Review: 'Stargate: Atlantis' - First Contact

It's always big news when a member of "Stargate SG-1" visits "Atlantis," and this week the "Save Daniel Jackson" fans were in heaven when Michael Shanks guest-starred.

This episode was obviously intended to be the "mid-season finale" or whatever they call it when SciFi Channel chops a season in half, something that frustrates me no end. However, with the network's decision to run the program's final year almost in one piece, we only have to wait two weeks. Next Friday will be the two-hour premiere of "Sanctuary."

What happened this week was that Daniel Jackson arrives at the city to follow up on a lead on a secret laboratory an Ancient scientist named Janus (from "Before I Sleep" in the first season of "Atlantis") had hidden in the city. Jackson and Dr. McKay look into a hint in an obscure log entry, and they find a cloaked room. Upon entering, they unknowingly turn on a signal that is heard on a planet far, far away. This causes a mysterious group of armored aliens to come to the city, then take a specific piece of machinery along with McKay and Jackson back to their home base.

The brainy pair find a device that will destroy any Wraith ships "entering hyperspace" and are forced to activate it even though they warn about "unforeseen side effects" when one of the armored aliens threatens Daniel Jackson's life. (Just wait until the SDJ folks get done with him!)

While all this is going on, Woolsey leaves Sheppard in charge of Atlantis, telling him not to blow the city up. Sheppard replies, "No promises."

On the Daedalus, Woolsey has a speech prepared when Todd the Wraith meets with him, but Todd will have none of it. The Wraith last seen in "The Queen" has bigger concerns -- what will happen to his race if they take the "cure" for absorbing human energy that Dr. Keller has developed? In the middle of this negotiation process, word comes to Todd that one of their facilities has been attacked by a rival Hive, and two ships prepare to join the battle, but they explode as a result of the Ancient device Jackson and McKay has activated.

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