Sheppard (Joe Flanigan), Teyla (Rachel Luttrell), McKay (David Hewlett), and Ronon (Jason Momoa) arrive on a planet via puddlejumper and a stargate that they have never been to before. Moments after arrival, they fall under attack.

They are rescued, and learn from their rescuers that the stargate is located on a prison island.

Condemned was written by Carl Binder from a story by Sean Carley. It first aired on 12 August, 2005.

They learn that the island has been set up that way, with the most dangerous prisoners of the planet, as a food resource for the Wraith. It also seems that they’ve recently discovered a mineral that perks McKay’s interest.

Could they be a new ally? But before Weir (Torri Higginson) can arrive to negotiate, Sheppard and his team are shot down by the prisoners as they try to return to Atlantis.

But what about the stargate and the Wraith feeding off the prisoners? There’s a number of moral and ethical questions playing out. And A.C. Petersen as the planet’s Magistrate is as troubling as always whenever the actor shows up – he plays a type very well.

As the group are held captive, they learn that all of the planet’s criminals end up on the island, no matter the severity of their crime. It’s not the worst of the worst, it’s anyone who has broken any law.

Things are complicated with the arrival of a Wraith dart.

There’s a lot going on in this episode, and it’s very well-written and produced. This is the first time Ronan is out with Sheppard’s team, there’s great moral questions, there’s brutal reveals, and questions about what manner of people the Atlantis Expedition are willing to deal with, or not.

Trinity sees the team discovering an unfinished Ancient project to create an unlimited power source. McKay thinks he may be able to complete it.

Written by Damian Kindler, Trinity first debuted on 19 August, 2005.

Mckay and Zelenka (David Nykl) pair up to bring the project online, or at least get it running. But is it meant to? It seems it may be similar to the Ancient satellite, but what about the fact that no one lived through the experiment. So maybe it shouldn’t be recreated.

And when a test claims a life, McKay knows he has to live with the results, but insists tests proceed. Weir believes that things, for now, should let it go. But Caldwell (Mitch Pileggi) wants the tests to go forward, because of military interests.

And you know that isn’t going to go well.

Meanwhile Teyla and Ronon head off on a trade mission, and Ronon learns he may not be the only surviving Satedan. There could be a number of them out there on various planets. But there is a lot of pain to be dealt with, and it’s a good thing it’s Teyla with him, and not one of the Earth expedition.

I like the McKay story, somewhat. I like how everyone around him struggles with dealing with his ego, and how it informs his stubbornness. And there’s a similar thing going on with Ronon, but coming on the tail of Condemned, it doesn’t feel as strong as it could be.

But there are some fantastic character beats.