Stargate Atlantis 1x07: Poisioning the Well (spoilers)

[thomas7g]

story:
The Stargate team encounters a world on the verge of a breakthrough that could mean immunity from the Wraiths.

guest starring:
Alan Scarfe, Allison Hossack

review:
An well written script! I was surprised to see this episode stronger than the SG-1 episode that preceded it.

The idea of a possible imunity and the disasterous consequences made for prome stuff. Hard decisions for Weir and crew to make. Is it unethical to perform lab tests on a being as evil as the wraith? Were the Hoffan people just in what they did?

I personally think the terrans were a little too naive. If the Wraiths have been reaping their people for centuries, then losing 50% could well be justifiable if the drug could be widespread throughout the galaxy. A big task indeed, but its a possible solution. Dark as it may be.

Allison Hossack does a quite credible performance as a doctor researching the drug. Though I wonder if her appearing on a stargate show means drugs problems on a planetwide scale. I remember her stint on the TOS stargate.

Alan Scarfe also does a great performance as a goverment leader who pushes for the drug. I;ve always enjoyed this actor. He has such a deep dramatic voice that is poorly underused. I think he could be the next James Earl Jones with the right role. I thought he did a great job on Seven Days.

I hope all of these episodes are as good as this.

[Sci-Fi]

It was an interesting and enjoyable story. Would of liked to see more of an ethics conflict/debate than what was shown. But you probably would need to make it a 2-parter. Weir and Beckett, as well as other civilians/scientists, should have debated the ethics and morality issues indepth and known of the possible dangers and side effects. Military vs Civilian interests, when they are in conflict, makes for good story telling. The Hoffan protected libraries could have been downloaded and taken back to Atlantis for further study.