When members of the Atlantis team are trapped under rubble, after an explosion on an alien planet, Carter launches a rescue operation. But the rescue party must beat Michael to the site if they are to stop their friends falling into the hands of the Wraith...

Search and Rescue concludes last season's cliffhanger which unfolded in The Last Man. While an entertaining enough episode, with some pretty amazing effects, I couldn't help feeling that sci-fi fans have seen this plot unravel hundreds of times before. A little cliched and not to exciting means that the end result is a bit of a dull opener for Atlantis's fifth season.

Martin Gero (executive producer) and Andy Mikita (director / producer) provide the audio commentary for this episode.

7

 

When Keller becomes infected by a Wraith virus, turning here into what appears to be a Wraith ship, Beckett's clone is revived from stasis in order to find a cure. But, as the virus starts to spread out through Atlantis, Keller's life is not the only one in danger...

The Seed is an interesting episode, even if once again we are revisiting another sci-fi idea that's been done to death. On a positive note, It's good to see Paul McGillion return as Beckett.

William Waring (director) and Lawren Bancroft-Wilson (executive producer's assistant) provide the audio commentary for this episode.

7

 

Tyre, a former friend of Ronon's who was turned into a Wraith worshiper, has broken free from his Wraith masters and is asking for the help and forgiveness of his old friend. However it's a trap. The former Satedan warrior is planning to capture Ronon in an attempt to be allowed back into the fold of the Wraith...

Broken Ties sees Tyre (who previously appeared in the season four episode Reunion) return much to Ronon's displeasure. There are enough double bluffs to keep you guessing what is really going on. Ronon fans will be pleased to hear that Jason Momoa gets quite a lot to do in this episode, including a pretty impressive fight sequence.

Joseph Mallozzi (executive producer) and Jason Momoa provide an optional audio commentary for this episode.

8

 

The Daedalus is on its way back to Earth, when another version from an alternate reality suddenly appears in orbit above Atlantis. A small team investigate and discover that it's empty, but that there seems to be a strange energy reading coming from somewhere. When the ship suddenly jumps to another alternate reality the team have to try and work out how to get back to their own reality. But each jump takes them into increasingly dangerous realities and it looks like they only have a small number of jumps left before the drive burns out stranding them in an unknown universe...

The Daedalus Variations is by far the best episode in this collection. Part of the reason why this works so well is the fact that you're kept on the edge of your seat for the episode's duration. Every time McKay solves a problem, another presents itself and you can almost get caught up in the episode and start to think they might not get home.

Alan McCullough (supervising producer) and Andy Mikita (director / producer) provide this episode's audio commentary.

9

Extras include the above mentioned audio commentaries; Mission Directive: 'Search and Rescue' With Andy Mikita and Martin Gero (11 min, 26 sec); Showdown! Ronon V. Tyre (5 min, 50 sec which is an interesting featurette that looks at how the fight sequence was constructed); Bringing 'The Seed' to Life (6 min, 53 sec look at how they made the Wraith virus work on screen); and photo galleries.

Pete Boomer