In the 2nd episode “Intruder” Back from earth to Atlantis, Sheppard, who got promoted, Weir, McKay and the Dr. Carson Beckett on the Daedalus, the team has to deal with a planted virus, a Wraith virus. A virus that is capable of learning. Meanwhile we see backflashes of their time at the SGC, especially Weir that is. Colonel Caldwell was to become the new military leader, to replace Sheppard, because he has a history of going against the chain of command, also this last year in Atlantis. And he is only a Major. Weir deals with that with conviction. Note - A bottle show, clearly to save money, which is okay. It is an entertaining enough episode with a few laughs here and there. In “Runner” we meet Ronon Dex for the first time, immediately one of the best episodes of the season. Team Atlantis has a lead on Ford, but then Teyla and Sheppard are shot down and taken by a stranger. Meanwhile, McKay and Major Lorne are also looking for Ford, who shoots down Lorne and takes McKay and tries to convince him he is still himself, accept for some extra powers. This stranger, Ronon Dex, explains he is a runner, the Wraith have put in a tracking device in him and hunt for him for 7 years. Sheppard convinces him that Beckett could most likely get the tracking device out. He agrees and later on he saves McKay as Ford is threatening McKay. Ford flees into beam of a Wraith dart. Ronon Dex goes with our team to Atlantis and show him that his world Sateda, is totally destroyed. Note – Ronon Dex, a new character introduced, to replace Ford. Great episode, some fun but uncomfortable moments between McKay and Ford. Also McKay using suncream and wearing that protective suit was humorous.

“Duet” definitely is a funny episode, McKay has to share his body with Lt. Laura Cadman (Jaime Ray Newman) after he and she have been taken by a Wraith dart with the beam. The dart was shot down and it only had enough energy to rematerialize one person. While they are trying to find ways to correct this, Rodney has a date and Lt. Laura Cadman has the hots for our dear Doctor. Meanwhile, Ronon is still on Atlantis deciding what he should do, Sheppard wants him to join his team. Weir has her doubts but agrees. Note - Fun episode with lots of humoristic banter between McKay and second self Lt. Cadman, very well acted also by David Hewlett, playing two different personalities. In “Condemned” Sheppard’s team visit a planet where the Stargate is on an island what at the same time also is a open prison for the so-called worst criminals. On the main land civilization is booming because the Wraith who come to this world, cull only on the island. The Wraith in question had a long stand deal with the current magistrate and with the ones before him. When Sheppard, who was shot down on the island, lets the prisoners escape to the stargate, the Wraith turn around to the main land. Note - When this episode starts, I always think, ah, not my favorite episode, but in fact it is a very good episode. I really enjoy this Wraith who has the arrangement with the magistrate, during dinner, the magistrate is scared shitless with him in one room.

In “Trinity” The team discover an Ancient project to create the ultimate power source. McKay thinks he can finish it. McKay’s confidence is never higher and he even thinks he is smarter than the Ancients, but ultimately he does not get it to work and destroys a solar system. Ronon finds out he is not the only surviving Satedan. He uses Teyla to find a traitor and a coward and he kills him point blank. Note - Mostly a techno-babble episode, was okay, has some good moments but this time around, I was happy the episode was over. In “Instinct” The team find a hidden Wraith girl, cared for by a man with a serum that he claims can satisfy her hunger. Beckett wants to perfect a retrovirus that can turn Wraith into humans. The serum however doesn’t work and she has been feeding on humans. The girl hates herself and when she overhears telling about the retrovirus, and that it is not done by a long show, she still injects it, this makes her even more dangerous. Sheppard gets bitten by the girl. Note - Okay episode I guess, few fun McKay moments, guest starring Jewel Staite.

Follow-up from “Instinct” is “Conversion”, Sheppard, who has been bitten by the girl, gradually starts to convert into something like the Iratus bug. To provide a treatment, stem cells must be retrieved from one of their eggs. The first attempt, from his team, fails, it seems hopeless but then Beckett has the solution, Sheppard himself must get the stem cells, he doesn’t stand out in that cave. Meanwhile, Caldwell is temporarily replacing Sheppard but on day one he starts to make changes, Weir is not happy with that. Note - Interesting episode, creepy in that cave and also on Atlantis in the form of Caldwell! In “Aurora” an Atlantean ship is found, it is damaged and very old. But the Wraith are also interested in this ship. Sheppard’s team discover life pods, people are still alive but 10.000 years old and they cannot be revived but there is still lots of brain activity. McKay discovers some sort of virtual environment, Sheppard goes in but is imprisoned at once, the first officer, strikes him as odd, keeps him from the captain. It appears the Wraith had the same idea, and planted a Wraith in this environment because the Atlanteans where trying to update their propulsion system so that the ship could get home faster to Atlantis. For the Wraith this could mean that earth would be in their reach. Note - One of the best episodes this season, again some great banter between Sheppard and McKay, great scenes on the Aurora in its best days. Apparently the Atlanteans knew about a weak point of the Wraith, but the Captain hadn’t read the document and it was erased from the ship’s computer.

In the two-parter “The Lost Boys” and “The Hive”, Ford is back and he kidnaps Sheppard and his men. He has surrounded himself with a team of men all taken the enzyme, for that, they need to attack Wraith ships. Ford wants to show Sheppard that he still can be trusted but for the viewer it is clear this is not the case. He drugs the food of McKay, Ronon and Teyla. He wants to do an op, with Sheppard’s team but it goes sideways of course! And of course, Ford escapes again. Note – Part One is a good episode, Ford is desperately trying to prove to Sheppard he is still Ford, not realizing he is no longer that same man. Sheppard trying to play along so when the time is right they can escape. Part two is a bit more entertaining, a lot of action, with lots of humor. I keep being amazed by these Wraith, possibly one of the scariest looking biped aliens ever seen on tv. McKay on steroids was fun to see, well acted, also when he is in withdrawal. Being Weir at times like this is no pick-nick either, constantly worried about her friends and colleagues.

“Epiphany” is an average episode, Sheppard steps through a portal and is stuck there. What is worse, he cannot go back and there is some time dilation thing going on. What is a few minutes for Mckay and the others, is hours for Sheppard. He finds a village where people are preparing to ascend, there is also a monster which it threatening these people and Sheppard as well, McKay knows he does not have much time to find him. In “Critical Mass” The Trust has put a bomb in Atlantis. It is triggered when Earth is dialed. SGC is just in time with sending a message not to dial. The Daedalus is the hub between Earth and Atlantis. Weir wants the Daedalus back also because the operative might still on the ship or in Atlantis. Kavanaugh is Weir’s prime suspect. Note - Solid episode, the song Teyla sings for Charin when she dies, was not necessary to me. I thought it did not look real, with such a song, obvious play backing is a fail.

In “Grace Under Pressure” McKay and a colleague crash into the ocean of the Atlantis planet. The Pilot sacrifices himself so that McKay has a chance to survive. Because of his headwound, McKay is not ‘all there’, he images Samantha being there with him. Meanwhile Sheppard and Zelenka are searching for him, a huge animal saves him because Sheppard sees the creature swimming in the same place for a while now, which most likely means something interesting. Note – David Hewlett does a wonderful job here playing a sacred, chaotic and panicking McKay. He carries the episode well, and yeah, a big plus we got to see Sam in that sexy outfit! 😊 In “The Tower” Colonel Sheppard's team finds a world where the leader lives in a tower that possesses the power to stop Wraith attacks. It turns out that the tower is a piece of a city, like Atlantis it seems. These people live like kings while the villagers are poor. Sheppard, who has the ancient gene, is imprisoned because they need a follow-up to their dying king. Note - A real mweh episode, story it thin, barely average. Guest starring: Peter Woodward.

For me, “The Long Goodbye” could well be my least favorite episodes. Team discovers two life pods in space, both old but alive but unresponsive. But there are able to take over a body for a sort time. Weir’s and Sheppard’s body are being taken over, enemies from each other, trying to kill each other while the war is long over. Note - Really annoyed by this episode, really don’t like it, can’t really explain it but for me it is the weakest episode of the season. One good thing about it: a bad-ass Weir. In “Coup D’Etat” While Teyla and Ronon investigate the apparent death of Major Lorne, the Genii Ladon Radim contacts Atlantis. He wants to trade a ZPM for weapons supplies. He tells Atlantis team that he wants to take down Cowen but he does not mention that he intends to use team Atlantis to succeed. Further more, he had intended to kill team Atlantis with Cowen, but because Beckett is able to save his sister, who was one of 20 who voluntary gave themselves up, who were all terminally ill, he decides to solve it differently without killing team Atlantis. Ladon is now the new leader of the Genii. Note - Good episode, they got themselves into this mess because they thought it was okay to steal the ZPM from Ladon. Plus they just walked into a trap, they had no clue.

In “Michael” Beckett’s retrovirus is being tested on a Wraith, they call him Michael. But from the start Michael, feels something is off. He constantly is being lied to about who and what he is, a made up history. But one night when I cannot sleep, he goes to the infirmary and finds evidence he is not human. Note - On Enterprise I really didn’t like Conner Trinneer’s character Trip. Luckily for me, over the years this has faded a bit, but when I first saw him on Atlantis, he still reminded me of Trip. Years later I can fully appreciate this episode and it really is a strong episode. Regarding the actions of the Atlantis crew regarding this Wraith, is questionable on many levels. Especially after he knows what the truth is. Why do this on Atlantis, given the Wraith are not aware of the existence of Atlantis, why not having this playing out of Alpha site from the start?

In “Inferno” Atlantis helps with repairing an Ancient shield generator on Taranis. They discover the Taranians are in possession of an Ancient warship. They also discover that because they have been using their shield too long, the planet is about to erupt as there is an active lava under the city. The reason why the ancients decided to settle there, to use the power underground. McKay tries to fix the ship so that they can escape. Note - Solid episode, guest starring Brandy Ledford. Some funny McKay moments which make the episode a bit more entertaining and a big cool ship!

Save the best for last, Vanessa Williams would say! In “Allies” The hive ship approaching Atlantis is Michael's. He wants a trade: the retrovirus for not revealing the secret of Atlantis and insights on Wraith technology. It is an alliance which is very uncomfortable for Weir and her crew, but she does not have much of a choice. The information they get from the Wraith, they get so freely, the alarm bells should have gone of. Note - This is the best episode of the season for me, the uneasy alliance between Michael’s Wraith ship and the Atlantis expedition is so on the nose. As a viewer you know this goes wrong and of course it does go wrong. Having these Wraith on Atlantis was so creepy and uncomfortable, it really made for good TV!

Final Word:

Season Two is a more than decent season, it has a few average episodes, but there also some very strong episodes. I would grade it a 7.5/10, perhaps a bit higher even. The character Ronon Dex really enhanced the show, his character really added something to the mix. Ford certainly was an okay character but is not as interesting as a runner. Saying that, as a recurring character he became more interesting. For me this is the last season I write a blog for because I already wrote blogs for seasons 3-5 four years ago.

Blog written with help from IMdB & Screencaps taken from Gateworld.