Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) journeys home to Earth for his father’s funeral in Outcast. Written by Alan McCullough from a story created by Flanigan, the episode debuted on 1 February, 2008.

On Earth, Sheppard is joined by Ronon (Jason Momoa) and they are approached by Ava Dixon (Emma Lahana), who knows all about the Stargate, the nanites, and a human form Replicator on Earth!

Things are going to get complicated in the pursuit of this Replicator (Adrian Hein). Its creator, Dr. Poole (Stephen E. Miller), who used the nanites, insist he is not a threat, but Sheppard doesn’t buy it. The being is too big of a threat. And when Poole ends up dead, it looks like Sheppard is right.

But things get much more complicated, when stuff is revealed about Ava.

The duo get help from Dr. Lee (Bill Dow) and a former Atlantis member, Bates (Dean Marshall) who is now working planetside. How will things play out? Pretty damned well. It’s a fun, smart story, and there’s some nice emotional moments throughout.

We also see Sheppard’s family life. He has an older brother, Dave (Dylan Neal), and that Sheppard has an ex-wife, Nancy (Kari Wuhrer). There’s lots of great character stuff for Sheppard, and I like that the series takes the time to interweave such a personal story into the Atlantis mythology.

Flanigan had some great ideas for his character’s growth, and I feel this episode works really well. It gives viewers the fun action and dialogue we’ve come to expect alongside a really heartfelt emotional story that works really well.

Trio first aired on 8 February, 2008. It was written by Martin Gero.

Carter (Amanda Tapping), Keller (Jewel Staite) and McKay (David Hewlett) head off to a planet to investigate some troubling planetary tremors, caused by the mining that has practically destroyed the planet.

Unfortunately, they soon find themselves stranded, and trapped in an abandoned Genii mine. Sure, there will be tension, and lots to do, but you can be guaranteed there’s going to be some good banter as well.

The trio have to find a way to get safely out of the caves, but they aren’t going to have an easy time of it, and the tremors are increasing.

The three of them together are a lot of fun, there’s a nice playful chemistry and great dialogue. There are fun character reveals, hilarious banter, and a struggle to survive. Eventually, of course, they do find a way out, but the whole thing serves to bond them in a new way, and really lets the characters shine in a way that we hadn’t seen until now.

It’s a quieter kind of episode. And there are only four episodes to go before the end of the season, so I think this is the bit of a quiet moment before the plunge into the season finale.