Enemy at the Gate

Season 5, Episode 20, Aired
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Episode Summary

Todd informs Atlantis that a rogue Wraith has acquired several Z.P.M.'s to power a formidable new Hive ship. When the Daedalus engages it in battle but is unable to defeat it, the team gets a message indicating it is headed to Earth.
9.3
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Fan Episode Reviews (24)

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  • An interesting ending but a way too rushed episode.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By RGressick, May 22, 2011 Report Abuse
    I feel like most others that this episode was WAY too rushed. They pushed to get it all together. Felt like too many open things in the episode. Yeah, leaves room for another series. But to be perfectly honest, if they had better scripts this season, this series would still be going, there is SOOOO much more they could have done and it felt like the ball was dropped. Overall its not a bad episode. the WORMHOLE drive, wow. But again, WAY too rushed and just things were surreal, too fakey, no power. It just lacked so much in this episode.
    I didnt know the series was ending, i download the episodes to watch them. But i could tell by watching this episode that it was a series ender. But again, way too rushed. It was like i was watching one of the recaps. just not good.moreless

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    5 1

  • Should have been a two-parter but exciting nonetheless.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By Sci-Fi_Fan, May 22, 2011 Report Abuse
    "Enemy at the Gate" wasn't the best ending to a series I have seen but it did deliver. The visual effects were awesome, with the plot being simple yet exciting. However, the whole episode felt slight rushed and contrived. In retrospect I would have enjoyed it if the writers had paced it a bit more over the course of two episodes.

    We meet Todd again which is always a pleasure, but he brings with him some bad news; a former "underling" of his (had to laugh at that!) has used an Asuran ZPM to power a Wraith Hive Ship making it almost invincible, and after receiving the signal from "Vegas", it begins to head for Earth.

    I'll begin with the good points. As is usual with Atlantis, the episode is full of brilliant visual effects of the "Uber" Hive aswell as the battle over Earth - something alone which makes the episod worth watching - and the story is a simple one, but exciting nonetheless.

    I do have a couple of problems with this episode though. Firstly, Todd's "underling" creates the Uber-Hive just before they receive the message from Earth? It would have been entirely more convincing and interesting if the Uber-Hive had been created as a result of receiving the message, not the other way around.

    Secondly, why haven't we heard about this "wormhole drive" before? If there's one thing I hate, it's when writers invent some magical piece of technology for one episode that hasn't been seen or mentioned previously. Suprisingly, this is something that Stargate is usually good at avoiding. Perhaps they decided there was nothing to lose with this being the last episode? Still, it would have been nice for McKay or Zalenka to have at least mentioned the "wormhole drive" a couple of episodes prior.

    Overall, aside from those minor criticisms, this is an excellent episode of Atlantis which combines the usual mix of eye-candy and storyline. And hopefully we will get to see more of the team in the planned future movie.moreless

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    2 0

  • See Summary

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By TrueTvWatcher, Jan 15, 2011 Report Abuse
    Enemy at the Gate was a great episode of Stargate Atlantis, however as the season finale I feel it could have been a little better, or had better endings to each characters outcome. Despite that opinion the episode was excellent, full of action that kept a quick pace, drama that kept me on the edge of my seat, and character driven moments. I like how Atlantis "returned home" so to speak. I wonder if the Government in that universe will finally reveal what they know about space, and ET Life. I would love to be the exclusive broker to sell the real estate of Atlantis! Imagine how awesome it would be to live there, with those views. I think the price would be too high though. I hope to see more of Atlantis, maybe a surprise season, or movie, whatever. Great Series!!!!moreless

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    0 2

  • Atlantis goes home.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By pwells01, Dec 31, 2010 Report Abuse
    A fitting conclusion to the series - Atlantis returns home!

    Well, this episode had everything in it - I think it had crammed in too much and it would definitely have been better as a two or even a three parter. Still, it was done pretty well, combining action with some nice, touching moments. Here are some other thoughts:

    Besides the stars, it tried to get everyone involved: Lorne, Banks, Zelenka, Caldwell, Ellis, Carter, Carson, Chuck, Marks, Kavanagh(!), and Davis (who's still a major!). And also Todd and Kenny.

    So General Hammond did die as well...how sad!

    Wormhole drive - is that a convenience or what!? With that, Atlantis can go anywhere in the Universe. Add the alternate reality drive from "The Daedalus Variations" and a time machine, and...

    Ronon + Banks - woohoo! Somewhat expected.

    So the Odyssey is in some secret mission? I wonder if this is timed concurrently with the next stargate movie, even though Carter's at the SGC.

    With all the battles and explosions, I'd think they have to make up an incredible cover story for the public and the uninformed governments.

    I would have liked the ending scene to be just the four principle characters sharing their thoughts and feelings with each other. I certainly don't know why Banks had to be there.

    And so, it's the end of the series. With Atlantis on Earth, it leaves everything open for the upcoming movie(s). Until then, au revoir, Stargate Atlantis, and thank you!moreless

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    10 1

  • for us in the sci-fi community yet another sad day

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By damicless1, Dec 31, 2010 Report Abuse
    now i will be honest i never thought that atlantis could be as good as sg1, but how wrong i was. in the end atlantis was as good as if not better than sg1. as for the last ever atlantis the only thing that spolit for me was it was to short. it would have been better if had been 90mins, as everything seemed a bit rushed. dispite that it still did not disapoint story wise. all the usual suspects were there and playing major parts. the one thing that has been a top attraction for through the last series has been the involment of our friendly wraith todd played by the excellant chris hyerdahl, and once again he was on top form inhis own whimiscal way, as he once tried to enlist the help of john and the rest, to help him get another of his pesky underlings who had decided to do off in a zpm enhanced hive. which the ustwhile todd had been expermenting with. after seeing off the daedalus the hive picked up the message sent in last weeks other reality episode vegas, and off it went to earth. with atlantis in pursuit once again curtosity of todd who had yet more zpm's. once again john was about to risk life and limb in another kamkize mission by trying to blow up the hive with a nuke from inside. but the hive has a stargate on board and rodney ronan tyler and major lorn have gated on board trying to stop the hive, but fail with to no doubt the shock of us all the death of the mighty ronan. mackay stops john from blowing himself (and them) to bits. but to our surprise the wraith brings ronan back to life for information but only ends up being shot by sheppard et al. this to me is wear the things became a bit rushed. i think they could have went in a bit more detail about the wormhole drive that mackay had been working on, because the next thing we knew atlantis was intervening and battling the hive with out much success as the hive was to strong. but john and the team managed to contact the alpha and gate just as the nuke wipes out the hive. atlantis was forced to land on earth. where the usual team gathering took place on one of the varanders with ronan being taken there by tech amelia banks that was surprise. something to build on in a film perhaps. dispite being only 5 series and 100 episodes it was great from start to finish. it will be missed.moreless

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    3 1
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Nitpick: The clip of Woolsey saying "Keep firing, Dr. Beckett!" is used twice, once immediately after the hive returns fire on Atlantis and once when the battle pushes Atlantis into Earth's atmosphere. Edit
    • Nitpick: Why were any of the SGC amazed to find out the darts would kamikaze into area 51 when that has been the Wraith's main strategy in lots of other episodes? Edit
    • Goof: Kavanagh's name is misspelled "Kavanaugh" in the end credits. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett are the only ones to appear in every single episode of the series. Edit
    • Amanda Tapping is billed as Special Guest Star. Edit
    • This episode was leaked onto the internet as a pre-air screening on December 22, 2008. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Woolsey: Well, here we are again. Todd: Indeed. This city has become… quite familiar to me. Almost a respite from daily life. It would be a shame to see it destroyed. Edit
    • Todd: I may have acquired a few more then I let on. Woolsey: How many more? Todd: Let's not get caught up in unnecessary details. Woolsey: I'd like… details. Edit
    • McKay: Kavanagh. What the hell are you doing here? Kavanagh: Reassignment. More fun and adventure in the Pegasus galaxy. Edit

  • Allusions

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    • Sun Tzu: The ship is named after the famous Chinese General and author of The Art of War, an ancient book on military strategy. Edit

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