TV episode review
US airdate 2 January 2009 (Sci Fi Channel)

In one of the alternate worlds on the other side of a space-time bridge, a down-at-heel and down on his luck Detective John Sheppard investigates a spate of murders where the victims have been drained of life and left as shrivelled corpses…

It’s CSI: Atlantis (actually the working title of the episode) and as befits the stylish direction and editing of the CSI franchise, series stalwart Robert C. Cooper (who here writes and directs) makes use of every technique at his disposal with a consummate flourish. It’s all very filmic and looks stunning.

This means that the episode stands out both visually and thematically from the rest of the season. Unfortunately, that may mean some viewers hate it. But it can’t be denied that it looks great by any objective standard, and if you ignore the fact it isn’t immediately identifiable as Atlantis it is actually a clever and very enjoyable romp.

Whether such tricksiness is desirable in the penultimate episode is debatable, but taken as a standalone it’s great – and it even manages to set up the jeopardy for the final ever episode rather neatly.

It also turns out to be an unusual and amusing Wraith episode – with a completely mad Todd locked up in an Area 51 cell and a survivor of an earlier attack on this Earth running around Las Vegas in a mad scheme to communicate with his race while disguised as a member of Cradle of Filth (well, that’s what it looks like).

It may be different - and that’s not necessarily ideal as the show comes to a close - but surprisingly, this whole scenario works to near perfection. Brigid Cherry

VERDICT: 9/10

Click here for all the latest news in the official Stargate magazine!