Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Series
Studio: MGM / 20th 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
