Stargate: Atlantis 3.12: "Echoes"

Written by Carl Binder
Directed by William Waring

Coming out of the hiatus, “SGA” was going strong, riding on a string of solid episodes and marked improvements over the second season. The key has been a renewed focus on character and stronger plot arcs. Even the stand-alone episodes, sometimes problematic in the second season, have been a touch better (though some have still missed the mark). The goal of this episode, then, is to keep up the momentum.

Very quickly, the lingering questions about power, raised in “McKay and Mrs. Miller”, are answered in perfect detail. Questions about the recent Ancient and Asuran occupation of Atlantis are answered. This has been a problem in the past, so it’s a good sign that the writers are putting the pieces together in a more connective package.

Teyla and Ronon continue to get closer, which continues to be a matter of minor annoyance. It seems too convenient for the two “primitives” to be progressing towards a relationship. The jury is still out on that, however. For now, it seems to tie into Teyla’s meditative practices (long established) or, indirectly, her Wraith-originated abilities. Either one is a good reason for her to experience the “ghosts” before everyone else.

It doesn’t take long to figure out that the proximity of the “whales” and the “ghosts” are related in some way; the fun is watching the characters figure out the connections and peel back the layers of the planet’s past. It highlights the fact that Team Atlantis knows very little about the city and the planet. For that matter, there’s a massive Ancient history that is almost completely unknown. Touching on that history puts this episode within a fascinating perspective.

The episode quickly becomes the usual race to find a technical problem to the whole “sunburst” problem. The solution itself is the usual technobabble mixed with Rodney’s trademark caustic wit, but it was a great excuse for some impressive special effects. It certainly looks as though the effects, money, and effort is going to “SGA” these days!

It’s unlikely that anything from this episode will have lasting consequences, and beyond the relationship between Teyla and Ronon, very little in the way of character development takes place. But this does touch on a number of items lingering from earlier episodes, and on that basis alone, this was a successful stand-alone effort.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4

Final Rating: 7/10