Season three of Stargate: Atlantis got underway on 14 July, 2006. It was written by Martin Gero and picks up exactly where the season two finale ended.

The Daedalus is still engaged with the Wraith hiveship, Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) is leading a squad of 302s against Darts and we get a huge space battle. And as the battle wanes, he’s able to tuck his ship alongside the very hiveship that his friends are on.

McKay (David Hewlett) is still being held by the Wraith and is beginning to resign himself to captivity – he hasn’t been held that long. Ronon (Jason Momoa) on the other hand is determined to take as many Wraith with him as he can.

Micheal (Connor Trinneer) contacts Sheppard, switching sides in an act of vengeance on the Queen (Andee Frizzell). The two of them form an uneasy alliance as they look for a way to stop the ship.

And Atlantis is also working on a plan to stop the hiveships that are heading towards Earth. Will they be ready? Landry (Beau Bridges) recalls Weir (Torri Higginson) to Stargate Command for a briefing that doesn’t bode well. She’s under review by Woolsey (Robert Picardo) and Shen Xiaoyi (Tamlyn Tomita).

Happily, there may be a way to stop all of the Wraith before reaching Earth, but how will they safeguard it?

So now there are three fronts, Ronon and McKay inside, Sheppard and Micheal, and Atlantis/Earth preparing for battle. The script moves all the threads forward at a breakneck pace and it’s a solid season opener.

When everyone gets reunited, a plan is created, dose them all with the retrovirus, which would force the Wraith to forget what they’ve learned about Earth, and may even transform them.

Oh and the VFX in this episode, especially the space sequences, outstanding!

Misbegotten continues the season opener storyline. The lone hiveship that Sheppard and his team have grabbed is crewed now by Wraiths who have almost all been transformed back to humans.

Except for the female of the species.

While Atlantis attempts to figure out what to do with these transformed Wraith, things get complicated for Weir in Misbegotten.

Written by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, this episode was first broadcast on 21 July, 2006.

Weir’s problem? She’s asked to return to Atlantis as it’s leader, but Woolsey will be joining her. He’ll be reporting to the International Oversight Advisory, and decide whether or not she will remain in charge.

And what will become of Michael? And what happens when the transformed Wraith begin to recall who and what they are? Beckett (Paul McGillion) who has been working with them, could be in serious trouble.

There’s a lot going on in this episode, with lots of narratives moving forward. This is very much not a standalone episode, you need to know what has been happening all along.

How’s everything going to play out, and what is being set up for future episodes?