The fifth and final season of Stargate: Atlantis got underway on 11 July, 2008. Written by Martin Gero the story finds Atlantis engineers working to free Ronon (Jason Momoa), Sheppard (Joe Flanigan), McKay (David Hewlett) and Lorne (Kavan Smith) from the building collpse that gave us the ending of the previous season.

But Michael (Connor Trinneer) is on his way. Carter (Amanda Tapping) and Keller (Jewel Staite) are also on hand, and they discover that while Lorne and McKay are fairly reachable, Ronon and Sheppard are deeper down.

The episode opens with Sheppard dreaming about romantic evening with Teyla (Rachel Lutttrell) which turns dark as he remembers where he is.

There are battles as the Wraith arrive, and Caldwell (Mitch Pileggi) shows up with the Daedalus. But will they be able to rescue everyone in time?

The group are going to need to get free, and find a way to rescue Teyla, who is on the verge of delivery, and maybe, put paid to Michael once and for all. With everyone aboard the Daedalus, things get pretty tense.

They know if Michael is here with he Wraith, then Teyla must be with him. Can they find a way onto Michael’s ship and effect a rescue? And what if, of course, Teyla starts delivering mid-escape?

As a season opener, this is big, fun, and brings along some changes, hinted at in Continuum. Carter is replaced by Woolsey (Robert Picardo), ending her time on Atlantis, and apparently rejoining SG-1. Continuum takes place right after this episode.

I’m sorry to see Carter go, but throwing Woolsey into things will create some interesting drama.

The Seed was written by Paul Mullie and Joseph Mallozzi and it debuted on 18 July, 2008.

Woolsey arrives to assume command of the project, though no one really wants him there, and are less than thrilled that Carter won’t be back. Woolsey is making sweeping changes, sidelining the pursuit of Michael, and seems to be more interested in bookkeeping and minutiae. He’s not making friends.

The Beckett clone (Paul McGillion) needs to be awakened from stasis, Woolsey wants him eitther cured or shelved permanently. It’s a good thing he’s back because a virus he may know about is sweeping the city, and it’s incapacitating people, starting with Keller.

Woolsey is facing some tough choices for his first few days in command. He buts heads, and doesn’t endear himself, but can he make the right decisions when the situation is required?

And what is the virus actually? Well, now we know how the Wraith grow, that’s right grow, their ships.

Plans come together, and everyone has to fo their part, but, it’s not going to be easy. But in the end, it may unite the team with Woolsey, or at least give all of them better perspectives on one another. But what is going to become of Beckett? He’s heading back to Earth… will we see him again?

Season five is off to an interesting start.