also female so she can play off against both Sheppard and McKay. Or bring back Dr. Weir?
Also, I have to say that because reviews keep on mentioning how we love McKay, that doesn't mean we don't like Sheppard. The Colonel is cute, endearing, very intelligent and even funny. We need his kind of personality, his "do-it-now" ideas and actions in the many crises they faced. We like both of them. Don't bring down one or the other. Though McKay is really something special; he made his character so interesting that he stole the show (like Michael Fox did with Family Ties).
Then there's Teyla. Thankfully, they did not pair her with any one in the team. Sheppard and Ronon needed a friend, and she is a great friend to both. We liked it when her role was expanded to using her ability as a significant tactic in the fight with the Wraith. But it was overplayed when she went undercover as a Queen. The writers should know when not to heed the critics. Her small stature made that episode absurd, and it's embarrassing to make her play that role. A Queen is supposed to be tall and strong. (They are going to bear the next generation of Wraiths after all.) The idea of Teyla having a family of her own is wonderful. If only her husband is a tribal chieftain, someone her equal, not a heavy baggage which she should not have had at all. And Ronon, whatever others may say, is a necessary part of the show. When he joined the team, that's when we felt secure that they can have a confrontation with the Wraiths. What's more, that's also the time when the show really reached its peak; and we can see the actors also enjoying while acting in their roles.
We watched Seasons 1-3 again during Christmas vacations 2008, and found the stories as entertaining. It was such great fun!

LOVE IT, WILL REALLY MISS THIS SHOW, CAN'T UNDERSTAND SFIFI FOR THE CANCEL. THEY DON'T LISTEN TO THE AUDIENCE.

I have not yet seen Season 5 of Stargate Atlantis, but I certainly loved seasons 1-3, season 4 was ok, but I really couldn't get past the fact that Elizabeth weir is gone from the show and that Sam is the new leader. I also recently learned that this will be the LAST season of Stargate Atlantis, the show will end in January on their 100th episode. MGM and SciFi, have decided to no longer keep the show. It is such a shame!

I downloaded all 4 videos and have experienced Not one problem. All is Good and Love Stargate. Plays Flawless.

Thanks for having this available for download.. Just wish I could BURN IT TO A DVD to watch on my TV!!!

This episode is by far one of the best yet for this amazing show. When SG-1 concluded, I thought that I would go into withdrawls, but Atlantis easily fills that void. Don't get my wrong, no one could ever replace the members out of Chyanne Moutain, but the crew from the Atlantis expedition have done an amazing job of drawing me in. This epidsode has amazing action scenes and from the beginning to the end, I was on the edge of my seat wondering how they were going to get out of this one. Bravo to the creators for starting off the new season with a bang (literally-one more wraith ship gone!) However, I do have a feeling that Micheal made his escape, afterall, if he died, who would they go after next? Kudos to McKay for delivering the baby, it just goes to show that he can be a true hero as well,and did Kennan escape with Sheppard on the dart, we will have to wait and find out next week, same stargate time, same stargate channel.

I am a fan of both Stargate series, SG-1 and Atlantis. I loved the SG-1 team and thought the sereis was very well done. I had a very hard time accepting Weir being snuffed out of the Atlantis series and replaced with Sam. Sam did a stellar job in SG-1, but her career should've ended with her SG-1 team. Wier headed up a younger diverse team; and Sam seems out of place. I'm not knocking Sam's work, I just think Weir was a better fit.

THIS PARTICULAR NEW SEASON IS DEFINATELY NOT AS GOOD AS THE PREVIOUS. SOMETHING IS MISSING!! THE ORIGINAL CAST HAS BEEN DECIMATED. I DO NOT EXPECT A SEASON SIX UNLESS SOMETHING REALLY CHANGES.

The introduction of Stargate Atlantis brought a new lease of life to the Stargate theme. Unfortunately, despite the excellent scripts I found the original Stargate series to be in general boring and mundane. This was largely due to poor casting. All of the actors in that series are what I would describe as being straight actors and actresses. They lacked the X factor. One could ask well what is the X factor? In truth it cannot be described. You either have or lack it. Perhaps a simple description of this factor is that it is someone who has dynamics, charisma, personality, and character. Further, they are able to bring a large array of facial expressions and mannerisms to their acting. In other words they have the ability to captivate their audience. With the introduction of Ben Browder and Claudi Black the original Stargate series was instantly transformed into a superb series. But needless to say that just when a perfect casting balance was achieved the powers that be decided to end the series. Returning to Stargate Atlantis, the first three seasons were and are superb. Indeed, I had no hesitation in purchasing these seasons on DVD. Try as I may I could not find a single fault with any of the episodes. The casting was perfect, the scripts and story lines excellent, and the acting and special effects superb. Unfortunately, season four is a disaster. The positives of this season are that the scripts, stories, and special effects continue to remain superb. However, these are negated by the fact that two of the three characters that bring dynamics to the series have been dropped, namely Paul McGillion (Dr Carson Beckett) and in particular Torri Higginson (Dr Elizabeth Wear). These two together with David Hewlett (Dr McKay) bring the series to life. All three have the X factor that is required in order to make a series or movie successful. It seems to me that the powers that be are trying to gradually introduce the redundant actors and actresses of the original Stargate series into Stargate Atlantis thus introducing the same mistakes. It is possible to replace a straight actor with a dynamic actor but not visa a versa. Torri Higginson brought charisma, personality and character to Stargate Atlantis, together with superb acting. Amanda Tapping is a straight actress and I am sorry to say that she fails miserably in replacing Torri Higginson. Amanda Tapping would be more suitably placed as a member of an SGC team or working in a lab with say Dr McKay. Compare the two actresses and notice the charisma, personality, character, and wide variety of facial expressions and mannerisms that Torri Higginson brings to her role when compared to Amanda Tapping. It is noteworthy that both Paul McGillion and Torri Higginson appear in different roles in season four all but too briefly. During their brief appearances the season was again brought to life but faded rapidly with their exit. May I please offer the directors some advice for the sake of resurrecting the life of Stargate Atlantis? Both Paul McGillion and Tori Higginson need to appear in as many episodes as possible in season five. Amanda Tapping needs to take on a different role if she is to be successful in this series, and a suitable replacement is needed with similar characteristics to Torri Higginson. I will not be blindly purchasing season five on DVD until I have watched it on the television. It may well be that I will have to cut my losses and make do with the first four seasons of Stargate Atlantis and then purchase the final season when ever that may be.