wraith cannibalism (spoilers for the defiant one and allies)

[rpmguitar]

in allies the wraith are asking for the retrovirus so that they can eat other wraith instead of humans, but in "the defiant one" theres a wraith that has eaten other wraith to stay alive for 10000 years. if the wraith can eat other wraith, and we should know it from that episode, then why did we fall for the trick?

[jenks]

Humans are weaker than Wraith, it would be alot easier to overwhelm a ship full of Humans with amnesia than Wraith soldiers...

[Heaven]

besides, humans are much more tasty

[Cunha00]

maybe humans can provide much more energy that a wraith

[MarshAngel]

in allies the wraith are asking for the retrovirus so that they can eat other wraith instead of humans, but in "the defiant one" theres a wraith that has eaten other wraith to stay alive for 10000 years. if the wraith can eat other wraith, and we should know it from that episode, then why did we fall for the trick?

They could probably assuage any guilt they felt over eating each other if their dinner looked human.

There are many reasons they should never have fallen for that trick. If they'd just put themselves in the Wraith's shoes and asked the question: would they turn other humans into pigs on a massive scale if they were starving, and dinner was still out there somewhere? I don't think we would... or at least the Atlantis team. We'd do the same thing they did: use and manipulate whomever to get to the food; not just stick around and cannibalize. As long as there's an option for real food, we'd try to get it.. and what do you know, they did. If they just assumed the wraith were evil scum who'd screw each other over above all else....they assumed too much given they know nothing about wraith society.

[rarocks24]

They could probably assuage any guilt they felt over eating each other if their dinner looked human.

There are many reasons they should never have fallen for that trick. If they'd just put themselves in the Wraith's shoes and asked the question: would they turn other humans into pigs on a massive scale if they were starving, and dinner was still out there somewhere? I don't think we would... or at least the Atlantis team. We'd do the same thing they did: use and manipulate whomever to get to the food; not just stick around and cannibalize. As long as there's an option for real food, we'd try to get it.. and what do you know, they did. If they just assumed the wraith were evil scum who'd screw each other over above all else....they assumed too much given they know nothing about wraith society.

On the other hand, they were blackmailed into it anyways. Do you really think they could have taken on the Wraith hive ship with just a battle scarred Orion (who's repairs are questionable given the situation with the Puddle Jumper), and the Daedalus. At first they were cautious, but they began letting their guard down, which they shouldn't have done. Of course, Mckay really let his guard down...showing how downright foolish he is (as if he hadn't been captured before and learned from the experience).

[Cory Holmes]

There are many reasons they should never have fallen for that trick. If they'd just put themselves in the Wraith's shoes and asked the question: would they turn other humans into pigs on a massive scale if they were starving, and dinner was still out there somewhere? I don't think we would... or at least the Atlantis team. We'd do the same thing they did: use and manipulate whomever to get to the food; not just stick around and cannibalize. As long as there's an option for real food, we'd try to get it.. and what do you know, they did. If they just assumed the wraith were evil scum who'd screw each other over above all else....they assumed too much given they know nothing about wraith society.

Assumed too much, yes. But I also think that they were hoping that turning the Wraith onto each other would distract them from culling the hapless and defenseless human worlds (not to mention, a little city called Atlantis).

Plus as others have said, they really didn't have a choice in the matter: "Help us or die. We'll just sweeten the pot a bit and give you some hope."

[Teelie]

I think the Atlantis team should have been more prepared than they were and not acted so surprised the Wraith betrayed them. It's like that story of the scorpion and the frog. It's in the nature of the Wraith to betray the humans.

[MarshAngel]

Assumed too much, yes. But I also think that they were hoping that turning the Wraith onto each other would distract them from culling the hapless and defenseless human worlds (not to mention, a little city called Atlantis).

Plus as others have said, they really didn't have a choice in the matter: "Help us or die. We'll just sweeten the pot a bit and give you some hope."

The issue isn't that they were blackmailed but the underhandedness they should have expected (and delivered in turn), seeing as how it has happened before. And if they've read any SGC reports, and paid attention to their experiences they should know humans are underhanded, deceptive, and conniving to say little of aliens who want to eat you and your entire galaxy.

The problem I found was that they assumed that the wraith would choose to fight each other as opposed to getting what has been their goal for the entire season particularly when you invite them to the one place in the entire galaxy where they could get it.

There was also an opportunity when the hive ships were about to destroy each other, where they could have let it happen without interveneing. This would have worked to their benefit. They intervened, out of some twisted sense of honor?

There is just this general sense that their not sure what they're doing. On the ethics side, Michael may have been wrong. But given that they went through with that, giving the Wraith the status of honored enemy to be met with respect instead of the same conniving deceptive behavior that would have kept them from being screwed over, seems silly. Maybe it's because Weir isn't a millitary leader but the decision making is uneven. The time to step up their game and be even more distrustful than Jack Oneill has long passed. If sg1 had been running that op.. they would have had c4 in their underwear to blow up the hive ship....just in case. .

[FallenAngelII]

They could probably assuage any guilt they felt over eating each other if their dinner looked human.

There are many reasons they should never have fallen for that trick. If they'd just put themselves in the Wraith's shoes and asked the question: would they turn other humans into pigs on a massive scale if they were starving, and dinner was still out there somewhere? I don't think we would... or at least the Atlantis team. We'd do the same thing they did: use and manipulate whomever to get to the food; not just stick around and cannibalize. As long as there's an option for real food, we'd try to get it.. and what do you know, they did. If they just assumed the wraith were evil scum who'd screw each other over above all else....they assumed too much given they know nothing about wraith society.

And again you're ignoring the simple fact: They had no frackin' choice!!!!!

I'm so sick and tired of people accusing the expedition of stupidity. They were suspicious throughout the entire episode. Rodney went as far as to hack the "friendly" Hive's systems while repairing it.

And what were they supposed to do?! Refuse to work with the Wraith and have them alert every single Wraith in the system to their continued presence? Might I remind you:

- With only 3 Hives, its cruisers and darts firing at the Atlantis shield (powered by one single ZPM), Rodney said it'd only take a few days before the shield would be completely depleted
- Zelenka told us that even if they set the self-destruct, neither Atlantis nor the Ancient database would be sufficiently destroyed. All they'd have to do is salvage the database and they'd have the location of Earth.

So, it's either work with them and secretely work against them at the same time praying they'll stick to the deal or get screwed over, die and doom Earth (and the rest of the Milky Way) at the same time.

[MarshAngel]

So, it's either work with them and secretely work against them at the same time praying they'll stick to the deal or get screwed over, die and doom Earth (and the rest of the Milky Way) at the same time.

When did they do that? Wat was the secret contingency plan?

[FallenAngelII]

When did they do that? Wat was the secret contingency plan?

Rodney hacking their systems.

[spg_1983]

Rodney hacking their systems.

Oh so that was their big plan B? Hack into their systems and.....do what? The wraith were playing them from the start. The only reason they were able to beat the interference and beam aboard was because the wraith let them. You really think that the wraith weren't letting McKay hack in? The wraith had the entire thing planned out perfectly before they even got to atlantis and the team walk right into the trap with out even hesitating.

[FallenAngelII]

Oh so that was their big plan B? Hack into their systems and.....do what? The wraith were playing them from the start. The only reason they were able to beat the interference and beam aboard was because the wraith let them. You really think that the wraith weren't letting McKay hack in? The wraith had the entire thing planned out perfectly before they even got to atlantis and the team walk right into the trap with out even hesitating.

I doubt the hacking is part of some harebrained scheme that will save the day in season 3. After all, how else are they gonna get off the ship and stop the Wraith?

Also, they wouldn't even mentioned the hacking had it not been important. They also gave Rodney and Ronon those transport thingies to transport out of the Hive should they need to. Not to mention they stationed the Orion out of range for the Wraith to detect it ready to, well, do something, should they need to.

[spg_1983]

I doubt the hacking is part of some harebrained scheme that will save the day in season 3. After all, how else are they gonna get off the ship and stop the Wraith?

Also, they wouldn't even mentioned the hacking had it not been important. They also gave Rodney and Ronon those transport thingies to transport out of the Hive should they need to. Not to mention they stationed the Orion out of range for the Wraith to detect it ready to, well, do something, should they need to.

The emergency transport beacons didnt work because the wraith were playing them. They wouldn't let them beam back off.

What is the Orion going to do? zoom in and look menacing, er, i mean old and beat up? Oh. Right. I forgot! McKay worked on it! and even though he said it wouldnt work, we all know that means that it will! What was I thinking! McKay had a couple weeks to work on the Ancient ship! Therefore it is going to work! Its a good thing he knows everything about every Ancient system the second he looks at it! Silly me!