Stargate Atlantis - The Complete Third Season Reviews

• Good at times but overall fails to realize its potential

  
  By A16QODENBJVUI1 on 2007-07-08
  Warning! There are multiple spoilers in the following review!
  
  I've watched STARGATE ATLANTIS from the beginning and have more or less enjoyed it from the start. I definitely plan on continuing to watch it, but I have some concerns about the show that I'm convinced have to be addressed for it to continue to be worth watching.
  
  First and foremost, ATLANTIS has always had and continues to have serious cast problems. They have now had three complete seasons to address these problems and while they have played with it some, most of their decisions have been odd at best. I really like Joe Flannigan as Sheppard and David Hewlett as Rodney, but beyond that the cast is mainly made up of liabilities. There was one other actor I liked a lot on the show, Paul McGillion as Beckett, but inexplicably in remaking the cast they chose to kill off one of the few strong characters on the show. Rachel Luttrell as Teyla is more baffling. Her character has never been very interesting, but I'm not convinced that Luttrell is untalented. I suspect that for whatever reason the writers have simply not been willing or able to come up with any interesting arcs for her (apart from having an interesting connection to the wraiths, which by and large has been underutilized). My hope is that they will rethink Teyla and either do both her and us a favor and kill her off, or become more aggressive in writing her character and give her some significant arcs and character development. Jason Momoa as Ronon, however, is probably a lost cause. He is perhaps the most wooden actor on television today and they have done virtually nothing of interest with his character. David Nykl, however, is good as Zelenka. I always enjoy his scenes with Rodney. Finally, I really want to like Torri Higginson (not least because she bears a scary resemblance to an ex-girlfriend of mine). I love shows that feature strong and interesting female characters, but after three years she remains yet another character with whom they've been unable to do very much. In her case, however, it appears that the producers have decided to either write her out of the show entirely or reduce her merely to a recurring character. I will continue to watch and sometimes enjoy STARGATE ATLANTIS, but they really need to do some serious rehabilitation.
  
  Some help is on the way. We know that Amanda Tapping and her character Samantha Carter will be moving over from the cancelled STARGATE SG-1 to become the new head of the Atlantis project. I think she will bring more strength to the role than Torri Higginson did. Normally I would also applaud the casting of Jewel Staite as the new base doctor. I loved her on FIREFLY as Kaylee, but I still regret Beckett's leaving the show. But I honestly feel that the cast needs several more major changes. The show has had to rely far too heavily on Sheppard and Rodney.
  
  The end of Season Three did, however, leave hope for new and better things. Atlantis has emerged as the name not of a location that cannot be moved, but of a truly mobile city that can relocate . . . well, to anywhere. The season ends with the city blasting off into space. I'm anxious to see what happens next. But whatever they do, I would like to see the show continue the risks it started taking in Season Three. Killing Beckett was an abominable mistake (especially given that there were some other characters who could have been killed with far greater profit to the show), but it at least started giving the show something that both it and SG-1 have always lacked: a body count. The good adventure shows have body counts. SG-1 had next to none. The only truly heartbreaking death in ten seasons was when Dr. Frasier was killed. It is no accident that that the episode in which that occurred was one of the finest in the series' run. If you don't have a body count, you get no sense of danger. On shows like BUFFY, LOST, and BATTLESTAR GALACTIC they have killed off some important characters. As a result when a character is in danger you get a degree of danger that you never, ever get on ATLANTIS or SG-1. Well, at least until they killed off Beckett and at least seriously injured Weir. I dearly hope they continue doing this in the future.
  
  I also hope that we see Season Four taking the stories of the Wraith and the replicators to newer and more complex levels. The series has had some great moments over the first three seasons, especially when they let situations get really desperate. Hopefully they will continue to do this.
  
  While Season Three frequently left me wanting more due to the weaknesses in the overall cast, there were some great moments. The season finale (both SG-1 and ATLANTIS have had some fine season enders) was splendid. And the season featured what may be my favorite episode of the entire series so far in "Common Ground," in which the Genii kidnap Sheppard and enclose him with a wraith who is allowed to feed on no one else. Christopher Heyerdahl has played several wraiths on the series, but in this episode he was allowed to give this particular wraith a dignity and complexity not allowed any other wraith with the exception of Michael. He gradually drains the life out of Sheppard out of sheer necessity before the two of them, cooperating as human and wraith never have before, manage to escape from the Genii. Then, in a moment that could lead to interesting plot developments in the future, we discover that the wraiths cannot only drain another creature of life, they can also imbue them with it, and as a sign of comradeship he heals Sheppard. I want arcs like this one! On a host of other series some of the most interesting characters have been those who came over from the other side. On STAR TREK: VOYAGER, we had Seven of Nine; on BUFFY we had Angel, Anya, and Spike; currently on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA we have Sharon Agathon and (possibly) Caprica Six; and on SG-1 we had Teal'c. I think it would be fascinating if they could do something like that with a wraith.
  
  So I wait for the beginning of Season Four with some nervousness. The show has some weaknesses and problems, but they are fixable. The series has not lost any of its potential. But until we see how the new city in the air Atlantis works in terms of story and how the new cast changes affect the chemistry we won't know for sure. One thing is for certain. Season Four should bear little resemblance to any of the first three seasons.
  
  

• Definate Improvement Over Season 2 & Possibilities For An Even Better Season 4!

  
  By A3IF5BJFPH8OG5 on 2007-06-27
  Season 3 was a definate improvement over season 2. There are a number of different reasons for this; *WARNING*: Some Spoilers ahead!
  
  
  
  First off, more interesting stories with both gains and losses! They fleshed out a few of the characters a bit more like Ronan and Rodney, but again left Teyla out in the cold! I thought her character was pretty good in the first season, but around the middle of season 2 through the end of 3, I completely lost interest in her. She basically just stands around as a little eye candy; when she is even in a scene! Lately she has come across as somewhat condesending with a "holier-than-thou" attitude. If they killed her off, I wouldn't miss her! (I read somewhere that she is pregnant, so the writers are putting that in some of the 4th season episodes, meaning less screen time! The rumor also hinted that she will rejoin "what is left of her people", and leave SGA!)
  
  
  
  This also brings up characters that ARE lost, and others we will gain. The first character we lost was Dr. Carlson Beckett in the episode "Sunday"! A very sad episode! I really liked his character. He was a really nice, cool and calm guy, providing a moral center like Daniel Jackson did for SG-1, which was a perfect "yin" to Rodney McKay's hypertensive, egocentric and often rude "yang". Replacing him will be Jewel Staite as Dr. Jennifer Keller (best known from Firefly). She looks more grown-up, adult-like on SG Atlantis than her more kid-like character did from Firefly. (Which is good if she is to be taken seriously) And as always, she is definately still a hottie!
  
  Another character will be Dr. Elizabeth Weir. Her role has been slowly spiraling downwards in season 3, so much like Teyla, I won't really miss her! Although her fate was undecided at the end of this season, she is going to die in season 4 and will be replaced with an SG-1 veteran, Col. Samantha Carter! She will become the new Atlantis commander and should replace Carson as a spring board for Rodney. With their past chemistry it will be like mixing acids and bases, getting quite a volatile reaction at first, but neutralizing in the end. Sheppard and her should also butt heads a lot as she will out-rank him militarily.
  
  
  
  Lastly, I've also read some of the previous reviews and would have to disagree with some of their comments. First off, Rodney McKay is HILARIOUS! His character's annoying, smug attitude is what makes him so funny! Especially with the different reactions the other characters give Rodney when interacting with him! (Ex.'s: Sheppard and Ronon threaten him when he gets annoying; Carson (use to) patronize him even though Rodney didn't realize it, etc.) One thing I didn't like about this season was how the Wraith were practically non-existent! Instead they replaced them with the Replicators! These done-to-death bad guys are really starting to get old since they've been used so much in SG-1. I think the only good point of having them on Atlantis was learning more about their origins. They need to bring the Wraith back since they are the pre-dominant bad guys for Atlantis and need to delve deeper into their culture, weaknesses, etc.
  
  
  
  Whatever your opinion on the 3rd season of Atlantis, most people will agree it has gotten better since season 2. And with all the quick changes at the end of the 3rd like 2 major characters dying/replaced and Atlantis itself heading off to a new planet to put down new roots, it gives potential for an awesome season 4! Lets just hope they don't screw it up!
  
  

• Best show ever!

  
  By A2XVY5I5YBKYJB on 2007-06-21
  Having seen all of Season Three already I have to say that it was the best Stargate Season this year. Since SG-1 made the ori-storyline-mistake Stargate Atlantis was able to redeem the franchise.
  
  I am glad that the wraith are taking the back seat this time. The Asurans/Replicators are a much more interesting foe for our heroes.
  
  My only complaint for this season is that it had way too much Rodney in it. He became too annoying. I missed Teyla this season. It seemed that the writers didn't know what to do with her. Nevertheless a great season.
  
  I bet Teyla is referring to Sheppard in Sunday with having feelings for someone.
  
  

• Atlantis treads water.

  
  By A11ED8O95W2103 on 2007-11-04
  I just finished watching the third season DVD set, and while Stargate Atlantis is still my favorite Sci-Fi show, I was rather disapointed.
  
  Here's why.
  
  (Warning! Spoilers below!)
  
  First, story arc failure. I was expecting a huge advancement in the story arc concerning the Wraith, but it just didn't happen. Sure, they appear in a few good episodes, but it didn't seem like the story with respect to them in particular moved at all.
  
  Second, killing off Dr. Beckett. I really liked him. Maybe I'm dating myself a bit here, but he was kind of like Scotty and McCoy rolled together but with a cooler head. This very lovable character will be missed.
  
  Third, rehashing the replicators. With an entirely new galaxy as our backdrop for this series, why do the replicator thing all over again? It was original enough on Stargate SG-1, but I was amazed that Atlantis started a story arc with replicators too. Are they going creatively bankrupt already?
  
  Fourth, rehashing old sci-fi standbys, like the "weird alien thingy or disease that causes loyal comrades to start killing each other". Did the original Star Trek do this in the episode "The Naked Time" and wasn't it done again by Star Trek Next Generation as the second or third episode in that series?
  
  Fifth, bringing back a whole ship full of "ancients" just to kill them all off by the end of the two part episode. So, the "ancients" have gone from being a great and mysterious race of humanoids from the past to an expediant plot device. We can create them and destroy them at will just to get and episode or two. Couldn't an "ancient" or two have been spared and used as secondary characters? Wouldn't that have been interesting? They could have helped explore the rest of the city. Their ship could have been recovered. There's so much that could have been done with them that wasn't.
  
  Sixth, lack of character development. Tayla could be a full-fledged warrior princess with a rich heritage and tons of wisdom, but she seems little more than a pretty (to say the least) face with a great body who never uses contractions (reminds me of Barbara Eden in I Dream of Jeanie) and tilts her head a lot. And then there's Ronan the Monotone Macho man who does nothing for me but must appeal to a certain demographic so he's still there.
  
  Still, the season ended with a special effects spectacular and a tightly written script that showed just what the Atlantis team is capable of. And, of course there's the wealth of special features and commentaries that you get as part of the standard package with Stargate franchise DVD sets, and that greatly adds to the value of the set.
  
  I haven't seen any of season four. Here's hoping.
  
  

• New heights

  
  By A3QA814PX764J9 on 2007-09-19
  For my money, the third season of Stargate Atlantis is the best thus far. All of the seasons have been somewhat hit-and-miss, in terms of episode quality, but I think season three brings a wealth of much-needed character development. We learn more about the mysterious Sheppard in "Phantoms" and the taciturn Ronon Dex in "Sateda," while the episodes "McKay and Mrs. Miller" and "The Tao of Rodney" provide new dimensions to the brilliant and blustery Rodney McKay. McKay's character arc alone -- looking from his original guest appearances years ago on SG-1 to the newest Atlantis offerings -- is staggering, and David Hewlett greatly deserves the praise he's received for his performance. Outside of something like Firefly, I think it's rare to see a show in this genre explore so much of the characters' backstories, and it's gratifying to see it finally happening for SGA.
  
  Teyla is certainly underutilized, and I hope that this season will bring new depths to her character. From what I've heard, there is definitely the opportunity for that to happen.
  
  
• Gets Better and Better
  By A39CXH2958LDRT on 2007-07-21
  I just loved this series and I'm very glad they are releasing it on DVD so soon! season 2 took forever to come on DVD.
  
  I have to say that Stargate Atlantis is a wonderful show, darker and yet funnier than SG1 I guess the writers got to get better at their job while working on SG1 and the now 3 seasons of Atlantis.
  If you watch the show, this is a most, and if you are just starting well now you have 60 episodes available to watch without having to wait.
  Love all the characters can't wait for season 4 to begin!
  
  
• best of the 3
  By A1TPBMY2JWHAMK on 2007-06-24
  This one kicked off to a good start since there were some really good story-lines in it. I think that if there were 2 drawbacks in this season then it would be that they brought in the episodes on they're encounters with that narcisstic man in the episodes "Irrisistable" and "Irresponsible" but other than that the season turned out really well. It was also a good idea that they brought in an old favorite from the original show for 3 episodes as well, I especially liked the cliff-hanger when they brought the team back together and fought for their city and home. All in all, I recommend this one to any who like the series and look forward to the following season.
  
  
• season 3 of Stargate Atlantis
  By A3FSE67GJQPV16 on 2007-07-29
  
  
  This was a Excellent season as always, very good jobs on all parts i thought they really brought out a lot of the characters like they said , even Joe Flanigan's character John Sheppard , but only problem i have is with the cover art for the box set , it just looks so ugly i can't believe they are using it wow, anyway they are suppose to be a production company better then regular people and this what they give us it looks horrible they first one was just fine
  
  
• YOU KILLED WHO??? & NOT AGAIN
  By AB4UF7SDIPWLL on 2007-10-05
  Just finished watching it. I liked the adding of depth to the wraith who saved Sheperd. This (and developing some of the characters) should have happened. The replacaters!! AGAIN!!!! Give me a break! There are plenty of other enemies without dredging up old ones. Even if you haven't watched Sg1 there are already plenty of enemies in Atlantis without them. Stargate-SG1 went in too many directions and left too many unresolved stories. (in seasons 1-8) I hope Atlantis doesn't follow suit.
  I watched the feature about the making of "Sunday". Yeah! You wanted an emotional show about losing a major actor! You picked the wrong one!! You mentioned knowing that the show had been picked up for another year. You should have waited until you were canceled to kill him!!! We love the actors from "firefly" but at least Sg-1 created a new character instead of killing one of the favorites. Why didn't you kill Zelenske?? His accent turns on and off more than our taps! You killed one of our favorite characters in the ancient weapon satelite. Not a major part of show but we miss him.
  Now that I'm off my soap box I will say that the Stargate shows aren't like other sci-fi shows that treat audiences like morons!! We've learned a great deal about Science and the nature of all thinking beings.
  
  
  
• Best season so far, BUT....
  By A16ZG6RRWZLR0W on 2007-10-20
  Season 3's main achievement is with the characters. The team was likable enough before, but in season 3, they become absolutely endearing thanks to this season's outstanding job with character development. Ronon wasn't a favorite of mine before, but it's all changed after watching "Sateda", one of best episodes of the series so far with "Common Ground".
  
  Unfortunately, just when the season is almost over and you're cheering the producers for having achieved the perfect chemistry among the SGA team members, you get hit over the head with "Sunday". I only get to watch SGA when the DVDs are out, so I was totally unprepared for the shocking ending which left me speechless at first, then very sad, and finally very upset with the producers. What were they thinking? Who in the world first came up with such a "brilliant" idea?
  
  Season 3 is excellent, you will love the characters, but I wonder what season 4 will be like. I heard Sam was joining the cast. Amanda Tapping is adorable, but - please don't hurt me - I find her flawless supergenius-to-the-rescue character too unidimensional and boring. I much prefer flawed multidimensional characters like SG-1 Vala (Claudia Black). As for Jewel, I have seen very little of her yet since I don't get to watch Season 4, but I simply can't imagine her as the new chief medical officer. She was a much better fit in Firefly. One can only hope Season 4 will be at least as good as this season, but when there are people in charge making decisions like killing the most lovable character of the show and, to make matters worse, replace him with someone totally unbelievable in the same role, I'm not holding my breath.
  
  
• As always great fun, but very often disappointing
  By A298D6BLPSPGHI on 2007-09-27
  Despite the 3-star rating, for me `Stargate: Atlantis' remains slick and absorbing television and it's still one of my favourite shows. But so often with season three there's a great deal of promise, only for little to be delivered in terms of engrossing stories with a moral core, or with convincing character development. I also find it disconcerting how the Wraith are being developed into a race devoid of any redeemable qualities and how despite their sentience they're treated as little more than base life forms, even when they take human form and gain the potential to do good, as evidenced in episode 2- `Misbegotten' (7/10).
  
  Sadly, I also think the show is beginning to suffer from a lack of well-rounded, sympathetic characters- Rodney is central to a huge number of episodes in this season compared to his fellow cast members, episodes that see him learning valuable lessons, only to revert back to his usual rude, sarcastic, abusive self in the next episode, apparently having learned nothing from the experiences. Ronan proves himself once and for all to be completely one-dimensional in the fourth episode- `Sateda' (4/10)- he's violent, threatening, reckless, disobedient and has no other sides to his personality.
  
  Episode 5- `Progeny' (10/10) is totally absorbing, tense and surprising, combining the best themes that the original Stargate and Stargate: Atlantis have to offer.
  
  Episode 7- `Common Ground' (6/10) is the latest attempt to resurrect the way-past-its-peak/flogging-a-dead-horse Genii story-arc. The story has strong shades of an episode series co-creator and executive producer Brad Wright wrote for the Outer Limits a few years ago called `Quality of Mercy' exploring how captivity can mess with your sense of reality and alter your preconceptions, but the story is just too thin here. The Genii were once an interesting race and really convincing foes despite their technological inferiority, but since Colm Meaney was supplanted as their leader it's a storyline that's clearly become directionless. On the positive side, the Wraith prisoner in this episode is dealt with fairly and with some sympathy, which makes a welcome change.
  
  Episode 12- `The Return, Part I' (9/10) is incredibly promising, as an Ancient transport is accidentally discovered travelling through space. Its crew members are subsequently brought back to Atlantis where the Ancient female leader takes abrupt and surprising action. But as the story resumes in `The Return, Part II' (6/10) it suddenly becomes another story entirely, the female Ancient representative vanishes into thin air and with the exception of Jack O'Neill swimming through a flooded area of the city the episode doesn't come close to realising its potential.
  
  In episode 15- `The Game' (7/10) Sheppard and McKay begin playing what they assume is an Ancient form of recreation, but which turns out to be absolutely real to the inhabitants of a distant planet. It's a fun idea, but the way the premise is constructed is just too implausible and the story is filled with so many coincidences that for me it just lost all credibility. It also has some really poor characterisation- Dr. Weir supposedly spent years as a talented delegate back on Earth, it was in fact one of the reasons she was awarded the leadership of the Atlantis expedition, but in this episode she can't even succeed in keeping two representatives from opposing sides at the conference table for a minute and a half (and they aren't even that uncompromising). This could have been Weir's chance to shine and for her character to finally be recognised as the talented, respected, useful member of the team we know she can be, but instead we have 44 minutes of Sheppard and McKay bickering like 5-year-olds.
  
  Then comes episode 17- `Sunday' (7/10) which is downright baffling. It starts off as a gentle sidestep into the personal lives of the expedition members and suddenly, right out of the blue the Atlantis team suffers a surprising loss in the form of one of their closest colleagues. All I can say is...prepare yourself for the end of an era.
  
  The penultimate episode `Vengeance' (6/10) sees the return of part Human, part Wraith Michael in a much repeated story in the Stargate franchise. Is it just me, or is this the opposite direction most viewers would have preferred this character taking? There's no ethical conflict, or even any conscience left in the character at all, he's completely transformed into the clichéd villain and is now lumped in with the many other enemies the Atlantis expedition has managed to accumulate since arriving in the city.
  
  The season final episode- `First Strike' (8/10) rightly continues on from the best episode of season three `Progeny' and also sets the all-action, guns blazing, no compromises, no retreats tone that has made the season finales of the previous two years so entertaining. Unfortunately, I think the story layout for the finale's has now become too familiar i.e. the stakes are set high for Atlantis, the mission doesn't go as planned, the consequences could be disastrous for all and then comes the obligatory cliff-hanger ending. Earth's military again involve themselves in the affaires of the city, but this time the implications are very ominous for the civilian contingent of the expedition, suggesting a movement towards an even more militaristic regime in future seasons, which I personally don't agree with, but I guess I'll have to reserve judgment until season four...
  
  
• Episode plots
  By A335HWVBHCBNA9 on 2008-05-08
  Season 3, Episode 1: No Man's Land
  Original Air Date: 14 July 2006
  Two Wraith Hive ships have captured Dr. McKay and Ronon and are on their way to Earth. It is up to Colonel Sheppard to rescue them and figure out a way to stop the Wraith from reaching a "new feeding ground".
  
  
  Season 3, Episode 2: Misbegotten
  Original Air Date: 21 July 2006
  After turning a Wraith hive ship crew into humans, the Atlantis team must decide on their fate. Meanwhile, Dr. Weir finds herself under the scrutiny of Richard Woolsey and the I.O.A.
  
  Season 3, Episode 3: Irresistible
  Original Air Date: 28 July 2006
  A man from another world has an unusual effect on the Atlantis team, causing them to behave strangely. The few unaffected team members must uncover the cause.
  
  Season 3, Episode 4: Sateda
  Original Air Date: 4 August 2006
  Sheppard, Teyla and Ronon come under attack on a forested world. Ronon, realizing that he has been on the planet before, learns that his earlier visit came with harsh consequences.
  
  Season 3, Episode 5: Progeny
  Original Air Date: 11 August 2006
  The Atlantis expedition encounters a highly advanced race, the Asurans whom they at first believe to be the Ancients. However, this new race is just a new face of an old nemesis.
  
  Season 3, Episode 6: The Real World
  Original Air Date: 18 August 2006
  Dr Weir finds herself on Earth where, to everyone else, the Atlantis Expedition was just her delusion.
  
  Season 3, Episode 7: Common Ground
  Original Air Date: 25 August 2006
  John Sheppard is captured by the evil Kolya of the Genii and imprisoned in a cell adjacent to a Wraith as Dr. Weir negotiates for his release.
  
  Season 3, Episode 8: McKay and Mrs. Miller
  Original Air Date: 8 September 2006
  When his sister Jeannie comes up with a vital mathematical proof, Rodney returns to Earth to visit his sister Jeannie and take her to Atlantis. But things become complicated when another Rodney McKay from a parallel universe arrives.
  
  Season 3, Episode 9: Phantoms
  Original Air Date: 15 September 2006
  Sheppard and Ronon find themselves under the influence of a Wraith mind-altering device that threatens to force the entire team to kill--each other!
  
  Season 3, Episode 10: The Return: Part 1
  Original Air Date: 22 September 2006
  While testing a chain of Stargates that will allow travel from Atlantis to Earth in about 30 minutes (the "McKay-Carter Intergalactic Gate Bridge"), McKay, Sheppard and the team discover an Ancient ship traveling at almost the speed of light.
  
  When Dr. Weir talks to the travelers, she is surprised by their request that the expedition members vacate the city of Atlantis.
  
  Season 3, Episode 11: The Return: Part 2
  Original Air Date: 20 November 2006
  Major General Jack O'Neill's mission to defend Atlantis fails as he and Richard Woolsey are taken prisoner during an Asuran assault on the city.
  
  Sheppard's team, Dr. Weir and Dr. Carson steal a Jumper from Stargate Command on Earth and come back to Pegasus galaxy with a plan to retake Atlantis.
  
  Season 3, Episode 12: Echoes
  Original Air Date: 27 November 2006
  The whales of Lantea congregate around the city and the inhabitants of Atlantis begin to suffer ill effects. Are they there to communicate or attack?
  
  Season 3, Episode 13: Irresponsible
  Original Air Date: 4 December 2006
  The team investigate rumors of an invincible hero off-world, only to find Lucius Lavin again manipulating a hapless village.
  
  Season 3, Episode 14: Tao of Rodney
  Original Air Date: 11 December 2006
  While shutting down systems in Atlantis, McKay is zapped by a strange Ancient machine. He begins to have superpowers, but things are never as they seem, and Rodney and the team must race against his mutations to save his life.
  
  Season 3, Episode 15: The Game
  Original Air Date: 18 December 2006
  To while away the hours, Sheppard and McKay have been secretly competing against one another in a real-time strategy game they discovered on Atlantis. To their surprise, they discover that this is more than just a game....
  
  Season 3, Episode 16: The Ark
  Original Air Date: 8 January 2007
  The Atlantis team uncovers the last survivors of a civilization who have been placed in suspended animation aboard a space station. As some of the people awaken, problems from the past threaten to destroy everyone on the station, including Sheppard.
  
  Season 3, Episode 17: Sunday
  Original Air Date: 15 January 2007
  Almost every member of the Atlantis expedition has a day off. Some of them are enjoying their free time or are catching up on some old work. The Sunday, a day like no other, suddenly turns bad and it appears that a lot of people are in danger.
  
  Season 3, Episode 18: Submersion
  Original Air Date: 22 January 2007
  The team goes searching for an alternate power source beneath the surface of the Lantean ocean. When arriving at the power plant, Teyla senses a Wraith nearby.
  
  Season 3, Episode 19: Vengeance
  Original Air Date: 29 January 2007
  After losing contact with the new Taranin (the people rescued by the Atlantis team when a super volcano threatened to destroy their planet) settlement, Sheppard's team leaves to investigate. Finding the town deserted, they move to investigate an extensive subterranean tunnel system. What they find there holds dark tidings for the entire Pegasus Galaxy.
  
  Season 3, Episode 20: First Strike 1
  Original Air Date: 5 February 2007
  After learning the Asurians are building a fleet of ships, Earth sends it's newest ship, the Apollo, under the command of Colonel Abe Ellis to initiate a preemptive first strike to stop them from attacking Atlantis or worse, Earth itself.
  
  
  
• Neat special effects
  By AE7SERYWPSWSU on 2007-07-23
  This season we saw the Atlanteans return, more spaceships, more replicators, and finally the station blasting into space. I'm a bit tired of Tayla's culture--most of the Jaffa centered episodes in the other series were rather weak. But Atlantis has some potential left (though I'd like to tackle the ascension angle a bit more--these wraiths don't have quite enough dimension to them).
  
  
• Atlantis starts to show its spark
  By A1TQF8YG29KSEG on 2007-11-07
  After 2 seasons of plodding along, Atlantis really picks up for its 3rd season.
  
  Characters start to feel more fleshed out, with developments in their lifes and not feeling like the cardboard cut outs of the previous 2 seasons.
  
  
  I wont give away any of the plots etc but there are a good couple of running b plots that show up every now and then, something season one and two had a lack of.
  
  IN short, if you had given up on atlantis, season 3 is worth watching as it almost feels like its started again afresh.
  
  
• The best season so far.
  By A2QDPJRVXL7P4F on 2008-03-22
  This is by far the best season so far. I kept looking forward for nighttime to watch an episode.
  
  One thing I like about this season is that some episodes follow on the previous ones. In other words, many episodes are not standalone. Many viewers do prefer standalone episodes, and producers certainly do. For producers, having standalone episodes means a viewer can jump in and watch the series at anytime during the season. This has the benefit of increasing ratings. For some viewers, standalone episodes are also an advantage since they can watch and enjoy an episode without having seen any other episodes. I, on the other hand, prefer continuity, sort of like 24 Hours. For this reason, I thought this season of Stargate Atlantis to be the best.
  
  I do have a few comments about this season:
  
  1. Dr. Beckett dies in a very simple plot. I was really very disappointed. Beckett was one of my favorite characters, and I often wished he was given more of a principal role. The writers also did a lousy job in the episode in which he was killed. They could have killed him off in two or three one-hour episodes that followed up on each other, thus adding more suspense and thrill. On the other side of the coin, though, killing off a principal character also means that all characters on the show are susceptible to death--none are superhuman. We know James Bond never dies in his movies. However, next time a character is threatened with death in Stargate Atlantis, we will be glued to our seats, wondering whether he or she will die! `Death in the air' makes the episodes more suspenseful.
  
  2. The character of Teyla (Rachel Luttrell) has not been developed, and she does not have much to say that is interesting. She is also dressed up in a way to make her look sexy. Shouldn't she be wearing a uniform? Can you imagine a female soldier in Iraq wearing her outfit?
  
  3. Jason Momoa as Ronon is another underdeveloped character. Sometimes he is annoying. He also is sparsely dressed, being topless most of the time. Like Teyla, I would imagine he'd wear a uniform. Don't they ever get cold?
  
  4. Dr. Weir's (Torri Higginson) character is also weak. She should be given more principal roles. There are rumors that she might be replaced in upcoming seasons.
  
  5. There is too much Rodney in this season, and this gets to be annoying at times.
  
  6. In one episode, a ship full of ancients is found. They reclaim Atlantis, and basically kick out the Stargate team from the city, who all return back to Earth. However, in the second episode they are all killed. That was really bad storytelling. As one reviewer pointed out, couldn't an "ancient" or two have been spared and used as secondary characters in latter episodes? They could have helped explore the rest of the city and reveal its many secrets. We could have also known more about the ancients and their culture. Furthermore, their ship could have been recovered and used to fight the Wraiths. There's so much that could have been done with the surviving ancients that wasn't.
  
  7. The episode "Common Ground," in which the Genii kidnap Sheppard and enclose him with a Wraith was fascinating. We discover that the Wraiths not only drain another creature of life, but can also give life as well. For the first time, a bond is formed between a Wraith and a human. Wraiths are shown to be human after all. Humans hunt and kill prey (animals) in order to survive. Wraiths kill humans because we are prey to them, and they need to feed on us to survive. Viewed in this context, aren't Wraiths and humans the same? It all boils down to survival of the fittest.
  
  The season ends with the city blasting off into space. Having lost all power, it just floats in space. I can't wait for season 4!
  
  
• Engaging
  By A21RNKS00OB1NW on 2007-09-19
  This season has an excellent and engaging plot, storyline and the writing remains excellent! Storyline and characters are anything but stagnat or boring, just the opposite! A must for Stargate Atlantis fans!
  
  
• Season 3 boxed set
  By A2EWOATY1L0FSK on 2007-10-08
  My review is not on the episodes of Season 3 as other people have already done that but rather a question.
  I purchased this set in New Zealand and found there was no Chapter Index. The retailer said that they were all received like this.
  Has anyone else had this problem (I typed a list of the episodes on each disc so that a least I could find the one I wanted)?
  
  
• Stargate Atlantis season 3
  By A12RLQYX0UW3H0 on 2007-10-09
  Excellent, love the show. Hope it lasts for years as did stargate sg-1. Reccomend all 3 seasons to own and watch.
  
  
• Great Season for SG/Atlantis
  By A2MSRNP6OQWCYP on 2007-10-10
  I really enjoyed this season of SG/Atlantis. I felt like we got to know some of the characters a little better, especially Ronon. But losing Beckett was a real heart-breaker- He was one of my favorites (his brogue was so charming!)- Maybe he can come back as an Ascended being (ala Daniel Jackson!) I can't wait until season 4 comes out in DVD, (since we don't have TV in our home), and see what Samantha does with Atlantis (although I will really miss Elizabeth- why can't they both stay?) It broke my heart when SG1 was cancelled, but SG/Atlantis will hopefully fill the void!
  
  
• Stargate Atlantis The Complete Third Season
  By A38GBGTXDPHN09 on 2007-10-13
  The show just keeps getting better and better. It has out done Stargarte SG-1 consitantly the past 2 years. The cast is outstanding and the episodes are exciting to watch. I recommend it highly.
  
  
• Exelente opcion!
  By A3FES5B2F60XKO on 2007-10-15
  It is an excelent choice!
  
  No entiendo mucho Ingles y mucho menos escribirlo pero quiero decirles que definitivamente, si les gusta ente tipo series de ciencia ficcion y fantasia, no se van a arrepentir. Pense que con stragate sg-1, ya lo habia visto todo y afortunadamente me equivoque!
  
  Muy buena!
  
  Very nice!
  
  
  
• Stargate Atlantis: Season 3
  By A3SGZN65MYQ1U3 on 2007-10-17
  Season 3 of Stargate Atlantis is by far the best so far of the series. The DVD layout is amazing and easily accessible. The cover art could be better but that does not effect the DVD itself. A fine gift or personal purchase!
  
  
• Atlantis Season 3
  By AN02WV80F3DM6 on 2007-10-17
  I've got to say that, with the departure of SG-1 off the air, Atlantis has become more and more interesting to me. While I had seen season 3 previously, having it on DVD to watch again has been great. It also is nice to see the latter half of the season, as the Atlantis team is shook up and everything shifts in preparation for what comes in season 4 (and which has already aired).
  
  I definitely would say that this season is at the top of Atlantis' work thus far. I look forward to season 4 and the episodes that come from it.
  
  
• Just keeps getting better
  By A250EYWYZZI05F on 2007-10-17
  Love the thin pack. Easy to navigate and if you are a Stargate Altantis fan you will enjoy the entire season. Like all the options. Kept the advertisements down to a minimum.
  
  
  
  
• stargate atlantis season 3
  By A3C5C79C7RIW80 on 2007-10-18
  A terrific follow up to season 2 and with a sting in the tail which
  was unforseen well worth the time to watch a second time roll on season 4.
  
  
• STARGATE ATLANTIS-STELLAR!!
  By A3HSTGCQWAPO38 on 2007-10-20
  Stargate Atlantis season 3 is an outstanding DVD set. It is packed with extras and is in my opinion the best season yet of the spin off series in the Stargate family. The final 6 episodes culminate into what made waiting for season 4 to begin a difficult wait. Don't miss adding this set to your collection! Money well spent!
  
  
• awesome season
  By A1UPB5U6TRV5K3 on 2007-10-20
  The series just seems to be getting better each time. New twists, old friends showing up (well Michael isn't really a freind per-say), and it never seems to get too old. The Series leads up once again to a suspensful ending where you can't wait till it it comes back on to see what happens next.
  
  
• As Good As SG-1
  By AFLMQY2OJW2Z4 on 2007-10-20
  As good as the first seasons of SG-1, so if you enjoyed the beginning of SG-1 you will enjoy the first three seasons of this.
  
  
• a solid alternative
  By A3IOK1Y9M026BV on 2007-10-21
  I was quite upset when they finally canceled SG-1, I thought my stargate days were over. I had heard Atlantis was just as good, (though I was skeptical) so I gave it a shot. The third season definately made up my mind that Stargate Atlantis is the show to fill the void that SG-1 left
  
  
• StarGate Atlantis Season 3
  By A3HJZN5LDN7ZH7 on 2007-10-24
  All the characters seem to be growing in their parts. Episodes continue to improve.
  
  

• Stargate Atlantis - The Complete Second Season
• Stargate SG-1 - Season 10
• Stargate Atlantis - The Complete Fourth Season
• Stargate - The Ark of Truth
• Stargate Atlantis - The Complete First Season