This episode constitutes an extremely enjoyable season finale. However, where it really stands out is in the frankly stunning CGI that is used. Best of all is the scene showing The Horizon weapon being launched from The Apollo into the atmosphere of the Replicator's home world, travelling through re-entry, deploying the missiles which then strike the surface and explode is encompassed in one "take", the viewer/camera being allowed to drift round from several positions whilst continuously following the weapon from start to finish of its mission. It is outstanding. On top of this, later in the episode, there is an absolutely beautiful view of Atlantis at sunset, picked out in brown and gold, and then of course, the sequence with the Replicator's satellite beam striking the city shield. Whilst the story is thoroughly engaging, the visuals really make this a memorable piece of television.
9 Reviews
Going above and beyond
owlaurence24 August 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This episode, along with its 2nd part, are probably the most intense moments in the whole Atlantis series. This 1st part in particular is flawless. It is very dynamic, filled with spectacular action scenes (and as someone already mentioned, the visuals are absolutely awesome, worthy of a full-screen movie), and the background music adds a really nice epic touch. But despite all the action, the episode still manages to find some time for our characters, and even eases in two major new faces: Col. Ellis, who will replace Caldwell in the role of the antagonistic ally, and dear little Jennifer Keller, who quickly gets to fill in Carson's shoes despite her misgivings (and here I find Weir's comment that she feels safe putting her life in Jennifer's hands rather prophetic, in a grim way).
The initial Horizon plan is already quite spectacular, but what comes next is even better because this time the action does not only rely on explosion and power, but on cleverness and ingenuity. On both sides, by the way: I like that the Stargate series dare to create tough and inventive villains. So as the Replicators launch a devastating assault on Atlantis, our heroes have to come up with ever smarter, ever more spectacular counter-measures --not all of which succeed, which I also appreciate. Every scene manages to top the previous one; and just when you think that the series has elegantly completed a full circle by submerging Atlantis again, it suddenly takes off in a completely new direction -literally. But this unexpected victory comes at a -very high- price, and the season cleverly concludes on one of those nasty, scream-inducing cliffhangers.
So First Strike -and its 2nd part- constitutes a turning point in the series, as humans symbolically take full (well, partial) control of Atlantis and where it goes. This is what a finale should be, and this (minus the cliffhanger) could have been a really great ending for the series as a whole.
The initial Horizon plan is already quite spectacular, but what comes next is even better because this time the action does not only rely on explosion and power, but on cleverness and ingenuity. On both sides, by the way: I like that the Stargate series dare to create tough and inventive villains. So as the Replicators launch a devastating assault on Atlantis, our heroes have to come up with ever smarter, ever more spectacular counter-measures --not all of which succeed, which I also appreciate. Every scene manages to top the previous one; and just when you think that the series has elegantly completed a full circle by submerging Atlantis again, it suddenly takes off in a completely new direction -literally. But this unexpected victory comes at a -very high- price, and the season cleverly concludes on one of those nasty, scream-inducing cliffhangers.
So First Strike -and its 2nd part- constitutes a turning point in the series, as humans symbolically take full (well, partial) control of Atlantis and where it goes. This is what a finale should be, and this (minus the cliffhanger) could have been a really great ending for the series as a whole.
Another great episode
childchild2 December 2018
Best Episode In A Long Time
StuOz2 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Perhaps the most eventful episode of the series.
In just one episode Atlantis has all sorts of things happening to it....a powerful beam attempts to destroy the city, the city turns into a submarine by doing a crash-dive, and finally it goes into outer space!
Wow! This really does make up for some of the lesser/boring episodes in season three, well it sort of does...
In the first two seasons I found the Rodney McKay character to be amusing and interesting but I am beginning to question if he can hold the series the way he once did?? Maybe things will pick up in season four...Atlantis is lost in space...anything can happen now!
In just one episode Atlantis has all sorts of things happening to it....a powerful beam attempts to destroy the city, the city turns into a submarine by doing a crash-dive, and finally it goes into outer space!
Wow! This really does make up for some of the lesser/boring episodes in season three, well it sort of does...
In the first two seasons I found the Rodney McKay character to be amusing and interesting but I am beginning to question if he can hold the series the way he once did?? Maybe things will pick up in season four...Atlantis is lost in space...anything can happen now!
Excellent, but ...
attilathehun20111 May 2020
I love this whole series and have binged it dozens of times, but it requires a tremendous amount of willing suspension of common sense disbelief. How is it that humans, apparently either taken from earth thousands of years before the earliest forms of English language were spoken, or independently evolved in a whole other galaxy after separate creation by the ancients, are miraculously able to converse in modern English with the Earthlings. For that matter, how the hell do wraith, an entirely different species who didn't even know earth existed, naturally speak fluent English? Nobody even has an accent except for the occasional Jersey, New York, or even British accent. Oh, and then there's Michael the wraith/human hybrid with a west Texas accent? Star Trek overcame this anacrony via the "universal translator". No such mechanism exists in the SG1/SGA universe.
Then, how do they come up with 27-30 year old military colonels and apparent leaders in the medical and scientific fields? That just doesn't exist in real life, and is even a difficult sell in fiction. 25 year old Jewel Staite's character of Keller is likable enough, but unbelievable as a supposed "best and brightest" experienced leader in the medical field.
And how do most of these civilizations have clothing styles that parallel western earth societal norms?
Its a fun show, but you'd think the writers would have built something into the cannon to cover all of this.
City travel
founder11112 November 2021
End of Torri Higginson on SGA (the Wrong Way)
Easygoer1011 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This episode came out after the the end of SG1. I found the premise to be a silly way to get rid of Tori Higginson, who plays Dr. Weir. The 1st act is (again) quite silly, although it gets better. Next, the writers make way for Amanda Tapping (who plays Colonel Samantha Carter) the next leader of SGA. It's too bad the writers couldn't have come up with a better way to make this transition. However, the bottom line is this is the end of Torri Higginson on SGA.
Nonsense. Why not move/cloak the city before the strike?
tomasajdari27 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Great CGI for 2007. The rest is just total nonsense. First, why attack the Replicators in the first place? They've attacked some... maybe 1/2 before and since then, no attacks took place even though the replicators know where they are. They're bulding Aurora's? But it has been established that they lack inter-galactic drives. So it's against the Wraith! There's no anti-human/Earth animus!
Above all, why not move the city before the strike? Why they don't cloak it? It makes no sense at all! And why was the first strike limited only to 6 warheads? Why not use 50? They have the beaming tech! A single missile is nonsense, as they know that they're dealing with the Replicators!
Above all, why not move the city before the strike? Why they don't cloak it? It makes no sense at all! And why was the first strike limited only to 6 warheads? Why not use 50? They have the beaming tech! A single missile is nonsense, as they know that they're dealing with the Replicators!
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