Season 2 continued the momentum of the show nicely and featured a major addition to the cast in the form of Jason Momoa as Ronon. I think this was easily the best change in the entirety of Atlantis‘ run, as Ronon was a much more layered and interesting character than Ford, providing the show with new angles to explore by utilizing him than they would have had otherwise. Season 2 also saw the introduction of Michael, one of the two best villains on the show.
Season 2, Episode 1 – Aired: 7/15/2005 – The Siege (3)
Earth’s new battle cruiser Daedalus arrives under the command of Colonel Caldwell and saves Major Sheppard from his suicide run on the Wraith Hive ships. McKay and his team must get the new ZPM installed and raise the city shields to protect Atlantis before the rest of the Wraith fleet arrive to take the city.
This was the conclusion to the three-part episode. One of the story threads to emerge from this arc is that Lt. Ford was infected by a Wraith enzyme while a Wraith soldier was feeding on him. The side effect of the process is that the enzyme infused Ford with enhanced strength and endurance, but it also made him addicted to it and paranoid to the point where he went AWOL, leaving Atlantis (and Sun Francks the show as a regular character). Sheppard also got a bit of closure on his regret that he couldn’t save Col. Sumner in the pilot when Sumner was being fed upon by a Wraith. Sumner’s friend and Sheppard’s new commander, Col. Everett, also was fed upon partially, leaving him an older man.
Everett initially had the same misgivings about Sheppard’s record of disobeying the chain of command back in Afghanistan that Sumner had and he didn’t like Sheppard as Sumner initially didn’t. he even resented Sheppard for killing his friend But when Everett had the same fate befall him, he tells Sheppard he wishes he could have been there for him like he was there for Sumner. The episode also introduces Mitch Pileggi in his recurring role as Col. Steven Caldwell, commander of the Daedalus, the newest ship in the Earth fleet. Great three-episode arc with plenty of action on multiple fonts.
Season 2, Episode 2 – Aired: 7/22/2005 – The Intruder
Daedalus is infected by a Wraith computer virus. Dr McKay and his team must stop it as members of the Atlantis expedition return from Earth after a meeting at the SGC thanks to the ZPM. During the meeting at the SGC, Dr. Weir learns that the Pentagon plans to replace Major Sheppard with Colonel Caldwell.
Good “ghost in the machine” type of episode as the Wraith virus causes a lot of havoc on board the Daedalus, including killing a couple of crewmen. This episode also has ramifications for Weir and Sheppard, negative and positive respectively. The IOA questions Weir’s leadership of the expedition, even as she goes to bat for Sheppard, leading to his promotion to Lt. Col. This isn’t the last run-in that Weir will have with the IOA, nor the last challenge to her leadership of the expedition.
Season 2, Episode 3 – Aired: 7/29/2005 – Runner
Sheppard and his team attempt to locate Lieutenant Ford, only to find themselves held captive by a young man who is being hunted by the Wraith.
This is not only a pivotal episode for introducing Ronon Dex, but it’s another solid action episode that continues Ford’s arc as well. Jason Momoa had Ronon’s character down from the beginning and became a great addition to the show. This is a good episode for Rodney, who is insistent on wearing a hazmat suit due to the high instance of solar radiation on the planet. Ronon and Ford have a great knife fight in the climax that shows just how much of a badass Ronon really is.
Season 2, Episode 4 – Aired: 8/5/2005 – Duet
After McKay and Lt. Laura Cadman are culled by a Wraith dart, Sheppard’s team shoots it down. After attempting to re-materialize the pair, Lt. Cadman’s mind ends up sharing McKay’s body.
Good, quirky episode for McKay.
Season 2, Episode 5 – Aired: 8/12/2005 – Condemned
Sheppard’s team discovers a planet untouched by the Wraith because the government sends their criminals to a penal island for the Wraith to feed upon. Sheppard’s Jumper is shot down and crashes on the island.
Season 2, Episode 6 – Aired: 8/19/2005 – Trinity
Ronon Dex discovers that a small number of his people survived the Wraith attack on his planet, including his former military trainer, with whom he has unfinished business. Meanwhile, McKay puts Atlantis at risk when he tries to unlock the secrets of an Ancient power source.
This is a split narrative episode, where Ronon and Teyla get to know each other better. This is especially so when Ronon has some unfinished business with his former Satedan commander. Meanwhile, Rodney’s ego at trying to make an Ancient power device work ends up destroying a solar system.
Season 2, Episode 7 – Aired: 8/26/2005 – Instinct
During a mission, Sheppard and his team learn that a lone Wraith — whose dart had crashed leaving him unable to get to the spacegate — has been terrorizing a village for some ten years. They offer to help, but soon after they begin to hunt, Teyla senses that something is different about this Wraith.
Season 2, Episode 8 – Aired: 9/9/2005 – Conversion
After being infected by a retrovirus, Sheppard’s body begins mutating into something insect-like. Beckett and the team race to find a cure before the mutation has gone too far.
Instinct and “Conversion are a de facto two-part episode, the first where Sheppard’s team comes across a young Wraith girl who has an unusual protector in the form of a human. It also introduces a retrovirus that Beckett had been working on to reverse Wraith DNA, but ends up having the inverse effect, turning the somewhat docile Wraith girl into a full on monster. Sheppard gets some of the same treatment in Conversion when he becomes infected with the retrovirus and begins mutating into a Wraith monster. This is a good The Fly episode for Flanigan.
Season 2, Episode 9 – Aired: 9/23/2005 – Aurora
The team finds a large Ancient Ship called Aurora adrift on the edge of the galaxy and it still has Ancients living on board.
Season 2, Episode 10 – Aired: 9/23/2005 – The Lost Boys (1)
The team is captured by Lt. Ford, who is now leading a renegade band that is taking the Wraith enzyme. He tries to get Sheppard and the team to help him take out a Wraith hive ship.
Season 2, Episode 11 – Aired: 1/6/2006 – The Hive (2)
McKay attempts to rescue Sheppard, Teyla and Ronon from the Wraith hive ship that Ford wanted to sabotage and destroy.
Another great action-filled two-parter that rounds out Ford’s arc permanently on the show. Still affected mentally by the Wraith enzyme, Ford has been staging commando raids on the Wraith, harvesting the enzyme from them. He’s gathered a group of men and has juiced them on the enzyme as well. When he captures Sheppard’s team, he does the same with them. Ronon and Teyla feel the effects and their considerable natural fighting skills are heightened even more by the enzyme. Rodney has his typical reaction to being drugged against his will: he freaks. The second episode features an assault on a Wraith hive ship in which Ford apparently doesn’t survive. He isn’t seen on the show afterwards.
Season 2, Episode 12 – Aired: 1/13/2006 – Epiphany
Colonel Sheppard is separated from his team while investigating an Ancient device; he finds himself in a domain where time is dilated, progressing faster than normal. Doctor McKay frantically looks for a way to save Sheppard before time runs out!
Season 2, Episode 13 – Aired: 1/20/2006 – Critical Mass
SGC discover that The Trust has placed a bomb in Atlantis that will go off when Atlantis dials Earth. Daedalus must warn Atlantis and the team must find the traitor in their midst.
Season 2, Episode 14 – Aired: 1/27/2006 – Grace Under Pressure
Dr. McKay is trapped underwater in a sinking Puddle Jumper and he must rely on Samantha Carter for his survival.
This is an entertaining Rodney-centric episode where he has lengthy discussion with Col. Carter, who isn’t really there, in order to try to cope with his situation. Rodney knows she’s just a figment of his imagination, but that doesn’t stop him from revealing deep emotions he has for Sam. Good guest spot by Amanda Tapping.
Season 2, Episode 15 – Aired: 2/3/2006 – The Tower
The team discovers an exact replica of Atlantis on a planet they are exploring. The planet is protected by The Protector who uses the technology to keep the villagers in line and the Wraith away. The Protector is dying and Sheppard is caught up in a dispute among the heirs of the throne.
Season 2, Episode 16 – Aired: 2/10/2006 – The Long Goodbye
Alien combatants look to settle an ancient score by using Weir and Sheppard as pawns.
An interesting Return To Tomorrow-styled episode (Star Trek) where Weir and Sheppard have their bodies taken over by two aliens who have unfinished business which each other: namely, they want to kill each other. Weir finally gets to see some real action, even if it’s not really Weir.
Season 2, Episode 17 – Aired: 2/17/2006 – Coup D’etat
When the Atlantis team finds out that the Genii have grown into a new menace, they realize that the armistice with their old enemy may soon come to an end.
Season 2, Episode 18 – Aired: 2/24/2006 – Michael
Lieutenant Michael Kenmore, suffering amnesia, suspects that Atlantis personnel are lying to him about what actually happened to him on his last mission against the Wraith.
One of the best episodes of the season and one which introduces a key Atlantis villain, Michael (Connor Trinneer). You know something’s off about the way Weir and the others are treating this soldier who’s new to Atlantis and who suffered amnesia from a Wraith attack. And you wonder why the hell Ronon wants to kill him so badly. When the truth about Michael is revealed, it raises an interesting moral dilemma about just how far is too far in the Atlanteans’ efforts to prevail over the Wraith. Teyla gets a lot of good screen time with Michael this episode. Michael returns several times to become one of the most dangerous enemies the expedition will encounter, and he’s one that they created.
Season 2, Episode 19 – Aired: 3/3/2006 – Inferno