strike stargate atlantis strike 60th episode season finale science fiction television series stargate atlantis episode originally aired canada february subsequently aired march sky united_kingdom june united_states sci channel written executive producer directed episode new earth ship apollo arrives atlantis conduct strike launch fleet attack earth strike beginning new direction series aired alongside series finale stargate time considered best episode producers featured longest visual effects sequences series episode earned stargate atlantis strongest ratings mid season hiatus generally received plot newest earth warship apollo arrives atlantis commander informs expedition missions discovered building ships believe attack earth ships built conventional materials apollo assigned destroy strike new horizon weapons delivery system apollo successfully carries mission objections feels authority increasingly sidelined soon apollo returns atlantis launching stargate satellite fires energy beam apollo atlantis beam city shield hours satellite active stargate city expedition evacuate stargate city effect beam buys hours city destroyed realizing way save atlantis city satellite range decide use zero point module power station found power squadron sent temporarily block beam large moon fragment shield power beam resumes city lifts briefly grazing central tower shield restored severely injured taken replacement atlantis jumps unexpectedly reach destination realizes deep space hours shield runs power city occupants exposed space production writing casting strike surfaced september conceived completion mid season return writer wanted atlantis leave planet didn know happen episode written wanted atlantis damaged drop deep space end following episode follow stargate satellite originally meant moon sized satellite sent destroy dropped favour stargate satellite destroy atlantis previous episode echoes involved saving deemed proposed destruction inappropriate scene thought leadership challenged needed written instances past episodes military step leaders scene says needs learn science written parallel appearance scenes wrote fantastic scene compared paralleling lack appearance strike introduced originally cast producers loved appearance adolescent season episode instinct created character fill thought endearing uncomfortable new position originally meant canadian character fellow executive producer thought canadian characters turned american instead season saw mitch_pileggi colonel commander commitments including day break writers didn want kill chose introduce new character instead apollo introduced ship commander added list actors suitable play suggested crew decided beach wasn familiar stargate franchise compelled join series mother fan guest starred actually drove los_angeles vancouver wanted scene retired colonel united_states_air_force wife cameo appearances filming episode filmed end september beginning october scenes talks long middle scene entered atlantis floor scene filmed floor time people quickly hallway scene appeared conference beginning episode despite lack knowledge series beach acted scene writers convinced acting style beach asked questions direction characteristics character noted asked right questions scene showing horizon filmed request wood wanted scene shot horizontally scene featuring conversation filmed large room feet apart camera angles scene save costs camera angles operated held lap producers wanted control chair rotate flies city different actions involving control chair stunt end episode gets thrown beam tower stunt originally approved producers doubled sequence scene rehearsed times filming actual sequence actual sequence wore plastic mask prevent flying glass injuring face visual effects episode visual effects produced wrote scene involving minute long sequence horizon weapon fires apollo contact challenge sequence costly visual effects team world minute long ensure sequence followed script sequences atlantis takes ocean stock footage rising shield beam added reason scenes writers liked scene reused visual effect switch flag patch canadian american decision american character filming reception strike earned household rating representing million viewers million demographic demographic strongest rating series rating return placed stargate atlantis second viewed series losing stargate final episode achieved household rating representing million viewers placed fifth cable television day aired strike given syndication rating received fan rating rating stars episode considered biggest producers series time according episode start new direction atlantis ign rated episode impressive possible episode praised visual effects tension cliffhanger thought wait conclusion fourth season harder handle surprised replacement introduced episode horn thought fans critical myth rated episode noted struggle maintain leadership covered earlier series introduction colonel topic covered earlier season noted episode parallels finale strike cracking finale season stargate atlantis love squad considered episode classic season finale liked introductions storyline stating return welcoming total sci rated episode commented premise simple plot fast moving efficient appreciated episode visual effects stating atlantis exceptionally strong stargate brand right
First Strike (Stargate Atlantis)