Firstly, I will say that the new alien in one of the alternate realities had better be back in future episodes, otherwise this episode will be a waste, albeit a very fun waste. In this exciting episode of Atlantis, John, Teyla,  Ronan, and Rodney find themselves shifting through alternate realities when they board the Daedalus which suddenly appeared out of thin air. They shift through four differing realities before McKay figures out (predictably) how to reverse the process. This all happens due to some “alternate reality” drive invented by another McKay in another reality. The first reality is exactly same as the present one but Atlantis is gone, the second (and most interesting) sees an alien ship attacking Atlantis, the third presents the team with a problem as the ship seems to be in a decaying orbit over a sun, and in the fourth the planet housing Atlantis was possibly destroyed millions of years ago.

This was an interesting concept and those respobsible did at least an okay job with the stories. The visuals were great, particularly the latter of two space battles. Absolutely spectacular and exciting to watch. However, even though the episode was somewhat clever and exciting to watch, it was essentially another filler episode. The characters weren’t developed any further (or at least not very much), which is disappointing. The “variations”  were interesting, but not nearly as spectacular, mind-boggling, or interesting as they could have been (the exception being the second one). The episode moves at such a fast pace that we never get to explore the stories of these realities (again, particularly the second). Where is Atlantis and why is it gone? Why are these new aliens attacking Atlantis? Better yet, who are they? We did actually get the backstory to the sun variation. Why and how was the planet destroyed? We just get questions, which gives the realities their proper mystique I guess but leaves me wanting. Also, Woolsey didn’t make any appearance in the episode which is also disappointing. Imagine the possibilities if he were to have accompanied Sheppard and the crew on their journey.

All of that being said, this may have been a filler episode, but it was a spectacular and exciting filler episode. Were this made even stronger, this could have been a masterpiece of sci-fi. The aliens, at first, reminded me of the Borg from the Star Trek franchise until they started growling and showing their aggressive battling. They were very menacing which is something that the Wraith as of late distinctly lack. Their space ship and fighters had an interesting design as well as weapons fire (possibly because they are just new to the show). It is my hope that we will see them again on the show, perhaps becoming a prime villain, though if they do I hope they are not as soulless and character-less as most of the Wraith have turned out to be. What gets me even more excited is the fact that the writers (or whoever responsible) left a window open at the very end of the episode, with McKay stating that the ship still does have some jumps left in it (jumps to different realities) before the drive fails, leaving open the possibility that someone could board the spacecraft and take it back to our Atlantis.

There were some funny bits, particularly when Sheppard compliments his double over the intercom (his double does not know that it is Sheppard he is speaking to). The sole character moments came at the very beginning and the end. They were brief but welcome and somewhat humorous. I think it’s time, though, for a Woolsey episode. Also, a Sheppard episode would be nice since it’s been a while since his character got a workout. Dr. Keller (who, incidentally, also didn’t appear in the episode) needs some character time as well if we are ever going to care about her.

Overall, The Daedalus Variations was a fun and exciting episode, even if it was a filler episode, with some good potential consequences which will hopefully spring forth in subsequent episodes. I’ll probably return to it again just to watch the big space battle.

I give this episode a 7/10

Dr. Keller gets what can be called an “extreme make-over” in this interesting episode of Atlantis.

This episode started with promise. There was a good character moment between Dr. Keller and Teyla as Teyla tried to take care of her newborn child and Dr. Keller sought to find the cure to Dr. Beckett’s condition (if you will recall, Dr. Beckett has been frozen because he has a virus or something that will eventually kill him if a cure is not found. The theory is that freezing the man will freeze the virus, or whatever it is, and henceforth buy the team more time to assess the situation). There are some interesting camera angles put to good use towards the beginning of the episode as well and the suspense is quietly gripping. You know that something is wrong with Dr. Keller, but you do not know what. When the secret is revealed it may just blow you away. I, however, rolled my eyes at how ridiculous the premise was no matter how creative. At least we get to see how a Wraith hive ship is “grown”. This brings about the return of Dr. Beckett, which may be rushed but is understandable and welcome. Keller has found the cure and given it to Beckett (it is untested but Woolsey pressures her to make a decision). It is, of course, up to Dr. Beckett to find the cure and his character is given good time in this episode even if he is not developed much further than he already has been. His character is called to earth and leaves at the end of the episode.

This episode also brings to us the newest permanent character and new commander of the base, Dr. Richard Woolsey (performed by Robert Picardo of Star Trek: Voyager fame). I believe that his character could really shine if the writers (or whoever is/was responsible) don’t do what they did to Torri Higginson’s character (Dr. Elizabeth Weir) so suddenly. Here we have a man from the IOA (International Oversight Advisory) who is a strict follower of every rule in the book. The IOA has now siezed the opportunity to get somebody from their organization in on the team (which Dr. McKay alludes to early on in the episode) and Richard Woolsey is the man that is chosen. Being a man who maintains strict adherance to protocol, he is almost immediately forced to make ethically (by his judgment) questionable decisions which must challenge him. He even, at one point, questions whether he is able to do his job, remarking that “The rules are there for a reason, Colonel, and if I can’t trust them then I’m not sure I can do this job.” The writers may have struck gold with this character. Here we have a man that we know next to nothing about except what has been revealed in previous episodes (a very limited amount). We know nothing about his personal life apart from his professional one, nothing about family, personal interests, etc… and he is already a three-dimensional character. The possibilities are indeed many for this character and I, for one, can’t wait to see how they flesh him out. He is given a good proper introduction in this episode.

Anyways, back to the main story. It seems that a Wraith hive ship is growing out of Dr. Keller and that the others who were on the planet when Michael’s lab collapsed are also infected (Michael is suspected to be the cause), but the virus has yet to come to fruition from within them. Eventually the hive ship’s consciousness takes over Dr. Keller’s while the ships  tentacles rush to major power sources. Despite the team’s efforts (shutting down power), the hive ship continues to grow I believe and become more of a threat to the base. Dr. Beckett puts together a cure. So eventually Ronan goes in (the theory being that he will be percieved as friendly since he has the virus) and is nearly choked to death (when he starts firing at the ship) by the tentacles. Sheppard eventually saves the day by injecting Dr. Keller with the cure (who looks hideous).

The storyline itself was not all that special in my mind, though the episode did offer some interesting visuals. The acting was about average. Almost none of the characters get any development, which is disappointing. Neither McKay, Sheppard, nor Ronan are given much funny material to work with. This episode could be said to be disappointing but there are some really good moments. Kenan, Teyla’s husband, is absent from the show but her child is not. There is a cute conversation about keeping a child calm between Teyla and Dr. Keller towards the beginning of the episode. However, it is ultimately Dr. Woolsey, the interesting visuals, and individual good moments which make this episode worth a view or more.

I give this episode a 6/10

Things still to look forward to: More fleshing out of Teyla’s husband and child, the further development of the Woolsey character, and the possible romance between Dr. Keller and Ronan.