The Siege, Part 1 (119)

[ToasterOnFire]

Why were McKay, Grodin and the pilot all wearing red when they were in the puddlejumper instead the colors of the speciality as with the others?

To allow TPTB to sneek in a Star Trek "red shirt" shout-out when Grodin died?
Other than that, perhaps because the red jumpers were more comfortable to wear in zero gravity or when repairing the satellite?

[Darkdreams]

The Wrath don't have to use the Stargate to get to earth. As Zelenka explained in the scene where he was showing Weir the self destruct simulation:


ZELENKA: Yes, but if they are even the least bit resourceful – which I must assume that they are – they can easily reverse engineer their own intergalactic engine from the wreckage on the sea bottom.

So the Wraths could build their own ship to get to Earth therefore becoming a big threat to earth.

booyaa, yep the wraith would overwelm the earth in full force meaning all their ships lock stock and barrel, think of this they overwelmed the ancients and they were millions of years more advanced then us if the wraith came at us full force the asgard, tokra and anyother race wouldnt have a chance in hell of defeating them unless some way could be developed that would make it so they could not feed from us, in that case the wraith would just destroy us for spite. so we would be screwed either way.

[Darkdreams]

I liked this episode as a preparatory episode. I like how it sets up the threads for the other episodes. But I don't see why they're remotely afraid of the wraithe getting to earth.

First of all, right now they are outnumbered by the wraithe. On earth...that is not the case. Second of all, how exactly do they get past the iris?

And furthermore, even if they could get past the iris and overwhelm earth's massive numbers. We kinda saved the Asgard from being completely wiped out by the replicators. It seems to me like Thor could just jump over to the Pegasus galaxy and blow up Atlantis for good. Not to mention casually dispatch any wraithe that get remotely into the area.

If the writers want to make it so the wraithe actually become a threat to earth, they'll need to do at least three or four twists-of-convenience. First the wraithe would have to find some sort of phasing technology to beat the iris. (Speaking of which, why don't they send a ship to the Tollan homeworld to see if they can salvage any technology, or maybe even find any survivors?). Then, the wraithe, though they are weaker than the ancients were ten thousand years ago technologically, would have to find some exploit that makes them stronger than the Asgard now. Or the Asgard would need some new distraction that prevents them from even sparing one warship.

And I still don't understand why the Atlantis team can't just blow up the Stargate when they leave. It *is* the only Stargate in the galaxy that can get to earth. The kneejerk reaction 'send a nuke' O'Neall always has? Do that. No more Atlantis.

Well to try to salvage tollan tech is going to be hard the gou'ald attached the planet who's to say they arnt still there if they are forget that but if not most likely everything of value would be destroyed, except for materials to recycle and such.. just a thought

[watcher652]

I only watch SGA because I am a SG-1 fan and my thirst for knowledge is great. So I put up with watching the show just so I know more about the Ancients and such. SGA isn't even close to being as good as SG-1. There were only a handful of episodes of SGA that I liked. I hope part 2 is very good, because this part was alright. I keep hoping this series will get better, but sometimes I wonder.

Huh. My feelings exactly. Except, reverse the shows!

I'm slightly irked that I have to watch SG1 because of the crossover story lines. Not that I dislike SG1. I've always liked the writing in the SG1 episodes I've seen (the recent Prometheus Unbound being one of the few exceptions to the rule in my book). But, like everything in life, it's a matter of personal taste. I was never attached to any of the characters on SG1. I don't know why, that's just the way it is. But I love McKay. And all the other Atlantis cast members ring true to me.

So when it became apparent the Grodin was going to die, I was upset. We didn't get a chance to know him, and now he's gone. That young blond guy in the control room that Weir talks to now just doesn't inspire any confidence. Although we'll probably find out he's some kind of science specialist in communications hardware or something like that. But we knew Grodin was a scientist who could hold his own with McKay.

[joanne1138]

Huh. My feelings exactly. Except, reverse the shows!

I'm slightly irked that I have to watch SG1 because of the crossover story lines. Not that I dislike SG1. I've always liked the writing in the SG1 episodes I've seen (the recent Prometheus Unbound being one of the few exceptions to the rule in my book). But, like everything in life, it's a matter of personal taste. I was never attached to any of the characters on SG1. I don't know why, that's just the way it is. But I love McKay. And all the other Atlantis cast members ring true to me.

I'm with you on this one. I was an original SG1 fan but now it seems to have lost the sparkle, with some of it's recent episodes (Except Reckoning. Reckoning rocks). Atlantis is all fresh and shiny with new ideas and as you said, characters you really get attached to. *mourns Grodin*

I thought this episode was a great one in it's own right which served to make it an excellent build up to Seige Part 2.

[Fanwoman]

Why were McKay, Grodin and the pilot all wearing red when they were in the puddlejumper instead the colors of the speciality as with the others?

To allow TPTB to sneek in a Star Trek "red shirt" shout-out when Grodin died?
Other than that, perhaps because the red jumpers were more comfortable to wear in zero gravity or when repairing the satellite?

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned this elsewhere as a potential explanation for the jumpsuits, but I'm thinking it was to minimize possible sparks. There was no telling what the station might be like inside, so it was a reasonable precaution. As McKay might say, all I know is that fire in a sealed environment can only be very very bad.

Why they were red, though...


I know it was brought up before, but I've only just succumbed and joined GW. There are a few things that bug me in this episode, and the more I think about this one issue, the more it bothers me. Sadly, I think the only explanation is, "because it's a show."

They have said pretty much nothing about the solar system Atlantis is in. For the sake of argument, let's assume the planet Atlantis is on is in an orbit around a sun like ours, at a distance similar to Earth's, about 150,000,000 miles from the sun. A bit more or less won't really make a difference.

So we know the jumper takes 15 hours to get to the defense platform Gaul discovered. There was no mention of which direction the defense platform is, in relation to the planet Atlantis is on, other than it's at a Lagrange point and on the "other side of the solar system." That suggests it's at L3, in roughly the same orbit but on the opposite side of the sun from Atlantis' planet. That would place it roughly 300,000,000 miles away–and that's if you fly in a straight line through the sun. To travel that far in 15 hours would require a speed of about 20,000,000mph. That's mighty fast for such a tiny craft, a lot faster than the speed Sheppard suggested in Suspicion, though he wasn't flying in space at the time.

Okay, so maybe the details of the trip can be explained away by saying it's Ancient technology and/or their solar system is really small...

The station has been without power for 10,000 years. Even with them knowing the Wraith's route, there was no mention of altering the station's orbital speed or trajectory. So, given the vastness of the spaces involved, even if their solar system is small and we ignore 3-dimensional thinking, why, exactly, did the station end up being right in the path of the Wraith? Even if you take into consideration the suggested-but-as-of-yet-never-mentioned-in-the-show possibility that you have to jump to Lagrange points, why not pick one of the four others, all of which would be closer to Atlantis? Why jump to a point that puts the sun between you and your target?

It bugs me.

That the radio in the Jumper has no problems transmitting from the far side of the sun but gets messed up by the storm bugs me.

The idea that even a few terminals might give the Wraith lots of knowledge but ripping some of them out to take to the Alpha site isn't even suggested bugs me.

That neither Grodin nor McKay seemed to consider the possibility the "quadruple bypass" might have some seriously detrimental side effects and that they didn't try to have Grodin cold shirt it to the Jumper bugs me...a lot.

And while I agree Bates is just doing his job, he SO taunted Teyla before she decked him. That wasn't business; that was personal. It might have been stupid of Teyla to do that, but I think he deserved it.

It was nice to finally get to see Zelenka without the glasses.

[Stricken]

I liked the episode, great build up to The Siege Part II

[SeaBee]

Nice, story-based 1st episode with a good pace, which is rare for multi-ep story lines.

Some excellent McKay stuff. I really didn't like him in SG-1, but he's kind of grown on me over the run of Atlantis.

[greytop]

Some excellent McKay stuff. I really didn't like him in SG-1, but he's kind of grown on me over the run of Atlantis.

I think that is with most people. He played oppsited of Carter in SG-1 and in SGA, he came into his own, IMO.

[Lucreleia]

I think its just a courtesy - no one wants to give out the details
Thus no summerys thus far...

Yes, thanks to the one that marked the spoilers. I'm watching Stargate Atlantis in Fox in Argentina, and it's a first for me, so this way I can enter the forum without spoiling next chapter!
I appreciate the courtesy!

[Lucreleia]

Oh, and how many of you yelled out loud at the geniuses that 3 people can't play rock, paper, sissors?

Just loved that scene!

But, please, why would you have a pencil in your suit while travelling in a jumper to a satellite, without any paper!!!!
I would instead carry a Victorinox, but not a pencil.... maybe that's just me!

[Lucreleia]

I *so* wish I hadn't been spoiled on the wraith being in the city. That was a master touch having him beam in from the scout ship and go undetected for a couple of weeks. And to have it tie in to Teyla's nightmares/visions from "The Gift". Good stuff. And Shep finally got to name his wraith "Bob".

First of all, please understand that I have only met the SG world this year, since it is only now that I can see it in my local cable system.

OK, now about the quote: I can undestand that the wraith was undetected for two weeks before finding Bates, but, how did he feed? How long can he be without eating? Why didn't he eat Bates (not that I would want that, but for a reason I don't end up liking him...)

And, come on, when they detected the wraith as a "yellow light", what were all the white lights surrouding him?????? At first I thought they were humans, but apparently he was alone. So??? What were they??????

Please, if someone reads this (though for the rest of you it must be a really old episode), would you care to give me your opinion?

[Dr. Dredd]

OK, now about the quote: I can undestand that the wraith was undetected for two weeks before finding Bates, but, how did he feed? How long can he be without eating? Why didn't he eat Bates (not that I would want that, but for a reason I don't end up liking him...)

It is a good question. We saw cocooned Wraith in the Defiant One. Maybe "Bob" went into a type of stasis for a week or so, then came out at a time when he knew the hive ships would be closer.

[purple_drake]

OK, now about the quote: I can undestand that the wraith was undetected for two weeks before finding Bates, but, how did he feed? How long can he be without eating? Why didn't he eat Bates (not that I would want that, but for a reason I don't end up liking him...)

If I recall, Steve lasted for weeks without food. I always thought that Bob did the same; giving up sustenance in return for secrecy, and simply didn't feed at all while he was on Atlantis. As for not eating Bates, if he did then it would've been a dead giveaway that a Wraith was in the city. I know they found out anyway, but he still wouldn't've wanted to make it obvious.

The other possibility is that he had some people stored in the dart that had been previously culled, and beamed them down with him to eat later on.

[andrelage]

this episode was amazing.

Spoiler:

shame about grodin but at least he had a heroes death