Question: Sheppard (under orders from Jack O'Neill) is sent to Earth to operate the chair weapon in case the Wraith make it there. Why wouldn't O'Neill man the Earth chair himself? He's the one that operated it in the first place, and Sheppard has lots of experience with the Atlantis chair. Pulling Sheppard from Atlantis leaves a very inexperienced and nervous Beckett to fly and defend the city, as well as leaving Atlantis without its military commander.
Grumpy Scot
20th Feb 2009
Stargate: Atlantis (2004)
6th Nov 2008
Stargate: Atlantis (2004)
Question: Doesn't it seem like the Wraith have been scaled down over the course of the season? In the beginning, they were beings with superhuman strength and speed who could heal bullet wounds (The Defiant One) and create illusions. Now they are only slightly faster/stronger than humans, and Ronon beats them on a regular basis, as does Sheppard. Doesn't it seem a bit too convenient?
Answer: Not necessarily. Atlantis has had several captured Wraith to study and they have been fighting them for years. They've clearly learned Wraith vulnerabilities. Sheppard also carries a much more powerful .45 instead of the 9mm M9 after the first season. Ronon never had much trouble beating a Wraith and he and Teyla have both been training Sheppard. Wraith darts create the illusions, not the Wraith themselves. And finally, the Wraith are slowly starving as they were awakened far too early and are correspondingly less powerful.
Answer: It was very obvious that they nerfed the Wraith a lot during the course of the show. No question about that. Probably it had to do with the access to food was limited thanks to the Replicators, and also because they needed to give the humans a chance to beat them. But in universe it is explained that Wraith who feed at slow intervals are not that strong. And it makes sense when you think about the Wraith and how they survive.
21st Aug 2008
Stargate: Atlantis (2004)
Question: The protective suits Teyla & Sheppard put on to keep them from getting infected have a "helmet" piece that does not appear to have an airtight seal; the bottom of the hood just sort of lies on top of the body suit (it's not even tucked in). Is there some way they would be protected from the airborne virus even with what appears to be a very viable opening?
Answer: Those are actually suits that protect from hazardous chemicals. They are cheaper for the prop department and look nearly the same as biohazard suits. A real biohazard suit would indeed have a helmet that seals to the neck.
17th Jul 2007
Stargate: Atlantis (2004)
Question: It was said earlier in the show that the Atlantis crew did not have enough power to dial Earth. Earth Control had no idea of the fate of the Atlantis crew until they sent the video package telling them what was going on, then Earth Control sent reinforcements to help out. My question is; if Earth Control was able to send reinforcements to Atlantis to help out, why could they not send a crew to check on the status of Atlantis? They knew the Atlantis crew made it in the 1st episode.
Chosen answer: Because the ZPM allowing them to dial Atlantis was being used at the Antarctic defense outpost. They couldn't risk making Earth vulnerable to attack from Anubis by depleting it with repeated dialing to the Pegasus galaxy. Once they knew Atlantis was in serious danger, they had no choice.
ZPM from Antarctic was depleted in first dial, dial in Siege was done via ZPM from Egypt (SG-1: Moebius Part-1/2).
22nd Jan 2005
Stargate: Atlantis (2004)
Question: Why can't they use every last iota of energy they've got and dial earth and ask them to send them any ZPM's that they could find?
Answer: Because even all 4 Naquadah generators (one was destroyed) together is only enough to dial Earth for approximately 1.2 seconds (As seen in the episode "Letter from Pegasus"). Further, if Earth had found a ZPM, they would dial Atlantis and let them know. After all, the SGC has no other use for a ZPM than to dial Atlantis.
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Answer: Because Sheppard instinctively operates Ancient technology very well. He is better at it than any one else Earth has ever found. O'Neill has to think hard and work at it. Sheppard is the best choice with the fate of the Earth at stake.
Grumpy Scot