Introduction

The fifth and final season of the military science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis commenced airing on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States on 11 July 2008, concluded on the same channel on 09 January 2009, and contained 20 episodes.

The show itself is a spin off of its sister show, Stargate SG-1.

The season upgrades previous supporting characters cast members such as Richard Woolsey (from Stargate SG-1) and Jennifer Keller. Amanda Tapping’s character Samantha Carter was downgraded to recurring character in this season.

The fifth and final season is about a military-science expedition team fighting against the Wraith from their base of operation, Atlantis. The Wraith primary goal is to gather a fleet to invade Atlantis and find their new “feeding ground”, Earth.

The one-hour premiere “Search and Rescue”, which aired on 11 July 2008, received 1.3 in Nielsen household ratings, in contrast a “Big” increase from the previous season ratings.

The series was developed by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, who also served as executive producers.

Season five regular cast members include Joe Flanigan, Robert Picardo, Jewel Staite, Jason Momoa, Rachel Luttrell, and David Hewlett.

Stargate Atlantis was originally planned to be continued by a two-hour movie entitled Stargate: Extinction but executive producer Brad Wright has announced that the film has been permanently shelved.

Outline (Season 05)

After being a regular character in season four, Amanda Tapping (Colonel Samantha Carter) became a guest star in several episodes.

Robert Picardo (Richard Woolsey) joined the cast as a permanent character as Woolsey assumes command of Atlantis. Actress Jewel Staite (Dr. Jennifer Keller) was promoted from a recurring character to a permanent cast member.

Michael Shanks (Dr. Daniel Jackson) and Paul McGillion (Dr. Carson Beckett) appeared as guest stars in this season, with McGillion appearing in five episodes.

Actress Torri Higginson had stated that she would not be reprising her role as Dr. Elizabeth Weir in the fifth season.

Rainbow Sun Francks as Aiden Ford was given a brief cameo appearance in “Search and Rescue”. This was the last season of Stargate Atlantis.

Outline (Episode)

John Sheppard has been abducted. After freeing himself from his bonds, he soon discovers who it is who tied him up: Acastus Kolya.

In Atlantis, Woolsey, McKay, and the rest of the team are about to make a shocking discovery about an ancient race called Sakari, a silicon-based lifeform, which uses severe hallucinations to manipulate them into doing the right thing when a Sakari seed carrier is found in the ocean.

Xiao Shen, an IOA dignitary, comes aboard to judge Woolsey’s ability to be a capable commander and is planning on using this situation so she can get control of Atlantis herself.

Eventually it is revealed that both Kolya and a woman Woolsey was attracted to are projections of the Sakkari AI trying to distract Sheppard and evaluate Woolsey.

The AI wants Woolsey’s help to save its race from extinction by transporting it to its target world after it had crashed on Atlantis’ home world thousands of years ago.

It was trying to distract Sheppard as he was the greatest threat to it, but it never meant him any harm.

Woolsey decides to help it even though it could cost him his job and has the Apollo transport it where it needs to go.

As a final thanks, the AI tricks the dignitary and saves Woolsey’s job.

Stargate Franchise

You can find a full index of the Stargate Franchise here, whilst clicking on the following links for films, documentaries, and TV series (all and Stargate Atlantis only).

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): William Waring.
• Writer(s): Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie.
• Release Date: 14 November 2008.
• Running Time: 43-45 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.