Sunday (Stargate Atlantis)
| "Sunday (Stargate Atlantis)" |
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Plot
Template:Sgspoiler It's a typical Sunday in the city of Atlantis, as Dr. Elizabeth Weir and her people go about their everyday business. A handsome young scientist, Mike Branton, finds Elizabeth at work in her office on her day off.
Mike is obviously smitten with the expedition's leader, and is fighting an uphill battle when he tries to convince her to go to lunch with him. Elizabeth has a personal rule against dating people under her, but Mike persuades her that there's nothing wrong with eating lunch at the same table.
During their not a date, the charming man begins to wear down her shields, and even kisses her. She seems attracted to him, but decides she can't allow a potential romance to bloom. She's saved from the awkward situation when the control tower radios her: There has been an explosion in the city. Three people are dead and more are injured, and they believe it may have been a bomb.
Rodney soon determines that the explosion was inadvertently caused by one of the scientists under his command, affected by an Ancient weapon device that uses an unusual type of radiation to create explosive tumours behind a person's lung. After a period of time during which the tumour grows, it explodes.
He also realises that another member of his team was also exposed to the device. But by the time they locate the man, he is already under Dr. Beckett's care in surgery after he was wounded in the explosion. Beckett is informed of the tumour's existence and decides to attempt its' removal. He locks off the OR floor with his personal access code to make sure no one tries to stop him.
Having removed the tumour, he brings it to an entrance where a bomb squad unit is waiting. Once he delivers it, he begins to head back when it explodes, killing Carson and most likely the squad unit.
Before his memorial when his body is sent home to Earth, McKay expresses guilt that he did not go fishing with Carson earlier, because then he would not have been killed. Later, McKay is standing on one of Atlantis' piers grieving over Beckett's death and sees a vision of him; Beckett comforts Rodney and tells him that it's not his fault that he died. McKay says that he's only saying what he wants to hear and Beckett tells him that's what friends do and that it is the truth. Beckett and McKay say a final goodbye as Beckett fades away.
Notes
- This is the first episode showing Sheppard and Lorne in their Air Force dress uniform.
- It is revealed that Colonel Sheppard was previously married.
- It is revealed that Major Lorne likes to paint, and was creating a painting of the Atlantis skyline.
- Carson's metal casket had at least one Atlantis mission sticker on it.
- During his conversation with Beckett, Zelenka mentions "Dr Mallozzi" and his "anime collection". This is a reference to Stargate Atlantis executive producer and writer Joseph Mallozzi, who, in his blog entries on fansite GateWorld.net and other places, frequently talked about his anime watching habits.
- This episode is the first time Ronon goes to Earth, although he is not seen there.
- This episode is the first one to openly suggest Teyla and Sheppard as a couple.
- This is the last episode to feature Paul McGillion as a regular cast member