The Ark (316)

[GateWorld]

ATLANTIS SEASON THREE THE ARK EPISODE NUMBER - 316 The team discovers the last of a civilization in suspended animation, whose survival is at risk when their station is critically damaged. VISIT THE EPISODE GUIDE > SPOILERS! PHOTOS! AND MORE!

[localfocus]

Ok, that was cute. Love that Ronon was panicking and is claustrophobic too. Yet in a very Ronon way. Gives him some depth. And Sheppard, offering to fight him to the death to comfort him. Boys. Some Sheppard and Ronon whump. Love the team wanting to be together. Blowtorches always look awesome on screen. Nice to see a new set. Though seeing them all suited up most of the ep wasn't very thunk worthy. Some of the exposition was clunky, but it was an interesting plot and had some visual variety, which SGA sorely needs. The cast are always doing the same things in the same environments. So it's nice to see something different.

[MechaThor]

Question since i have not seen the ep.

Was the civilisation Avtaully Aliens as in non Human or is it nother wasted oppertunity and major disappointment of English speaking Humans?

If it is i gess thats cool but if it where aliens it would have sweet news

[localfocus]

English speaking humans. We only saw two of them.

[chemicalNova]

Boring. Blatant space filler towards the end of the season. Hopefully the last 4 will be better.

chem

[lunarleviathan]

Pretty boring episode I thought.

I hated how basically Sheppard was lucky that the ship/station broke free, was undamaged, and survived re-entry. That's just a crappy resolution, pure luck. I'd rather have seen McKay come up with some kind of solution at some stage, a way to break free the ship/station, another way to salvage the storage device, or something else. I mean it was lucky enough the ship/station didn't burn up itself never mind the fact that it just happened to break from the moon in such a way that it wasn't destroyed or even slightly damaged.

Also, hasn't the stored remnants of a civilisation stored in some kind of stasis or storage been done a few to many times already?

Personally my worst episode of the season so far. I've loved every episode so far, this let the side down.

[sueKay]

boring boring boring boring

not quite as bad as the Tower, but worse than Epiphany

Only enjoyable moments were Ronon's freaking out and my little 'hurrah' when Beckett showed up

[localfocus]

Well, plot wise it wasn't best, clunky in execution, but interesting idea. The tag is awesome. Rachel's flutter (best way to describe it, it wasn't flirty though) of expression after Sheppard's "that wasn't why I did it" was fantastic. She needs more opportunity to really act. And Sheppard pretending that he wouldn't have done it for McKay, and Teyla calling him on the lie was cute.

[Linzi]

I really loved this!
A very different story, not like any SG1 episode I've seen, thank you very much! So, no comparisons appropriate here, IMO.
The story was great, the sets fantastic. There was loads of action, which I love. The fx were terrific, and it was dramatic and tense. I loved Sheppard flying the shuttle and risking his life to save Teyla, because Sheppard would do that to save one of his team. I felt really excited watching parts of this, and that is something that has been missing recently from SGA - an adrenalin surge. I got that watching this! Forgot to mention the closing scene - that was really sweet and amusing!
So, a big thumbs up from me. Well done to the cast, particularly both Joe and Rachel, who really shone in this . Nice to see Teyla getting some dramatic storyline. Loved McKay's concern for Sheppard too, awww, bless him. He owes Shep a weeks pay,but, oh yes, he didn't accept the bet, sensible man!!!
So, thumbs up from me. I want to congratulate Ken C on another wonderful episode. This is the kind of episode I want to see. Well done!

[female Wraith]

I watched it. A good episode, I think. Although ...I expected something more. I thought it will be a masterpiece like Common ground because one of the creators is Cuperus.
I have to say there were many cliches in the plot. A lot of posturing and the whole story was very ...mmm...predictable at moments. But as a whole it was a good. From me - 4/10.

[FoolishPleasure]

Originally Posted by female Wraith

Although ...I expected something more. I thought it will be a masterpiece like Common ground because one of the creators is Cuperus.

Don't rate an episode simply because of "who" wrote it. Ken has already admitted that Brad helped him write Common Ground, and had a hand in this episode as well. Neither was exclusively a Ken Cuperus script. BTW - some people were calling this a rewrite of SG1's Lifeboat, and Brad wrote that script. Though it isn't exactly the same, there are similarities, even if they weren't intentional.

I look at each episode individually, not caring who the writer is. Mallozzi and Mullie wrote my all-time fav SG1 episode, but they've also written some of the worst things I've ever seen on TV. Just because I see M & M on a script doesn't mean I will like the episode.

As for this - Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Not the worst, but not one for the keep pile either.

[female Wraith]

Well...I rated Ark 4/10 because I wanted to be polite. After all the episode was better than Irresponsble and there were some good moments.

[HyperCaz]

Good episode, I guess. Much as I love Beckett, he really didn't do much except make the beckett/teyla shipper in me happy. Despite moving a bit slow and just lacking an elusive something, I liked watching this.

[ata_beckett]

Just finished watching:

I thought it was really slow to start-- I got SO annoyed with whatever his name was who decided DYING was a good idea. But I thought the episode got better as it went on.

Not much, plotwise, but there were some funny little character moments.

"We can't stop now, we just cracked open the pinata!"

And I actually LIKED Teyla in this episode, which is a rarity for me. And yes, Ronon actually made me CRINGE. Oh my god OW.

Not fantastic, but not horrible. 2.5-3 out of 5.

[Arctic Penguin]

Okay ep not my favourite. All the characters had something to do and there was some great lines. The last scene was really sweet , i liked weir asking sheppard if he had come to the infirmary to have his head examined.

[Wolf Eire]

I found it extremely problematic in this episode that McKay and Sheppard reiterated several times that there was no possible way that the survivors of that civilization could be saved yet in several seconds they could work out a solution once Teyla got sucked in. Are our heroes declining in bravery and moral standards as every season passes? What was the issue here? Were they just too damn lazy? Do they just not care? "Uh, I save a civilization every week, can't be bothered this week".

I thought this showed the characters up badly. I also thought the deus ex machina that resulted in Sheppard's shuttle just emerging from the flames like a phoenix to be particularly weak. It was just pure corny fluke.

Also, Ronon seems to become more of a cartoon character every week. I could tell from the start of that scene before it was even said his arm was dislocated that he was going to pop his own arm back in. I should not be able to do that but that's how predictably cartoonish he's become.

Not the worst effort at an episode by any means but it contained a few major problems it and also it wasn't that original.

[caty]

I absolutely loved this one!!! It was something different, somethign I haven't seen and had lots of good character interaction!

I'll give it a 9/10.. With the strongest this season.. Oh, how opinions can differ

[ken_is_here]

Hi all. Hope you enjoyed the show.

[LoveConquers]

Originally Posted by caty

I absolutely loved this one!!! It was something different, somethign I haven't seen and had lots of good character interaction!

I'll give it a 9/10.. With the strongest this season.. Oh, how opinions can differ

I really liked this one too! Not my favorite of S3, but definitely one of the betters ones we've seen for the second half of the season so far! I liked the team back in the field working together on a mission. I liked the plot as well, a bit predictable at times yes, but I enjoyed the drama regardless. And as much as I love John/Rodney banter, it was GREAT to see John working with Ronon this time. I like when we see the usually pairings broken off. And there was still plenty of banter over the coms.

I loved the whole scene with John and Ronon struggling to close the bulk head doors and John's expression when Ronon reset his own shoulder.

Loved seeing Lorne again too! And he had more than one line this time!

Loved Teyla in this ep! She finally got a few moments to shine! I loved her speech to Jamus when he held her hostage and her eyes when he told her about the people and the children held in the storage container.

Loved John's single-minded determination to save Teyla, just as we've seen with him when one of his own is in danger. I thought the resolution was a bit weak and I don't understand why on earth the shuttle didn't burn as well. But John's expression at the end when he lifted his helmet was priceless.

So nice to see Beckett in the ep! He looked adorable in his space suit.

Loved the end scene as well. Very cute and very tender. A small admittance of emotion and then a joke to cover it up. Typical John.

Overall, a nice ep! CG is still my favorite ep of Ken's, but this was another good one by him! What made it for me was the great characterization found throughout and some nice action mixed in.

[LoveConquers]

Originally Posted by ken_is_here

Hi all,

Once a few more viewers have had a chance to check out the ep, I'll be by to discuss the story from a writer's POV. A backstage pass into my brain to see the genesis of a stargate: Atlantis ep...from premise to screen.

Later,
Ken C

Hi Ken! I'm so excited to see you here again! Thank you for stopping by! Can't WAIT to hear more from you! I really liked this ep a lot and it will be fun to hear about it from your POV! THANK YOU!