STARGATE ATLANTIS Begins Season 5 Production

I like Robert Picardo and think he is an excellent actor, and I like the character of Richard Woolsey. He has often been an excellent foil for the SGC / SG-1 and Atlantis teams. However, he has frequently shown to be an ineffectiive leader. [Minor Spoiler]In the last episode he was in he initially seemed to make progress in recognizing his frequency in overstepping his authority, yet still tried to take command from Carter. As he is being brought on as commander hopefully they will do some character development to show that he has made some progress in is command style. As it stands right now he is often seems as a pencil pusher who often seems to missread the situation and come to the wrong solution. Not to mention he often seems to react from fear rather than a careful analysis of the situation. Personally I was hopping that Daniel or Camerron was going to be taking command of Atlantis. However, the producers of both SG-1 and Atlantis have done an amazing job for years and am more than willing to see where they want to take this series.

What happens to Keller if Beckett returns, she's been my favorite character this past season. I wonder if they'll put her out in the field, while Bekett stays behind and runsd things in Atlantis. I'd like to see Jewel Stait get more screen time. I'll be sorry to see Tapping go. I liked her being on this season and would have liked to have seen her in more of a frontline situation.

Woolsey's taking over might have freed her to do more of that. On the other hand this would free her up for future SG-1 movies or a future Stargate series.

Beckett died in that Sunday episode. How are they bringing him back, unless he`s going to be a replicator.
And why is Amanda Tapping leaving so quickly? Is it because of that Sanctuary show?

That dream sequence at the end might suggest he might have been ascended like Daniel, and then he could come back by resuming human form.

Picardo's character would be an excellent addition to the cast. He could serve as the foil Col. Sheppard must constantly go against to get anything done. As much as I love Tapping and her Sam Carter she has hardly appeared in any episodes this season and is greatly underused. I imagine the is due to her work on the Stargate directo to DVD movies and her HD internet series Sanctuary. And with it going into full broadcast production, I knew her days on Atlantis were numbered.
I haven't enjoyed Atlantis as much as I did SG-1 with Richard Dean Anderson but I always make a point of watching it.
Did they already have their scripts written before the strike or are they using Canadian writers in a different union?

Mostly everything is done in Canada so the strike didn't effect them.

Same shouldn't have been added in the first place, she was only there because they wanted an SG-1 face on the show. She has a new show and her contract is up so she is leaving, not like we saw a lot of her anyways.

I know this won't happen but I'm hoping that the city flies to Earth and everyone knows about it, and that's why they need a new leader for the base.

In answer to your question ponyboy, it was because of Sanctuary that Tapping is leaving. It is being picked up as a new TV show for the SciFi Channel. She couldn't make Stargate a priority without as it would have essentiall crippled Sanctuary. I too will miss her. I disagree with bdd in that it was a mistake to have her come too Atlantis, but do agree that she was underused. And her leaving had nothing to do with her contract coming up as the Stargate producers offered her a new one with lots of money, Sanctuary is just more important to her right now and come on she's been doing it for 11 years. I'm sure she would like to do other things besides Sam Carter. Woolsey should make a good foil, but he is going to have to change his outlook somewhat as he is very defensive in his approach. Essentially shield everything up and hope nothing bad happens. He is not the ultimate advocate for space exploration. Still it should be interesting

Stargate Atlantis' season four has been excellent. I'm looking forward to season five and seeing how Atlantis reacts to having Woolsey as their commander -- and the process involved that will have Carter leaving and Woolsey taking over.

Snark level should be very high for season five.

Morjana

I believe AT only joined the show because she was under contract to do so. It shows in here acting, it shows in the fact she's only in 14 episodes, and it is well shown in interviews that she did before season 4.