Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Series Blu-ray

 

Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Series

 

Studio: MGM / 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment

US Blu-ray Release Date: July 26, 2011

Rated: TV-14

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Video: 1080p AVC

Audio: DTS-HD MA 5.1 (English)

Subtitles: English (SDH)

 

Movie: 4 out of 5

Premiering on the Sci-Fi Channel in July 2004 as a spin-off to the popular Stargate: SG-1 television series, Stargate: Atlantis follows an international team of scientists and soldiers as they explore the Pegasus galaxy from their home base in the lost city of Atlantis. Upon arrival in Atlantis, the team unintentionally awakens a race of vampire-like beings known as the Wraith. The series stars Joe Flanigan as Lt. Colonel John Sheppard, Torri Higginson as Dr. Elizabeth Weir, Rachel Luttrell as Teyla, Jason Momoa as Ronon Dex, and David Hewlett as Dr. Rodney McKay.

 

Season one opens as Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) uncovers the gate address to the Lost City of Atlantis at the Antarctic base, and Dr. Weir assembles a team to explore the city in what is assumed to be a one-way trip. Upon arrival, they awaken the Wraith during a rescue mission, and explore other worlds within the Pegasus galaxy. As with most series, season one is perhaps the weakest, partially due to the fact that it takes time for the writers to get to know the characters and the dynamics of the series. In fact, most of the characters during this first season are never fully developed, and the interactions with other characters often seem forced. In particular, the character of Lt. Aiden Ford, played by Rainbow Sun Francks, often feels like he's just tagging along as a member of Sheppard's exploration team, the proverbial fourth wheel of a tricycle. In true Stargate form, the season ends in a cliffhanger.

 

As soon as the cliffhanger is resolved, season two begins to kick the series into gear by developing the characters and their relationships. One of the problems with Season One was the lack of a character on Sheppard's team similar to Teal'c from SG-1. The writers fixed this problem by introducing Ronon Dex (Jason Momoa) in episode three (Runner), a former soldier captured by the Wraith, implanted with a tracking device, and hunted for sport. Ronon added some much needed conflict to Sheppard's team, as well as some additional comic relief with his knowledge and methods of tracking and weaponry. The character of Dr. Beckett (Paul McGillion) is expanded, and his friendship with McKay is also further developed.

 

Season three departs somewhat from its standard formula by taking time to develop its main characters and making the enemies less generic by using recurring characters. This season also further develops the theme of creating your own worst enemy in Michael, played by Connor Trinneer (Tripp from Star Trek: Enterprise), a Wraith the Atlantis team experimented on near the end of season two to see if they can be turned back into a human.

 

Season four brings some cast changes, including bringing Amanda Tapping over from Stargate: SG-1, reprising her role as Samantha Carter, as the base commander. Also new this season is Jewel Staite (in a recurring role) as Jennifer Keller, the new chief doctor. The writers continue their focus on more character-driven episodes, further developing their villains, especially the Wraith hybrid Michael (Connor Trinneer) and the double-crossing Wraith, Todd (Christopher Heyerdahl). My favorite episode this season was Harmony, where Sheppard and McKay accompany a precocious pre-teen princess through the forest as part of her quest for Queen.

 

Season five brings the series to a satisfying conclusion, tying up the story arcs with the Wraith-hybrid Michael and double-crossing Wraith Todd. Jewel Staite joins the cast full-time, as does Robert Picardo, reprising his role as Richard Woolsey, who assumes command of the Atlantis Expedition. The writing in this final season was strong, with many notable episodes:

 

Brain Storm - McKay is invited to a science conference by a former classmate, played by Dave Foley, who has a solution to global warming. The episode also features a humorous performance by Bill Nye as himself.

 

Vegas – An alternate-universe episode with Sheppard as a Las Vegas homicide detective on the trail of a serial killer, who happens to be a Wraith. The episode is also an homage to the CSI franchise, and is featured in an extended edition, adding approximately three minutes of footage that did not appear in the original broadcast version.

 

Enemy At The Gate – The Atlantis team along with the SGC are in a race against time as a Wraith armada makes its way through hyperspace towards Earth. This episode also appears in an extended edition, adding approximately three minutes of footage that did not appear in the original broadcast version.

 

Missing from this set are the original broadcast versions of the series' final two episodes, Vegas and Enemy At The Gate, which were included on an exclusive bonus disc on the Complete Series DVD set.

 

Episode Listing:

 

Season One, Disc One:

Rising, Parts 1 & 2

Hide And Seek

Thirty-Eight Minutes

Suspicion

 

Season One, Disc Two:

Childhood's End

Poisoning The Well

Underground

Home

The Storm

 

Season One, Disc Three:

The Eye

The Defiant One

Hot Zone

Sanctuary

Before I Sleep

 

Season One, Disc Four:

The Brotherhood

Letters Form Pegasus

The Gift

The Siege (Part 1)

The Siege (Part 2)

 

Season Two, Disc One:

The Siege (Part 3)

The Intruder

Runner

Duet

Condemned

 

Season Two, Disc Two:

Trinity

Instinct

Conversion

Aurora

The Lost Boys

 

Season Two, Disc Three:

The Hive

Epiphany

Critical Mass

Grace Under Pressure

The Tower

 

Season Two, Disc Four:

The Long Goodbye

Coup D'etat

Michael

Inferno

Allies

 

Season Three, Disc One:

No Man's Land

Misbegotten

Irresistible

Sateda

Progeny

 

Season Three, Disc Two:

The Real World

Common Ground

McKay & Mrs. Miller

Phantoms

The Return (Part 1)

 

Season Three, Disc Three:

The Return (Part 2)

Echoes

Irresponsible

Tao Of Rodney

The Game

 

Season Three, Disc Four:

The Ark

Sunday

Submersion

Vengeance

First Strike

 

Season Four, Disc One:

Adrift

Lifeline

Reunion

Doppelganger

Travelers

 

Season Four, Disc Two:

Tabula Rasa

Missing

The Seer

Miller's Crossing

This Mortal Coil

 

Season Four, Disc Three:

Be All My Sins Remember'd

Spoils Of War

Quarantine

Harmony

Outcast

 

Season Four, Disc Four:

Trio

Midway

The Kindred (Part 1)

The Kindred (Part 2)

The Last Man

 

Season Five, Disc One:

Search And Rescue

The Seed

Broken Ties

The Daedalus Variations

Ghost In The Machine

 

Season Five, Disc Two:

The Shrine

Whispers

The Queen

Tracker

First Contact

 

Season Five, Disc Three:

The Lost Tribe

Outsiders

Inquisition

The Prodigal

Remnants

 

Season Five, Disc Four:

Brain Storm

Infection

Identity

Vegas

Enemy At The Gate

 

 

Video: 4 out of 5

Arriving nearly two years after testing the waters with a single-disc Fans' Choice release of four episodes, this Complete Series set on Blu-ray contains all 100 episodes, spread out over 20 discs (4 discs per season) and encoded in 1080p using the AVC codec.

 

The series was filmed, for the most part, with Panavision Genesis HD cameras (with some occasional use of 16mm and 35mm) in Vancouver, Canada, which provides a nice, film-like look to the show. Overall, colors are not over-saturated, with good blacks. Compression artifacts are virtually non-existent. Detail is very good to exceptional, improving with each season. The season five episode, Vegas, really pops with its amped color palette and contrast levels. Comparing this episode with the DVD release is almost night and day.

 

Audio: 4 out of 5

For a cable series, the sound design, in lossless DTS-HD Master Audio, is very impressive. Dialogue is clear and intelligible, emanating mostly from the center channel. Music is mostly stereo, with some bleed to the surrounds. Discrete sound effects are used, but mostly during action sequences. The soundtrack is active, but only when it needs to be, providing a nice, full soundstage that envelopes the room. This is a definite improvement over the DVD's 448 kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack.

 

Special Features: 3.5 out of 5

I am happy to report that the packaging for the Blu-ray release is a marked improvement over the DVD set debacle. All five seasons are housed in three sturdy Blu-ray keepcases, combining seasons one and two in an 8-disc case, seasons three and four in an 8-disc case, and season five in a 4-disc case, with a paperboard sleeve holding all three cases together. Personally, I would have preferred each season in its own keepcase, but this is an acceptable alternative.

 

Although a sticker on the shrinkwrap states that all of the special features are included on this set, missing are the two reflective and retrospective featurettes in addition to the original broadcast versions of the series' final two episodes that were included on an exclusive bonus disc on the Complete Series DVD set, Mission 100: Atlantis Reaches a Milestone and Stargate Atlantis: A Retrospective. Also missing are the various Photo Galleries from the individual season DVD sets and the featurette The Doctor Is In: The Return of Paul McGillion from season four.

 

All bonus features are in standard definition.

 

Season One, Disc One:

Audio Commentary for Rising (Parts 1 & 2) with Director Martin Wood and Acor Joe Flanigan

 

Audio Commentary for Hide and Seek with Actors Rachel Luttrell, Torri Higginson, and Paul McGillion

 

Audio Commentary for Thirty Eight Minutes with Actors Racel Lutrell and Paul McGillion

 

Stargate Atlantis Set Tour with Martin Wood and Peter DeLuise

 

Season One, Disc Two:

Audio Commentary for Childhood's End with Writer Martin Gero and Actors Rachel Lutttrell and Rainbow Sun Francks

 

Audio Commentary for The Storm with Director Martin Wood, Witer Martin Gero, and Actor David Hewlett

 

Wraithal Discrimination: It's Not Easy Being Green

 

Diary of Rainbow Sun Francks

 

Season One, Disc Three:

Audio Commentary for The Eye with Director Martin Wood, Witer Martin Gero, and Actor David Hewlett

 

Audio Commentary for The Defiant One with Director Peter DeLuise and Stunt Coordinator Dan Shea

 

Audio Commentary for Hot Zone with Writer Martin Gero and Actors Rachel Luttrell, Rainbow Sun Francks, and Paul McGillion

 

Audio Commentary for Sanctuary with Actors Rachel Luttrell and Torri Higginson

 

Mission Directive: Sanctuary

 

Mission Directive: Before I Sleep

 

Mission Directive: The Storm/The Eye

 

Season One, Disc Four:

Audio Commentary for The Brotherhood with Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero, and Actor David Hewlett

 

Audio Commentary for The Gift with Director Peter DeLuise and Stargate SG-1 Cast Member Gary Jones

 

Audio Commentary for The Siege (Part 1) with Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero, and Actor David Hewlett

 

Audio Commentary for The Siege (Part 2) with Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero, and Actors David Hewlett and Joe Flanigan

 

Mission Directive: The Siege

 

A Look Back On Season One With Martin Gero

 

Season Two, Disc One:

Audio Commentary for The Siege (Part 3) with Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero, and Actors David Hewlett and Joe Flanigan

 

Audio Commentary for The Intruder with Director Peter DeLuise and Stargate SG-1 Cast Member Gary Jones

 

Audio Commentary for Runner with Director Martin Wood and Actor David Hewlett

 

Audio Commentary for Duet with Director Peter DeLuise, Writer Martin Gero, and Actor David Hewlett

 

Audio Commentary for Condemned with Director Peter DeLuise and Stargate SG-1 Cast Member Gary Jones

 

Mission Directive: The Siege (Part 3)

 

Mission Directive: The Intruder

 

Season Two, Disc Two:

Audio Commentary for Trinity with Director Martin Wood and Writer Damian Kindler

 

Audio Commentary for Instinct with Director Andy Mikita and Producer Paul Mullie

 

Audio Commentary for Conversion with Writer Martin Gero and Actors Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett

 

Audio Commentary for Aurora by Director Martin Wood and Co-Producer Peter DeLuise

 

Audio Commentary for The Lost Boys with Writer Martin Gero and Actors Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett

 

Mission Directive: Instinct

 

Introduction to a Character: Ronon Dex

 

Season Two, Disc Three:

Audio Commentary for The Hive with Director Martin Wood

 

Audio Commentary for Epiphany with Director Neil Fearnley

 

Audio Commentary for Critical Mass with Director Andy Mikita, Actor Rachel Luttrell, and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer

 

Audio Commentary for Grace Under Pressure with Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero, and Actors Amanda Tapping and David Hewlett

 

Audio Commentary for The Tower with Producer Paul Mullie and Director Andy Mikita

 

Profile On: David Hewlett

 

Stargate Atlantis: Stunts

 

Season Two, Disc Four:

Audio Commentary for The Long Goodbye with Director Andy Mikita, Actor Torri Higginson, and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer

 

Audio Commentary for Coup D'Etat with Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero, and Actor David Hewlett

 

Audio Commentary for Michael with Director Martin Wood and Supervising Producer/Director Peter DeLuise

 

Audio Commentary for Inferno with Director Peter DeLuise and Stargate SG-1 Cast Member Gary Jones

 

Audio Commentary for Allies with Director Andy Mikita, Writer Martin Gero, and Actor David Hewlett

 

Road to a Dream with Martin Gero

 

Profile On: Paul McGillion

 

Season Three, Disc One:

Audio Commentary for No Man's Land with Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood

 

Audio Commentary for Misbegotten with Executive Producer Paul Mullie and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood

 

Audio Commentary for Irresistible with Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Director of Photography Michael Blundell

 

Audio Commentary for Sateda with Executive Producer, Writer, and Director Robert C. Cooper and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer

 

Audio Commentary for Progeny with Director Andy Mikita and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela

 

Mission Directive: Sateda

 

Mission Directive: Progeny

 

Profile On: Rachel Luttrell

 

Inside the Stargate Atlantis Visual Effects Department

 

Season Three, Disc Two:

Audio Commentary for Common Ground with Director William Waring and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer

 

Audio Commentary for McKay and Mrs. Miller with Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood

 

Audio Commentary for Phantoms with Co-Executive Producer Carl Binder and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood

 

Audio Commentary for The Return (Part 1) and with Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Executive Producer Paul Mullie

 

Mission Directive: Phantoms

 

General O'Neill Goes to Atlantis

 

Season Three, Disc Three:

Audio Commentary for The Return (Part 2) with Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Executive Producer Paul Mullie

 

Audio Commentary for Echoes with Director William Waring and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer

 

Audio Commentary for Irresponsible with Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Director of Photography Michael Blundell

 

Audio Commentary for Tao of Rodney with Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Director of Photography Michael Blundell

 

Audio Commentary for The Game with Director William Waring and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer

 

Mission Directive: The Game

 

Masters of the Alien

 

Season Three, Disc Four:

Audio Commentary for The Ark with Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela

 

Audio Commentary for Sunday with Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director William Waring

 

Audio Commentary for Submersion with Director Brenton Spencer and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela

 

Audio Commentary for Vengeance with Director Andy Mikita and Creature Effects Designer Todd Masters

 

Audio Commentary for First Strike with Producer/Writer Martin Gero, Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood, and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela

 

Mission Directive: First Strike

 

Stargate Atlantis: A Look Back on Season 3

 

Season Four, Disc One:

Audio Commentary for Adrift with Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood

 

Audio Commentary for Lifeline with Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Actress Amanda Tapping

 

Audio Commentary for Reunion with Executive Producer/Writer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring

 

Audio Commentary for Doppleganger with Executive Producer, Writer and Director Robert C. Cooper and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela

 

Audio Commentary for Travelers with Executive Producer/Writer Paul Mullie and Director William Waring

 

Mission Directive: Doppelganger

 

A New Leader: Amanda Tapping Joins Atlantis

 

Season Four, Disc Two:

Audio Commentary for Tabula Rasa with Producer/Writer Alan McCullough, Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Actress Amanda Tapping

 

Audio Commentary for Missing with Co-Executive Producer/Writer Carl Binder and Producer/Director Andy Mikita

 

Audio Commentary for The Seer with Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Director Andy Mikita

 

Audio Commentary for Miller's Crossing with Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Producer/Director Andy Mikita

 

Audio Commentary for This Mortal Coil with Executive Producer/Writer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring

 

Stargate Atlantis Bloopers

 

Mission Directive: This Mortal Coil

 

Season Four, Disc Three:

Audio Commentary for Be All My Sins Remember’d with Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Producer/Director Andy Mikita

 

Audio Commentary for Spoils of War with Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Director William Waring

 

Audio Commentary for Quarantine with Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Actress Amanda Tapping

 

Audio Commentary for Harmony with Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director William Waring

 

Audio Commentary for Outcast with Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Producer/Director Andy Mikita

 

Mission Directive: Quarantine

 

Mission Directive: Outcast

 

Season Four, Disc Four:

Audio Commentary for Trio with Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero, Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Actress Amanda Tapping

 

Audio Commentary for The Kindred with Executive Producer/Writer Joseph Mallozzi and Director Peter F. Woeste

 

Audio Commentary for The Kindred (Part 2) with Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood

 

Audio Commentary for The Last Man with Executive Producer/Writer Paul Mullie and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood

 

The Making of Trio

 

A Look Back at Season 4

 

Deleted Scenes

 

Season Five, Disc One:

Audio Commentary for Search and Rescue with Executive Producer Martin Gero and Director/Producer Andy Mikita

 

Audio Commentary for The Seed with Director William Waring

 

Audio Commentary for Broken Ties with Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi and Actor Jason Momoa

 

Audio Commentary for The Daedalus Variations with Supervising Producer Alan McCullough and Director/Producer Andy Mikita

 

Mission Directive: Search and Rescue

 

Showdown! Ronon vs. Tyre

 

Bringing The Seed to Life

 

Season Five, Disc Two:

Audio Commentary for Whispers with Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring

 

Audio Commentary for The Queen with Supervising Producer Alan McCullough and Director Brenton Spencer

 

Audio Commentary for Tracker with Executive Producer Carl Binder and Director William Waring

 

Audio Commentary for First Contact with Executive Producer Martin Gero and Director/Producer Andy Mikita

 

Mission Directive: Whispers

 

Mission Directive: Tracker

 

Tricks of the Trade: Submerging the Stargate

 

Joe Flanigan: A Conversation with the Colonel

 

Season Five, Disc Three:

Audio Commentary for The Lost Tribe with Executive Producer Martin Gero and Director/Producer Andy Mikita

 

Audio Commentary for Outsiders with Supervising Producer Alan McCullough and Director William Waring

 

Audio Commentary for Inquisition with Director Brenton Spencer and Actor Tobias Slezak

 

Audio Commentary for The Prodigal with Executive Producer Carl Binder and Director/Producer Andy Mikita

 

Audio Commentary for Remnants with Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring

 

Building a Humanoid

 

Dr. Jackson Goes to Atlantis

 

The Life and Death of Michael Kenmore

 

Inside the Stargate Costume Department

 

Deleted Scenes

 

Season Five, Disc Four:

Audio Commentary for Brain Storm with Executive Producer/Director Martin Gero

 

Audio Commentary for Vegas with Executive Producer Robert C. Cooper, Producer John G. Lenic and Editor Mike Banas

 

Audio Commentary for Enemy at the Gate with Executive Producer Paul Mullie and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela

 

Mission Directive: Brain Storm

 

Stargate Atlantis Goes To Vegas

 

Deleted Scenes

 

 

Overall: 4 out of 5

The audio and video are obviously worth the upgrade from DVD to Blu-ray, and the set will occupy less shelf space than any of the previous DVD versions. However, there are some items missing in this set that were available in the previous DVD version of the complete series. Fans will have to ask themselves if the exclusions are an acceptable loss or to hang on to the DVDs of this series.

Sounds like you have a defective disc. I found no such issue on my copy.