Review: Stargate Atlantis, Episode 5.20, "Enemy at the Gate"

After five seasons and one hundred episodes, the Stargate Atlantis story comes to an end, at least in the format of a weekly television show (one direct-to-DVD film is planned, with more possible if it sells well).

If it had to end, this is the way it needed to end, on an epic scale. Showrunners Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie write a fitting final chapter of Stargate Atlantis. It's a roller-coaster ride from start to finish, putting fans through a wringer of emotions while keeping them on the edge of their seats waiting to see what happens next. There are "oh, no!" moments, followed by "oh, yes!" moments. Two former cast members return for the finale, and there's a nice tribute to the Stargate SG-1 character that was played by the late Don S. Davis.

Thank you for five entertaining seasons, Stargate Atlantis. I'll miss you.

The third show in the long-running Stargate franchise, Stargate Universe, will debut this summer. May it be as good as Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis.

Last month was the 30th anniversary of when I started reading comic books. I still remember the very first comics I read: DC Comics Presents #6, Detective Comics #482, Justice League of America #163, World's Finest Comics #255, The Brave and the Bold #147, and Super Friends #17.

Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the release of Superman: The Movie. I watched it again tonight to mark the occasion. I first saw it when I was eight years old. Along with Star Wars, it was one of the formative experiences in my development as a geek. It was never a perfect film by any means, but Christopher Reeve remains the definitive Superman/Clark Kent. The idea that a business suit and glasses would work as a disguise seemed silly until Reeve made it seem plausible. John Williams' theme still makes me want to tie a red towel around my neck and jump off of furniture whilst pretending to fly.

According to a recent report, Smallville may be canceled after the current season, its eighth. Although ratings have improved and the network would likely renew it for at least another season, star Tom Welling’s contract is up and he may be ready to move on. The big question of whether the show will end with Clark Kent becoming Superman and putting on a certain red-and-blue costume for the first time is up in the air because DC Comics is concerned it would somehow hurt any future Superman films, which is absurd. I'll be disappointed if it ends without at least one shot of Welling in costume.

I watched the first few episodes of Wolverine and the X-Men. It’s surprisingly good for a Marvel animated show. Not quite up to the standard set by the DC Animated Universe, but still good. The show was developed by former X-Men: Evolution writers Craig Kyle and Greg Johnson (Kyle has also written New X-Men and Young X-Men comics with writing partner Christopher Yost, who’ll also be writing episodes of the show).

Batman: The Brave and the Bold is also entertaining and has a Silver Age feel to it. In contrast to the darker portrayals of Batman, even in animation, here he has a good sense of humor, and it's nice to see characters like Blue Beetle and Plastic Man in animated form.

The first season of Merlin ended last Saturday. I stand by my initial description of it as the "Smallville of the Arthurian mythos. That's not a dig, either. It's a lightweight but entertaining show with a photogenic cast, and some strong acting each week from Anthony Stewart Head as Uther Pendragon. It succeeds on the level intended. While it will never win any awards for being great drama, I looked forward to its escapism each week. It's been renewed for a second season. Meanwhile, the first season will debut in the US on the NBC network in early 2009.

There are only two episodes left of Stargate Atlantis. It's ironic that its landmark 100th episode will also be its final episode. It was canceled so a new show set in the same fictional universe could be produced, namely Stargate Universe. I wasn't too keen on the idea of the new show until actor Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty, The World is Not Enough) was cast in it.

One day after canceling Stargate Atlantis, the Sci Fi Channel announced that it has given the green light for production of Stargate Universe, which will become the third show in the long-running Stargate franchise. Unlike the first two shows, this one will be set aboard a starship. The first season will begin airing in summer 2009.