There was a lot of material left over for Stargate's season 6. We picked out the very best of the left-overs that may have helped explain why the directors, writers and producers did what they did in the finale.

Atlantis Here On Earth:
The best part of the finale was that Atlantis came back to Earth, because it opened up so many possibilities. Now that Atlantis is on Earth, will they stay there? Episode #1 and #2 for season six would have dealt with Atlantis now being back in the hands of the I.O.A. on Earth. I'm sure the crew would spend some time perusing the planet, but you know these kids would get hungry for the Pegasus galaxy, and then they'd have to take it up with the top brass about letting go of Atlantis. Mallozzi explained that this may be a good starting off point for a character-driven TV movie.

Since the idea originally conceived for the opening two-parter will now be the basis of the first Stargate: Atlantis movie, the difference being that we’ll be able to tell our story on a much bigger, visual effects-laden, character-centered canvas.

Children of the Corn Episode:
The crew stumbles upon a ship full of sleeping kiddies. After awakening all the wee ones, a mystery ship appears and opens fire on the cast.

Our heroes try to outpace their pursuer and, as a game of intergalactic cat and mouse ensues, the team begins to suspect that their young passengers may not be as innocent and harmless as they appear.

More Crazy Test Stories Like "Ghost In The Machine":
Carl Binder was most likely going to come back and tell more spooky Atlantis stories about ghosts and replicators.

The placeholder title is Carl’s Replicator Story but it could just as easily have been Carl’s Ghost Story.

Flashbacks:
I'm super depressed they didn't get to write or film this story, especially since it was "Marty G's" idea and he is by far my favorite brain in the Atlantis hive. Here's the pitch:

#5: Classic Atlantis: Marty G. wanted to do a story that took place in the early years of the Atlantis expedition, sort of a flashback to an adventure we’d never seen (along the lines of the Lost SG-1 Episode Rob had discussed doing years back). Given Torri’s reluctance to reprise the role of Elizabeth Weir in Ghost in the Machine (after all, the whole point of doing the episode would have been to reconnect with some familiar faces) and Paul‘s reluctance to do a flashback episode that begged the question “Why the hell DIDN‘T we see this in season one?”, the story was shelved.

But wait there's more, much more, from pissed-off Asgard seeking revenge on Atlantis (I think) to time traveling McKay. Check them all out, over at Joseph Mallozzi's blog.

And finally here's the filming of SGA's final scene from Mallozzi as well. It still gets me all choked up.

Todd the Wraith is back, bringing a plot point with him. Turns out Todd is a crappy leader and his crew turned on him, but not without leaving him valuable knowledge of a Super Wraith Hiveship with a ZPM (If you're wondering, "ZPM" basically means "indestructible"). Also, turns out the bad guys also have the Super Secret Wraith Code that punched through the fabric of space in last week's CSI Stargate episode (which I loved). So, the Wraith baddies now have a Hive that's headed straight to Earth that no one can beat. Todd is moved to the brig and pretty much forgotten: Thanks for the help, Todd, now go away while we use your valuable information to create a show around.

But back to the task at hand: bad Wraiths headed to Earth. Time to call Amanda Tapping and other past SG-1ers. Tapping dons the old Samantha Carter wig and delivers a heart-felt tip of the hat to Stargate cast member Don S. Davis (General Hammond) who passed away last year, and she explains that top Stargate brass renamed the Phoenix the General Hammond. It was a truly nice moment, and I'm glad the producers saw it fit to memorialize this actor who was an important part of the franchise. And then Dr. Peter Kavanagh pops his head in so that McKay can flair his nostrils and come close, so close, to having a funny moment. But it passes.

Atlantis has to high tail it over to Earth to protect our home planet, and Sheppard powers up a ship to fight Wraith in the air over on Earth. Quality time is wasted with science jargon and McKay discovers that their Stargate will take them into the super-bad Wraith ship, which means the others will have to actually fight.

Woolsey takes Teyla and Ronon aside and tells them that this is the last call if they want to bail. Of course, they say hells no and adorable Woolsey smiles. This isn't really a super important moment in the grand scheme of this episode, but it did demonstrate (in a very heavy-handed Stargate way) how far Woolsey has come as a character. Robert Picardo, you are a gentleman and a scholar, and you made Woolsey's climb from by-the-book boss to accepted member of the crew enjoyable... if not believable. Thank you for joining the cast and bringing your own touch of elegance to the Pegasus galaxy.

So together, guns ablazin', the crew (minus Sheppard, 'cause he's on Earth, but with one possibly gay Lorne) sets upon destroying the evil Wraith ship via Stargate. More fighting and finally something happens! Ronon gets shot and has a heavy breathing death scene. "Holy crap!" I cried, a plot point that has some sort of weight upon the characters. This is sad and unfortunate, but it's war and war is hell. Sometimes people have to die to save an entire planet. Goodbye Ronon, you were a warrior and deserved to go out in the thick of battle, Jesus Christ, is he getting healed? WHAT?!? HE'S STILL ALIVE! WHY, WHY, Why, why... Oh wait, it's Stargate. I forgot.

I was tremendously disappointed when Ronon came back to life. Then I remembered that NO ONE DIES ON STARGATE ever, so why would the final episode be any different? In fact, it was right at this point in the episode that I stopped looking for a grand finale and set back and just enjoyed Stargate for what it was: simple. It would have been wrong, no matter how climactically interesting, to kill off a character because it would be going against the grain of Stargate. I gave up wanting more and embraced SGA for all that it had been. What was I thinking? Of course Ronon is going to come back and have long-haried babies that punch things and like guns.

So Ronon doesn't die and the Earth is saved because Atlantis splashes down in the nick of time and some sciency stuff that doesn't make any sense.

Moving forward. Hey it's what's-her-face! She's happy because Ronon isn't dead, but not surprised because she knew that by being a member of the Stargate team they are both issued passes on the "we'll live forever" train. She says some words and Ronon gives her the old bedroom eyes and says he wasn't going to die because "there's still something he needs to do," which I assume means breed. It wouldn't be Stargate without cramming in a forced relationship in somewhere. But why Ronon? Because he's the jilted ex lover of Dr. Keller? And by "lover" I mean "someone he shared screen time with"? So he's upset, but not truly deeply upset, but now he's happy because he'll get walking from what's-her-face. Either way, everyone is now happy because no one died, not like they ever would.

The crew then gathers on the balcony over looking what I assume is San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge (but I thought the map showed the splash down for Atlantis in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, but whatever! It's prettier this way). UPDATE: Finally got a chance to check out the map again, it's all good. But it's too bad the world didn't get a chance to see Atlantis, as it was cloaked.

Like a group of Austrian brothers and sisters tired from a long night, the SGA crew assembles on the balcony overlooking a world unaware of just how close it came to being Wraith slaves. Together they stand, for their final farewell clasping onto each others' shoulders and snuggling tight in their quickly-created relationships.

Was it a great farewell, bring-down-the-house episode? Nope. Did it masterfully let McKay and Sheppard spar in the witty banter as only those two know how? Sure didn't. Do I wish that the writers spent less time trying to justify the plot with science jargon and more time on the funny dialog that made SGA beloved by many? Yes. But the final moment is still rooted in love as the cast looked upon the Earth with glistening eyes. You could tell this was the last scene they shot together as a group, and it was the long hug the dedicated fan deserved. In fact, "Enemy At The Gate" really felt like just another jumbled Stargate episode until this final moment, and it was sad. It was exactly what I expected, but didn't really desire, but it was still Stargate through and through. McKay got to fix everything by typing, Sheppard did all the leg work, and no one died. I will miss SGA very much because when it was good it was a welcome relief from the overwrought, depressing and brutal scifi out there, but still treated each episode with dignity (even when McKay was a girl). So long, farewell, auf weidersehen, goodbye, Stargate Atlantis.

The hardest part about losing Stargate Atlantis is that we're losing yet another scifi series that didn't take itself so seriously, but respected the actors enough that it didn't become Knight Rider.

SGA, for me, was less about the Wraith, or even character development, but more about what ridiculous one-liner will Ronon try to work this week. Sure, I cheered when McKay bagged the girl and when Sheppard saved someone's life... once again.

But what I'll remember from the crew of Atlantis was the funny. It's the string of clever moments (some more than others) is what I'll look back on fondly over the years. And yes, I'll light a candle to say goodbye to dear, sweet Rodney McKay — but he really, truly is only as good as the people who roll their eyes around him.

So here are, in my humble opinion the top 10 funniest moments from Stargate Atlantis. (Please add on your favorites as well.)

10. "Crap Indeed"
See above clip, why is everything more funny when the Asgard say it?

9. Steve The Wraith
Only because I will forever know him as "Steve."








8. World of Warcraft "A Silent Passion"





'Nother WOW Reference





7. "Duet"


The entire episode is hilarious — even Ronon has a few great one-liners here and there. But check out McKay's face, after the big kiss with Dr. Carson Beckett. This episode beats out "Trio" as the funniest episode in my mind, but only by a hair.



6. "I'm sorry for shooting everyone"
Sheppard has to apologize, in "Phantoms."




5. Rodney Always Eating Everyone's Food
Check it out, just about every time someone is injured Rodney eats their food.


4. Ford Never Being Allowed To Name Anything
I couldn't find a video clip of this but looking back it's pretty cute how Sheppard never let Ford name anything. Thanks for pointing this out, SGA fans. It's pretty cute — until he goes crazy.

3. McKay Gets Shot By An Arrow
The Perfect Response








2. Canada Jokes

Between calling the ZPM the "Zed PM" and listening to Sheppard explaining hockey to Ronon, the Canada jokes keep a comin', and they're hilarious. Not because Canada is a bad place, but because they filmed SGA there, and it's good to be able to tease your own.

1. McKay Is Invulnerable
"I shot him."

(Oh to tide you over if you still need a McKay fix check out the McKay message service. But how the crap does he not have MEREDITH — it's his name!)

The episode picks up right where last weeks alternate-reality CSI episode ended. And let me say, "Vegas" was a fun little forensic, cop show mystery. It was almost sad how much I enjoyed this crazy deviation from the regular SGA series, because I knew there would never be another. But bravo, Joe Flanigan, for a fun time as a lone-wolf detective in the hot Nevada desert.

But in the season finale, the crew's worst nightmares have come true and the evil frog-skinned Wraith have found a way to the Milky Way Galaxy. Which means a fate worse than death for the Earth.

So what does the SGA crew do? Call on some old friends! As it's been widely reported, Amanda Tapping pops in as Colonel Samantha Carter, giving a much-needed heartfelt shout out to long-gone cast members, and bringing a few old SG1-ers aboard. And just for a mere instant, we're reminded of the SG1 beginnings of some of our beloved SGA crew.

Richard Woolsey passes out warm fuzzy feelings amongst the crew, solidifying his place among the cast, and his personal growth as a character. We will so miss Robert Picardo's adorable mug each week.

The crew has to scramble to protect the Earth, and a great battle ensues — in the sky, on land and in a Wraith ship. Limits are tested, Sheppard is forced to do everything himself again for a while, and sciencey jargon is heaped on top of sciencey jargon.

At the climax you'll raise your hands and say no — how can it be? Will this be the final episode for some of our dear SGA crew members? Possibly, but then again, it is Stargate. Overall, it's a nice long hug with good dose of drama to send you off into the good night, remembering why it is you came to love each character. (Oh, and Teyla only has a few lines, so good all around).

It was Brain! Huzzah the sharp wit and intellect of Rodney McKay slowly wore our dear Dr. Keller down. It was a tough one, too. Last week's episode, "The Lost Tribe," was absolutely the cutest Ronon has ever been. It was pretty sad to watch him be rejected, but alas, someone had to win. And aren't we all glad that the nerdy McKay was victorious? Still, it's sad and let's all brainstorm some hottie wraith we need to pair our buddy up with.

Now we must wait out the inevitable sloooooooow burn that is an SGA plot line.