by Matt Sernaker, Senior Editor

Stargate Atlantis makes the jump to High Definition with the release of Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Series on Blu-ray! Now is the time to relive the epic five year tale of the Atlantis Expedition. Watch as the team faces off against threats from the Wraith, the Replicators, the Wraith, the Replicators, the…(wait this is getting a bit repetitive), and many other threats!

Highlights:

The series features many fantastic moments, but here are just a few of my personal favorites:

“Rising” – When a major discovery in Antarctica leads the way to finding the lost city of Atlantis, a new team of explorers set out into the unknown Pegasus Galaxy on a new adventure! Now Dr. Elizabeth Weir, Major Sheppard, Dr. Rodney McKay, Lt. Ford, and Dr. Carson Beckett and a hand picked team must find a way to save Atlantis while facing off against a new threat to humanity: The Wraith! Is there a way to stop these vampire-like creatures from hunting down humans and using them as a food source? The pilot episode also included a guest appearance by actor Robert Patrick. who plays Col. Summner. This fast paced, action packed pilot episode did a great job setting up what would become an incredible series.

“The Siege” Parts 1-3 – A Wraith attack on Atlantis is imminent, but it seems like all hope is not lost! The Earth Battle Cruiser Daedalus arrives in orbit to help defend the Atlantis Expedition. Can they drive the Wraith back long enough to save the base?

“Adrift” – Lost in Space takes on a whole new meaning to the crew of the Atlantis Expedition as Stargate Atlantis Season 4 starts off with a bang. After a surprise attack by the Replicators, a last ditch effort to save the city was launched and Atlantis took off into space. Although they made it off the surface and have entered hyperspace, the crew soon realize that they have no idea where they are and that power levels are dropping. 

“Lifeline” – The crew launch an attack on a Replicator planet in hopes of acquiring a ZPM to power the city. During the battle Elizabeth Weir is captured by Replicator forces and disappears. This leads to the appointment of Col. Samantha Carter (played by Amanda Tapping) as the new head of the Atlantis expedition.

“Search and Rescue” – After the explosion during the 4th season finale, Col. Carter must find John and the rest of his team before they are crushed under debris. Will they be able to save Teyla and her newly born son before Michael can use them to create a new breed of Wraith warriors? Following the rescue, Carter is recalled to the SGC only to find that she has been replaced as the head of the Atlantis Expedition…by Agent Woolsey!

“The Seed”– The clone of Carson Beckett is back! Can his expertise save the life of one of his close friends?

“Ghost in the Machine”– Dr. Weir returns…but not as we know her. Using Ancient technology Weir is able to take the form of FRAN in order to communicate with Atlantis and end the Replicator threat once and for all.

“The Shrine”– Rodney is exposed to a disease from the Pegasus Galaxy that causes him to slowly loose his intelligence. Now, with the help of his sister, McKay must travel to a shrine which will supposedly grant him one last day with his loved ones before he looses his mind all together.

“First Contact”/”The Lost Tribe”– In the Season Five two part episode Daniel Jackson returns to Atlantis to seek out the lab of the Ancient known as Janus. When he accidently activates a device, a mysterious new race attacks and captures Jackson and McKay. We soon learn that this isn’t actually a new race, but someone we know quite well…as the Asgard have returned!

“Vegas“- You know the guys who make this show just love what they do. The original concept for this episode was “CSI: Atlantis”. This story takes place on an Alternate Earth where John Sheppard and Robert Woolsey joined the FBI and relocated to Las Vegas. When bodies suddenly start appearing with strange markings, Sheppard must find the murder before he can kill again. But how is it that a Wraith is on Earth? We soon learn that this is the world where the Alternate Rodney “Rod” McKay came from. With McKay’s help, Sheppard is able to track down the Wraith for one final shoot out. Unfortunately for us, the Wraith has set off a beacon to summon more Wraith to Earth…and that signal has crossed over into our own dimension!

“Enemy at the Gate”– Todd travels to Atlantis to warn that the Wraith now know where Earth is located…and that they now posses several ZPMs and have integrated them into their own system. This new Super Hive ship will reach Earth soon! The team scrambles to get Atlantis ready to fight and travel to Earth in a last ditch effort to save humanity. Don’t miss out on this great battle between the city of Atlantis and the Wraith! The final moments of this episode will shock you!

Special Features:

The major reason to buy this new set is the video quality. Atlantis makes the leap to high definition and the series hasn’t looked better! The images are vivid and show no signs of fragmenting, making the new video quality a perfect fit for a story set in outer space. The DTS-HD Audio is clear and consistent throughout the set. 

Video: 1080p AVC

Audio: DTS-HD MA 5.1 (English)

Subtitles: English (SDH)

Unfortunately for those of us who already had the DVD releases, all extras are the same.

Features include:

Disc 1 (Season 1):

• “Rising” (Parts 1 and 2)
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood and Actor Joe Flanigan
• “Hide and Seek”
  • Commentary by Actors Rachel Luttrell, Torri Higginson and Paul McGillion
• “Thirty Eight Minutes”
  • Commentary by Actors Rachel Luttrell ad Paul McGillion
• “Suspicion”
• Extras
  • “Stargate: Atlantis”Set Tour with Directors Martin Wood and Peter DeLuise

Disc 2 (Season 1):

• “Childhood’s End”
  • Commentary by Writer Martin Gero and Actors Rachel Luttrell and Rainbow Sun Francks
• “Poisoning the Well”
• “Underground”
• “Home”
• “The Storm”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
• Extras
  • Wraithal Discrimination: It’s Not Easy Being Green
  • Diary of Rainbow Sun Francks

Disc 3 (Season 1):

• “The Eye”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
• “The Defiant One”
  • Commentary by Director Peter DeLuise and Stunt Coordinator Dan Shea
• “Hot Zone”
  • Commentary by Writer Martin Gero and Actors Rachel Luttrell, Rainbow Sun Francks and Paul McGillion
• “Sanctuary”
  • Commentary by Actors Rachel Luttrell and Torri Higginson
• “Before I Sleep”
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: “The Storm/The Eye”
  • Mission Directive: “Sanctuary”
  • Mission Directive: “Before I Sleep”

Disc 4 (Season 1):

• “Brotherhood”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
• “Letters from Pegasus”
• “The Gift”
  • Commentary by Director Peter DeLuise and Actor Gary Jones
• “The Siege: Part 1”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
• “The Siege: Part 2”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actors Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: “The Siege”
  • A look back on Season One with Writer Martin Gero

Disc 5 (Season 2):

• “The Siege: Part 3”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actors Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett
• “The Intruder”
  • Commentary by Director Peter DeLuise and Actor Gary Jones
• “Runner”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood and Actor David Hewlett
• “Duet”
  • Commentary by Director Peter DeLuise, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
• “Condemned”
  • Commentary by Director Peter DeLuise and Actor Gary Jones
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: “The Siege: Part 3” featuring Director Martin Wood
  • Mission Directive: “The Intruder” featuring Director Peter DeLuise

Disc 6 (Season 2):

• “Trinity”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood and Writer Damian Kindler
• “Instinct”
  • Commentary by Director Andy Mikita and Producer Paul Mullie
• “Conversion”
  • Commentary by Writer Martin Gero and Actors Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett
• “Aurora”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood and Co-Producer Peter DeLuise
• “The Lost Boys”
  • Commentary by Writer Martin Gero and Actors Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: “Instinct” featuring Director Peter DeLuise
  • Introduction to a Character: Ronon Dex

Disc 7 (Season 2):

• “The Hive”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood
• “Epiphany”
  • Commentary by Director Neil Fearnley
• “Critical Mass”
  • Commentary by Director Andy Mikita, Actor Rachel Luttrell and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
• “Grace Under Pressure”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actors Amanda Tapping and David Hewlett
• “The Tower”
  • Commentary by Producer Paul Mullie and Director Andy Mikita
• Extras
  • Profile On: David Hewlett
  • “Stargate: Atlantis”Stunts

Disc 8 (Season 2):

• “The Long Goodbye”
  • Commentary by Director Andy Mikita, Actor Torri Higginson and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
• “Coup D’etat”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
• “Michael”
  • Commentary by Director Martin Wood and Supervising Producer/Director Peter DeLuise
• “Inferno”
  • Commentary by Director Peter DeLuise and Actor Gary Jones
• “Allies”
  • Commentary by Director Andy Mikita, Writer Martin Gero and Actor David Hewlett
• Extras
  • Road to a Dream with Martin Gero
  • Profile On: Paul McGillion

Disc 9 (Season 3):

• “No Man’s Land”
  • Commentary by Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
• “Misbegotten”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer Paul Mullie and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
• “Irresistible”
  • Commentary by Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Director of Photography Michael Blundell
• “Sateda”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer, Writer and Director Robert C. Cooper & Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
• “Progeny”
  • Commentary by Director Andy Mikita and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: “Sateda” featuring Director Robert C. Cooper
  • Mission Directive: “Progeny” featuring Director Andy Mikita
  • Inside the Stargate: Atlantis Visual FX Department
  • Profile On: Rachel Luttrell

Disc 10 (Season 3):

• “The Real World”
• “Common Ground”
  • Commentary by Director William Waring and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
• “McKay & Mrs. Miller”
  • Commentary by Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
• “Phantoms”
  • Commentary by Co-Executive Producer Carl Binder and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
• “The Return, Part 1”
  • Commentary by Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Executive Producer Paul Mullie
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: “Phantoms” featuring Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
  • General O’Neill Goes to Atlantis

Disc 11 (Season 3):

• “The Return, Part 2”
  • Commentary by Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Executive Producer Paul Mullie
• “Echoes”
  • Commentary by Director William Waring and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
• “Irresponsible”
  • Commentary by Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Director of Photography Michael Blundell
• “Tao of Rodney”
  • Commentary by Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Director of Photography Michael Blundell
• “The Game”
  • Commentary by Director William Waring and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: “The Game” featuring Director William Waring
  • Masters of the Alien

Disc 12 (Season 3):

• “The Ark”
  • Commentary by Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
• “Sunday”
  • Commentary by Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director William Waring
• “Submersion”
  • Commentary by Director Brenton Spencer and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
• “Vengeance”
  • Commentary by Director Andy Mikita and Creature Effects Designer Todd Masters
• “First Strike”
  • Commentary by Producer/Writer Martin Gero, Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: “First Strike” featuring Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
  • “Stargate Atlantis”: A Look Back on Season 3 with Martin Gero

Disc 13 (Season 4):

• “Adrift”
  • Commentary by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero, Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
• “Lifeline”
  • Commentary by Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Actor Amanda Tapping
• “Reunion”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring
• “Doppelganger”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer, Writer and Director Robert C. Cooper and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
• “Travelers”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Paul Mullie and Director William Waring
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: Doppelganger with Robert C. Cooper
  • A New Leader: Amanda Tapping Joins Atlantis

Disc 14 (Season 4):

• “Tabula Rasa”
  • Commentary by Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Actress Amanda Tapping
• “Missing”
  • Commentary by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Carl Binder and Producer/Director Andy Mikita
• “The Seer”
  • Commentary by Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Director Andy Mikita
• “Miller’s Crossing”
  • Commentary by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Producer/Director Andy Mikita
• “This Mortal Coil”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring
• Extras
  • “Stargate Atlantis”Bloopers
  • Mission Directive: “This Mortal Coil” with Director William Waring

Disc 15 (Season 4):

• “Be All My Sins Remember’d”
  • Commentary by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Producer/Director Andy Mikita
• “Spoils of War”
  • Commentary by Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Director William Waring
• “Quarantine”
  • Commentary by Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Actress Amanda Tapping
• “Harmony”
  • Commentary by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director William Waring
• “Outcast”
  • Commentary by Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Producer/Director Andy Mikita
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: “Quarantine” with Director Martin Wood
  • Mission Directive: “Outcast” with Director Andy Mikita

Disc 16 (Season 4):

• “Trio”
  • Commentary by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Martin Gero, Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Actress Amanda Tapping
• “Midway”
• “The Kindred”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Joseph Mallozzi and Director Peter F. Woeste
• “The Kindred, Part II”
  • Commentary by Producer/Writer Alan McCullough and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
• “The Last Man”
  • Commentary on “The Last Man” by Executive Producer/Writer Paul Mullie and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
• Extras
  • The Making of “Trio”
  • A Look Back at Season 4
  • Deleted Scenes

Disc 17 (Season 5):

• “Search and Rescue”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer Martin Gero and Director/Producer Andy Mikita
• “The Seed”
  • Commentary by Director William Waring
• “Broken Ties”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi and Actor Jason Momoa
• “The Daedalus Variations”
  • Commentary by Supervising Producer Alan McCullough and Director/Producer Andy Mikita
• “Ghost In The Machine”
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: “Search and Rescue” with Director Andy Mikita and Producer Martin Gero
  • Showdown! Ronon v. Tyre
  • Bringing “The Seed” to Life

Disc 18 (Season 5):

• “The Shrine”
• “Whispers”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring
• “The Queen”
  • Commentary by Supervising Producer Alan McCullough and Director Brenton Spencer
• “Tracker”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer Carl Binder and Director William Waring
• “First Contact”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer Martin Gero and Director/Producer Andy Mikita
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: “Whispers” with Director William Waring and Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi
  • Mission Directive: “Tracker” with Director William Waring and Executive Producer Carl Binder
  • Tricks of the Trade: Submerging the Stargate
  • Joe Flanigan: A Conversation with the Colonel

Disc 19 (Season 5):

• “The Lost Tribe”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer Martin Gero and Director/Producer Andy Mikita
• “Outsiders”
  • Commentary by Supervising Producer Alan McCullough and Director William Waring
• “Inquisition”
  • Commentary by Director Brenton Spencer and Actor Tobias Slezak
• “The Prodigal”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer Carl Binder and Director/Producer Andy Mikita
• “Remnants”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi and Director William Waring
• Extras
  • Building a Humanoid with James Robbins and Martin Gero
  • Dr. Jackson Goes to Atlantis
  • The Life and Death of Michael Kenmore
  • Deleted Scenes (Part One)

Disc 20 (Season 5):

• “Brain Storm”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer/Director Martin Gero
• “Infection”
• “Identity”
• “Vegas”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer Robert C. Cooper, Producer John G. Lenic and Editor Mike Banas
• “Enemy at the Gate”
  • Commentary by Executive Producer Paul Mullie and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
• Extras
  • Mission Directive: “Brain Storm” with Director Martin Gero
  • “Stargate Atlantis”Goes To Vegas
  • Deleted Scenes (Part Two)

Overall:
Stargate Atlantis truly became its own series after SG-1 ended. With all focus shifted to this series, it was able to grow and become a great story with equally entertaining characters. The development of the relationship between McKay and Keller was a great addition to the series. The return of Carson Beckett was something fans had been demanding for quite a while and the final season made sure to use him to his full potential. The addition of Robert Picardo to the cast was a surprise move after Amanda Tapping decided to pursue her own SciFi series, Sanctuary, but he proved to be a strong addition to the cast. The use of Todd as a Wraith foil was probably the best reoccurring character usage of the season. As I said earlier in the review, these episodes have never looked better. I highly recommend going back and reliving Atlantis. 

ComicsOnline gives Stargate Atlantis The Complete Series on Blu-ray– 5 out of 5 continuing adventures!

Get your copy of Stargate Atlantis The Complete Series on Blu-ray at Amazon.