02-18 Michael

[Colonel Carter]

Title: Michael
Directed by: Martin Wood
Written by: Carl Binder
Original Air Date: January 16, 2006 (The Movie Network)

Synopsis: An amnesiac young Lieutenant in Atlantis, Michael Kenmore, suffers poor treatment from the personnel, and disturbing nightmares that he is a Wraith. Yet things become worse, when he accidentally stumbles upon a shocking discovery about himself... he is one.





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I didn't like this episode because it was too sad.

Why didn't Michael have any memories of his human self before being transformed into a Wraith? Why did he only have bug memories?

It seems weird to me that knowing the truth would have caused that great a change in him. Like his biggest problem was not medical but psychological. But it should have been medical.

You know, the Ancients were far more advanced. Surely they discovered how the Wraith came to be. Surely their doctors and scientists were working on a cure. What if they found one but by that time they no longer had the resources because they were too near defeat to successfully use it on the Wraith? Or what if they were just shy of it?

What if the cure for the Wraith is still hidden on Atlantis?

Oh, and I hated that Ronan was right in this episode. I wanted him to be wrong. I wanted Michael to be okay.

[Anissa T]

I think it was rather amusing that Michael was played by Connor Trineer. But, this might only be amusing because Carter is always making Star Trek references. And they have a guess star who use to be on a Star Trek series.

Anyhow, liked the episode, but now I wonder what the wraith are going to do with him. I felt so bad for him when he found out. I was mad the way Ronan acted, but wasn't mad that he was right.

[Colonel Carter]

I don't recall Carter making Star Trek references. I know McKay likes to.

Connor is hot, when he's not in Wraith make-up. Which made me more sad that he became a Wraith again. I didn't watch Enterprise past the first season. I found it too heavily focused on sex-appeal to suit my interest.

[John Hayward]

Why didn't Michael have any memories of his human self before being transformed into a Wraith? Why did he only have bug memories?

I'm not sure I understand the question. "Memories of his human self?" He had no human self, that was the whole point. He was actually a Wraith- Beckett's drug turned him into a human.

As far as the Ancients, I don't know. Beckett has been there for less than two years. You'd think the Ancient's would've been able to figure out way more than he could- especially given how long their war with the Wraith was. All I can think of is that they either tried it and, like Beckett, couldn't find a way to make it permanent without constant injections- or they just never bothered trying because they figured either way they would still be at war- whether it was against Wraith or humans.

I like Ronan. A lot. First of all, he has managed to NOT be a carbon copy of Teal'c. Also- he was running from the Wraith for SEVEN YEARS. I've never done the same thing for seven straight years in my whole life, much less something like being a "Runner." I think he deserves a little break when it comes to his social skills (or lack of). And he especially deserves a break when there's a Wraith walking around Atlantis- as would anyone native to the Pegasus Galaxy, in my opinion.

[Colonel Carter]

The Wriath are a result of those giant bugs attaching themself to a human host and mutating their DNA. Like in the season 1 episode where John got a bug attatched to his neck. If they hadn't of gotten that thing off him, John Sheppard would have become a Wraith.

So then if they can kill the bug DNA it should only leave human DNA behind. Thus why what Beckett has been working on is a retrovirus. It's to attack the bug DNA.

Unless the Wraith bear children in which case there could be Wraith who were born as Wraith. But that would be extremely disturbing I think. Wraith's mating? BLECH!

I also never figured out if Michael was actually a member of Atlantis or not. Because at first I thought he was, then he said they lied and we saw the tape where John said something like, "What should we call you, how about Mike?" So I thought no, he wasn't originally a part of Atlantis. But then they kept calling Michael "Lieutenant" after that and I couldn't figure out if he had been a member of Atlantis or not.

[John Hayward]

Actually I always thought it was the other way around. The bugs take the DNA of whatever they're feeding on and incorporate it into themselves. Eventually, after feeding on humans for a long time, the bugs evolved into Wraiths. Either way, taking out the bug elements of the Wraith DNA would leave result in a human being. Here's a quote from Gateworld's (http://www.gateworld.net) transcript of the episode (click here (http://www.gateworld.net/atlantis/s2/transcripts/218.shtml) to read it whole thing).

WEIR: Alright. This is what we know of the Wraith: they evolved from a creature that we call the iratus bug. Now that bug began taking on characteristics of the humans it was feeding on and, over time, became the Wraith that we know now. So Doctor Beckett has developed a drug.

Also, I was always under the impression that the Wraith evolved. That is, that it took thousands, or even millions of years of feeding on humans for the bugs to eventually develop into the Wraith as they are today. I didn't envision a quick transformation. Although I never really thought about it, I always sort of assumed that the Wraith reproduce somehow. We know they have males and females, what other explaination could their be for having two genders, besides sexual reproduction?

... After looking at Gateworld's (http://www.gateworld.net) description of the Iratus bug (click here (http://www.gateworld.net/omnipedia/miscellany/i/iratusbug.shtml)), it seems you were right that it was humans encorporation Iratus DNA into their own, but it's not an instant thing. The Iratus bug would've simply killed Sheppard, not turned him into a Wraith.

"The present theory is that the Wraith evolved when the Ancients seeded their world with human-form life, as they did throughout the Pegasus Galaxy. The iratus fed off the humans, and the early humanoids on their world encorporated iratus D.N.A. into their own. Dr. Carson Beckett has developed a prototype for an iratus bug retrovirus that would, in theory, strip the insect D.N.A. from a Wraith and leave only human biology"

Lastly, I'm certain that Michael was never a member of the Atlantis expedition. Since the Iratus Bug doesn't turn humans into Wraith, it stands to reason that the Wraith either reproduce the way the Iratus Bugs do (see the link above) or the way humans do, or possibly some combination of the two. However, I think it's safe to say that humans don't turn into Wraith- which means "Mike" was just next on Sheppard's list of names to call captured Wraith. Another quote from the transcript.

"(Carson doesn't respond. Michael walks over to him and sees that he is asleep with one hand propping up his head. Unsure whether to wake him or not, Michael looks around. He notices a wall calendar hanging above Carson's desk. It is of "Scenic Scotland" and shows a picture of sheep in a country lane. The month is July 2005 and on one of the days, Carson has written "Dinner with Cadman". [Transcriber's note: Carson really needs to stop calling his girlfriend by her surname!] It's not the date that attracts Michael's attention, however. The location of the country lane is given as "Kenmore". Michael reaches out to touch the word, bewildered..."

His entire human existence was a lie. A third quote:

"MICHAEL: You made up everything: my name, the photograph of my parents.

WEIR: It was my decision to keep the truth from you."

He was never a human, until he got captured and experimented on by the Atlantis crew.

The interesting thing, though, is that he was nice. Was it the fact that he had lost his Wraith-ness that made him not a homicidal, hateful maniac when he woke up with no memory at the beginning of the episode, or can Wraith actually be nice? I'm sure we'll find out in the future, next time we see "Michael."

[Colonel Carter]

I like my theory better. But maybe the creators thought that it would be too much like the Goa'uld if they did that.

[Anissa T]

[Transcriber's note: Carson really needs to stop calling his girlfriend by her surname!]

That's funny you said that because when my husband and I met, dated and married, he always called me by or referred to me by (when talking to other people) my maiden name. We were both active duty Army at the timke. I was actually so use to being called by my last name that it didn't phase me. It wasn't until about a year after we got married that his father asked why he still called me by my last name.

[Anissa T]

I don't recall Carter making Star Trek references. I know McKay likes to.

Not Sam. :lol

You! About how Atlantis started out too much like Star Trek (their uniforms and such). You don't do it much anymore though. Atleast I think it was you who use to do it.

[Colonel Carter]

Ha, that's funny. I thought you were talking about Carter in the show but you were actually talking about me, since my username is Colonel Carter. Funny. Maybe you should just call me Colonel. Or Deputy. :p Or "Oh Captain, My Captain." :bow

Tee hee...

Yep, that was me, but I figure you can only gripe about something so long before people start throwing things at you to get you to shut up about it. :throw

[Anissa T]

Oh my, you are too funny!

Oh Capitan! (another jab at Star Trek)

[Dracus]

It was a dissapointing episode.

I have alot of theorys about the future of stargate.

One new one being this-

The wraith "Cure" will be used again on someone. Maybe a wraith leader. But its a given

The wraith cure also can be used to "cure" Super Ford. Since he has some wraith in him, eh?

Also, I think Micheal will play another part in the Season Finale. I mean, they cant kill him off. They didnt kill him! XD

And lastley, I think, this is a longshot, that if there is another Seige of Atlantis, the orbital satilites will be used again, Dedalus again, help from the uh people that are in a ww2 like society (Bad with names), and whatnot.

But morelikeley... They will use the Star drive. Yes, FLY from the planet to a diffrent place XD

Anyways, there. Off subject a bit.

I like the actor though.

[Colonel Carter]

Oh my, you are too funny!

Oh Capitan! (another jab at Star Trek)
Actually I was thinking about "Dead Poets Society" when the teacher told his students they could call him that. Which was from a poem written about Abraham Lincoln. :) Nope, wasn't even thinking about Star Trek when I said that. :p

I'll be rather disappointed if this season finale is the Wraith attacking Atlantis AGAIN.

[Dracus]

kidding? Last time it was probably the coolest part of atlantis :P

But I guess it would be too soon... so theyll probably stardrive into SPACE!

[Colonel Carter]

No, I'm not kidding. I think using the same plot idea for both the first and second season finales would be tacky and show a serious lack of creativity.

[Dracus]

ehh, true.

Atlantis seemed like its been planned out for awhile.

There hasnt been a real big fight for a bit. Save the wraith on wraith battle :p

Just ignore me, im a big fan of space battles. Somthing that stargate isnt much into in truth.