Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and his team travel to an agrarian world whose ruler resides in a tower, which looks like the central spire of Atlantis, and protects them from the Wraith, in return for their service, of course.

The Tower was written by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie and it debuted on 3 February, 2006.

The feudal system that keeps the villagers in check is oppressive, and rubs Sheppard and the rest wrong from the off. When they meet Otho (Peter Woodward) the chamberlain of the Lord Protector (Jay Brazeau) things don’t go well.

But the tower may contain a ZPM, drones, and other Atlantean technology that could be beneficial if a deal can be struck.

While Sheppard is held prisoner by the Lord Protector, McKay (David Hewlett), Ronon (Jason Momoa) and Teyla (Rachel Luttrell) do some investigating around the village (and cause some problems). Can they find a way to save Sheppard? Negotiate with the Lord Protector? Establish a bit more freedom for the people serving in the villages at the whim of the ‘elites’ in the tower?

Sheppard suggests gene therapy as a way to free the planet from the royal family, and secure some drones for Atlantis.

There’s some silly palace intrigue with Sheppard and Mara (Chelan Simmons), but it also leads Sheppard to figure out a little more about what is going on. There’s a way to protect the whole planet, and it will no longer have to do with the bloodlines of the rulers.

A look at classism, feudalism, and murder all familiar themes explored countless times in science fiction, but Atlantis makes it their own.

Damian Kindler wrote The Long Goodbye which first aired on 10 February, 2006.

When a couple of stasis pods are discovered, Weir (Torri Higginson) finds herself imprinted with the inhabitant’s spirit (?). Her name is Phoebus. She was an explorer whose people were attacked by the Wraith.

Weir/Phoebus believes that the inhabitant of the other pod is her husband, so she asks Sheppard for some help, and a big favor.

How is that going to play out? Well if you’ve seen a few episodes of classic Trek you can probably guess. Soon Sheppard is on the run, or at least his body is. Weir is hunting him. Apparently they are enemies, and all of Atlantis is now their battle ground.

It’s a good thing that Caldwell (Mitch Pileggi) is there and able to take charge of the situation. He’s back, and he’s okay, having had the Goa’uld removed.

It’s a familiar story, and despite being predominantly a bottle show using existing sets, it’s done enjoyably well and has some nice action beats. It lets Higginson have some action moments which she generally doesn’t get.