When they arrive for the meeting they all pass out and are moved elsewhere. The Council wants Sheppard (and let's face it, who wouldn't want him.) Kelore (David Lougren) Shiana, Dimas (Alan Blumenfeld) tell Sheppard he's been chosen to answer charges and when all the evidence has been heard they will decide the outcome. They are accused of committing crimes against the people of the galaxy.
Lorne (Kavan Smith) doesn't find them in the village. They tell Sheppard Atlantis possesses too much technology and weapons, being responsible for the deaths of people and initiated the encounter with the Wraith. Sheppard tries to explain they were attacked by the Wraith first and they weren't all in hibernation. They had to search for their captured people and encountered the queen. Sheppard killed her, as we saw in 1.2. Sheppard insists they would have waken up regardless. Many worlds were scattered.
Sheppard refuses to play their game and they can't put everyone on Atlantis in their jail. However they can isolate them. Shiana wants to make an example of them. Rodney is sure Daedalus can't find them without a gate address and they must convince them they're not guilty. Teyla knows lives have been lost but there is hope where there was none before against the Wraith.
Sheppard has to play along until they can figure out a plan. A Coalition rep Myrus (Tobias Slezak) is sent to Atlantis. The next charge levied against Sheppard is the plague/virus and Michael's work, where he conducted research to solve the Wraith problem. Michael was the first test subject and found out something was wrong with him. Woolsey arrests Myrus and he accuses them of being rogues arresting the team without due process.
The Genii plan to thwart the Wraith and Sheppard says that's not what happened. The Genii betrayed them. They had bombs but no way to deliver them. Woolsey can't believe the entire galaxy would be against Atlantis and has a plan. Sheppard managed to take out some hives by them shooting at each other. They have Ancient technology to use too. The trial is evidence the coalition wouldn't exist if they hadn't had success over the Wraith in 10,000 years. Woolsey is taking over their defence. They contacted Todd to borrow a subspace locator but have no reply.
Woolsey must win the trial and has had legal experience, as well as being on the Harvard Law Review. He can handle them. The Replicators were not Atlantis's allies and were created by the Ancients. This episode was more of a clip show. They attacked humans to eliminate the Wraith food supply. The code was activated for the Replicators to attack the Wraith and they lost Elizabeth Weir. More lives have been saved than lost. Shiana (Kaaren de Silva) thinks they're guilty cos she's biased. Dimas is reasonable. They can't shoot their way out.
Woolsey knows their game and can play it now. Woolsey talks with Kelore after bribing the guard with his father's pocket watch. The Genii want to use the military to back the Coalition. Woolsey tries to convince Atlantis would be a better choice. They need someone on the inside to push the agenda and Dimas is reasonable. Shiana votes against them and thinks they're conspiring with the Wraith. Sheppard formed an alliance with Todd after he fed on him and their best chance of escape was together. Todd helped them with the Replicator fleet. They won and the Wraith are in disarray but it won't remain this way forever. If they don't want Atlantis around to help them then they should vote guilty. Which Shiana does. Diamas and Kelore vote not guilty. Sheppard claims he "never doubted Woolsey for a second." He missed the uniform and wears his suit. Woolsey used his legal skills, eloquence and a bribe to pull this off. Sheppard asks why they're here if they can't make a difference?
Have to say even if I do so myself, ha, this episode so reminded me of the one I wrote back in 2005 Trial by Gate, (blogged earlier) cos it had a kind of legal scenario in that with Sheppard having to face charges, and I wrote mine before this episode, how uncanny is that. Spooky!
Whilst not all bad, this episode did have some pitfalls leading to two opposing views. You can either agree that with Atlantis being found the humans were responsible for awakening the Wraith, using the Replicators against the Wraith was detrimental towards humans as they turned on them, but then again from Stargate SG 1 episodes, the Replicators were already seen as a destructive force, so don't see how Atlantis could be held responsible for this alone. Then there was Michael and creating him. But on the other hand as Sheppard said, they would have woken up anyway and it was the Wraith who attacked them unilaterally and nowhere is it said or written that you cannot defend yourself against such threats. Wraith attacks were ongoing even before the Atlantis team arrived and would have continued regardless of whether they interfered or not. Come on this isn't exactly the Star Trek Prime Directive we're referring to here.
This episode had the viewers in two mindsets: either acting as prosecution or defence. The question remains: would these worlds have been any better off without Atlantis being around - considering their primitive nature and having no defences against the Wraith. Which kind of gets answered in a roundabout way and then doesn't at the same time, if you get my meaning.
The Genii being behind the 'trial' didn't come as that big of a shock as they seem to be the only other ones with weapons to fight the Wraith. But their intentions to be the might behind the Coalition can be taken with a pinch of salt. They can't be trusted and have an agenda of their own. They always have had this. Again the question : who would you want on your side, covering your back: Atlantis or the Genii? No contest there.
The episode also demonstrated the 'legal' manipulative skills showing Woolsey is a worthy opponent and not an altogether inept leader. Mind you Woolsey did have to go resort to the tactics of the Genii by using bribery.
Ronon: "I say we go to Plan B (what was Plan A then, oh Sheppard playing for time until rescued) wait for the guards to come in. I beat 'em up, we take their guns, we shoot our way out of here." And go where exactly.
Sheppard: "What's next on the Agenda? Did we step on the rose bushes on our last trip to Vidina?" Was an allusion to Star Trek: The Next Generation and the episode Justice, where Wesley Crusher falls on a flowerbed and is sentenced to death.
As for the clip show, they just made you lament for the good old days of the show, well, it did show how good it was in the past, it still was, but this season was the last one so it appeared the writers etc just kind of gave up on some episodes.
Episodes alluded to here or shown in clips were: Underground, the Hive, Wraith Queen, Spoils of war, No Man's Land, Progeny, Lifeline, Common Ground, be All My Sins Remember'd. As for the final scene with Woolsey and Sheppard on the balcony with cigars and drink in hand, that was straight out of Boston Legal where two characters would do this. (Played by William Shatner and James Spader.)
The Federation Woolsey mentions early on is similar to the one in Star Trek: the United Federation of Planets in the series. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode Inquisition, Dr Bashir had to defend himself. Also in Stargate SG1 episode Cor-Ai, Teal'c faced charges of atrocities whilst serving Apophis and Jack had to dend him.
Alex Levine posted on his blog at Scifi.com, "the coolest part of the show which is why people watch clip shows - is that you'll get to see pretty much every cool space battle we've done - keep your eyes open for the character of Myrus who is played by my real life brother - Tobias Slezak (different last name.) He did a great job." Tobias was also in SG1 episodes Heroes Parts 1 and 2.
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