Note – These Wraith are 10 times more interesting than the Goa’uld ever were. These Wraith not only look scary, they are scary! I never had this with the Goa’uld, they pretended to be gods, the Jaffa did all the work for them. These Wraith literally suck the life out us human beings and are 10 times stronger than normal humans. I have to credit the creators for thinking up this nasty alien race!

In comparison to the pilot, “Hide and Seek” is perhaps a bit of a let down, still it is an okay episode. There is a dark energy roaming around Atlantis which is draining all energy. Long time ago the ancients have caught this thing and lured it in a container which the kid Jinto opened somehow. MacKay has a personal shield which makes him invulnerable! But he also cannot eat or drink! Weir thinks it’s a thing of the mind. Note – An average episode, although the scenes with McKay and his personal shield were very funny, and ultimately he becomes the hero of the hour…sort of! “Thirty Eight Minutes” is an entertaining episode, After revisiting the Wraith planet from the pilot episode, they realized that they were on a ship, because now there is a hole where the ship used to be. Still they get ambushed on their way back to the jumper a big bug is latched onto Sheppard’s neck. In a rush to get back to Atlantis, the Wraith are shooting at the ship which damages one of the nacelles which no longer retracts. The Jumper gets stuck in the Stargate, which means that if they don’t find a solution, it will cut the ship in half. Meanwhile they are trying to get the bug off of Sheppard’s neck which seems sheer impossible. Note – We already learn more about these Wraith in relation to this bug which has attached himself to Sheppard.

In “Suspicions” Teyla is being suspected of being a traitor when on 9 missions, 5 times the Wraith were there too. Meanwhile, McKay and Zelenka discover that the roof over the jumpers can be opened, so they can visit the world Atlantis is on. The Athosians learn of the land on the planet and want to go there, Teyla stays behind. It ultimately is the locket that Sheppard found in the pilot that was the reason for the Wraith to find them, he activated it. They now use this opportunity to catch a Wraith alive, which was really creepy, having him in Atlantis. Note – McKay already becomes one of my favorite characters very early on with his (sarcastic) humor. In “Childhood’s End” Sheppard’s team arrive on a planet where their instruments don’t work, they crash-land and find a colony of children there where the eldest is 24 and on the eve of their 25th birthday they kill themselves because they believe that this is the reason the Wraith haven’t come back. Of course it is the energy shield that shields them all these years and because the shield can protect only so much ground, their ancestors thought up the killing themselves rule at the age 25. Note - Not a fan when children and/or young adults are running the place, there is always one or more of them which unbelievably annoying, yes here too. Other than that, an okay episode.

In “Poisoning the Well” Sheppard and his team visit a planet where the people have been working on a serum that would make them immune against the Wraith feeding. Beckett takes a look at it and sees it is very promising. They have a terminal patient who is willing to be a test subject to the Wraith who is imprisoned on Atlantis. Against objections of Beckett they proceed. After the Wraith has tried to feed on him, he stops, the serum seems effective, but very soon the Wraith dies. Sheppard warns that this will probably mean that this is no defensive weapon but an offensive weapon, that the Wraith will come and wipe them out. But the damage is done, they have moved forward by producing the drug on a massive scale and inoculating people against Beckett’s warnings. But then people start to die. Note - Best episode since the pilot, love the scenes with the captured Wraith, shame he dies so quickly. This people is determined to find a weapon against the Wraith, 50% death and still almost everyone is in favor to continue.

In “Underground” we meet the Genii for the first time. Because of food shortage on Atlantis, Teyla introduces the team to the Genii, who seem farmers, but in reality their real life is underground and when Sheppard and McKay discover this, they are in trouble. Sheppard manages to convince their leader Cowen (Colm Meaney) to become allies but Sheppard must deliver C4. They go on a joined mission but the Genii have no intention to honor their side of the deal. Sheppard however did anticipate this. Note – These Genii, I really don’t like ‘em, from the get go. But I reckon I am not the only one. Colm Meaney does a splendid job playing Cowen, a very convincing unsympathetic character. Still, very strong episode. “Home” is also a strong episode, McKay thinks he has found a way to dial to earth, not from Atlantis but from another planet where he can use the abundance of energy that is there. Because it is a one-way communication it will be just to brief the SGC but no one is to go. But when communicating, the SGC command tells them there is a way back within a month. So decide to all go, but it soon turns out that this is not really earth. The energy on that planet, the mist, those are actually sentient beings, of whom millions are killed each time the gate opens. Note - Was a good episode, nice to see them back on earth, even if it was an illusion. Hammond in command should have been a dead giveaway. Shame that Simon is the same actor as the one from the Tollan. Don’t understand why they do this.

In the two-parter “The Storm” & “The Eye”, the Genii are back already. A storm is coming, a big storm. Atlantis will most likely get severely damaged so they need to evacuate. Sheppard asks help from a world which they trade with, they reluctantly agree but they tip the Genii. A Genii strike force uses the I.D code from an Athosian and overpower the members who’d stayed behind. Sheppard is still somewhere in the city, while Teyla, Ford and the doc are still on the mainland waiting out the storm. Koyla (Robert Davi), the leader of the Genii strike force wants it all, in beginning he wants just stuff and leave but now he wants to take over Atlantis. While McKay and Weir start repairing the grounding station, Sheppard is eluding Koyla’s men, meanwhile, in the eye of the Storm, Ford, Teyla and Beckett return to Atlantis to help Sheppard. When McKay tells Kolya his plan did not work, Kolya’s plan is to take them with him, Sheppard however is on time, he shoots Koyla who falls into the Stargate, letting go of Weir who he had hostage. Weir is safe. McKay is able just in time to fix the shield. Note - Really don’t like this Koyla character, that also can be said about the Genii as a people, which makes watching an episode like this hard. Banter between McKay and Zelenka in the beginning is fun. Sheppard’s cry Koyla in the final moments of “The Storm”, reminds me of Captain Kirk in Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan: Khhhaaaaan! Overall of course, a strong two-parter.

“The Defiant One” definitely is a favorite episode of mine. This Wraith, so relentless, intelligent, love it. Sheppard and his team check out a long abandoned Wraith ship on a planet. They are 15 hrs. from Atlantis. Only it is not abandoned, there is a Wraith alive for thousands of years and he was even feeding upon his own crew mates to stay alive. He feeds upon two of Sheppard’s crew. Sheppard goes after him to the puddle jumper because the Wraith wants off this planet. It becomes a heavy fight between Sheppard and the Wraith while rescue is on the way. The electric bugs from SG-1 S4 episode “Prodigy”, ultimately help kill the Wraith. Note - Scariest Wraith I believe, great episode, one of my fav episodes. Great quotes: #1 Sheppard “Everybody remember where we parked”, reference to Star Trek: The Voyage Home. #2 McKay: “Are you Captain Kirk?”.

“Hot Zone” for me is one of the weakest episodes of the season. A team of scientists, including McKay, Zelenka and Ford, are exposed to a deadly virus. Sheppard goes after one of the scientists trying to escape. Note - Sheppard is disobeying a direct order from Weir and undermines her authority with this. McKay being less cowardly than normal. “Sanctuary” is another strong episode, Sheppard invites a priestess Chaya Sar (Leonor Varela), who claims to not know about a weapon protecting her planet from the Wraith, to Atlantis to discuss asylum for refugees. Sheppard and Chaya immediately have a connection, McKay is very blunt with her when she tells him she doesn’t know anything about the weapon. He actually was right to question her, because she turns out to be an ascended ancient, who cannot interfere, cannot help the people of Atlantis. Note – Sheppard now is Kirk!

“Before I Sleep” is another favorite of mine, While investigating the city, Sheppard ‘s team finds a woman in stasis, who must have been there for 10.000 years. This woman turns out to be Dr. Elizabeth Weir. Apparently the current expedition wasn’t the first one, Old Weir was on the first one but Atlantis couldn’t sustain all the water and almost everybody died. Via a time machine, built by an ancient called Janus, in a puddle jumper, she arrives 10.000 years in the past on Atlantis, going back is not allowed so Janus makes sure she survives all these years in a chamber and 3 ZPM’s to sustain her. Note – One of the best episodes this season. The make-up old Weir was wearing, was really good, much better than you often see on Star Trek.

In “The Brotherhood” the Genii return, although I am not a fan of them, it usually means good stories. The team is closing in on finding a ZPM, most likely an unused one. Unfortunately the Genii are keeping an eye on them and they know Sheppard’s team is searching for something significant. Kolya is very close to disrupt our teams plan, Sheppard leaves him behind, alive. McKay has built up a bond with Allina (Jana Mitsoula), but it becomes clear to her that team Atlantis are not the ascendents of the Ancients, she does not want to part with the ZPM because for them it also holds significance. Meanwhile on Atlantis, Zelenka finds out a Wraith dart is close by, the dart flies over, makes scans and then before sending out a message, it self destructs, now there are 3 hive ships on route to Atlantis and will be there in approximately 2 weeks. Note - Strong episode, although I really do not like this Koyla character. Said it earlier also, these Genii, really annoy me, really wouldn’t mind not seeing them again! Guest star: Laura Mennell.

Another strong one is “Letters from Pegasus” In light of the hive ships that are on the way, McKay thinks he can send a short message to the SGC. Weir gives Ford the assignment to record the messages of the colleagues. Meanwhile, Sheppard and Teyla take a jumper to check out the Hive ships and they are shocked by what force they are coming. Note – As said, strong episode, even though it is a bit if a clip show. McKay going on in his video about everything, is fun. He is so full of himself, obnoxious bastard but I love him! Teyla and Sheppard are at odds when Teyla wants to rescue some friends of hers. “The Gift” is also a good episode which actually is step-up for the season one finale two-parter “The Siege”. Teyla is having nightmares about the Wraith, it is going on for days now. Sheppard brings her in contact with Dr. Heightmeyer (Claire Rankin) to talk about it, which she does not appreciate. Weir & Beckett find out from some Wraith logs that Teyla has a small part of Wraith DNA, her ancestors were tested upon by a Wraith scientist, to make the feeding process smoother. It turns out, that the voices she sometimes hears, are actual Wraith, she has a connection with them and she learns the true reason why are coming to Atlantis, they know about earth from Colonel Sumner, there isn’t enough feeding ground here and earth has a rich supply of it. Note – The episode is creepy here and there with the Wraith walking around on Atlantis in Teyla’s dream. Also when the Wraith takes over Teyla during the hypnosis. Especially when it later turns out, there actually is Wraith on Atlantis!

In the season finale “The Siege” McKay has an idea that the satellite which is in between the Wraith ships and Atlantis, should be able to destroy the 3 vessels. Meanwhile after Bates has been beaten up, it is clear that a Wraith is in Atlantis. He has been there since the Wraith dart flew over and destroyed his dart ship, apparently he beamed himself to the city. Halling asks Weir about a possibility that Weir destroys the city when the Wraith cannot be stopped. McKay and the team manage to only destroy one ship, with a sacrifice of Peter Grodin. Zelenka thinks a virus could do the trick to incapacitate the 2 remaining Wraith vessels. Note - Part one is a wonderful episode, although it says part one, for me it is actually part two because the previous episode The Gift for me is part one.

In part two of “The Siege” SGC command dials to Atlantis, a group of soldiers come through and Colonel Everett assumes command. The ZPM is enroute to Atlantis with the Daedalus and till that time they need to defend Atlantis. Meanwhile the Wraith have been attacking Atlantis. Sheppard has an idea, to use a bomb from the Genii, Weir goes to them to negotiate about it. When the power is out, the chair cannot be used, Sheppard singlehandedly goes up to the Wraith ships to at least bring one ship down with the Genii bomb. Note - A great season finale, a cliff-hanger. Gutsy of Weir to go to the Genii by herself. A great moment when McKay realizes an incoming wormhole is coming from the SGC. This turn of events makes cross-overs possible in the next seasons, which is always a plus!

Final Word:

This actually a stronger 1st season than I first thought, after going through each episode in detail! Star Trek or SG-1 wasn’t able to have this high quality stories in its 1st season. There are a few things I am not so fond of but that is more a question of taste than anything else. And no, I really don’t like the Genii, but stories involving them are usually strong episodes. I would grade this season an 8+/10. Looking forward to the coming seasons, especially with the character Ronon Dex in season two. I liked Lt. Ford, but Ronon Dex just brought a little more.

With the help of IMdB & Screencaps taken from Gateworld