Dial The Gate
If I had to sum up my opinion of Stargate: Atlantis in a single sentence, I would be sure to mention that I believe it to be an excellent ‘escape’ show. Atlantis marathons are really enjoyable; like the best sci-fi shows, Atlantis makes it easy to become captivated and invested, even if just for forty or fifty minutes at a time. Much of this has to do with the solid scripts and characters. Actors Joe Flanigan, Torri Higginson, Rachel Luttrel, David Hewitt, and several others throughout the series run, turn in outstanding performances. And while I may not be a fan of every character (I always thought Dr. Weir was too much of a stickler and simultaneously a push-over), their place in the puzzle that is Atlantis is commendable, and memorable.
If you’re interested in this complete series set, I think it’s safe to assume you know the basic gist of the show, but just in case, here’s a synopsis. Atlantis is all about the lost city of Atlantis, and saving Earth (and any other planets and galaxies) from the ruthless onslaught of a species known as the Wraith. The Wraith are thought to have evolved from a primitive, life-draining insect. They appear human from a distance, but their ability to heal almost instantly and their insatiable hunger for human life (and their ghoulish face) is part of what separates them.
Anyway, over 10,000 years ago, the peaceful and knowledgeable people of the city of Atlantis, known as The Ancients, were at war with the Wraith, ultimately losing due to the sheer number of Wraith, not because of a lack in weaponry or technology. The series begins with a large expedition team, led by Dr. Weir (Higginson), who are tasked with going from Earth, through a wormhole to the Pegasus galaxy, and to Atlantis, where they intend to setup base and learn as much as they can from the lost city.
Within hours of their arrival, things go awry and their lone path back to Earth is lost. Fighter pilot and all around skilled soldier, Major Sheppard will need to use his military prowess to help keep the Atlantis expedition afloat. Simultaneously, Dr. McKay (Hewitt), will make use of his genius to devise plans for the continued survival and improvement of the expedition. The Scottish Dr. Beckett (Paul McGillion) runs the infirmary, Weir keeps everyone on track and is the main overseer, and additionally several other key characters are introduced throughout their multi-year expedition. Together, they might just get out of this alive, and keep Earth and other planets from being mauled by the Wraith.
Episodes of Atlantis can, for the most part, standalone, but you definitely get a more well rounded experience by watching them chronologically as references are often made to previous endeavors. Plots ran the gamut of typical sci-fi fair, but for sci-fi fans, that shouldn’t come as a surprise nor a disappointment. In general, episodes are heavy on action and drama, include little to no verbal comedy, and ultimately maintain a serious or ominous tone. This isn’t a ‘doom and gloom’ series, but the threat of the Wraith and their continued spread across the Pegasus galaxy is constantly mentioned.
At the end of the day, Stargate: Atlantis is simply a great show. It’s fun, it’s captivating, it’s well produced, and well executed.
Right Where It Belongs: Blu-ray Set
About the only people who should not be interested in this box set are those that either don’t like the show or are too upset at buying the DVD set to want to shell out their money again, which is understandable. With the content (series and extras) being almost exactly the same, the clear difference between these two sets is the superior packaging and presentation quality (image and sound) of the Blu-ray release. It’s worth noting, that despite some conflicting info online, this Blu-ray set does not include the photo galleries that the complete DVD series did. I think most will agree that that is definitely a shame, maybe even a black eye for this release, but not a deal breaker.
And, while I’m not a fan of studios double-dipping, that’s not really what’s going on here. Despite the content being nearly identical, the boost in presentation quality is not only instantly noticeable, but it’s massively improved from the DVD release. Keep in mind, this show was filmed in HD; on Blu-ray, these episodes are able to stretch their legs so to speak, and the result is outstanding. Visually, the only thing that is less than stellar are some of the backgrounds at Atlantis, i.e., some of the outdoor/balcony scenes. The backgrounds look a little washed out, but you’re not talking about very many total minutes here. The vast majority of the series is wonderfully detailed, vibrant in color, clarity, and sharpness. I did not experience any technical issues, including blockiness during dark scenes. Supplementing the excellent image quality is 5.1 Surround, which does not disappoint and acts to only further engulf the user in the numerous missions the expedition embarks on.
The second clear, huge difference with this Blu-ray release as opposed to the DVD one is the packaging. When I think of all of the box sets I have seen, the previous Atlantis packaging ranks, especially given how expensive the set was, at the bottom of them all — it was terrible. This Blu-ray set gets it right — no over-sized, awkward, fragile, crappy box like the DVD one. Instead, you get a textbook style stiff-cardboard outer box with three book-style disc cases inside. The first ‘book’ contains Seasons 1 & 2, book two has seasons 3 & 4, and finally, the thinner third book contains season 5. This packaging is rock solid, looks great, and is as functional as it can be, so kudos to Fox for listening to all of the complaints from the DVD release and fixing them.
Finally, I want to mention the menus and other nuances about the actual discs. First, the menus are all gorgeous; the background image for each changes from season to season, which is fine and they all look great, but the core options at the bottom always remain the same: Episodes, Setup, Search, Extras. Click on Episodes and you get the option to scroll through the names/synopsis of each episode on the disc, and you can Play All or Play Episode from within each selection. Setup allows you to enable English subtitles, Search is for locating scenes, and Extras contains commentaries and other goodies where applicable. Meanwhile, Joel Goldsmith’s lovely theme song plays in the background.
Two other items about this release that I really liked: whenever you stop playback, the next time you pop the disc in, the first thing that comes up (no Fox logo or anything) is “Resume Playback?” with Yes already selected. I think that should be a standard for any TV series on disc, but I’m glad to see it included here. Finally, there are absolutely no trailers, promotions, commercials, or any other BS that often gets crammed onto a release. To this day I’m disappointed in Paramount for including the new Star Trek trailer at the start of every disc in the Original Series Blu-ray releases. Fox got it right though; pop in the disc, get the Fox logo, and bam, right to the menu — love it.
More Extras Than You Can Shake A ZPM At
Excellent show, excellent presentation and packaging — and a ton of extra features, mostly audio commentary tracks. These are exactly the same ones found on the DVD release, including being presented in SD, and sans the photo galleries, but it’s hard to care when you’ve got 50+ hours of extras alone. In all seriousness, only the most hardcore Atlantis fans will ever be able to make time for all of these, but still, it’s awesome to see this much content included. Because there is so much material here, I’m going to copy in the official big list, with a few notes on some of the extras:
Disc 1 (Season 1):
“Rising” (Parts 1 and 2) – Commentary by Director Martin Wood and Actor Joe Flanigan
“Hide and Seek” – Commentary by Actors Rachel Luttrell, Torri Higginson and Paul McGillion
“Thirty Eight Minutes” – Commentary by Actors Rachel Luttrell ad Paul McGillion
-Stargate: Atlantis” Set Tour with Directors Martin Wood and Peter DeLuise (11m21s)
Disc 2:
“Childhood’s End” – Commentary by Writer Martin Gero and Actors Rachel Luttrell and Rainbow Sun Francks
“The Storm” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
-Wraithal Discrimination: It’s Not Easy Being Green (11m27s) Cast and crew joke about the Wraiths.
-Diary of Rainbow Sun Francks – (9m15s) Rainbow talks about his involvement in Atlantis, lots of behind the scenes footage is included.
Disc 3:
“The Eye” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
“The Defiant One” – Commentary by Director Peter DeLuise and Stunt Coordinator Dan Shea
“Hot Zone” – Commentary by Writer Martin Gero and Actors Rachel Luttrell, Rainbow Sun Francks and Paul McGillion
“Sanctuary” – Commentary by Actors Rachel Luttrell and Torri Higginson
-Mission Directive: “The Storm/The Eye” – (6m) Behind the scenes and production footage.
-Mission Directive: “Sanctuary”
-Mission Directive: “Before I Sleep”
Disc 4:
“Brotherhood” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
“The Gift” – Commentary by Director Peter DeLuise and Actor Gary Jones
“The Siege: Part 1” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
“The Siege: Part 2” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actors Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett
-Mission Directive: “The Siege”
-A look back on Season One with Writer Martin Gero (17m22s)
Disc 5 (Season 2):
“The Siege: Part 3” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actors Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett
“The Intruder” – Commentary by Director Peter DeLuise and Actor Gary Jones
“Runner” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood and Actor David Hewlett
“Duet” – Commentary by Director Peter DeLuise, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
“Condemned” – Commentary by Director Peter DeLuise and Actor Gary Jones
-Mission Directive: “The Siege: Part 3” featuring Director Martin Wood
-Mission Directive: “The Intruder” featuring Director Peter DeLuise
Disc 6:
“Trinity” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood and Writer Damian Kindler
“Instinct” – Commentary by Director Andy Mikita and Producer Paul Mullie
“Conversion” – Commentary by Writer Martin Gero and Actors Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett
“Aurora” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood and Co-Producer Peter DeLuise
“The Lost Boys” – Commentary by Writer Martin Gero and Actors Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett
-Mission Directive: “Instinct” featuring Director Peter DeLuise
-Introduction to a Character: Ronon Dex (15m)
Disc 7:
“The Hive” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood
“Epiphany” – Commentary by Director Neil Fearnley
“Critical Mass” – Commentary by Director Andy Mikita, Actor Rachel Luttrell and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
“Grace Under Pressure” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actors Amanda Tapping and David Hewlett
“The Tower” – Commentary by Producer Paul Mullie and Director Andy Mikita
-Profile On: David Hewlett (20m51s)
-Stargate: Atlantis” Stunts (18m21s) Stunt coordinator talks shop, production footage.
Disc 8:
“The Long Goodbye” – Commentary by Director Andy Mikita, Actor Torri Higginson and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
“Coup D’etat” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
“Michael” – Commentary by Director Martin Wood and Supervising Producer/Director Peter DeLuise
“Inferno” – Commentary by Director Peter DeLuise and Actor Gary Jones
“Allies” – Commentary by Director Andy Mikita, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
-Road to a Dream with Martin Gero (19m) Behind the scenes footage of when Martin acted in an episode.
-Profile On: Paul McGillion (20m42s)
Disc 9 (Season 3):
“No Man’s Land” – Commentary by Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
“Misbegotten” – Commentary by Executive Producer Paul Mullie and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
“Irresistible” – Commentary by Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Director of Photography Michael Blundell
“Sateda” – Commentary by Executive Producer, Writer and Director Robert C. Cooper & Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
“Progeny” – Commentary by Director Andy Mikita and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
-Mission Directive: “Sateda” featuring Director Robert C. Cooper
-Mission Directive: “Progeny” featuring Director Andy Mikita
-Inside the Stargate: Atlantis Visual FX Department
-Profile On: Rachel Luttrell
Disc 10:
“Common Ground” – Commentary by Director William Waring and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
“McKay & Mrs. Miller” – Commentary by Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
“Phantoms” – Commentary by Co-Executive Producer Carl Binder and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
“The Return, Part 1” – Commentary by Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Executive Producer Paul Mullie
-Mission Directive: “Phantoms” featuring Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
-General O’Neill Goes to Atlantis
Disc 11:
“The Return, Part 2” – Commentary by Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Executive Producer Paul Mullie
“Echoes” – Commentary by Director William Waring and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
“Irresponsible” – Commentary by Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Director of Photography Michael Blundell
“Tao of Rodney” – Commentary by Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Director of Photography Michael Blundell
“The Game” – Commentary by Director William Waring and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
-Mission Directive: “The Game” featuring Director William Waring
-Masters of the Alien
Disc 12:
“The Ark” – Commentary by Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
“Sunday” – Commentary by Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director William Waring
“Submersion” – Commentary by Director Brenton Spencer and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
“Vengeance” – Commentary by Director Andy Mikita and Creature Effects Designer Todd Masters
“First Strike” – Commentary by Producer/Writer Martin Gero, Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
-Mission Directive: “First Strike” featuring Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
-“Stargate Atlantis:” A Look Back on Season 3 with Martin Gero
Disc 13 (Season 4):
“Adrift” – Commentary by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero, Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
“Lifeline” – Commentary by Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Actor Amanda Tapping
“Reunion” – Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring
“Doppelganger” – Commentary by Executive Producer, Writer and Director Robert C. Cooper and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
“Travelers” – Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Paul Mullie and Director William Waring
-Mission Directive: Doppelganger with Robert C. Cooper
-A New Leader: Amanda Tapping Joins Atlantis
Disc 14:
“Tabula Rasa” – Commentary by Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Director/Supervising Producer
Martin Wood and Actress Amanda Tapping
“Missing” – Commentary by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Carl Binder and Producer/Director Andy Mikita
“The Seer” – Commentary by Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Director Andy Mikita
“Miller’s Crossing” – Commentary by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Producer/Director
Andy Mikita
“This Mortal Coil” – Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring
-“Stargate Atlantis” Bloopers
-Mission Directive: “This Mortal Coil” with Director William Waring
Disc 15:
“Be All My Sins Remember’d” – Commentary by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Producer/Director
Andy Mikita
“Spoils of War” – Commentary by Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Director William Waring
“Quarantine” – Commentary by Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Actress Amanda Tapping
“Harmony” – Commentary by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director William Waring
“Outcast” – Commentary by Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Producer/Director Andy Mikita
-Mission Directive: “Quarantine” with Director Martin Wood
-Mission Directive: “Outcast” with Director Andy Mikita
Disc 16:
“Trio” – Commentary by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero, Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Actress Amanda Tapping
“Midway” – “The Kindred”
Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Joseph Mallozzi and Director Peter F. Woeste
“The Kindred, Part II” – Commentary by Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
“The Last Man” – Commentary on “The Last Man” by Executive Producer/Writer Paul Mullie and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
-The Making of “Trio”
-A Look Back at Season 4
-Deleted Scenes
Disc 17 (Season 5):
“Search and Rescue” – Commentary by Executive Producer Martin Gero and Director/Producer Andy Mikita
“The Seed” – Commentary by Director William Waring
“Broken Ties” – Commentary by Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi and Actor Jason Momoa
“The Daedalus Variations” – Commentary by Supervising Producer Alan McCullough and Director/Producer Andy Mikita
-Mission Directive: “Search and Rescue” with Director Andy Mikita and Producer Martin Gero
-Showdown! Ronon v. Tyre
-Bringing “The Seed” to Life
Disc 18:
“Whispers” – Commentary by Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring
“The Queen” – Commentary by Supervising Producer Alan McCullough and Director Brenton Spencer
“Tracker” – Commentary by Executive Producer Carl Binder and Director William Waring
“First Contact” – Commentary by Executive Producer Martin Gero and Director/Producer Andy Mikita
-Mission Directive: ”Whispers” with Director William Waring and Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi
-Mission Directive: “Tracker” with Director William Waring and Executive Producer Carl Binder
-Tricks of the Trade: Submerging the Stargate
-Joe Flanigan: A Conversation with the Colonel
Disc 19:
“The Lost Tribe” – Commentary by Executive Producer Martin Gero and Director/Producer Andy Mikita
“Outsiders” – Commentary by Supervising Producer Alan McCullough and Director William Waring
“Inquisition” – Commentary by Director Brenton Spencer and Actor Tobias Slezak
“The Prodigal” – Commentary by Executive Producer Carl Binder and Director/Producer Andy Mikita
“Remnants” – Commentary by Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring
-Building a Humanoid with James Robbins and Martin Gero
-Dr. Jackson Goes to Atlantis
-The Life and Death of Michael Kenmore
-Deleted Scenes (Part One)
Disc 20:
“Brain Storm” – Commentary by Executive Producer/Director Martin Gero
“Vegas” – Commentary by Executive Producer Robert C. Cooper, Producer John G. Lenic and Editor Mike Banas
“Enemy at the Gate” – Commentary by Executive Producer Paul Mullie and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
-Mission Directive: “Brain Storm” with Director Martin Gero
-“Stargate Atlantis” Goes To Vegas
-Deleted Scenes (Part Two)
Huge fan service in all of these extras, especially with all of the commentary tracks. With that, let’s get to the summary…
