2.08: Conversion

[ray gower]

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Synopsis
The team races to find a cure for the retrovirus that is mutating Sheppard into a Wraith.

From Scifi.com
Having been savagely bitten by the Wraith girl Ellia, Sheppard hurries back to Atlantis for medical treatment. Both he and Dr. Beckett are shocked, however, when they realize that the wound has vanished. Sheppard's arm is completely free of any trace of the bite.

Beckett starts running tests. While waiting for the results, Sheppard goes on a run with Ronon — and beats him without breaking a sweat. Then Sheppard spars with Teyla, and beats her easily, too. His strangely high spirits overwhelm him and he suddenly kisses a very surprised Teyla — which is when Beckett calls him back to the infirmary.

Sheppard has been infected with the Wraith retrovirus that Ellia was carrying. Beckett hopes that the substance will break down harmlessly in Sheppard's body, but he can't be sure. Weir orders Sheppard to stay in Atlantis and report for check-ups every six hours until they have more definitive answers.

That night, a strange, scaly patch appears on Sheppard's arm. Dr. Beckett confirms what Sheppard himself already fears: The retrovirus is at work, transforming Sheppard into a mindless Wraith. As Weir reluctantly reassigns Sheppard's duties to Col. Caldwell, Sheppard finds himself confined to the infirmary, facing a doomed struggle to preserve his sanity.

Beckett's team devises a risky solution: theoretically, they can inject Sheppard with Iratus bug stem cells programmed with human RNA. The catch is that someone will need to collect live Iratus eggs — and Iratus bugs are lethal killers, just like the Wraith who evolved from them.

Sheppard asks Weir to let him lead this dangerous mission. She refuses. In furious frustration, he slams his fist through a glass window — proving, to his dismay, how much self-control he has already lost.

Leaving him behind, McKay, Teyla, Ronon and Beckett take a team to the Iratus bug homeworld. There, they venture into a cave to find the creatures' nest. The place is swarming with bugs. As Beckett tries to steal an egg, the bugs attack. Two men are killed before the team can escape — without the eggs. A second attempt is unthinkable.

Sheppard's transformation grows worse. In another day, he'll be gone forever. Seeing no hope, his friends struggle to accept defeat — but Sheppard himself might hold the key to his own salvation.

I think the TV companies should stop trying to create show synopsys. They are very very bad at making shows sound interesting!

[Krystal]

This episode was great, all the thing about Sheppard's transformation was interesting.

Krystal

[Dave]

Continuity from previous episodes and last week to this week... what is happening?

Unfortunately, Sheppard had completely recovered by the end of the episode. Much better that his recovery took longer, but I guess they couldn't have two wraith-infected people running around. Although "Ford is completely different" we were told by Weir, who must have been taking her 'techno-babble' lessons to know that. My guess is that this was an episode originally written with Ford in mind and then switched.

Beckett is a fairly brilliant Doctor. I don't know why he can't make this retro-virus work yet. It would be great to be able to make the Wraith human and knock about 5 Seasons off the length of the show.

I do wish Caldwell would just go away now. I don't find the mock fights with Weir very interesting. Why can't they have a proper "shouting" argument, or else roll their sleeves down and have a fist-fight, or even a Escrimas stick fight. Playing Chess is not the way to settle their differences! Next week - Spelling Bees!

I did like it really, at least these stories still have some originality, and the characters (apart from Ronon) are interesting.

[Maria8475]

Originally posted by Dave

Why can't they have a proper "shouting" argument, or else roll their sleeves down and have a fist-fight, or even a Escrimas stick fight.

Yes! This is what we've been missing!

I agree the recovery was way too rushed, in contrast the beginning of John's transformation was really drawn out. The running scene with John and Ronon and the fighting scene with Teyla essentially served the same narrative purpose, so could really each have taken up about half as much time. And why is the enzyme acting like red kryptonite all of a sudden, causing Sheppard to revert to teenage behaviour?

I like all the team dynamic in this episode. Sheppard’s in the infirmary and the rest of them are hanging around being worried and unable to sleep – felt like SG1 way back when.

Also totally pointless girly moment – there’s a guitar in Sheppard’s quarters! *insert squee here*

[RangerOne SG13 SOR]

As usual I find myself agreeing with Dave, especially Caldwell GO ALREADY!! or do something!!

I was suprised to see a 2nd "body morph" type episode especially when we have Ford still around, will they go back to him at some point?

Im feeling SGA has lost momentum a little bit. Now the hunt for a ZPM is over things are not as intense, it lacks direction.

Oh and will someone please remove that oversized Penknife strapped to Ronins back, what does he look like!!!! Does he think he`s some kind of swash-buckling Pirate?

Wier continues to make me cringe she has very little character these days and contributes little (unlike Hammond did in SG1)

The continued belittling of McKay is starting to tire now as well. They build him up and pull him down then up then down and so on...

Good to see more of Beckett, I like his character a lot but he is starting to turn into an Uber Doctor (like Sam turned into the smartest living thing ever)

Anyway next week sounds good so see you then!!

Ranger

[Dave]

Originally posted by RangerOne SG13 SOR
As usual I find myself agreeing with Dave

Thanks!

Originally posted by RangerOne SG13 SOR
will they go back to [Ford] at some point?

Yes, in the mid-season cliffhanger which is not far away from this episode.

Originally posted by RangerOne SG13 SOR
Now the hunt for a ZPM is over things are not as intense, it lacks direction.

I agree, it needs direction. The Wraith aren't very good villains, but somehow that didn't matter in the first season, whereas now it becomes more obvious with each passing week.

Originally posted by RangerOne SG13 SOR
Anyway next week sounds good so see you then!!

SFX magazine gave next week their lowest star rating. They did like this week and they like the mid-season cliffhanger best of all.