Stargate Atlantis: Vegas, Baby
December 29, 2008 by Cynthia
When most people watch TV, they don’t give a lot of thought to the camera angles, the colors, the music or the pace. But all of these things together give a show its signature style, a style you probably aren’t even aware of until they take it away.
To that, I give you Stargate Atlantis: Vegas. From the first few moments of this, second to the last episode, I began thinking of it as CSI: Atlantis. So imagine my surprise when I found out that was what the production staff had labeled it early on in the process.
The story follows Detective John Sheppard as he investigates a series of bizarre murders in the desert outside of Las Vegas. He’s thinking basic serial killer but starts to think otherwise when government types (ie FBI Special Agent Woolsey and a slicker, secretive version of Rodney McKay) get in on the hunt. Turns out there’s a Wraith running loose on the planet and other than the killing thing, he’s assimilated rather nicely (and I must say, he looks quite fine in those jeans).
Chase scenes, guns, high-stakes poker, skulking about in back alleys, explosions and death in the desert Quentin Tarantino style – this is no ordinary episode of Stargate Atlantis. As a matter of fact, it’s quite extraordinary, so much so that my husband kept saying, ‘are you sure you’re watching Atlantis?’
It’s not that we’ve never seen an alternate universe on the show before, but it’s how they crafted the episode that really makes it a stand-out. They dumped every style convention that was synonymous with Atlantis and replaced it with a style more suited to CSI or 24.
Just look at the color palette. Atlantis is known for its cool blues and grays balanced with rich forest tones. But Vegas is yellow and red and over-exposed. It feels hot and sweaty. The visuals come with artsy camera work, slow-mos and fast cuts. And the music! Gone are the symphonic sounds of the great city of Atlantis and in its place are Johnny Cash’s Solitary Man, Marilyn Manson’s Beautiful People and The Stones’ Sympathy for the Devil. It’s a fabulous soundtrack, but one they could only manage in an episode like this one – an episode that throws away the handbook in favor of one last hurrah.
I think a lot of people are going to hate “Vegas.” I loved it. This is a show I’d watch every week if they made it, kind of CSI meets The X-Files. As for it being the second to the last episode of the entire series. . . why not? You’re already out the door so why not go all in? But for those who fall on the other side of the fence, don’t worry. The final episode of the series, which ties in nicely to Vegas, is a sweet homage to that which has gone before and it’s 100% Stargate Atlantis — soundtrack, production style, uniforms and all.
Watch Stargate Atlantis: Vegas, this Friday, January 2 on SCI FI Channel
Photos courtesy of SCI FI Channel
I’m sure folks will be divided over this episode, as it’s not Stargate Atlantis, per se, but an ‘alternate universe.’ But, it’s already all over the net (somebody’s screener copy apparently got leaked, along with the finale “Enemy at the Gate.”)
“Vegas” is definitely a great showcase for Sheppard, whose character never seems to get much development. Wish RC Cooper (who penned this ep) would do the SGA movie.
And only in Vegas (well, maybe NYC) would nobody bat an eye at a Wraith walking around…
beautiful, incredible, angsty episode. i loved it !
i’d watch joe flanigan in a spinoff of this in a heartbeat 1
Definitely one of my favorite episodes of the entire series. Like you, I would definitely watch a series that followed this John Sheppard. Joe Flanigan totally kicked ass in every way.
One of the great episodes.
Easily the *worst* episode of the series. There’s a reason I can’t (and don’t) watch Battlestar Galactica and CSI… and it’s when the the director puts time into unnecessary camerawork instead of actual story telling. If this show had been filmed “normally”, it would have been 25 minutes long. Instead, it’s just padded out to 50 with pointless camera work and slo-mo. Ugh.
Hands down, the best episode they ever did. No goofy joking around crud. In a lot of ways, harder sci-fi then most of the episodes put together.
thank god for fast forward, what a lame episode! Heres the thing CSI is so overdone, its been overdone since they started CSI miami. And it certainly pointed out how mildly attractive jewel stait can look with bad makeup as opposed to the actually better looking frump. the flashing polaroid effects made me nauseous and my dog went into seizures and then started talking. oh wait that was the peyote i virtually ate while in vegas…
I finally had the time off from work to watch some Stargate Atlantis. I had not seen a show since Hurricane Ike (I had two weeks off from work due to the storm) and I was shocked to see that these were the last two episodes of the season. Funny, within the first two minutes I was thinking CSI! A Wraith gambling in Vegas and throwing it down with mobsters while being “investigated” by Sheppard was amazing. (Although I was curious if the Wraith actually had that 7 in the heads up Hold’em match against Sheppard)
You were right about the cinematography and most especially the soundtrack. Those two filming techniques made the episode even more enjoyable. It was a nice change of pace and a great way to incorporate the alternate reality theme in way not seen before on SG-1 or Atlantis. Hands down one of the best episodes I have ever seen.
what band plays this song on you tube??
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XPtyiJrTK9Q
Totally agree with you. This episode was so beautifully crafted, I viewed it 3 times already. Coolest episode ever and the finale was so awesome. Can’t wait for the movie. Hourrah for the cast and crew of Stargate Atlantis. They ROCK…
LOL WHO CARES!!!!! soundtrack is amazing … who is it by ? expecoially the casin chase race …. nobody seems to know .Help with solving mystery
The casino chase is amazing! Some of my favorite action and suspense clips are based on the relation of the story or action to the score. I can’t stop watching this one, what a masterful job of directing. This clip forced me to go back and watch the guitar battle in hell at the end of the movie “Crossroads” (not the Britany piece of junk). Kudos!!