Stargate: Atlantis 3.17: "Sunday"

Written by Martin Gero
Directed by William Waring

Without question, this is an episode designed to stir up fandom. The entire situation is contrived to bring about the death of Dr. Carson Beckett, a fan favorite who has rarely been given the time or depth deserved. One could argue that the episode serves the purpose of setting other plot thread in motion as well, but the flow of the episode makes it more likely that the end goal was in mind and the rest came after.

All things being equal, the body count has never matches the inherent dangers faced by Team Atlantis. They’ve lost Ford, but that was mostly an issue of cast chemistry. Frankly, I’m shocked that the character was given the kind of long-term exit he was given. Minor characters have been killed here and there, but like most episodic genre series, the longevity of the cast becomes a liability to any sense of realism.

Sooner or later, a main character has to die when so many dangers abound. The trick is to make the death seem organic in the storytelling, the logical consequence of statistics or personal destiny. Even the best writers run into trouble when that moment comes. This is actually not a bad attempt at giving a character a strong send-off, as he’s actually doing what he does best: saving lives that would otherwise be lost.

The structure of the episode gives it a “lower decks” feeling. The writers don’t try to build too much plot around Beckett’s death; they take the time to explore what the characters were doing in the quiet moments before the crisis comes. Some of that time is even spent on characters other than Sheppard and McKay, which is a nice touch.

Once again, it seems like McKay is acting without a shred of consideration to the events of “The Tao of Rodney”, especially at the beginning of the episode. He also seems to forget the incidents, earlier in the series, where his ability to work his way out of a deadly situation was only marginally successful. Whatever the case, this is another episode that should leave McKay with lasting consequences, and it will be disappointing if that doesn’t happen. (The romance angle could also help humanize him, though it’s disappointing to have this apparent long-term development come seemingly out of nowhere.)

Sheppard’s growing rapport with Ronon is always fun to see. I’d like to see more depth to Ronon (which is pretty much a constant complaint at this point), but this sets up the possibility of John and Ronon vying for Teyla’s affections. It’s about time that the writers recalled that John and Teyla had been dancing around each other in the first season, and while I’m usually annoyed by inane relationship drama, it may lead to character development. As rare as that can be, it’s a welcome possibility.

There’s also the possibility of romance for Weir, though that’s more of a negative for her than a positive. If there’s one long-term character arc that has been sporadically building this season, it’s Weir and her embattled position as the head of Team Atlantis. On several occasions, I’ve wondered if Weir’s choices would come back to haunt her, and the writers have never taken it as far as they could (or should) have. Questions could come up regarding Weir’s activities during the time leading to Beckett’s death, and it could add to the long list of reasons why the IOA might want someone else in the leadership role.

This will probably never be listed as anyone’s favorite episode, since it is overwhelmed by the seemingly unnecessary death of Dr. Beckett. It had its moments, however, and if certain character elements remain in the forefront after coming up in this hour, then the episode might make better sense in the long run. The worst thing that could happen is the most obvious, given the history of the “Stargate” franchise: that Beckett’s death would be largely ignored and barely referenced.

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

Final Rating: 8/10