Rewatch: Condemned

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

The puddle jumper arrives on a planet that neither Teyla nor Ronon have visited before. They land near an abandoned campfire, only to find themselves under attack by the indigenous people. They are rescued by a flying vehicle that escorts them to a city of the advanced Olesians. Their magistrate tells the stargate is on a prison island, where only the most violent criminals are sent. According to him this has kept the Wraith away from the city for centuries. He tells McKay their scientists have recently found a mineral that is fissionable, but does not produce any radioactivity. McKay is very interested and the magistrate seems willing to trade. While the jumper returns to get Dr. Weir for the negotiations, the prisoners open fire. They manage to shoot it down.  [Poll #1796136]

Comments

Comment 3B

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

John, Teyla and Ronon are going to try to keep them away. John tells Rodney that, as soon as the gate's open, he should head straight through and get started on the sandwiches; they'll be right behind. Cute carrying the sandwich bit on. Reminds me of the first time John flew a 'jumper and asked it for a turkey sandwich (right after it gave him an LSD). Rodney says he only needs two minutes. Hmmm. Seems as if more than eight minutes have gone by already, not that I'm keeping track or anything.

They rush to hide in nearby bushes and Teyla makes her own bantos sticks. John tries to imitate her and just conks his knee instead. That branch is too thick, John. So, he chooses an even thicker one, to use as a cudgel. Hey, it works! Unfortunately, their early success changes quickly when they're surrounded again, with bows and arrows and their own (former) weapons. ::sighs::

Of course, that's when Rodney has to finally fix it and yells out that they're ready to go. But the only person who hears is Torell and his henchmen. More panic-stricken looks on Rodney's face.

So, it's a tense negotiation. Torell wants the team to take them along home. John says nothing doing. Torell reminds him that they've got weapons pointed at their heads. John points out that they'll kill them as soon as they've gone through the gate anyway.

Sorry to interrupt, guys, but Rodney's just spotted a Wraith cruiser flying overhead. Luckily, Evan's HUD confirms that, too. But that's not all, there's several more "on approach outside the atmosphere". Hey, who sent out the party invitations?

Liz orders stealth mode and finding the team before the Wraith do.

While the prisoners are distracted, 'cuz they've never seen a cruiser, Ronon knocks one of them out and is weapon-to-weapon with Torell. John intervenes, telling Rodney to dial the gate. Well, John, Rodney's trying but there's a big problem. He can't dial out because he's lost power to the DHD. If only they'd gone immediately, he whines. So John asks if he can get power to a drone instead. Torell suggests they shoot the cruiser down. What? With their pea-shooters? Teyla says they don't have anything powerful enough to do the job. When Rodney gets power to a drone, John explodes it against the forward section of the cruiser.

But Evan and Liz spot the drone hit. John thinks it'll either buy them some time or piss the Wraith off. Better yet, Liz comes onto the radio currently in Torell's hand and says the Wraith cruiser was damaged and is leaving the area. Yay, they've been found. But there are two more cruisers incoming. Can't our team ever get a break?

Torell hands John the radio. Where is she? Oh, just cloaked and directly above them. I like that answer. John asks Liz to dial the Alpha site. When the gate engages, most of the prisoners rush in eagerness to get off the island. Torell is skeptical. Well, John tells him he can either stay on the island or go with the rest of them. But he's not coming home with them. When Eldon makes a noise, John waves him off. Yes, he can come home with them. Yay. That's cute. We see Torell backing away, hurrying after the others. Smart move, for a change. John tells Liz to shut the gate down as soon as the last person has gone through, then to dial Atlantis and to stay in stealth mode. I know John's up to something. So do Liz and Evan as they glance at each other.

Another cruiser's just shown up. They dial Atlantis and Liz tells the team to head to the gate. Okay, explosions going off just on the heels of the team. That's an awfully long distance to run in plain sight, being chased by a ::shudders:: Wraith cruiser. They've just made it through when the last explosion lands at the edge of the wormhole. [Okay, nitpicking time: should they not have destroyed the 'jumper before running to the gate? Or asked Evan to do so once they're through?]

Evan confirms they're through. Liz sags in relief. I think she'd rather be at her nice safe desk right about now. Finally, we see the cruiser turn ponderously and guess whom it's visiting. Yup, a very worried-looking Magistrate who brings up a hand to his mouth in anticipated horror. As his hand drops away, we see his wide-open mouth. Everything else is left to the imagination with the closing credits.