Atlantis team is 'Condemned'
TUESDAY - APRIL 19, 2005

GateWorld has obtained the first plot info on "Condemned," an early Season Two episode of Stargate Atlantis! Beware of spoilers in the report below.

Colonel Sheppard and his team visit the planet Olesia, whose people appear to live in peace from the Wraith -- and who possess a much higher level of technology than the other civilizations they have thus far encountered. The Olesians are led by the Magistrate, a confident politician with a self-serving agenda.

Olesia's Stargate is located on an island that has been used as a penal colony for hundreds of years. The Magistrate claims that the Wraith have always been satisfied with the prisoners they cull there when they come through the gate, and have no need to venture further. This, of course, makes it extremely important to keep the island populated with so-called "criminals."

When the Puddle Jumper crashes on the island, Sheppard, McKay, and the others become hostages to the prisoners. Torrell, a charismatic serial killer, threatens to kill the team members one-by-one if Dr. McKay does not repair the ship so that he can make his escape -- something McKay insists is impossible.

Meanwhile, we learn that the Magistrate has made an unholy alliance: for generations a Wraith has used the penal colony to sustain himself rather than going into hibernation. Now that so many Wraith hives are awaking and there is not enough food in the galaxy for them all, he intends to rise to power among the Wraith by meeting their needs himself -- with help from Olesia.

Guest characters include the Magistrate, Torrell, Marin (an Olesian), Lorne (an Olesian), Eldon (a prisoner), a Wraith, and a Technician. Dr. Weir also makes a rare off-world trip in the episode when her people are captured.

"Condemned" will be directed by Peter DeLuise when it goes before cameras this Friday. Stick with GateWorld for more info in the weeks ahead!