'Broken Ties' (503) General Discussion

[maneth]

Indeed. Pretty good ep, and I suppose Tyre regained his honor when he sacrificed himself to blow up the facility. Pretty good deception there. Ronon's "your enemies" instead of "our" made me doubt that he'd really turned, and of course chopping off the Wraith hand proved it.

[Skie]

This was a bad episode, very predictable. You instantly knew, Ronon wasn't broken, you also knew Tyre was just pretending (after he got rid of the enzyme in his blood) to be a traitor and oh my, you also knew Tyre would sacrifice himself and blow everything up when he said he would stay behind.

I really hated how they turned "the gift of live" into a laughing matter, as a tool to brainwash people. As Todd stated in CG "The gift of life is reserved only for our most devout worshippers ... and our brothers."

[NowIWillDestroyAbydos]

Average episode.

I guess Tyre had a "heroes death".

Good Woolsey moments, with the door and the Teyla's baby.

Tomorrow, a look at what Season 6 might've been, maybe.

[Lieutenant Sparrow]

Yeah for a Ronon ep I thought it was pretty average.

I liked how the doors (wall?) wouldn't open for Woolsey.

I really find it hard to believe that Ronon would follow the Wraith. No matter how many times he had his life sucked and given back.

How freaky did Ronon look when he was going through the withdrawals.

Very touching ending. Especially with Shep giving Tyre's sword to Ronon.

[Krisz]

Whilst this episode had some funny moments, Wolsey with the continuing troubles with Atlantean doors and other equipment, it was quite boring. I'm not a Ronon fan really, to me this was just the same as the episode when Ford gave the team the Wraith enzyme and they had to deal with the withdrawal. Only this time it goes on for longer with different people.

The only thing that added to story arc was the mention that the Wraith that captured Ronon was just trying to get an advantage by using him to destroy Atlantis in a bid for power amongst his fellow Wraith.

Is it just me, or are the Wraith not that scary any more?! This latest one who captured Ronon was the whimpiest Wraith I'd seen so far, not scary or threatening at all!!!

[Matt G]

MIdweek, another ep of Atlantis...

1. Kanan vs Ronon. Not sure we ever got to see that one.

2. The sloshed Satedan..."if I knew where he was he'd already be dead".

3. Ronon's turning still wasn't obvious, couldn't even tell who chopped the Wraith's hand off.

4. Ah, this was the ep where we saw Woolsey in his suit drinking wine.

Still solid.

[jelgate]

This episode is interesting in that one story is entertaining while the other is not. I find myself just not carig about Ronon becoming a Wraith worshipper. I liked it better when the concept was all about Pegasus Galaxy natives wanting self-preservation. In this episode its more of a drug and just scream of the Ford enzyme arc in S2. Has a vibe of we have been there and done that. I liked the Tyre redemption and sword part but besides that its dull. That must be one sharp swords though to cut through bone with a single slice. The Teyla stuff on the other hand was interesting to me. I liked the angle of Teyla now having a family and having her priorities change. I thought the family angle was an interesting one and something different for Stargate I wished they had pressed the struggle Teyla has with family and work more this season because it is an important part of her character now. I remember some people convinced Woosley was an alcoholic because he was drinking wine. I can get that to relax but seriously a suit? That defies conventional reason. Finally I never want to see Hewlett in a bathtub again

[Lythisrose]

Joe Mallozzi's Review:

BROKEN TIES (503)

Sometime near the end of Atlantis’s fourth season, actor Jason Momoa swung by our offices to talk about his character. Over the course of our discussion, he told us that there was one thing he would love to see Ronon do in season 5, and that was to go darkside. Well, it just so happened that I was looking to do a sequel to season 4?s Reunion and the notion of writing an Evil Ronon story was just too enticing to pass up. I wrote the script over the hiatus, including a scene in which Ronon shaves his head to complete his bad-ass transformation. It was the ideal opportunity to present a logical, in-story explanation for the change in hairstyle (over the hiatus, Jason ended up losing the dread locks). As it turned out, however, the network felt strongly about the Ronon character’s trademark dreads and so we ended up losing the scene – and wigging Jason for the rest of the season. That wig, by the way, was woven from his real hair.

Anyway, playing the part of a bad guy is something almost every actor longs for and Jason threw himself into the role. He was, in a word, magnificent. And he was magnificent not only because he was so damn scary-convincing as Ronon gone darkside, but because he was so damn good conveying a range of emotions: fear, anger, anguish, and, ultimately grief. Jason demonstrates incredible depth and range in this episode – in my opinion, his best performance of the series.

Special mention should be made of our guest star, Mark Dacascos, who returns to reprise his turn as Tyre – and win his character’s redemption. Mark is a class act, incredibly professional and a wonderful on-set presence. He so impressed that, at various points during the production, a good half dozen members of the crew approached me to ask “Is he really dead?” and “Is there any way we can bring him back?”.

Photos:

Artist’s concept of Ronon’s original transformation. In retrospect, maybe a little too bald.:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...13/01/1136.jpg


Stunt Coordinator James “Bam Bam” Bamford and Rachel Luttrell (Teyla).:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...13/01/1137.jpg


Mark Savela appeals for calm. And more visual effects shots.:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...13/01/1141.jpg


Them playback meetings were the longest!:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...13/01/1142.jpg

Assistant Director Alex Pappas keeps the production meeting running smoothly.:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...13/01/1138.jpg


The sword was so sweet that Jason ended up adding it to Ronon’s arsenal. Hey, Contracto, your handiwork? And weren’t your supposed to do a Q&A at one point? Still interested?:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...13/01/1139.jpg


Down to the details. Impressive, no?:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...13/01/1140.jpg


Lounging extras.:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...013/01/188.jpg
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...013/01/189.jpg


Alex Pappas on set.:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...013/01/190.jpg


Kavan Smith (aka Major Lorne):
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...013/01/191.jpg


Mr. Hewlett:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...13/01/1143.jpg


Rodney’s bathtub. Extra bubbly!:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...013/01/192.jpg


Woolsey settling in to his new digs.:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...013/01/193.jpg


Some of the Atlantis decor.:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...013/01/194.jpg

I need one of these for my living room.:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...013/01/195.jpg


The ever-classy Mark Dacascos. BTW – yes, he’s made up to look like he’s just been put through the physical and emotional ringer.:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...013/01/196.jpg


The wraith pay a housecall (photo @ MGM Television):
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...13/01/1104.jpg


Contacts in!:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...013/01/197.jpg


Our wraith guest kicks back with his human crew.:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...013/01/198.jpg

Uh, somebody drop this?:
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpres...013/01/199.jpg

[Cluas]

This was uninteresting to say it nice.
Never got into any of those "withdrawal" episodes. They did plenty of them in SG1.
Err Ronon got a cool sword, and that was about it.

[mrscopterdoc]

I just love how Woolsey's idea of "more comfortable" is a suit and tie. That and how he can't open the doors to the conference room.

poor Woolsey

[losernerdfriend]

I really liked this episode!

It was good to see Tyre again and finish that storyline. And to see Ronon converted to a Wraith worshipper was intense/sad. But I'm really happy Tyre came through in the end and helped save him.

Also, Woolsey's comfortable clothes being a suit and tie are wonderful. I'm glad that he's not been a real antagonist in Atlantis.